Galaxy Parade

2010-09-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

GALAXY PARADE FEATURED ON BYTEJACKER'S FREE INDIE COUNTDOWN!

So it turns out that Galaxy Parade has at least enough supporters to help us achieve first place in Bytejacker's Free Indie Countdown! Thank you, everybody who's enjoying Galaxy Parade, on our website and on Kongregate, and for voting!!

Of course, this episode of Bytejacker came with some good and some bad news. It looks like Jon Rivera is leaving and the show will be on hiatus until September 30th while host Anthony Carboni settles into his new place in San Francisco.

If you're not yet watching Bytejacker, an absolute MUST for indie gamers, now is a good chance to catch up! Besides, we plan on being featured in future episodes if we can help it!

Play Galaxy Parade now... and don't forget to watch Bytejacker!

Rene Shible, Lead Developer - Galaxy Parade, Team Black Dog

2010-07-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

GALAXY PARADE AT POLARIS 24 - AFTERTHOUGHTS

A great photograph courtesy of photographer/all-around nice guy Ian Muttoo! I hope your son enjoyed the game, Ian!

Well, this post is pretty late! What can I say other than we've been happily busy with new projects. Anyway, a couple of weekends ago we attended Polaris 24, a Toronto-based sci-fi convention. Although we only went for two of the three convention days, our time spent there in the Game Corner (a name we cooked up while discussing ways to drum up some traffic in our lonely corner of the hotel) was certainly eventful!

We set ourselves up across two tables - one to show off our promotional items and prizes, and another one where players could enjoy the game on a couple of different machines.

During the first day of the con, attendance and traffic in our area was pretty low. Aside from not being clearly labeled on event maps, getting to our section was a bit of an out-of-the-way walk. In fact, attendees had to travel so far to get to our 'Game Corner' that it seemed more like you had left the convention area and were just walking through the hotel when you tried to get there! The truth is that on the first day, we could count the number of visitors that we got on one hand. But that's a generous way to recount our first evening. You could actually count the number of visitors we had on ... two fingers.

On day two, we decided to get aggressive.

We'd like to think that our impromptu marketing tactics were responsible for generating interest in the happenings of our remote lair.

Having assessed what we were dealing with, we spent the night (and morning) before day two of the convention making up posters, flyers and other visual aids to bring attention to what we were doing. Thanks to my sister Nathalie, handy in all things practical, and my brother German, a veritable old hand at bailing me out of tight situations, day two went much better!

We shared our 'Game Corner' with Erin Miklos who was at the con representing Pownz Gaming. Displaying an array of classics alongside our indie games turned out to be a great experience for us and for the attendees! Thanks, Erin, for the help and company!

High score contest winner Simon Liu displaying his unique playstyle - he actually played like this and beat out all the other high scores! Congratulations, Simon - your prize will be in the mail soon!

Saturday represented, for us, the height of the event. Although we decided not to attend on Sunday for various reasons, the event was a great and positive experience. We learned so much and got a first-hand chance to observe people's reactions to what is effectively a hardcore 8-bit style shooter. Without a doubt we will be attending similar events in the future, ready to apply everything we learned during our short stay at Polaris 24!

Rene Shible, Lead Developer - Galaxy Parade, Team Black Dog

2010-07-16T00:35:00.000-07:00

GALAXY PARADE AT POLARIS 24

This weekend, from July 16th through July 18th, Revolver Games will be demoing Galaxy Parade and some of our other current works at Toronto sci-fi convention Polaris 24!

During the event, we'll be hosting a weekend-long high scores contest where players and guests can earn all sorts of Galaxy Parade themed prizes!

For the event, we had 1-inch buttons made at Crucial Pins and ordered some awesome looking Galaxy Parade t-shirts from Come Get Customized. Both can be found in Toronto and are absolutely great sources for professional looking promotional materials and merchandise. Pictures can be seen below.

If you're in the neighbourhood, a fan of sci-fi, or just looking to share some one-on-one face time with the crew at Revolver Games (just talking industry, games, developments, sharing ideas or whatever), you should definitely stop by Polaris 24 this weekend!

We're really looking forward to having a good time and sharing our work at Polaris 24 - who knows, we may even take some pictures or videos to keep everybody updated on our weekend adventures!

Rene Shible, Lead Developer - Galaxy Parade, Team Black Dog

2010-07-05T08:35:00.000-07:00

GALAXY PARADE WEBSITE LAUNCHED!

We've recently decided to release the full version of Galaxy Parade on our own website, as well as on a few others! We'll be releasing details of which websites you can play Galaxy Parade on soon - but in the meantime, feel free to visit www.galaxyparade.com to play the full version of Galaxy Parade... or just click here to play the game right now!

In other news, this blog is a little screwy right now ... we changed the way we publish posts and it seems to be having an adverse effect on our older posts! I'm sure we'll have it back to normal soon!

2010-04-28T17:45:00.001-07:00

UPDATE - NEW GALAXY PARADE DEMO!

While we here at Revolver Games continue to work out licensing and sponsorship details for the coming release of Galaxy Parade, we wanted to provide everybody with a new playable segment from the main game, the challenging Third Galaxy! This new demo, playable here, is built off of the final version of Galaxy Parade and features many new new options, available to the player for the first time, such as a chance to continue after losing all lives, a control configuration screen, a sound test and a handy how-to-play section for beginners! Keep in mind that Galaxy Parade is a challenging game (something that we take pride in), and this Third Galaxy Demo forces players right into the action, so be patient and remember to use your special weapons if things get tough! We hope you enjoy the new demo and continue to look forward to the full release in the near future!
In the Third Galaxy, the player sees the Perseus through the hulking Titan called Labyrinth. Although Labyrinth can not be destroyed, the numerous enemies dwelling inside of him pose a great threat to the Perseus. Play the demo here! Rene Shible, Lead Developer - Galaxy Parade, Team Black Dog

GALAXY PARADE TRAILER

2010-03-23T02:07:00.000-07:00

Find us on Youtube... we'll be uploading trailers and game play videos as we create them! We'll also be hosting a certain secretive contest for Galaxy Parade soon... Rene Shible, Lead Developer - Galaxy Parade, Team Black Dog

2010-03-17T23:01:00.000-07:00

TRIAL OF VIRTUE - THE FOUR GALAXIES

Subject to the wicked vicissitudes of this capricious dimension, the Perseus drives forward with unyielding conviction. A road mired by havoc and warfare; a deep path of light carves into the night vaunting the champion's triumphant journey.

In Galaxy Parade, the player will travel through four unique Galaxies, each characterized by its own backdrop and a unique set of trials for the player to overcome.

The First Galaxy is fairly straight forward. Here the player can learn how to operate the Perseus efficiently, and how to deal with enemies of all sorts.

The Second Galaxy requires the player to navigate the Perseus through fields of both Asteroids and Mines. Enemies here are no more aggressive than in the First Galaxy, but their coordinated attacks may be hard to overcome.

In the Third Galaxy, the player sees the Perseus through the hulking Titan called Labyrinth. Although Labyrinth can not be destroyed, the numerous enemies dwelling inside of him pose a great threat to the Perseus.

The Fourth Galaxy, sitting near the heart of the Fifth Dimension, appears at first to be merely a landscape of clouds stretching out forever. What secrets does the Fourth Galaxy hold for the pilot of the Perseus? Watch out! This is where the most impressive and dangerous enemies live!

Aside from the anticipated challenge of blasting your way through a battalion of enemy fighters, each Galaxy also features its own set of Missions, which can be viewed under the Missions selection in the Main Menu. Although the Galaxies are quite challenging at first, learning how to effectively use the Parade Meter, as well as the various available weapons, will help the player to clear levels and complete the many available missions much more easily. Completing some missions will even allow the player to unlock extra options on the Main Menu, such as the Galaxy Select option or the secret hard mode known only as Another Galaxy... Rene Shible, Lead Developer - Galaxy Parade, Team Black Dog

2010-02-25T23:24:00.000-08:00

THE LAWS OF THE FIFTH DIMENSION - PARADE LEVELS

To the incredible pilot of the Starfighter Perseus, recognizable shapes began to form before his eyes. Slowly, abstract notions begin to seem tangibly real. Surely it must be an illusion. There is nothing tangible or righteous about this horrid dimension, he assures himself.

Galaxy Parade's key mechanic, as well as its most unique mechanic, is undeniably the Parade Meter, a multipurpose tool primarily used for affecting dynamic difficulty adjustment naturally during gameplay. The basic flow of gameplay revolves around the Parade Meter as such;

Kill Enemies to earn Points

Killing Enemies raises the Parade Meter

Getting hit by Enemies will drain the Parade Meter

Using certain weapons may drain the Parade Meter

Higher Parade means enemies are worth more points

It also means enemies are more aggressive

During gameplay, the Parade Meter may fall and rise constantly. As this happens, the Galaxy background will change to reflect the player's Parade Level.

The Second Galaxy looks like some pretty standard sci-fi fare.

In between waves of enemies, the Perseus will have to navigate fields of Asteroids and Mines. Be careful! Getting too close to the Mines may cause them to detonate, taking out the Perseus, as well as any nearby Asteroids!

As your Parade Level rises, the stars in the backdrop will start to speed by more quickly. From the looks of these streaks, it'd seem the Perseus is picking up speed!

All sorts of streaks of light are whizzing past the Perseus now! What will happen if its speed keeps increasing?

This is a dangerous situation! At higher Parade Levels, not only does it look like the Perseus has hit light speed, the enemies have become amazingly aggressive! You can do it, Perseus!

Every Galaxy features a number of interactive backgrounds, becoming more complex as the game progresses. A little visual reward perhaps for truly courageous pilots! Rene Shible, Lead Developer - Galaxy Parade, Team Black Dog

2010-02-22T02:19:00.000-08:00

DENIZENS OF ANOTHER WORLD - GORGOS FIGHTERS

Men of science have identified that vile plane as being inhabited inexplicably by a dark menace called the Gorgos. Such a threat this Fifth Dimension, fraught with perils unknown, the dwelling of such a wicked and enigmatic presence, to the man who will turn deaf ears to reason.

Adepts to the arts of knowledge and understanding toil endlessly to prepare this paragon of virtue for the trials of the Fifth Dimension, but the stone-faced resolute avoids their well-meaning tutelage with a deftness befitting his earnest dedication. When the dust settles, the true trials of this Earthly champion will remain a mystery to these men of science forevermore.

Most of the enemies that the player will encounter during gameplay represent the front line of the Gorgos Army, and are known as Gorgos Fighters. The three most common Gorgos Fighters, Medos, Stenos and Eyros, exist only to make the life of the Perseus as short as possible by fulfilling their distinct duties, and often attack in groups.

MEDOS
Cowardly Medos are weak on their own and will usually opt to assault the player in groups rather then risk going in alone. While each Medos is fairly weak individually, in groups they're chances to overwhelm the player increase significantly. This is especially true when the player achieves higher Parade Levels and Medos's firepower becomes more aggressive!

EYROS
Stalwart Eyros support the Gorgos Army from the far reaches of the battlefield. These calculating creatures like to interfere with the player's attacks by firing green Energy Rings that can stop Vulcan and Missile attacks! On top of protecting themselves and their fellow Gorgos Fighters in this manner, Eyros can take a lot of hits and won't go down without a fight!

STENOS
Aggressive Stenos are considered to be one of the most disposable Gorgos Fighters in the Gorgos Army, mostly because their weak hulls are unable to withstand any serious firepower. Unfortunately, they make up for this on the battlefield with the relentless zeal with which they approach the player, more often than not resulting in a direct one-on-one collision with their target! Stenos don't think twice about entering headfirst into combat, which means they usually end up getting slaughtered. They can however become a serious threat when grouped with larger attack waves. There's also a rumour that Stenos closer to the center of the Fifth Dimension are more dangerous than their cousins on the front lines. Rene Shible, Lead Developer - Galaxy Parade, Team Black Dog

2009-12-18T15:26:00.001-08:00

SOUNDS OF THE FIFTH DIMENSION - MUSIC OF GALAXY PARADE

As the pilot of the Perseus plunges himself deeper into this heart of evil, the core of the Fifth Dimension, sights and sounds begin to change before him. His heart beats wildly with the music flooding his ears. His eyes feast upon a glorious light show carnival. "What is the true nature of the Fifth Dimension," he wonders.

Although our commitment to a true 8-bit style is selective at best (as some observers may have noticed), there are elements of the era that we really want to showcase with Galaxy Parade.

While not being true 'chiptunes', the lo-fi sounding music and sound effects featured in Galaxy Parade are all directly inspired by traditional 8-bit games like Kid Icarus, Metroid and Mega Man!

Galaxy Parade OST
First Galaxy - Flight of Perseus

Galaxy Parade OST
Second Galaxy - Cherished Vanguard into the Night, Onward Through the Gates of Hell

Galaxy Parade OST
Third Galaxy - Denizens of the Labyrinth of Evil

Rene Shible, Lead Developer - Galaxy Parade, Team Black Dog

2009-11-18T01:51:00.000-08:00

THE STARFIGHTER PERSEUS - ARSENAL

The indomitable hero flies bravely into the unknown dangers of the Fifth Dimension - that mysterious realm ruled by the nefarious Gorgos Commander! His only ally throughout this, his onerous trial, the Starfighter Perseus!

Being the one-of-a-kind vanguard of deep-space justice, the Perseus, and his pilot, follow the clear path of glory right into the unknown world behind enemy lines!

PERSEUS
During gameplay, the player takes control of the Starfighter Perseus. The Perseus is controlled using the arrow keys on the keyboard and can be hit up to three times before it is shot down for good! Getting hit three times results in a Game Over, but the Perseus might still gain extra chances if it fights bravely enough!

Despite being a pretty big target in and of itself, the Perseus' only true weak-point is the blue cockpit housing the pilot! If the Perseus avoids getting shot in this relatively small area, then it is possible to survive any onslaught of enemy bullets!

VULCAN
The Perseus' main weapon, fired by pressing the 'w' key on the keyboard, is the powerful Vulcan cannon. Like the Perseus itself, the Vulcan cannon is powered by Galaxy Engine technology and grows stronger as the ship dives deeper into the Fifth Dimension!

The higher your Parade Level, the stronger your Vulcan cannon becomes!

The versatile Vulcan cannon can also engage in a strategic Auto-Fire mode. Auto-Fire is activated by holding down the 'w' key. But be careful! Interrupting this ability by pressing another key while it is active will disengage Auto-Fire mode!

MISSILE
Missiles, fired using the 'space' key, are the Perseus' only defense against armored Titan enemies. Enemies protected in Silver Armor can only be destroyed using Missiles!

Unlike the Vulcan cannon, which grows stronger at higher Parade Levels, the Missile weapon is always strong!

Missiles can only fired one at a time, are slow moving, and consume part of the Parade Meter, but they are extremely effective against larger enemies, such as Titans and Gorgos Champions. If things are getting too tough, try to unload a few Missiles to decrease the Parade Level, which will also decrease the difficulty of the game.

MINERVA BOMB
The super-powerful Minerva Bomb is the Perseus' last line of defense! Rumour has it that these screen-clearing ultra-weapons will clear out 2 whole Parade Levels, but will also save the Perseus in a tight spot! But what does this secret weapon do exactly? And how do you use it? It may be too soon to tell!

Rene Shible, Lead Developer - Galaxy Parade, Team Black Dog

2009-11-16T16:08:00.000-08:00

WELCOME TO THE GALAXY PARADE

The Starfighter Perseus embarks on its final voyage into the Fifth Dimension in this 8-bit inspired throwback to traditional arcade action!

Galaxy Parade is a high-energy foray into the world of bullet-hell shooters created in a style reminiscent of classic 8-bit arcade games! But be careful! The better you do, the harder things get! Are you ready test your skills behind the cockpit of the Perseus as you're launched into the Galaxy Parade!?

Over the course of the next few weeks leading up to Galaxy Parade's completion, I'm going to be keeping this blog up to date with artwork, music and features from this, our newest development. Of course, this project is intended to be a more brief development than say our other work in progress, the Tactical RPG Bijoux Red. The reason for Galaxy Parade's speedy and straightforward development will be revealed in time, but suffice it to say that we're looking forward to sharing our work with the world in our own unique way.

The Overview

Welcome to Galaxy Parade! What is this charming little tune? That's the game's main theme, The Voyage of Perseus! To play the First Galaxy Demo, hit the Demo button located on the right side of this blog!

Gorgos Fighters come in many forms. The aggressive green Medos and the persistent blue Eyros are common foes in the Fifth Dimension. Tear through these enemies with your Vulcan Cannon to build up your Parade Meter!

Increasing your Parade Level will give you a point multiplier bonus when shooting down enemies. Hit 50,000 points for your first 1-Up! But be careful! Some foes will become more aggressive as your Parade Level rises!

Armored Titan enemies like Atlas can only be destroyed using Missiles. Take them out quickly before they unleash a deadly attack wave! Using Missiles may decrease your Parade Level, so use them wisely! If Atlas executes his main attack, your evasive skills will be put immediately to the test! Watch out!

Gorgos Champions like Kryseon will require more effort to destroy. Make sure you're not directly in front of Kryseon when he unleashes his deadly Cannon Wave!

If the Gorgos Army manage to take down the Perseus enough times, then that's Game Over! How many points did you manage to build up? Don't give up, try again!

I'll do my best to be back soon with more updates for everyone, both on this blog, as well as on the Bijoux Red Development Blog! Remember to check out the First Galaxy Demo for a taste of Galaxy Parade's classic arcade action. You can also check out Bijoux Red's in-depth ARC Combat Tutorial Demo over at that site if you're looking for more from Revolver Games!

Talk to you soon, everybody! Rene Shible, Lead Developer - Galaxy Parade, Team Black Dog