A Hardy Developer's Journal – as written by indie adventure game developers

HM. Dr. Konstantinos “Gnome” Dimopoulos, Grand Commissar of the Soviet Gnomic Monarchy not only writes for his own Gnome’s Lair, he also regularly writes about Gaming on the Go and hunts for Retro Treasures, as well as countless other projects.

He is an unswaying retronaut, an energetic promoter of the obscure, forgotten and remarkable in the world of gaming, and today we are lucky enough to be given a sneaky peek into the lovingly tended attic that is: Konstantinos Dimopoulos’ mind.
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Jake Elliot is an independent video game developer who releases his games through an experimental studio he calls Cardboard Computer. His game “A House in California” was nominated for the IGF‘s Nuovo Award, and the source code for each of his games is released to the public.

Cardboard Computer‘s most recent game, Balloon Diaspora, was released in February. It’s a calm, subtle and slow-moving game through which the player navigates a hot air balloon and converses with a cast of displaced characters.

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Erik Zaring

I had a chance to chat with Erik Zaring and Anders Gustafsson, the two brilliant minds behind The Dream Machine, and pick their brain about their game, their influences, and their dreams. This is the result. (more…)

Joshua Nuernberger

Gemini Rue is an upcoming indie adventure game created by Joshua Nuernberger.  Recently picked up by Dave Gilbert and his studio Wadjet Eye Games, it quite simply looks stunning, a slice of science fiction adventuring that initially evokes comparisons (at least visually) with Blade Runner, before surprising with a narrative that feels both refreshingly unique and wholly its own.

It has been my greatest pleasure, both via HardyDev and Alternative Magazine Online, to review some of the finest indie adventure games of the past few years. Perhaps that explains why I am so excited this month: It feels like Gemini Rue is going to be something  truly special. I am therefore proud to present an interview with Joshua Nuernberger, with a guest appearance by Dave Gilbert! (more…)

It’s been exactly 1 year and 3 days since the last installment of DEV INTRO – a special interview format I established to allow HardyDev to have more regular and varied interviews. It was particularly handy to introduce developers that only just released their first independently created game (or at least can show some lovely content for it).

Today, after the aforementioned short break, DEV INTRO is back! And it brings you nothing less than Rise of The Hidden Sun!

Rings a bell? It should!
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If you ask someone what the best LEGO video game is, the answer can be only one:

- Biggles on Mars!

Nevertheless, only a few could name the author of Biggles on Mars – the mysterious thecatamites. Well, at least not until recently – when this creator’s latest game Space Funeral won unprecedented acclaim, and turned his Games 4 Schools edutainment portal for kids into the first stop on the web for Japanese RPG fanatics! (more…)

Sebastian “Mellotron Stew” Pfaller has worked not only with me on a number of games making music, but also provided music and testing for such popular adventure games such as The Vaccuum and Death Wore Endless Feathers Disk 1.

His quirky, colourful musical style is an ever changing kaleidoscope of ideas and experimentation and here we are offered a glimpse into the funk safari that is: Sebastian Pfaller‘s mind.

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