We got in!!

This is something we were hoping and praying for – a chance to show our game to real players, get feedback, find & fix bugs, and just talk to folks about what we do.  Being part of any Indie Game Circuit / Showcase means major exposure for our game – something that can make an incredible difference for any Indie game, especially one from an unknown family studio like ours.  I can’t overstate how incredible this opportunity is, and how grateful we are to the folks over at the Southeast Game Exchange (SEGE) for hosting the Indie Game Circuit as part of their event. 

A big shoutout to RealLifeFakeWizard – the YouTuber and indie games advocate behind for FakePortal.com.  It’s an incredible & free indie game discovery network that he built and runs on his own dime.  He sponsored the Indie Game Circuit and has been promoting it constantly for months on his channel.  He’s actually how I found out about it!

If I’m being honest: we found out about our acceptance almost a month ago.  This is our first time to an event like this, so I wasn’t sure how much (if at all) I should say publicly.  I’ve seen a few other devs announcing their attendance on SEGE social media posts, so I guess it’s OK.  Regardless, we’re committed – and excited!!

What is it, exactly?

If it’s anything like PAX, there will be a dedicated section of the show with a hand-selected lot of games on display.  Attendees can walk through the area and play as many games as they like, as often as they like.  The idea behind the Indie Game Circuit is giving developers and players face time.  We get to watch people play our games, see how they react to features and gameplay elements.  When they’re finished, they can talk to us, tell us when they liked / didn’t, and give us their thoughts and feedback right there on the spot!  

While it’s going to be tough to show off something I’ve created and risk failure / humiliation, I’m excited to hear the thoughts of real gamers.  Even if my game sucks, I can learn from the experience and course-correct.  I’ll get to see in real time what works and what doesn’t.  Priceless!

Our Space

We’ll get an 8×8 space with a table.  We’ll set up a TV and a computer, 4 controllers, and as much promo material as we can fit into our space.  We’ve figured out how to get seating for players so they’ll be comfortable.  Ash (as usual) will make it an unmissable event – she’s got swag for folks who stop by and talk to us; and prizes for players and winners.

Winners?

The Demo: Barn Brawl is a multiplayer party / battle game.  We’ll have (at minimum) 1 “Brawl” stage and 1 “Minigame” for the demo.  If I can manage it, I’ll add more, but we’ve got a month to go before the show, and we haven’t even dropped a trailer!  There’s no AI in the game yet, so all players have to be human-controlled.  I’ve set everything up so that 4 players can battle per demo. 

The game will show a brief tutorial intro – then intro the stage, countdown, and let them loose!  I’m hoping the players at the show think smacking each other with farm tools and throwing crops and objects around is as much fun as I do.  Each crop they ship earns coins.  The Brawl has a 3 minute timer.  After that round, they’ll go into a crazy minigame that will shake things up and keep things competitive.  Someone who dominated the Brawl round can potentially lose it all if he / she stinks in the minigame round.  UNPREDICTABLE!!

Cool!  What’s it look like?

That’s the toughest part.  The show is EARLY in terms of where I am in the dev cycle for the game, which means I’m frantically swapping out primatives with real art, designing levels, and tweaking gameplay code.  The core game loop of the game was completed a few years ago, but that version used Photon Unity Networking…an amazing multiplayer framework, but not something that could reliably support what I wanted to do with Barn Brawl.  I dropped the project (yay life) for a while, then came back and rewrote the codebase in Photon Fusion…which is where we are now.

I don’t have screenshots I’m ready to show just yet…With Sellsword VR, I showed off concept art and “staged” screens so that I could get the visuals we needed to advertise.  I don’t want to do that this time.  Gamers deserve to see real visuals, not renders or AI slop.  I’m not making promises I can’t keep, and I’m not showing anybody a fake game.  When you see Barn Brawl for the first time, you’ll be seeing the same visuals you can play.  

I promise to have pics and video soon.

Come see us!

I don’t know where the Indie Game Circuit will be located at the show, nor do I know where we’ll be inside that area.  I only know we have a spot, and that I have until 6/30 to submit our game trailer if I want it included in the show’s highlights and advertising posts.  

Ash has come up with some incredible swag and prizes, and she’s setting up a really cool area for us to debut the game.  I’m hard at work squishing bugs, creating art and assets, and putting the game together.  It’s a race against the clock, but I’m enjoying the work.  We’re both proud of what we’re doing – it’s something we enjoy doing together, and something we’re happy to share with all of you.

Come to the show.  There will be games, vendors, contests, entertainment, and some amazing indie games that need your support!  If you’re a classic gamer and love collecting old game cartridges and memorabilia, there will be tons of vendors at the show.  Wizard and a bunch of YouTube and Voice Acting talent will be there, too!  Even after the expo hall and Indie Game Circuit closes for the evening, there will be events, concerts, and activities.  Tabletop, card, console, arcard, pinball, and PC gaming will all be on display and free to play!  

Greenville Convention Center – Greenville, SC – July 17-19.

The event is family friendly.  Parking is even free – unheard of!  We’re excited – and we hope to see you there!