Posts tagged with “360”

Got an XBox 360, and want a fun old school platform puzzler for $3? Then go onto the indies channel (XBLIG) and download Escape Goat, the latest offering by Magical Time Bean.

In escape goat you star as an inexplicably purple colored goat who has been imprisoned for witchcraft. Teaming up with a small mouse with a taste for magic hats you have to navigate and escape from 64 puzzle rooms using a relatively simple rule set of jump, dash, push button, avoid fireball. The game shines because the level design is fairly tight and most of the levels are fun and interesting to play, and the few bits of dialog you encounter are relatively amusing.

My gripes with the game are few; the graphics aren’t very impressive, some of the critical elements blend into the background too much, and the game elements all have a similar look and feel (for instance, keys and magic hats look almost identical). However none of these points are damning, and we found ourselves coming back to this for more on a regular basis until we beat the game. The title even comes with a level editor that is surprisingly easy to use and fun to make your own levels.

If you are an indie fan and want a puzzler then this is certainly one to get. And for $3 it’s pretty damn cheap. Go on XBLIG and grab it now!

Oh yeah, and if you like the game’s music (composed by the dev, mixed by Chainsaw of Twisted Pixel fame) then you can grab it for whatever you want here.

Tired of working for a big studio that doesn’t appreciate the work that you do? Were you caught in one of the recent rounds of layoffs? Do you know you could be a terrific leader given the chance? Do you want to join the indie revolution and make awesome games that are a ton of fun and not just some run-of-the-mill shooter?

Then apply to us! We’ve got an opening for an art director and we want to get a new superstar to join our team. Want the details? HERE THEY ARE MY FRIEND.

We’re looking for an artist with 3+ years of experience making console video games, specifically with the PS3 and/or Xbox 360. Strong proficiency with 3DS Max, Photoshop, and Illustrator required (bonus if you know Maya, After Effects, and of course MS Paint). Animation, 3D modeling, and character skills should be exceptional. We would prefer if you’re also great at environmental work and 2D illustrating/concepting, but the 3D stuff is more important. Moreover we need someone who can manage a small 2-3 person art team and make sure that everyone is producing shipping quality assets and working efficiently.

Compensation and Benefits

- Competitive start up wages
- Super generous stock options – you’re getting in on the ground floor of an up and coming studio
- Kickass health care
- 3-4 weeks vacation time, and sick time on top of that
- We only work ~45 hours/week. Really! You can have a life outside of work!
- An environment where you’re part of a small team and get to make real design and creative decisions. You’ll no longer be a cog in the machine!
- Lots of yummy food, snacks, and drinks in the office

To apply, please send your resume and portfolio to jobs [at] firehosegames dot com.