comics x games &#8211; Hand Eye Test

New Ways to Love You

New Ways to Love You explores the legacy of zines as responses to video games, centering pre-existing fanzines and how fan culture influences the creative process. Questions include: How is fan work perceived or misconceived in the arts? What compels us to respond to games with our own narratives and ephemera, and what are we building and expressing together? Do these works function as responses, or do they actually change the way we play and love video games?

Alex Rushdy

Bringing Comic Book Monsters to Life

I discuss how to blend 2D and 3D assets, complex shaders, and unique animation workflows to create a unique comic book aesthetic through our upcoming game, Dawn of the Monsters. Our process doesn’t require fancy tech, just fancy technique! I also compare and contrast various approaches to bringing comic books and manga to life on the video game screen and where our approach aligns and differs.

Jedidjah Julia Noomen

Words without audio, or how comics taught me to write for voiceless game characters.

When I started out in game writing, I had many years of experience in film, tv and theatre. But the first games I wrote for, had no voice overs… I had to write for (limited) animated characters with text balloons, and suddenly, half of my jokes and nuanced one-liners fell flat, because there wasn’t an actor to give them the right tone of voice. In a bid to learn how to write non-voiced game dialogues, I turned to one of my other favorite story-telling art forms: comics. This is what I learnt.

Geoffrey Golden

Now You’re Playing with Panels: The Art of Gamebook Comics

You’re not just a reader with gamebook comics. You’re the hero! Imagine a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book, only with panels instead of text blocks, and monsters to battle with dice rolls. We’ll take a look at the legacy of solo comic gamebooks, from the obscure British comic Diceman (1986) to Marvel’s You Are Deadpool (2018). How are these games designed? What elements do they draw from video games, tabletop RPGs, and interactive fiction? Are they fun? Turn the page and find out.

LeeAnne Ireland

Indigenous Storytelling in Comics

In this talk, we will explore how Indigenous teachings, learning and storytelling is a great mechanism to building the foundation of comics, graphic novels and games. The talk will also explore how to incorporate Indigenous processes, parallel ways of knowing and ceremony into the process to ensure it is as meaningful as the end product. Lastly, people will have an opportunity to explore some of the behind the scenes ways that we created our popular graphic novels into virtual reality game experiences.

Sharang Biswas

Understand Comics / Understanding Games: Examining Games Through the Scott McCloud Lens

What can comics teach game designers? How are the visual and interactive arts related? In an increasingly interdisciplinary world, studying an art form through the lens of an another, seemingly unrelated field can yield insights and breakthroughs that defy current expectations of art. In this talk, we’ll be examining games and game-design through Scott McCloud’s classic text UNDERSTANDING COMICS.

Bahiyya Khan

Sara’s Twitter | Meg’s Twitter

Environmental storytelling in the absence of context

This talk will focus on how screenshots from vignette video games that rely on environmental storytelling as a narrative device can exist as a comic when placed out of context as well as how the environmental storytelling present in a comic can be transmuted into a vignette video game. The talk also explores the different mediums approach to environmental storytelling with video games looking at player agency and interpretation and comics relying more on traditional exposition.

Sara Alfageeh & Meg McCurdy

Sequential Storytelling: A Look At Table-Top Roleplaying games

Sitting with Sara Alfageeh and Meg McCurdy, creative director and lead artist of ONE MORE MULIVERSE.Talking about visual storytelling by game devs with one foot in comics and the other in table top roleplaying games. Looking at how artists bring over storytelling concepts from one to the other. Understanding how visuals allow us to “move at the speed of story”, and what that means.

Games!

Boy Problems

Boy Problems Productions

It is many years into the future. A wealthy and powerful person (or persons) has claimed a rare and much sought after prize: the “vault” of 200 unreleased (this is real!) songs from renowned Canadian pop artist, CARLY RAE JEPSEN. Hired by an anonymous sponsor, your team of highly trained individuals will raid a well-defended location to retrieve said item. From planning to set-up to execution, you will see this heist through to its completion, whether that be a success or failure. There will many twists and turns along the way, and don’t always trust the specialists by your side.

Time Bandit

Joel Jordon

Time Bandit is a dark life sim where everything you do takes time. Place down a robot to push a box for you, and it will take an actual half an hour to finish. By saving the game and coming back periodically to make progress, you are invited to explore your habits, rituals, and experience of time in general, particularly as it relates to work and exploitation.

Keyword

City From Naught Inc.

Keyword is a near-future cyberpunk 3D detective-thriller game about a private investigator searching for his missing daughter. Players will take on the role of a private investigator and father to an 18-year-old girl, use their observation and deduction skills, coupled with their tech-savviness, hacking around social media accounts and websites in order to unravel the threads surrounding the mystery of the missing daughter.

Questlike: Pocket

Spritewrench Studios

Questlike: Pocket is a mobile, monster-hunting RPG where you battle monsters and craft awesome gear. Get swept up in the Rhythm of the Hunt- Time your attacks to best your fearsome foes and secure your place as the world’s top-ranked Hunter!

Midnight Identity Crisis

Yuen Hoang

“There will always be comfort in knowing that you are comprised of other’s parts- because then, you can never be truly alone.” Midnight Identity Crisis is a multimedia surreal walking simulator, focused on how media, other people, and art influence our identities.

Nell & the Festival of Spooks

Becky Wu

A slice-of-life visual novel about a seemingly ordinary girl named Nell, who has a love for horror. An eclipse transports her to a spooky town where she gets enrolled into a fancy academy!

Saving You From Yourself

Taylor McCue

Play as a therapist and fuck up a perfectly good girl by helping her.

The Hex Perplex

Daniel Narvaez

Welcome to the Hex Perplex! Can you defeat the unstoppable power that lurks among these walls? Master the power of the spell books and vanquish the curse that holds the castle! Use them to fight enemies and alter your terrain! It will surely be a difficult journey!

Bombing!!: A Graffiti Sandbox

Devon Wiersma

Bombing!!: A Graffiti Sandbox is a creative lo-fi sandbox game where every inch of the environment can be painted. Armed with your trusty backpack, a bag full of gear and a selection of tools, take to the streets and fill them with your creations!

GUNPIG: Firepower For Hire

LaPointe Joints

Hop into your teeny tank and blast the Chrysophods…fast, fun, arcade style action! Join alien pest control specialist (and possibly shortest mercenary in the galaxy) Bax Torpini, as he fights to rid Stalwart Academy, a school space station, of a rogue horde of out-of-control robot space monsters!

Pixel Puzzle Makeout League

Rude Ghost

Solve pixel puzzles, date superheroes, and save the day! Dating sim meets puzzle game in this romantic comedy adventure.

START AGAIN: a prologue

insertdisc5

START AGAIN START AGAIN START AGAIN: A PROLOGUE (or: START AGAIN: a prologue) is a short rpg where you, Siffrin, are stuck in a time loop for no reason you can find.
You’re fine though! Hiding your knowledge from your friends is easy! Fighting the same enemies is easy! Dying to the same final boss over and over again is easy!
You have to make sure your friends don’t find out about the super fun times you’re having though.
They can’t know.
They can’t.

START AGAIN: a prologue is a story-driven 3-5 hour long RPG made in RPGmaker, and is available on itch.io. It can be played with a keyboard or a gamepad.

Emergent Fates

megaphemeral

Emergent Fates is a Japanese inspired Role Playing Game about finding identity and purpose in a world where your fate has already been decided.

Duskwitch: Heroic Soul

VIVIDBLUE LTD

Duskwitch: Heroic Soul is a fast-paced character action shooter where you play as Rutie, a witch tasked with saving the rest of the world after nearly ending it herself! Using her Broom, she uses soul energy to eliminate Azazoth’s Remnants which are shadows of an ancient evil being that consume human souls. Fight your way through the horde of Remnants and take them out in style!

Garden Story

Picogram

Unify a broken community as the newly-appointed Guardian of The Grove. Traverse a vibrant island to combat invasive Rot, inspire its inhabitants, and rebuild your home. You won’t have to do this alone: fruity friends await, ready to lend a hand!

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In Cold Dark

done \ undone

Three years scouting the distant reaches of the galaxy. You’ve been all on your own, but now it’s time to head back, to SAGI 499: a divided colonial society on the edge of the Sagittarius spiral, and your home. Old friends calling, new faces to meet, political turmoil … and hints of something far stranger. What will you choose?

Shot in the Dark

Possum House Games

Shot in the Dark offers a unique challenge, combining nail biting pixel perfect platforming with precise point and click shooting. But many of the cruel creatures of the night remain hidden in shadow. The bandit will have to be on the lookout for glowing red eyes, shadows moving through the trees, and figures lurking in the night. Because sometimes the only sign of a demon on your trail is the slight movement of the tall grass. And sometimes all you can do is take a shot in the dark.

Facts About the Robot Uprising

Geoffrey Golden, Jordan Robins

Facts About the Robot Uprising is the first new game to be developed for the Tiger 2-XL in more than 25 years. In this trivia challenge, 3-XL (2-XL’s sinister successor) quizzes the audience on why and how robots will enslave humanity. Players who answer 3-XL’s questions correctly get a funny song! Those who don’t will become the first victims of the robot uprising…

flaming/million

Nilson Carroll

A NEW GAME FOUND IN THIS FLAMING DUMPSTER: follow L.C. through a warped glitch campus during the FRATPARADE. destroy the three (3) police surveillance monuments and rid the campus of masculine oppression. use the queer power of glitches and begin to heal this terrible curse put on us all.

The Big Con

Mighty Yell

Flex your inner teenager in The Big Con, an adventure game where you hustle across the country as a teen trying to save your family video store. In classic 90s con movie style, you’ll get to persuade and pilfer your way to greatness using a whack of potential grifts.

Project Snapshot

Dinky Dinos

A casual simulation game where players channel their inner photographer to capture the natural beauty of a remote island for peculiar clients!

Dawn of the Monsters

13AM Games

Dawn of the Monsters is a co-operative kaiju beat-em-up coming in 2021. Players take control of powerful monsters in order to take on the evil “Nephilim”- a horde of creatures that are hellbent on destroying the planet. Liberate four major metropolitan areas- from Toronto to Tokyo in this epic action game.

Shwip

Jamhammer Games

Dominate global leaderboards as you face off against an onslaught of geometric foes. Shwip combines straight up twin-stick arcade action with tight controls, insane pixel destruction and devastating weapons and abilities. Evade, outlast and play with style in four game modes over single and local multiplayer.

Some Like It Hot!

AugEx

Some Like It Hot! is a combination of job simulation and visual novel, where you’ll be crafting complex caffeinated concoctions during the rush hours, and getting to know the regulars during your down time.

Gladiotron

Gavin Ball / Full Circle CS Inc.

Gladiotron is a modern take on Metroidvanias, while not hiding it’s retro inspirations. It is also an online interactive story that follows the adventures of 2 Detroit area high school students as they get wrapped up in a cosmic adventure that will test their faith and resilience as they try to save the galaxy from the intergalactic space demons.

Triversal

Phantom Compass

Triversal is a simply satisfying spatial puzzle game that helps you find your chill. Relaxing and rewarding; Suspend a light orb over the goal by tethering to nearby supports and complete puzzle after puzzle.

Told By Starlight

Ryan Khan

Told by Starlight is a no prep, GM-less tabletop game for 2-6 players. It is about drawing constellations and telling the tales behind them. Using a standard deck of playing cards to generate themes and prompts, you will create an entire mythology, and all the characters within.

Hop Together

Toasty Bread Team

Help bunnies bring carrots up to their friends in this charming little puzzle game.

A Night at Manster Mansion

Onino Zvezdin

Woken in the night by your boss, you must go uncover the murder at the mysterious Manster Mansion belonging to the most ruthless mafia clan in the world. Will you be able to get out unscathed or will you perish like the typical victim of their cruelty?

DepowerBall

Mega Power Games

DepowerBall is a competitive game where the fate of every matchup is influenced by fast-paced gameplay and tactical decision-making. Every match, each player starts with the same set of powers to try and accomplish their task of pleasing the Dragon Queen by feeding her delicious treats! When a player wins a round, he or she will earn the Queen’s favour, but will earn the wrath of the other players as they vote to take away one of the winner’s powers! Adapt to your changing conditions, or get left behind as the other players take advantage of your weakened state!

Recalculating

Blank Slate Games

Think small talk is tough? Imagine if your life depended on it. Recalculating is a soft-thriller visual-novel intended to simulate an uncomfortable position familiar to many women: being in a rideshare vehicle. Navigate your thoughts and choices by launching a ball to select dialogue options that bounce around the screen. In a game with multiple endings and plot twists, can you speak your mind when it really matters? After all, when anxieties heighten, things becomes harder to say… literally.

Bapy

Snotwurm

Adopt and care for an infant demon of your own!

Our Partners

Promoter Tier Supporters

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Patron Tier Supporter

Volunteers

Coordinators: Enna Kim & Sam Cuddy

Erica Coutts, Porter Crease, Kevin Ly, Sonya Tsui, Mobeedah Akhter, Amer Ali Mohammed, Ian Fyfe, Chih-Chieh Chang, Chi Ma, Leif Conti-Groome, Gresa Ago Ago, Jack Chang, Annabelle Wu, Siena Smith, Cass Alvarado, Phoenix Simms, Katelyn Campbell, and Adil Sulaiman.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]Yay! We’re so happy to be able to have this festival to brighten up your week! We want to thank all the Sponsors, Friends, HES Staff, Volunteers and more for making this event happen! We love the Toronto Games Community so much! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” css_animation=””][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Comics x Games 2020 game submissions, now 🔴LIVE!

Royel Edwards — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 22:00:09 +0000

Oh boy what a treat! We’re in 2020 and the gears are turning! Things are happening and we at Hand Eye Society CANNOT WAIT to get started with this year’s events and festivities!

We’re holding an open call for games to be showcased on-site at the Toronto Comics Arts Festival (May 9th and 10th) as part of this year’s Comics X Games 8! Comics X Games fosters collaboration between the independent game and comic communities through a variety of projects, partnerships and events. Every year with our partners during TCAF, we present unique, game-focused content — from arcades and gallery shows, to panels, talks, and even cross-collaborative game jams. It’s a great opportunity to expose your game to TCAF’s diverse audience of over 20,000+ visitors. Table space is limited, so apply now!

[button size=’large’ style=” text=’Click here for the 2020 Exhibitor Application Form’ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdJq3LztgFkQUdEDbR1uoF8NNYEN6gwjz_ZDWbjAoafU9ZiA/viewform’ target=’_self’ color=” hover_color=” border_color=” hover_border_color=” background_color=” hover_background_color=” font_style=” font_weight=” text_align=’center’ margin=”]

Submissions close February 9 2020 at midnight EST.

Exhibitors must be able to attend TCAF in Toronto, Canada both days to set up and staff their table. Send any questions to the Comics X Games Team at cxg@handeyesociety.com (Sagan Yee, Ken Cho, Amanda Wong).

Note: TCAF has traditionally been held at Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street. However, due to the disappointing events that transpired in October 2019, TCAF has made a statement that the event will exist in multiple venues and so we are waiting to hear back from organizers on their decision. For more information, please read TCAF’s statement on the issue that was published on December 31, 2019 here: http://www2.torontocomics.com/2019/12/30/tcaf-statement-about-toronto-public-library-and-the-2020-festival/

Table Fees Information: Please Read!

Taken by our Director of Technology Ken Cho while prepping for WordPlay

For the first time in 7 years, we are requesting a small fee of $30 per table and $10 for each piece of rented equipment (computers and monitors) for a maximum of $50. This money will go directly towards replacing and maintaining our tech, which takes a lot of wear-and-tear during events like this. Capital costs such as computers, monitors and speakers are often disqualified from funding sources such as government grants, and we’re always on the lookout for ways to replenish our weary machines. Additionally, financial support for Comics x Games often varies widely from year to year, so this will help ensure that we can continue to run this program sustainably.

You always have the option to waive the fee if you feel it would be a barrier to applying; simply check the appropriate box when applying through the exhibitor form.

Compared to other trade show table fees and considering games don’t make a ton of money off merch, we feel this is a fair price. However, you won’t be penalized for waiving the fee – we want to keep things accessible and inclusive! Consider it a suggested donation for those who are able to afford it, and know that we will forever appreciate your contributions to making our programming free and open to the public. This is a new thing we’re trying out, so we look forward to hearing your feedback.

For Toronto/GTA and sometimes international artists, we have several non-vendor exhibition opportunities where we pay out artist fees (such as Waterfront Arcade, Curious Cabinets, WordPlay and the Oakwood Village Residency in 2017), so please keep an eye out for ongoing activities throughout the year!

Application FAQ

When and where is TCAF? The Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2020 will take place Saturday, May 9th, 9am-5pm, and Sunday May 10th, 10am-5pm, at Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street. The Comics x Games exhibit usually takes place on the second floor.

How does Comics X Games fit into this? TCAF is its own event/organization, but the Comics x Games programming is coordinated by the Hand Eye Society and promoted as a cross-disciplinary part of the main festival. It’s a partnership that started in 2012 between TCAF and HES co-founder, Miguel Sternberg, with support from TIFF.nexus. We are extremely grateful to TCAF for being a great host all these years!

Do I need to live in Toronto to take part? Nope. International guests are welcome as long as you’re able to travel to Toronto for TCAF and staff your table over the two days. TCAF’s FAQ has some good travel information for out of town visitors.

Is there a table fee for confirmed applicants? Yes, but we are very flexible. For the first time in 7 years, we are charging a small fee of $30 per table and $10 for each piece of loaned equipment (computer and/or monitor) so the maximum ask won’t be higher than $50 CAD. This money will go towards the wear-and-tear on our equipment, which is expensive to replace and difficult to fund through normal channels. However, you won’t be penalized for waiving the fee – we want to keep things as accessible and inclusive as possible!

Can I sell merchandise for my game? Yes; in fact we encourage it! Banners, postcards, download codes, plushies, etc. are all fine. However first and foremost this is a games showcase so you need to have your game set up for people to play, and to please respect your neighbour’s table space.

My game has nothing to do with comics, so can I still apply? Yes! While we are always excited to see game submissions with some connection to the world of comics, such as visual novels or interactive experiments that play with the concept of sequential art (or comic artists who are also making indie games), all are welcome to apply! Click here to see a list of previous exhibitors.

I don’t have a game, but my comic is super relevant to games, can I exhibit at Comics x Games? Unless it’s some form of interactive comic (like Meanwhile or Framed), probably not. Send us an email if you want to be put on a list and we’ll let you know if extra space becomes available. Alternatively, you can let us know you are interested in being a speaker or a panellist, as we’ve had many guests such as Jason Shiga talk about their comics in an interdisciplinary context.

How do you decide which games get selected for the arcade? We get more and more submissions every year and only have enough table space to select about 30 games, so there are many factors that go into making the final selection. Once submissions close, the HES team sits down and plays through all of the games that were submitted. There is no main criteria that governs our choices, but we like to see a wide variety of types of games (multiplayer, story-driven, puzzle, experimental, even tabletop), as well as prioritizing games that demonstrate the independent creative spirit of TCAF. Some of the other things we look for are: Is the artist/studio from Toronto or the GTA? Are they a student or emerging artist who could use the exhibition experience? Are they from a marginalized or traditionally underrepresented background? Above all, balance is key!

Do I need to provide my own computer equipment? Yes, you should bring everything you need to showcase your game. However, you can rent a computer and/or monitor if you’d like (see the form). A small number of loaner set-ups will be available, although they are fairly underpowered and we will have to test your game on them to make sure they run properly. Priority will be given to guests coming from outside of Toronto/the GTA.

Will there be internet on site? Not particularly. While the library technically has free Wi-Fi, it’s spotty at the best of times and borderline useless during TCAF. We strongly recommend having a build that is is playable offline.

I only want to showcase for one of the days, can I do that? Probably not. Priority will be given to exhibitors showing both days but you can send us an email with your preferred day if you want to be put on a list.

I exhibited in previous years and the space was kind of difficult to navigate. Will there be any changes this year? Unfortunately there is unlikely to be any changes to the physical area as long as TCAF remains in the Toronto Reference Library. The second floor space is what we’ve been given to work with, and the tables are bolted to the floor, which makes changing the layout basically impossible. We’ve flagged the risers as an accessibility issue, but until a solution is found, we will continue to do our best to make sure everyone’s needs are met!

Question not on the list? Email cxg@handeyesociety.com

For more information about TCAF:

Website: www.torontocomics.com
Twitter: @Torontocomics
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TorontoComics
Tumblr: torontocomics.tumblr.com

June’s Warm Weather Newsletter

Royel Edwards — Fri, 31 May 2019 16:00:58 +0000

It’s June! Finally! I never thought we’d make it! Give yourselves a pat on the back. This is what I wanted! You ready to feel that H E A T? Let’s sizzle on Queen Street, baby!!!

Anyway, last month was WILD for Hand Eye Society! We had Comics X Games at TCAF and we also had our second Anti-fascist game jam! But alas, it’s June and we get to start over again with more events that’ll make your head spin (in a good way, we don’t want y’all gettin’ dizzy!) Now I want to go to the beach and play my Nintendo DS…mmm yes, that’s a good June to me.

Also, don’t forget to save the date for September 21st! [REDACTED] is happening soon and we’ll be dropping new details in a city near you! Don’t sleep, and keep your eyes on our feed for updates! Let’s go, 30ºC!

Also, I saw this tweet (below) and I was like “oh.”

Please email me your answer because I’M VERY INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHTS!111!one!11eleven!11

if a bulbasaur were to wear a seatbelt, how would he wear it ? pic.twitter.com/3xYpl9AuHG

— soojin (@tofuujin) May 25, 2019

Don’t forget, there’s Google Calendar, in which you can check out all of the events here in one handy, downloadable place!

You can also submit news about Toronto/GTA games and events to calendar@handeyesociety.com at any time before the month in which the event takes place (preferably with a week to spare), post to our Facebook Group (as long as it’s relevant to local games/playful media and doesn’t violate our Code of Conduct), or @ us on Twitter for a RT.

WHERE TO JAUNT – EVENTS

June 4

Another month, another Fight Club with Toronto Gaymers!

Building Interactivity: An Introduction to Unity and Biosignals, by Hand Eye’s very own Brendan Lehman! You don’t want to miss this–sign up!

Exhibition Proposal Writing Workshop is happening over at Xspace Cultural Centre! (so many events to get y’all started on projects, oh my!)

June 5

If you wanted to learn how Expressing Emotion in Robotic Objects work then, uhh, here you go! Again, InterAccess with the cool events!

June 6

It’s Rock Band Night at Power Up Game Bar! Jam to some tunes!

June 8

TMAC is hosting a Game Accessibility Mini-Summit–sounds really interesting and rad!

June 10

There’s going to be a Comic and Videogame character workshop! How fun!

June 11

Intro to Clip Studio & Krita with DMG! Take that, Adobe!

June 13

Love’s Secret Domain LARP Playtest with DMG. Who doesn’t love a good LARP? Go have fun!

June 16

We at Hand Eye Society are having our super official Game Curious at Evergreen Brick Works Zine Launch at Evergreen Brick Works! Get your butt () over here and celebrate with us!

June 19

DMG is having a Grant-Writing Info Session for Media Arts! Maybe you’ll learn what you need for your next project?

June 21

There’s going to be a panel about Anxiety in the Art World, hosted by InterAccess. Dang, this has Rokashi written all over it.

June 20

Hiring Professional Voice Performers for Your Game. Yeah you might see me at this DMG event. This sounds like so much fun! I did some voice acting too, ya know…

June 22

It’s the 10th (wow, seriously) edition of Bit Bazaar! Come get yo Bit Bazaar X Toronto Tech Zines over at TMAC! Hells ya!

June 27

A talk about Reparative Games by Kara Stone is happening at InterAccess. Amazing, imo!

WHERE TO HAUNT – SOCIALS

June 10

Game Workers Union Toronto chapter is having their Game Workers Mixer at the Burdock Music Hall! Register and bring your co-workers with you after work!

June 20

The Indie Mixer is back and even more awesome than ever with their collaboration with Bonus Stage! Get your mix on at The Hive and register/RSVP on their website.

#ICYMI

#ICYMI #DoubleCrossGame is coming to #XboxOne on June 19th! Jump, sling, and fight your way through the thrilling mystery and figure out who is trying to destroy the multiverse! pic.twitter.com/QqWjpUQDaF

— 13AM GAMES @ G-Fest XXVII (@13amgames) June 5, 2019

"…And with great apprehension she said, DON'T WAKE THE NIGHT, FOR ITS DARKNESS WILL REVEAL THE TRUTH"

DON'T WAKE THE NIGHT, a 2D point-and-click game about witches, spirits, and community, is now out on @itchio ! https://t.co/ilKLJ5eYrL pic.twitter.com/fLaeOzDHoD

— Brujería @ Werk (@BrujeriaAtWerk) May 29, 2019

Are you an under-represented youth who has always dreamed of working in Games or Interactive Media?

Apply to @IOnews ipprenticeship program for a chance at a week-long placement at @UbisoftToronto, @TheKindlyBeast, @ukengames or @CBCToronto!

Details: https://t.co/KimVLwfKsF pic.twitter.com/2QWkiIcLyi

— Hand Eye Society (@HandEyeSociety) June 3, 2019

Exciting news! #BELOW is nominated for 3 awards at @BitSummit!
Best of Show!
Excellence in Game Design!
Excellence in Sound Design!
Huge Congrats to the #Below team!https://t.co/stB8ZMrvxf pic.twitter.com/qhGJKZCjw1

— CAPY (@CAPYGAMES) May 24, 2019

COMING AND GOING ATTRACTIONS

The Long Exposure Festival is will be here next month!

On July 13th, the second Long Exposure Festival will fill Flemingdon park with interactive games, installations, snacks and performances!

This is a free, all-ages event. There will be workshops for kids on how to spin poi and assemble LED toys to explore, alongside the artwork in the park. The Long Exposure Festival features a 8ft glowing moon, an interactive claw machine, aerial dance performers, a glow-in-the-dark ball pit, and more! This event is located in Flemingdon park between Gateway Blvd and Don Mills Rd, next to the soccer field.

The 4th Annual VRTO – Virtual & Augmented Reality World Conference & Expo! (Hand Eye Society Members keep a lookout in your email for a surprise )

Summer is coming. (take THAT Game of Thrones) And that means Camp Make-A-Game is almost upon us!

https://twitter.com/phoenixsimms/status/1132319992840634368

BREADWINNER – JOBS/GIGS/OPPORTUNITIES/DEADLINES

The 2019 Full Indie Summit is-a comin’ this September! Not only that but they’re looking for speakers! If you have something on your chest, now’s the time to speak up!

This might be useful to Ontario games folk? The Ontario government is speeding up tax credits for your games! Which is good because most other things they’re up to is awful.

https://twitter.com/JanDavidHassel/status/1132577573987336192

Uken has jobs!

Rockstar has jobs!

Ubisoft has jobs!

Disclaimer: This is a monthly compilation of various Toronto game news and events in and around the city — many of which are not organized by Hand Eye Society — and is by no means comprehensive. Always check official links for accurate details and credits, and please send any corrections, additions, or submissions for future months to calendar@handeyesociety.com before the month in which the event takes place.

May’s Comics X Games is finally upon us Newsletter

Royel Edwards — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 18:30:25 +0000

Yay! It’s May! It’s been a long time coming and there’s great stuff coming up! “But Royel, what kind of stuff you may ask me?” and I’ll say, “ACK! exCUSE ME??? It’s Comics X Games this month! Have you even seen the GAMES or even seen the TALKS?? How dare you!” And then you’ll be like, “I’m sorry I let you down.” And I’ll be like, “It’s fine! See ya there ok thanks byeeee!”

Still, we at Hand Eye Society are hard at work making our other upcoming events are in tip top shape! Speaking of which, S E P T E M B E R…..

Why do I keep mentioning September? So weird… Anyway, it’s time to see what’s up this month and digest the heck out of it!

Don’t forget, there’s Google Calendar, in which you can check out all of the events here in one handy, downloadable place!

WHERE TO JAUNT – EVENTS

May 1

Our friends at Glad Day Bookshop is having a launch party for Shout Out–A queer YA anthology! Sketches and signings and social, oh my!

May 2

Using Twitch Streaming for Performance Art? Uhh… hells yeah, count me in!

May 1-5

Go support OCAD students with their GradEx 104–A graduate exhibition~ It’s all free and features the work of 800 students??? Excuse me?? HOW?

May 4

There’s going to be a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate! Choose Sonic or Jigglypuff who are the best characters! Shout outs to The Black Nerds for hosting!

There’s also going to be a games tournament at Sky Zone Toronto! Could be fun!

May the 4th be with you!

Ooo bby

May 5

We at Hand Eye Society are hosting our first ever Anti-Fascist Game Jam! Sign up to our form for additional details!

May 7

Toronto Gaymers are back at it with another session of FIGHT CLUB!

May 9

TCAF Drink n’ Draw is here! You can…uhh…drink…and draw! Wild! What a fun time!

Power Up Bar has Rock Band Nights for those who want to get their rock on. Hells yeah, play that GEEETAAAR!

Detective Pikachu! Lmao. Not really Toronto-related, but I sure as heck am going to see this movie! I can’t wait!

May 11

It’s finally here! The One! The Only! It’s the annual Hand Eye Society Comics X Games featuring speakers, over 30 games and endless fun! Ahhh! We’re working hard to bring you the best one yet! It’s going to be awesome!

There’s going to be a TCAF Queer Mixer! Get your queer butts over to the Glad Day Bookshop and chat up a storm with like-minded individuals!

You like Marvel, right? Well, get those superhero tights out and fly on down to Power Up Bar who is hosting the Ultimate Marvel Party! (maybe it’s a good idea to watch Avengers:Endgame before you go? folks might be talking about that movie!)

May 12

Oh wow, what a treat! Perturbator is going to have a concert at The Phoenix! You may remember them from Hotline Miami! It’s gonna be a BOP!

May 13

Another month, another super fun game designers night at Snakes & Lattes. Prototype, play and chat!

May 15

Join us for a FREE night of talk and play with game workers, players and artists confronting capitalism, white supremacy, and misogyny in real and virtual worlds. Unfeeling Capitalism: Ruptures in Videogame Culture is presented by Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts, in collaboration with Hand Eye Society, Dames Making Games, Toronto Media Arts Centre, Unifor National, and Game Workers Unite.

May 16

Want to learn how to create reusable model assets? DMG has their Modular Building with 3DS Max & UE4 event just for youuuuu!

May 29

DMG is hosting a talk about Writing Dialogue For Games! Narrative designers, GET IN HERE!

WHERE TO HAUNT – SOCIALS

May 8

Creator Resource is hosting a Short Stories & Zines Panel and Social in in partnership of TCAF! Looks like a lot of fun!

May 9

It’s the Breakfast Game Audio Club happening at TMAC! Eat light noms, chat about game audio! Have fun!

May 11-12

Again! Yay! Comics X Games at TCAF! It’s gonna be wild! Come play! Come chat! Come sit around and watch everyone say “excuse me” and “sorry” as they bump into each other in the library looking at cool zines, games and more! It’s gonna be so much fun!

The DMG May Speaker Social is ON LIKE DONKEY KONG!

May 20

Friends Play Games #127? Wow, I can’t even count that high! Get out there and play games! Also, if you’re going to talk about Avengers: Endgame, make sure you don’t spoil it for others who haven’t seen it yet. Keep TMAC a Spoiler-free zone! #thoughtful

May 21

B O N U S S T A G E~ This month’s topic is themes and tropes in games, so you’ll know a lot of folks will have something to say. Check it.

COMING AND GOING ATTRACTIONS

COME TO COMICS X GAMES OH MY GOODNESS IT’S GOING TO BE SO MUCH FUN I CAN’T EVEN DEAL

https://twitter.com/Mr_Tedders/status/1123255783125286913

#ICYMI

https://twitter.com/Mr_Tedders/status/1123907232213630977

There was a feature on CBC about Crunching in videogeames, which I think you REALLY should read. Also, support Game Workers Unite Toronto!

I did the cover for this @TorontoComix short zine, you can check it out at #TCAF this year! It’s full of great stories written by @cardboardshark, featuring different local artists. https://t.co/rvdOTH8hXJ

— Saffron Aurora (@Lemondaurora) April 25, 2019

BREADWINNER – JOBS/GIGS/OPPORTUNITIES/DEADLINES

Hey you! Would you like to volunteer for Comics X Games? Now is the time!

Time slot and details, below!

: https://t.co/IQMmMCLd2I

*Note: hunger games themes not to be expected at Comics X Games.* pic.twitter.com/Wjuw0QKLsy

— Hand Eye Society (@HandEyeSociety) April 18, 2019

Our friends at Get Set Games has a lot of jobs open for ya!

Ubisoft has jobs!

Rockstar has JERBS!!

Achimostawinan Games is looking for a 2D Animator/Artist and Cree Translator for their new game, Hill Agency!

Here are the games for Comics X Games

Royel Edwards — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 22:19:52 +0000

You asked for it and now it’s here! Our official list of all games making a special appearance at this year’s Comics X Games at TCAF 2019! We are proud an honoured to have all these games for you to play! Feast your eyes on all these games!

If you’re looking to play some or all of these fantastic games, they’ll all be on the second floor of the Toronto Reference Library during TCAF festivities on ! Come, say hi, and most importantly, play! Speakers and special guests to be announced soon!

What: Comics X Games 2019 Edition

Who: Your friends at Hand Eye Society

Where: Second floor of the Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St, Toronto

When: Saturday May 11th 9am-5pm, Sunday May 12th 10:00am to 5pm

Rock-Paper-SWAP! by JAWS

Twitter/Twitter/Twitter/Twitter

A 2-4 player arena PVP game where you must predict your enemies’ actions, and transform into Rock, Paper, or Scissors to counter them. The first player to 5 points wins.

Get in the Car, Loser! by Love Conquers All Games

A lesbian road trip RPG by the writer behind Ladykiller in a Bind and the artist behind Witch Trade about fighting for love and justice in the face of indifference, inspired by choice-driven visual novels, and a battle system influenced by classic and modern JRPGs. WILL YOU STAND AND FIGHT IN THE FACE OF EVIL?

Boyfriend Dungeon by Kitfox Games

Romance your swords! Capture the hearts of weapons to level them up in this dating simulator, dungeon crawling mash up. The stronger your relationship, the better the fight in the dungeon!

Double Cross by 13AM Games

Double Cross is an exciting action adventure game that has players take on the role of Zahra, an agent of R.I.F.T. whose job it is to maintain peace and order between all dimensions. A recent attack on R.I.F.T. headquarters thrusts players into a thrilling new case where they must use their R.I.F.T. developed gear to sling, swing, fight and investigate across distinct dimensions. During their travels players will gather clues to bring themselves one step closer to finding the identity of R.I.F.T.’s attacker and save every variation of the universe.

StickyBots by Potion Games

Twitter/Instagram/Website/Itchio

Plunge into a first of its kind online multiplayer action platformer. StickyBots combines shooting and platforming for a unique, adrenaline pumped, action packed experience. Unconstrain your play style by swapping your character class mid-fight. Climb up walls and on the ceiling for a special perspective on the battle. Use momentum by bunny hopping, rocket jumping, and falling with style across the map. StickyBots is complete with both single player and online multiplayer modes.

Depower Ball by Mega Power Games

How much will you lose before you win? Your objective is to win three rounds. Every round, you will deliver critters to your Queen to score points using all four of your given abilities. Whoever gets the most points will win the round. BUT…win a round, and the other players will vote off one of your abilities, forcing you to change your strategy on the fly!

Road to the Champ by PIZZA PRANKS

Road to the Champ is a professional wrestling RPG mixing timing based attacks and the awareness that wrestling is obviously not real. Work together with your partners in the ring to put on the best show possible! Outside the ring improve your body and personality on the road to becoming a top performer!

Blabyrinth by Sleeping Beast Games

Blabyrinth is a cooperative escape room that changes every time you play! Explore a mysterious labyrinth with your friends. Find cryptic clues and secret passages, solve puzzles, and escape with the treasure! 2–4 players on iOS or Android.

Neutrois by Dikla Revah Sinai

Instagram

Neutrois is a nonlinear interactive novel, created in Twine, speculating on life in a postgender world. The narrative is based on a science fiction future scenario. The game includes original artwork, illustrations, which are using to help envision the imaginary world. The game invites its participants to think critically about a future social construction where gender and biological sex designations are a matter of choice.

Seven Minutes in Heaven by Drotleyes

You and your love have just 7 minutes in heaven together – but heaven is full of invisible walls, and just one of you has the maps. If you can work through your arguments and fumble awkwardly together through the messy halls of heaven, you just might enjoy the pleasures of a few last seconds in each other’s company. Love takes a lot of thought, conversation, and platforming—no one said it would be easy.

Gigco: Escape the Gig Economy by Spekwork

In the Gig Economy, you’ve got to get the job done– or risk automation. In a world where Amazon, Uber, and Facebook are looming mega-opolies, you need to work, ‘like’, and subscribe to stay alive. Gigco: Escape the Gig Economy is a pro-worker mobile game exploring the changing conditions of work and play.

Solace State by Vivid Foundry

Twitter/Steam/Website

Solace State is a choice-driven sci-fi drama about Chloe, a young hacker in a city fractured by disparity and conspiracy, where her speaking truth to power shapes friendships, coalitions, and afflicted groups fighting for their livelihoods. Solace State innovates the visual novel genre by using beautifully painted 3D urbanscapes, diegetic text, and intersecting camera-work as the canvas of its storytelling. In this gritty drama about fighting injustice across entrenched social divisions, there are numerous choices to make about the manipulation of data and behaviour. The emotional journey also balances with uplifting personal tales of friendship, family, community, and past and future loves.

Pixel Puzzle Makeout League by Rude Ghost

Pixel Puzzle Makeout League is a hybrid visual novel and puzzle game themed around romance, comedy and superheroes. As “Pixel Girl”, you’ll use the power of “pixel puzzles”—where you fill in numbered grids to reveal hidden pictures (also known as picross or nonograms)—to solve life’s problems, romance your fellow puzzle-themed superheroes, and maybe even save the day! Will you find true love in the Puzzle League, or will the mysterious Villain third wheel you with his doomsday plot? It’s an adventure for players who love puzzles, and want to *love* puzzles…seriously, you can date a giant puzzle piece.

Gunhead by Alientrap

Gunhead is a fast paced strategic FPS where you take the role of a pirate mech with a gun for a head, looting derelict spaceships filled with monstrous drones made out of bone and steel.

Floor Kids Jam! by Kid Koala & JonJon

Twitter/Website + Website

Floor Kids is a new breakdance battle game featuring unique freestyle gameplay, rhythm challenges, and multiplayer sessions. Discover stylized hand-drawn graphics by award-winning animator JonJon set to an original soundtrack by world-renowned scratch DJ/producer Kid Koala. Bring your skills. Build your crew. Find your style.

All My Exes are in Mechsuits by Anna Anthropy

Twitter/Itchio

A three-player live action role-playing game (LARP) about a pilot, their mech, and a returning figure from their past. Can the mech’s on-board AI keep the pilot focused on their mission while they try to prove themself to their ex? Created for the Emotional Mech Jam.

Bravery Network Online by GLOAM

Bravery Network Online is a turn-based battle game that has you in the future world of Toronto, competing in the ultimate sport: Bravery. Technology has made resource scarcity a thing of the past, and the citizens lovingly battle each other to stay plugged in.

Notopoly by Maurice Grela & Lisa Smedman

Notopoly is a reimagining of Monopoly that returns the game to its educational roots while presenting a contemporary solution to the hyper accumulation of property.

Lizard by Brad Smith

Put on a Lizard and go for an adventure! An exploration platform game for the NES.

Quench by Axon Interactive

Twitter/Website/Steam

Quench is a story-driven puzzle game set in a colourful, lo-fi world. You play as Shepherd, an avatar of nature, and you have the power to control the weather to guide herds of animals on a perilous journey. You must protect your flock, tend the land, and unravel the mystery of the strange smokebeasts that have invaded the world.

A Short Hike by Adam Robinson-Yu & Mark Sparling

Twitter/Website + Twitter/Website

Take a break and go for A Short Hike. Follow the hiking signs to reach the top of Hawk Peak Trail, or find your own route to the top of the mountain. Use your climbing and flying abilities to scout the island and make friends in this peaceful exploration game.

Meka Puppers by Galacanine Entertainment Software Inc.

Twitter/Facebook

Part tactics-style RPG, part mech builder, with a hint of pet simulation! Help the Meka Puppers save the Shiberius Prime star system by building custom Meks, engaging in turn-based combat, and befriending new doggo pilots along the way. Meka Puppers will be coming to PC and MacOS in 2019.

Russian Subway Dogs by Spooky Squid Games Inc.

Twitter/Website/Facebook/Instagram

A fast-paced systemic arcade game inspired by the real-life stray dogs of the Moscow metro. Can you steal enough food to survive?

Later Alligator by Pillow Fight Games/SmallBu Animation Studio

Twitter/Twitter/Youtube

Later Alligator is an interactive cartoon adventure about Pat, a hapless little reptile with a big problem: his family is trying to kill him! Explore Alligator New York City and meet over 100 characters, all animated lushly by Lindsay and Alex Small-Butera, the Emmy Award-winning team behind Cartoon Network hits and Youtube series Baman Piderman.

The Ghost Houses of Phylinecra by Shel Kahn

Twitter/Instagram

The Ghost Houses of Phylinecra is a system-agnostic tabletop RPG adventure, pitting players against the mystery of the crystalline, house-shaped sarcophagi that have taken over the homes of survivors after the Great Flood of Phylinecra. Will your adventurers find their way into the underworld? And who will they meet there – friend, or foe? Available as a zine and as part of a pocket dungeon pack, featuring a fabric map, patch, cursed pencil and more!

Note: Due to unfortunate and unexpected circumstances, this game will no longer be showing at CxG this year. However, we encourage you to check out Shel’s stuff anyway because they rock!

Shot in the Dark by Possum House Games

Twitter /Twitter /Website Website

Shot in the Dark adds a sinister twist to the classic 2D platformer formula. All kinds of monsters and traps are hidden in the shadows of a monochromatic world. Players must have a sharp eye and quick reflexes in order to survive. Armed with nothing but a six-shooter, it is up to the lone gunslinger to overcome the demonic threat.

Wittle by Embreate

The story depicts recent college graduate Raf, unable to find a job and struggling with his living expenses. He lies about his restaurant experience and gets a job at a vegan deli despite not being vegan or even vegetarian. You will help Raf make fresh-cuts of different vegetables while dealing with your boss and other challenges in the midst of trying to work. Wittle draws its content from the lived experiences described by comedians about dealing with mental health-related issues. Players will engage with depression-related challenges as they move through the different scenarios, confronting traps and escaping via skills based in cognitive behavioural therapy.

Selling Sunlight by CoseBelle

In narrative RPG Selling Sunlight, you are a wandering merchant whose face got taken by the Sun. Explore a fantasy world stuck in an eternal sunset. Befriend other travelers, pet giant bees, smuggle light bulbs, be afraid of mirrors, and trade goods and information with other merchants. Acquire riches. Collect weird wonders. Barter with the Sun. Get your face back.

Types of Romance by Sleepy Pixel Studios

Twitter/Website/Instagram

A 70’s shoujo-manga inspired typing-game dating sim. Woo the lady of your dreams but beware your choice of words and clarity of voice lest you reduce her to tears!

Zombie Run by Natalie Garceau

Zombie Run is a simple board game that can get complicated. Your goal is to win, and to do it in the same shape you started with. Bites, antidotes, chases will get in your way. Apocalyptic dystopian fun for all.

Don’t Wake The Night by Brujería @ Werk

DON’T WAKE THE NIGHT is a 2D point-and-click mystery game, where you, the ghost a community of witches has summoned, must act as their impartial judge. But for what purpose? Unravel conversations and piece together gossip and hints to understand the source of conflict between strangers–and find out who is truly guilty.

Game Workers Unite Toronto

Game Workers Unite Toronto is the local chapter of Game Workers Unite, a worker-led organization advocating for unionization in the games industry. We seek to bring hope to and empower those suffering in this industry.

Bear-ly There by Pale Moon Games

Twitter/Instagram

Bear-ly There is a quick and leisurely adventure game where you roll, hop, and flop your way around with a 3D ragdoll physics bear in the forest on your way to fill up on salmon before a long winter sleep. Family friendly, easy on the eyes, with simple stylized 3d art and a relaxing atmosphere of animals being natural in nature.

LEFTOVERS by DROQEN X SPACE YOUTH CADETS

Twitter/Website — Twitter/Website

Leftover Adventurers!! Band together in this card game to take on challenges, rise amongst your peers, leave scars, and collect the latest good-lookin gear so you can flaunt your cool while doing it! Prove your worth and no one will leave you behind again.

Prismata by Lunarch Studios