Splatoon Squid Plush

Pink Splatoon Squid Plush

I took a break from playing Splatoon and wedding planning yesterday to make my own squid plush. (I told you in my last post that I love this game!)

I used picture of the squid from Splatoon that I found on image search to make the pattern by enlarging it in Photoshop and printing it out in multiple parts to tape together. I based the eyes on the eyes from the logo squid, though. I thought those eyes looked cuter than the original eyes.

Here’s a link to the original squid picture I used. It was made by an artist on DeviantArt, so I feel like I should give them credit. I made the pattern for the eyes using an image of an official Squid plushie I saw on image search.

Pink Splatoon Squid Plush

I’m also getting a pink Splatoon hat from an Etsy shop to start a Splatoon Inkling cosplay (I don’t know why I bought one instead of just making it since I made a very similar plush anyway, but the hat just looked so cute in the listing!). I think I’ll take it to Midoricon. I’m not sure if I’ll do a regular Inkling outfit, or a Squid Girl crossover. Maybe both on different days?

Splatoon Review

I wasn’t sure if I was going to get Splatoon on launch, but it has quickly become my favorite Wii U game over the past week.

I ended up getting the Amiibo three pack last Friday before even getting the game, because I didn’t want to miss out on the Squid Amiibo. I bought the actual game on Saturday and have been playing it like crazy since.

There are a few things that I wish they would change, however. There are only two available stages at a time in each multiplayer mode, which change every four hours. I wish it would just rotate between all of the different stages all the time. Playing the same two stages gets repetitive after a while, especially when it makes me play the same one several times in a row.

There is also a level cap of 20. I hope they raise the level cap so that it still feels like I’m making progress after I hit level 20. I’m currently at level 15, and level 20 seems like too low of a cap for this type of game, since most people will reach it within a week or two of playing. That being said, they also need to work on matchmaking so that level 1s don’t get stuck playing against level 20s. I wonder if they are just waiting to fix these things until there are more players so that higher level people aren’t stuck waiting forever to start a game (if there aren’t enough similarly skilled players trying to play) or something.

They also need to make more game modes for regular and ranked battles. It could be as simple as just taking the current two game modes (Turf Wars and Splat Zones) and making them both available for regular and ranked battles to start, and then add a few more game types later on. It doesn’t make sense to me that Turf Wars is only available for regular battles and Splat Zones is only available for ranked.

The local multiplayer is kind of boring. They should add new local multiplayer modes (perhaps Turf Wars and Splat Zones with bots?). It’s kind of a bummer that Splatoon doesn’t offer split screen.

The story mode seems a bit short, but it’s a shooter so it’s to be expected. The Amiibo challenges do help to stretch the gameplay though, even if they are only slight variations on the original story mode levels.

Overall, the game is super fun and addicting. I really like the roller weapon, even if everyone on Miiverse thinks it’s for noobs. It’s just a fun weapon to use and is different from all the weapons in other shooters. The Miiverse posts and drawings that show up throughout the game and in Inkopolis are a nice touch.

Here are the Splatoon drawings I’ve posted to Miiverse so far. Comment if you’ve seen any of them them show up in your game yet!

SquidThey see me rollin'Welcome to DYE!Squid Girl DLC for Splatoon

I read a rumor that there is going to be Squid Girl DLC in August for Japan. I’m really hoping that it comes to America too. Actually, I was hoping for a Squid Girl costume for my Inkling as soon as I started playing the game. It just makes too much sense!

What do you think of Splatoon so far? Let me know in the comments!

I Graduated!

I graduated a couple weeks ago! I feel like I should make a blog post about that.

Right now, I’m busy getting ready for my wedding, which is coming up pretty fast. I plan to start working on a new game after I get back from my honeymoon. I’m planning on continuing my education to earn a bachelor’s degree in game programming through an online degree program so that it will be easier to continue to work while going to school.

My game that I was working on during my last semester is available to purchase here: Nybiru.com. I plan on making a few browser games that can be played on my game studio’s website as well as more PC games in the future.

Petal Quest is Now Available!

Petal Quest

My game Petal Quest is now available for purchase! Since it’s my first game, I set the retail price to $1.99, and am offering an introductory sale of 50% off until the end of July! I also need to sell at lease 5 copies by the end of the semester.

Petal Quest is an arcade-style side-scrolling brawler about a flower who must save it’s garden from being invaded by weeds. The weeds will stop at nothing to defeat the flowers and take over all of the Earth’s gardens.

Petal Quest screenshotThe game features a regular arcade/story mode and a score attack mode, where you can play each stage individually to try to beat your high score.

There are five different stages with different garden/nature themes. It supports both gamepad and keyboard input.

I wanted to make a side-scrolling beat ’em up game, but I also wanted to do something different and more unique. I thought the idea of a flower having to save it’s garden was a fun concept. I think there is a place in the market more female-oriented games (that aren’t about babies, cooking, or dressing up).

It can be purchased directly from itch.io and from my new website for my game studio, Nybiru.com.

Free Content for Indie Developers – Part 2

I posted a list of websites offering free content that can be used by indie developers back in 2013. Here is another list of a few more resources that I have discovered since then.

Art Assets:

OpenGameArt – OpenGameArt.org offers a variety of art assets that can be used in your game. Make sure to check the licensing restrictions for each piece you use.

UnLucky Studio – A new pack of free art assets is posted every month.

Royalty Free Music:

Incompetch – Royalty free music that can be used as background music. You must include credits for any music pieces you use. You may also purchase a no-attribution license if you cannot include credits to the composer in your game.

Sound Effects:

sfxr – This is a handy little tool for creating your own basic sound effects for your game.

SoundBible – A variety of public domain and creative commons sounds effects.

Fonts:

FontSquirrel – 100% Free for commercial use fonts. All of the fonts available on this site can be used in your game without purchasing a license.

Check out my first list of free content here: Free Content for Indie Developers – Part 1

Tomodachi Life: Princess Peach QR Code

Do you prefer the original Princess Peach to Petch? I’ve got you covered! Here is a QR code for my Mii version of Princess Peach. Use her in Tomodachi Life or any other 3DS game that is compatible with Mii characters!

Princess Peach Tomodachi Life QR

In my game, Princess Peach is married to Sheldon Cooper. I’m still waiting for them to have a baby, though. I’m not sure that Sheldon knows how, and Princess Peach is too lady-like to show him…

Tomodachi Life: Petch and Lonk QR Codes

Have you ever wanted your own Petch and Lonk in Tomodachi Life? Now you can with these QR codes! These miis are recreations of the Petch from Texas and Lonk from Pennsylvania Miis who were first discovered in StreetPass Plaza and were circulated around the internet.

They also work great in Super Smash Bros if you have unlocked the Princess Peach crown for Petch and bought the Link outfit DLC for Lonk. The QR codes should work in Mii Maker as well if you would rather have them available to use in any of your Mii-compatible games.

Petch from Texas QR Code Mii 2

Lonk from Pennsylvania QR Code Mii

I made this version of Petch, and Lonk was made by Kirbiti (I don’t remember where I got the original QR code, so I’ve generated my own here).

And for your additional entertainment, here is a small photo gallery featuring Petch and Lonk!

Petch and Lonk 1 Petch and Lonk 2 Petch and Lonk 3 Petch and Lonk 4

edit: I had the wrong QR code on the image for Petch. It’s fixed now.

Tomodachi Life Miis!

Miis!

While browsing Miiverse, I came across a post from a Tomodachi Life player showing off all of their Miis. I see a number of familiar faces on this island!

Thank you, Midna, for adding my Miis to your island! I’m glad you enjoy them!
Miiverse

I see my Sailor Venus, Ness, Krampus, Santa Claus, and Mrs. Claus in the screen shot!

Has anyone else used my QR codes? I’d love to see screenshots of my Miis having fun on your island!

If you’d like to follow me on Miiverse, my username is NightDriver2600 and my display name is Nii.

PS: My side-scrolling brawler game (working title: Petal Quest) will be finished soon. If all goes according to plan, it will be released in early May. I will post an announcement here when it is ready. The website for Nýbiru Studio will finally go live around the same time as well.

Tomodachi Life: Thor from Stargate SG-1 QR Code

Thor - Stargate SG-1 | Tomodachi Life

Everyone’s favorite Asgard, Thor from Stargate SG-1 is ready to beam down to your Tomodachi Life island!

I made him when I was thinking of all my favorite strange looking, non-human characters that I could make for Tomodachi Life. I’m trying to get the weirdest looking baby miis possible to send out into the world via Streetpass. So far, Thor is still single on my island.
Thor Tomodachi Life QR Code

He has a UFO head accessory. You can remove it if you’d rather he looked more serious, but I thought it was fun!

Tomodachi Life: Slender Man QR Code

Slender Man | Tomodachi Life

Welcome Slender Man to your Tomodachi Life island… if you dare! What creepy things will happen after your island’s first Slender Man sighting? Will your other islanders be safe from this internet legend?

SlenderMan Tomodachi Life QR

He comes with a creepy background and a distinguished suit.

Come back tomorrow for a QR code for Stargate SG-1’s Thor.