Zettaflake's Indie Tourney

Welcome one and all to Indie Tourney (currently Season III), an online casual competition made to celebrate and promote the hidden gems of the gaming world. Vote for your favorite game in each bracket, and if you're feeling passionate, voice your praise via the comments! Your voices will lead the best indie game to claim the Indie Artifact and sweet sweet victory. Let the tourney begin!

[indietourney]

For our final reveal… we’ve been tasked to journey to the deepest depths, the home of the “Neverending Dungeons” in Bracket 18. Leave no intel or treasure behind.

Explorers have long thrived on the circulation of stories telling tales of great bounties hidden around the world. The thoughts of taking prized treasure home, testing newfound tools on unsuspecting hordes, and writing history of one’s feats are enough for thousands to willingly walk the path where death is only one mis-step away. Indeed, only hundreds out of thousands of explorers have lived to tell their tales. As the ever-attractive fantasies of risky riches continued to sweep the land, many began to wonder about the identities of the dungeons’ architectural masterminds. Other questions raised included, “Why do so many creatures choose to live in these chaotic halls of all places?”, and, “Do these dungeons even have a bottom floor? Is that why so many adventurers never return? Did our heroes truly conquer the dungeons, or did they give out mid-way through? Can I even believe in their tales of heroism!?”. Unfortunately, unlike our “heroes”, nobody out of tens sent to investigate have returned unscathed enough to provide reliable information, so the answers are still pending. For now, may the glory of the Indie Artifact be blessed upon the adventurer able to recover the sighted Ancestor’s Trinkets!

Darkest Dungeon

Rogue Glitch

Loop Hero

Noita

Awwwww snap! Everyone's here at last! :D

That means all of the Indie Tourney reveals are done, and everyone will come to a standstill for now. I know!! I want to showcase even more wonderful contestants too! However, it's never too late for your favorite game to sign-up for Season IV. (more information on that later)

For now, behold the full roster of 96 games! Tell me all about which games you're going to root for the most. Who would you like to see in those 8 positions? What games would star in your own bracket?

This wide world of indie games will return painted in all of its landscaped glory, and then the voting will commence for real! Please feel free to send me questions via this blog, as I will be very happy to answer!

Thank you all so much for tuning in! Until next time! [Contestants Revealed: 96/96] [Next Reveal: ... ]

[indietourney]

Woohoo! Time to break the mold! Yeesh, it's been crusting for months.

Where have I and Indie Tourney been? The simple answer is: college. It's been one ride after another both fun and challenging, sometimes one or the other, and other times both. I've been spending a lot of time meeting new friends, exploring my surroundings, and tackling a load of academics along with the search for internships and jobs. When it seems the world is throwing every responsibility at you, the best thing I can do is take my time and approach the way I think best, and that meant putting a hold on my projects... for now!

I've been itching to find a time where I can relax and populate this world once more. That time... has arrived!

Traveling Companions - A busy and bustling city of innovation and exploration, credited with popularizing the very term, "mobile", of course must fit the bill with snazzy, techy adornments. You can even spy various ships out in the river, stacked with valuable cargo and intrepid passengers hungry to unlock the secrets of the puzzle island. In the rural outskirts, you can also see Crazy Dave's Lawn, primed to play line defense.

The Chessmasters - We've spread our resources and set up camp throughout the forests. Hidden from the populous cities, these woods will allow us to carry out our operations and plot strategies with minimal chances of espionage leaking our plans to the enemy. Meet in the central camp right after our guided tour of the Pit. We are to discuss movement towards securing the Indie Artifact.

Like Clockwork - The grandest of optimizers have cleared an entire reach of the forest in the name of sheer statistics and economy. Their generators, conveyor lines, and automated logic circuits are unlike any other, and not only that... they seem to be diverging a handful of their power supply to fighting back against blue, ravenous fluid known only as Creeper. Goodness knows whether this scale of deforestation is truly justified...

[indietourney]

Hey, is there a list of competitors that has there names instead of icons? Some of these I want to check out but, I don't recognize them by their icons.

Hiya! You're in luck :D

I've been keeping a list of titles to keep track of the competitors since the beginning, for my sake and now for yours too. Feast your eyes!

Logic & Optics The Witness, Monument Valley, The Room (series), FEZ

It Takes a Village Owlboy, Night in the Woods, Bug Fables, Spiritfarer

Like Clockwork Cook, Serve, Delicious! (trilogy), Bejeweled 3, Satisfactory, Creeper World (series)

Darkness Falls The End is Nigh, Rainworld, LISA: The Painful, Brutal Orchestra

The “Flash”backs FireBoy & WaterGirl (series), The Bart Bonte Collection, Duck Life (series), Learn to Fly (trilogy)

The Walls are Written GRIS, Titan Souls, Flower, FAR: Lone Sails

Four Square Fair Just Shapes & Beats, thomas was alone, 140, Super Hexagon

The Gun Show Deep Rock Galactic, ShellShock Live, Risk of Rain 2, Nuclear Throne

Heart of the Cards One Step From Eden, 100% Orange Juice!, Dicey Dungeons, Rounds

My Home Away From Home Cult of the Lamb, Aground, Stardew Valley, Forager

Test of Temperament Give Up (series), I Wanna Be The Guy, Jump King, The Impossible Quiz (series)

Team-Building Exercises ibb & obb, Sky: Children of the Light, Vitamin Connection, Pico Park

Retrogradation Creepy Castle, Tower of Heaven, The Messenger, Old School Musical

Speed Menace Freedom Planet (duology), Spark the Electric Jester (trilogy), SpeedRunners, Azure Striker Gunvolt (trilogy)

Blood for the Blood God They Bleed Pixels, Dead Cells, Hotline Miami (duology), ULTRAKILL

Jump Up, Super Stars! Electronic Super Joy (duology), Umihara Kawase (series), Woodle Tree (series), Yooka-Laylee (series)

Traveling Companions Alto's Adventure (series), Fruit Ninja (series), Plants VS. Zombies (classic), Canabalt

The Chessmasters Bloons TD (series), GemCraft (series), Wargroove (duology), Pit People

Just Plain Adorable Sushi Cat (series), Pikuniku, A Short Hike, Petal Crash

LevelWare D.I.Y. osu!, Baba is You, Levelhead, Crayon Physics Deluxe

“Flash”bang Deep Sea Hunter (duology), Age of War (duology), Raft Wars (series), Bubble Tanks (series)

Untold Horrors LIMBO, Fran Bow, Dread X Collection (series), Yume Nikki (series)

Answer: Fisticuffs Tunche, Skullgirls: 2nd Encore, Guacamelee (duology), Them's Fightin' Herds

Neverending Dungeons Darkest Dungeon (duology), Rogue Glitch, Loop Hero, Noita

Please check each of these games out as time allows and as you desire. Use the divisions to roughly sort the competitors by genre and theme :)

And happy new year to everyone! I'm in the midst of winter break, and as such I can happily say I intend to resume progress on this project after an unpredictably indefinite hiatus. Thank you all for staying tuned!

- Zettaflake

[indietourney]

welfare check

Welfare check answered!

Hi! It's Zettaflake ^^ Yes, I am quite aware that this account has been as silent as a handful of indie horror games segments. To you, anonymous asker, thank you so much for letting me know that there's still some folks looking forward to this project!

Indie Tourney III's not cancelled by any means... it's mainly that college alongside making new friends IRL have been quite the time investment. I haven't been worrying much about my online presence at all in the recent couple of months.

I still have the intent to resume progress on this project once I find those homework-less pockets of time. I chose deliberately to cease setting deadlines for myself, since this is after all a personal passion project of mine. That same healthy mindset should apply to anything done on the side (unless its something like gardening, in which case take care of your plants!)

Hahaha, thought dump aside, while I start knackering down on the rest of the regions, check out some of my doodles on my main accoutn: @zettaflake! I've been following the 31 Inktober prompts and starring characters/scenes from my favorite indie games (including ones I've yet to play!)

Even though October has long gone past, I still intend to create a doodle for every prompt! In fact, once I finish all 31, the Indie Tourney III graphic will be complete by then! Then the bloodbath will begin as a previous asker said. Look forward to both of these projects resuming soon! Who knows? Maybe I've drawn an indie game that'll join your new surprise favorites! :D

Sincerely, Zettaflake (they/them)

[indietourney]

Over a full month since my last update. Time really does fly by doesn't it?

For those who I've left cliff hanging, I intend to continue developing Indie Tourney III. July was a busy month. A combination of my new summer job, family events, my first time fighting in Art Fight. Soon, I'll be moving into college too. I cannot make concrete promises on a start date, but I am estimating to have the map complete (and the tourney started) near the end of August. I know for a fact that the finished map will likely look like this, a sketch. Rendering the whole thing in color would be a recipe for insanity :')

Now... what's new?

Logic & Optics - Being the mystic island of puzzles with mysterious origins, naturally many of these structures are uninhabited and showing their age. Landscapes from all the four representatives are present, from line-tracing panels, to the Workshop's infernal machinery, to the towering cubic village, and the perspective-bended monuments. Paired together, they fill the island with an aura of grandeur, attracting adventurers both hardened and new, but all sharing an appetite for ingenuity.

Team-Building Exercises - Welcome to The Co-op Campgrounds! A fusion of both your classic camp away spots and jungle-style training grounds, complete with log cabins, watchtowers, and a soccer field. As a boot camp for Co-op play, every aspect has been designed to include an essence of companionship and teamwork. You'll need to communicate closely with your partner to ring the bell at each course's end. The same goes for the sports events that put your skills to the test! You'll be sleeping together in bunks too, a perfect time to come up with activities of comradery on your own! Not to worry, the warden tents are always open to share your state of mind or report the trolls of fellow campers.

[indietourney]

Progress progresses slowly, but is progressing nonetheless! (Context: I just started a summer job and the initial shock of the grind is hitting a bit hard)

It Takes a Village – When villages crash land into each other... the first thing they'd likely do is... bring their townsfolk together to found an even cooler and more diverse village! You'll notice multiple buildings that bear resemblance to the original games.

My Home Away From Home – Gee... they may have fled together, but these folks seem to be reserving their own spaces to establish base. Well... even if their crafting materials don't quite mix, they can always fill a buffet table to share around. :)

Also... is that a castle wall they're forming over on the east? Who could be so protective to be forming such a defensive?

[indietourney]

Hello again, Indie Tourney III!

Phew... it's been a while since y'all heard from me. There's been a lot of new blog followers since the last announcement, and I'm really happy to be drawing excitement for all of our wonderful contestants ^^

As a tiny little celebration, I want to share with y'all sneak peaks as to how the graphic's development is going! I've just resumed development after a long period of figuring out stuff IRL, so I've just now completed landscape sketches for 3 realms so far:

Just Plain Adorable, being a super peaceful region, is forested in all manner of trees and crops. Plenty of natural features for inhabitants to share a cozy night stargazing together. I'm pleasantly surprised by how naturally stunning the huge mountain turned out. Care for a short hike anyone?

The "Flash"backs, an interesting scenario where I envisioned the Adobe Flash-shaped HQ of sorts and went from there. Some regions are reserved for the most prominent of Flash representatives like the farm of Duck Life(rs) and the Learn to Fly penguin's igloo. Consider this region their central hub to promote their legacy via podcasts and merchandise, including their signature Factory Balls!

LevelWare D.I.Y., since their representatives have an emphasis on custom level design, I envisioned them doing a field research project. Desks everywhere to station notes and portable tools, and all sorts of experimental features being tested out, including blocks and features drawn into life using magical crayons.

I'm already feeling excited writing this post, and I'm looking forward to drawing and sharing more of these developments with you all.

Look forward to the 'bloodbath', as one dear watcher phrases it! :D - Zettaflake

[indietourney]

when will it start?, when will the bloodbath begin?.

The bloodbath begins as soon as I render the landscape shown in the tournament graphics. They'll be detailed with all sorts of fun props and setpieces themed after both their genres and the participating games themselves. I'm aiming to have them finished around the end of June. The voting will start one day after the whole rendered graphic is revealed. I can start posting casual updates to show y'all how it's goin' There's a slew of other projects I'm working on simultaneously alongside Indie Tourney, like a new character sheet and opening art commissions. You can find them on my main art blog (search Zettaflake :) ) I'm glad to see y'all looking forward to the tourney. Thank you for the encouragement, everyone! Look forward to the bloodbath, as well as a handful of small updates beforehand. ^^

[indietourney]

Death?

Never! Priorities and real life for now, that is all. Thank you for checking in. :)

[indietourney]

Ladies, gentlemen, and everyone in-between or nowhere! Give it up for our next round of contestants... the almighty Bracket 14, Answer: Fisticuffs!!

Under normal settings, the arts of fighting are considered a necessity, both during wartime and daily life. No one truly knows who could be friend or foe, so best learn how to fight back should the foe approach. However, these are not normal settings. Here, the arts of fighting are innate! Special, mysterious properties awaken hidden potentials within everyone in the realm, using whatever strengths they have and turning them into fighting moves! Making use of high jumps, hit-stun, cancels, combos, and ridiculous durability, the inhabitants here have integrated their brawling into all the nooks and crannies of their day-to-day routines. Door not budging? Slam it down! Machine not doing the thing? Kick it into working condition! Rude customer service? Beat ‘em up! Pelted by rocks because of your antics? Hold a blocking position, you’ll be fine! Another person blocking all the rocks you’re pelting at them because of their antics? Grab ‘em by the neck and throw ‘em away! Remember, the answer to any question: fisticuffs. Today’s question, how do you win that great shiny cube in the distance? This will be on the test.

Tunche

Skullgirls: 2nd Encore

Guacamelee (1 & 2)

Them's Fightin' Herds

The fights will begin... very very soon! Once I reveal the last bracket, I'll get to work on touching this map up with all the lovely details! There's gonna be reference after reference... AAA I still am very excited just thinking about them! In the meantime, I highly encourage y'all to spread the word about the tourney and its contestants ^^

Let's hear it for everyone! [Contestants Revealed: 92/96] [Final Reveal: Neverending Dungeons]

[indietourney]

What’s this s-sudden feeling? A cold shiver growing in my spine, and its only growing colder… so cold, I- c-can’t… move… [Bracket 20, Untold Horrors, have taken your soul… muahahahahaha!]

Something terrible happened here. The realm’s inhabitants have become into something else. Unexplained hostility, skins crawling with malignant motion. The few that remained untouched remain vigilant survivors in the apocalypse. Many are fighting back. Many escaped to other realms. Many are holding against madness, and many have failed, molded into mutilated corpses. One could finally be safe from the madness’ harm, only for it to crawl back to them. Worst of all, the realm itself, in a twisted meaning of life, is kidnapping more and more people to toy with. A lingering hope lies within the trust of untouched allies, and only if they work to hold the line, they may eventually push the horrors back for now. However, the madness is unbounded, consuming the land like a wildfire in a forest. Time is running out. They're coming. 

LIMBO

Fran Bow

Dread X Collection (1-5)

Yume Nikki (+ Yume Nikki: Dream Diary

So close... [Contestants Revealed: 88/96] [Next Reveal: "Answer: Fisticuffs"]

[indietourney]

Flashbang, get down! O-oh wait, I’m sorry- I meant to call out Bracket 24, “Flash”bang! I’m sorry if I scared anyone! Aaaaaa-

As the heralds of the Flash era continued their efforts to preserve their culture and people, they began a great expedition project that would oversee several recon groups establishing colonies to tell their stories in distant lands. The 5th colony settled faraway to the east of the mainlands, but their first missionaries went missing. The colony’s next mission became an investigation at the last minute, and they soon discovered that the missionaries were ruthlessly murdered. Alarmed, the colony was forced to arm themselves with what little munitions they packed, and set out to avenge their storytellers lost to history. With the unexpected power wave of prior experience, their first battles were decisive victories with very little casualties. As a result, the colony resolved to utilize their captured resources and fortify their settlement against future threats. The recent retro anomaly would have threatened the colony’s growth had they not formed a surreal alliance, as the colony acknowledged the inhabitants’ goals to be very similar to their own. With their new combined technology, what was merely a colony of missionaries may soon rival even the most advanced of realms, and their stake on the Indie Artifact is very likely to reign supreme.

Deep Sea Hunter (1 & 2)

Age of War (1 & 2)

Raft Wars (series)

Bubble Tanks (series) + Bubble Tanks TD (series)

Ha, I truthfully didn't expect my writing to branch out into complex territory so much, but I'm having a lot of fun regardless. Thank you to everyone taking the time to read my silly little short stories ^^

Oops, I think I tore a hole in the 4th wall there! I'll spend the rest of today patching it up, unless? [Contestants Revealed: 84/96] [Next Reveal: Untold Horrors]

[indietourney]

We interrupt your usual broadcast to bring you Bracket 9, presented by none other than LevelWare D.I.Y.®!

Do you want to continue your level-based adventures? Do you need the tools to design your own challenges? Are you having trouble coming up with ideas for blood-pumping segments or gear-turning puzzles? Then our levels here at LevelWare D.I.Y. are perfect for you! Engineered by only the most masterful of their craft, our levels bring together your favorite games’ core mechanics and inventive original concepts to assemble state-of-the-art levels guaranteed to light a spark in your mind! Starting at only [05.00.00] LyteBucks, purchase our levels with both digital and physical versions available to play on your home computer or install right onto your city grounds! Satisfaction guaranteed, or your money back! Remember to review our product and detail your experiences for chances to win free level maker kits and access to our gallery of guided videos! That’s the Ware… AND the D.I.Y. in “LevelWare D.I.Y.”! Last of all, in light of recent news, make sure to tune in to our company’s livestreams as we rightfully claim the Indie Artifact for SCIENCE!

(Must be 13+ or older to make purchases. By playing our levels, you accept any entailed risk of injury/death and agree to abide by any warning signs signaled within our levels. Re-distributing or reverse engineering our levels for separate publishing is punishable by law. See our online website’s Terms and Conditions for more details.)

osu!

Baba is You

LevelHead

Crayon Physics Deluxe

We now return to your usual scheduled programming. Tune in tomorrow for our next bracket reveal, only on Zettaflake's Indie Tourney! [Contestants Revealed: 80/96] [Next Reveal: "Flash"bang]

[indietourney]

One day, in the realm of Bracket 3, we observe a cozy collection of villagers roasting some marshmallows together, taking mountain hikes, sharing stories and hugs, and all-around being “Just Plain Adorable”.

It’s often said that those born in this realm are the luckiest people in the world, luckier than even the gambling gods of the central region. The people of this realm live in harmony with the mountainous ranges carpeted in flower beds, soft winds, and fertile soil. Able to produce their own food with mysterious ease, make friends with their prosperous westward neighbors, and miraculously avoid any of the mainland's usual chaos, life has always been simple for these pure-hearted folk. What could motivate them to compete for a shiny Indie Artifact they "know" wouldn't change much? Even with their simple lifestyles, there's always room for a round of games. These people are so friendly to one another that every ounce of potential jealousy is trounced by good sportsmanship, and they plan to treat their competition for the Indie Artifact the same way. Many speculate that even if these people were to win, that they'd happily give the Indie Artifact to someone else. Now begs the greater question: how would our pure-hearted denizens react to seeing their chaotic rivals for the first time, and could it forever change their view on this world?

Sushi Cat (series)

Pikuniku

A Short Hike

Petal Crash

Awww... what a bunch of cuties! I can't wait for the next ones to arrive! :D [Contestants Revealed: 76/96] [Next Reveal: LevelWare D.I.Y.]

[indietourney]

Turn passed to Bracket 7, The Chessmasters. Awaiting for them to make their move…

The Chessmasters are a famed guild of strategists formed as a call to arms amidst chaos awakening in nearby realms. Their  sheer display of skill has commanded respect worldwide, as every member is in command of their own unique army of soldiers. From ironclad soldiers of bursting morale, to beaming towers powered by gemstones, to… rainbow unicorns and dart-throwing monkeys..? A-anyways, provided their massive funds, their armies recruit new soldiers at incredible rates. Soldiers are taught efficiently to fulfill their attack role, move with adaptability, and nothing else. Upgrades may be summoned to their side without warning, and they are told to welcome them with no hesitation. The Chessmasters and their armies have been hired time and time again to counter the rising number of evil-doers and anomalies, so much so that their coffins alarmingly compose of 25% of the mainland’s entire economy (and its shilled out as fast as its refunded). Their best move is to plot a route and prepare their best representative to capture the Indie Artifact and reap its rewards.

Bloons TD (series)

GemCraft (series)

Wargroove

Pit People

Where will you be placing your bets? Who will you be diverting your support towards? Who will win you the best outcome? More options to be uncovered tomorrow. [Contestants Revealed: 72/96] [Next Reveal: Just Plain Adorable]

[indietourney]

Bracket 6, Traveling Companions, have docked at our shores with a warm greeting prepared. Hear them now!

Conceived as an establishing link between the mainlands and an unexplored island of puzzles, the ports of this coastal civilization have since attracted visitors from a distant continent. They call themselves the most mobile of individuals, able to surf land, sea, sky, and even beyond the reaches of space. Upon their arrival, the visitors brought forth highly exotic gifts as an extension of friendship, with screens that could prompt action with the simple touch, and the ease of having a computer in your pocket. Their sheer utility was unmatched, but most of all, their pioneering games brought forth a whole new wave of genres in design.

The ports continue to operate as lift services to the island of Logic & Optics and now the continent of new games codified with a popular term, ‘mobile’. Many mainland denizens have already booked to travel to the new continent for studies and internships abroad.

Alto's Adventure (+ Alto's Odyssey)

Fruit Ninja (series)

Plants vs. Zombies (2009)

Canabalt

Full speed ahead! I'll be back again with new imported goods for y'all tomorrow. Take care until then! [Brackets Revealed: 68/96] [Next Reveal: The Chessmasters]

[indietourney]

(apologies for the slightly late reveal, Freedom Planet 2 has had me absolutely entranced and I'm loving every second of it X) )

Peek-a-boo! Who's there? Here's Bracket 11, "Jump Up, Super Stars!", springing into action! 

Tourists have long been perplexed as to the conception and logic behind this realm's architecture. Sky-high towers, floating platforms, unfriendly triangles, and loose change hovering in the sky. Well... ask any citizen of the place and they'd let you into all the secrets and motivations! By miracle, nearly every person living here is blessed with the power of high jumps, with bodily strength being a minuscule factor. How could this violation of gravity be possible!? No use questioning it, just enjoy the perks of being able to soar in a single bound, even you, my dear tourists! Now, who's up to jump their way to the castle in the distance and win a shiny Indie Artifact!?

Electronic Super Joy (1 & 2)

Yooka-Laylee (+ Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair)

Woodle Tree (series)

Umihara Kawase (series)

Another bracket jumps into the fray, but what will our next set of contestants come prepared with? Find out tomorrow! ^^ [Contestants Revealed: 64/96] [Next Reveal: Traveling Companions]