Supported by Fís Éireann/ Screen Ireland Digital Games Portfolio and Northern Ireland Screen, IndieDev is a games prototype fund in which teams are provided with €15,000/£15,000, alongside mentoring and workshops, in order to build their prototype.
The scheme, which is managed by Ardán, with the support of Imirt, was a huge success and is expanding again, with eight teams this time around. With teams based out of Dublin, Galway, Antrim, Armagh, Tyrone, Laois, Clare, Tipperary, Kilkenny, and Down, this is truly a one-of-a-kind all island initiative that we’re delighted to be supporting.
A variety of game prototypes will be explored, including a hot air balloon simulator, a stealth-puzzle game, a meditative, cozy game, a roguelike strategy game, 3D action-adventure platformer, a minimalist pinball-inspired perseverance platformer, a soft post-apocalyptic romance adventure visual novel, and a first-person, stealth exploration game.
You can read more about the amazing teams and their prototype projects below;
Universe or Nothing: ‘Persevere’
‘Persevere’ is a roguelike strategy game that fuses survival management with tower defense. Stranded on a hostile alien tomb world and hunted by drones, you must salvage a locomotive, recruit a crew, and chart a path across a strange planet dotted with enigmatic alien complexes and failing human colonies. The core Universe or Nothing team members are Mark Aherne – Creative Director / Programmer, Adam Kaufman – Content Designer, Naomi Kaufman – Content Designer, Dave Churchill – Texture Artist / Marketing Manager, and Mario Sena – Art Director, and the team are based out of Galway, Dublin and Clare.
Rúcach: ‘Valley of the Lost Abbey’
In ‘Valley of the Lost Abbey’, discover lost abbey ruins and rebuild with a new-found community of fellow woodland creatures in this meditative, cozy game woven through with immersive narrative. The core Rúcach team is Denman Rooke, Caitlyn Rooke, George Mercer, and Claire Brankin, and the team are based out of Galway and Laois.
Table Topple: ‘Above Quarry Crater’
‘Above Quarry Crater’ is a 3D Action-Adventure Platformer with the central twist in the adventure part! In the full experience, you’ll explore the spires of a long neglected city – venturing as far as you can before returning home to recover; getting a little further each day. The core members of Team Table Topple are Richard Naughton, Adam Englishby, Cillian O’Brien, Alexander Navarro Mantari, and Luke Jason Farrell, and the team are based out of Galway, Clare, Tipperary and Dublin.
Reliable Plumbing Services: ‘Pinfall’
‘Pinfall’ is a minimalist pinball-inspired perseverance platformer that explores the history of philosophical ideas through gameplay focused on falling, reflecting, and climbing. With each level embodying a different philosophical tradition, players must navigate a crumbling world using simple controls to find meaning amidst failure. The game emphasizes introspection and mastery, encouraging reflective play through challenging physics puzzles. The core Reliable Plumbing Services team are Matt Murtagh and Thomas Hitchcock, and the team are based out of Kilkenny and Dublin.
Round Robin Interactive: ‘Isle of Éan’
‘Isle of Éan’ is a peaceful experience that aims to educate about Irish bird conservation. It is a first-person, stealth exploration game in which players catalogue a variety of Irish birds whilst exploring a lovingly crafted island. When left idle, the game seamlessly transforms into a study aid in the form of an ambience generator by providing tranquil sights & sounds. The core Round Robin Interactive team members are Brendan Hewson, Laura Ryder, Eve Golden-Woods, and Brianna Chew, and the team are based out of Mayo and Dublin.
Sharp Glass Games: ‘Deathwish Bloom’
‘Deathwish Bloom’ is a soft post-apocalyptic romance adventure visual novel, in which you play as a Junior Scientist. Your obsession with recreating a lost medicine in a secret-filled Science City grants you a chance to redeem the broken life story of yours and of your loved ones. Unless said loved ones destroy themselves and the City first – by their own deadly invention. The core Sharp Glass Games team members are Irina Kuksova and Anaïs Chareyre-Méjan and they are based out of County Down.
Silly Goose Games: ‘Selkie’
In ‘Selkie’, you can sneak your way through a mystical cave of Irish folklore in this stealth-puzzle game, carrying a mysterious gem to stop the Grey Man from escaping and destroying your home. You play as the daughter of a selkie, an unlikely hero wrapped in her mother’s sealskin, who must rely on stealth and a unique colour changing skill to bypass enemies. With the help of the Merrow, Tarbh Uisge, and Oillipheist you must find your courage as you journey through the cave between worlds. The core Silly Goose Games team includes Jessica Williams, Joseph McKinney, and Dylan Knipe, and the team are based out of Antrim, Armagh, and Tyrone.
Space Lion Studios: ‘Balloons of Paradise’
‘Balloons of Paradise’ is a hot air balloon simulator where you steer your craft via wind. The game will provide a variety of challenges through its objectives and environments, but also have modes for players who want to relax in the vibes of floating through the sky. The core Space Lion Studios team will be Lead Designer Mark Robinson and Lead Programmer Jonathan Aykroyd, and the team are based out of Dublin and Galway.