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Secret Base at Casual Connect Asia

2012-10-09T13:46:07Z

Casual Connect was here in Singapore, and I was invited to share my experience creating classic platformer. It's a very short lecture, but I hope it's useful for you. Enjoy!

We want you - Game Programmer

2012-06-04T09:11:19Z

If you are a Singapore based developers, you might wanna know that Secret Base is currently looking to hire a full time / contract game programmer to work on upcoming title. We're keeping the game details a little hush hush for now, but if you're interested, definitely check out some of the stuff we did for a better idea. At the mean time, check out our job description below to see if it fits you.

Responsibilities :
The programmer is required to work using the Unity Game Engine.

Writing / Maintaining C# code
Working on all levels of Systems Development Life Cycle
Experience with Unity is a plus, but not required
Experience with SQL /Cocos2D /Open GL is a plus

Requirements :

Minimum Diploma/ Degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering.
Able to work independently under pressure and meet deadline
Ability to optimize code size and speed to maximize the technological capacities of each device
Ability to program in a methodical and structured manner
Strong communication skills and ability to work in a team
Familarity with indie games and indie game community

Note :

Strictly applicable for Singapore citizens and PR only
Fresh grads are welcome to apply
Work location is not stated as we are currenly looking to relocate the office in the north area.

We're looking for fun loving people that truly enjoy working on games and we want you to stick and grow with us. It's gonna be a small team, so your work and input is gonna make a different.

So if you believe this is your kind of party, send in your resume (including portfolio if any), expected salary, last drawn pay and availability date to jobs"at"secretbase.com.sg

Mock ups 101 : The Avengers (NES)

2012-05-15T13:55:49Z

So after watching the Avengers movie, I decided to check out the NES game, which is what got me interested in Avengers as a kid. The game, Captain America & the Avengers was a platformer released by Data East. It wasn't great, but it had some decent controls and more importantly, I like how each character (Captain America and Hawkeye) had different movelists. If you're in the mood, you can check out Super Adventures review here.

After checking the game again, I got a little hyped up and decided to do some mock up screenshot of how I would have made the game, with updated movie storyline in tune and loosen NES restriction. I do mock ups like this every once in a while for pratisce or brainstorming somtimes, so if you guys enjoy it, I will try to post up some of my old mocks in the future.

Anyway, here's some screenies, and if you like to find out my ideas for it's improvement you'll have to hit "read more".

I gave the Level Select screen a little comic strips treatment. Nick Fury now replace Wasp for the narative and mission descriptions and the Avengers logo is used as the player location indicator. The original game had 2 characters starting from different location and when one is defeated, the other have to rescue him, which forces you to replay the levels. I'd prefer the character switch to work more like NES GIjoe: Atlantis Factor, where you have to find and recruit them to the team for good.

The Spring Bundle

2012-04-19T10:19:06Z

Great news, everyone. Indie Royale’s Spring Bundle is now live, which includes Tobe's Vertical Adventure, Unstoppable Gorg, Depths of Peril, Inferno+, Ballistic and Slydris. It's awesome and you should get 1 for yourself and 5 more just as gifts for your love ones. It's spring, and we should all be nice.

On the other hand, there seems to be some slight mistake, and the bundle only provide Tobe's Vertical Adventure in Steam at the moment. We'll try to fix this soon, so you guys can have the standalone installer copy, just like what we had in Gamersgate.

REVIEWS REVIEWS REVIEWS

2012-03-03T10:27:47Z

One of the coolest thing about developing and releasing a game is getting reviews. Reading the pros and cons of what reviewers think about the game really helps, especially knowing these are people that play millions of game a day. That said, we have got some really exciting reviews to share, in case you're still deciding if you should buy the game.

Reviews

Video Reviews

Other Languages

Tobe & Friends Hookshot Escape

2012-02-29T17:46:18Z

It feels like all I do these days is spamming around with the game news, but I guess that's what the anxiety and anticipation of releasing a new game can do to you.

On 1st March today, after months of hard work, I can finally announce that my heart and soul, Tobe & Friends Hookshot Escape is finally released. The game is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. It requires iOS 4.3 or later and you can grab it for just USD1.99. If you're still considering, definitely check out some early reviews from Video Gamer (8/10) and iPhone Alley (4.5/5).

Though this is not our first game, it's our debut on the App store. If you have any comments, feedback or even a bug to report, we really love to hear them all, so drop us a line in our contact form or our guestbook. You can also check out our soundtrack, composed by the talented Luke Thomas. Of course, if you really love the game, be bold and let the world know by giving us a 5 Star on the app store and spread the word!

Tobe & Friends : Hookshot Escape is HERE!

Hookshot Escape Coming 1st March 2012

2012-02-28T15:30:44Z

It's been pretty long since we first announced the game, and even longer since we started working on it. Well, the good news is, it's finally here for real, this Thursday, 1st March 2012. We've been working really hard on this, and I really think you guys are gonna like it as well.

Before the game is released, I just wanna thanks the amazing people from Rocketcats and The HalfBots for the amazing feedback and advice. Their experience really help to give the game some extra polish, and I think you're gonna feel the different from the flash version.

Once again, keep a lookout for it this Thursday, and please give us your support. While we're waiting, here's a gameplay trailer for those of you that wants to take a better look.

Tobe & Friends Hookshot Escape Official Trailer

2012-01-29T17:13:28Z

So IndieGames has been quick as usual and revealed our latest trailer for Tobe & Friends Hookshot Escape. Yeap, this time round on everyone's favourite idevice, Tobe & Friends Hookshot Escape features 4 times the fun, introducing 3 more playable characters, not just with different stats alone, but different abilities and combo mechanics. The game also features 20 unlockable equipment, each giving the player a slight stats or condition booster.There's a lot more to the game, like power ups, monsters, themes and chirpy musics, and I hope to reveal over time, before our targeted release date at the end of February.

We've worked really hard on this, double polishing it for months, and we're really excited to announce it. Now without further ado, I present to you, the trailer of Tobe & Friends Hookshot Escape!

Ready or not, here we come!

2011-12-31T13:56:48Z

It's 31 Decemeber, the last day of 2011 and it calls for a post. Or at least I do.

When you live day to day, you don't realize. But looking back, we released 4 games this year, starting with Bitejacker, 2 mini game of Tobe's Escape Series and ending with Tobe's Vertical Adventure on Steam. That's some crazy amount of work, and I'm glad to see that each one of them got us pretty good reviews from players and reviewers alike. Nothing quite beats the experience of watching a "Let's Play" clips on youtube and reading up the likes and dislike from reviewers.

It's a good year, but most of those work were actually completed in July. Eversince, we've been working on bringing Tobe's Hookshot Escape to the iOS, and if you have yet to realize from the earlier screenshot, this is not a simple port of the flash original, but a much improve version.

I'm not gonna spill the beans just yet, but we've gather and improve upon the feedbacks from players and our experience releasing it on the Window Mobile. The game now have much better controls, better balance, even more addictive, and lots and lots of replayability.

Not just that, but we also have a new upgrade mechanic (sort of), and enhanced artwork and animation.... well, not quite the HD enhancement, but bigger, better pixels. And here's a mini comparison shot :)

The game is completed, and we'll be submitting for approval, follow by some marketing and what not, so you can expect the game in early 2012. I hope you're as excited as we are, because 2012 is looking mighty fine right now.

Peace out, 2011!

AWESOME INDIE BUNDLE

2011-12-20T10:53:36Z

If you haven't heard, Tobe's Vertical Adventure is now available in Steam's AWESOME indie bundle! Grab it for $19.99 USD and save up to $28.67 USD for a total of 10 awesome indie titles.

Blocks That Matters
Eufloria
Jamestown
Rock of Ages
Sideway New York
Sword and Soldiers HD
The Binding of Isaac
Tobe's Vertical Adventure
Waves
Xotic

It's a pretty awesome bundle indeed, especially with big titles like Jamestown, Eufloria and The Bind of Isaac in the mix. These are pretty new games, mostly released in the past 6 months or so, and there's also a buncha platformers like Sideway and Blocks That Matter, both which I've been wanting to try.

If you've already bought the bundle, I just wanna remind you that we have an unlockable Artwork Gallery and Soundtrack for download, and a list of achievements you can't beat ;)