My new game "CrossOver: Roll For Initiative" finally has its release date, and it's in less than 2 weeks! There is a free demo and WISHLISTING the game would really help me out. Thanks for taking a look! https://store.steampowered.com/app/1713080/CrossOver_Roll_For_Initiative/ CrossOver is a bizarre mashup of game styles into a frantic puzzle/action/RPG. With its oddness and some retro stylings (pixel monsters!) it could definitely appeal to those of you who enjoyed Ampersat (about 85% of players it seems :D ). Thanks again to all who bought my first weird little game.

[ 2024-07-11 19:19:10 CET ] [ Original post ]

Crikey! Ampersat was released a couple of weeks ago to a great response (thanks!) and now legendary publisher MicroProse just announced my next game! In "CrossOver: Roll For Initiative" defend your tabletop RPG character sheet from tiny pixel monsters who've crossed over into our world. Yes, it's another weird game :D Fans of PuzzleQuest and TTRPGs should really dig it and, well, just about anyone really. It's the most hardcore casual game ever ;) Folks who liked Ampersat's merging of ASCII and voxels should also appreciate the merger of pixels in a realistic 3D environment. Youtube Announcement Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lq80cJWoXk Please wishlist CrossOver if you like what you see: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1713080/CrossOver_Roll_For_Initiative/

[ 2022-05-26 14:11:04 CET ] [ Original post ]

Thanks to all the people who have played Ampersat so far! It's put me in a tweaking mood, though this is probably the last one for a while.

• Fixed: Italian translation of gem attach message (thanks CinanzonRoll)
• Tweaked: Spike traps in the Well won't damage the player, they just apply status effects. (thanks to Eatitup_86 for prompting me on this and the next one)
• Tweaked: Spike traps shouldn't appear below the Well entrance (unless in a wide open area or separate room). [BTW for those who haven't played the old Rogue ASCII games, these arrows, i.e. ^^ are how traps looked. And walls were hash marks ( # ), floors were periods ( . )]
• Tweaked: Enemy HP/Status indicators and Pickup indicators can now be seen through level gemoetry. I can't quite remember why I liked that these things seemed "in" the world and could be blocked from view, but I can see how it hinders information (especially with that hidden gold amiright?).
• Tweaked: When unequipping Max HP items, if Current HP is above Max HP it will be lowered immediately to Max HP.
• Tweaked: Similar to last update's dying area effect tweak, prevented enemies from making a final melee or ranged attack while dying. It was pretty cool when it happened, but I concede it could be unfair.
• Tweaked: The dryrots in Tiamat's cave thin out a little earlier if you're getting swarmed. (thanks to Caddlebear)

Note: Mac version is offline due to a compatibility issue with Apple Silicon.

[ 2022-05-10 12:18:01 CET ] [ Original post ]

1.1.1 Changelist:

• Fixed: A collider in Stone Dungeon Level 4 sometimes blocking doorway unless shot (thanks Radiosanchezz).
• Fixed: Re-enabled spawners on Ice Tower Level 4 (thanks Reyom89 on this and the next two).

• Added: Secret Chest Found status on level minimap.
• Added: Numerical HP value in Health bar. This was on the Stats page but can be useful there.
• Added: Hint message in cold room of Ice Dungeon Level 4.

• Tweaked: Less damage from ice and chaos rivers. Because they're kinda nasty.
• Tweaked: Radius of area effect slightly reduced for Carrion Crawler, Harmless Mote, Incubator destructible poison walls, Destructor's Bombs.
• Tweaked: Harmless Motes don't cause Weakness. I thought this was amusing when you need to melee them for a bonus word. Many did not agree.
• Tweaked: Touch-damage enemies can no longer do damage while dying.
• Tweaked: Wake-up radius of Xenophage eggs slightly reduced. You don't NEED to wake them up, you know. Well, a couple of them.
• Tweaked: Increased price of Unspek's Death Shroud. I'd been thinking for a while it was a little too good value, and yeah it is.

• Known issue: If you remove an item that provided added HP, your current HP can remain above your Max HP. Will likely change this if I do another update, for now enjoy the tiny boost!
• Known issue: If you are Silenced but still try rapid-firing your staff, the overheat bar can rise. This was intentional - my logic was you're still drawing on the staff's power to attempt to cast the spell.
• Known issue: Completed Bestiary Achievement doesn't trigger until you check the Bestiary (either during your final battle or by Continuing the game afterwards). This was intentional, as you don't "write" the bestiary entry until you open the book. Note that your Bestiary also remains completed when starting a new game.
• Known issue: The bonus word chest does not appear on Level 4 of the Chaos Tower. This was intentional, a somewhat cruel gag about chaos. I may simply be too Chaotic Evil to ever change this.

[ 2022-05-09 13:58:08 CET ] [ Original post ]

Ampersat's new release date is March 4th - in the meantime, please check out the free Demo and see our Twitter feed for updates, including weekly peeks at enemies and weapons!

[ 2021-01-31 01:27:54 CET ] [ Original post ]

Ampersat is a shooty, slashy, RPG-y game mixing old-school/retro and modern sensibilities. A blend of influences from Gauntlet and Smash TV to Zelda and a dash of Angband, this is a handcrafted adventure with much appeal to fans of Roguelites. A labor of love from a solo developer, Ampersat distills some favorite childhood gaming experiences into a fresh, fun hybrid that sees you killing a lot of monsters, finding a lot of loot, freeing captured letters (um, what?) and growing from a world-weary warrior mage into a powerful smashing/blasting machine!

Main Features

• more than 50 handcrafted levels
  
• an optional endless procedural area
  
• environmental puzzles and strategic challenges
  
• original gameplay elements based around freeing and capturing letters
  
• dynamic Bestiary cataloging over 50 unique creature types with individual AI
  
• over 10 fiendish bosses
  
• hundreds of unique pieces of loot and plenty of secrets to discover
  
• flexible character progression with extensive skill tree
  
• tackle stages in the order you choose
  
• upgradeable town hub
  
• drop-in local co-op (and online using Steam Remote Play Together!)

You may notice the main character and enemies are ASCII letters - yes, this is an aesthetic throwback to the original Rogue games, and the blending of these with colorful 3D top-down environments was the idea that first spawned Ampersat. Likewise, Commodore 64 SID chip sound effects are used alongside real-world music for a distinctive experience. But just what is an "ampersat?" It's the leading contender for the official name of the @ symbol, of course!

Overview

Gentlheim has been invaded by Lord Z, who has surrounded the village with 5 extraplanar towers and the dungeons beneath, filled with evil creatures. Even worse, he has stolen language itself from the townspeople! As the warrior mage Ampersat, you must venture deep into the dungeons and high above the land in the treacherous towers, defeat countless minions and restore language to Gentlheim so the townsfolk can communicate properly and help you defeat Lord Z himself.

Gentlheim

Gentlheim has Shops to buy and sell goods; an Inn to heal up, level up, and stash gold to retrieve after death; and a deep Well leading to randomly generated procedural levels. There are various structures you can pay to upgrade and, as language returns to the village, townsfolk who may need something... Gentlheim hides a few surprises for the inquisitive gamer and provides a hub area to approach different stages in any order you like, or revisit levels you’ve already beaten.



The Well is where the “roguish” aesthetics are turned up to 11, providing short, sharp, loot-gathering deep delves. There’s an old rumor that something very special is buried at the bottom of the well… but no one has ever reached those depths.

Co-op

Ampersat’s co-op is true drop-in, drop-out at any time. The second player controls a fairy that hovers around Ampersat and also launches attacks. Will you trust them with your best spell? No? They might steal it anyway... While the fairy’s shots aren't as powerful and contribute to overheating, it has the huge advantage of being invulnerable. The perfect partner... if you can get along.