MY MAGPIE, SOUND OF MY TOWN, AND BEAM TEAM
DEVELOPER NO MOSS STUDIOS • RELEASE RELEASED • PRICE 32 GAMES FOR $ 5 AND OTHER PAYMENT OPTIONS www.patreon.com/NoMossStudios
As you may know, I love tiny, beautifully-made games; games you can devour during your coffee break. I must admit, however, when No Moss Studios told me they were showing 32, one made each month, I had to suppress an “Oh no.” Surely, they couldn’t be any good. Punters were certainly enjoying them at PAX, however, and now, sitting down with a little collection, suggested by the designers, I’m on my third coffee already. With music, pleasant art, little narratives and easy to understand mechanics, they are a triumph of scope - an absolute treat.My Magpie is about rescuing a magpie with a busted leg, feeding him scraps and commenting on the objects he collects for you, from around your room. With endless, lovely piano music and little embellishments, like the bird’s eyes following your cursor around the screen, I almost missed the ending. So, they’re interactive stories? Some are, others aren’t. Sound of My Town is a minimalist builder that works like a TenoriOn, with every placeable thing having a pitch, timbre and rhythmic location. The only question is, are you building a town or a piece of music? Can you do both?
Possibly the hardest game to play while you actually drink coffee is Beam Team, in which you destroy planets, despite their best efforts to defend themselves. Just because these games are small, doesn’t mean they don’t sometimes require great skill. Developer, Daum Park, says, “We are curious and passionate about short form games that can have huge emotional impacts on players in a small amount of time.” Works for me and my coffee. Access to all 32 of these delights, and future games, is purchased for the bargain price of $5 through Patreon.