Whether you’re playing Poker, Rummy, or Home by Dark, you’ll love looking at and shuffling these beautiful cards designed with the Dire Multiverse’s “Dayspring” dimension in mind. The cards come in two types (Basic and Enhanced) with two back options. Customize your deck content with the Enhanced Deck. Each one contains 3 magnificent jokers and […]
by Kerry E.B. Black With Halloween just behind us and Carnival up ahead, we’re still in the thick of costume season. Need ideas? Playing cards to the rescue! Of course, we can be literal, turning tiny bits of paper into imaginative costumes. Crowns, hats, hairbows, sashes, dresses, and even cloaks are all within reach if […]
by Kerry E.B. Black Cards: They’ve been around since circa 868 C.E., originating in China. The versatile vehicle for games spread to India and Persia, onto Egypt and, eventually to Europe in the second half of the thirteenth century. Of course, these early cards weren’t without controversy. Official ordinances from 1367 banned playing cards in […]
The Dire Multiverse audio drama is the ongoing story of team of friends on the verge of discovering that everything they thought they knew about our world was wrong. Click here to download a transcript of Episode 5. Answers and alliances come at the point of a gun as our heroes try to make it […]
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
by Angel Leigh McCoy and Kerry E.B. Black 10. Leave a creepy calling card. Don’t tell anyone you got the idea from us. 9. Home security! Leave a card in the door crack and it will fall if someone breaks in. Works in drawers too, if you want to catch your Mom snooping in your […]
Sami is thrilled to be supporting the Games Omniverse team with web and general support.
She holds a BA in Art and M.Ed in Learning, Design, and Technology from Penn State, and is finishing an MA in Journalism from the University of Alabama.
Hello. I’m Christopher, a programmer/architect here at Games Omniverse, moonlighting as a Project Manager. I work on the engineering infrastructure and code/process documentation. I’
The Dire Multiverse audio drama is the ongoing story of team of friends on the verge of discovering that everything they thought they knew about our world was wrong. With a gun trained on them, our heros attempt to talk Dana Lessington out of making a big mistake, but the woman is determined to achieve […]
The Dire Multiverse audio drama is the ongoing story of team of friends on the verge of discovering that everything they thought they knew about our world was wrong. In this mini-release, Ohmega talks about what scares her the most and why she is so intent on solving the mystery of the Pacific Northwest armadillo. […]
The Dire Multiverse audio drama is the ongoing story of team of friends on the verge of discovering that everything they thought they knew about our world was wrong. Events take a heart-thumping turn when Ohmega, Kitty, and Lime just can’t leave well enough alone. Their curiosity lands them in a heap of garbage and […]
A podcast is basically a radio talk show, except through the computer instead of through your radio. An audio drama is the story version of that, like the old-time radio shows your grandparents listened to (but much cooler and often very modern). What the heck is a podcast? There are various applications (apps) for your […]
The Dire Multiverse audio drama is a 21st Century enlightenment adventure. It’s the ongoing story of a woman on the verge of discovering that everything she thought she knew about our world was wrong. The main character, Ohmega, is a freelance webmaster who has a passion for mysteries. During a weekend of fun and games […]
The Dire Multiverse audio drama is a 21st Century enlightenment adventure. It’s the ongoing story of a woman on the verge of discovering that everything she thought she knew about our world was wrong. The main character, Ohmega, is a freelance webmaster who has a passion for mysteries. During a weekend of fun and games […]
Patreon.com is a website where you can give financial support artists, writers, and anyone doing a passion project like the Dire Multiverse audio drama. In exchange, you receive perks and access to exclusive community events and content. For as low as $2.00 a month, you can help us keep our doors open and the electricity […]
We are actively working on a tabletop RPG setting that will take place in the Dire Multiverse. With it, you’ll be able to take your characters on an unlimited number of adventures that explore the nature of reality and the alien dimensions that make it up. Watch for our podcast of stories set in the […]
We hope you’re enjoying the Dire Multiverse! If so, please consider dropping a buck or two into our hat. We are a small team, self-funded and volunteering. Anything you can give will help us to keep the lights on. Game design in the dark is not as fun as it sounds. We are so grateful! […]
Hey there! Hope every 1 enjoys these stranger than fiction videos I found! I just did a major overhaul on the Games Omniverse website, and it looks pretty good if I do say so myself. Looking forward to hanging with the family over the holidays. Not that I never see them. they’re just across town. […]
Hey everyone! It’s me, Ohmega! Sooo, I’ve been reading Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse Five.” Interesting take on what happens to people after being in combat. There’s one character in the story who’s convinced he’s experiencing slippages in time. Which got me to thinking about stuff. You know, Albert Einstein said time’s not linear at all. Science […]
Because it’s out best way to reach you if you’re interested in staying up-to-date with our releases, gaming events, convention appearances, and life in general! We know what it’s like when the spam gets to be too much, so our newsletter will be monthly, with the occasional quick notice if something surprises us and we […]
If you’re an indie game team leader or member with big dreams of indie success, read this highly praised book. If you read only one book this year, read this book. Gary Vaynerchuk is an entrepreneur of the scrappiest kind. He is so smart and has tons of experience making a business work in today’s world. This book is a question and answer session, where his followers ask the questions, and he answers them. So the topics come straight out of the mind of striving entrepreneurs.
The latest change that has hit us is Unity 2018. I’d heard lots of good things about the new version, but the thought of possibly blowing up the game we’d been working on for the past 5 years nauseated me. I forced the team to procrastinate it until we knew exactly what would happen and had a plan in place. For an indie game design team, updating software can be risky because if it breaks the game, then the time it will take to fix it can be daunting. We were going from version 5.6.2f1 all the way up to version 2018, so it was a significant upgrade. We finally felt that the updates Unity made to the software merited taking the risk. It would put us on better footing for future releases when we serialize DANIKA DIRE, anyway. Sometimes, you just have to take the leap knowing that you have version control in place if everything goes nips up.
Today, I’m feeling a shift in the air. I recently did an evaluation of the work we have left to do on Chapter 01 to get it ready for Launch (capital L intentional), and I did what I do best: I made a spreadsheet. This kind of task management is at the core of Agile game design. We estimated the time it would take to do each task and divvied them up among the teammates. With this, I was able to make a ballpark guesstimate at when we might be finished.
Greetings, gamers! My name is Jason Mellott and I have the privilege of being the UI Programmer for Games Omniverse. Although a Pennsylvania native (go Phillies!), I currently reside in sunny San Diego, California. Oh, and I absolutely love all things games and gaming!
Hello. I’m Josh, a programmer/developer here at Games Omniverse. I reside in a tiny little town in Illinois with my beautiful wife and my two amazing children, who all inspire me daily. I received my B.S. in Game Programming in 2011 and have been trying to scratch my way into the game industry.
Hi! I’m Angel, and I’ve been a gamer, freelancer, and entrepreneur for a quarter of a century. In my day job, I’m a narrative designer for the MMO Guild Wars 2. At night, I change.
Hello everyone! As Games Omniverse’s new social media/community manager you will, hopefully, come to know me well.
I’m Alison J. McKenzie, and I’m a jack-of-all-trades. I’m a writer. I’m a programmer. I’m a game designer. I’m an artist. I also organize, supervise, document, standardize, and multitask. I play video games.
Hi, I’m André. As of writing this, I’m 26, finished college with a degree in music, I compose, arrange, and edit music and audio for a living, and one of the most important ways I interpret and contextualize life is through video games.
Curtis hails from the great state of Illinois, by way of the bustling metropolis of Lincoln… a town he came to call home following his many storied years of accreditation at Western Illinois University, and many more less storied years of living in Macomb. While not having much in the way of formal training, Curtis has been drawing and doodling his way through life since about the time he could first wrap his fat little fingers around a crayon.
My thoughts for today… When you’re working on an indie game, in your spare time, progress can sometimes seem to crawl. But, I spent some time today looking back on where we started four years ago, and how much we’ve accomplished since then. We began with nothing more than a dream and some chutzpah. There […]
Audio weird until about 12:40, then it clears up. TRACon in Tempere, Finland, invited me to be their guest of honor, and I’m there now, giving my speeches, talking to people, and generally having a marvelous time! The video above was my main speech.
Hello, I’m Autumn—your friendly, neighborhood animator! I’m working with the team to get some movement flowing through Danika’s life and her world. I’m normally very quiet but I’ll break out of my comfort zone for a second and tell you bit about me. I’ve been studying animation since high school and I’m currently a student at Animation Mentor.
Hey everyone! I’m taking a break from a crazy semester of school to share something super cool. I think you’ll find it as interesting as I do. In fact, maybe you already heard about it. In any case, I’m taking a class on indigenous cultures of the Pacific North West, and while researching, I found this news story, and it has experts baffled. You know how I find this sort of stuff interesting. Unknown, unsolved, and unusual happenings. They’re all around, after all. Anyway, I thought it was really neat finding this and had to share.
Games have always meant a lot to Kerry E.B. Black. Board and card games at parties began her enthusiasm, but she’s traversed magical kingdoms through AD&D campaigns and entered the pixilated universes available through video gaming systems.
Have you ever dreamed of having a superpower? If so, great news, your dreams have come true. Bad news, we’re talking because you have not been doing well with your choice training. Yes I am 100% serious. Now pay attention! Try this game to make sure you are really paying attention. Choice is a fundamental […]
Jen Page is best known in the geek community for her acting career. You may have seen her as the fiery sorceress in The Gamers: Dorkness Rising or the blue-tressed alien in the explosively visual smash-hit Project London.
What starts as a normal train ride quickly takes a dark turn as mysterious hooded creatures terrorize passengers! Can you uncover what they’re after and stop them before it’s too late? Find out in this rousing hidden-object puzzle adventure!
Hello everyone! Daniel here on behalf of Games Omniverse, I would like to talk for a moment about sharing and share some more of the work that is happening over here at Games Omniverse with the Danika Dire series that we have in the works. Here at Games Omniverse we are proud of the work […]
Since its inception Games Omniverse has been growing. We would like to share that growth with you as we continue with our development. Come in, have a look at what we are doing. Then tell us what you think. We would really love to hear your thoughts on the work we are doing. It is […]
Hi there! It’s Steeven Labeau, Concept Artist at Games Omniverse. In a previous development diary, you discovered the inner workings behind the design and development of the Mud Puppy for the Danika Dire series. Among the other creatures lying inside the Dire Mansion, I have recently completed this one, affectionately called the Sponge Toad: Today, I’m […]
Here at Games Omniverse we have been moving right along with the Danika Dire series and we wanted to share with you some of the stuff we have had our team working on recently. We have many talented people who help in so many ways that we cannot pass up a chance to share the […]
Once a month (ish), the ladies of the Not So Secret Society Game Club get together on Twitch.com to play the preview of a puzzle game from BigFishGames.com. We always have a blast! Games! Puzzle adventure mystery hidden-object… games! Join us as we explore the many awesome games available for those of us with busy […]
As an avid gamer, the first thing I look for in a game is a compelling story. And I’m not alone. Most gamers are drawn to the overall experience a game can give them—one that’s immersive, emotional, as well as entertaining. It’s not enough to have stunning visuals and flawless mechanics. Game developers must blend […]
Hey there! It’s Ohmega, and I’ve something interesting to share. See, I have this theory. I think there are parallel worlds, and guess what? I’m not alone in my thoughts. Really, alternative dimensions explain so many of our mysteries. Like, unexplained disappearances and stuff like that could be someone falling through a rift. There are […]
The Sound of Games Part 2: Sound Effects Sound effects in games are usually integrated so well that most gamers wouldn’t think twice about that well placed sword clash or the detail of footsteps on snow. But imagine a game without them? Games Omniverse Sound Designer, Andre Bissonnette is back to share what it takes […]
Do you often wonder what magic is going on behind the screen when you are playing your games? If you are then, like us, you probably have a passion for games and their inner workings. Daniel B. King here for Games Omniverse and I would like to share with you a few looks behind the […]
Combining interactive stories and beautiful atmosphere with challenging puzzles, compelling mysteries, and unusual worlds to explore, adventure video games have a history of pushing the boundaries of an ever-evolving technology. From the late 70’s and early 80’s, technology loving Gen Xers spent countless hours sitting in front of computer screens imagining the intricate worlds of […]
The Sound of Games Part 1: Composing the Score From creating atmosphere to driving tension, it takes skill to create a musical score that both compliments and enhances the game without breaking the gameplay immersion. Games Omniverse Composer and Sound Designer, Andre Bissonnette, is doing just that. I had the pleasure of asking Andre about […]
Steeven credits his early creative development to an artistic family. His grandfather sculpted wooden figures, his mother wrote books, and his father liked to draw. Likewise, his sister painted and his brother aspired to be a comic book artist. As an aspiring paleontologist, Steeven spent a lot of time hunting for fossils in his parents’ garden. As an aspiring game designer, he spent a lot of time playing his Game Boy. And as an aspiring comic book artist, he spent a lot of time reading comics. You could say Steeven had big dreams.
by Curtis Bisbee There comes a time in the development of every artist when they have to drastically change-up the way they’ve been doing things for years, decades even, either because what they’ve been doing up to that point won’t or doesn’t work anymore… or just because they need to try something new. Sometimes… it […]
Hey! I’m Ohmega, full time web-whisperer, fuller time gamer geek. I rock at HOGs and can figure out pretty much any puzzle once I put my mind to it. Guess that’s why the good folks at Games Omniverse hired me on. I love it! Wait ‘til you see the upcoming project. It is beyond cool. […]
From classic adventure puzzle video games like Myst, The 7th Guest, or Alone in the Dark, inventive and challenging puzzles have been an intricate part of the gaming experience. We’ve all been there– alone in a dark crypt or trapped in a decrepit room. You shine a flashlight and see runes carved on the wall. […]
Hello everyone, Steeven Labeau of Games Omniverse here. In this Design Development Diary we will be taking a look at the design and development of the Mud Puppy. The Mud Puppy is a tiny monster that you will encounter during your stay at the Dire Mansion in the upcoming Danika Dire© game series. My entire […]
Many games and game development teams explore the “how” of game development. They’ll show new screenshots and videos of work in progress, talk about it with the press, and go over tools and tactics. We at Games Omniverse fully intend to do that. However, we’re asking you to join us on a journey and we […]
“Women are strong. And they live interesting lives. It’s time to tell their stories.” —Angel Leigh McCoy, Game Director at Games Omniverse. With the recent hashtag movements of #WeNeedDiverseBooks and #YesAllWomen, it seems appropriate to discuss strong female characters and their importance in games. Recently, a study determined that women are now the dominant gender […]
One important aspect of a successful video game, that we at Games Omniverse understand, is having a cast of characters worth caring about. An interesting story paired with great gameplay and excellent puzzles can only take the player so far without well-developed characters. Just like in movies and books, we want to cheer for our […]
Hello, I’m Giles Wood, Managing Director of Atomic Fox Creations, currently based in the United Kingdom. After helping out with some inking for Games Omniverse, We’re now heading up the painting for their interior environments. I have always had a passion for art & design having studied Design for Film and Television at Nottingham Trent […]
We need you! Looking for a talented video editor. Application guidelines inside.
Once a month (ish), the ladies of the Not So Secret Society Game Club get together on Twitch.com to play the preview of a puzzle game from BigFishGames.com. We always have a blast! Games! Puzzle adventure mystery hidden-object… games! Join us as we explore the many awesome games available for those of us with busy […]
We’re making a 13-episode motion web comic as well as a game. The comic will serve as a prelude to the game and will tell the story of Valerie Matthews, a young school teacher who gets in over her head with the family of one of her students. The comic is titled, “Death of a School Teacher: A Dire Dilemma.”
I’ve been working to get design docs ready for our programmers. This is no small task and I’ve learned a few things about the elements required to make a good one. I’d like to walk you through how I build a puzzle design doc.
Now that the Internet hate hoohah about how “There’s a woman in my game!” has cooled off, I think we can begin to take a far more realistic approach to the continual increase in women in game development careers and playing games.
I’ve just hired a couple of programmers to tackle our puzzles for Chapter 01, and I can’t wait to see what they do. Hiring programmers is much easier than I expected. Keeping them is harder.
With our compliments, please use a Woman & Gamer Diversity friendly badge for your website, Facebook, Twitter, or wherever else you want to use it. As a woman, I am acutely aware that there are those out there who do not contribute to the misogynist and bigoted attitudes on the internet. Those of us who […]
Once a month (ish), the ladies of the Not So Secret Society Game Club get together on Twitch.com to play the preview of a puzzle game from BigFishGames.com. We always have a blast! Games! Puzzle adventure mystery hidden-object… games! Join us as we explore the many awesome games available for those of us with busy […]
…another hidden-object adventure game!! Dark Parable: The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide Click here to watch Parts 2 & 3. Kate, Jen and Angel play the latest in the Dark Parable series. It has a mermaid and a “purple tide” (whatever that means). *wink* The bestselling Dark Parable series continues with The Little Mermaid […]
Hello, I’m Steeven Labeau. I am an illustrator and environment artist for Games Omniverse. I am currently living in France, but I was born and grew up on the small sunny island of Martinique located in the French West Indies. As a child, I wanted to be a paleontologist, but a love for reading comic […]
Hey! I’m Kent Benson. I joined Games Omniverse in December of 2014 as an inker, but have since dabbled in a bit of the concept art part of production. As of now, I am 25 years old and a proud resident of Milwaukee, WI. Last year I started my career in the games industry by accepting a temporary […]
Games Omniverse artist Kent Benson is often busy doodling or writing and not just for us! As with many creative’s, the need for an outlet often goes beyond our every day jobs, and Kent is no different. Kent often revisits designs throughout their lifetime to continue to bring them closer to his imagining with each […]
My name is Delacey-James Foster, an experienced concept artist and storyboard illustrator. I was born in the beautiful countryside of Kent, known as “The Garden of England” located in the South East just outside the English capital of London. I grew up with a keen interest in storytelling. Having made numerous small films as a child […]
Doing what he loves, Games Omniverse artist Curtis Bisbee has been busy lending his skills to the Iron Spike Brewing Company brewpub. Curtis and fellow artist and friend Deeg Perez started work on Phase 1 of the project with a wrapping piece of art that both the brewery’s brand.
5/24/15 – 6:45 Pacific at twitch.tv/notsosecretgc — We’re going to be playing WITCHES’ LEGACY: SLUMBERING DARKNESS, a hidden object adventure game by EleFun, a Russian developer. It’s the latest in a series that follows a good witch battling bad witches..
with special guest Emily Allen from Big Fish Games! Once a month (ish), the ladies of the Not So Secret Society Game Club get together on Twitch.com to play the preview of a puzzle game from BigFishGames.com. We always have a blast! Games! Puzzle adventure mystery hidden-object… games! Join us as we explore the many […]
Dolphin sex!! Once a month (ish), the ladies of the Not So Secret Society Game Club get together on Twitch.com to play the preview of a puzzle game from BigFishGames.com. We always have a blast! Games! Puzzle adventure mystery hidden-object… games! Join us as we explore the many awesome games available for those of us […]
Once a month (ish), the ladies of the Not So Secret Society Game Club get together on Twitch.com to play the preview of a puzzle game from BigFishGames.com. We always have a blast! Games! Puzzle adventure mystery hidden-object… games! Join us as we explore the many awesome games available for those of us with busy […]
It’s time once again to check in with members of the Games Omniverse staff and find out all the cool and interesting things they’re doing when they’re not working on our projects.
We hit a milestone today. A small one, but an encouraging one, nevertheless. We are more than halfway done with the concept art for our environments. This means we’re ready to begin applying line art to the concepts, breaking them out into layered PSDs, and planning exactly what we want to see in each room.
Looking for a place to buy more hidden object games? We take a look at indie darling Steam, which isn’t just for hardcore gamers anymore.
Interactive fiction is a game genre that has been around for quite some time now and has a rather in-depth history to it. We’ve already taken a look at part of the genre, primarily text and graphical adventures. But today I’m going to talk about some other things that are important to interactive fiction!
I’ve begun researching interactive fiction because a little voice inside my game designer’s brain is telling me that what I really want to make is interactive fiction. This kind of fiction has a long history and an underground community of followers.
Hi, My name’s Joshua! I’m a 26-year-old artist chilling out in San Antonio, Texas. I’ve been drawing ever since I was a small kid playing 8-bit games, and taught myself Photoshop before heading to college to make it all official. Now I’m getting out there, ready to bring my art to the world at large! […]
Ursula Vernon, creator of the Hugo-award winning Digger web comic and the Dragonbreath series of children’s books, is one of these folks. In the fantasy genre where the grim and dark fight with the soporific and fluffy, Vernon’s positively pragmatic characters march with stoic faces to their epic destinies.
My journey started many years ago, when I applied for a QA tester position at a now defunct studio. I will never forget the words bestowed upon me on my first day on the job: “You aren’t here to play the game, but to break it as badly as you can.”
Hello! I’m illustrating props for Danika’s world from my creative studio in London, UK. It’s a privilege to be a part of this talented, multi-national team, and I can’t wait to see the result of our combined efforts! When I’m not creating 2D artwork for games, I’m working on a story comic that I’m aiming […]
The games industry is unlike any other I’ve ever worked in. There are unspoken laws of quality, teamwork, and dedication that drive a studio. Although the studio may not ask you to, most game developers work more than 40 hours a week, often late into the night and on weekends—because they care so much about doing a good job. This is the competition you’re up against when you attempt to launch a career in game development.
Which distributors and publishers release the best games? After polling members of the Games Omniverse development team and our alpha testers, we’ll be shining a spotlight on some of our favorites.
We’re making a list–and checking it twice–of all the people who advised us or otherwise helped us to get Games Omniverse on the map. A number of veteran professionals have taken time out of their busy schedules to advise us on all things from business matters to design philosophy. We owe them our gratitude for […]
One of the phases of design for a game like ours is the Temp Audio phase. We brought in voice talent Folly Blaine to provide life to our main character’s lines. We did the recording in my office, with the equipment I use for the WilyWriters.com audio stories I do. Why do temp audio? We […]
When I’m asked why I like to write, I can’t help but think of an English assignment I had when I was in the eighth grade.
Hi! I’m Pamela, and I’ve been coloring comic books for 20 years including such titles as Batman: Shadow of the Bat, Green Lantern, Preacher, Y: the Last Man and many Star Wars titles.
2D adventure games tend to be a lot of games in one. You’ve got the overarching plot, but you’ve also got a ton of puzzles with varying mechanics. That’s where Alison McKenzie come in.
Being a new team member on any team can present certain challenges, especially if it’s your first real project dealing with what you’ve wanted to do for as long as you can remember. Little long winded first sentence, but it sums up my feeling as I jump aboard the Games Omniverse team.
When it comes to playing video games, I’m a relative newbie. The first computer games I remember playing came on 5.5-inch floppies, and I had hours of fun monopolizing the Apple IIes in my elementary school library exploring Oregon Trail and being frightened by this one math game where you had to solve equations displayed on alien spaceships in order to fire a missile to shoot them down.
Here are some of the things I use to make art. I scattered in some tips for people still looking to fill out their art tool collection.
Grace Jensen gives a visual walk-through of her digital painting technique as applied to the video game promotional piece she created. Sit back and be ready to be awed.
