Several months back I sat down for a conversation with Indie Statik’s editor in chief Chris Priestman to discuss a wide gamut of subjects ranging from video game preservation to traditional animation industries. The subsequent dialogue is now available to read via the Indie Statik webpage.

Part 1

Part 2

Middens has garnered more than 14,000 downloads since its release. That’s 9,900 from Indie DB, 4,300 from RMN and another few hundred from Rapidshare and Gamejolt. The game was also fortunate to garner some editorial attention. Middens press kit can be viewed here: Press Kit

In other news a funding campaign for my upcoming project Moments of Silence has been launched: Kickstarter

If even a quarter of those who played Middens were to contribute as little as one dollar the Kickstarter would exceed its funding goal by a good margin. Over the course of my life I have donated over 300 freely available creative works to the Creative Commons and Public Domain. If you have enjoyed Middens, my music or fine artworks please donate what you can as even a little would be a tremendous assistance in supporting my future creative ventures.

The Kickstarter profile is also outfitted with a number of new screens and details so feel free to visit if just to gather the latest retinue of news.

This version of Middens contains an additional introductory scene and edits to the requirements for certain event skills. Several minor errors have also been addressed.

**As before stated saves can be transferred between versions by moving any save files from the outdated version’s root folder into the root folder of the most recent game version.

Version 1.8 of Middens is now available for download.

This version carries significant bug fixes mostly pertaining to passable tiles. Again, “ If you desire to retain your save file between versions simply copy and paste your save from the old root folder into the new. I highly recommend updating”.

What began as a conversation between a friend and I has finally resolved itself tangibly. Middens has undergone many transformations during that time. Once titled ‘We Three Kings’ the ancestor concept unfolded like a cultural satire focused on a rogue soul on its pilgrimage back to the living as working class mutinies streaked the afterlife.

Although the end iteration bears little relation to this and future predecessors, it certainly carries with it the DNA of its many antecedents. Each transformation was swallowed up by its successor making Middens a sort of ‘dead pool’ refinement of multiple streams of thought.

There is no correct way to play Middens, and it unfolds according to your play style. It is not even necessary that the game’s goals be met, or that its items be collected or creatures be defeated. If preferred a player can simply turn Middens on and peacefully explore its audio visual elements without ever engaging in its strategic gameplay or story.

Many who play Middens will experience it completely differently as the game was built circularly and the order in which creatures or environments are encountered will totally depend on the player’s impetus. It is not even necessary to destroy creatures to grow stronger as a pacifist means of leveling has been provided.