Rumors of arcade games’ death have been greatly exaggerated. Admittedly, most modern games hide the bulk of their content behind unlockables, tutorials, and outright padding. Also, there’s been a sea change in game design to favor accessibility, often at the expense of challenge. However, there are occasionally games like Brainpipe that remind gamers that fast access to compact challenge is still fun.Read more.
And this is just the beta test. Wait till you see the real thing!
Coming for the Holidays!
September 28, 2010
The Music is Back!
Back by popular demand! Ear candy for aliens (with ears). Songs in the key of weird. Lunatic tunes and sounds from beyond the Purple Void (where Digital Eel games reside), brought to you by the infamous and inscrutable Nightmare Band. To start the playlist, click the first, or any, selection. You can evoke the featherlight player by clicking the tab on the lower left of your screen. Also, look forward to more sonic oddities from the Mystery Kitchen coming soon!
Emissary Kyto and Bearers Phosphorous Talks Brainpipe Weird Worlds: The Single Void Probe Blok Atak Dr. Blob Forest Clam Dance Plasmaworm I was a Teenage Haircut
August 12, 2008
ESCAPE FROM THE ORDINARY
Play DIGITAL EEL games!
June 22, 2010
May 31, 2010
April 12, 2010
Wish you had a Nightmare Band around to cheer you up? Who wouldn't? And that's exactly why VooDoo Interface has been released!
Welcome to the Purple Void where the Nightmare Band dwells and the music is strange and adventurous!
VooDoo Interface is a 14-track compilation of award winning music* available in your choice of 320k mp3, FLAC, or just about any other format except DWR (digital wire recorder) and GPA (gas-powered audio).
VooDoo Interface is ABSOLUTELY FREE if you download tracks separately, or support indie music AND indie games with a donation and download the album plus four bonus tracks, nifty hi res CD art and more!
Digital Eel's Nightmare Band --Swamp Planet weekenders, all-- is comprised of Rich Carlson, Phosphorous, several interstellar aliens and an eclectic assortment of synthesizers and arcane sound gadgets.
By the way, Digital Eel (that's us) is a self-funded independent videogame development group located in the Seattle area. It was formed in 2001 by Rich Carlson, Iikka Keränen and Phosphorous because they like to make games --and music-- together.
Special thanks to Scott K., Ralph, Eric, Drew, Ernest, Thomas, Howard, Alison, Tim Brooks and Shrapnel Games.
Eb, Clem and Ray Eel, AKA the EEL BROTHERS, AKA the Original EEL BROTHERS, have, in a largely bloodless 1953 coupe, captured Digital Eel by land and defrocked (oh my!) game makers Phosphorous, Ripcord and Fingers, who now languish, unguarded, in grid bug infested vaults deep below the historic Eel Building.
During this period of somewhat peaceful transition, Eb, Clem and Ray would like to assure the public their production will be second to none gamers everywhere that the Eel vibe, the Eel commitment to originality, the Eel rejection of the status quo, the Eel dedication to the making of groovy games WILL continue, and to "stay tuned" for the announcement of the FREE BETA TEST of the all newEEL BROTHERS interactive underwater strip Facebook game, Sea Kingdoms of Having More Stuff than Your Buddy. Yes!
Lastly, if anyone spots this person, presumed to be the escaped "mystery eel", Ed Z., please contact the EEL BROTHERS by dialing 1-800-EEL-BROS. Remember: THE EEL YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN.
Clem out.
March 18, 2010
S P A C E L U D O I want to play the Zorg!
Space Ludo is, well, Ludo, a traditional race and capture board game enjoyed around the world for over a century. Ludo is related to Parcheesi, Trouble and Sorry!. All of them are simplified descendants of the ancient Indian cross and circle game, Pachisi.
Space Ludo offers an addicting blend of luck and strategy. It utilizes the standard, widely known Ludo rules then adds a deathmatch element, space wormholes and other optional rules to expand and enhance the game.
If you dig the idea of exploring the weird worlds of Infinite Space on a tabletop with your friends, be sure to check out Space Ludo (difficulty: easy), the Diceland Space sets (one of James Ernest's most unique game designs - read the RPG.net review - difficulty: easy to medium) --and hang on for the upcoming and highly anticipated release of Eat Electric Death!, based on the "explosive" Strange Adventures and Weird Worlds combat system!
Ripcord out.
March 12, 2010
2010 IGF Competition Winners Announced
Sweet news! The 12th Annual Independent Games Festival event took place last night and the 2010 award winners have been announced! Eight games, including double award winners Limbo and Monaco, were deemed best of the best in categories ranging from coding and game design to "Vision" and "Nuovo" awards. Pocketwatch Games received the prestigious Seumas McNally Grand Prize for Monaco, a deserving win. Still, what of Vessel, Enviro-Bear, Rocketbirds, Cogs, Reckless Disregard, Long Year, Shatter, Meat Boy, Joe Danger, Shank, Owlboy, Trauma, Closure and the Digital Eel favorite, Star Guard? Well, the point is that now we know they're out there and that every one is a brilliant thing. So go find 'em (and more)!
Digital Eel, that's Phos, Iikka and Mice Elf, would like to wish ALL of the finalists the very best of luck with these and future projects. Go, indies, and keep the fire!
March 8, 2010
GDC Mystery Tour 2010 Roll Up with Phosphorous On the Road!
While Fingers and Ripcord stay home to mind the Mystery Kitchen, Phosphorous, lone wolf of the highways and byways, departs to perform his esteemed duties as Digital Eel emissary to the Game Developers Conference in trippy San Fran. To document this journey, we're doing something different with the Mystery Tour post this year. Instead of presenting a single collection of pics, each day we'll post images from Phosphorous's excursion --a kind of visual journal of his adventures, there and back again.
Many thanks to Phos for venturing forth, and for providing visual documentation that we all can enjoy!
During the last few days of its Best of the IGF fest, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne ran Brainpipe "loud and live" on the outdoor screen at Federation Square. Note that this wasn't a video. People were actually playing the game, and word is that it was even more fun and "freeing" to play at that size. Neato!
Special thanks to Fiona Trigg at the ACMI for the image.
Ripcord out.
February 22, 2010
February 21, 2010
There's always more!
Note to Eelies (and would be Eelies) everywhere: Be sure to stop by our other related and unrelated sites and webpages. Lots more free goodies and weirdness to be found there and some classic stuff too!
Beyond Adventure - Play the best freeware interactive fiction online. Yes, it's true. IF is alive and well on the net!
Dungeons Deep - The best freeware fantasy dungeon games on the planet. If you like dungeon crawls, this page is fat with download links.
The Dusty Bookshelf - Classic speculative and supernatural literature by A. E. Van Vogt, H. Rider Haggard, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Lord Dunsany and many others.
Goblin Slayer - A print & play fantasy game of adventure and underground combat. Extra coolness points here: Goblin Slayer was just updated with new color art!
Phosphorous - Phosphorous's art site. The perfect place to quietly outfreak.
Radio Tales of the Strange & Fantastic - Horror, adventure, fantasy and science fiction from radio's classic era. Listen online (includes a playlist feature) and download your favorites.
Ripcord out.
February 9, 2010
Put the Galactic Bait & Tackle A17 splash on your desktop! Click above or here for the wallpaper sized image.
January 27, 2010
Goblin Slayer Official Art Update!
Hey, fellow dungeoneers! Goblin Slayer just got a makeover. Actually that's an understatement. Goblin Slayer has been reborn!
Digital Eel is happy to announce the release of all new full color Goblin Slayer art by Orlando Ramirez, James "One Monk" Hartman and Andrew Tullsen! With gorgeous new game board tiles and wicked individually detailed stand up characters (including a cave troll --yeah!-- to replace the ogre in the game), not to mention supercool and moody box cover art, this update transforms Goblin Slayer into a complete finished production that stands up to any fantasy game in print!
Of course, the sweet part of the deal is that Goblin Slayer AND the official art update are ABSOLUTELY FREE to download and share with no strings attached. --Three huzzahs to Orlando, James and Andrew for making this possible. Thanks guys!
To jump into the tunnels and begin slaying goblins (or dwarves, as the case may be), all you need to do is download and unzip the update, print the files in color, glue them to thicker stock and cut them out. Very easy to do --just add dice and some gaming stones or coins and you're ready to play!
Download THE GAME and THE COMPLETE UPDATE. Note that you can also get the board tiles here, the cave troll and dwarf (dwarves, actually) here and the box art here. The download page for the goblin art is currently down. We'll link to it as soon as we can. (The goblin art IS included in the update zip.)
Also note that Andrew Tullsen will construct the boards and figures for you and include dice and other doodads required to play the game. He can custom create a basic game for $30 or a deluxe game for $50 (shipping included). Watch for further details or contact Andrew Tullsen via the Goblin Slayer webpage to get one right away!
Lastly, special thanks to BoardgameGeek! Visit the BGG Goblin Slayer page here and be sure to check out all of the cool board art created for the game here!
January 24, 2010
January 11, 2010
Sometimes we hop in Eel Pod 2 and cruise around the local stellar neighborhood. Not as much as we used to but it's about quality not quantity, right? So Fingers, Phosphorous and I ended up on Whidbey Island last Friday night going to see these fellows, the four or five crazee guys known known far and wide as Firesign Theatre, at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts. Actually, a misty rainswept night worthy of Nick Danger, and a moist and nippy ferry boat ride, couldn't keep us away. Firesign is not to be missed.
For those of you who don't know, Firesign Theatre (Phil Proctor, Peter Bergman, Phil Austin & David Ossman) write and perform a unique kind of counterculture radio play comedy, and have been doing so since the mid-1960's. With intricate material peppered with puns, pop culture references, iconic characters and surrealism, Firesign evokes laughs like nobody else does. Silly was never more intelligent. In fact, they make what they do an artform and truly, these "crazee guys" are American Masters.
Just a note here to plug their upcoming January shows in Kirkland and Tacoma. If you're a long time fan, definitely go see Firesign in person and in full form. You'll have a blast, guaranteed. If you're unfamiliar with Firesign Theatre, go ahead, take a chance because, chances are, you'll be laughing in no time --at no less than the Beatles of American comedy!
Ripcord out.
January 6, 2010
What can you say about BRAINPIPE? Well...
"Digital Eel makes deep games about weird stuff, going so far as to name one of their better games Weird Worlds. Then they went ahead and outdid themselves."
- the99th, Play This Thing!
"The subtle doppler effect on the constant and schizophrenic audio-visual assault positions you squarely inside the game in ways that most struggle at."
- Brandon Boyer, Offworld
"Completely and utterly original and unbelievably addictive..."
- Tom Lord, TheSixthAxis
"As BrainPipe began, and my eyes settled on my game surroundings, I asked myself one question: 'What in the world is this?'"
- Jamie Skelton, Helium
"By the end of level four, I found myself surprisingly transfixed and genuinely a bit terrified."
- Brandon Boyer, Offworld
"You get sucked into the mesmerizing setting immediately, and you will not want to blink or turn away for even an instant."
- Bob Mandel, Adrenaline Vault
"(The) combination of atmospheric ambient music and classic arcade-style sound effects compliment the trippy visuals perfectly."
- Joseph Vanburen, HarryBalls.com
"The real treat of BrainPipe is the visual experience...reminiscent of the tie-dye days of the 60's and 70's."
- Jamie Skelton, Helium
"Brainpipe changed little Billy!"
- A concerned parent, MAB (Mothers Against Brainpipe)
Grabbit and nabbit and shed your human husk! Woohoo!
January 5, 2010
2010 IGF Competition Finalists Announced
Groovy news! The Independent Games Festival has announced the finalists for the 2010 awards show. IGF recognition is very important for an up and coming indie team so this is always seen as a crucial indie event each year. Although Digital Eel did not submit a game this time, Ripcord participated as a judge and got to play and review many terrific games. It's going to be very exciting to find out who will take home the prizes. Digital Eel wishes all of the finalists the best of luck! (And remember guys and gals, just getting there as a finalist is awesome!)
Back by popular demand! Ear candy for aliens (with ears). Songs in the key of weird. Lunatic tunes and sounds from beyond the Purple Void (where Digital Eel games reside), brought to you by the infamous and inscrutable 
Lastly, if anyone spots this person, presumed to be the escaped "mystery eel", Ed Z., please contact the EEL BROTHERS by dialing 1-800-EEL-BROS. Remember: THE EEL YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN.
Digital Eel is happy to announce the release of all new full color 
To jump into the tunnels and begin slaying goblins (or dwarves, as the case may be), all you need to do is download and unzip the update, print the files in color, glue them to thicker stock and cut them out. Very easy to do --just add dice and some gaming stones or coins and you're ready to play!
Also note that Andrew Tullsen will construct the boards and figures for you and include dice and other doodads required to play the game. He can custom create a basic game for $30 or a deluxe game for $50 (shipping included). Watch for further details or contact Andrew Tullsen 
