Best of GameSetWatch: From WolfQuest to Evoke

[Gamasutra highlights a week's worth of alternative video gaming news, media, and other curiosities from sister blog GameSetWatch, as written by editor Eric Caoili.] This round-up looks at LA Game Space, a non-protif lab seeking to connect game makers with kids in Los Angeles that want to learn about game development; Best of IGF 2009, a free exhibit in Melbourne inviting attendees to see and play selected IGF 2009 finalists; and Trundle, a free iPhone game pulled from the App Store after gamers complained about its similarities to Nicalis's NightSky. Other highlights include the new pup-raising episode for educational wolf simulator WolfQuest (pictured), and an alternate reality game from Jane McGonigal that targets youth in Africa and looks to change the world. This past week's top stories: - New WolfQuest Episode, Survival of the Pack Released "The Minnesota Zoo and developer Eduweb have put out WolfQuest: Survival of the Pack, a free bundle for the educational wolf simulation game featuring two episodes: Amethyst Mountain and the newly released Slough Creek." - Evoke ARG Looks To Change The World "The World Bank Institute and alternate reality game designer Jane McGonigal have unveiled Evoke, a new ARG seeking to empower young people around the world, especially those in Africa, to come up with creative solutions for real world problems like food security, energy, disaster relief, poverty, education, global conflict, water access, disease, hunger, and more." - NightSky Lookalike Pulled To Change 'Coincidence' "Trundle's release last week by Mobile Bros. was well received by iPhone users looking for a fun and free puzzle-platformer (with downloadable level packs), but it was also the source of online quarrels over whether it "ripped off" Nicalis's NightSky for WiiWare, also a puzzle-platformer with silhouetted graphics, gradient backgrounds, a serene soundtrack, a ball as the main character, and other similar elements." - Photos From Australia's 'Best Of IGF 2009' Showcase "In partnership with the Independent Games Festival's organizers, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne is running a free exhibit featuring a selection of IGF 2009 competition finalists and winners. The Best of IGF 2009 showcase invites visitors to not just view but also play ten indie games, some even projected on walls (Blueberry Garden, Night Sky, PixelJunk Eden, and Osmos)." - LA Game Space Introduces Kids To Game Development "A diverse collection of developers, artist, researchers, and more have teamed up to create LA Game Space, a non-profit lab seeking to connect game-makers with kids in Los Angeles that want to learn more about game development. The group hopes to accomplish this through workshops, after-school mentor programs, guest lectures, and by showing and promoting participants' game designs to others across the country and world." - Spanish Artists Pay Tribute To Konami "Spanish design company Ikari Studio has hosted a series of 'Homage' efforts in the past several months with local artists creating works inspired by famous properties like Shin-Chan and Masters of the Universe. Last month's Homage was devoted to Capcom, but the latest collection pays tribute to Konami and its huge and varied list of franchises." - Maniac Mansion 3D Remake Demo Released "Ernie 76 and the Vampyre Games Team have released a PC demo for their unauthorized 3D remake of LucasArts's classic adventure game Maniac Mansion. To avoid licensing issues, the German group named their project Meteor Mess 3D (or MM3D) -- it kind of makes sense, what with a meteor playing a key role in the original game's story, but that title makes the game sound like some sort of Asteroids-type shooter. " - Free Goblin Slayer Board Game Receives Color Update "Digital Eel (Brainpipe) has announced a revamp of Goblin Slayer, its free two-player boardgame of heroic adventure and underground combat, with a full-color update that the developer says transforms it into 'a complete finished production that stands up to any fantasy game in print'." - Special: The Best Of The 2009 Demoscene, Part 2 - 64k and 4k "In the latest of an occasional series of demoscene-related posts on GameSetWatch before, AteBit's Paul 'EvilPaul' Grenfell presents a multi-part retrospective on 2009's best demos - continuing with the top real-time rendered intros that fit into just 64kb or 4kb in size." - Korg DS-10 Plus Music Tool For DS Hits U.S. In 2 Weeks "Xseed has revealed that Korg DS-10 Plus, its music creation program for the Nintendo DS based on the Korg MS-10 synthesizer, will ship to U.S. stores on February 16th with a $30 price tag. As with the original Korg DS-10 released in 2008, the software is geared for both professional and aspiring musicians, giving them inexpensive access to emulated synthesizers and drum machines."