Digital Eel Explained
Digital Eel is a self-funded independent video game development team located in the Seattle, Washington area. Digital Eel is best known for its Infinite Space series of space roguelikes.
History
The group was formed in 2001 by Rich Carlson (level design at Ion Storm and Looking Glass Studios), Iikka Keränen (level design at Looking Glass Studios and Valve) and Bill "Phosphorus" Sears (digital artist at KnowWonder and GameHouse).[1]
In April 2013, Digital Eel announced plans for the third installment of the Infinite Space series, Infinite Space III: Sea of Stars, and turned to Kickstarter.com to crowdfund the project.[2] Funding was successful.[3]
Developers
- Rich Carlson – design, sound, music and art
- Iikka Keränen – design, code and art
- Bill "Phosphorus" Sears (deceased) – artist, music and design
- Henry Kropf – code, macOS expert
- Chris Collins - code, macOS expert, Android expert
Games
- Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space (Android, iPad, iPhone, 2021)
- Strange Adventures in Infinite Space reissue (Linux, macOS, Windows, 2020)
- Goblin Slayer Third Edition (boardgame, 2019)
- Protagon (VR game, HTC Vive/Windows, 2017)
- Infinite Space Battle Poker (card game, 2016)
- Pairs: Infinite Space (card game, 2016)
- Infinite Space III: Sea of Stars (Windows, Mac, 2015)
- Eat Electric Death! (boardgame, 2013)
- Infinite Space Explorers: X-1 Expansion (card game, 2012)
- Infinite Space Explorers (card game, 2012)
- Data Jammers: FastForward (Windows, Mac, 2011 & 2015)
- Space Ludo (boardgame, 2009)
- BrainPipe
A Plunge to Unhumanity (Windows, Mac & iPhone, 2008 & 2009)
- Goblin Slayer (boardgame, 2008)
- Soup du Jour (Windows & iPad, 2007 & 2011)
- Eat Electric Death! (boardgame, 2007 but publisher defaulted)
- Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space (Windows, Mac, 2005, 2006, 2011 & 2014)
- Diceland Space: Terrans vs. Urluquai (setting, ship types & art, tabletop game, 2005)
- Diceland Space: Garthans vs. Muktians (setting, ship types & art, tabletop game, 2005)
- Independent Games (Independent Games Festival 30-game compilation CD-ROM that featured Big Box of Blox, Dr. Blob's Organism, Plasmaworm and Strange Adventures in Infinite Space Windows, 2005)
- Mac OS X Boiler Plate Special (Mac, 2004)
- Digital Eel's Big Box of Blox (Windows, Mac, handhelds, smartphones, 2003–2008)
- Dr. Blob's Organism (Windows & Mac, 2003)
- Strange Adventures in Infinite Space (Windows, Mac & handhelds, 2002-2020)
- Plasmaworm (Windows, July 17, 2001)
Reception
Digital Eel is best known for its Infinite Space series of space roguelikes, Strange Adventures in Infinite Space (2002), Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space (2005) and Infinite Space III: Sea of Stars (2015). Strange Adventures and Weird Worlds pioneered the space roguelike subgenre, inspiring later efforts like .[4]
Awards
- Excellence in Audio: Brainpipe (IGF, 2009[5])
- Best In-game Audio: Brainpipe (Bytten, 2009[6])
- Innovation in Audio: Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space (IGF, 2006[7])
- Seumas McNally Grand Prize finalist: Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space (IGF, 2006[7])
- Quest/Adventure Game of the Year: Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space (Game Tunnel, 2005)
- Innovation in Visual Art: Dr. Blob's Organism (IGF, 2004[8])
- Innovation in Audio: Dr. Blob's Organism (IGF, 2004[8])
Notes and References
- Web site: Digital Eel - About Us. digital-eel.com. August 20, 2015.
- Web site: Digital Eel Launches Kickstarter for Next Infinite Space Game . Game Politics . 9 April 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130425062348/http://gamepolitics.com/2013/04/04/digital-eel-launches-kickstarter-next-infinite-space-game . April 25, 2013 . mdy .
- Web site: Infinite Space 3: Sea of Stars. Kickstarter. August 20, 2015.
- Web site: IGF awards 2013: FTL acceptance speech for Excellence in Design award . March 28, 2013 . January 1, 2016 . Game Developers Conference.
- Web site: The 12th Annual Independent Games Festival - Finalists & Winners. igf.com. August 20, 2015.
- Web site: Brainpipe: A Plunge to Unhumanity. gamesindustry.biz. June 19, 2024.
- Web site: The 12th Annual Independent Games Festival - 2006 Finalists & Winners . igf.com . August 20, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160604201241/http://www.igf.com/2006finalistswinners.html . June 4, 2016 . mdy .
- Web site: The 12th Annual Independent Games Festival - 2004 Finalists & Winners. igf.com. August 20, 2015.
