Digital Eel
 The original Digital Eel logo, 2001, by Bill Sears | |
| Industry | Video game industry |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | |
| Products | Infinite Space series |
| Website | www |
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
[edit]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]
On June 21, 2024, a retrospective soundtrack compilation album, The Weird Musical World of Digital Eel, was officially released on Bandcamp. Each track is a suite or medley of music from a different Digital Eel game.
Developers
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]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 roguelite subgenre, inspiring later efforts like FTL: Faster Than Light.[4]
Awards
[edit]- 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])
References
[edit]- ^ "Digital Eel - About Us". digital-eel.com. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
- ^ "Digital Eel Launches Kickstarter for Next Infinite Space Game". Game Politics. Archived from the original on April 25, 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- ^ "Infinite Space 3: Sea of Stars". Kickstarter. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
- ^ "IGF awards 2013: FTL acceptance speech for Excellence in Design award". Game Developers Conference. March 28, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
- ^ "The 12th Annual Independent Games Festival - Finalists & Winners". igf.com. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
- ^ "Brainpipe: A Plunge to Unhumanity". gamesindustry.biz. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
- ^ a b "The 12th Annual Independent Games Festival - 2006 Finalists & Winners". igf.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
- ^ a b "The 12th Annual Independent Games Festival - 2004 Finalists & Winners". igf.com. Retrieved August 20, 2015.