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Fifth (?) Time’s the Charm – IGF Finalist!
Posted by Data in Cortex Command - January 7th, 2009


Hey, Cortex Command finally made it into the IGF, after probably breaking the record of number of years any same game has been submitted! We have been sending it in more times than I can actually remember.. there were even a couple of submissions under the name D.I.R.T., way back when, before some other game projects claimed it. I think the total attempts is five, but could be plus/minus one. :)

It’s always been well worth it though; we got enough publicity out of the IGF entries page listing to make up for the entry fee. That initial traffic definitely helped build the great fan base and community that we enjoy today!

Congrats to all our Indie brethren who also made the finals – I’ll see you in SF soon! And to those who didn’t make it this time, take it from us: Don’t give up – keep working on it and submit again next year! It’s always worth it.

To the right is the first official gameplay trailer that I just threw together for the finalist page. This is how Data plays CC! (best viewed in fullscreen mode)

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117 Responses to “Fifth (?) Time’s the Charm – IGF Finalist!”

  1. ngajoe - # January 7th, 2009 at 11:39 pm

    2009 – The year of the disembodied pixelated brain. I can feel it!

  2. Bolter - # January 7th, 2009 at 11:41 pm

    Nice, gongratulations on the spot and good luck in the competition.

  3. zalo - # January 7th, 2009 at 11:58 pm

    Data, you wimp, you have a jetpack that you can use as a weapon too!

    But yeah, it’s great that you’re making it into the finals. Even if it only is for Technical Excellence (It should’ve been in that category long ago.)

    Finals? Finally.

  4. Aspect - # January 8th, 2009 at 12:34 am

    Cortex up on the big boards. It’s about time!

  5. Lord Tim - # January 8th, 2009 at 12:41 am

    The AI in that build looks amazing. Can’t wait for the update.

    There’s some good stuff in the art categories this year for IGF, but I’m thinking you’ll get technical for sure. Especially with the latest updates.

  6. Geti - # January 8th, 2009 at 12:54 am

    yay, its got all the new mac stuff (as it would :P )
    epic fail at the end though. 2 gatlin’ coalition heavies does me, and costs less than you just spent. i suppose that made for a better video though ;)

  7. SmithNo13 - # January 8th, 2009 at 1:01 am

    I really like the look of those mission beacons… One of the nice little features to make it look nice n fancy, eh? Cant wait for B23.

  8. Joppu - # January 8th, 2009 at 1:16 am

    Noo, the official trailer replaced my awesome video that was linked there first :D

    I’m talking about this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8gdIcdVkEM

    “Clicks: 122 URL: http://www.igf.com/php-bin/entry2009.php?id=712“

  9. Grenade - # January 8th, 2009 at 2:43 am

    WTF arrows ????? I dont think that this arrows are good idea =(

  10. Anon - # January 8th, 2009 at 2:44 am

    Can’t believe it wasn’t nominated earlier years. Congrats, Data, you deserve the award! Also, I’m likin’ that new AI. Looks like AI-controlled dudes can finally use the jetpack properly.

  11. duel90 - # January 8th, 2009 at 4:47 am

    Now im wondering what program Data used to capture the video?

  12. Seraph - # January 8th, 2009 at 5:00 am

    Nice one Data! It’s been a long time, but it’s finally getting there!

  13. Tobeh - # January 8th, 2009 at 6:34 am

    More HUD would be tasty for the missions.

    Good luck with it all.

  14. DTP - # January 8th, 2009 at 7:05 am

    nice one DRL

  15. Paul - # January 8th, 2009 at 9:09 am

    GO GO GO!

  16. BobbyJ - # January 8th, 2009 at 9:56 am

    Haha. I love the moment at 4:10 when you dive from the blue bombs.

  17. --- - # January 8th, 2009 at 10:17 am

    I’m sure I heard a bit of the EVE-Online soundtrack in that trailer.

  18. L7D - # January 8th, 2009 at 10:23 am

    yay a trailer. send it out for publicity. I bought this game for my friend for christmas, he loves it. I can’t believe it’s been a whole year already since last submission to the indie games festival. That’s crazy! But awesome!

  19. TimS - # January 8th, 2009 at 10:58 am

    Well deserved.

    I can think of at least one OTHER slot in the finalists list that Cortex Command should have also taken…

    Ah well.

    Good luck and I’ll see ye at the IGF booth (assuming you go!)

  20. Noah - # January 8th, 2009 at 11:10 am

    Congrats on your achievements thus far!
    Cortex Command has been my #1 indie game for years :) glad to see its gettin’ recognized.

  21. crazyman - # January 8th, 2009 at 12:05 pm

    Well done u earned it!!!

  22. Karvabopi - # January 8th, 2009 at 1:56 pm

    Well, cortex command deserves it if something does.

  23. neoseeker - # January 8th, 2009 at 2:05 pm

    Guess data plays like me.

    And everyone else

  24. neoseeker - # January 8th, 2009 at 2:06 pm

    never mind actually… it doesn’t seem like he cared much about playing lol

  25. Zinc - # January 8th, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    Data, learn to use body slams! Unless… unless they’re holding a bomb. Wait, nevermind, that’s even more fun.

  26. Cortex Command IGF Gameplay Trailer « Independently Speaking - # January 8th, 2009 at 3:34 pm

    [...] celebrate the nomination, Data from the Data Realms team has posted brand spanking new gameplay footage which can be viewed below. Enjoy, [...]

  27. PlasmaNova - # January 8th, 2009 at 3:40 pm

    whoa!!!

    data has some mad boom-stick skillz!!

  28. Azukki - # January 8th, 2009 at 4:36 pm

    Great to see it get some more recognition.
    And those arrows are looking good.
    I hope you win.

    btw your ‘other’ link is broken

  29. Octyl - # January 8th, 2009 at 5:05 pm

    Congrats! I like the look of the new A.I. You can trust them to find their way to you without guidance, and you don’t have to worry about them landing on you or accidentally shooting you.

  30. BakedNoodle - # January 8th, 2009 at 5:15 pm

    Dan, congrats man I hope you win, you deserve it. I bought a support edition because this is the only indie game I have seen that is worth buying. I only hope one day that we can multi-player over LAN.

    Sincerely,

    LONG TIME DATA REALMS SUPPORTER

    -Evan

    P.S. Hey Dan since we have a Mac OSX port how about a Linux port? Shouldn’t be that hard, in fact I will help out in any way shape or form if I can.

  31. Tor - # January 8th, 2009 at 5:55 pm

    When I play Cortex, the frame rate seems to be slower than the gameplay video. Is the video sped up any?

  32. Maddog321 - # January 8th, 2009 at 7:00 pm

    Wow, That was pretty good, although i think it would’ve had more “Pezaz” If you showed some more of the weapons. Maybe it could’ve been showing some heavy coalitions with flamers and gatling guns, and light clones with assault rifles, shotuns, and concrete guns/diggers. Also, should’ve made a base that demonstrated your physics. Still, I hope with all my hope power that you win.

    BTW is that a work-in-progress of build 23 or is it just a beta of 23 that your trying out?

  33. Dodo - # January 8th, 2009 at 8:40 pm

    @TOR

    It’s not speed up, at least it runs as fast here as on the video. I’m running at 800×600 though.

  34. Woose1 - # January 8th, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    Control + O
    Data, please give us some details about the new AI.
    Preety please?

  35. Tomaster - # January 8th, 2009 at 9:38 pm

    Me gusta mucho

  36. Vash - # January 8th, 2009 at 10:35 pm

    After Shotgunning his Brain, That Ronin Heiled Hitler, Damn Nazi’s.

    Im Digging the New AI data, I might actually use squad mates in B23 XD

  37. Aspect - # January 8th, 2009 at 10:50 pm

    Yeah, I’m liking the jetpack usage.
    But what I just realized is it looks like those coalition are walking incredibly fast. Did you speed up the walking speed any, or am I just making things up?

  38. louis - # January 9th, 2009 at 8:20 am

    Good luck Data!

  39. Smithno13 - # January 9th, 2009 at 9:53 am

    Also up for vote at jayisgames.com for Casual Game of the Year in the Tactical or Strategy category.
    http://jayisgames.com/best-of/2008/download/tactical-or-strategy/

  40. Bobbyb - # January 9th, 2009 at 5:12 pm

    Build 23!!!!!

  41. Warman - # January 10th, 2009 at 2:45 pm

    WHERE BOBBYB

  42. Diabl0658 - # January 10th, 2009 at 7:56 pm

    Data, your not supposed to use the shotgun on that mission, your supposed to use the rocket launcher.

  43. Allen - # January 10th, 2009 at 9:26 pm

    I’ll be rooting for you, Data. Cheers.

  44. domotor - # January 12th, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    give us crosshairs or give us death

  45. Tor - # January 12th, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    When I play the Zombie Cave mission on my ppc mac, it goes a little differently. It still says that there are “unknown hostiles landing at the cave entrance” however, the Ronin never come. I just grab the chip and leave without any other opposition. Is the mission incomplete in b22 and only fully complete in b23 or is something wrong?

  46. zzzzzz - # January 12th, 2009 at 4:35 pm

    To make the game run that fast, use ctrl + o. It enables frameskip, which is a real life saver.

    And please give us a linux port.

  47. Geti - # January 12th, 2009 at 5:52 pm

    Tor, that happened to my friend too. i think the lua posted is corrupted, or just has the last objective wiped. its just one of the few things that go wrong each build, itll be fixed next build. heck, i could probably PM you the proper LUA file if you sent me the names of the ronin (i cant remember them off the top of my head, and the lua script likely references “ronin soldier 1″ for example. as you can see, its fixed in B23 anyway.

  48. Tomaster - # January 13th, 2009 at 6:14 pm

    Data, can you please release B23? Or give us a vague data? Cause you said “a few weeks” like a month ago.

  49. robolee - # January 14th, 2009 at 9:56 am

    @zzzzzz

    it actually makes the game logic and graphics be in/out of sync, with it on the graphics/a frame will draw once every time the logic has run once, this is good and is on by default, when you press ctrl and o it turns it off and desynchronises the logic:drawing processes.

    with it off the drawing may take a lot longer than the logic leading to lag (the annoying type you often see in 3d games where you hold down a button, then when he starts moving and you want to stop you let go, he however carries on, because its basically like you are viewing his action from the past).

  50. robolee - # January 14th, 2009 at 10:00 am

    basically turning it off is bad for very slow computers and not so bad for very fast ones. it isn’t just frameskip (which implies a set amount of frames are periodically skipped to improve performance)

  51. zzzzzz - # January 14th, 2009 at 3:24 pm

    I’m aware, but it is very nice for my very slow computer. The game runs like it is at full speed, but is semi-choppy rather than in slow motion, hence enhancing my gameplay enjoyment.

    Either way, it’s an option if you want it running faster. ;)

  52. Grenade - # January 15th, 2009 at 7:08 am

    B23 WHERE IS THE B23 ??? Im checking this everyday , but i see no B23 !

  53. Warman - # January 15th, 2009 at 10:20 am

    i agree with grenade.

  54. BobbyJ - # January 15th, 2009 at 6:57 pm

    I thought build 23 was supposed be out ages ago. What happened? I want updates, it’s the only thing that keeps me interested in cortex command!

  55. Grenade - # January 16th, 2009 at 8:13 am

    Guy’s lets spam it . B23
    B23
    B23
    B23
    B23
    B23
    B23
    B23
    B23
    B23 !!!!!!!!!!!!

  56. Grenade - # January 16th, 2009 at 8:14 am

    Oops i said Guy’s . I needed to say guys . Lol :D

  57. zalo - # January 16th, 2009 at 10:02 am

    What you should really be worried about is saying “Spam”.

  58. Diabl0658 - # January 17th, 2009 at 12:23 pm

    SPAMTASTIC!

  59. I'MAPERSON - # January 17th, 2009 at 1:51 pm

    Aw. So close Data!

    I didn’t realize that AI could follow the leader (unless that’s just B23) That would make my life alot easier. guess that’s like a tip or something.

    Good luck!

    … Aw crap. I already know another Indie game company looking for some kind of award and now I don’t know who to root for.

  60. Shane - # January 17th, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    i am dieing inside a little every day from not having this awsome build

  61. zalo - # January 17th, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    “Uh oh!

    This video no longer exists.”

    Wow, the people at IGF must’ve really hated it.
    (Or Vimeo is being weird.)

  62. Durza - # January 17th, 2009 at 9:17 pm

    What happened to the video?

  63. deathbal101 - # January 18th, 2009 at 9:17 am

    spam is lunchmeat.

  64. BobbyJ - # January 18th, 2009 at 9:50 am

    Super SPAM to the rescue

  65. Warman - # January 18th, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    B23?
    No?
    Video?
    No.
    CAKE? no. PORTAL REFERENCE? YEAH!
    ‘fucking gamers’.

  66. Chaz - # January 18th, 2009 at 4:31 pm

    WOW nice job data realms… I’m impressed

  67. PlasmaNova - # January 18th, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    SPAM BUSTERS BITCH!!
    love that quote.

    anyway, GOOD LUCK DATA!!!
    (every DRFF member is required to say that)

  68. Tomaster - # January 18th, 2009 at 9:46 pm

    Lets play the age game, so any pedophiles browsing this site can get hard knowing that there are 12 year old children here.

    Remember kids, pedophiles aren’t sick, twisted, messed up individuals who get sick thrills diddling little boys and girls, they’re just DIFFERENT.

  69. neoseeker - # January 19th, 2009 at 12:41 am

    So i can molest all i want now?

  70. Shane - # January 19th, 2009 at 8:52 am

    a part of me dies inside every moment i dont have this build

  71. Tomaster - # January 19th, 2009 at 11:54 am

    Yup, but the authorities might not see eye to eye with your views.

  72. major - # January 20th, 2009 at 5:06 am

    Hey Devs Awesome game!

    You jokers may think its funny that you can continuously post about wanting something new to be released. But in your little juvenile pranks are just that annoying. I guess I have to be the parent here. Kids it will come out when they release it. Posting about it will not change this fact…. you’re pathetic attempts at humor are wasted here. I would hope the Mac version will draw a more intelligent crowd to the Cortex Command community… it really needs it.

  73. Shane - # January 20th, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    o0o0o0o0 look at the coool kid trying to put us in order. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

  74. Tomaster - # January 20th, 2009 at 4:16 pm

    @Major
    Hey, guess what? Nothing you can so will change what we do? All you really did was invite flaming. Congratulations. Also, how long have you been around?

  75. Tomaster - # January 20th, 2009 at 4:16 pm

    Damn, that was supposed to say nothing you can do.

  76. Tyrendel - # January 21st, 2009 at 3:40 am

    I completely agree with you Major, although I assumed from the begining there was no point in writting it out. I just hope those few recurrent childish posts won’t scratch the devs’ passion.

    Great job by the way !

    From a happy user of the Mac version ;-)

  77. Warman - # January 22nd, 2009 at 9:32 am

    @Major, very mature of you :) :) :)
    not.

  78. Shane - # January 22nd, 2009 at 2:08 pm

    ooo you gonna take that Major? Warman dissed you, fight em’

  79. ColeScheffler - # January 22nd, 2009 at 5:45 pm

    Hmmm, I didn’t know that you could actually make actors follow you! I will now make an army!!! MWAHAHAHA!!!!!

  80. ColeScheffler - # January 22nd, 2009 at 5:46 pm

    Or wait, is that in your build only? But I remember I could click on actors with goto AI…

  81. Tomaster - # January 22nd, 2009 at 7:44 pm

    Cole, you can do that in B22 too.

  82. Warman - # January 24th, 2009 at 2:45 am

    any news??

  83. Shane - # January 24th, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    pleassse post what exactly is going on Data

  84. Durza - # January 25th, 2009 at 7:41 am

    No, you paid for a game, which you got.

  85. Bremze - # January 25th, 2009 at 8:10 am

    Hey Durza, your sarcasm detector is off.

  86. Shane - # January 25th, 2009 at 9:40 am

    isnt Durza the name of that ghost in the book Eragon?

  87. SunnyKatt - # January 25th, 2009 at 7:58 pm

    Shade, shane, Durza is a shade. And a kickass one too. Not in the movie though, that sucked.

    I want one of the following from Data:

    a.) Build 23

    b.) Linux Build

    Either will do, both would be great. :)
    I shall whine until noticed.

  88. Durza - # January 26th, 2009 at 7:38 am

    Yes, I’ve used this name for a few years because I couldn’t think of anything else.

  89. Grenade - # January 26th, 2009 at 7:45 am

    W H E R E I S B U I L D 2 3 ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

  90. Kolt - # January 27th, 2009 at 1:26 pm

    On his computer.

    Seriously, let him post it when he posts it. Not that I don’t want an update, I do. But don’t bring it up to 500 posts again.

  91. Shane - # January 27th, 2009 at 2:07 pm

    YOU HEARD HIM! LETS GET THIS BITCH TO 500 POSTS

  92. Tomaster - # January 27th, 2009 at 7:34 pm

    I’m pretty positive we got it up to 1000 last time.

  93. Tomaster - # January 27th, 2009 at 7:35 pm

    http://www.datarealms.com/devlog/cortex-command/we-are-set-for-campaign-production/#comments
    Yup, 1101 posts.

  94. Shane - # January 28th, 2009 at 8:38 am

    hot damn

  95. appreciator - # January 28th, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    oh my god.. splitscreen for 4 players, pixelgraphic, gore, physics, completely moddable..
    awesome, awesome.

    the counterpart of splitscreen is that the enemy (1vs1 or 2vs2) can see what other peoples are doing, where they are and if there is someone sniping.

    damn, this game needs a more thing..
    i don’t say internet multiplayer, but at least LAN mode.

    i’m a complete noob in game programming and LAN multiplayer implementation and i don’t know the amount of efforts for a (future?)LAN build, so i’m not complaining..

    it’s only a suggestion, with LAN this game will rock i can’t imagine how many times more than now. O_O

  96. billyb - # January 28th, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    how bout a grenade!

  97. Geti - # January 28th, 2009 at 11:43 pm

    shut. the fuck up.
    that’s directed at no-one in particular, and spammers in general. major has a point, even if he used the good old limp-wristed “my OS buttrapes yours” as an afterthought. spamming the dev-log gets you no-where, because data only checks it for maybe a week after a new log has been posted, and after that nothing until the next log. if you’re going to spam, at least be funny about it.
    fun-nazi out.

  98. trolleydude - # January 29th, 2009 at 1:00 pm

    derp derp
    The comments here are always pretty entertaining
    derp derp

  99. Shane - # January 29th, 2009 at 4:27 pm

    MAN DONT GIVE ME SHIT! YOU THINK DATA CARES???? YOU THINK DATA GIVES A GODAMN MOTHERFUCKING FUCK? NO NOOOOOOOO HE DOESNT!

  100. Tomaster - # January 29th, 2009 at 4:42 pm

    @Geti

    I’m going to assume I’m a spammer? Correct me if I’m wrong though.

  101. Allen - # January 30th, 2009 at 2:46 am

    This needs to be implemented here, methinks.

    http://stupidfilter.org/demo.php

  102. Fardale - # January 30th, 2009 at 7:31 am

    I could wait for weeks more for a new build. As o am assured of its awesomness. Also, and sorry about this, 100TH POST!

  103. Warman - # January 30th, 2009 at 7:38 am

    ok geti let’s spam then.

  104. Woose1 - # February 2nd, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    Hey, that “stupid filter” thing is preety cool.

    Anywho, I hoped the majority of Data Realm’s community would be good, but I guess I am wrong.

    Frequent updates would be appreciated, or a least a technical update thingy-whatchamacallit stating exactly what you are working on, no-matter how technical it is.
    Hey, even a bad update is better than no updates.

  105. Woose1 - # February 2nd, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    EDIT:
    I didn’t see any “new” AI.
    Details on this would be nice.

  106. whitty - # February 2nd, 2009 at 10:46 pm

    @woose1:
    a few builds ago they would just walk to the spot above your brain and walk a path down to it after hours. the old AI blew big meaty chunks.

    the AI now can can plot the quickest and easier way to your brain while killing you and digging thought the ground.

  107. Mooseral - # February 3rd, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    Relatively quicker and easier, that is; it still misses some more obviously better routes, and otherwise does dumb things. It’s definitely better at finding it’s way to a point, but doesn’t particularly think or use strategy yet, also highly useful for raiding bases/finding one’s way around. But indeed, it is a huge improvement over what was in place in, say, build 18.

    On the subject of the blog comments, it strikes me that they generally work far better and tend to be far more productive on more frequently updated/moderated blogs; there’s nothing wrong with Data’s system of updating in general, but it might make sense for him to just disable comments.

  108. Woose1 - # February 3rd, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    @MOOSEREAL

    I agree with this 100%. When I was reffering to the “New AI”, I meant from build 22-23.

    I am fully aware of how much bad the AI was at finding your brain or even fighting in build 21 and before.

  109. CaveCricket48 - # February 3rd, 2009 at 5:05 pm

    The faster Data releases Build 23, the more glitches it’ll have. However, the more time you give him, the more time he has to work out the kinks, and maybe add some more content. Be patient.

    And Data, excellent job on the new AI and on the IGF.

  110. Warman - # February 4th, 2009 at 7:19 am

    @Cavecricket
    While that might be true, he could atleast post a new devlog.

  111. jello - # February 4th, 2009 at 11:49 am

    how the hell am i suposed to change the controlls in build 22… i keep changing it and i stays the ugly hjkl controls!
    and when i change them ingame nothign works! any idea? mail me!

  112. trolleydude - # February 4th, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    The controls seem to be a bit fucked. Are you playing on a laptop?

  113. Mooseral - # February 5th, 2009 at 12:04 am

    As controls go, all I managed to get working in B22 were the letter keys; I re-organized my layout to suit.
    However, if a key set with such restrictions does not work for you, I believe there was a thread in Support or General on the fan forums, which included config files for several additional set-ups (most of the common ones, with a few requests, I believe).

    Apparently a manual config (as per the forum threads) bypasses whatever is broken for the input setup in B22.

    Hope it helps.

  114. whitty - # February 9th, 2009 at 10:03 pm

    if you have control issues, copy the control settings from B21’s Settings.ini

  115. Mooseral - # February 9th, 2009 at 11:09 pm

    Yeah, that probably works too, assuming that one did not (as in my case) remove B21 before installing B22. Might be a cleaner workaround for people who could do it, however.

  116. Jello - # February 10th, 2009 at 12:00 pm

    well i still have B18,19,20,21 and 22 lol im a huge fan and there are mods in B18 or 19 that are not on the newest ones! so i keep them! ok so i should take the control lines from the setup.ini and copy it in my B22’s one? il try that
    And no im not using a laptop

    Windows XP
    Nvidia geforce 9800GT
    3.41 Pentium D CPU
    2GIG ram
    with sexy x-blade box :D

  117. flashrash - # December 3rd, 2009 at 9:33 am

    Thank you! just what I need to read right now…

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