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SkateBIRD is a very promising and very cute skateboarding game with birds, yes birds riding skateboards. It's being developed by Glass Bottom Games, who previously gave us Spartan Fist and Hot Tin Roof: The Cat That Wore A Fedora.

Glass Bottom Games are now seeking funding on Kickstarter, with a sum of $20,000 requested to help them finish the game. Seems it's going well too, with over 50% already pledged! Of course, since I'm writing about it that does mean it's confirmed to be coming to Linux (I've also written about it briefly before, if you missed it).

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Features:

  • Drive smooth flowing, physical-feeling skating with simple buttons, not stick gestures
  • Feel immediately at home with the controls, if you dig Pro Skaters of a Hawk variety
  • Explore a series of tiny worlds full of little objectives and secret tapes (scotch tapes mostly)
  • Make bird friends by completing challenges, or just trying really hard
  • Organize skate events with your new friends! Become a skate bird legend!
  • (or just be really happy all your buds are having a good time with you)

There's no Linux demo just yet (demo page is here), but I did speak to the developer before the campaign went live and one should be available shortly. I will update you when it is with some first impressions.

Find it on Kickstarter here. They also have a Steam store page up to wishlist/follow along, with a DRM-free release that will also be available on itch.io.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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9 comments

Beamboom Jun 11, 2019
Why birds, though? Why not just have regular human beings and make a good skate game with really cool locations? We're a bunch of people who are still waiting for a good one after S.K.A.T.E ended with the sequel.
I mean, what does it add to the game to have us be friggin' chicken? Who thought, "oh that'll sell some extra copies"?
Liam Dawe Jun 11, 2019
Quoting: BeamboomWhy birds, though? Why not just have regular human beings and make a good skate game with really cool locations? We're a bunch of people who are still waiting for a good one after S.K.A.T.E ended with the sequel.
I mean, what does it add to the game to have us be friggin' chicken? Who thought, "oh that'll sell some extra copies"?
It's cute, quirky and different and makes it stand out a little, it also sounds hilarious.

Sure, I would also like a proper full-on skating game, but this isn't meant to be a pro-skater game. They can both exist.
HadBabits Jun 11, 2019
Quoting: BeamboomWhy birds, though?

Why birds? You must be more machine than penguin now :B On a practical level I imagine this is a lot cheaper than designing and animating humans in a human-sized environment. I think it's pretty cute though, especially how they use their wings to get more air.


Last edited by HadBabits on 11 June 2019 at 11:48 am UTC
buckysrevenge Jun 11, 2019
QuoteFind it on Kickstarter here.
This link isn't one. You meant https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/meganfox/skatebird-be-a-skateboarding-bird ?
Liam Dawe Jun 11, 2019
Quoting: buckysrevenge
QuoteFind it on Kickstarter here.
This link isn't one. You meant https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/meganfox/skatebird-be-a-skateboarding-bird ?
Apologies, link fixed.
TromboneSteve Jun 11, 2019
Quoting: BeamboomWhy birds, though? Why not just have regular human beings and make a good skate game with really cool locations? We're a bunch of people who are still waiting for a good one after S.K.A.T.E ended with the sequel.
I mean, what does it add to the game to have us be friggin' chicken? Who thought, "oh that'll sell some extra copies"?

Only reason I backed it was because it's a skateboarding bird. I just had to
14 Jun 12, 2019
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The trick animations look very abrupt, but not all animations. If that doesn't improve, it will definitely feel like a low-budget game. That could turn me off. We'll see. I remembering playing the Tony Hawk games a ton back in the day.
Beamboom Jun 12, 2019
Quoting: HadBabitsOn a practical level I imagine this is a lot cheaper than designing and animating humans in a human-sized environment.

You're probably right, but I would think that with today's powerful game design framework it shouldn't be that hard... But looking a bit closer at the animations and physics here, it becomes pretty apparent that this is a project with little focus on physics and animations. So there's other issues here that's more pressing than being a bird, now that I think about it. :D

Unfortunately! Cause the maps themselves looks really fun to traverse.

Quoting: liamdaweSure, I would also like a proper full-on skating game, but this isn't meant to be a pro-skater game.

I miss a proper skate game! :(


Last edited by Beamboom on 12 June 2019 at 9:28 am UTC
HadBabits Jun 12, 2019
Quoting: BeamboomYou're probably right, but I would think that with today's powerful game design framework it shouldn't be that hard... But looking a bit closer at the animations and physics here, it becomes pretty apparent that this is a project with little focus on physics and animations. So there's other issues here that's more pressing than being a bird, now that I think about it. :D

Unfortunately! Cause the maps themselves looks really fun to traverse.

No doubt we have the tech to do it, but it would still probably cost much more time, which doesn't come cheap. The birds don't turn their head forward (I mean, with bird eyes I guess you cant justify that easily), their 'arms' movements are simple and symmetrical, and no articulated joints all mean less time required.

Not to dismiss the dev's work, mind. This is an alpha, after all :)
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