News

Job Opportunity – Game Maker Programmer

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Hey Guys! We are looking for a new member of our Rivals of Aether team! Right now we are integrating more features into our build and developing our platform for the Xbox market. This is where you could come in. We need a programmer to take the reins of our Xbox One branch with the goal of getting us into Xbox Game Preview Program later this year. If you share our passion for bringing a premiere platform fighting experience to next-gen consoles, check out what we’re looking for:

  • Requirements: At least one of the following experiences:
    • 1+ Year(s) experience with Xbox One Requirements / Certification and 3+ Years general software development experience.
    • 3+ Years Game Maker / Game Maker Studio Experience.
  • Qualities:
    • You have at least one shipped title on Steam, Microsoft Consoles, Sony Consoles, or Nintendo Consoles.
    • You can work remotely as a team and use Skype chat or gchat to check in.
    • You have familiarity with GitHub and other Source Control tools.
    • You can work with our contacts through email regarding our path to Xbox One.
    • You have some familiarity with working in agile-like sprints, and can manage your time effectively.
    • You’re efficient at communicating with our design and tech stakeholders.
    • You get equally excited about building a minimal viable product quickly as you are about cementing a feature in tested code.

This is a paid, remote contractor position that we’re trying to fill as soon as possible. Rate is negotiable based on your experience and resume. To apply please send a short cover letter in the body of an email, with your available start date in the heading, and an attached resume (.pdfs only please) to [email protected]. Please Label the subject line: Game Maker Programmer – Your Name.

Developer Update – September 2015

In about 10 hours, Rivals of Aether will be available for purchase on Steam Early Access. Players will be able to join into the fun and start helping us shape the game toward our full launch sometime in 2016.

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We will also be working hard next month on getting our Xbox One version off the ground. We are still targeting to have Rivals of Aether on the Xbox Game Preview Program before 2015 is complete. Then both Xbox One and PC players will be able to influence the balance as they play against friends both locally and online.

Today we would also like to announce the new center hub for the Rivals of Aether Community – Aetherboards! This forum will house feedback from both our Steam and Xbox One user-base. We will be posting patch notes, collecting bugs, checking out suggestions and just discussing the game with fans!

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Head on over if you want to get involved in the community! We also have sections for coordinating tournaments if you are ready to test your skills!

Over the weekend, we gave out access to Rivals as a last minute test to a few streamers, youtubers and press. Many players got their first taste of online multiplayer and were having a blast! Check out Alpharad’s first day in Rivals and some of the crazy situations that unfolded:

In August, we were at PAX Prime 2015 showing off Rivals of Aether. It was a blast and we met a ton of new fans. We even had some Super Smash Brothers pros including TSM Leffen check out the game. We were in the PAX Rising Booth which featured games from upcoming indie developers. We were also at Microsoft’s campus for their ID@Xbox Showcase. We even got to meet a giant Cuphead mascot! Cuphead! I had a great time at PAX Prime and I am extremely thankful to the PAX and Microsoft team for inviting us to showcase. Check out some pictures from our week of PAX:

 

And that is all for now! September has been an amazing month and the next few are going to be even wilder! We hope you follow along for the ride.

Steam Early Access Release Date

Hi everyone! Today we are revealing the date that Rivals of Aether will arrive on Steam Early Access:

Windows users will be able to purchase the game on Steam on September 22, 2015. By purchasing it early, players will get access to the title as we update it and make balance changes. You can check out the Steam Page for Rivals of Aether and add the title to your wishlist.

Early Access will initially feature 6 characters, 5 stages, 1-4 Player Versus Mode with CPUs, Practice Mode, 1v1 Netplay through Matchmaking or Steam Invites, Xbox Controller Support, Keyboard Support, and Custom Controls.

Some of the game features will be released after Early Access is complete in early 2016 including Story Mode, Abyss Mode, and the two hidden characters.

We will also be bringing the preview version of Rivals of Aether to Xbox Game Preview Program later in 2015, but we do not currently have a date for that release.

If you want to share in your excitement for the release later this month, then come join us at our forum thread on Smashboards.

Character Reveal – Hidden Character 1

We are very excited to reveal the latest character to join the Rivals of Aether roster! This is the first hidden character we are unveiling. If you don’t want to be spoiled for the final release, then ignore this post!

Click to reveal Hidden Character 1

 

Absa – The Storm Architect

 

Profile:

Absa is a famed engineer and secret martialist of the Elders of the Air Alliance, who live high above the cloudline in the Archai Mountains. Before the Air Armada, winged citizens of the Alliance would fly between the high trees of the Aetherian Forest and the mountaintops of Archai. The Elders of Air dispensed wisdom and law from the Archaian mountaintops, and Air society flourished under a peaceful neutrality. However, after the Fire Kingdom burnt down the Aetherian Forrest, the winged citizens began to question the peaceful policies of the mountain-dwelling Elders. A rift formed between the Air citizens who could fly and those who could not. Soon the winged Air-dwellers built the Air Armada and declared war on the Fire Nation… leaving the Air Alliance in tatters.

Absa was only a young girl when half of the Air Alliance left with the Armada. However, young Absa, math prodigy and wunderkind inventor, perceived the vulnerability of her mountaintop civilization. She studied the world of Aether and developed a defense to protect the mountains from war. She mastered weather patterns and harnessed the power of lightning to create a permanent electrical storm at the base of the Archai Mountains. This storm barricade has hidden the mountains so well that the Air Elders consider themselves impervious to the turmoil of Aether. Yet, Absa, the inventor of the storms herself, fears that the barricades may prove insufficient. Despite the laws of the Elders, Absa secretly developed her storm techniques for offensive use. In martial arts societies hidden in the caves of the Archai mountains, Absa honed skills that she hoped to never need.

Elemental Powers:

CLOUD CONTROL – Absa can place a cloud using her Neutral or Forward Special. This cloud hangs in the air until Absa bursts it by tapping her Neutral Special and knocking enemies away.

THUNDER BOLT – Absa can charge her Neutral Special to create a powerful lightning blast that connects her to her cloud. All opponents caught between the two will be knocked away at high speeds.

CONDENSED STORM – Absa focuses the power of a lightning bolt to the tip of her hoof. If she can line up one of her aerial kicks perfectly, she unleashes great power.

Gameplay:

Wrastor’s gameplay is based around him quickly closing distances and comboing his opponents into the air. Absa is about controlling space through her clouds and preventing her opponents from staying close for too long. She wants to separate herself and use her clouds and thunderbolt to keep her enemies at bay.

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When fighting against Absa, you have to be aware of the Cloud placement. She can quickly burst a cloud to knock you away from it. She can combo her opponents between herself and her clouds. She can also electricute the air between the two. When you are getting close to death percents, you have to be careful about Absa trying to line up her Thunder Bolt.

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Absa can also set off an electric chain using her down special. Once the two sides of the chain meet, it will explode outward knocking opponents away at high speeds. She can create it either on her cloud to make part of the stage unsafe for opponents or on herself to use it offensively.

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Absa also has very powerful aerial attacks. Her forward air, back air and down air kicks all have multiple hitboxes. If you can hit opponents with the sweet spot on the tip of her hooves, then opponents will be knocked away with extreme force.

Additional Screenshots:

If you are near the East Coast, then head over to Super Smash Con this weekend to get hands-on play with this newest Rival!

Tournament Highlight – EVO 2015!

Hey Guys,

I am excited to let you know that later today, AZ Project Melee is hosting an 8 Person Invitational for Rivals of Aether at EVO 2015!

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The tournament takes place today, Friday 7/17/2015, at 6PM PDT. You can watch the stream at https://www.twitch.tv/azprojectmelee.

With the tournament now over, you can watch the entire invitational through this Playlist:
Rivals of Aether EVO 2015 Youtube Playlist

Here is an epic showdown between Zman and Sethlon:

Thanks so much to Zman and the AZ Project Melee team for hosting, organizing and streaming this tournament. If you want to see more Rivals content, you can support the AZ PM team by checking out their Patreon!

Here is a list of some of the combatants:

  • Sethlon: A SSBM and Project Melee Player, Famous Roy and Rivals of Aether Design Consultant (since we had a measly two characters).
  • Hylian: A SSBB and Project Melee Player. Famous in his Brawl days for his terrifying Ice Climbers. Has played alpha builds with Sethlon.
  • Keits: The Character Designer of Killer Instinct Season 2. Also a staple in the Fighting Game Community after starting UFGT. I have heard rumors about his Kragg.
  • LiD: An old-school Melee player who got a ton of Rivals experience at E3 2015. Picked up the game extremely quickly and then demolished other attendees.