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Indigo 2024: Abstraction at INDIGO 2024&nbsp;
Last month, Abstraction was thrilled to attend INDIGO 2024, the leading game business event in The Netherlands. Held on June 19th at the Van der Valk Hotel Utrecht, Indigo brought together over 800 industry professionals for a day of learning, networking, and discovery.&nbsp;
On the show floor at the DISCOVER Showcase, the atmosphere was electric with amazing new games, innovative booths, and countless opportunities to connect. Our booth was a hive of activity as we met with industry professionals, aspiring developers, and gaming enthusiasts. The passion and creativity on display were truly inspiring.&nbsp;
We were particularly proud to have two of our team members, Masha Begovich and Marc Smids, share their expertise in insightful talks:&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Marc Smids presented "A GIGANTIC Multiplayer Puzzle," where he delved into our seamless cross-platform multiplayer matchmaking system for &ldquo;Gigantic: Rampage Edition&rdquo; and explained how Kubernetes integrates into our workflow.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Masha Begovich captivated the audience with her talk, "Conquer the Competition &amp; Stand Out," offering valuable tips for navigating the competitive job market and attracting top talent, providing insights for both employers and job seekers.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
INDIGO 2024 was more than just an event. It was a celebration of the gaming community. We left feeling inspired and excited about the future. A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth and attended our talks! &nbsp;
Here's to another successful INDIGO, and we can&rsquo;t wait to see what next year brings!

Indigo  2024

Last week abstraction attended INDIGO 2023, and we showed up in spectacular fashion! For those that don't know, INDIGO is the most popular gaming event in The Netherlands. A great place for people in the industry to connect, attend talks, and discover amazing new games.
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9739/1688047929-53005424523_911a10e268_1o.jpg" />
We love INDIGO and have for many years. This year we wanted to show our appreciation by being one of the Gold Partners and sponsoring the Skylouge Captain&rsquo;s Party. Held at the Van der Valk Hotel, our guests were treated to an incredible view of Utrecht while talking about the industry we all love.
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9739/1688048083-1pxl_20230620_192850027.jpg" />
Following the Captain&rsquo;s Day was the main event. The show floor was packed with games, booths, and opportunities to meet new people. And of course, we had to get in on the action and had our booth right in the middle of the show floor.
Throughout the day, we had so many people come up and chat to us. We had the opportunity to talk to industry professionals and newcomers a like. It was so inspiring for students to ask about abstraction and what advice we could give as they start their journey into the game's industry. Many business cards were exchanged.
Now seems like a good time to remind you that we&rsquo;re hiring! Check out our careers page here to see our open positions <a href="https://abstraction.games/careers">https://abstraction.games/careers</a>
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9739/1688048149-1pxl_20230621_054929720.jpg" />
Our CEO and co-founder Ralph Egas also had a fireside chat at the show. I'll let him describe it in his own words:
<blockquote></blockquote>
"The fireside chat was a blast. I can just be myself and talk genuinely from the heart. It also really helps that JP knows me very well and I him.
We were both so relaxed and excited about this at the same time, that apart from some pretty serious topics that were addressed, there was a lot of banter and humour brought into the mix. We had such a good time chatting. Besides that, it felt really good to be given a podium to speak candidly about things we need to work on to improve and where my responsibility as a CEO comes in beyond the obvious. I loved it." - Ralph Egas
<blockquote></blockquote>
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9739/1688048398-img_20230621_1534271.jpg" />
Every year, INDIGO gets better and better. We had an amazing time at INDIGO 2023, and we can&rsquo;t wait to see what they do next year!

abstraction at INDIGO 2023

<h2>Game review by Chantal Blokker (QA Tester at Abstraction)</h2>

Every now and then, I get the urge to play a short but sweet game to take a breather from the many hours I spend playing League of Legends. In these moments, I am on the lookout for games that offer me something different, something to get away from hectic multiplayer. This can be an appealing or unique art style, an interesting gameplay hook, or in the case of Turnip Boy, the completely outrageous title of the game. It could not help but catch my interest and without knowing much more, I dove in. Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is &hellip; exactly what it sounds like. You play as a small but incredibly cute-looking Turnip who has gotten himself into a pickle and will do anything to get himself out from under his taxes. This takes you on a short but hilarious journey to commit tax evasion and save not only yourself, but the entire town from the corrupt government ruled by the unlikeable Mayor Onion and his pesky taxes.
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9739/1681288960-afbeelding1.png" title="Turnip Boy Tax Evasion - screenshot 1" alt="Turnip Boy Tax Evasion - screenshot 1" />
The gameplay itself is inspired by classic Legend of Zelda games and has you running errands for Mayor Onion and the other denizens roaming around town. Equipped with a sword and a watering can, you will be able to deal with all the dangerous veggie-eating enemies you come across. The game is not particularly challenging as neither the boss battles nor the puzzles are complicated and can be completed quite quickly.
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9739/1681288964-afbeelding2.png" title="Turnip Boy Tax Evasion - screenshot 2" alt="Turnip Boy Tax Evasion - screenshot 2" />
However, that is not where Turnip Boy shines. The entire tone of the game, including its witty dialogue, diverse cast of characters, the many pop-culture references and the surprising narrative twists made this game a joy to play through. The game is very self-aware, and its meta humour and tongue-in-cheek delivery has had me laughing many times throughout the game.
<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9739/1681288968-afbeelding3.png" title="Turnip Boy Tax Evasion - screenshot 3" alt="Turnip Boy Tax Evasion - screenshot 3" />
Although short games can be a nice breather every once in a while, this game might just be a little too short with around a 2-hour run-time for the main game. However, the kind folks over at Snoozy Kazoo (the creators of Turnip Boy) provided a free update which will give you even more Turnip Boy gameplay! The Sunset Train update is a nice addition to the game that adds a ton of new hats to collect, some new enemies and a more challenging, rogue lite experience on the train.
<a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1205450/Turnip_Boy_Commits_Tax_Evasion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ready to root for Turnip Boy? Click here to visit Steam: 'Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion'&nbsp;</a>

Games we love: "Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion" 

<h2>Looking back at Gamescom 22'&nbsp;</h2>

It's hard to believe that it's already been a few months since we were on Gamescom with the team. It was such an incredible experience, and it's heartwarming to think back on it.
One of the highlights of the trip was having our own Abstraction booth at the event, which was an awesome hub for our people, and also functioned as a meeting room. It was nice to have a space where we could all come together and collaborate, and it was also a great way to connect and showcase our work.&nbsp;We met up with many amazing people, and it was truly inspiring to see the creativity and passion of the gaming industry on full display.
We all worked together to make sure everything ran smoothly, and it was a pleasure to see everyone come together and support one another. The most rewarding part of the trip was getting to spend time with the team.

Check out our after movie below:
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 <iframe style="position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%; left: 0; top: 0;" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D5EwEzuw7UA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</div>


Gamescom 22' was an unforgettable team experience, and we're already looking forward to the next one!
If you're reading this and you're interested in joining our team, we're always on the lookout for talented individuals who are eager to push the boundaries in the games industry. If that sounds like you, we'd love to have a chat. Head to our <a href="https://abstraction.games/careers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">careerspage</a> to see our open positions and apply!


<h4>And since the holidays are upon us, we want to wish you all the best. We hope you have a wonderful and relaxing time with your loved ones, and we look forward to all that the new year has in store.</h4>

Looking back at Gamescom 2022 - after movie

<h2 style="font-weight: 400;">Game review by Joost T Slooterweg (QA Tester at Abstraction)</h2>

<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9739/1666617089-bloodstained-ritual-of-the-night_20221013172203.jpg" />

As a kid I stumbled into playing Castlevania Symphony of the night, and I loved it. All the exploration, the huge variation in monsters, gear, and environments, it kept me hooked for hours. It might have been the first game I ever fully finished, but since the Playstation 1 did not have Trophies or Cloud storage I can never prove this feat to anyone. So when I heard that the Programmer/writer for Symphony of the Night, Koji Igarashi, was working on a new game that would be made in the same spirit, I knew I needed to get it!

Bloodstained focuses on the same principles, and I am once again hooked. The graphics are gorgeous, detailed and varied landscapes and other backdrops against which bright spell effects leap out at you and grotesque monsters do likewise. The variety I know and love from Symphony can be seen here as well, so many monsters, armors, weapons, and other items to collect. All of these neatly tracked in checklists, just how I like it.

<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9739/1666617100-bloodstained-ritual-of-the-night_20221013172905.jpg" />

The gameplay is addictive, you have control of Miriam, a woman with the ability to cast spells and use every weapon the game throws at you. She will gain new abilities by collecting the &ldquo;Shards&rdquo; that monsters sometimes leave behind, and will build up an impressive arsenal throughout the game. Here also, look for the Symphony staples, some abilities will allow you to explore areas that you could not reach before. All this exploring will take place in an enormous castle and the surrounding grounds, slowly filling out the entire map.

Miriam's hoard of weapons, armors, and Shards, can be upgraded via a simple crafting system. To upgrade you will use drops from monsters, and the same system can be used for an arcane art to transform several ingredients into food, which will heal you when consumed and give you permanent boosts.

<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/9739/1666617092-bloodstained-ritual-of-the-night_20221013172326.jpg" />

Even though the roots of the games are firmly anchored in the past, the experience feels fresh but cosy. A return to a comfortable formula with just enough quality of life changes thrown in to not feel old and stale. Maybe my Nostalgia-goggles are warping this recommendation a bit, but give this one a try!

Games we love: "Bloodstained: Ritual of the night"

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