Arcade

After Valve abandoned its hardware aspirations, self-taught electrical engineer Jeri Ellsworth and game programmer Rick Johnson left to build CastAR, an innovative augmented-reality gaming system. A pair of glasses projects 3D imagery onto a special reflective surface, with built-in head tracking and an interactive want to control the game. Jeri Ellsworth joins us from Seattle to show off the latest prototype.

Hands down, the breakout hit of XOXO Arcade last year was Johann Sebastian Joust, the cult physical game by Die Gute Fabrik's Doug Wilson. A mix between dance and combat, JS Joust challenges up to players to move their opponents' controllers while protecting their own. Doug is flying out from NYC to help run large-scale Joust matches up to 18 players, with armies and traitors.

Inspired by Ludum Dare game jams, Shaun Inman set out to make six games in six months with friends Rusty Moyher and Matt Grimm. Funded by a $66k Kickstarter project, the team finished four games so far, involving their backers in the development process. All four games will be playable at XOXO Arcade, with Shaun Inman available to talk about his development process.

You're on a spaceship with your crew, and must communicate the urgent tasks on your control panels to save your ship from impending doom. Set the petagrater to 3! Asteroid, everybody shake! Spaceteam is the rare video game best played in public, preferably with alcohol for maximum embarrassment. You can meet Spaceteam's creator, Montreal developer Henry Smith, and shout commands at him.

Set in a lively cocktail party, SpyParty pits two players against one another—a spy tasked with several important missions, and a sniper trying to find and kill the spy before they carry out their tasks. A game of human behavior and deception, the only way to detect the spy is observing their behavior. The game's designer, Chris Hecker, brings the latest beta after a stunning appearance at PAX Prime's Omegathon finale.

Bennett Foddy is best known for his cult games QWOP and GIRP, challenging the player to manipulate the limbs of a hapless runner and rock climber. He's currently working on Super Pole Riders, an expanded four-player version of his frenetic pole vaulting polo game for the upcoming Sportsfriends compilation.

Instantly remix classic VHS footage into a monstrous audio-visual mashup with The Terrible Machine, the latest project from interactive artists Josh Randall and Todd Thille. Fresh off its debut at Everything Is Festival, this is only the second appearance of the custom-built cabinet.

Inspired by traditional sports and old-fashioned shooters, Action Button's VIDEOBALL is a minimalist team-based multiplayer game for up to six players. Action Button art director Brent Porter joins us to show off his progress on the unreleased game.