Get Two Free Games on Steam in Memory of Rob Hale
In accordance with Rob Hale's last wish, his two games have been published for free to everyone on Steam.
The death of an artist who passed away at only 40 years old is a heavy topic for both loved ones and fans of his work. Rob Hale - an independent game developer, producer and publisher who had been active in the market for more than 10 years - died of cancer in early August. The news sparked sympathy from fans, while also serving as a prelude to one of the heaviest game announcements.
The author, who shares the achievements of his life
In line with Hale's last wish, the games Waves and Waves 2: Notorious have been made available for free to everyone on Steam. A message to this effect was published by CJ - the developer's partner:
Rob passed away a fortnight ago as a result of complications from cancer after a prolonged and arduous stay in hospital. [...] By now you will have noticed that both Waves and Waves 2 are free to play across all platforms. This was something Rob was considering anyway within the past two months as their health entered into more substantial difficulties, so I hope this can be seen as a parting gift to all those out there that haven’t yet played either of these games," informed the developer's partner
The community offered its condolences, promising to expand the reach of this action. There was no shortage of sympathy voices under the information:
Rob Hale used his experience in modding and creating AAA games to fully devote himself to his passion - game development. The creator was kind enough to take part in an interview for PC Gamer in 2012, offering advice to anyone who wanted to start making video games. The interview showed the passion of a developer who loved what he was doing, joking at the same time that making games was "the reason he gets up in the afternoon." Hale's output and the touching tribute left by his partner remains a testament to that passion.
Games resulting from passion
Hale's first game, Waves, was released in 2011. It is a simple twin-stick shooter game, laced with futuristic visuals. In the title we move a ball around a closed arena, eliminate the threats approaching from all sides, striving to get the best score possible. The title has more than 94% positive reviews on Steam.
The sequel to Hale's game, Waves 2: Notorious, never left early access due to the author's untimely death. The sequel expands on the concept formed in the first part - the graphics are more refined, the title has new items, and the game mechanics have been improved. The early version has more than 89% positive reviews on Steam.