In January, the school announced it would expand its support for student developers with the USC Games Publishing program. USC's game development program is renowned and highly productive, having turned out high-profile projects such as The Misadventures of PB Winterbottom, The Unfinished Swan and Flow, the predecessor to mainstream mega-hit Journey.

That's wonderful early attention for an independent student project - and it didn't happen by chance. Only this time, the flames are black and white with just a touch of orange when you look at them from the right angle. Games like TowerFall, Gang Beasts, Nidhogg, Starwhal and Samurai Gunn have kept the fire burning for in-person playtime, and Chambara proudly picks up their torch. The wider gaming ecosystem may be dominated by online multiplayer experiences like Overwatch, League of Legends, Dota 2 and Hearthstone, but couch co-op and local competitive play are still alive and well. We were always fascinated by the community-forming potential of play.'

'There were always many opportunities for us to pick up a game like Smash Bros to play with folks we didn't know particularly well and connect with them through the game. 'As roommates and college students, we lived in very close proximity to other folks our age who had free time,' Chambara project lead Kevin Wong says.

It's no wonder, then, that the idea for Chambara, a samurai-infused local-multiplayer slash-fest, was spawned in the dorms at the University of Southern California. Basically, it's ideal for long multiplayer gaming sessions with a room full of good friends, loud music and fast food. Dorm life fosters in-person interaction, usually in tight spaces and on a limited budget. College dorms are a strange microcosm of adult life, offering close-quarters friendship, intellectual stimulation and the kind of freedom that comes with a prepaid meal card.

Starwhal play free online