In the morrow I shall be enjoying talks of wisdom at UX11, a kind of boutique conference on all things relating to user experiences.
Attendance is invitation only, which makes me feel rather special, in a good way. But it's also the source of mystery, because I don't know who referred me. I thank them, whoever they are; it's nice to be thought of.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Pixel Jam
As far as I'm aware, Wellington has never had a game jam. This is ludicrous, but thankfully it will soon be resolved...
Thursday, June 9, 2011
One Day...
Have you ever been in the situation where a friend has an idea for a game that's so simple, so obvious, so brilliant, you actually make them some graphics to help push them along the path of making the thing?
Exactly, we've all been there at some time, right?
Then, of course, they don't use your graphics and they go off and do other bits of software, but you keep nagging them and nagging them.
Exactly, we've all been there at some time, right?
Then, of course, they don't use your graphics and they go off and do other bits of software, but you keep nagging them and nagging them.
I know dear reader, its like I know your life.
And years pass, and you think "this game's never gonna happen." Well, I am here to give you good news: It does happen. After about four and a half years, you'll be sat there, maybe typing up a design for a touch application, maybe pretending not to watch Project Runway. And suddenly, wham, all systems are go! It's in progress. The game is on!
All I can tell you right now is that it's destined for iPhone, and, like an octopus crossed with a meercat, you'll wonder why you've not seen it before.
And years pass, and you think "this game's never gonna happen." Well, I am here to give you good news: It does happen. After about four and a half years, you'll be sat there, maybe typing up a design for a touch application, maybe pretending not to watch Project Runway. And suddenly, wham, all systems are go! It's in progress. The game is on!
All I can tell you right now is that it's destined for iPhone, and, like an octopus crossed with a meercat, you'll wonder why you've not seen it before.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Other Peoples' Beta
This morning I'm off to Victoria University Wellington, to see how the student games are coming along. This is their beta presentation, which means their games should be feature complete, although I doubt they will be on such short development times. It also means they have to present and defend their work, which will probably be heart-breaking, for at least one group.
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Game development - like Lovecraftian insanity, but less permanent... |
For me, it will be a mixture of envy and relief. Hitting beta on a project is a wonderful thing (assuming you actually hit it on time), where you can really start to refine the game. It's like you know the chords, you know the music, from this point on you just have to nail the phrasing.
Of course, that's an ideal world. Most of the time, even for the most professional of teams, beta is a heart-breaking occasion where you realise that you still have far too much content and features left to go into the build and balancing it all is going to drive you to the brink of insanity. But that's part of the reason those of us that make games enjoy it.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Stop It Jon!
When you've got a game out you want everyone in the world to download it, it really is that simple. When you've got a free version available, like Alien Avian Attack does, then you EXPECT everyone in the world (at least everyone with an Android device) to download it.
What this amounts to is me looking at the Android Market more times a day than I'd like to admit, just to see if the thing has tipped into the next bracket of download volume. This must stop, I am frittering away my life on this - does anyone have a remedy?
Monday, May 16, 2011
Even More AAA Goodness!
If you go to the Android Market and look at the work of insane visceral gaming joy and excessively named Alien Avian Attack, you will notice that there is now extra goodness and nourishment to be had.
Firstly there is a promo video, which is excellent, and I can say that withought feeling like some self-agrandising (redacted) because I had nothing to do with it.
Also, and this seems to be very important to the Android Market, there's a free version. So what are you waiting for, go install it!
Firstly there is a promo video, which is excellent, and I can say that withought feeling like some self-agrandising (redacted) because I had nothing to do with it.
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AAA - Ram Em Up! |
Also, and this seems to be very important to the Android Market, there's a free version. So what are you waiting for, go install it!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Meanwhile, In Other Blogs...
It's been a while since I last posted upon my Gamasutra blog, in fact it was about six months ago. This is tardy and I need to rectify the problem immediately with some wise advice on naming levels.
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