So it's been a good few months since I updated this. Apologies.
I'll keep this short and self-promotion-heavy :)
I'm in Develop's 30 Under 30 again this year, which I'm going to celebrate in style tonight... cider bottles I'm looking at you!
I've also written a piece for Develop inspired by that Panorama program, talking about addictive games.
I'm currently busy finishing off the first new game from Spilt Milk Studios for an unannounced client, and am very excited about its (surely not far away now) launch. Not only that but the comic I'm writing is going full steam ahead, and I've got 2 more projects lined up for the new year.
Things have been crazy busy, but it's all good so far!
Till next time!
PS: As a treat, some sites I know you don't look at, but should.
Geekgasms
Action button.net
Indie Games.com
Thursday 16 December 2010
Monday 9 August 2010
Things have been moving ahead
So there all kinds of things happening in my world right now, the biggest of which (or the most certain) is that I'll be off to GDC Europe next week.
Maybe see someone there? If you're headed out and want to meet up email me andrew dot smith at spiltmilkstudios dot com.
Also, Brian Baglow sent an emailr ecnetly detailing a cool AppJam in Dundee... here's the details:
"Planet Of The Apps
Dundee, Scotland. August 9th 2010. On November 8th - 10th, Dundee will host the first ever International App Development Conference (or AppCon), plus a free 48-hour ‘AppJam’.
The App conference will cover all aspects of designing, developing and deploying Apps - across all platforms - mobile and online - including the iPhone, Android and Facebook. Featuring speakers from around the world, panels, workshops and sessions aimed at those interested in, or already active in these rapidly evolving App markets,
Alongside the conference, is a free AppJam - offering designers and developers the chance to create and build a new and original App in only two days. The Apps will be seen by conference delegates, judged by a panel of industry experts and given advice on deployment and getting the finished Apps out into the global market.
Part of the week long NEoN festival, taking place in Dundee, the AppCon is being masterminded by Dundee College, alongside project and industry partners.
Andy McKenzie, the Project Manager: Creative Industries for Dundee College, said, “The various Application markets have exploded in the last few months, opening up new opportunities and channels for designers, developers and creators. These new markets are changing the way consumers, businesses and organisations access data, use devices and interact with services. The AppCon brings together many of the world’s leading platform providers, industry experts and pioneers in these exciting new areas, to explore the future of Apps. The AppJam is a practical, hands-on event, which challenges developers to design and build their own App in only 48 hours. We’ve already had a great deal of interest and hope to see some unique and fascinating new ideas take shape during the AppJam.”
Tickets for the AppCon will be on sale very soon. Prices are as follows:
£99 + VAT Early bird special available until 4th October. £125 + VAT Thereafter
£30 + VAT Special student rate (limited number available)
Tickets covering both the AppCon AND the wider NeoN festival will also be available:
£150 + VAT Early bird special available until 4th October. £175 + VAT Thereafter
£50 + VAT Special student rate (limited number available)
More information, speakers, sessions and the schedule for the AppCon, plus entry forms, terms and conditions for the AppJam can be found online at http://2010.appjam.eu/"
Maybe see someone there? If you're headed out and want to meet up email me andrew dot smith at spiltmilkstudios dot com.
Also, Brian Baglow sent an emailr ecnetly detailing a cool AppJam in Dundee... here's the details:
"Planet Of The Apps
Dundee, Scotland. August 9th 2010. On November 8th - 10th, Dundee will host the first ever International App Development Conference (or AppCon), plus a free 48-hour ‘AppJam’.
The App conference will cover all aspects of designing, developing and deploying Apps - across all platforms - mobile and online - including the iPhone, Android and Facebook. Featuring speakers from around the world, panels, workshops and sessions aimed at those interested in, or already active in these rapidly evolving App markets,
Alongside the conference, is a free AppJam - offering designers and developers the chance to create and build a new and original App in only two days. The Apps will be seen by conference delegates, judged by a panel of industry experts and given advice on deployment and getting the finished Apps out into the global market.
Part of the week long NEoN festival, taking place in Dundee, the AppCon is being masterminded by Dundee College, alongside project and industry partners.
Andy McKenzie, the Project Manager: Creative Industries for Dundee College, said, “The various Application markets have exploded in the last few months, opening up new opportunities and channels for designers, developers and creators. These new markets are changing the way consumers, businesses and organisations access data, use devices and interact with services. The AppCon brings together many of the world’s leading platform providers, industry experts and pioneers in these exciting new areas, to explore the future of Apps. The AppJam is a practical, hands-on event, which challenges developers to design and build their own App in only 48 hours. We’ve already had a great deal of interest and hope to see some unique and fascinating new ideas take shape during the AppJam.”
Tickets for the AppCon will be on sale very soon. Prices are as follows:
£99 + VAT Early bird special available until 4th October. £125 + VAT Thereafter
£30 + VAT Special student rate (limited number available)
Tickets covering both the AppCon AND the wider NeoN festival will also be available:
£150 + VAT Early bird special available until 4th October. £175 + VAT Thereafter
£50 + VAT Special student rate (limited number available)
More information, speakers, sessions and the schedule for the AppCon, plus entry forms, terms and conditions for the AppJam can be found online at http://2010.appjam.eu/"
Wednesday 7 July 2010
Been a while
Howdy strangers, it's been nuts the last few weeks and months.
I successfully delivered on my 1st contract as Spilt Milk Studios, I've started contributing more regular articles to Develop Online, and I'm currently in the midst of two 'big things'.
One is the collaboration between myself and Jon on an awesome little XBLIndie beat em up called Knuckle Sandwich (follow its progress daily here).
The other is a secret that I don't want to jinx :)
That's it for now, short but sweet!
I successfully delivered on my 1st contract as Spilt Milk Studios, I've started contributing more regular articles to Develop Online, and I'm currently in the midst of two 'big things'.
One is the collaboration between myself and Jon on an awesome little XBLIndie beat em up called Knuckle Sandwich (follow its progress daily here).
The other is a secret that I don't want to jinx :)
That's it for now, short but sweet!
Thursday 8 April 2010
New Frontiers
Well this is my first day as the Managing Director of Spilt Milk Studio Ltd!
I've set up a games developer and games design consultancy company, and so no longer do I work as a permanent employee of Proper Games... I never thought the day would come but it's time to move onwards and upwards.
Wish me luck ya'll.
I've set up a games developer and games design consultancy company, and so no longer do I work as a permanent employee of Proper Games... I never thought the day would come but it's time to move onwards and upwards.
Wish me luck ya'll.
Friday 22 January 2010
Crunch Time in the Games Industry
As written for the regular Jury Service feature for Develop Online...
Overtime is a deeply damaging habit which is easy to fall into on both sides of the Developer/Management divide.
If you care about a game (and most of us get into the industry to make things we care about) then it's so easy to do the odd late night to make sure you get what you want done properly and on time.
If you care about timescale and budget, then it's ok to ask a few late nights of your troops on occasion. A few well-worded requests for extra effort usually produce the desired effect.
The problem is that it gets out of control very quickly, and there are a multitude of ways it can cause damage.
The most obvious is that it makes people tired and less productive over the long term, and shortens tempers. Small discussions can turn into heated debates at the tail end of a project, while simple solutions are missed while people get bogged down talking about the wrong thing or are distracted more easily.
The main worry I have is that the industry still doesn't seem to grasp the true scale of the long term effects. What essentially boils down to poor management by everyone on the team has a huge negative effect. Employees get disgruntled, families get affected, faith and trust in the company's ability to successfully manage a project (especially if mistakes are repeated), and tolerance for failure of any sort just hit a downward spiral. All of this stuff is accentuated by overtime, and can fester beyond recovery.
It's worth saying that this 'poor management' includes the coders, designers and artists who get used to doing overtime, but then forget to factor it into subsequent tasks.
For example, it's all too easy to forget the 3 late evenings you did one milestone when estimating a similar task on your next project. This can be solved by eliminating overtime in the first place so all estimates are used as reference when they're inaccurate, or explicitly tracking those inaccuracies and referencing them when it comes to planning the next project.
Not all the blame can be laid at our collective feet though. Vey few other creative industries have to deal with a regular, 6 year cycle of new technology.
This frequent sea-change means that sure, we can build up some experience with various tasks and become more accurate in our work over time, but before you know it half of that stored knowledge is rendered inaccurate, and you're forced to re-learn a large chunk of your skills again.
How can anyone accurately predict how long a level will take to make with brand new tools that don't even exist yet?
Of course some companies offer time in lieu, some pay for overtime, and some claim not to have it at all.
Honestly though, the only time people should be doing overtime is when they want to accomplish something outside the remit of the product - something that, if it fails, will not negatively affect the product or the schedule. Look to other industries - call centres where overtime is made available to those who want it, not because there is a deficit somewhere.
Nobody likes things being late, and we're a passionate and creative industry, but that doesn't mean we should put up with being exploited.
Overtime is a deeply damaging habit which is easy to fall into on both sides of the Developer/Management divide.
If you care about a game (and most of us get into the industry to make things we care about) then it's so easy to do the odd late night to make sure you get what you want done properly and on time.
If you care about timescale and budget, then it's ok to ask a few late nights of your troops on occasion. A few well-worded requests for extra effort usually produce the desired effect.
The problem is that it gets out of control very quickly, and there are a multitude of ways it can cause damage.
The most obvious is that it makes people tired and less productive over the long term, and shortens tempers. Small discussions can turn into heated debates at the tail end of a project, while simple solutions are missed while people get bogged down talking about the wrong thing or are distracted more easily.
The main worry I have is that the industry still doesn't seem to grasp the true scale of the long term effects. What essentially boils down to poor management by everyone on the team has a huge negative effect. Employees get disgruntled, families get affected, faith and trust in the company's ability to successfully manage a project (especially if mistakes are repeated), and tolerance for failure of any sort just hit a downward spiral. All of this stuff is accentuated by overtime, and can fester beyond recovery.
It's worth saying that this 'poor management' includes the coders, designers and artists who get used to doing overtime, but then forget to factor it into subsequent tasks.
For example, it's all too easy to forget the 3 late evenings you did one milestone when estimating a similar task on your next project. This can be solved by eliminating overtime in the first place so all estimates are used as reference when they're inaccurate, or explicitly tracking those inaccuracies and referencing them when it comes to planning the next project.
Not all the blame can be laid at our collective feet though. Vey few other creative industries have to deal with a regular, 6 year cycle of new technology.
This frequent sea-change means that sure, we can build up some experience with various tasks and become more accurate in our work over time, but before you know it half of that stored knowledge is rendered inaccurate, and you're forced to re-learn a large chunk of your skills again.
How can anyone accurately predict how long a level will take to make with brand new tools that don't even exist yet?
Of course some companies offer time in lieu, some pay for overtime, and some claim not to have it at all.
Honestly though, the only time people should be doing overtime is when they want to accomplish something outside the remit of the product - something that, if it fails, will not negatively affect the product or the schedule. Look to other industries - call centres where overtime is made available to those who want it, not because there is a deficit somewhere.
Nobody likes things being late, and we're a passionate and creative industry, but that doesn't mean we should put up with being exploited.
Monday 18 January 2010
Geekgasms
Not sure about the name, but hey that's not the point!
I'm part of a new website set up by a group of friends - geeks one and all - and the first thing to come to fruition is a podcast. The team (irregular, bear in mind) is myself, James, Edmund, Dave and Chris, and we hope to get a few more people in as guests over time.
Entitled PubCast, it's a weekly hour-long show where we just talk games, comics, books and movies - ranging from intellectual debate to fanboy-baiting banter.
Have a listen here, leave comments, and tune in soon when we'll announce an iTunes feed.
On a personal note it's really good fun to take part in, and it's very free-form and informal in structure, plus you get to hear what we all sound like.
I'm part of a new website set up by a group of friends - geeks one and all - and the first thing to come to fruition is a podcast. The team (irregular, bear in mind) is myself, James, Edmund, Dave and Chris, and we hope to get a few more people in as guests over time.
Entitled PubCast, it's a weekly hour-long show where we just talk games, comics, books and movies - ranging from intellectual debate to fanboy-baiting banter.
Have a listen here, leave comments, and tune in soon when we'll announce an iTunes feed.
On a personal note it's really good fun to take part in, and it's very free-form and informal in structure, plus you get to hear what we all sound like.
Monday 11 January 2010
Final Fight: Double Impact
If you get the latest issue of Retrogamer magazine (issue 72#, with Gradius on the front cover) and then hop to pages 6 and 7, you'll be treated to a double-page feature on Proper Game's 2nd game! What's more, people really seem to like it, and appreciate the little things we've done to make it more authentic.
On a related note, there's an even more positive preview from the floor of the CES show on Destructoid.
I'm very chuffed to see such a positive buzz already, and in particular things that I remember being a bit contentious here at Proper HQ when I decided to push for them:
"They're so faithful that elements which would have been added to other ports of this nature are left out. A perfect example is the lack of explanation of the power-ups in Magic Sword which must be experimented with to determine their effects."
Brilliant stuff.
On a related note, there's an even more positive preview from the floor of the CES show on Destructoid.
I'm very chuffed to see such a positive buzz already, and in particular things that I remember being a bit contentious here at Proper HQ when I decided to push for them:
"They're so faithful that elements which would have been added to other ports of this nature are left out. A perfect example is the lack of explanation of the power-ups in Magic Sword which must be experimented with to determine their effects."
Brilliant stuff.
Monday 4 January 2010
Me on the web
I've been mentioned in a few places recently:
I'm one of Develop Magazine's 30 under 30 - young members of the worldwide games industry who are tipped as ones to watch. See the article here in this cool virtual magazine viewer, and see my appearance on p.30/31
I've also been quoted in Gamasutra's Top 12 Games of the Decade, gushing hideously over Mario Galaxy...
Finally, Develop Online has quoted my highlight of 2009. Well done, Batman!
Of course all of these have been added to the various sidebars all over my blog :)
I'm one of Develop Magazine's 30 under 30 - young members of the worldwide games industry who are tipped as ones to watch. See the article here in this cool virtual magazine viewer, and see my appearance on p.30/31
I've also been quoted in Gamasutra's Top 12 Games of the Decade, gushing hideously over Mario Galaxy...
Finally, Develop Online has quoted my highlight of 2009. Well done, Batman!
Of course all of these have been added to the various sidebars all over my blog :)
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