FACEPOCALYPSE

Global Game Jam is an annual event where game developers of all walks (hobbyists, professionals, students etc) meet and form teams to make a game over one weekend. There’s a theme which is revealed via the interwebs on Friday evening, this year it was ‘Deception’.

Last year I ground my hands to a pulp producing ~30hrs worth of art, which equated to not much sleep! This year I cut my participation back to about 16hrs (and went to the Big Day Out).

My main focus this year was a game we titled Bored Room. You can download the game install here and play it yourself! It has some very amusing dialogue.

I only had Saturday to make all the art, so kept it simple; but charming! Here are the characters:

And a room! Complete with a hulking security guy.

I designed this poster for the Team Fortress 2 demoman vs soldier propaganda contest. Just something pretty simple with limited colours.

I was gonna add text (taglines) but decided to keep it visual.

I also submitted a version with this logo at the top:

Read the rest of this entry →

Just came across this article on Juxtapoz about Jonathan LeVine, the Space Invader, and being a Perth resident and artist makes it an interesting read. Although he’s more of a craft artist than a technical artist, a lot of his work seems to just be pixelated sourced images. It’s about the ~execution~ I guess, but I like his concept of invading spaces and what it reveals about graffiti laws and public facing street art. Read the rest of this entry →

I started playing Team Fortress 2 this week, in the form of maybe an hour or two in the evenings. I’ve consciously avoided getting hooked on ‘unfinishable’ games for awhile now, but as I posted a few weeks back Orange Box was on sale for US$10. That’s how much I typically spend on lunch! Read the rest of this entry →

Searching for a new topic of conversation I came across a website selling ‘garden games’, the first of which being Giant Snakes and Ladders! What could be better? Read the rest of this entry →

Wow, just wow.

I stumbled across this link while searching for a Braid pics to put in my last post. The link’s basically a spiel on videogames, game design and Braid by the creator himself, Jonathan Blow. It was actually a very immersive read. I don’t usually read through such lengthy interviews but I feel he’s onto something. I can see why some people upturn their noses at Mr Blow’s philosophy but I found his take on games quite inspiring.

It all sounds too familiar. A troubled existentialist trying to make sense of the world. Just trying to find an outlet or distraction to keep themself sane. By no means am I personally plagued by this mindset, I’ve just had some interesting conversations… There is so much substance and depth in the things he talks about, I wish people were more willing to embrace the unknown.

For extended thoughts sparked by JB’s interview check out my blog entry on RocketHands.

I still have one piece of art to finish that needs to be in to print tomorrow, and I’m a bit of a completionist when it comes to games so I was hesitant to take the lunge and buy Braid before completing all my artstuffs… But thought I deserved a treat after working hardcore recently. Read the rest of this entry →

I’ve decided to take up journalism, at least for the next 10 minutes, so thought I’d practise coming up with punny blog captions. That seems to be the way things roll in the non-electronic world. So then, to continue treading the tracks of a tired routine let me say, “Here’s the scoop!”

Nick organised a Perth indie games scene showcase and mixer event which took place this eve at the Flying Scotsman. It went off! It was awesome. People were clappin their hands, stampin their feet and dosey-doeing. At one point I set my arms on fire and pretended I was a phoenix. That indie games crowd – they’re wild. But srsly, it was great to meet more local game developers (both professional and indie), as well as catch up with familiar faces. People were drinkin, lollin, sharing stories and showing demos – it was goodtimes.

Anyone interested in getting into the local dev loop check out pigmi and sign up to the mailing list. Events usually get posted on there.

Props to Nick for pimping the event, as well as anyone involved behind the scenes.