TEA & DEATH
Feb 42012
TEA & DEATH is a talk/ discussion I did at the first Bit of Alright game conference. It was about death in games, served with a lovely cup of calming tea so that no one got too freaked out about their own mortality. I think it went really well; I’m glad it wasn’t just me talking for half an hour or so, the audience were interested and engaged enough that we took up a whole hour, and could have gone on. I had loads of people come up to me during the rest of the day to continue the discussion, so I think I’m on to something.
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The Swindle: Update 24/01/2012
Jan 242012
So, the good news is I’ve hired a professional to work on the AI code and make the guards amazing. With that all being taken care of, I’ve decided it’s probably sensible to start making The Swindle look pretty. The vast majority of the art is strictly placeholder at the moment, and it’d be nice to be in a position to start showing the game off soon.
I’ve started with the player character – given him a fresh lick of paint and a brand new set of animations; the running animation looks ten times better than the one that’s been in the game for the last six months or so, and I’m really pleased.
Originally I had planned that the game would have a stripped-down kind of tone – everything very simple-looking and crisp. Unfortunately, it’s turned out that that doesn’t really work with Steampunk, which kind of requires everything to be heavily-detailed and busy in order to look successfully Steampunky. Hopefully I’ll manage to tread a line between the two over the next month, where I’m finally going to be able to start going to town on the visuals.
Posted in Development, The Swindle 1 Comment#indieVisibility End of Year Awards Results
Dec 112011
This is what it was all about; the #indieVisibility End of Year Awards Golden Teabag. In ten years’ time they’ll probably be made of REAL GOLD, but for now they’re made out of a REAL TEABAG spray painted gold and therefore pretty dangerously toxic.
There’s too much to say. Winners and photos and thanks, after the jump.
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Won a BAFTA, then.
Nov 282011
All a bit weird, to be honest. Last night, Size Five Games was honoured with a BAFTA for our sex ed shoot-‘em-up romp Privates.
If you go here and click on Learning- Secondary, you can see video footage of my bewildered, flabbergasted form stumble through an acceptance speech and interview. I don’t remember doing any of that.
I had a list of people to thank in my top pocket, but no one else was unprofessional enough to need cheat sheets so I decided to DO IT LIVE, and as a result completely forgot to thank most of the people on my little list. Excusable, I hope; it’s all a complete blur, I’m amazed I even managed to stand up properly.
So then, huge thanks to Chris Simpson and Andy Hodgetts who did all the clever code and stunning art.
Our actors Ryan Hurst, Dan Wheeler and Fiona Sheehan for their hard work and brillo performances.
Khanh Nt who did all our squelchy sound effects and Nik Sideris who did our amazing music.
Everyone at Channel 4, even the lawyers I guess. In particular Gemma Brady and Jo Twist.
And of course Alice Taylor, who commissioned the damned thing in the first place, despite the fact it’s a game about vaginas.
I also forgot to thank BAFTA. Whoops. Sorry, BAFTA! Thank you so much, BAFTA.
There’s probably more still. Thank you, if you did a thing on Privates.
It was an amazing night. Nigel Planer was there! I stormed up to him and told him how The Young Ones and Filthy, Rich & Catflap had such a massive influence on me, and then I told him where the toilets were. I shook John Craven’s Newsround’s hand! Magical!
Back to work, then.
Posted in News, Shilling, Stupid Idiot 13 Comments#indieVisibility End of Year Awards
Nov 212011
HEY INDIE DEVELOPERS: let’s go for a pint and do some hearty back-slapping while we’re at it.
IMPORTANT: please do pay attention to the small print. Places are limited, so don’t book a ticket on the off-chance you might come, you’ll only be stopping someone else from coming.
Tickets go to nominees as a priority, and then first-come-first served. So email if you want to come, I’ll send out invites asap.
Follow @danthat for news and updates and stuff.
Posted in indieVisibility, Legally Dubious, News, Shilling, Stupid Idiot 2 CommentsPRIVATES Nominated for a BAFTA
Oct 242011
I’m very excited and proud to announce that Privates, our sex education romp has been nominated for a BAFTA.
I know.
You can see the full list of nominations here; crumbs, we’re up against some pretty grown-up productions. I’m trying hard to put into words how I feel without succumbing to the sort of clichés unbefitting of someone so very BAFTA-nominated, but it really really is a total honour, and very exciting.
Awards ceremony is on the 27th of November – presumably there’ll be free drink, so I’m going.
Posted in News 3 CommentsDan and Ben DEVELOPMENT EVENT EXTRAVAGANZA
Oct 62011
Ben There, Dan That! and Time Gentlemen, Please! have seen something of a resurgence recently, with loads of new players thanks to the recent Steam Sale and the BTDT: Special Edition. That’s led to more than a few new requests for a third game.
Ben and I have had a lot of trouble working out how best to do a new Dan and Ben adventure. We’ve been keen to do something, but after Revenge of the Balloon-Headed Mexican caved in on itself, we’ve been being ultra-careful and thinking how to do it in a way that feels fresh and different enough not to fall into the same traps.
The good news is: yes, we think we’ve thought of something. The bad news is: no, we’re not announcing a definite new Dan and Ben adventure. Just in case.
We are, however, willing to give it a go. As such, Ben and I are having a ‘development weekend’ this weekend, something we haven’t done since we made Ben There, Dan That!
It all kicks off tomorrow evening (Friday). We’re going to drink a fridge full of fizzy pop, sketch out ideas and start laying down the groundwork for an all-new Dan and Ben adventure. How much of a game do you reckon we can we make in a single weekend?
We need your support. We’ll be tweeting progress throughout the weekend, so follow @danthat and @TimeGentleman and join in. We want to hear your thoughts, we want to hear your ideas, we want to know what you want from a new Dan and Ben game, and we desperately need your encouragement.
What’s the new game about? I’ll give you a clue: it’s SO BAD.
Join us.
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Steam version of Ben There, Dan That! updated to Special Edition
Sep 262011If you bought Ben There, Dan That! on Steam, your version has been updated free of charge. If you buy it through Steam from now on, you’ll get the Special Edition.
If you absolutely love it to pieces and want to show your support, we always appreciate your money. It’s particularly helpful for rent and biscuits.
Best thing to do is buy a copy as well under the ‘pay what you want’ scheme. We’d be very grateful, and promise to reward you with future gaming excitement and happiness.
Posted in Dan and Ben Adventures, HELP, News, Shilling, Stupid Idiot 2 Comments