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chainWorks, IGC, New Website and more!
chainWorks, IGC, New Website and more!
| Name: | Rob Sandbach |  |
|---|---|---|
| Date Posted: | Aug 06, 2006 | |
| Rating: |  Not Rated | |
| Public: | YES | |
| Comments: | YES | |
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| Profile Page: | View profile page for Rob Sandbach |
Blog post
One third of a year! A long time huh? Since my last post here!
A LOT has happened in the past 4 months, for myself, my studio, and most of all my games. For those who don't know me I run Urban Games (http://www.urban-games.net/) and we are currently working on two titles. The first is a 2d puzzler called chainWorks, and the second is currently under wraps but will be a TSE futuristic racer. Anyway thought i'd run through some main events, and ideas I've had!
1) New website
We designed and implemented a new website with a new host. The old website was a real swxy, sleek flash based website but just contained no real information whatsoever. As a result we decided to develop a more content based site in order to house the online statistics systems our 2 new games will feature. The new site is therefore functionally and visually a large step from the old one. I'd love to hear your opinions on it, the link is http://www.urban-games.net. I haven't proof read it yet so consider this a sort of "Beta" :P!
2) chainWorks
Speaking of beta's my first ever, EVER, game is coming towards a feature complete status. chainWorks (http://www.chainworksgame.com/) is developed on TGB and is the culmination of a life long desire to make a game. Ive posted some screenshots below. The game now has all the levels built in, the options menu in and configured, the custom game creation all in with appropriate error checking, the score tracking & profile system and finally a working replay system, whereby a player can save their cool looking displays and sejnd them to friends to watch.
Last July an indie developer came from London to stay with me and we had 2 people working 24/7 for 5 days. This was a pretty exciting time for me as its the first time Ive met someone for the sole purpose of game development, really syked me up and felt like a strong "step" on the path to working full time in games.
3) IGC
Im stuck over IGC. The cost of me going to IGC would come to approx $1500 - $1800. I was set for going when I founded the studio and planned to have both projects ready for a demo, but its apparant that only chainWorks will be ready anyway, and even then not ready to be sold. I'll definetly be going to next years as both projects will be ready for a strong demo. Is the experience worth $1800 (I do have the money in an investment fund)? Im serious about making it in this field and have been working with torque for 2 years now, so it's not just an "on the whim" thing i'm feeling. Ill have to think it out I guess :P!
I could go on but im going to save all the news and ideas I have for anothe post as this one is getting long anyway. Please check out the new site and tell me what you think (http://www.urban-games.net/), and if you have any input over IGC id love to hear it!
Thanks everyone
Rob
A LOT has happened in the past 4 months, for myself, my studio, and most of all my games. For those who don't know me I run Urban Games (http://www.urban-games.net/) and we are currently working on two titles. The first is a 2d puzzler called chainWorks, and the second is currently under wraps but will be a TSE futuristic racer. Anyway thought i'd run through some main events, and ideas I've had!
1) New website
We designed and implemented a new website with a new host. The old website was a real swxy, sleek flash based website but just contained no real information whatsoever. As a result we decided to develop a more content based site in order to house the online statistics systems our 2 new games will feature. The new site is therefore functionally and visually a large step from the old one. I'd love to hear your opinions on it, the link is http://www.urban-games.net. I haven't proof read it yet so consider this a sort of "Beta" :P!
2) chainWorks
Speaking of beta's my first ever, EVER, game is coming towards a feature complete status. chainWorks (http://www.chainworksgame.com/) is developed on TGB and is the culmination of a life long desire to make a game. Ive posted some screenshots below. The game now has all the levels built in, the options menu in and configured, the custom game creation all in with appropriate error checking, the score tracking & profile system and finally a working replay system, whereby a player can save their cool looking displays and sejnd them to friends to watch.
Last July an indie developer came from London to stay with me and we had 2 people working 24/7 for 5 days. This was a pretty exciting time for me as its the first time Ive met someone for the sole purpose of game development, really syked me up and felt like a strong "step" on the path to working full time in games.
3) IGC
Im stuck over IGC. The cost of me going to IGC would come to approx $1500 - $1800. I was set for going when I founded the studio and planned to have both projects ready for a demo, but its apparant that only chainWorks will be ready anyway, and even then not ready to be sold. I'll definetly be going to next years as both projects will be ready for a strong demo. Is the experience worth $1800 (I do have the money in an investment fund)? Im serious about making it in this field and have been working with torque for 2 years now, so it's not just an "on the whim" thing i'm feeling. Ill have to think it out I guess :P!
I could go on but im going to save all the news and ideas I have for anothe post as this one is getting long anyway. Please check out the new site and tell me what you think (http://www.urban-games.net/), and if you have any input over IGC id love to hear it!
Thanks everyone
Rob
Recent Blog Posts
| List: | 08/20/08 - Introducing chainWorks 07/31/08 - indieSpring 02/02/08 - Casual Connect in Amsterdam & a GG Podcast(Again!) 01/31/07 - Roundtable Podcast - Phil Carlisle, Alex Scarborough, Jon Jorajuria and you? 01/16/07 - chainWorks and the GG Pod Cast 10/26/06 - Torque Cast Radio - The Introduction 10/14/06 - Fireworks, Monkeys, Racers and Podcasts!? 09/30/06 - GG Comunity Podcast |
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Submit your own resources!| Anton Bursch (Aug 06, 2006 at 21:59 GMT) |
Quote:
Is the experience worth $1800 (I do have the money in an investment fund)?
no. not even close. unless you are walking in with a game ready to pitch it's far from worth that much money, in my opinion.
| Matt Fairfax (Aug 06, 2006 at 23:56 GMT) |
Quote:
no. not even close. unless you are walking in with a game ready to pitch it's far from worth that much money, in my opinion.
I have to say that is an odd opinion. IGC has never been about pitching or even showing off games. It is about bringing together likeminded indies to build connections, knowledge, and encouragement.
There is a ton to be learned from the other attendees at IGC. Also, the networking opportunities at IGC are enourmous! As many of the people who have "made it" in this tough industry can tell you, an amazing amount of your success comes far more from who you know rather than what you know.
Being an indie is often a lonely existence where you work by yourself and only interact with others over the Internet. Just getting together with a bunch of other people who are passionate about the same things you are can be a huge productivity boost for you for the rest of the year. It is an incredible experience and one I have never seen replicated anywhere else!
Is it worth $1800? That has to be your call. Would you be able to invest your money into something else that will be as rewarding and as profitable for your game making? Unless that $1800 is the only thing standing between you and completing your game (contract work or whatever) then I would say no =) I have seen some amazing deals and companies formed just from those 3 short days of IGC that are worth far more than $1800.
Granted, I am a bit biased =P My personal investment of $1500 to get me to IGC the first time around is directly responsible for my having the job I have always wanted, working on the things I have always wanted to work on, and being with the people I have always wanted to be with =D
| Phil Carlisle (Aug 07, 2006 at 00:19 GMT) |
I'd say leave it this time and come next time when you have some games. Maybe find a more local meetup thats going to give you the warm fuzzy feeling we all get at IGC too.
| Ian Roach (Aug 07, 2006 at 00:24 GMT) |
I am looking for someone who is going to help showoff our game Illumina. Seems like there is alot of coverage at IGC and anything we can do to bring our game into the spotlight would seem very helpful.
Hopefully ill manage to find a few people who arent pimping there own projects :)
| Matthew Langley (Aug 07, 2006 at 00:39 GMT) |
| Anton Bursch (Aug 07, 2006 at 01:54 GMT) |
But with the emphasis on table discussions... I take it all back. It was cool to learn some of the stuff in the lectures, but, it wasn't anything I couldn't read for free online. But it was the conversations with people that is what makes the weekend something you leave missing and looking forward to the next year. I think the emphasis on table discussions is AWESOME!!
That said... you don't really sound like you really think you should put that money into IGC this year. That's why I said it's not worth it. Cause I read between the lines of what you said. It sounds to me that you think it's premature for you to go and that your game really needs that money, or you do, and that you already know that you should wait for next year... and you just want to know that it's cool not to go to IGC. It's cool not to go to IGC this year when you know you should be putting that money into your game or your life. It's a balancing act, this game dev thing, and the real truth is, that you don't need to hurry. If you are looking for a break at IGC... without a game to show off, not going to happen.
If you are looking to have a kick ass time with great people and get really drunk and play strip poker with Ben Garney and Phil Carlisle... well then your $1800 is well worth it.
| Rob Sandbach (Aug 07, 2006 at 06:07 GMT) |
@ Phill - Well im from your neck of the woods (live next to the trafford centre, Manchester), and I don't know of any local meetups; bar the one I saw you contemplating beginning a month or so back?
@ Ian - I'd love to show off illumina at the show. I am close friends with Alex (Scarborough) and will be spending a lot of time with him there, and hes mentioned a lot about your game, so im sure he'll lend a hand too! Email me if you want!
I think, from reading this, im going to go for it. With the $100 dollars that was recently knocked off the price the edge was taken off the price. I have 2 contacts going who ive worked with on a project for approaching 2 years and it would be really great to meet up with them. As for the games I think hacing them played and getting some C&C can only be a positiuve thing. But also theres the sheer enjoyment factor in going, at the end of the day I love games, i love developing them and I love playing them and I guess 3 days dedicated to people sharing that can only be awesome fun!!!
Thanks for the help guys!!
Rob
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