A Trip to the new GarageGames office
by Matt Fairfax · 05/05/2006 (7:47 pm) · 24 comments
So it is official! GarageGames will be moving offices sometime in early June!
Those of you who have been to our current offices can attest that we are pretty much stacking us in like firewood at this point. We have some 31 people crammed into a space meant for about half that. I think that I am the only one not sharing an office with anyone else and that is only because I moved myself into the server room/storage closet =P
A few months back we started shooping around for some new offices, found a place we liked, worked out the lease, and got it all finalized in the last couple of weeks. Woohoo!
Today we decided to hold our monthly company meeting in the space so that everyone could get a look at it.
* Click on any of these pictures to get a larger version
Since the new office is a fairly short 7 blocks from our current offices, we decided to hoof it down to them on foot. It felt like we were on a big field trip =P There was talk of a buddy system.
Before long we had arrived and people spontaneously began to arrange themselves on the "loading dock" for a group shot.
So I had to take a group shot =P This is the front of the new offices. Just imagine it with a *giant* GG logo and you get the idea.
I'm not sure but I *think* Karen may have been using the company meeting as a cover to buy drugs ;)
As we filed in the front door, Joe was nice enough to hand out maps so no one would get lost. After our current cozy conditions, large spaces terrify and confuse most of the programmers (the interns are always terrified and confused).
For some reason most of us made a beeline for the warehouse area. There was much discussion of where the pool and ping pong tables should go. I checked to see if the rope in the middle could support a tire swing. This is also the area where we will most likely start hosting our Boot Camps. I think Joe already has dibs on the "warehouse platform office"!
Connected to the warehouse is a huge loading doc for the building. We are thinking of turning it into the "Intern Pit"...either that or the official GG pool.
If the smirk on his face is any indication, Alex likes the new offices =)
karen assured us that the curtains were going to be replaced.
Brian discovers a door!
Tim and Josh are preparing to rumble over who gets which mail slot. Jason eggs them on!
In case Tim Aste gets too popular for his own good, pull pin and apply foam liberally...
After a bit we finally got down to the business of actually having the meeting. Not *too* many super secret things were discussed =P
Look quick! There was even a rare Tim Gift sighting today!
Just so you guys aren't too worried that we are getting fancy...yes, we will basically be working in a garage =)
I think Justin's "These offices are *AWESOME*!" pretty much sums up the experience =D
Those of you who have been to our current offices can attest that we are pretty much stacking us in like firewood at this point. We have some 31 people crammed into a space meant for about half that. I think that I am the only one not sharing an office with anyone else and that is only because I moved myself into the server room/storage closet =P
A few months back we started shooping around for some new offices, found a place we liked, worked out the lease, and got it all finalized in the last couple of weeks. Woohoo!
Today we decided to hold our monthly company meeting in the space so that everyone could get a look at it.
* Click on any of these pictures to get a larger version
Since the new office is a fairly short 7 blocks from our current offices, we decided to hoof it down to them on foot. It felt like we were on a big field trip =P There was talk of a buddy system.
Before long we had arrived and people spontaneously began to arrange themselves on the "loading dock" for a group shot.
So I had to take a group shot =P This is the front of the new offices. Just imagine it with a *giant* GG logo and you get the idea.
I'm not sure but I *think* Karen may have been using the company meeting as a cover to buy drugs ;)
As we filed in the front door, Joe was nice enough to hand out maps so no one would get lost. After our current cozy conditions, large spaces terrify and confuse most of the programmers (the interns are always terrified and confused).
For some reason most of us made a beeline for the warehouse area. There was much discussion of where the pool and ping pong tables should go. I checked to see if the rope in the middle could support a tire swing. This is also the area where we will most likely start hosting our Boot Camps. I think Joe already has dibs on the "warehouse platform office"!
Connected to the warehouse is a huge loading doc for the building. We are thinking of turning it into the "Intern Pit"...either that or the official GG pool.
If the smirk on his face is any indication, Alex likes the new offices =)
karen assured us that the curtains were going to be replaced.
Brian discovers a door!
Tim and Josh are preparing to rumble over who gets which mail slot. Jason eggs them on!
In case Tim Aste gets too popular for his own good, pull pin and apply foam liberally...
After a bit we finally got down to the business of actually having the meeting. Not *too* many super secret things were discussed =P
Look quick! There was even a rare Tim Gift sighting today!
Just so you guys aren't too worried that we are getting fancy...yes, we will basically be working in a garage =)
I think Justin's "These offices are *AWESOME*!" pretty much sums up the experience =D
About the author
By day, I am a senior programmer at The Playforge, makers of the popular iPhone game Zombie Farm. By night, I work on my own games as Night Heron Games. I am an ex-GarageGames employee who helped ship TGE, TGEA, Torque 3D, and Constructor.
#2
We can see the floor plan.
Now someone has to model the offices in constructor!
:-)
05/05/2006 (8:04 pm)
Awesome.We can see the floor plan.
Now someone has to model the offices in constructor!
:-)
#3
05/05/2006 (8:06 pm)
This is so like the Ghostbusters getting that firestation. Nice digs, GG! 
#4
really loved "yes, we will basically be working in a garage" :)
GarageGames in a Garage! hehe
05/05/2006 (8:09 pm)
cool! ;) good luck with new place ;)really loved "yes, we will basically be working in a garage" :)
GarageGames in a Garage! hehe
#5
05/05/2006 (8:41 pm)
Shweet! 
#6
05/05/2006 (9:13 pm)
VERY COOL! Good stuff Matt, and Congrats on the new office! 
#7
GarageGames -- Office Wars.
Then add some funny twists like secret passages or something.
Just a funny thought.
05/05/2006 (9:45 pm)
I think the GarageGames should make a small game involving their office as the stage.GarageGames -- Office Wars.
Then add some funny twists like secret passages or something.
Just a funny thought.
#8
05/05/2006 (10:13 pm)
Wow that place looks really cool...
#9
Cool, congratulations for finding a bigger place.
05/05/2006 (10:58 pm)
A garage that from outiside looks like a pub/night club? Cool, congratulations for finding a bigger place.
#10
05/05/2006 (11:44 pm)
Yea... what the hell was that place before?
#11
05/06/2006 (12:20 am)
I think it was some kind of garden plant place...at least that is what was frosted on the glass doors.
#12
05/06/2006 (2:53 am)
Hey guys, the office is looking great. Congratulations! And cheers to more great games and technology! :) 
#13
05/06/2006 (3:08 am)
That looks like fine space :) Congrats :) 
#14
05/06/2006 (3:49 am)
Congradulations, guys. Hope a paint crew will visit your new digs before y'all move in. Too many pastels and primary colors cause dizziness and vomitting :)
#15
05/06/2006 (7:43 am)
Ooh...Lavender.
#16
05/06/2006 (10:01 am)
Congratulations GG on moving to bigger offices! I know how it is working in tight spaces. Don't know about that purple/green combo though:) 
#17
This was so unexpected I had to laugh. Made me think of "desperate times call for desperate measures". We should do one of those "Top 10" lists..
You know the GarageGames office is too small when:
10) The interns no longer need maps to find Josh's office.
9) Nobody has seen an intern in several days.
8) People wander the offices counting doorways and saying, "I'm sure there was a door here!" A few days later, Ben Garney discovers people stacked in the hallway yelling "Let us in! We have projects for you!"
7) The blackboard looks more like an Escher drawing because people are using it for seating.
6) The offices smell like burnt coffee because nobody's been able to find the pot for weeks - it's blocked by interns.
5) You can tell someone sat next to someone wearing "Obsession" on the bus.
4) The offices smell like dead cat because the GG mascot got fouled in the coffee pot wiring.
3) Matt Fairfax disappears, only to be found six weeks later with a sleeping bag and a crate of Snickers bars in the storage closet muttering, "Mine! Mine!"
2) Jeff's motorcycle goes missing, only to be found the following week when the interns are unbarricaded. They've been using it for a computer tower.
and the #1 reason you know the Garage Games office is TOO small: (drumroll please)
1) Somebody actually thought this lame list made by Gina-Marie was funny. :P
BTW, congrats on the new office!
05/06/2006 (10:12 am)
I think that I am the only one not sharing an office with anyone else and that is only because I moved myself into the server room/storage closet =PThis was so unexpected I had to laugh. Made me think of "desperate times call for desperate measures". We should do one of those "Top 10" lists..
You know the GarageGames office is too small when:
10) The interns no longer need maps to find Josh's office.
9) Nobody has seen an intern in several days.
8) People wander the offices counting doorways and saying, "I'm sure there was a door here!" A few days later, Ben Garney discovers people stacked in the hallway yelling "Let us in! We have projects for you!"
7) The blackboard looks more like an Escher drawing because people are using it for seating.
6) The offices smell like burnt coffee because nobody's been able to find the pot for weeks - it's blocked by interns.
5) You can tell someone sat next to someone wearing "Obsession" on the bus.
4) The offices smell like dead cat because the GG mascot got fouled in the coffee pot wiring.
3) Matt Fairfax disappears, only to be found six weeks later with a sleeping bag and a crate of Snickers bars in the storage closet muttering, "Mine! Mine!"
2) Jeff's motorcycle goes missing, only to be found the following week when the interns are unbarricaded. They've been using it for a computer tower.
and the #1 reason you know the Garage Games office is TOO small: (drumroll please)
1) Somebody actually thought this lame list made by Gina-Marie was funny. :P
BTW, congrats on the new office!
#18
05/06/2006 (11:02 am)
LOL 
#19
I can't wait to be terrified and confused! At least by September, all the employees will know thier way around and I can ask them... And yes, the loading dock would be the coolest intern pit ever.
Go GG! Congrats and thanks!
05/06/2006 (2:27 pm)
Suddenly, the internship doesn't sound as awesome as before. ;(I can't wait to be terrified and confused! At least by September, all the employees will know thier way around and I can ask them... And yes, the loading dock would be the coolest intern pit ever.
Go GG! Congrats and thanks!
#20
05/06/2006 (3:27 pm)
Cool looking place... maybe I should offer to intern so I can see it. :p
Torque Owner Paul /*Wedge*/ DElia
I'll just be delivered on a truck and dumped right there. The _rest_ of the place looks really nice =P.