Back from the dead - Metal Drift
by Brian Ramage · 01/13/2009 (2:25 pm) · 9 comments
Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted here ;) For those of you that don't know who I am, I worked at GarageGames for about 5 years, pretty much from the beginning. Mostly I worked on TGEA, and sometimes on projects like Marble Blast Ultra. I left happily and amicably shortly after we had finally shipped TGEA and GG was bought out by IAC.
I was planning on moving up to Portland for quite a while, but I didn't want to do that before TGEA was shipped. With shipping the engine, and the IAC deal coming at the same time, it was the perfect time to move up here!
So what have I been doing for the last 2 years since I've posted? Well, for quite a while Weston Tracy and I had been working on a hovertank game in our spare time. GG was interested in it, and the timing was perfect for them to pick it up and help us bring it to completion. So we started Black Jacket Studios (www.blackjacketstudios.com) and have been working hard on Metal Drift for some time now.
We're still a few months away from release, but it's coming along great and we're having fun polishing it up and adding the touches that really bring a game to life.
Here's a screen:
Metal Drift has had quite a history, some of you may remember the "original" Metal Drift shown at the first Indie Games Con. That was an entirely different game that I developed with 7 other talented guys at our company, Ozo Interactive. That was a different time in the industry, and a whole different recession, so it never came to be. Here's a screenshot I found in the SOTD archives featuring the buggy from the game:
http://www.garagegames.com/mg/snapshot/view.php?qid=408
Weston and started working on a hovertank game, and we really liked the name "Metal Drift", and it made a lot of sense given that it was about drifting tanks, so we borrowed it. Some of you may have seen and played the modern version of it at various IGC's. We won 2nd place at IGC '07 for 'best game'. It's come a long way since then! Keep your eye out for it, we'll have more news soon.
I was planning on moving up to Portland for quite a while, but I didn't want to do that before TGEA was shipped. With shipping the engine, and the IAC deal coming at the same time, it was the perfect time to move up here!
So what have I been doing for the last 2 years since I've posted? Well, for quite a while Weston Tracy and I had been working on a hovertank game in our spare time. GG was interested in it, and the timing was perfect for them to pick it up and help us bring it to completion. So we started Black Jacket Studios (www.blackjacketstudios.com) and have been working hard on Metal Drift for some time now.
We're still a few months away from release, but it's coming along great and we're having fun polishing it up and adding the touches that really bring a game to life.
Here's a screen:
Metal Drift has had quite a history, some of you may remember the "original" Metal Drift shown at the first Indie Games Con. That was an entirely different game that I developed with 7 other talented guys at our company, Ozo Interactive. That was a different time in the industry, and a whole different recession, so it never came to be. Here's a screenshot I found in the SOTD archives featuring the buggy from the game:
http://www.garagegames.com/mg/snapshot/view.php?qid=408
Weston and started working on a hovertank game, and we really liked the name "Metal Drift", and it made a lot of sense given that it was about drifting tanks, so we borrowed it. Some of you may have seen and played the modern version of it at various IGC's. We won 2nd place at IGC '07 for 'best game'. It's come a long way since then! Keep your eye out for it, we'll have more news soon.
About the author
#2
01/13/2009 (2:33 pm)
Looks very nice. Welcome to PDX. :) 
#3
01/13/2009 (2:41 pm)
Lookin' good there! 
#4
01/13/2009 (2:43 pm)
that is some crispy looking stuff. thumbs up 
#6
Best of luck on finishing up.
01/13/2009 (5:26 pm)
Beautiful shots. I too am looking forward to this hitting production. I remember playing and older Metal Drift (in '07) and having lots of fun.Best of luck on finishing up.
#7
01/14/2009 (1:25 am)
Snapshots are no more with the new site design. :( Can you upload the second shot somewhere or is it lost for good?
#8
01/14/2009 (9:33 am)
Sexy art love the in car/Hud V_nice.
#9
Thanks for the nice comments everyone.
Chris and Ed - you guys have to come out to a PAGDIG meeting (again) sometime since you are in/near Portland!
01/14/2009 (11:56 am)
Heh, this went up a few hours before the site switch, I think the old screens are lost forever, oh well ;)Thanks for the nice comments everyone.
Chris and Ed - you guys have to come out to a PAGDIG meeting (again) sometime since you are in/near Portland!
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