Blog for Jonathan Whitehead at GarageGames.com

Sunday Jul 15 9:38

Jonathan Whitehead — 2001-07-15T09:38:39+00:00

www.cliffhangergames is now up and running. Amongst our first articles, I've posted Kenn Hoekstra's (Raven Software) response to our market survey into Episodic Games.

If you pop over to read Kenn's reply, please keep in mind he was answering a sheet of questions many of which simply had a 'yes','no' tick box. It wasn't originaly intended for publication or as an interview. Still, I thought some of you might be interested:)

I'm hoping it's the likes of you people here at GarageGames who's games I'll be promoting on www.cliffhangergames.com.

What form are the V12 Games most likely to take? Are they going to be multiplayer online or, for convenient downloading, are they going to be presented in 'Episodes'?

My plan at present is to continue adding content to the site (game details, news, interviews, reviews ect.), hence I'd love to hear from you if you have anything you think is suitable for us. Also, I'm hoping to get feedback on the site in it's current form so changes can be made where required.

Saturday Jun 2 19:44

Jonathan Whitehead — 2001-06-02T19:44:02+00:00

Keeping you updated on the progress of Cliffhanger Games as we approach our July 19th launch date.

www.cliffhangergames.comThanks for posting on the CHG forums Scott!

I'm still looking for suggestions for a promo. event to publicise the site at launch. Anybody got any ideas?

Week before last I did a presentation to a Business Assessment panel at Teesside University. They've offered me an office in their 'business incubator' building provided I employ one of the Graduates. So, now I'm looking for the 'right' person for the job. Teesside Uni. runs degree courses in 3D anim. and Game Design, so, finding that person shouldn't be a problem:)

I contacted "They Hunger" creator Neil Manke earlier this week. He's happy to see his brilliant Half-Life mod. featured on the site and has offered me a button on the "Black Widow Games" site when I've reviewed the game. I've put the episode details for all 3 installments on "CliffHanger Games" today.

I treat myself to a top of the range Creative Labs surround sound system recently. What a difference it makes to playing games:) The sound in Blade of Darkness and Echelon is fantastic. Also, I was surprised how much of a difference it made in Half-Life when I activated EAX. Even the music is different.

Saturday May 19 18:19

Jonathan Whitehead — 2001-05-19T18:19:55+00:00

The 'Cliffhanger Games' site provides a service to Episodic Game Developers by providing them with a 'front end' to the target audience.

Yep, still on target for a mid July launch (and, yep, still viewable right now for your testing, comments and any other feedback at www.cliffhangergames.com.

I'd appreciate any ideas for a launch event. I'm toying with the idea of giving away a Geforce 3 for the 12000th visitor. However, I'm not sure about the best way to work this. The site has an email registration for update notification when selected episodes are added. Maybe I could modify this to notify me when the 12000th person has registered?

I received a data file from Digital Tome www.digitaltome.com with lots of content to help me construct the Episode Pages of their current excellent offering 'Seige of Avalon'. I'll be starting on these pages straight away.

I'm employing somebody soon to help administer the site. Also, next week, I'm presenting my business idea to a panel at Teesside University. If they like it, I'll be given a free office in the high tech Innovation Building with computer and ISDN also free for up to 3 years!

I had trouble with my connection this week. It makes me feel very vunerable to realise how dependent internet sites are on others to maintain our 'life-line' to the world.

Remember:
If you have any news that is appropriate for the site, it will be posted on the front page credited to your name (where mine appears now).

Also, if you'd like to publish a review, interview or any other article get in touch.

And of course, if you've got a 'Pilot Episode' of your Game, we will give it a Main Game Page and subsequent Episode Pages. Don't worry if it's not the best game ever. The episodic concept allows you to develop with time (just look at the earliest episodes of your favourite TV programs).

Best Wishes for all your Ventures
Jonathan

Saturday May 12 12:28

Jonathan Whitehead — 2001-05-12T12:28:34+00:00

'Cliffhanger Games' is on target for a mid July launch. Essentially, it's a site which promotes episodic gaming by giving Developers a place to 'showcase' their talents and Players a central resource to easily find a game to suit them.

www.cliffhangergames.com. Many thanks to those of you who have been giving me feedback and suggestions for the site. In particular, William, Phil and Chris. Thanks Guy's:)

This week I had talks with my local University (Teesside). It looks very probable that I'm going to be employing one of their Graduates to help with the site (thanks to a grants scheme). Also, I'm applying for an office in the Uni.s Innovation Building. This is a great High Tech. place to be and hosts the 'Virtual Reality Centre' which is a fantastic facility (I wrangle my way in to see it every chance I get!). Teesside UK is actually a great place to be if your into computer entertainment. The Uni. does degree courses in Games Design and 3D Animation. We even have Acclaim Studios (Turok, Shadowman ect.).

I had contact from Digitaltome during the week. They've assigned a member of their staff to help me update the game pages for 'Seige of Avalon'. It's this sort of help that reassures me that the July launch is still on target.

I'm hoping to start hearing from mod developers who would like their games featured on the site. With the ever increasing resources for modifications I'm sure we're going to see some of the greatest talents of the future coming in via this route.

I'm also thinking of using my game pages as 'portfolio' pages to promote your talents. E.g, the Main Game Page would be your resume and the individual Episode Pages would be samples of your work. The download link could be an email link to request your file if you don't have it uploaded somewhere.

What do you think?

Saturday May 5 19:13

Jonathan Whitehead — 2001-05-05T19:13:32+00:00

I'm developing Cliffhanger Games. I'm aiming to make it the premier site where Episodic Game makers know that Players are going to find their games. Make a 'pilot episode' and I'll give it a 'Main Game page' and 'Episode Page'.

I had fun on the GG forums the other night. What impressed me most was the way that people were constructively challenging each others ideas without anyone getting 'flamed' (or whatever the expression is). Anyway, I enjoyed it and made some good contacts (thanks to those of you who checked out www.cliffhangergames.comand gave me useful feedback).

Last Tuesday I presented the Cliffhanger Games concept to a panel of business experts (as part of the e-business course I'm doing). Later, one of them told me it had the greatest potential of any of the ideas presented (which was reassuring since one of the guy's is already making a living out of his concept!).

I'm still on target for that mid July launch. However, I'm going to be cranking things up a notch with adding game episodes to the site in the next month. I'm even looking at hiring a graduate student to help out.

Once the new site graphics are incorporated (soon) I'm going to start hitting the 'mod' sites. I believe a lot of the featured games are going to come from this community as the resources are getting better all the time.

I'm also considering extra functionality for the site and would love to hear any suggestions (maybe an episode rating/review facility for players?)

Thanks for your interest and support. It feels good:)

Jonathan

Saturday Apr 28 18:46

Jonathan Whitehead — 2001-04-28T18:46:17+00:00

'Cliffhanger Games' is dedicated to promoting 'Episodic Games'. If you're developing one or know of one, I'll give it a Main Game Page and individual Episode Pages with links to the site where it can be downloaded.

www.cliffhangergames.com is still on target for a full launch in mid July.

I was excited yesterday to receive a couple of the market research questionnaires back from the survey that the local Univerity is carrying out for me. These came from two of the major game companies.

My incentive is that I'll share the final results of the survey with anyone who takes part. I produced 3 questionnaires:

one for Developers/Publishers, one for Advertisers and another for Game Players.

All the questions are designed to assess the interest in the Episode Gaming concept. The results so far confirm my belief that serial gaming has a very important part to play in the future of computer entertainment.

If you want to take part, email me
jonathan_whitehead@cliffhangergames.com

Hopefully, a lot of the games featured on 'Cliffhanger Games'are going to be garageGames (GG guy's, if you have any concerns about me promoting your games please let me know)!

Cheers
Jonathan

Saturday Apr 21 14:02

Jonathan Whitehead — 2001-04-21T14:02:38+00:00

The plan is to make 'Cliffhanger Games' the premier site where Game Makers can gain recognition and Game Players can easily find what they want.

The new logo and graphics for the site are complete and should be incorporated in the next few weeks. Rich Ponte the artist has done an excellent job:) This weekend I'm writing a 'review' for the business course I'm on to show how Cliffhanger Games is progressing. As part of the course, in May I get the oppurtunity to present my review to a panel of business backers.

I'm currently working on incorporating administration access to the site for contributers,e.g., you will be able to add your games details yourself.

If you've got a game you want featuring on the site, get in touch. It doesn't have to be great because one of the unique things about Cliffhanger Games is that you get the chance to improve your games with time. It's your ideas which count.

Saturday Apr 14 10:31

Jonathan Whitehead — 2001-04-14T10:31:19+00:00

Make a name for yourself by having your work featured on Cliffhanger Games. We'll promote your game for free. All we ask is that you intend the game be produced in an episode format ('Pilot Episodes' are fine).

www.cliffhangergames.comWe're still on target for a mid July launch.

At this stage, I want to start hearing from you so I can get details of your games into the site game pages.

Also, if you're a writer and want exposure, get in touch. News items will be posted on the front page with your name credited. WE also want your Reviews, Interviews and articles.

In the past week I've met with my site developers, www.Coretechnics.co.uk, to discuss the stage of construction. We've agreed to release a more advanced version of the site which, until now, has been resident on their server. This should be done by the end of next week.

The current appearance of the site is temporary. The 'new look' is well underway. You might get a sneak preview in the 'Reconaissance' section of www.richponte.com.

Saturday Apr 7 10:30

Jonathan Whitehead — 2001-04-07T10:30:03+00:00

The aim of Cliffhanger Games is to promote the development and playing of 'episodic' games by providing a showcase of all currently available serial games.

Alpha construction phase.

We're aiming for a full launch by mid July.

We've recently employed the services of the artist Rich Ponte to give www.cliffhangergames.com it's own distinct 'brand'. You can get a 'sneak peek' of the concept work in the 'reconnaissance' section of his site at www.richponte.com. We're aiming to incorporate the proffessional appearance in the next few weeks.

What is 'Cliffhanger Games' about?:

For me, personally, it's about providing a structure which helps games to evolve more rapidly. It's a place where Game Makers (from the 'big'proffessionals to the talented back bedroom 'mod' builders)can promote their products. Also,writers of 'news, reviews, interviews etc.'can gain experience and recognition.

If you're interested, check out the alpha site for more info.:

www.cliffhangergames.com

Saturday Mar 31 10:27

Jonathan Whitehead — 2001-03-31T10:27:26+00:00

The aim of Cliffhanger Games is to promote the development and playing of 'episodic' games by providing a showcase of all currently available serial games.

The Cliffhanger Games site is nearing the end of it's alpha construction phase.

I now want to hear from Game Developers who would like their 'episodic games' featured on the site'.

I also want to hear from 'writers' who would like to showcase their talents by providing news/reviews/articles and interviews for the site.