Blog for Jonathon Stevens at GarageGames.com

Remembering Jeff Freeman

Jonathon Stevens — 2008-10-01T18:23:10+00:00

I just wanted to take a moment and say that Jeff Freeman will be missed. Jeff was a key designer for some of the funnest aspects of Star Wars Galaxies and even though a lot of people thought he was the cause of the entire game being completely ruined, he really wasn't.

He was an intelligent, creative guy that I sadly only had a few chances to speak with. He was fairly high on my list of people I wanted to speak at IMGDC 3.0. Raph Koster said it best at his personal blog.

We'll miss you Jeff.

IMGDC 3.0 Website launched

Jonathon Stevens — 2008-09-28T06:57:19+00:00

The completely redesigned Indie MMO Game Developers Conference website has been launched! With the new year comes a complete renovation of the IMGDC presence. A new logo, new web design and new community portal will help support the passionate community around IMGDC and indie game development.

Read blogs from industry veterans such as Dr. Richard Bartle, Brian Green, Jay Moore, Lawrence Walters and others. Chat in the forums with speakers and other attendees about round tables and sessions from the event itself. Make connections and form relationships with other passionate game developers.

The IMGDC 3.0 website is located at www.imgdc.com.

I hope to see you there!

RTS Kit Update

Jonathon Stevens — 2008-08-20T19:14:01+00:00

Well, it's with a sad heart I have to post that the TorqueX 2D and 3D RTS kits are no longer going to be released. GarageGames has informed us that they aren't publishing any games that aren't for Instant Action so the viability of this kit being a success has diminished to a point where we can no longer put resources towards the project, but instead must move towards finishing the RTS game we planned on building off the kit.

We appreciate all the support up to this point, and hopefully things will change around the Garage and they'll open their publishing doors back up.

Good luck to everyone!

- Jonathon

LFG Expo - The Ultimate Fan Event

Jonathon Stevens — 2008-06-18T19:22:19+00:00

Looking For Group is an MMO and Virtual World Fan Event which is launching it's new website this weekend. Here's a teaser video for your viewing pleasure:

(no details are being released yet, just the announcement!)

Watch the teaser video!

Brought to you by Last Straw Productions

RTS Starter Kit for TorqueX announced at IMGDC 2.0!

Jonathon Stevens — 2008-04-04T17:01:05+00:00

RTS Starter Kit for TorqueX

Last Straw Productions is happy to announce the development of the RTS Starter Kit for TorqueX. Last Straw has been working on an RTS starter kit for TorqueX over the last few months which was announced at IMGDC this past weekend. Development is about 90% complete on the 2D version of the kit, with a 3D version to follow later.

This kit will enable game developers to rapidly prototype and build strategy games for TorqueX in both 2D and 3D. This kit will be a visual studio template which you can install to create new RTS projects. We haven't worked out pricing or release dates yet, but it will be available through Garage Games and we're working quickly to complete the product. It will more than likely be released in 2D form first with 3D following a few months after. It will be fully compatible with TorqueX 2.0 and XNA 2.0 and will feature the following:

Customized Camera System
"God" view behavior camera system that allows a top-down view as well as easily moving into a close up view of units.

Customized Mini-Map System
The mini-map draws an overview of the area and units in the area. Mini-map can be used to control the camera to easily move around the map. Full fog of war is implemented as well in the mini-map system.

Fog of War
Fog of war has been implemented to allow builders to create a system where players have to explore to see terrain and units.

Complete Component system to easily modify/add new functionality and extend current functionality
Components were used extensively with an incredible amount of in-builder options that are settable by the developer to allow for easily modifying the game with little to no programming experience. All components are easily customized in the TorqueX Builder.

Unit selection system
An example selection system is in place that allows you to select multiple units to have them act together. Hot keying units has also been implemented to allow you to assign a selection of units to certain keys, allowing for easily selecting multiple groups.

Multiplayer support across a network and Xbox live/windows live
Full multiplayer support allowing players to play across their own network or through windows live and/or Xbox live where appropriate. A multiplayer lobby also exists which allows the players to easily find each other and host/join games.

Resource system
A complete resource system is in place that allows the gathering of resources in various ways which can either immediately increase a defined resource or can force the 'resource gathering unit' to return to a certain building to receive compensation for that resource. Resources can randomly appear on the map and slowly disappear (unless otherwise set to never expire) as they are gathered.

Unit upgrade system
Units can be upgraded via buildings or the unit themselves to improve the abilities of the units. Buildings can also be upgraded.

3D models in 2D space as well as sprite maps
Full support of bringing in DTS models as units instead of using sprite maps, as well as sprite map examples so developers can see how either way is handled. 3D models also support build in animations with an animation system that handles both 3D and 2D animations.

Waypoint system
Full waypoint system has been implemented allowing players to flag a path for their units to follow. Players can also set waypoints for buildings which will send units built to that location as soon as they are done building.

Basic AI
Pathing system is implemented as well as basic scripted AI for AI units to build with levels of aggression settable by the player.

Medic and worker abilities
Ability to set a unit as a worker or a medic which allows different sets of abilities and serves as an example of how to quickly create a new unit component derived from the main RTS unit component.

Transporter vehicles
Ability to load units into another unit which can serve as a transporting unit.

And much more!

Keep in mind that what you see is still early alpha, but we're moving along quickly and the kit is becoming more solid every day! Feel free to leave your comments or questions below.

P.S. On the note of IMGDC 2.0, it went fantastic again this year and I'm going to have a post-mortum in an MMOG magazine publishing around the 13th! I'll provide links when they come in.

- Jonathon

Last Day for Early Bird Registration to IMGDC 2.0

Jonathon Stevens — 2007-11-14T21:19:46+00:00

The Indie MMO Game Developers Conference early bird pricing ends tonight at midnight. After today, the early bird rate of $99 will no longer be available and passes will be sold at their regular rate of $139. IMGDC 2.0 passes grant full access to the entire conference including expo and covers lunch for both days.

IMGDC features the industry's finest speakers including Dr. Richard Bartle, Raph Koster, Gordon Walton, Jay Moore, Brian Green, Scott Hartsman and more.

Join us for the indie MMO event. For more information or to register, visit the official website at www.IMGDC.com

For speaker, sponsor, or media inquiries, please send an email to jonatho@last-straw-games.com

FINAL DAYS: IMGDC 2.0 has just one week left of early bird pricing!

Jonathon Stevens — 2007-11-07T22:30:02+00:00

The Indie MMO Game Developers Conference has just one week left of early bird pricing. After November 15th, the early bird rate of $99 will no longer be available and passes will be sold at their regular rate of $139. IMGDC 2.0 passes grant full access to the entire conference including expo and covers lunch for both days.

IMGDC features the industry's finest speakers including Dr. Richard Bartle, Raph Koster, Gordon Walton, Jay Moore, Brian Green, Scott Hartsman and more.

Join us for the indie MMO event. For more information or to register, visit the official website at www.IMGDC.com

For speaker, sponsor, or media inquiries, please send an email to jonatho@last-straw-games.com

IMGDC 2.0 Early Bird Registration Now Open!

Jonathon Stevens — 2007-09-24T14:44:30+00:00

The much anticipated IMGDC 2.0 has opened for attendee registration with the announcement of this year's pricing. IMGDC 2.0 will be $149, with a $50 discount to early registrations. The early bird rate of $99 will be available until November 15th, 2007. IMGDC 2.0 registration will be limited to 200 this year and lunch will be provided on both days of the conference, scheduled for March 29th - 30th, 2008 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, MN.

IMGDC 2.0 is a valuable event for hobbyist, independent and commercial MMOG makers across the world. With informative and creative sessions from industry giants such as Dr. Richard Bartle, Raph Koster, Brian Green and Gordon Walton, IMGDC 2.0 will prove itself once again as the premium independent event.
"Although IMGDC 1.0 was an incredible success that received a lot of praise from various organizations including MMORPG.com, TenTonHammer, and others, we aimed to double everything for IMGDC 2.0" said conference founder Jonathon Stevens. "The goal for IMGDC 2.0 was to provide the same intimate and passionate conference that last year's event is known for while increasing the value by adding in another track, optimizing the space for double the amount of attendees and providing a much more valuable expo area for vendors and sponsors."

IMGDC provides content, community and contacts for artists, designers, programmers, and Indie entrepreneurs. If you've caught the incurable desire to make MMO games commercially, or even as a hobbyist, this is a community gathering of talented individuals and groups you will not want to miss. For more information, please visit the IMGDC 2.0 website at www.IMGDC.com. For press inquiries, sponsorship opportunities or speaker paper submissions, please contact Jonathon Stevens at jonathon@last-straw-games.com.

Simian Escape released! TorqueX Game with Source!

Jonathon Stevens — 2007-06-15T18:21:07+00:00

Simian Escape Released with Source Code!
Last Straw Productions is proud to present our first in-house title Simian Escape!

Last Straw's flagship game, Simian Escape hurls the player into the life of a caveman painting. Try to stay in the torchlight in this 2D scroller or be erased from existence. Dodge or throw rocks to kill various monsters trying to stop your journey on the cave wall to survive. Simian Escape features multiplayer support and hours of addictive gameplay. Simian Escape was built with the TorqueX Engine and ships with full game logic source code.

Simian Escape requires Game Studio Express to build and debug source code for Simian Escape. TorqueX Source Code is not included, but all game logic source code is along with the TGBX compliant TorqueX Scene files.

Reserve your copy today!

IMGDC - Post Mortem - Part 1 - The Planning

Jonathon Stevens — 2007-04-20T16:22:52+00:00

I'm lying in bed staring at the spider on the ceiling. As the spider completes his web and scatters across the ceiling I find myself wondering if he's thinking about his next web. Do spiders have multiple webs? Then I remember why I'm still laying here awake instead of sleeping like I should have been the hour and a half ago I came in here. I surrender to the fact that I'm not going to fall asleep now, so make my way into the kitchen for something bad to eat.

It's been nearly a week since IMGDC 2007 and I can't get the damn thing out of my head. I keep remembering bits and pieces from it. How excited I was to meet Richard Bartle. How much more excited I was to hear him speak. How it felt to stand in front of everyone reading the opening speech. How tired I was from getting just a few hours of sleep the three days leading up to the event. How surprised I was that I actually pulled it off.

Then the real trouble hits me. Next year's IMGDC. I should start planning it now. I should get a date and the venue sorted out now so I'm not stuck using someone else's timeframe like this year. I should try to line up sponsors early this time.

"Why are you still awake Jon?" Now my wife has a beautiful voice and I could listen to her talk all day, but not all night. If I even mutter the words "conference" or "IMGDC" I'll probably be sleeping on the couch tonight. "I'm hungry" I offer hoping she doesn't see the half-handful of my 8 year old's Easter candy in my hand.

Because IMGDC was one of the greatest experiences of my life, what follows will be the post-mortem of the planning, execution and after-math of the Indie MMO Game Developers Conference 2007, my first attempt at planning and running a conference, and the events that put Last Straw Productions on the map. I have split this into 3 blogs: planning, executing, and after-math.

It's October 2006 and I'm staring at yet another GDC ad for 2007. I'm disappointed because there seems to be a trend of game dev conferences. I should say two trends, the first being that none of them are in the north or mid-west. Everything is down south, in the east or in the west. I live in Minnesota and being an Indie developer with a wife and 2 kids, I don't get to just run off and fly across the country whenever I want.

Trend #2: Everything is becoming more commercialized. Prices keep going up with 100 different options to choose from for passes. What happened to caring about the content and what you are delivering? What happened to running a conference for the benefit of those who attend and not to run a company? An entire company that simply holds conferences. Great business, Poor community.

I also noticed that all the MMOG related conferences (or sessions within bigger conferences) never really fit for an Indie developer. I asked myself "What games am I really passionate about making?" The answer was easy causing the birth of the idea: Indie MMO Game Developers Conference.
I shot out a quick forum at GG and mydreamrpg.com to find out if anyone would actually show up. I planned on either putting it in Minneapolis or Chicago. The replies were overwhelmingly Minnesota, which worked out well since that's where I live. Over 25 people replied that they would be interested in this conference.

This was enough to get me excited about planning it, so I immediately kick-started the internal gears and we were off. I need a few speakers. The first name that popped in my head was Dr. Richard Bartle. Yes, THE Richard Bartle. The godfather of virtual worlds. The one that anybody who's anybody in the MMOG world knows the name of. Of course, there's not a chance in hell I'm going to get Richard Bartle, who lives in England, to fly to the US for an Indie conference of 25 - 30 people.

After tracking down Dr. Bartle, I shot him an email about the conference. I had to reread his reply several times and pinch myself a couple because his first reply was that he was definitely interested in speaking at it! I was in shock. The only stipulation was that he didn't want to pay to speak at it. A quick yahoo travel quote set his tickets in the $700 range. (How the hell you can fly overseas for $700 yet it costs $450 to fly to Florida from Minnesota is beyond me, but that's a whole other blog) Ok. So about $1000 and I got Richard Bartle, I can do it.

I started scouting locations at local hotels and casinos (I should say casino, since only 1 is near enough to pull it off.) My initial goal was a day and 1 track, but my ambition wont leave it to that, so I expand that quickly to two days and three tracks: design, development, and business. The range of rooms I'd need was between $1500 and $2500 depending on the location.

While looking for locations, I'm also looking for a sponsor. My wife will kill me if I end up paying for all of this out of pocket, so I had to promise her I wouldn't spend our own money on this conference. I only searched for a few days before landing in front of the team at Dream Games. I pleaded my case to Ashley, letting her know that I needed about $1500 to cover the conference rooms. If I could get this, I believed I could get enough from registrations and other sponsors/vendors to cover the rest of the conference.

A couple days later, the sponsor agreement is signed and IMGDC is officially a conference. I can't even describe the relief I felt and the gratitude towards Dream Games for taking the chance that their $1500 would go to an unsuccessful first time event like IMGDC. If it weren't for Dream Games, IMGDC would have simply been an idea in my head. Even though I have thanked them profusely, I don't think I can really tell them in words how it felt to not have the weight of "will this conference actually happen" on my shoulders anymore.

I settled on the Minneapolis Convention Center because it was surprisingly cheaper than most of the hotels and made the whole thing feel more "professional." I didn't want IMGDC to feel commercial, but I did want it to feel professional.

I ended up dropping one class for sake of expenses and thought it would be easier to plan with only two tracks. So I cut business and just had design and development. This was met with many comments pointing out that Indies generally know the development aspects, it's the business stuff that they really need. This struck a cord, so I decided on the final two tracks being design & development and business & legal. I seemed to have more interest in people speaking to the business & legal track than the design track, but more on that later.

The search for speakers began with Brian Green. I can't remember how I found Brian, but I do know that over half of the speaker contacts I received (and ended up speaking at the event) were a direct result of introductions Brian set up. Brian is another true success story of an Indie studio and a prime example of what Indie Passion can accomplish.

Here is Brian about to cast 'fireball' on me.

Hundreds of phone calls, emails, and sleepless excited nights later, I'm 2 weeks prior to the event. It's about 4am at my local Kinkos and I'm picking out signage and designing the conference program. I never really used Kinkos before, but holy crap can they pump out great quality stuff quickly. This would be the first of several early morning Kinkos trips, last of which was two days before the conference to print off Last Straw Productions brochures which I didn't even think to make up in the mix of things.

Multiverse becomes my second sponsor, allowing there to be bags at the conference. Brown College becomes my third sponsor with a vendor booth rental, allowing me to actually feed the speakers, sponsors, press, and volunteers. I've secured about half a dozen volunteers at this point as well, which is another load off my chest considering I didn't start looking for them until a week prior.

GarageGames comes through a week before the conference with the last sponsorship, which pulled me from paying about $450 for this conference to happen (don't tell my wife, she'd probably still kill me for almost paying for it) to being ahead about $45.

Overall, the planning of this conference has been a very stressful, complex, time-consuming, expensive, and exciting experience. I've made many, MANY great contacts that will help me build Last Straw Productions into a self-sufficient gaming studio.

I've had an unofficial board of advisors between Kelly Heckman, Brian Green, and Cynthia Freese from Evergreen Events. Cynthia was a strange one to get as her business is running events, one of which is a direct competitor to IMGDC which is OGDC (Online Game Developers Conference). Cynthia has been a wealth of knowledge and although Dream Games allowed IMGDC to happen, Cynthia allowed it to stay professional and enabled it to be a success. I can't thank Cynthia enough for her help with the planning of IMGDC.

Tune in next week for the execution post-mortem for an inside look at IMGDC.

Dream Games - www.mydreamrpg.com
Richard Bartle - www.mud.co.uk/richard/
Brian Green - www.neardeathstudios.com/
Cynthia Freese - www.evergreenevents.org/
Last Straw Productions - www.last-straw-games.com
IMGDC (2008 site coming in a few weeks) - www.IMGDC.com