We ask some of the finest game development talent a series of questions about the toughest subject of all – their own work
FOR WARD PL ANNER
JUNE 2012 Contracting Special How flexible workforces can ease your production woes – and advice on becoming a contractor
BUILD Special Feature: AI & Character Behaviour An update on all that is new in the world of artificial intelligence tools and making characters navigate game worlds more realistically
Regional Focus: North East UK A look at the pros and cons of one of the UK’s increasingly significant games development hubs
Events: E3 – June 5th to June 7th UBIQ – June 18th to June 19th
THIS MONTH: Philip Oliver MOST FAMOUS FOR: Being an Oliver Twin, and heading up Blitz Games Studios ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON: Dizzy: The Ultimate Cartoon Adventure
Can you name the month and year that Dizzy: The Ultimate Cartoon Adventure was released? It’s either ’86 or ’87, and I’m pretty sure it was in the summer. I’mgoing to say June ‘87. CORRECT
The game included several references to the poem The Green Eye of the Yellow God. Can you recite the opening line to that well known poem? Oh no. There’s a green… In the land of the… Something about a Kumquat tree… Something there lived with a green eye or something. Something like that. INCORRECT: (There’s a one-eyed yellow idol to the north of Kathmandu)
What was the effect of birdseed when used in Dizzy? It wasn’t good for birds. It poisoned them. We were big fans of Roadrunner cartoons, and Wile E. Coyote always used poisoned birdseed against him. CORRECT
Early in the game, Dizzy discovers the ‘Avawiffovee potion’, which obviously stops evil Wizards. As well as this it also cures an unpleasant medical condition. What was it? I know that one. It’s athlete’s foot. Richard Darling actually came up with the name. CORRECT
What unlikely design material did you and Andrew use to design the levels found in Dizzy? It was rolls of wallpaper, and I’ve still got them all. It was the cheapest large surface area. Specifically, and this isn’t known, it was Star Wars wallpaper, which I had up in my room. I’d absolutely begged and begged my parents for that wallpaper. CORRECT
What was the game’s original RRP? Easy. £1.99. CORRECT
LEADERBOARD
1. Phillip Oliver (5/6) 1. Charles Cecil (5/6) 1. Sean Murray (5/6) 1. Paul Gower (5/6) 7. Martin Hollis (4/6) 7. Miles Jacobson (4/6) 7. Tony Hawk (4/6)
JULY 2012 Analytics & Consultants Examining how metrics tools and independent advice on gameplay and content can turn around your project
BUILD Special Feature: Technology for Social Games A detailed look at the tools, analytics devices, platforms, and unique techniques that define how social games tick
Events: Develop in Brighton – July 10th to July 12th Develop Awards – July 11th
AUGUST 2012 Develop Awards 2012 Retrospective We look back on this year’s awards ceremony and tell you who the big winners were
BUILD Special Feature: Apps and Mobile game dev tech An investigation into the tools that underpin the increasingly important smartphone games space
Regional Focus: Nordic Regions We examine a sector that’s home to some of the world’s biggest hits
Events: GDC Europe – August 13th to August 15th Edinburgh Interactive 12 – August 9th to August 10th
SEPTEMBER 2012 User Interface Tools & User Interaction Touch screens, motion controllers and gesture inputs have changed how gamers interact – but how have they changed how games are made?
BUILD Special Feature: Graphics and Rendering An update on the tools and applications for cutting edge graphics and on-screen beauty
Regional Focus: Germany We delve into the thriving development hub from one of Europe’s most powerful economies
Events: Tokyo Game Show –September 20th to September 23rd
After uncovering old dusty archives in his attic to prove he had answered a question correctly, Philip Oliver takes joint first place.
EDITORIAL enquiries should go through to Will.Freeman@intentmedia.co.uk, or call him on 01992 535646