Games

Seems like I just fell off the airplane and hit the ground running with crunch. Amazing news is that I’m giving myself < blinktag > one < /blinktag > month to finish this “Desktop version of Tetrageddon Games”. I really need a better name for that, it doesn’t do the project justice. :) I have a couple more features/areas to put in before I feel like it’s good enough. I’m very excited about this because… there! I have it! A solid, honest to god deadline… Although more time would be nice, but that’s a trap I will not fall into!...

My grandfather had a lot of respect for what I did (art on computers), but he had a hard time understanding the value in it at first. I spend forever making something, but what is made on computers has no “real world value”, because it isn’t tangible. This is a mentality not foreign to a lot of “old people”. I remember a student telling me about how his dad had trouble understanding how he can earn any good (or respectable) living making art on computers. The mentality is because it’s NOT real, it has no real worth. Digital art is...

So this is the part, after working super long and hard on a project, where I’m generally disoriented… but all-together extra positive. Probably more air-headed than usual. People say I’m air-headed, but I think it’s more so after launch… You know, gamedevs need to also document how it’s like after finishing a project so people know what type of confused person to expect. Since May (official start of making the game) I’ve been working game-jam mode. I still need to finish the Tetrageddon Games version for Steam. NO! I have not forgotten! Ok, I’m here to put-to-rest the final bits...

Anatomically Incorrect Dinosaurs was released last night. I wrote that line with a big sigh of relief. It’s also a featured game on GameJolt today! I was so happy, jumped for joy! :) Update! It just made an appearance on Offworld! Play it now: Anatomically Incorrect Dinosaurs Leigh Alexander said you’re (basically) dead to her if you don’t play it. It’s even tagged as that. People, this is serious! I think this little “detour” turned into a pretty big deal… Like an actual “game”, although you may not call it that, but who cares anymore what a game is or...

Recently someone on GameJolt made this youtube video of the Electric Love Potato. There have been a few now, but I laughed so much I feel inclined to make a blog post of it. A POTATO IS FLIRTING WITH ME!? Electric Love Potato | Potato Dating Simulator by Mickell Pickell (I also like the title. Potato Dating Simulator is a great idea.) For those interested, the other videos on this users channel are equally as cheerful. I like them. They’re fun and upbeat. It’s the sweetest thing! I so love how people have loved the potato… Wow, taken out of...

Last night I wrapped up my submission (A Short Story) to “FEMICOM Game Jam #1: Here’s to Theresa Duncan!” and thought it warrants a little celebratory blog post. This has been my first gamejam! *fireworks* *applause* The jam’s theme was Theresa Duncan’s work. If you’re not familiar with her, KillScreen has this wonderful article “The legacy of Theresa Duncan and the technology behind its preservation” that’s worth checking out. Mine is a small interactive story, titled “A Short Story”. “A Short Story is an interactive bedtime story about a girl that goes for a walk at night, and meets a...

Warning: emotional/mushy content I spent three days at the IGF booth showcasing Tetrageddon Games to one person after the other. It has been a particularly touching, exciting, positively charged experience for me. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. The Tetrageddon Games boothlet. This was showing above the Exhibit Floor. Smiled to myself often. Moment of pride! Winner poster thingy! Solo-dev is VERY hard. You lock yourself away, and just work. Lots of work, bugs, work, more work. After finishing the thing you go on your own to build the website, and all the PR for it. It’s never truly...

So after getting my controller setup with the GameInput API fully functional, I’ve now moved on to playing around with pathfinding and AI. I remembered this wonderful project called Daedalus (Fully dynamic constrained Delaunay triangulation and pathfinding). You can see Introducing Daedalus Lib here. I’m so happy I remembered it! It’s very easy to use, and an excellent introduction into doing this thing. The developer breaks down all the theories behind it too, mentioning a couple research publications. My favourite of which has been Efficient Triangulation-Based Pathfinding by Douglas Jon Demyen. It’s been quite eye-opening. For those interested daedalus-lib is...

Recently Monkey Fortunetell went live on the AppStore. Get it here. I’ve announced this on all my social media outlets… mostly Twitter, Monkey Fortunetell was just approved for the App Store: https://t.co/LZ7EvMfCaJ It's a FREE iPhone app. Go get it! pic.twitter.com/J3PzXQs6mf — Nathalie Lawhead (@alienmelon) January 15, 2015 and am finally finding the time to make this update. :) The game is < blink > FREE < / blink >, with no in app purchase, or hidden fees… which already means good fortune for you. I also made some desktop wallpapers for the game which you can download from the website...

My head is spinning as I write this. My mom woke me up this morning with the news… and then a beer (she’s from Eastern Europe, morning beer is normal). Tetrageddon Games is an IGF finalist, nominated for the Nuovo Award (recognizing excellence in shorter-form, more esoteric games– abstract… and unconventional game development). It’s on the list here. This is mind blowing news. I’m included in a selection among other beautiful games, and there is my game. < reflections > Looking back it seems to have been an uphill battle. A couple years ago I finally quit what I think...