Work has been continuing on my mobile Alternate Reality Zombie Game "ARG Zombies" We have launched a closed beta on Testflight, and we have nearly completed the story for the game. Independent game production is, of course, much harder than I initially imagined... but, I have been shlogging along just the same.
My brother Trevor has been a lead game tester for the game Blacklight Retribution a free to play first person shooter from Perfect World and Zombie Studios. Today he quit his job to come work on ARG Zombies!!
This means that Tando Productions (our company) now has David O'hagan doing social media and user engagement, Trevor will be doing our sound effects and QA, and I am the director designer (and of course business guy)... So yeah- that sounds like a team to me!
Look out world... TANDO is coming!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Occupy Movement Protests
This weekend I went to check out the Occupy march in my home city, San Francisco. I ended up creating my first video blog... more to come perhaps?
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Gamers are going to change the world
If you haven't already seen this link you should check it out. Gamers solved a protein puzzle, expected to help in AIDS research, in 3 weeks after scientists struggled with it for 10 years.
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/games/online-gamers-crack-aids-enzyme-puzzle-20110919-1kgq2.html
This is concrete proof of the potential power of gaming. Folding proteins in a simple game is just scratching the surface of what gamers are capable of. I was going to write a lot more about this, but I think it speaks for itself.
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/games/online-gamers-crack-aids-enzyme-puzzle-20110919-1kgq2.html
This is concrete proof of the potential power of gaming. Folding proteins in a simple game is just scratching the surface of what gamers are capable of. I was going to write a lot more about this, but I think it speaks for itself.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Is Man Evolving a Collective Consciousness?
Life is constantly evolving. Since protein began replicating in strings, life has been adapting and moving, but towards what end? Much like a chromosome trying to understand a creature, we may not be capable of grasping the next evolution of man, but we all know it is coming.
the past two hundred years have recorded the largest changes to human society ever witnessed. Technological advances have changed the way that most humans interact with the planet. These interactions are so different that we believe ourselves and our actions to be "un-natural". While a technologically advanced object is not, by itself, natural, the drive to create and share such things is a natural drive seen in humans for ages. Like the first leg on a fish, we have sprouted a fledgling collective consciousness- the Internet.
We have all known that the Internet is an amazing technological achievement since it's early days. However, much like the first leg on a fish, the Internet has flopped around a bit. We all knew it's potential to unite people just like we know that that fish will eventually walk with ease. Technology, being unburdened with the constraints of biology, has quickly strengthened and adapted. Nowhere is this new strength more apparent than the middle east, where twitter has toppled governments. The illusion that any man has power over another instantly dissolved in Tahir square.
Mans creation of technology is natures adaptation to the constraints of our biology. Operating as a society on such a massive scale requires adaptations like the smartphone (the world in your pocket) in order to function. These things draw us together like the nervous system unites the bodies organs, toward the single purpose of life. Like a fledgling organism the collective mind has gone through some growing pains, but trudges forward up the beach. The future is never certain, but somewhere inside, the fish knows he will walk, and perhaps one day- even fly.
See Also: Transcendant Man
the past two hundred years have recorded the largest changes to human society ever witnessed. Technological advances have changed the way that most humans interact with the planet. These interactions are so different that we believe ourselves and our actions to be "un-natural". While a technologically advanced object is not, by itself, natural, the drive to create and share such things is a natural drive seen in humans for ages. Like the first leg on a fish, we have sprouted a fledgling collective consciousness- the Internet.
We have all known that the Internet is an amazing technological achievement since it's early days. However, much like the first leg on a fish, the Internet has flopped around a bit. We all knew it's potential to unite people just like we know that that fish will eventually walk with ease. Technology, being unburdened with the constraints of biology, has quickly strengthened and adapted. Nowhere is this new strength more apparent than the middle east, where twitter has toppled governments. The illusion that any man has power over another instantly dissolved in Tahir square.
Mans creation of technology is natures adaptation to the constraints of our biology. Operating as a society on such a massive scale requires adaptations like the smartphone (the world in your pocket) in order to function. These things draw us together like the nervous system unites the bodies organs, toward the single purpose of life. Like a fledgling organism the collective mind has gone through some growing pains, but trudges forward up the beach. The future is never certain, but somewhere inside, the fish knows he will walk, and perhaps one day- even fly.
See Also: Transcendant Man
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Death of the Arcade
This week I found myself going to an arcade with a four year old. As soon as I walked through the door I had flashbacks to the 80’s, when arcades ruled. Children dumpped their coins into the latest video games, and roamed the arcades claiming high scores. Young social lives formed around these places. THIS used to be the place to be, but what I saw an empty arcade full of flashing lights. Regardless of the other factors contributing to the desolate scene- the impressoin had already been made. Arcade games have been replaced- the industry has moved on.
I walked around to see what games the few people (mostly hidden in the corners) were playing. Shooting games, driving games, allmost all multiplayer inherently, like racing. I started to think more about the endangered arcade game, and the future of gaming. I began to trace the steps from this place to where we are today. I thought of the children that bought an Atari/Nintendo/Sega Genesis/Neo Geo/Jaguart 64… Then everyone realized that not having to put coins in meant you needed more games. So the industry made games as fast as they could- regardless of quality. Multiplayer emerged as an important aspect, but adding controlers was nothing in the face of the mother of all platforms- the internet. Even consoles have been forced to incorporate online gameplay. Gamers are no longer satisfied being the best on the block. They want to compare their scores the the best the PLANET has to offer.
What started with kids looking over their shoulder to keep the high score in Donkey Kong, has grown and grown and broken barriers that nobody knew were barriers. Found ways to draw people together, and draw people in with all sorts of new gameplay. The better this interaction between people- the more successful modern titles are.
So what conclusions did I draw from all of this? The mobile gaming industry is flooded with over 40,000 titles… it might pay the bills to make poor quality games, but the winners in the mobile industry will innovate and find new ways to bring people together. A well made, well thought out game, that brings people together in fun new ways- a recipie for mobile gaming success!
(now I just have to make http://www.zombieapocalypsemobile.com to have all those things)
I walked around to see what games the few people (mostly hidden in the corners) were playing. Shooting games, driving games, allmost all multiplayer inherently, like racing. I started to think more about the endangered arcade game, and the future of gaming. I began to trace the steps from this place to where we are today. I thought of the children that bought an Atari/Nintendo/Sega Genesis/Neo Geo/Jaguart 64… Then everyone realized that not having to put coins in meant you needed more games. So the industry made games as fast as they could- regardless of quality. Multiplayer emerged as an important aspect, but adding controlers was nothing in the face of the mother of all platforms- the internet. Even consoles have been forced to incorporate online gameplay. Gamers are no longer satisfied being the best on the block. They want to compare their scores the the best the PLANET has to offer.
What started with kids looking over their shoulder to keep the high score in Donkey Kong, has grown and grown and broken barriers that nobody knew were barriers. Found ways to draw people together, and draw people in with all sorts of new gameplay. The better this interaction between people- the more successful modern titles are.
So what conclusions did I draw from all of this? The mobile gaming industry is flooded with over 40,000 titles… it might pay the bills to make poor quality games, but the winners in the mobile industry will innovate and find new ways to bring people together. A well made, well thought out game, that brings people together in fun new ways- a recipie for mobile gaming success!
(now I just have to make http://www.zombieapocalypsemobile.com to have all those things)
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Afghanistan War Vet on Osama Bin Laden's Death.
My first reaction upon seeing that Osama Bin Laden was dead? “CRAP! This war was so close to being about peace, and now it’s about killing again.”
There is something inherently wrong about celebrating another human beings death. I absolutely understand the benefits of this particular person NOT being part of the currently alive, however the cheapening of human life in any form leads the human heart to bad places. When we cheer in the streets at his death we are telling young Soldiers and Marines that we want them to take lives, and their killing will be celebrated. When in order to end any conflict in the middle east we must start the seeds of peace where our feet are most firmly planted: Afghanistan.
Moving forward it is of utmost imortance that the focus on all sides is on non-violence, improving living conditions, and building the middle east into an educated, civilized, safe place for any human being to live. It is my greatest fear that this death will cloud the beauty of peace and remind the worlds citizens of the great violence that we are capable of- when it is of the utmost importance that we remember that humans are meant by nature to be united.
There is something inherently wrong about celebrating another human beings death. I absolutely understand the benefits of this particular person NOT being part of the currently alive, however the cheapening of human life in any form leads the human heart to bad places. When we cheer in the streets at his death we are telling young Soldiers and Marines that we want them to take lives, and their killing will be celebrated. When in order to end any conflict in the middle east we must start the seeds of peace where our feet are most firmly planted: Afghanistan.
Moving forward it is of utmost imortance that the focus on all sides is on non-violence, improving living conditions, and building the middle east into an educated, civilized, safe place for any human being to live. It is my greatest fear that this death will cloud the beauty of peace and remind the worlds citizens of the great violence that we are capable of- when it is of the utmost importance that we remember that humans are meant by nature to be united.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Turning the world "Inside Out" with your iPhone.
Today I took a self portrait with my iPhone, I uploaded this to www.insideoutproject.net, this picture will now be blown up to poster size, sent to me, and I will paste it on a wall in my neighborhood. I'd like to think of it as my first escapade into street art:
So what the heck is going on? I just finished watching this wonderful TED Talk by JR, in which he talks about the past several years he's spent going around the world putting up photographs of the local populations. His destinations included Israel, Sudan, Rio De Janeiro, Sierra-Leone, and the list goes on. Everywhere he went, he would take pictures of the locals and paste their giant bust on walls, or their eyes on the side of buildings, tops of trains- you name it. The idea was to remind people that the city was theirs. I love this concept of taking ownership of the world around you. Not just for the strength in numbers, but for the concept that pride is what you make it. In Africa they printed images on vinyl, and used them to cover the roves of large huts. People felt so much ownership of their new roof that they even kept their sections when they moved away.
HOW TO:
You can upload your own self portrait and receive it back in full poster size to be put up around your town! http://www.insideoutproject.net Now if you don't want a giant picture of yourself on your nearest street corner: you're crazy... This is good old fashioned fun you can accomplish with an iPhone in 10 minutes.
All you need is a simple light source, close and diffused (anything opaque works to diffuse). Here I chose behind my door to get a nice blank background- wanna keep it pro now! Set that light close and and above your face, and don't really worry if it's yellow or orange just as long as it's strong- your final product is B&W remember. Standing about 1-2 feet away from your light and about 2 feet off the wall, hold your iPhone just below the light (as you're looking at it). Be careful to get everything in with your framing and start snapping. This is the part where you look stupid a lot:
Next comes the difficult task of choosing which photo to stick with... I went with "Big head has a secret"... but believe me "give'em the tongue" was a close 2nd... Finally, turn your chosen product black and white (super easy in almost any photo application). If you want to add a touch to the final product feel free to play with your contrast and brightness. I always like upping the contrast and dropping the brightness a little with most B&W. Once you're happy- upload, and enjoy!
So what the heck is going on? I just finished watching this wonderful TED Talk by JR, in which he talks about the past several years he's spent going around the world putting up photographs of the local populations. His destinations included Israel, Sudan, Rio De Janeiro, Sierra-Leone, and the list goes on. Everywhere he went, he would take pictures of the locals and paste their giant bust on walls, or their eyes on the side of buildings, tops of trains- you name it. The idea was to remind people that the city was theirs. I love this concept of taking ownership of the world around you. Not just for the strength in numbers, but for the concept that pride is what you make it. In Africa they printed images on vinyl, and used them to cover the roves of large huts. People felt so much ownership of their new roof that they even kept their sections when they moved away.
HOW TO:
You can upload your own self portrait and receive it back in full poster size to be put up around your town! http://www.insideoutproject.net Now if you don't want a giant picture of yourself on your nearest street corner: you're crazy... This is good old fashioned fun you can accomplish with an iPhone in 10 minutes.
All you need is a simple light source, close and diffused (anything opaque works to diffuse). Here I chose behind my door to get a nice blank background- wanna keep it pro now! Set that light close and and above your face, and don't really worry if it's yellow or orange just as long as it's strong- your final product is B&W remember. Standing about 1-2 feet away from your light and about 2 feet off the wall, hold your iPhone just below the light (as you're looking at it). Be careful to get everything in with your framing and start snapping. This is the part where you look stupid a lot:
Next comes the difficult task of choosing which photo to stick with... I went with "Big head has a secret"... but believe me "give'em the tongue" was a close 2nd... Finally, turn your chosen product black and white (super easy in almost any photo application). If you want to add a touch to the final product feel free to play with your contrast and brightness. I always like upping the contrast and dropping the brightness a little with most B&W. Once you're happy- upload, and enjoy!
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