Jan 24, 2011 by Alec Holowka
Hello again! This is a continuation of a series of audio podcasts, featuring myself and other independent developers.
Each episode will feature a different developer, and the format will be more like a sprawling conversation than a formal interview. Topics covered will vary depending on the developer in question, but some of the same topics will pop up with many of the guests. I’ll also interject some of my own opinions and views into the discussion.
Why am I doing this? Personally, I’m very interested in how other developers work. What motivates them? How do they deal with criticism? What do they find meaningful about games? (if anything?) What are the stories behind the development of their projects? I hope to learn a lot, and also help spread more knowledge around.
Look at his giant head!
Andy Moore is a community manager and game designer, of Fantastic Contraption and Steambirds fame. In 2010, he sold most of his possessions and traveled across Canada in a vehicle known as the TIGVan. He also organized OrcaJam, and other Victoria-based indie game events.
Andy and I talk about how online communities work, the benefits and pitfalls of tracking stats in your games, the free-to-play business model and many other topics.
Developer Name: Andy Moore
Location: Victoria, BC
Website: http://www.andymoore.ca/
You can listen to the podcast here:
Podcast Download → Episode 9 – Andy Moore [3:04:27]
WIP RSS feed up here:
http://infiniteammo.ca/podcast.rss
Feedback Welcome!
Please post your thoughts below. Thanks! 
Interested in being on the podcast? Post in the comments and let me know what you’ve been up to. 
Jan 5, 2011 by Alec Holowka
This is cool – a bunch of Dutch dudes decided to make their own Winnitron! The 1000 now has a sister: The Winnitron NL.
If you live in the Netherlands, now you don’t have to make the trip down to Winnipeg to see what’s what. You can hit up the Dutch Game Garden instead!
Rami Ismail of Vlambeer says: “The Dutch indie community is small, but has a lot of potential. The recent IGF nominations for Dutch independent titles as Paper Cakes, Bohm, Dinner Date and Super Crate Box prove that the Netherlands are becoming a force in the international indie scene. The WINNITRON NL will hopefully encourage students and aspiring game designers to consider going a direction that’s often overlooked.”
The WINNITRON NL is a collaboration between Dutch industry-supporting initiative Dutch Game Garden, Paul Veer, Bit Collective and Vlambeer.
Are you interested in setting up your own Winnitron? Get in touch with us at contact -at- winnitron.ca
Want to be involved in making a new, crazy game for the Winnitron? Check out the Room Jam post.
Jan 3, 2011 by Alec Holowka
Yeah BABY!
Local Winnipeg developer Devin Reimer came up with a great idea for a new game jam.
Over two days:
1. Everyone creates one “room”.
2. Each room is a separate 640×480 Flash game.
3. Each room starts with an entrance door, ends when the player gets to an exit door.
4. Gameplay, perspective, etc can be whatever each room developer chooses.
5. We’ll provide some basic Flash code templates that you can use to start building your game. Or you can start by scratch if you prefer.
6. Each game will feature a main character that will be based off of a design. Each game can interpret the design differently.
7. When the Jam is done, all the rooms will be strung together into one big, crazy game.
8. The resulting game will be released on the web!
9. We may also port the final game to the Winnitron.
We’ll be requiring that you use Flash to participate in this jam, but don’t fret! Flash is pretty easy to get into. Check out FlashGameDojo. We know we’ll have a few experienced Flash game devs on hand to help out, and there may even be a crash course in Flash game development a week or two before.
So if you’re new to Flash, you can look at this as a great opportunity to get familiar with one of the most popular ways of developing games for the web.
But I don’t know How to Program!
Doesn’t matter! We’ll help teach you how. Or maybe you’re an artist – in which case, you don’t even need to know programming. Pair up with a programmer, or create a visual concept to inspire another group. Maybe you write music? Sound effects? Also helpful!
Because every individual or team only has to make one room, the scope of the jam is pretty small and focused – which makes this a great opportunity to jump in, even if you’ve never made a game before.
Example
You can play a template/example room by Noel Berry right over here.
Where?
The game jam will be held at New Media Manitoba, 1000 Waverley St. – Room 103
(same location as the Winnitron Jam)
Here is a Handy Map
When?
January 29-30
Probably with a setup evening on Friday the 28th.
What if I’m not in Winnipeg?
You can participate over the internet! We’ll set up some kind of chat, and hopefully some webcam stuff so you can feel like you’re really here, freezing your ass off. Just tick the option for participating remotely on the sign-up sheet so we know where you’re at.
Sign Up
If you’re planning on coming to the jam, please sign up here.
Dec 23, 2010 by Alec Holowka
Hello again! This is a continuation of a series of audio podcasts, featuring myself and other independent developers.
Each episode will feature a different developer, and the format will be more like a sprawling conversation than a formal interview. Topics covered will vary depending on the developer in question, but some of the same topics will pop up with many of the guests. I’ll also interject some of my own opinions and views into the discussion.
Why am I doing this? Personally, I’m very interested in how other developers work. What motivates them? How do they deal with criticism? What do they find meaningful about games? (if anything?) What are the stories behind the development of their projects? I hope to learn a lot, and also help spread more knowledge around.
John Graham is the handsome lumberjack/marketing guy at Wolfire games, and one of the main dudes behind the Humble Indie Bundle.
John talks about how crazy working on behind the scenes on the bundle has been, the origins of Wolfire, speculation on the future Bundles and he also shares some advice about how to get started as an indie game developer.
Developer Name: John Graham
Location: Unknown
Website: http://wolfire.com
You can listen to the podcast here:
Podcast Download → Episode 8 – John Graham [1:03:27]
WIP RSS feed up here:
http://infiniteammo.ca/podcast.rss
Feedback Welcome!
Please post your thoughts below. Thanks!
Interested in being on the podcast? Post in the comments and let me know what you’ve been up to.
Dec 21, 2010 by Alec Holowka
Today, the Winnitron 1000 received some coverage in the Wininpeg Free Press. You can read the article here.
Thanks to Melissa Martin for hooking us up. Oddly enough, the article uses a couple of photos by Chrissy – without crediting her. Bwa? Hopefully my posting their photo on this blog will be some kind of revenge. Mwahaha?
I was also just on local CBC Radio talking about the Winnitron 1000!
You can listen to the interview here: (big thanks to Kert for recording it)
MP3 Download → Winnitron CBC Radio Interview, December 21 [3:51]
Hurray for old media!
Dec 7, 2010 by Alec Holowka
Back in 2007 on December 7th, Derek Yu and I released Aquaria. The game is now three (3!) years old.
I’ve been making a series of audio podcast conversations with indie developers, and this seemed to be the perfect time to talk to Derek again. We hadn’t sat down and had a long discussion for a couple of years, so there was a lot to talk about!
We start off by talking about Derek’s Spelunky, what it’s like trying to “run” TIGSource. We talk a bit about how we first met, pretty randomly, to work on I’m O.K. We reflect on some Aquaria memories and lessons we learned, good times and bad times.
Eventually, Derek gets me to spill the beans Marian a bit. Here’s a screenshot I leaked a couple of weeks ago that may factor into the discussion:
This is an epic podcast! It is almost 3.5 hours along, so buckle up and hunker down – or listen in bursts if you prefer. I decided to leave it all unedited, including parts where I lose my voice and a bit where I may unintentionally sound like a pompous ass. (or at least, more so than usual) It’s raw, baby.
I usually feel tired after most podcasts, but after this one I felt extra drained. It’s a strange experience talking to someone that you got to know really well over 2 years again. It’s like being reunited with a missing limb or something. Kind of an emotional, bittersweet thing.
Never Let Go!
Developer Name: Derek Yu
Location: San Francisco, California
Website: http://derekyu.com
Podcast Download → Episode 7 – Derek Yu [3:20:23]
Podcast Feed
http://infiniteammo.ca/podcast.rss
