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An Itch That Can't Be Scratched

Name:	Jeff Tunnell
Date Posted:	May 15, 2008
Rating:	5.0 out of 5
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Being a serial entrepreneurial is almost an addiction. It is the thrill of starting new things that are nothing but promise, have no baggage, and cannot yet be fully quantified. Once the vision is mostly realized, however, the itch comes back, and the cycle starts all over again. For me, the time has come to start the cycle over again. GarageGames has mostly fulfilled it vision, and I will be leaving on 6/2/2008 to start a new company with another vision and a new set of promises.

GarageGames via Instant Action has become the publisher that I always wanted to work with, so that is one of the thing that I will be doing. As I was pulling together teams and helping decide which games were going to go on IA, it was literally killing me to not be in a more creative, game development position. Every day I was helping people do what I wanted to do, so finally I decided to find out how I could get back into start up mode. Josh Williams and IAC have been very gracious in working with me to create this new win/win situation.

I thought about writing a sappy post about how the GG vision changed the landscape of indie gaming, and took a sentimental trip back though my old .plans (blogs) to support a bunch of thank yous and milestone reviews. It was fun reading, but I'm not going to put you through that. But I do reserve the right to do so in the future on my www.makeitbigingames.com blog that I will continue to maintain and grow :)

Meeting all of the people in this community in real life and in virtual space has been the biggest reward of being involved in GarageGames. I don' think any of us will ever recreate the feelings of friendship and camaraderie we built during late nights at IndieGamesCon, GDC, and other ad hoc indie game developer meetings. Rubbing two sticks together to make a fire in the rain, as Jay Moore and I always put it, was thrilling, dangerous, and had so much meaning. Jay, thanks brother.

I won't be leaving this community, in fact, I still check in every day, and I will continue to do so in the future. Instant Action is going to be a hit, and I still want to help get it there, just in a different way. Stay tuned for more information about my new company. In the meantime, feel free to check out my personal blog at jefftunnell.wordpress.com or jefftunnell.tumblr.com or www.twitter.com/jefftunn . Mostly, you will read about Colleen and I's 200 acre sustainable farm, but more game stuff is on the way. Oh yeah, my email address is jeff.tunnell at gmail dot com.

See you all in the community...

-Jeff Tunnell, Co-Founder GarageGames

Recent Blog Posts

List:	06/13/08 - The "Better Assholes" Clause 06/09/08 - Working For Big Publishers 06/02/08 - First Day Of The Rest Of My Life 05/29/08 - Make It Big In Games Call For Help 05/15/08 - An Itch That Can't Be Scratched 12/20/07 - Blog O Fix 10/09/07 - Acquisition Fun! 09/14/07 - Design Journals Rule

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Joshua Dallman (May 15, 2008 at 17:16 GMT)

Jeff -- you are irreplacable and will truly be missed. Thankfully this is not the end but a new beginning. May your next adventure be as worthwhile and meaningful as the last.

Benjamin Bradley (May 15, 2008 at 17:23 GMT)

Jeff, you've been an awesome inspiration to me. Getting the chance to work with you and share an office with you has shaped the way I look at projects now. (Looking at my 4 white boards with plans in multi-colored markers surrounding my desk is one thing.) I'm excited to see what your new company will accomplish.

I always looked forward to our morning coffee talks (you, Jay, Rick, and I) at the old office. Have fun moving more and more "off the grid" as you and Colleen dig into your farm. Take care and God bless.

Ed Averill (May 15, 2008 at 17:34 GMT)

Well, damn! You'll be missed but I can understand that need to Do Something New(tm). Hopefully you'll be a big success and we'll be able to say "I knew him when..." ;-p

Gary Preston (May 15, 2008 at 18:02 GMT)

If it wasn't for yourself and the other GG Founders, I'm sure I'd still be developing information systems and not Indie games.

All the best with your new plans Jeff.

Paul Dana (May 15, 2008 at 18:13 GMT)

Jeff,

I am only one among many who has been inspired by you. I can't wait to see what you do next.

Phil Carlisle (May 15, 2008 at 18:15 GMT)

Good to hear about a new chapter Jeff, it was definitely something special for a lot of us, life affirming in a way that is still with me.

Thank you and the other GG'ers for that.

Prairie Games II (May 15, 2008 at 18:25 GMT)

It kind of sounds like you want your next endeavor to be a little less successful than GarageGames ;)

Thanks for everything Jeff!

Chip Lambert (May 15, 2008 at 18:37 GMT)

Been said several times in the responses here but thank you Jeff. Good luck with your new project.

L Foster (May 15, 2008 at 19:10 GMT)

While there are times that you and I have butted heads Jeff I must honestly say that its been a very pleasurable experiance dealing with you all these years and I have learned a lot from the games industry in the process. I wish you the best in your new venture and cannot wait to see what new things you will be bringing forth.

Affectworks (May 15, 2008 at 19:13 GMT)

Best of luck to you in your new venture, Jeff, and thank you for everything you've done for the little guys and gals out there!

Fredrik S
Affectworks

Stefan Lundmark (May 15, 2008 at 19:48 GMT)

Good luck!

David Montgomery-Blake (May 15, 2008 at 20:07 GMT)

I've been inspired as well. To what end, who knows? But inspired I've been!

Hopefully I'll get to see you play again sometime. And I'll keep tabs on your new adventure as well!

Drew -Gaiiden- Sikora (May 15, 2008 at 20:26 GMT)

Must feel good to be embarking on a new adventure once again Jeff. I'd wish you luck but we all know you don't need it. Look forward to seeing where you go next. Be seeing you around

Simon Love (May 15, 2008 at 20:33 GMT)

Can't wait to see what you have in store for the world, Jeff.

Best of luck!

Novack (May 15, 2008 at 20:47 GMT)

Is always the better to follow the path of your heart, but is also always a hard desition to take. Congrats for your courage, and the better for you on your new adventure.

Julian R (May 15, 2008 at 23:22 GMT)

Good Luck Jeff in your next venture.

All the best

Julian
Something2Play

Ben Garney (May 16, 2008 at 04:17 GMT)

End of an era... working at GG with you was a unique experience, Jeff.

Thomas "Man of Ice" Lund (May 16, 2008 at 04:59 GMT)

Super exciting times for you Jeff! Thanks for everything you have done for me and a lot of the others who hang out around here!!

And biggest of luck in the future.

Gabor Forrai (May 16, 2008 at 17:19 GMT)

All the best with your next turn Jeff ! I think its will be something "special" again !

Jay Moore (May 16, 2008 at 18:24 GMT)

Not many people get to enjoy both the journey and the destination. A few guys in a garage, in rainy Eugene, OR started a very big fire. I do hope you write that blog / ebook on indie gaming someday.

I can't wait to hear more about your new startup.

Martin Schultz (May 16, 2008 at 19:06 GMT)

Just like when Jay Moore left, a major disturbance of the force, the end of an era. All the best for your new adventure!

Mike Rowley (May 17, 2008 at 00:18 GMT)

Jeff leaving??? Wow, what a shock. I love reading www.makeitbigingames.com/
You always have interesting things there. I'll continue reading the awesome advice you have for us there, and you have my best wishes for a successful future.
Go out and take on the world and win. :-)

Rodney Rindels - Torqued (May 17, 2008 at 04:23 GMT)

"The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer." - Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese's

Thank You for all your help and advice. God's Speed....

Jeremy Alessi (May 17, 2008 at 21:34 GMT)

Thanks for all you've done for me and for gaming in general. This is a huge shock but I suppose mission accomplished. The tools and market for smaller developers are plentiful. I look forward to your future endeavors.

Vashner (May 19, 2008 at 04:32 GMT) Resource Rating: 5

Best wishes and you of course have contributed so much to so many. I look forward to seeing what you can pull off. It's a hit to GG but sometimes you just got to make another leap of faith.

Keith Johnston (May 20, 2008 at 13:56 GMT) Resource Rating: 5

Good luck, Jeff. Thanks for giving independent developers the tools and the community to make really great games. I look forward to seeing what you do next!

James Thompson (May 23, 2008 at 08:35 GMT)

Good luck Jeff

Britton LaRoche (May 23, 2008 at 10:28 GMT)

You've been planning this move for some time now, haven't you Jeff? Off to make a BMX game or two?

Glenn Thomas (May 24, 2008 at 01:33 GMT)

Those itches are the greatest itches and here's hoping they never stop. Good luck, I know you'll be extremely successful.

Michelle aka Badazz (Jun 17, 2008 at 06:44 GMT)

Can't wait to see what you guys come up with!

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