Running GarageGames, Motorcycle Rides, and Finding Myself
by Jeff Tunnell · 05/24/2005 (11:35 am) · 42 comments
After six years of running GarageGames the time has come for me to step back and let a smarter, younger guy take over the reins. Mark Frohnmayer, one of the original founders of GG and the lead programmer of Tribes, Tribes 2, and Marble Blast, has graciously agreed to become President of GarageGames.
Don't start laughing yet, you're not going to get rid of me that easily. I am going to stay with GG, but I just won't be making all of the day to day decisions. Instead, I will be working on more creative projects that allow me to be directly involved in the design and development process. This was my goal when we started GG, and I think the time has come to do so.
The future has never looked better. GarageGames now has three engines and our toolset is becoming better all the time, we have a killer casual game being developed in partnership with another company, and we have diversified into the console space. Our game development community is constantly growing, and, while it has taken much longer than I originally anticipated, we are starting to see some awesome games being completed on TAP. Commercial sales are growing, and these sales should give Indies confidence that Torque is the right choice for them. There are some other big announcements that will be coming soon, but I can't talk about them now.
I co-founded Dynamix in 1984. Since that time I have never taken an extended vacation or sabbatical while I have watched all of my friends and partners either retire to islands or pull way back. Starting and running a company is tough and it sucks a lot of your life energy. I need to recharge the batteries a little, so I will be gone most of the summer, coming back in time for IndieGamesCon 2005. While you are all slaving away, I'll be out riding my motorcycle and figuring out what I want to do when I grow up:)
Have a great summer!
-Jeff Tunnell GG
Don't start laughing yet, you're not going to get rid of me that easily. I am going to stay with GG, but I just won't be making all of the day to day decisions. Instead, I will be working on more creative projects that allow me to be directly involved in the design and development process. This was my goal when we started GG, and I think the time has come to do so.
The future has never looked better. GarageGames now has three engines and our toolset is becoming better all the time, we have a killer casual game being developed in partnership with another company, and we have diversified into the console space. Our game development community is constantly growing, and, while it has taken much longer than I originally anticipated, we are starting to see some awesome games being completed on TAP. Commercial sales are growing, and these sales should give Indies confidence that Torque is the right choice for them. There are some other big announcements that will be coming soon, but I can't talk about them now.
I co-founded Dynamix in 1984. Since that time I have never taken an extended vacation or sabbatical while I have watched all of my friends and partners either retire to islands or pull way back. Starting and running a company is tough and it sucks a lot of your life energy. I need to recharge the batteries a little, so I will be gone most of the summer, coming back in time for IndieGamesCon 2005. While you are all slaving away, I'll be out riding my motorcycle and figuring out what I want to do when I grow up:)
Have a great summer!
-Jeff Tunnell GG
About the author
#2
05/24/2005 (11:48 am)
Bye Jeff, congrats on making the leap... Can't wait to have you back! 
#3
Now we have fresh meat to torture. Oh Maaaaark...
- LightWave Dave
05/24/2005 (11:57 am)
Have a great time on your vacation, Jeff. You deserve it! We'll see you at IndieGamesCon 2005.Now we have fresh meat to torture. Oh Maaaaark...
- LightWave Dave
#4
Hit the motorcycle for all us indies, you've worked your ass off for all us indies.
05/24/2005 (12:00 pm)
Have a great vacation! You will be missed and welcomed warmly back :)Hit the motorcycle for all us indies, you've worked your ass off for all us indies.
#5
Good luck with everything!
05/24/2005 (12:01 pm)
I think everyone in the community would agree that your years of hard work are greatly appreciated. Thanks for Torque and GarageGames and all the opportunities they represent.Good luck with everything!
#6
05/24/2005 (12:04 pm)
It'll sure be wierd not having you around for sure, but have an awesome sabbatical Jeff, I can't think of anyone else who deserves one as much as you. 
#7
05/24/2005 (12:23 pm)
About damn time! Get out and just enjoy living for a bit. You've had a great run working, but living is important, too! If you're ever riding down around Idaho, let me know and I'll buy you a beer! It's the least I could do for the dedication you've put into Dynamix and GG.
#8
05/24/2005 (12:31 pm)
Hilarious. I suggested that you should do this EXACT same thing about 8 months ago and you deleted my post in anger. Funny how it worked out like that. Good luck to you no matter what paths you may ride. 
#9
05/24/2005 (12:31 pm)
Have fun! 
#10
See you at IGC (or if you pop your head in the community to chat) and enjoy a much earned vacation.
05/24/2005 (12:33 pm)
Jeff you sound very enthused by this change. I know that speaking from personal experiance having a few months to relax and unwind is great for both the creativity and the drive when you come back to go out there and give all that you can give... so knowing you I am going to be a little bit worried by what amazing thing you will begin work on when you return and how the heck the rest of us here in the community will keep up :)See you at IGC (or if you pop your head in the community to chat) and enjoy a much earned vacation.
#11
(Edit: typo again)
05/24/2005 (1:11 pm)
Best Wishes Jeff, you dropped a peddle into the water that is GG when you started the company & the ripples have come along way since then, that the impact you have left today is only just beginning of something greater to come which could not not happened without you. Be what you want to be, after all you have given so much of that to so many people here in the community. Thank you(Edit: typo again)
#12
Must be a good feeling having a company matured enough, so that you can leave it for a while and not worry about it meanwhile:)
05/24/2005 (1:25 pm)
Have a damn good vacation.Must be a good feeling having a company matured enough, so that you can leave it for a while and not worry about it meanwhile:)
#13
05/24/2005 (1:25 pm)
Have Fun!
#14
Josh
P.S. An old zen story I like: "A man is chased by a ferocious tiger to the edge of a cliff. In order to escape, he grabs a vine and swings over the edge. Looking down, he sees two more tigers below him. Just then, two mice start gnawing on his vine. Suddenly, he notices some strawbrries growing on the cliff wall, and plucks one. How sweet it was!"
05/24/2005 (1:47 pm)
First, congrats to Mr. Frohnmayer on the big promotion, and congrats to you Jeff for making the tough decision to step down from a lot of the macro stuff to focus more on the creative and fun stuff. Second, have a great trip Jeff, the sun is just coming out here in Oregon and I imagine you'll have a sweet ride and some great stories to tell come IGC time. And just think -- no EULA's on the open road! ;)Josh
P.S. An old zen story I like: "A man is chased by a ferocious tiger to the edge of a cliff. In order to escape, he grabs a vine and swings over the edge. Looking down, he sees two more tigers below him. Just then, two mice start gnawing on his vine. Suddenly, he notices some strawbrries growing on the cliff wall, and plucks one. How sweet it was!"
#15
05/24/2005 (2:05 pm)
Hey now Jeff you be careful out there! We do expect to see you back in one piece! 
#16
05/24/2005 (2:11 pm)
Have a great time Jeff! 
#17
Then I continued reading.. heh.
Congratulations Mark and have fun Jeff!
05/24/2005 (2:19 pm)
I thought you were leaving at first, talk about disappointment. Then I continued reading.. heh.
Congratulations Mark and have fun Jeff!
#18
regards,
Peter Khojasteh
05/24/2005 (2:21 pm)
Cheers on your success with GG and the various products you've brought to market. I hope you enjoy your vacation. Seems you've certainly earned it.regards,
Peter Khojasteh
#19
Who knows though? with this vacation, maybe you will come back with a fresh new view of things. It worked for Steve Jobbs didn't it?
05/24/2005 (2:38 pm)
Jeff, your vacation has been a long time comming. Hopefully you will be able to do it. It's easy to say your going to child to someone else to watch but it's not so easy to actually do it.Who knows though? with this vacation, maybe you will come back with a fresh new view of things. It worked for Steve Jobbs didn't it?
#20
Thanks for many years of inspirational work, and can't wait to see what you're gonna bring when you get back!
05/24/2005 (3:04 pm)
Congrats to both you and enjoy your vacation Jeff!Thanks for many years of inspirational work, and can't wait to see what you're gonna bring when you get back!
Associate Anthony Rosenbaum