Greetings Garage Gamers. (My first blog!)
by Daz · 04/12/2007 (8:03 pm) · 22 comments
This is my first blog, so please be gentle!
Greetings Garage Gamers!
I am a 31 year old independent "lone wolf" developer from Cairns Australia, and last year I started a small game dev company called Redback Games. I am married with 2 children, Noah who just turned 6 and Levi who is 4. Both boys are gamers, and I am happy to say are starting to show signs of having 1337 skillz. (I love my clones!)
I have been lurking here since October 2004, and I thought it was about time I posted a blog with my current progress.
I have decided that there is a niche market in educational software, and would like to target this market with the aim of one day being able to afford to create some mainstream games as well.
My first title is called MathFighters, and it is a simple arcade style shooting game designed to help children learn basic mathematics, where a mathematical problem is displayed on the screen and the child has to shoot the balloon with the correct answer. This game is almost ready to start beta testing, so if there are any parents out ther who home school or would like to try it anyway, drop me a line at daz@redbackgames.com
My second title is an interactive safari where children can explore virtual worlds, taking photographs of animals and observing their behaviours designed to teach children about various species of endangered animals.
I am also working on a game designed to teach children about the correct procedures to prepare for a Cyclone, called Category 5. EDIT Here is a quick shot of the current title screen.
(The houses in this shot are REALLY bad! In the final game, I will have at least 5 different structural designs, with a few different colour variations so I can create a whole street and not have the player notice there are only 5.)
I am also working on an adventure game, currently using the codename Planeteers, and the plan is to create an online virtual universe, where players can do anything, ranging from settling down in a village with a husband or wife, to travelling through space visiting worlds and performing a multitude of quests.
EDIT
In my original post, I forgot about a space game I am working on, that will allow students to learn about the planets by visiting them and collecting samples, take photographs, etc.
(Yes, I know the earth is way too big.)
Oh yeah, as Joshua pointed out, i forgot to mention that all of these games were
As many of you will no doubt realise, I am using art from current content packs by Tim Aste, Todd Pickens, Evi "Cubix Studio" and Bravetree, as well as some other content providers. I am primarily a programmer, and although I am capable of producing art myself, my art lacks the polish of the art produced by the artists mentioned above. One day, (when I get used to the "outer body experience" of drawing with my new Wacom tablet) I plan to develop my artistic skills and techniques further, but at this stage I am happy with the current crop of content packs. Thank to all names mentioned, as well as all other content pack providers. You guys make it possible for guys like me to make games. Speaking of current products, I am also using Torsion, and I must say that I now could not live without it. It rocks! If you are serious about your scripting, you NEED it!
Before I sign off, I would like to take this opportunity to say a big "G'day" to all other GG community members, and I feel privileged to be a member of such a fantastic community where the calibre of talent is so high.
Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read my first blog!
Regards,
Daz.
EDIT
I almost forgot. I made this little game during third year at University, and I thought I would share it.
Download Galaxy Fighter
Unfortunately it was written using DirectX 9, so you need Windows to run it. Do'oh!
/EDIT
Greetings Garage Gamers!
I am a 31 year old independent "lone wolf" developer from Cairns Australia, and last year I started a small game dev company called Redback Games. I am married with 2 children, Noah who just turned 6 and Levi who is 4. Both boys are gamers, and I am happy to say are starting to show signs of having 1337 skillz. (I love my clones!)
I have been lurking here since October 2004, and I thought it was about time I posted a blog with my current progress.
I have decided that there is a niche market in educational software, and would like to target this market with the aim of one day being able to afford to create some mainstream games as well.
My first title is called MathFighters, and it is a simple arcade style shooting game designed to help children learn basic mathematics, where a mathematical problem is displayed on the screen and the child has to shoot the balloon with the correct answer. This game is almost ready to start beta testing, so if there are any parents out ther who home school or would like to try it anyway, drop me a line at daz@redbackgames.com
My second title is an interactive safari where children can explore virtual worlds, taking photographs of animals and observing their behaviours designed to teach children about various species of endangered animals.
I am also working on a game designed to teach children about the correct procedures to prepare for a Cyclone, called Category 5. EDIT Here is a quick shot of the current title screen.
(The houses in this shot are REALLY bad! In the final game, I will have at least 5 different structural designs, with a few different colour variations so I can create a whole street and not have the player notice there are only 5.)
I am also working on an adventure game, currently using the codename Planeteers, and the plan is to create an online virtual universe, where players can do anything, ranging from settling down in a village with a husband or wife, to travelling through space visiting worlds and performing a multitude of quests.
EDIT
In my original post, I forgot about a space game I am working on, that will allow students to learn about the planets by visiting them and collecting samples, take photographs, etc.
(Yes, I know the earth is way too big.)
Oh yeah, as Joshua pointed out, i forgot to mention that all of these games were
As many of you will no doubt realise, I am using art from current content packs by Tim Aste, Todd Pickens, Evi "Cubix Studio" and Bravetree, as well as some other content providers. I am primarily a programmer, and although I am capable of producing art myself, my art lacks the polish of the art produced by the artists mentioned above. One day, (when I get used to the "outer body experience" of drawing with my new Wacom tablet) I plan to develop my artistic skills and techniques further, but at this stage I am happy with the current crop of content packs. Thank to all names mentioned, as well as all other content pack providers. You guys make it possible for guys like me to make games. Speaking of current products, I am also using Torsion, and I must say that I now could not live without it. It rocks! If you are serious about your scripting, you NEED it!
Before I sign off, I would like to take this opportunity to say a big "G'day" to all other GG community members, and I feel privileged to be a member of such a fantastic community where the calibre of talent is so high.
Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read my first blog!
Regards,
Daz.
EDIT
I almost forgot. I made this little game during third year at University, and I thought I would share it.
Download Galaxy Fighter
Unfortunately it was written using DirectX 9, so you need Windows to run it. Do'oh!
/EDIT
#22
Keep up the good work mate your games are looking amazing.
04/16/2007 (3:51 am)
Daryl forgot to mention that he helps out at the local university, and started many a young developer off with there passion for Toque, including myself. Keep up the good work mate your games are looking amazing.
Torque Owner Leroy Frederick