So, what’s been happening?

Well, a lot of things have been going on in my life the last couple of months. Those things kept me from updating the first couple of months, and later helpt me to learn what I really want to do with my time. Sadly, this blog is not one of them.

Writing this blog have been great fun for me. I have talked to great people that I admire, and to say that it has been great is by any measures met, a big understatement. Now, I have begun gymnasium (I won’t use the pure english translation, since I probably would’ve got it wrong), tested new things, and realised that games is not really want I won’t to do, and that programming isn’t really the thing for me. This takes a lot to write down, mind you, since I have been working with it for years now. Still, I feel like it is time well spent, I have met great people and learned a lot, not only about games and programming but also about life, and everything that comes with it.

Right now, I am mainly writing. I have a swedish website where I publish short stories, and I’m working on a larger fantasy novel as a long-term project. I am hoping that it can take me somewhere, but even if it doesn’t, it’s still great fun. Which is, if I remember correctly, the very reason to why I started creating games a couple of years ago.

Well, thank you all for this great time, and good luck. I won’t remove the website, since I feel that the developer interviews I have done can still be of use for future visitors. Now, go make some great games

Funkylabs.com - Groovy games for a groovy generation!

Click here to visit…

Yep, I am still going strong. I’ve had a break due to heavy pressure from my studies, but now, holidays are closing in and game development is back in focus. The website, as it is now, is just a temporary solution since my own titles still are in production, and not due for release for quite some time As of now, I am offering games from Reflexives huge selection on the website, so if you have some extra money to spend, please stop by I am currently working on making the website a little more user-friendly and more good-looking.

Expect more updates further ahead…

WoW Connect

WoW Connect

This is a really addictive game, I can tell you that. It is basically a matching game with a World of Warcraft theme. I don’t play World of Warcraft, but i did enjoy this.

Masters of Doom

This book is documenting something that is a dream for most indies - making it, and making it big. The story about Id Software and their early years is a must-read, I tell you. I couldn’t put it aside once I started reading it.

Masters of doom on Amazon

Indie platform shooter being released in 2007

Squashy Software is a one of a kind Indie developer. Anthony Flack, the founder, carekeeper and developer of Squashy Software is doing something totally different, and something, very, very cool.

All of the art in their games are made of clay.

Platypus

Yes, you read it right. Clay. This different take makes the games very good looking, and definately worth a download. Up to date, they have only released one game, Platypus - a side scrolling shooter. Due to contract issues, they no longer own the rights to the game, but that doesn’t make the game any less their product, and the artstyle is unmistakable. Platypus has also been released on the Playstation Portable (PSP).

Cletus clay

They are currently working on a side-scrolling platform shooter (puh), and i’ll make sure to post about it when it is released. The game is due to release this year, and it’s one of the soon to be released Indie-games i am most excited about. That a developer is willing to try something different, ignoring the Match-3 and Zuma-clones trend is very admiring in my book.

Check out their website at http://www.squashysoftware.com

Top ten XBLA games released in 2006

The salestats from Xbox Live Arcade have been released.

1 UNO
2 Street Fighter II’ Hyper Fighting
3 Geometry Wars Evolved
4 Marble Blast Ultra
5 PAC-MAN
6 DOOM
7 Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
8 GALAGA
9 Gauntlet
10 Frogger

Number one is a real classic, most people should know about it. It amuses me that people sit at their powerful, expensive Xbox360 and play a simple card game. Somehow, it also gives me a feeling of relief - games ain’t just about flashy graphics, pure gameplay can take you a long way. The old game Gauntlet is also on the list, at number nine. The presence of an old game with antique graphics show that gaming nostalgia is still a factor to consider among consoles. People want to play the games they loved when they were young - Nintendo Wii and their Retro venture will stronly benefit from that.

Oh, and everyone that hasn’t played Geometry Wars yet should get it immediately, that game is a blast.

Make your own MMORPG

Yeah, the wet dream of arising (read: newbie) developers is as wet as always - it just isn’t a dream anymore. The Realmcrafter MMORPG engine is designed specifically for, you got it, making MMORPG’s.

Some features:

* DirectX 9 Graphics
* Improved Game Editors
* Customizable Shaders
* Dynamic Shadows - Actors will all cast shadows on the ground and even upon each other.
* Mapping Techniques - Normal and parallax mapping will make flat surfaces appear 3D.
* Better Lighting - Unlimited dynamic lighting means your game can have lighting that will be cast on scenery and players. This also means realistic torches working at night time.
* Bloom & Tone Mapping - Areas that are bright, will look bright, and areas that are dark, will look dark
* Water - Water shaders which will allow realistic water with waves, ripples and reflections
* Improved Options for Customizing Player Appearance

teh mmorpg mekha

(It actually looks good too, and that kinda’ scares me.)

Prize rise bonanza

Addictive 247 are currently trying out a new method of selling games, where there games start at really low prizes and slowly rise. If you are interested, check out their website.

More info at addictive247.co.uk

Independent game reviews

Visit gametunnel.com

Visiting a game portal like Bigfish games or Yahoo! Games can be confusing unless you have a vast knowledge about buying games online. Games will cost the same, look the same, and according to the text describing the games, all of them are supposedly great. The gam portals make money off each copy they sell, so of they will do whatever they can to purchase a game, and there is nothing bad with that - but you will never read a single bad word about a game on their websites.

GameTunnel is an independent website that reviews the games on the portals, and visiting the site to read about the games will tell you the por’s and con’s of each title, which will make it easier for you to know which one to download.

Another tip is to check out the 2006 Independent Game of the Year Awards, also at gameTunnel.

(Note: eventually i will start to review games here as well, when i have time to do so.)

Grab a game cheap

There is currently a real bargain going on at iWin, 50% on all of their games, and the offers expires the 31 January. In other words, the perfect timing to grab that gorgeous puzzle game you have been drooling over.