Game Podcast & Competitions Narrative & Storytelling Profession & Career Programming Projects
Game Podcast & Competitions Narrative & Storytelling Profession & Career Programming Projects

Ludum Dare

So another weekend and more pain! :D

I threw this together from some of my old art

Posted on 17 April 2008 | 11:05 pm

Weekend of Code

Less than 24 hours left to.

Submit before noon on Monday.

submission closed

Best of Luck

Posted on 7 April 2008 | 8:34 am

Swing Car Alpha Release

Weekend of Code

All aboard the fail-train. We got a few submissions but it seems the cholate confusion meant this WOC failed. I got a few entries from the regulars but the final years were too busy, fair enough. The second years on the whole display no motivation to make games, expected. The first years however have no excuse!!

Well here is my little project, I'm currently converting it to GameCube cause I liked the little game so much I'm making it my semester project for the cube.

Version 0.9

In Other News: SUCCESS!!

Yes folks after all the hard work I finally work in the games industry. I've got a job at Mere Mortals. I was in a wonderful position where three companies were intrested and I got a choice. Overall I'm on the top of the moon.

Its all very scary but I'll try as soon as possible to get another podcast up as soon as possible but understandably I'm really busy.

So I will see you all and you will see that HARD WORK PAYS OFF! I'm finally after years and years, during my third degree and after all the work I have broken in.

Now just to prove myself.... no I dont wake up daily terrified..... what I dont....... I will succeed..... no really........ shit I'm late for work!

Posted on 7 April 2008 | 8:32 am

Weekend of Code #3: A to Z with a Twist

Theme

A to Z with a Twist is an exploration into racing games and freerunnnig games where we are trying to get from A to Z but we add something to make it interesting. BE CREATIVE AS POSSIBLE as the whole idea of this weekend is to take risks and explore. Focus on the twist not the racing. Make it as fun as possible.

Rules

Examples

Anything Else

Have fun, grab some sleep. You can contact me using the feedback form on the site or I'll be hanging around in an irc channel. #ludumdare on Afternet.

Posted on 20 March 2008 | 11:47 am

Weekend of Code

The next weekend of code is on Easter weekend. Not planned but I kinda forget when Easter was back in January. Which was when the date was set.

We are currently asking a game company to supply us with the theme and some feedback. More info as it becomes available.

I will be putting up a new podcast this weekend on 68k ASM as promised along with the update for the first years as promised.

Its all been moving along at a rapid pace with interviews and applications ect... I'll keep you on the ball.

Posted on 13 March 2008 | 3:36 pm

Dungeon Delve

So my work load is nicley split at the moment between three projects.

Well I've been working really hard on Dungeon Delve but I'm learning XNA and C# as I go along. The main thing to make first was the editor. Its not complete at the moment.

Its missing only two things really: full triggers, and named monsters. Its not the easist tool but it works so time to move on. Below are some screen shots.

Posted on 3 March 2008 | 1:29 am

Game PIT #17: Two Point Oh

Welcome back folks. The new site is launched. We outline some PTK stuff that I showed the first years. We play a bit of catch up and talk about University work.

Topics

Links

- Claire Blackshaw

Posted on 1 March 2008 | 2:51 am

PTK an Introduction

Hi everyone. I presented a lecture to the first years on PTK my favourite lightweight 2D engine. Full details can be found in Code - Reference section along with downloads.

I'll be posting the podcast to go with the slides on Friday night hopefully.

In other news the Dungeon Delve and Gamecube engine are sucking up all my time. The aim is to get Dungeon Delve to a playable and presentable state by Tuesday night because there is a big meet and greet event with the industry on Wednesday afternoon.

As always feedback is loved and appreciated. Also use the feedback page if you have any questions. Cheers and take care folks.

Posted on 28 February 2008 | 7:43 pm

Launching 2.0

So its here the website's fresh coat of paint. Bear with me over the next few days as the goal is to have the site fully alive and kicking by the 1st March.

I can promise a podcast episode this week however and more intresting things to come. I'll be keeping you all posted.

Posted on 22 February 2008 | 2:07 am

Code Weekend: One Button Joystick

The weekend is done and the coffee is finished.

Download Entries

Please leave and Read the feedback. I'm sure all the entrants will appreciate it.

Comments

Posted on 3 December 2007 | 7:15 pm

Weekend of Code

So get ready for a great weekend of code. The code weekend page will be uploaded at 1800 on Friday. So we don't expect a huge weekend but we are all ready go go.

A huge thanks to all the people that are helping set it up. Huge thanks to Mark Sample, Lead Designer at Eutechnyx. Thanks to him, Chris, and code-works we are trying to make this weekend more relevant for young game programmers and get the most out of it.

So drop by on Friday and come join us for a great weekend of code.

Posted on 30 November 2007 | 6:19 pm

Weekend of Code

Theme

One-Button Joystick
Friendly to all Ages
Collection Element

Details

Your game input can only be a directional input and an action button.
Up to 8 directions, keyboard or joystick allowed only one action button.
There must be an element of collection or pick-up.

More Details

Now go get coding you little code monkeys. You can find me on irc.afternet.org in #ludumdare .

Posted on 30 November 2007 | 6:11 pm

Another Weekend is Here

The next weekend of Code is here.

First Weekend of December

I've been talking to the guys who run our course at Northumbria and a few hopeful third parties about getting more out of these weekends.

So I cannot promise anything yet but its open to all, but focused at games students. I'm hoping as I said to get some companies involved but we will see what happens.

What I can promise: Thee weekend will happen. It will only take a weekend and will involve making a game in a weekend.

Everything else is uncertain. Give us your feedback.

Posted on 11 November 2007 | 10:38 am

Game Pit #16: I am your SUPER CLASS

We talk about the weekend of code. We talk about essential game design and inheritance. So come and join me and Neil.

Topics

Links

- Claire Blackshaw

Posted on 9 October 2007 | 8:37 pm

Code Weekend: Magnets / Gravity

The Handins are well in.

Thanks to everyone who entered. I cannot say how great it is you took the time to code together a game in no time at all. Your efforts rock as do you all Claire

The voting begins tomorrow.

Download entries here. More polished version will be up on the site one the contest is done. Where possible they have been made more compliant but we had a mix of win32, sdl(win/linux), and ruby.

Podcast

Will be thrown up tomorrow with the voting page.

Posted on 8 October 2007 | 1:44 am

Magnets / Gravity

The theme is announced as Magnets / Gravity.

For more details please click here .

Posted on 5 October 2007 | 6:16 pm

Weekend of Code

So this weekend we are having a weekend of code. Basically the competition is simple. You have a weekend to make a game.

The Rules and Hints can be found here.

Final Themes

This is the final list of themes for this weekend. The official theme will be announced at 1800 on Friday (UK time). So without further delaying they are.

Posted on 1 October 2007 | 11:06 pm

Game Pit #15: Into the Pixel Pit

RSS iTunes Link MP3

[Warning: Non-technical cast. Normal show style returns next week.]

So we are back!

I've moved into a house of Crazy. Prepare to meet.
Jason: Web Head
Neil: Audiophile and Angry Guy
Dash: The Dutchman
Dan: The Last One

Together they make my new home the Pixel Place the place it is.

Weekend of Code

More on Monday but this coming weekend we are having a weekend of Code for the Games course students but outsiders are welcome. Its a simple theme game, no game makers comp. You have from 18:00 on Friday till 24:00 on Sunday to make a game from scratch.

Posted on 29 September 2007 | 7:16 pm

Froogles and Past Post

South African Comp

So there is this great competition being run by some guys in South Africa which brings me out of the overtime coma. They are running a competition for an educational game which is sadly only open to South African citizens. *Rushes to dig out passport* Wooopeee! So I'm going to be taking part in that.

Not only did this bring me out of the overtime coma but it also allowed me to see some GREAT stuff ahppening on the ZA scence. Checkout this mag they are making its a great project.

Feedback Page and Podcast

Anyway I was updating the sight and found that the feedback page was broken when I added an anti-spam snippet, and no one could tell me the page was broken because well the feedback page was broken.

The podcast is on a slight pause till I get some feedback from the last episodes (yes it does matter) and I'm desperately trying to find a reliable co-host. So here it is folks. The requirements are simple. You must be a student or someone actively working to break into the industry. You must be reliable and that is it.

Posted on 9 June 2007 | 11:08 am

Crazy Weekend

Hi guys and girls, I'm crunching through my maths assignment and what not. I had a few spare hours today but I threw them at an incomplete entry into LD48. I know I know priorities.

Go check out the contest though over at wavelength.

Posted on 29 April 2007 | 8:06 pm

Ludum Dare: Come one come all

Come join us for another great 48hr game comp. Ludum Dare! This weekend we join the insanity known as game development in the truest spirit of creativity and basement coding.

Ludum Dare

Posted on 24 April 2007 | 8:18 pm

Game PIT #14: Rank and File

RSS iTunes Link MP3

So I promised to continue the game framework discussion would continue. This week we dive a bit deeper into organising things.

Topics

Links

- Claire Blackshaw

Posted on 22 April 2007 | 10:35 pm

Game PIT #13: Sky is Falling Down!

RSS iTunes Link MP3

So lets get started on a little project. We shall from scratch create a PTK game framework which we shall be expanding on.

I'm not throwing you guys in the deep end yet but I hope to ramp up to speed soon.

Links

- Claire Blackshaw

Posted on 17 April 2007 | 7:40 am

On the couch

Sorry everyone but I'm really sick at the moment. Have been for a while and I'm trying to kick it. Thanks for all the feedback on he last show. For those of you who mentioned STL in response to last weeks show (quite a few seemed to have picked up on it) well I will be using the next show to talk a bit about STL and introducing it into our conversation about 2d games.

I will get back to work as soon as I can I promise.

Posted on 18 March 2007 | 8:56 pm

Game PIT #12: Move and shake, shake

RSS iTunes Link MP3

We talk about the how to shake and move the pixels. What your going to need is a timer with a marker pen, a needle with a thread, A sprite sheet with a palette, a collection of blank pages. No that's not right you need a keyboard and understanding of how not to drop the reference.

Crazy little people with a desire to swim in this flatlander world. Join us in the second dimension.... I'm running out of type and I'm walking into a wall of blabbering insanity. So here is what we talk about.

- Claire Blackshaw

Posted on 11 March 2007 | 8:37 pm