News
May 2011 Update
Posted: 12th May 2011
Updates - yeah, been somewhat lax about that haven't I?
This is partly due to the intensity that this year has been - I've done so much and been whizzing around the country so much I haven't been able to find a spare minute to update this. With regards to the site, I'm going to give it a facelift soon - I think it can look a lot cooler as akin to the games industry.
So what have I been up to (in no particular order)?
Work has intensified beyond belief - my desk is littered with different Android devices each with their own unique quirks I have to work around. I've visited the Google offices in London, been to two developer summits (Microsoft Kinect and Motorola), spoken to various people in the industry (shout to the guys at Natural Motion). We're currently between offices at the moment so I'm updating this at home but the new office looks sweet. We're hiring a permanent programmer at the end of the month and potentially an intern a couple of months later. We've taken on one extra guy and lost another unfortunately. I've had to cancel holidays and come in on weekends but thats par of the course - work hard and play hard.
Climbing has mostly been spent outdoors thankfully, with trips to Swanage, North Wales and the Peak District. My leading hasn't been great this year but its probably because I'm experimenting with differen rock types and atmospheres (I'm certainly getting more used to Limestone). There's a possibility I'm appearing in the next Climber's Club guidebook for Swanage. I'm attending the Big Climb in Wales this weekend to learn new skills and hear about amazing experiences and trips.
I'm walking the Pennine Way in July with Kirsty for 3 weeks - its going to be epic!
I finally moved into my new flat and the guys here are great. The room is smaller but at least everything works here!
Skiing was..... a bit of a damp squid unfortunately. Very little slow due to high temperatures and I had to look after a drunken youngster in French A&E at 4am, three days after his mate broke his back. Even Neil managed to get burnt pretty badly - seems I was the only one to came back in the same condition I left.
There's probably more that I've done but its mostly there in a nutshell. No promises on when I'll next update this (there - I don't feel guilty now!)
2010 - Possibly the Best Year of My Life So Far
Posted: 31st December 2010
I really mean it. So many wonderful and unexpected things have happened over the last twelve months.
Not only did I successfully complete my Masters I achieved a distinction, proving to myself (and hopefully to others) that I am more than capable of making games, something I have dreamed of doing for a long time (from scratch that is, not with a pre-existing, drag-and-drop engine). During that course I experienced first hand how competitve and fine detailed the industry was through the Dare To Be Digital competition even though we didn't get through - looking at what was achieved by the other teams was simply astonishing. It was a pity we couldn't go (which has suspicious connotations in its own right but thats in the past now) but at least we got to make a working prototype of our idea with a different team and in less than half the time we would have had for the competition. Even now I'm making a small game in my spare time that resembles what I used to play on the Amiga when I was about 10 years old - hopefully that will ready fairly soon (may want an artist to help).
Shortly after finishing my course I managed to land a job at Escapist Games in Guildford. This is a fantastic job, I'm eager to wake up in the morning to go to work and a little dismayed when the day is over. The projects are interesting (the ones we have planned for the near future I'm unbelievably excited about) and I'm working with languages and platforms I have never used before, principally Objective for the iPhone/iPad and the Android platform (which is something I've been interested in before). I don't mind staying till 8pm or coming in at the weekends - its too enjoyable for it to bother me!
What I didn't expect last year was to find a passion in something I had only scratched the surface of in previous years. I wouldn't have believed anybody if they told me I was going to become capable of climbing outdoors to an extent that I'm supervising total novices and that I would be spending almost every day of the summer outside (mostly with one particularly good friend) climbing till sunset. I've learnt to place gear, bought myself a rack and have progressed through the grades from the bottom of the beginners (Moderate) to the start of the intermediates (Hard Severe) as a leader (seconding I've gone up to E(xtremely Severe) 2). The Christmas just gone highlights my enthusiasm for this sport having acquired four books on the subject (two on improving technique, one as a guide's instruction handbook and another on mountaineering in general). I've watched films and documentaries on mountains I'd never heard of (the Eiger north face in particular), been awestruck by trailers from various mountain film festivals and, perhaps most importantly, have begun to understand the challenges that face climbers and mountaineers today. They're certainly people to aspire towards. I did have an accident in September but I was lucky to walk away with very minor injuries and it hasn't dampened my enthusiasm for it (although it has taken until now to regain control of my fear of falling indoors). Either way, I've got so many things I want to plan and do in my head for next year I really need to sit down and do so.
So, whats planned for next year?
Well, I hope to continue working for Escapist Games - I really feel like I'm making waves there and the projects we've got lined up are going to be awesome! I am skiing in Avoriaz with Neil, his brother Steve and TBC fourth for a week at the beginning of March which I'm very excited about. I want to explore more, learn more mountaineering skills (I'm attending the Outdoor Show in London in a couple of weeks), maybe take friends out for similar experiences. I want to push my trad climbing grade on as many different rock types as possible.
Whatever happens its got a hell of a challenge to beat 2010.... I sincerely hope it does! :)
Goodbye Sheffield, Hello Guildford
Posted: 18th November 2010
Finally - a moment to update this!
A LOT has happened, the most important fact being that I now have a job in the games industry! I've been recruited by Escapist Games, a small studio in Guildford, as a Junior Programmer. I am absolutely psyched for it and looking forward to working on games for XBLA. Somewhat nervous about it but thats how I am with new experiences! I've now found a flat to move into, awash with climbers and another games programmer - 5 minutes away from the biggest indoor climbing centre in the region.
It does unfortunately mean an end of an era here in Sheffield. I'm somewhat amazed at how much fun I've had in a place that I grew up in and thought was a dump. Not only did I do a fantastic course, I made some great friends, I've found a love of climbing and the outdoors in general and had some very memorable experiences. I feel the whole process has opened up doors of opportunity that I wouldn't have considred back at the start of 2009.
So.... the end of one chapter. The start of another....lets see where this goes....
Master of Games Software Development with Distinction!
Posted: 18th October 2010
I've just picked up the results of my Master's degree and I'm dead chuffed to find out that I have achieved a distinction in my work! Its been a good year, I've learnt a lot, pushed myself and ultimately come out on top! Hopefully now this will lead to work in the industry I have been following since I was 10 years old!
Thats it!
Posted: 23rd September 2010
Yesterday was a fantastic and surreal day. We finished off the last of the presentations in our seminar programmer to next year's intake to this course and I helped welcome the next fresh group of interested climbers to the club. This was an exact repeat of a day that happened precisely 12 months ago. I cannot believe that I've now finished my Masters here - its been so much fun! I cannot begin to describe what I have learnt and experienced - its also boosted my confidence in my ability after the abysmal turn of events I had in late 2008. I presented my work on Tuesday and received a lot of positive feedback (which is great but means I need to write 500 words as to why I won't be changing anything!) I think I may even have influenced what 2nd year students will be using in an upcoming module. Had a drink with next year's programmers and I felt very relieved that they felt exactly how I felt last year - excited whilst also thinking "how on Earth am I going to match that quality?!"
So now I'm looking for a job in the games indsustry and responses to applications so far have mostly been positive. I have a couple of tests lined up and a telephone interview is currently being arranged. My global reach has so far meant that I am yet to register interest on the mainland (Isle of Wight is the closest so far). I am undeniably excited about the next few months!
In the meantime I'm starting to plan what projects I'm going to work on - check out my portfolio section.
Climbing wise its going to be mainly teaching new climbers how to climb safely and also assisting in supervising outdoor trips in the near future. Hopefully I'll manage some climbing at my skill level in between. It was fantastic meeting next year's batch - they really seem like a decent group of people. I hope to join them in upcoming weekend trips!
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