Daily Archives: Saturday, July 10th, 2010

Cavanagh and Lavelle’s Snowdrift

  • Reading time:1 mins read

Terry Cavanagh of Don’t Look Back and VVVVVV and Stephen Lavelle of Whale of Noise have collaborated on a morbid little exploration of the link between psychological space and display limitations.

Snowdrift is filled with simple, flat-shaded rendering. You walk with WASD or arrow keys, and aim with the mouse. There’s a haze over everything — either from the snow and fog or, later, from the darkness — and unless you spend your time memorizing scant landmarks you’re never quite sure what’s over the next hill. Given that it’s cold out there, and the world seems more or less endless, that could be a problem. Sure, you can explore as far as you like. But how do you find your way back?

( Continue reading at DIYGamer )

The Game-Maker Archive—Part 11: Mark A. Janelle

  • Reading time:2 mins read

by [redacted]

Although he only produced one game of which I have empirical evidence, Mark A. Janelle is one of the more significant figures in the Game-Maker story. A very serious fellow, Janelle was one of RSD’s first customers to make a shot at a professional exploitation of the Game-Maker software. He also managed the dial-up Night Owl BBS, which served as the semi-official Game-Maker community hub. Every copy of Game-Maker included a leaflet for the BBS.

After some recent discussions, I seem to recall some widespread connection issues. Either the BBS was only up during evening hours (as the name would suggest) or the number on the leaflet was incorrect. Either way, many people had trouble logging in. When one did log in, the place was a bit stiff and, again, serious. And being hosted in Kennebunkport, Maine, it was a hefty long-distance charge for almost anyone — even those who lived in-state, as I did. Still, it was a good place to make connections and branch off to other sub-communities and smaller BBSes.

My memory is a bit hazy; I think the Night Owl BBS may have changed names, or the Game-Maker section may have moved over to other boards. On that list of 1990s Maine BBSes, I recognize a couple of other boards associated with Janelle’s name.
As important as his BBS was to the Game-Maker culture, what even more people probably recognize is his game.

( Continue reading at DIYGamer )