gewgaw

                                                               . . . a splendid plaything

3/29/2012

Delightful New Adventures

Once upon a time I visited Vancouver, and arranged to meet up with a friend who has been working there. But when I arrived, instead of my friend – I found a serious and inquisitive walrus.

And as I walked around the office looking for my friend, I met many interesting animals.

Some regarded me with cool remove, keeping a relaxed, but appreciative distance…

… while others seemed a bit sinister in their curiosity.

And as strolled through the office, my eyes and mind wandered with me. I began to ask myself about the mysterious game Glitch.

Where do you go in this game? Is it very nice there? And then, once you get there – what can you do?

More importantly – who were all these lovely people, working so hard to bring the game to life!?

It would take quite a long time to tell you all about the delightful people who I met that day. And even longer to explain all our wonderful conversations we had about Glitch and what it means to them.

But let it be known that they charmed me completely!

When they told me they had an office in San Francisco, where folks were joining up to imagine new fun for Glitch… well, I must admit I swooned. Luckily, the all-knowing Geode was there to keep me steady… and help make plans for a move.

It’s hard to believe that by simply visiting a friend, I found a whole new world. But sometimes, when we’re lucky, life really *is* just that magical.

I’ll post updates here… and here, as the adventure unfolds!

3/15/2012

Art of Video Games Exhibit

Kellee & I have been on a non-stop press tour for Journey since early March – starting with a fantastic jam-packed GDC, and on to a more chilled-out, rocking SXSW. This week we’ll be at the Art of Video Games opening at the Smithsonian Museum of American Art – here in Washington DC!

It’s very exciting – Boom Blox, Flow and Flower are all going to be featured at the exhibit – alongside so many inspiring, beautiful games. What a great chance to show the world what this medium is capable of! Flower is one of the 5 playable games at the exhibit. Here are my parents – watching kids play it, totally amazed. What a birthday present!

Kellee, myself and several other members of the TGC team will be hanging out at the exhibit on Saturday – come check it out and say hi if you are in the DC area!

3/14/2012

Experimental Gameplay 2012

I just wanted to take a moment from this crazy whirlwind of travel and press to say THANK YOU to everyone who presented at this year’s 10 year anniversary of the Experimental Gameplay Workshop! I barely had time to pause and snap this before we started – new photos will be posted to the site in a month or so:

Everyone did an amazing job presenting this year – and we especially want to thank the folks at UBM for supporting the session (2 hours in a huge room with wifi and extra staff isn’t cheap!) and the wonderful AV staff at the convention center.

AV crew 2012 – you are truly the most rocking guys on the planet.

You can see some coverage of the event here on Rock, Paper, Shotgun and here on the MTV Multiplayer blog!

3/13/2012

Accolades

Wow. It’s pretty much beyond words, the reception that we’ve seen for Journey. Stunning reviews and deeply personal letters keep rolling in … which also just makes it difficult to say much more than this: thank you for playing.

Here is a new trailer – that celebrates the beauty of Journey and all the wonderful things people have been saying about it. It features music by Tycho – who a bunch of us actually went to see in LA just a few months ago. Scott is an inspiring artist in his own right, it’s great to be featured alongside his work.

3/9/2012

Launch Trailer

The new launch trailer is up!

Congratulations to the entire Journey team – including our amazing composer, Austin Wintory, and sound designer Steve Johnson – this is truly due to your hard work, dedication and vision. You guys inspire!!

3/8/2012

Launch – Part 1

It’s true – if you are a PS+ subscriber, you can get Journey this week!

Your letters have been rolling in and it’s pretty amazing to read them. I’ll be honest here – very hard to read them without tears. It’s not every day that you get a personal thank-you from a player… but you all have really outdone yourselves. So many moving stories.

I really am beyond words with joy – and anticipation for the full launch on the 13th.

3/7/2012

Journey at the IGS!

Congrats to TGC’s freshest hire Chris for giving a great talk at IGS on the power of designing games for friendship! Great explanation of Journey’s design goals, and how they parallelled his own work on the IGF-nominated game WAY!

UPDATE: ZOMG – WAY won this year’s student IGF! Super!!

3/6/2012

Press at GDC

We’re sharing a room with Pixeljunk 4AM … AND SoundShapes??!!

Too amazing, this company!

3/5/2012

Game Design Workshop @ GDC

It is my 11th year teaching the Game Design Workshop at GDC!

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It feels like *home* to be here. So many great people to meet, so many great games to design and play together. My favorite session (other than EGW) every year!!

3/1/2012

Thank you!

We are so happy, honored and humbled by the reviews that are posting today about Journey!

On top of this – so many lovely, moving and heartfelt personal emails! I’m not sure if we’ll be able to keep up with them – but really, thank you. Really, beyond expectation.

2/18/2012

Wrap Party

Me, at the wrap party – happy.

Journey is going to launch soon…..

2/1/2012

Remembering

Old brainstorm notes from the project, posted for a dev diary photo shoot.

I love to draw with fat, colored markers!!

1/31/2012

EGW deadline= approaching fast!

Friday is the deadline for Experimental Gameplay Workshop – we want to hear from you!

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