How long have you been programming, and what computer / programming language did you first program on?
I first started writing football manager games on my Amstrad CPC464 in BASIC when I was around 10 years old. Then I used AMOS on the Amiga for a while before for giving up programming for a few years. I guess I was more into girls and guitars... Anyway, I started learning C++ when I got back from university, where I studied English Literature for no good reason, and moved on to Blitz about 5 years ago.
What made you choose Blitz Basic to create your games?
The Blitz languages let you get games up and running very quickly. BlitzMax is fantastic. It’s powerful, flexible and does pretty much everything I need it to (except compile for the iPhone!).
You seem to make lots of sports games – any particular reason for that? Are you ever going to make any other type of game?!
One of my golden rules is to only make games you are passionate about. I’m a big footy fan and the New Star Soccer series has been very popular so that guided my direction. Just recently I decided to make the top-down F1 game I’ve always wanted to play and was stunned at how quickly it came together. From start to finish in 4 months! I’m considering other sports for my next title but I do intend to someday write something non-sports based, I just don’t know what it will be yet.
Has New Star Games been successful? Are you now able to earn a living from making games?
Yes, I decided to become a full time indie with the launch of NSS3. That was an exciting time and a hugely successful game considering it was just me coding and Nick Greig creating the player database. I made the mistake of taking 3 years out to write NSS4, thinking that a bigger, better, 3D version would sell much more than the previous version, but it hasn’t quite worked out that way. Fortunately New Star Grand Prix is doing well so I don’t have to worry about getting a “real” job just yet.
Any heroes in the programming world? I’m suspecting Jon Ritman might be one of them... (among other things he coded International Match Day and Match Day 2 on the Speccy)
I did love the MatchDay games although Emlyn Hughes International Soccer became my favourite 8-bit footy game. I was also a huge fan of Dino Dini’s games and still insist that Kick Off 2 was better than Sensible Soccer, but I won’t go into that here! [I agree with you! -CaptainD]
What advice would you give to budding programmers?
As I mentioned earlier, create games that you are passionate about. Also, start with simple ideas and build on them. This will help you to learn how to complete your project before you tire of it and move onto something more exciting.
What’s been your most successful game commercially / in terms of response from games players?
New Star Soccer 3 without a doubt. That game just took off, and mainly through word of mouth. I can see a similar thing happening with NSGP but it remains to be seen how successful it will be.
Which game are you personally most proud of?
I think New Star Soccer 4 is my biggest achievement. Unlike NSS3 which simply built on the previous versions, NSS4 was a completely new project that I started from scratch. It was my first attempt at 3D and it had to include every feature that was in NSS3 and more, so it was a huge challenge. It has also provided a basic structure with which I can build future games on, hence the short development time of New Star Grand Prix. So despite the relatively poor sales NSS4 remains my biggest achievement.
What’s your next project going to be?
I’m seriously thinking about golf and tennis, which I may actually write simultaneously. I would love to get 2 new sports on the roster this year.
Anything else you’d like to tell us?
Just because I am concentrating on different sport titles at the moment it doesn’t mean that I have given up on the New Star Soccer series. There will be an update in the coming weeks and I intend to start work on NSS5 by the end of the year. Oh, and if you like my games, tell your friends! It really does help independent developers like New Star Games.
Don't forget to check out the official New Star Games Website:
4 comments:
NSS4 is an amazing game!!!
I've just been playing the demo of that game... I'm abysmal at it!! :-(
NSS3 was a great game, but I think NSS4 took it to a new level. I can't think of a more fun footy non-management game out there :)
Will definitely have to get it someday! Thanks for stopping by and commenting :-D
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