I thought I’d write a quick opinion piece on the recent mauling of Microsoft’s Xbox One by Sony’s PlayStation 4 at E3.

Mainly, I think, because if you’ve followed me on Twitter the last couple of days, it may come across that I’m biased against Microsoft. It seemed a little lop-sided to me, especially from someone that actually has all three ‘current’ gen machines under the TV and also plays on iOS, Mac and PC.

I have to say, that my experience with Microsoft in general, as a developer, has been overwhelmingly positive, at least in my dealings with them for Windows 8. They’ve been receptive, friendly and helpful, and you’ll see some Windows 8 games soon! (promise!)

And may I just say that I don’t understand the seemingly negative reactions for Windows 8? I really like it. I have it on my Samsung slate thingy, and on a partition on my Mac. No problems with it at all really (especially when you discover the desktop!).

I was even hoping that I might be able to self-publish on Xbox thanks to the ties to Windows 8 development (alas this does not seem to be the case).

So I’d argue I’m not biased against Microsoft… just biased against stupidity

The Xbox One stuff turned out to be pretty damn scary. The restrictions (which I won’t go into here) seemed draconian in their nature, as opposed to the status quo. The status quo being, you can sell your games online, or trade them in, or lend them to a friend. Without restriction. Without the need to be online.

And for what? There seemed to be little, if any, benefit to consumers for all the upheaval that was planned.

The Xbox One plans seemed unintuitive to say the least, and a further sign of how the industry I love is becoming less likeable, to me at least (e.g. In-app purchases, adverts in games, games as a ‘service’ etc etc)

I’m sure there are plenty of people who don’t care, or just don’t feel these things are a problem or important. Indeed, it would hardly affect me as I buy all my games new (being a collector!).

But it’s the principle of the matter. Games should be games, nothing more. You pay for one you feel might be interesting. You lend it to a friend if you think they might like it. At the end of the day you own the disc the game came on, and should be able to do what you want with it.

There are digital stores that really aren’t comparable to what Microsoft is trying to do with Xbox One. I won’t go into those here.

So, going into the E3 conference, I had real fears that Sony would follow suite, and we’d see the start of something a bit more than just insidious spread across the whole industry.

But what Sony did was amazing.

In that they did nothing at all, yet because of Microsoft’s plans, turned out to be the hero of the hour!

Being $100 cheaper was the killing blow I think.

Then, from a developer point of view, there’s the option to self-publish on PS4. I may never take advantage of that, but hell, the door’s open if I want to go that way!

I think hubris is the enemy here. Success does not give you a pass to do completely stupid things. Yet all these companies (Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft) have gone crazy in the past after huge success.

I guess it must be hard to stay humble. But it’s something a company should strive for, in my opinion.

Every person that enjoys one of my games is a gift. A GIFT.

Big companies forget that. Then remember after a fall. Then forget after another success. And the cycle continues…

Steve Jobs is often quoted as saying ‘Stay hungry’.

I couldn’t agree with him more.

QS

Hello lovelies!

Just a small update on all things sheepy!

There’s a number of projects on the go at the moment.

My friend Jake is working on (and has been for a while) a little game called ‘Red Mist’. I have no idea when it’ll get finished, but it’s interesting and fun, and might be published through me. Yay!

Then I have a few adventure games in various states of completion. They’re very hard to do

On top of that I’ve been learning to use Unity as I wanted to do some 3D games too. It’s fun and stuff, and the results are pretty spectacular looking. I just have to learn how to use it better. Understand it better.

So I can make sheepy games with it!

Also, I’m trying to port games over to Windows 8, but don’t have a stable testing environment for it right now. Microsoft have been very helpful, but it’s just taking forever it seems.

The projects are pretty varied. You have the adventure games (plain text, choose your own adventure, Myst type etc), a first person shooter with no guns and a 3D on-rails shooters.

So you can see, I’m being pulled in several directions, and have been for a while now.

In some ways, it’s kinda nice and varied. If I hit a brick wall somewhere on one project, I can move onto another for a while pretty quickly and no time is wasted.

One day could be spent setting up movement paths and turrets in 3D, or learning how to edit C# scripts. Another might be spent just writing locations for an adventure game, or touching up some art.

But really I need to focus a bit more. And I am going to really try and do that!

Also, I just hit 600 followers on Twitter (@quantum_sheep) – thank you all, that’s really, really lovely! Sheepyhugs for all!

Speak soon!

QS

I meant later today! And here it is!

Have fun!

QS

Hey all! Hope you’re well!

The assault on non-iOS devices continues with Attack of the Kraken for Kindle devices!

Best of all it’s FREE – forever! No In-App-Purchases. No ads. Just a free game for you to (hopefully) enjoy!

The game will also be going free on iPhone from tomorrow (February 1st, 2012) so iPhone/iPad owners that haven’t tried it can have it for nothing too!

Working on the Android version, also free, which will be out soon with any luck!

Hope you like it! It was my first ‘proper’ iOS game, and while rather old (can I call it Retro?) it’s still quite fun I think!

Toodles!

QS

Hey all! Another update! Already!

I was up converting .Matrixx for the Kindle Fire when I realised I hadn’t signed up for the android store, otherwise known as ‘Google Play’.

The process only took about half an hour. And half an hour later, I had a version of Gravitrixx submitted!

You can find it here for Android.

Crazy stuff. It also takes just hours after submission to be published. So it’s available NOW!

I need a cup of tea. And some sleep I think…

Hope you Android users enjoy the game, and I’ll get busy bringing more to your format of choice!

QS

Hello all, and a happy new year to you!

Had a productive start to the new year! Currently I’m still working on three projects, but have also been working on porting my current games to other platforms!

Below are Air Supply and Gravitrixx on a Kindle Fire:

.Matrixx is also looking a bit nice on the Kindle Fire too

Other versions I’m aiming for is Mac for Air Supply, and possibly iPad. Also trying to work out how to get stuff onto Windows 8 Devices!

Busy times ahead! Hopefully you’ll see the fruits of my labours over the last year soon!

Thanks for reading, and here’s to a fun filled 2013!

Toodles!

QS

I never knew about this:

http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920018414.do#

How lovely to see that! I had no idea!

I suppose I have to buy the book now…

QS

Hello everyone! Hope you’re well!

I feel that recently, there’s been a whiff of change in the air. And not the small kind

My friend Joe has had huge success with his adventure game, The Lost City. I recommend it – it’s lovely!

At the same time pretty much, the lovely folks at Double Fine got over $1m in funding in less than 24 hours using Kickstarter. To make an adventure game!

It’s truly wonderful to see the support for such lovely people!

It would seem pretty darn lucky that I chose this moment in time to make an adventure game with “ProjectSAMMY”. It’s coming along quite nicely, and I’ll hopefully have new stuff to show you too!

I hope people like it!

QS

Hello everyone! Hope you’re well!

Things are getting very busy at the moment. Most of the back-end stuff for ProjectSammy is in place. I have systems set up to handle the inventory, objects, locations, feedback and puzzles. It’s really quite overwhelming at times!

Soon I’ll start actually putting the game together, which will probably take a little over a month with any luck (that’s ‘developer’ talk for TWO months!). I’ve been very productive of late but the task ahead is huge!

In other news, I just wanted to say that I do read every single review posted on iTunes, good or bad! I appreciate that complete strangers take time out of their day to let me (and others) know what they think of my efforts!

I got a really well written review the other day for .Matrixx on the iPad by a chap called ‘The Other McCoy’. It reads:

“Fine gameplay – Difficult one to rate. It’s a good example of the new indie golden age we have on IOS – but I’d say one of the simpler games of the sort. Graphics are minimal (but clean), sound is a retro homage (quite nice actually), and gameplay is *golden*. It’s pretty straightforward but it works well. I’m no authority but it seems quite original to me. Another thing I like about it is that it has an easy-going “just one more time” vibe even though it does get pretty busy. With some arcade games I have to be in the mood for the challenge but I can goof around with this one anytime. I was tempted to rate it 3 because of its minimal nature but the gameplay and vibe take it to 4.”

Firstly, thank you so much for giving the game a chance! Just as importantly though, I’m very glad you seem to be enjoying it. It really does make my day to read reviews such as yours, sir, and I thank you, and everyone else that writes reviews, for your opinions!

Spreading fun throughout the world is my mission! I can’t please everyone of course! But by Jove I try!

Many thanks!

QS

Hello! Hope you’re well!

This is the second screenshot from ProjectSAMMY. Hope you enjoy it!

I’m having a real blast making this right now! I don’t think it’ll be done before March sometime, but I’ll release more shots when I’m comfy showing them!

The pic featured, and the one before, are based (hopefully obviously!) in a crypt. That’s all I’m going to say about it!

I’m working out story details right now! If Star Wars: The Old Republic has taught me anything this past month, it’s that story is important!

I have about $200m less in my budget for ProjectSAMMY. Let’s see what I can do

Thanks for reading!

QS