1. You have left Ireland and gone back to Finland. Why?

We had a family tragedy that required our full attention. Life has a way of making certain decision for you, and this was one that I’d have rather avoided.

2. Where are you located now and what is the local game development scene like?

I’m back working in Helsinki. The local game development scene is pretty much similar to the one in Ireland. There are a few retail development houses: Remedy (Max Payne), Housemarque (Supreme Snowboarding) and Bugbear (FlatOut). And then we have one technology developer with Hybrid (dPVS for RenderWare). Aside from that there are maybe a handful of smaller retail upstarts and then a few oddities like myself.

3. Are you still running Mistaril? And how is Space-Station Manager doing?

I’m just a few days clear from launching the successor to the Space Station Manager project. It is called ShortHike and it is a space settlement simulation guild.

The idea is to have a membership based system where everything relating to the simulation is included as long as you pay your yearly membership fee. One service, one fee. This is a pretty unique business model in games. If you are into developing simulation games you might be interested in my longer Blog post that gives more background. You can find it at .

4. Are you working on any other projects at the moment?

No. Just focusing exclusively on ShortHike. Seems like I will have my hands full for the next ten years anyway.

5. How long were you in Ireland for and how did you find that experience?

Just about half a year. Wow, how could it be so short? I feel like I know most of you already. I must say it was one of the most enlightening experiences for me. I would recommend being an expat for anyone, and I can honestly say enjoying your hospitality was among the best time I ever had. Thanks and be sure to drop in if you are anywhere near Helsinki!

1. You have left Ireland and gone back to Finland. Why?

We had a family tragedy that required our full attention. Life has a way of making certain decision for you, and this was one that I’d have rather avoided.

2. Where are you located now and what is the local game development scene like?

I’m back working in Helsinki. The local game development scene is pretty much similar to the one in Ireland. There are a few retail development houses: Remedy (Max Payne), Housemarque (Supreme Snowboarding) and Bugbear (FlatOut). And then we have one technology developer with Hybrid (dPVS for RenderWare). Aside from that there are maybe a handful of smaller retail upstarts and then a few oddities like myself.

3. Are you still running Mistaril? And how is Space-Station Manager doing?

I’m just a few days clear from launching the successor to the Space Station Manager project. It is called ShortHike and it is a space settlement simulation guild.

The idea is to have a membership based system where everything relating to the simulation is included as long as you pay your yearly membership fee. One service, one fee. This is a pretty unique business model in games. If you are into developing simulation games you might be interested in my longer Blog post that gives more background. You can find it at .

4. Are you working on any other projects at the moment?

No. Just focusing exclusively on ShortHike. Seems like I will have my hands full for the next ten years anyway.

5. How long were you in Ireland for and how did you find that experience?

Just about half a year. Wow, how could it be so short? I feel like I know most of you already. I must say it was one of the most enlightening experiences for me. I would recommend being an expat for anyone, and I can honestly say enjoying your hospitality was among the best time I ever had. Thanks and be sure to drop in if you are anywhere near Helsinki!

CanDo are working on an app to help students learn how to model in 3D. It can also help to teach basic game logic. The basic concept is based on a GTA style driving app, using Havok physics.

CanDo are looking for testers on all skill levels, from novices to experienced modellers. The only requirement is that you have a 3D modelling application such as Maya or 3DMax installed.

You can download the CanDo application (6 MB), including the .exe and the files required to upload it to your website, from

gamedesign/car/EditCarLevel.ZIP.

For more information, sendd an email to

testers@candointeractive.com

More information can be found

here.

Havok, the developer of the eponymous physics engine, has been nominated in the category ‘Digital Post Production’ for Halo 2 and will compete against Boulder Media, IADT/Vico Films and Screen Scene.

In the category "Digital Games Developer of the Year", the Irish Dare to be Digital winners Red Ruckus from IADT, Dun Laoghaire, have been nominated along with the Image Synthesis Group of Trinity College (28 Pints Later) and Nephin Games, Galway (WKN Kickboxing for Mobile). Nephin Games has also been nominated in the category "Best New Wireless Application."

The Digital Media Awards will take place on the 2nd of February 2005 in the Burlington Hotel in Dublin. Hosted by Dave Fanning, the awards are now in their 3rd year. The objective of the awards is to raise awareness of the emerging digital media sector in Ireland. More importantly it acts as a showcase for the many pieces of dynamic work being created by companies and third level institutions across a broad spectrum of categories. The IIA is represented by CEO Irene Gahan, who acted as a judge for this years awards.

To attend one of the highlights of the year for the Internet industry see or call Helen on – 01 6791750.

The agenda for the event is as follows.

11.30- Tea/coffee/biscuits on arrival

11.45 Dare to be Digital- the experience (show Dare DVD and talk/presentation) – Jackie McKenzie

12.00 Dare to be Digital- previous students experiences + game demo – Jackie McKenzie

12.15-12.25- The Dare to be Digital application and the skills required- Jane Dewar

12.25-Local speaker- Alastair McIIwain, Director of Animation, Banjax – the world of animation

12.40 -12.55 Tony Kelly- Torc Interactive/IGDA talking about gaming in Northern Ireland

12.55-1.10 Dr Bernard Toal, NWIFHE- talking about experience of student start-up

1.10-1.20-Q and A from the floor followed by networking lunch

1.20-2.30 sandwich lunch

The Dare to be Digital NI seminar/event is supported by Belfast City Council and Nesta.

If you wish to attend please register your name and course to
mailto: jane@daretobedigital.comjane@daretobedigital.com before Tues. 25th of January.

Yesterday Torc Interactive, based in Donegal, sent in seven jobs in a range of positions. They can be found on the main jobs page and under programming from the right hand menu.

This prompted me to contact Torc to ask them what was going. As with most things in the game industry details are scarce and they could not tell us too much. But here is a reply to my questions from Tony Kelly, a producer with Torc.

"As we approach the launch of Torc’s Instinct Engine at GDC in San Francisco at the beginning of March, we’re gearing up in order to provide support to our clients on both the Varsity side of things and to our games industry clients. Simultaneously, we’re staffing up on the game development side of things in preparation for commencing work on our first full title later this year"

Sounds pretty exciting to me. We will keep you posted.

See the jobs here community/jobs/index.phpcommunity/jobs/index.php

The major events reported by gd.ie in 2004 were:

1.Forfas report on ‘the Electronic Games Industry’, Jan.

2.Official launch of an Irish chapter of the IGDA in the Digital Hub by Ernest Adams followed by a game design workshop the next day, Jan.

3.Art of Games talk in TCD with Paul McLaughlin, head of art and Rune Vendler, Lead 3D Programmer with Lionhead Studios in the UK, Feb.

4. RoboCode in Tipperary Institute of Technology. Waterford Institute of Technology team emerges as winner, March.

5. gd.ie awards, Dublin, April.

6. Dare to be Digital Ireland competition with Red Ruckus emerging as the team to represent Ireland, April.

7. IGDA Ireland Sony event on the launch of the PSP, May.

8. Sony Ireland sponsor Irish games industry dinner on Sunset Boulevard, E3, May.

9. Torc Interactive Open Day, Dublin, June.

10. First graduates from Interactive Computer Entertainment course in NWIFE, Derry and launch of games incubator, June.

11. Launch of MIDAS, Digital Content Industries Research Programme, Dundalk, joint initiative between DKIT, UU and Dream Ireland, June.

12. Launch of IT Carlow’s BSC in Computer Game Development, Sept.

13. IDA sponsor Irish meeting point at ECTS, London, Sept.

14. Awakenings ’04, Derry, Oct.

15. EI and IDA supported Games Trade Mission to Seoul, Korea, Oct.

16. Galway games mini- conference and shindig, Nov.

17. Foyle Film Festival game related workshops, Nov.

18. Digital Hub – Had exhibits and a Talk Digital on games. Companies in the Digital Depot now include Havok, TKO Software and Eirplay.

Certainly it was a busy year and each month there were major events happening in Ireland to report on here at gd.ie. Further, Irish companies attended all the major international events this year including GDC, ECTS, E3 and Lyon Game Connection. I am not going to write about all these events because you can search gd.ie under either features of news to find out further info. Let me focus on a few of these events which I think will have future consequences.

Forfás report

Building on the much larger 2002 report Forfás consulted with the games industry and wrote a report titled the ‘Electronic Games Industry in Ireland’ which was circulated to interested parties in Jan. 2004.

The report identified short, medium and long term opportunities in all aspects of digital games and makes sobering reading for those wishing to target the console and PC segments of the industry. The report acknowledges the barriers to entry in these segments and suggests that mobile and middleware offer better opportunities for Irish companies. It also includes a long list of recommendations aimed at EI, IDA, education and the industry itself.

Launch of IGDA Ireland chapter.

Things gathered pace with the establishment of an Irish chapter of the International Game Development Association (IGDA). This event signalled a coming together of Irish game companies and academics to raise the profile of the Irish games industry both nationally and internationally.

Members of the committee in 2004 included;
Tony Kelly, Torc Interactive,
Peter Mee, Meedja,
Steve Collins, Havok,
Dylan Collins, Demonware
Michael Griffen, Kapooki
Ger Lawlor, Kapooki
Wendy Gibbons, Torc Interactive
Shane Whelan, Ballyfermot Senior College
Aphra Kerr, University of Ulster

In its first year the group organised three major events. First was the launch itself which saw Ernest Adams, game design consultant and author giving a very amusing talk to a packed room in the Digital Hub in Dublin and the following day organising a hands-on design workshop for over 100 people.

This was followed by a talk in May on Sony’s PSP with two speakers from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) UK, Zeno Colaco, Vice President, Publisher & Developer Relations and Mark James, Account Manager 3rd Party Relations.

Finally, the group went on to organize Awakenings ’04 on October 15, 2004 in Derry. By any standards this was a major event for the group’s first year and the calibre of the speakers points to the strong international connections which Irish companies already have.

About 235 students, educators and members of the industry gathered at the Northwest Institute for Further and Higher Education (NWIFHE) in Derry to discuss the future of digital games in Ireland. Speakers included Jason Della Rocca of IGDA, game designer Graeme Devine (Ensemble), Chris Van Der Kuyl (Vis Entertainment), Marcus Mäki (Remedy) and Robbie Hegarty of the NWIFHE. Around the main event itself other meetings took place too between companies and industrial development agencies and between academics.

More info: http://www.thememorypalace.org/igda/ http://www.thememorypalace.org/igda/ but these pages will in future be incorporated into gd.ie – watch out for our new design.

Press: See news/press_article.asp?NCID=3&NID=173&Y=2004&T=N&Print=the digital hub’s website

And Ernest seems to like my name! See:http://designersnotebook.ipadder.com/2918.phphttp://designersnotebook.ipadder.com/2918.php

Company news

Torc Interactive showed their Instinct game engine at GDC, sign up a number of educational institutions to their educational programme and are making moves towards establishing a game development studio. Kapooki defy the odds and are currently recruiting testers for a new game.

Havok could finally announce their involvement in Halo2 and remain Ireland’s flagship company and a world leader in middleware. Demonware are going from strength to strength and launched BitDemon Netcode, which supports console and PC multiplayer games.

Eirplay, founded in 2000 won the 02 Digital Games ’04 award for its java games. Selatra, founded in 2002 and based in Cork is also focussing on Java games and had a strong growth year. TKO Software, a recent arrival to Ireland must have broken all our records for the number of jobs they advertised on gd.ie this year. UpStart Games kept a low profile concentrating on its links with the Japanese market. Meedja continued to develop projects for other companies under license and their boss Peter became a highly visible spokesperson for the IGDA Ireland chapter. CanDo kept doing and are developing interactive 3D tools for education as well.

And there are newcomers who we still want to get to know better and must congratulate. Purplenose Games and Vyro Games in Dublin, Star Cave and Nephin Games in Galway, Phooka in Derry and the very latest ( I think!) Bit Rabbit, again here in Dublin but drawing upon a strongly Francophone set of talents.

And of course let’s not forget Microsoft Game Studios and Vivendi, both of whom no doubt worked to localise and ship a lot of our Christmas presents!

And then there was that gd.ie shindig jingle from fitch on the boards – the freelancers are also making their contribution.

And finally

So after all these positive developments how can I not be very happy?

Well it was sad to hear that the Bugaboo boys had to head back to England because they could not secure capital here to develop an original title. Indications from other companies also suggest that if you are in the mobile or middleware sector you will be looked upon favourably by funding bodies but funding a console or PC game is quite another matter. Perhaps this is something the industry and policy makers need to look at more closely in 2005.

What were the Irish game industry highlights of 2004 for you? If I missed something post to the forums or send me a private message and I will add the best ones to the end of this feature.

Author’s Bio and Thanks

Aphra Kerr is a full time researcher based at the Centre for Media Research at the University of Ulster.

Aphra currently edits gd.ie although she couldn’t do it without her team of helpers which include Padraig Murphy, John Lynch, Ian Hannigan and Dave Kearney. Thanks also to the volunteer forum moderators Tony Kelly, Ronny Southworth and Dave Kearney.

If you would like to become involved in writing or supporting gd.ie please send me a private message via the forums – we rely on volunteers to keep going.

The major events reported by gd.ie in 2004 were:

1.Forfas report on ‘the Electronic Games Industry’, Jan.

2.Official launch of an Irish chapter of the IGDA in the Digital Hub by Ernest Adams followed by a game design workshop the next day, Jan.

3.Art of Games talk in TCD with Paul McLaughlin, head of art and Rune Vendler, Lead 3D Programmer with Lionhead Studios in the UK, Feb.

4. RoboCode in Tipperary Institute of Technology. Waterford Institute of Technology team emerges as winner, March.

5. gd.ie awards, Dublin, April.

6. Dare to be Digital Ireland competition with Red Ruckus emerging as the team to represent Ireland, April.

7. IGDA Ireland Sony event on the launch of the PSP, May.

8. Sony Ireland sponsor Irish games industry dinner on Sunset Boulevard, E3, May.

9. Torc Interactive Open Day, Dublin, June.

10. First graduates from Interactive Computer Entertainment course in NWIFE, Derry and launch of games incubator, June.

11. Launch of MIDAS, Digital Content Industries Research Programme, Dundalk, joint initiative between DKIT, UU and Dream Ireland, June.

12. Launch of IT Carlow’s BSC in Computer Game Development, Sept.

13. IDA sponsor Irish meeting point at ECTS, London, Sept.

14. Awakenings ’04, Derry, Oct.

15. EI and IDA supported Games Trade Mission to Seoul, Korea, Oct.

16. Galway games mini- conference and shindig, Nov.

17. Foyle Film Festival game related workshops, Nov.

18. Digital Hub – Had exhibits and a Talk Digital on games. Companies in the Digital Depot now include Havok, TKO Software and Eirplay.

Certainly it was a busy year and each month there were major events happening in Ireland to report on here at gd.ie. Further, Irish companies attended all the major international events this year including GDC, ECTS, E3 and Lyon Game Connection. I am not going to write about all these events because you can search gd.ie under either features of news to find out further info. Let me focus on a few of these events which I think will have future consequences.

Forfás report

Building on the much larger 2002 report Forfás consulted with the games industry and wrote a report titled the ‘Electronic Games Industry in Ireland’ which was circulated to interested parties in Jan. 2004.

The report identified short, medium and long term opportunities in all aspects of digital games and makes sobering reading for those wishing to target the console and PC segments of the industry. The report acknowledges the barriers to entry in these segments and suggests that mobile and middleware offer better opportunities for Irish companies. It also includes a long list of recommendations aimed at EI, IDA, education and the industry itself.

Launch of IGDA Ireland chapter.

Things gathered pace with the establishment of an Irish chapter of the International Game Development Association (IGDA). This event signalled a coming together of Irish game companies and academics to raise the profile of the Irish games industry both nationally and internationally.

Members of the committee in 2004 included;
Tony Kelly, Torc Interactive,
Peter Mee, Meedja,
Steve Collins, Havok,
Dylan Collins, Demonware
Michael Griffen, Kapooki
Ger Lawlor, Kapooki
Wendy Gibbons, Torc Interactive
Shane Whelan, Ballyfermot Senior College
Aphra Kerr, University of Ulster

In its first year the group organised three major events. First was the launch itself which saw Ernest Adams, game design consultant and author giving a very amusing talk to a packed room in the Digital Hub in Dublin and the following day organising a hands-on design workshop for over 100 people.

This was followed by a talk in May on Sony’s PSP with two speakers from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) UK, Zeno Colaco, Vice President, Publisher & Developer Relations and Mark James, Account Manager 3rd Party Relations.

Finally, the group went on to organize Awakenings ’04 on October 15, 2004 in Derry. By any standards this was a major event for the group’s first year and the calibre of the speakers points to the strong international connections which Irish companies already have.

About 235 students, educators and members of the industry gathered at the Northwest Institute for Further and Higher Education (NWIFHE) in Derry to discuss the future of digital games in Ireland. Speakers included Jason Della Rocca of IGDA, game designer Graeme Devine (Ensemble), Chris Van Der Kuyl (Vis Entertainment), Marcus Mäki (Remedy) and Robbie Hegarty of the NWIFHE. Around the main event itself other meetings took place too between companies and industrial development agencies and between academics.

More info: http://www.thememorypalace.org/igda/ http://www.thememorypalace.org/igda/ but these pages will in future be incorporated into gd.ie – watch out for our new design.

Press: See news/press_article.asp?NCID=3&NID=173&Y=2004&T=N&Print=the digital hub’s website

And Ernest seems to like my name! See:http://designersnotebook.ipadder.com/2918.phphttp://designersnotebook.ipadder.com/2918.php

Company news

Torc Interactive showed their Instinct game engine at GDC, sign up a number of educational institutions to their educational programme and are making moves towards establishing a game development studio. Kapooki defy the odds and are currently recruiting testers for a new game.

Havok could finally announce their involvement in Halo2 and remain Ireland’s flagship company and a world leader in middleware. Demonware are going from strength to strength and launched BitDemon Netcode, which supports console and PC multiplayer games.

Eirplay, founded in 2000 won the 02 Digital Games ’04 award for its java games. Selatra, founded in 2002 and based in Cork is also focussing on Java games and had a strong growth year. TKO Software, a recent arrival to Ireland must have broken all our records for the number of jobs they advertised on gd.ie this year. UpStart Games kept a low profile concentrating on its links with the Japanese market. Meedja continued to develop projects for other companies under license and their boss Peter became a highly visible spokesperson for the IGDA Ireland chapter. CanDo kept doing and are developing interactive 3D tools for education as well.

And there are newcomers who we still want to get to know better and must congratulate. Purplenose Games and Vyro Games in Dublin, Star Cave and Nephin Games in Galway, Phooka in Derry and the very latest ( I think!) Bit Rabbit, again here in Dublin but drawing upon a strongly Francophone set of talents.

And of course let’s not forget Microsoft Game Studios and Vivendi, both of whom no doubt worked to localise and ship a lot of our Christmas presents!

And then there was that gd.ie shindig jingle from fitch on the boards – the freelancers are also making their contribution.

And finally

So after all these positive developments how can I not be very happy?

Well it was sad to hear that the Bugaboo boys had to head back to England because they could not secure capital here to develop an original title. Indications from other companies also suggest that if you are in the mobile or middleware sector you will be looked upon favourably by funding bodies but funding a console or PC game is quite another matter. Perhaps this is something the industry and policy makers need to look at more closely in 2005.

What were the Irish game industry highlights of 2004 for you? If I missed something post to the forums or send me a private message and I will add the best ones to the end of this feature.

Author’s Bio and Thanks

Aphra Kerr is a full time researcher based at the Centre for Media Research at the University of Ulster.

Aphra currently edits gd.ie although she couldn’t do it without her team of helpers which include Padraig Murphy, John Lynch, Ian Hannigan and Dave Kearney. Thanks also to the volunteer forum moderators Tony Kelly, Ronny Southworth and Dave Kearney.

If you would like to become involved in writing or supporting gd.ie please send me a private message via the forums – we rely on volunteers to keep going.