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The Independent Gaming Source just finished up a competition based on the Video Game Name Generator. The rules:

1. First, open up the Video Game Name Generator.
2. Next, find a name for the game that you want to make.
(Peeing your pants out of mirth is recommended during this part.)
3. Finally, MAKE THAT GAME.
Optional Secondary Objective: BRAND LEADERSHIP

My brother/coworker Adam and I decided we’d try our hand at one. We picked Obsessive Compulsive Penguin Simulator, for obvious reasons. You play as a penguin with OCD, who must stamp down accumulating snow drifts, in order to keep the ground even for all! To promote Brand Leadership, I also made this stunning promotional artwork:

The competition lasted three weeks, but we spent a total of about five days working on it — three of Flashbang’s experimental Fridays and then this last weekend. Now go play the game — it plays in-browser for OS X and Windows!

We recently received this email at Flashbang, in reference to our game Off-Road Velociraptor Safari:

From: David Hone IVPP
Date: Mar 16, 2008 3:17 AM
Subject: Off-Road Velociraptor Safari
To: contact@flashbangstudios.com

Hi Guys, great game - I have been playing for weeks. I just wanted to say that, believe it or not, I am a palaeontologist and I happen to work primarily on dromaeosaurs and pterosaurs - in other words, among other things i am an expert on Velociraptor and Pterandon. Yes, really.

And can be (and generally am) a pedantic sod, but in general your reconstructions of both are great. Very detailed and very accurate and that is one of the reasons I like playing (OK, so running them over is cool too… ;-) I get riled constantly by bad reconstructions of dinosaurs and especially pterosaurs that are generally being done by supposed experts and making a complete hash of even the basics, so it is a delight to see these done so well! Great stuff.

Anyway, thanks for a fun game and if by chance you do want some advice on future dinosaurs I am happy to help out!

Cheers,

Dave

David Hone works for the University of Bristol, UK. I am pleasantly amazed!

Here are a couple updates regarding previous projects. I’ve been spending free time lately reading, but I should have some new stuff soonish.

[citation needed] stickers have been slowly showing up in new places. I’ve still got a number left, so if you want a few, just send me an email or a message via Flickr. A few from around Tempe and San Francisco are in the Flickr tag pool:

I especially dig this one from Flickr user cutlerite:

Reason Magazine also recently published a short article about the project, in their March issue. Don’t be afraid — they’re much nicer Libertarians than some of the Randroids I’ve met!

I also finally had a chance to really test my bicycle camera mount — the lead-up to the Game Developers Conference had left me with little time for biking anywhere other than work. I went riding with Matthew and took a few shots as well as this video:

On a side note I don’t recommend trail riding with this particular mount — the constant jostling broke the conduit hanger I was using to mount the tripod head. Luckily it’s the cheapest piece at only 50 cents, but the weight of the assembly demands something a bit sturdier than cheap plastic if you’re going to be navigating bumpy terrain!