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Jon of ZippyGamer: Hey Tom, thanks for agreeing to do the interview with us. I noticed your last name rhymes with my last name, so I assume that means we’re both geniuses. Anyway, please give us some basic info on who the heck you are.

Tom Sennett: I’m Tom Sennett. I’m a student at Penn State University, an independent game developer, and a genius.

Jon: Tell us about your first video game. What was it? How did you come up with the idea?

Tom: The first real game I put together was called Atomic Wall Ball, and it was a Breakout ripoff. Not quite a clone, because it made less sense than Breakout. I was 12 or 13 years old, so I take no responsibility for it.

RunMan: Race Around The World

Jon: What are you majoring in at Penn State? Do you intend to create a career as a game developer?

Tom: My major at Penn State is Information Sciences & Technology. It’s pretty undemanding. All the work I’ve done on games has been far outside my curriculum.

At this point, I’m hoping to go full-time indie once I graduate. That’s a year from now, so I’ve still got some time. If it doesn’t work out I will probably find myself at a game company though. I am committed to working on games professionally in some capacity.

Jon: When creating a game, what is your typical design process like?

Tom: I try to think of something interesting or fun, then run with it and see where it leads. Like one of my older games, Acwabatiacs, I came up with while sitting in physics class in high school. I was doodling in my notebook and I drew this long segmented centipede, and then to make it interesting I attached a bear to its rear end. And I looked at it and was like, “What if this was your character in a game?” and all of the gameplay grew out of that naturally.

Other times I’ll think about things that have been done before and how I’d do them differently. So with RunMan it was, “What if we made a game about running really fast?”, and anyone who’s anyone knows Sonic did this a long time ago. But we totally ignored everything about Sonic and just focused on our question, and ended up with something considerably different.

My design process usually involves beer. And if anyone else is around, yelling.

Jon: What do you have next up your sleeve?

Tom: I’m working with Matt Thorson of MattMakesGames.com, my partner on RunMan: Race Around the World, on a new game titled Deepak Fights Robots. It’s an homage to some awesome old arcade games, including Bubble Bobble and Pac-Man. We’re developing it in Flash and hope to have it out before Summer 2010. So far we’ve only released screenshots, but I can assure you, it’s totally sweet.

Deepak Fights Robots

I’m also working on a three game series called Brutus + Miranda, or Miranda & Brutus with a friend of mine. That’s in Flash too, and is too convoluted for me to explain, but keep an eye out for it.

Hopefully you’ll also see some Flash ports/remakes of my older downloadable games soon, so Mac and Linux users will finally get a chance to play them.

And we have some plans for RunMan: Race Around the World. I can’t go into details now, but I think people will like it.

Jon: I appreciate your time, Tom! Thanks for giving us a lot to look forward to.

Be sure to check out Tom’s Official Website. You won’t be disappointed.

The film industry is dying to see how many coins a [good] Super Mario movie could knock out of the box office. In a recent interview with LA Times, Nintendo Of America’s President Reggie Fils-Aime was asked if producers still ask for movie rights for Mario and Zelda. Reggie replied with, “All the time”.

Reggie went on to say that the answer they always give is, “Thanks for your interest”. However, Reggie did say that Nintendo has spoken to certain people about certain franchise movies in more detail. Nintendo is being notoriously protective of their brands, trying to forget past mistakes  such as the Super Mario Bros. Movie. Nintendo seems to only want a movie adaptation if it will be as enjoyable as their games.

Scene from 1993's Super Mario Bros. Movie

Other companies, however, are being far less protective of their brands. Atari gave rights to movie producers to make the retro game Missile Command into a movie. Following Missile Command are rumours of a Space Invaders and Spy Hunter movie being made.

About Janne “finngamer”

“I’m a 1981-born videogame enthusiast from Finland. I’ve played games since, oooh, 1984, and I’ve actively collected new and old games since 2002. I also have a wife and a cat. So I’d qualify myself as having a life, if that’s what you’re wondering. In 2008, a bit of a dream came true for me when I started working for the Finnish gaming magazine, Pelaaja. It’s a great feeling when something that you love doing the most actually turns out to be a career for you.”

The Interview

ZG: First off, what was it that made you want to start collecting video games, and how long have you been collecting?

FINN: I have always had that drive for collecting, whether it was hockey cards or something like that. I’ve always taken seriously the things I love. And I love videogames, so I just had to start collecting. I’ve collected for maybe 10 years, with maybe 6 of them really actively.

ZG: When you first started collecting, how did you know which system to start collecting for first and why did you choose it?

FINN: I collect good games for all consoles, like all collector’s should in my opinion. But my passion, the Nintendo 64 for which I’m collecting all 400+ games, started from few things. First of all, I love the console, that should be your starting point. Secondly, it’s doable. With this I mean that there are only a few hundred games for it, so the collection can be completed somewhat reasonably. Lastly, the whole thing started when a game store I worked for had 5 crappy games still sealed, so I bought those for really cheap and I was underway! Of course I already had all the Zelda’s and Mario’s beforehand, so having those really AAA-class games among the collection really gives it a backbone.

ZG: I saw in one of your video’s that you have custom built shelves to keep your Nintendo 64 collection on. Can things like having to get custom built bits of furniture be problematic at all? I imagine before the shelves were built you was a bit worried about where to store the Nintendo 64 games?

FINN: There are collector’s who keep their games in big boxes and only look at lists of what there is still to buy. I love to put everything on display as well as I can. Knowing that I was going to get all the N64 games, I really needed a place to store them. So doing a shelf yourself was not only a necessity, but this way I got it just right.

ZG: Do you have a specific console or genre of games that you are currently collecting for or aim to have a full collection of? If so, how do you work out which game to get next, or is more of an impulse buy?

FINN: Deciding on which game to buy next is a tricky thing. Usually I get inspired by a specific system, and then I’ll only buy SNES or PC Engine or Saturn games for a while. This also gives you good insight onto the prices and availability. As well as to whom the best sellers are, as opposed to getting one game here and one game there. But I also do impulse purchases, especially when I’ve decided to buy something from a seller and I’m looking for games to have their postage combined.

ZG: What would you say is the most rewarding aspect of being a hardcore video game collector?

FINN: I don’t know, maybe having friends come over and see them be really entertained? Of course it’s really fun to know that you’ll never be out of games to play. But it’s also really rewarding just to watch your collection. I know it sounds weird, but the games that you line your walls with are a big part of your life. They are full of happy memories

ZG: What would you say are the rarest games for this current generation of console?

FINN: It’s bit tricky to estimate, I wouldn’t classify any normal game as rare yet. Also, most limited editions are really not that limited, but there are some standouts. I’d say the European version of Metal Gear Solid 4 Limited Edition is one of the rarest this generation.

ZG: Like most collectors, you buy your games from Ebay, game stores and flea-markets; but do you have any stories about the strangest place you’ve bought a video game?

FINN: Well, I know it’s not weird, but I do have to say that working at a game store is quite a nice opportunity for a collector. Get games for stock price and get to skim the best games from the games the customers bring you.

ZG: In your opinion what’s the hardest Console or handheld to collect for?

FINN: All consoles have their pros and cons. The PS2 has probably the biggest library of games ever, so that means you can find games cheap, but finishing the collection is quite impossible. The Neo-Geo only has 100+ games and is a really interesting target, but there are games of over $1,000 or even over $10,000, so there’s your challenge right there.

ZG: You’re working for the Finnish gaming magazine, “Pelaaja;” that must be quite an achievement. How did such a great opportunity come about? I bet your work friends are envy of your collection!

FINN: One day I got tired of sitting at the game store and decided to apply for the magazine. They weren’t even hiring so it was really a stroke of luck that they just had an opening. It’s really a nice feeling that the thing you have loved to do in your free time for over two decades turned out to be just training for your job.

ZG: What would you say was the hardest piece of your collection to obtain?

FINN: Has to be the Majora’s Mask Adventure Set. Only a 1,000 were ever made, so it really rarely pops up on eBay. I think I even paid a bit of more than it was worth. But I didn’t care; it’s the jewel of my N64 collection.

ZG: Do you have any tips for people who are thinking about starting up their own collection of video games, and video game merchandise?

FINN: Just collect for the systems that you love. Don’t think you should buy something just because someone else says that you’re wasting your time. It’s really funny how offensive some people take it when you collect for a “bad” system like the N64. Just do your own thing and don’t let others put you down. You also have to set some goals for your collection. And first and foremost, you should decide if you just want the games or maybe complete copies of the games. You’ll regret it later if you decide to upgrade all your loose carts to “complete in box” games, so make the decision early if you’re unsure.

ZG: Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions, and good luck with hunting down the next rare game!

Janne’s YouTube can be found here. I hugely recommend that you check out his videos to get a chance to take a peek into his “game room”. Additionally you can check out his personal website here; where you can keep more up-to-date with which video games he owns and in what condition they are in.

Our first interview is with a collector from the United States named Ed, more popularly known as “Splatter Trigger”. ST has a love for all video gaming, and isn’t a true hater of any system or game. From the NES and up, he loves them all. He currently owns just over 20 consoles ranging from the TurboGrafx 16 to the Sega Dreamcast.

About Ed “Splatter Trigger”

“For the most part, I am a completest collector. I love everything from the NES on up, though I’m just getting into the current gen (excluding the Wii). My favorite consoles have to be the SNES and TG16/CD. My favorite game of all time would have to be The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time followed by Final Fantasy VI (or 3 here in the USA). For any more info you might need, you can check out my channel’s homepage.”

Make sure to check out Splatter Trigger’s Youtube channel here!.

The Interview

ZG: Everyone has to start off somewhere, so how did you start? What was it that made you want to start collecting video games; and how long have you been collecting?

ST: I’m going to be lazy here…the answer is in my “Why I Got Into Gaming” vlog from March 2009.

ZG: When you first started collecting video games, what was the most troublesome problem you had to overcome?

ST: When I seriously got into collecting in my early teens, it was finding a good shop to score at. At the time the internet was in its infancy so it was either pawnshops, Funcoland, Software Etc. (both which are owned by Gamestop now) and a neighborhood video rental store. Software Etc. and the rental store were the best though. They always had TG16/CD games in stock. At the time, the system was dying.

ZG: You have a really good collection and it must be very time consuming to search for video games. How do you manage balancing your free time on collecting and playing games, and spending time with family and friends?

ST: Searching for the games is actually the easy part! Playing them is difficult. I generally play handhelds during the week and my consoles on the weekend. Keep in mind this isn’t an everyday thing too. When I have some time on a weekday for example it might only be 30-40 minutes of playtime at the most. It’s very difficult to play, being a father.

ZG: Do you have a specific console or genre of games that you are currently collecting for or aim to have a full collection of? If so how do you work out which game to get next, or is more of an impulse buy?

ST: Going for a complete “Working Designs” collection at the moment. When that passes I’ll still snag WD merchandise, but will focus on the SNES, TG16/CD and imports. I really don’t have a specific genre, but more of a specific scope. And I rarely have impulse buys anymore.

ZG: What would you say is the most rewarding aspect of being a hardcore video game collector?

ST: Making the score in the wild or opening that package from whatever online site I purchased it from.

ZG: Like most collectors, you buy your games from Ebay, game stores and flea-markets, but do you have any stories about the strangest place you’ve bought a video game?

ST: Not really. I did buy a collection from a drunk (who was very drunk at the time) but it’s not that interesting of a story excluding my surprise that he drove an hour to meet me for our transaction.

ZG: What would you say was the hardest piece of your collection to obtain?

ST: At this moment it would have to be my complete copies of Vasteel and Cadash. I actually found Vasteel from a seller in the Netherlands of all places. And it was the North American WD version of Cadash. I actually waited for over a year for a complete copy before finding one. Interestingly I got it for as much as incomplete copies had been going for during that year of waiting.

ZG: As a collector, do you find it worth buying collectors editions of games or are they just a con?

ST: Tricky. Retro Limited Edition/Collector’s Edition games, I believe are worth it. Today’s LE/CE games are so mass produced (excluding imports MF v1.5 LE and Heavy Rain Collector’s Edition (UK) for example) that sometimes it’s just not worth it.

ZG: Of everything you have, what is your most treasured item and why?

ST: It’s actually not a game or console at all. It’s my father’s hand drawn maps for The Legend of Zelda NES.

ZG: What is your most desired game right now?

ST: Red Dead Redemption for the 360. Retro-wise it would be Working Designs Elemental Gearbolt Assassin Case for the PS1….but the last one sold for $3,000.00 on Ebay so it seems highly unlikely that I’ll ever get one!

ZG: Have you ever been tempted to sell your own collection? Do you think you ever will sell it?

ST: At one point I did start selling off my own collection. Then I got back into gaming and the collection continued. If my daughter doesn’t get into the hobby then yes someday I will sell it off.

ZG: Do you have any tips for people who are thinking about starting up their own collection of video games, and video game merchandise?

ST: Start of small if you want rare items. Or go with lots on Ebay, Craig’s List, tag sales or flea markets to get more products for your money. But above all, be patient. If you want something, it will come to you.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this little insight into video game collecting, check back next week where I’ll be interviewing a collector from Finland who works for a video game magazine. A big thank you to Splatter Trigger for taking time out of his busy life to answer my questions, and if you still already haven’t done so, go look at his YouTube and be amazed!

What questions would you like to see in the next interview? Drop a comment or the box below or leave a post in the forums.

Thank you Justin for your insights!

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ZippyGamer: Who are you and how did you get involved with Cavemen VS Aliens?

Justin Alexander: I’m Justin and am currently on a Computer Games Programming course. As part of my course you must find a work placement for the third year. I am now in the third year and am working for an indie games developer called “We Are Colin“, who specialize in digital downloads for iPhone and Xbox Live. I work alongside a colleague called Dave.

To begin with we had the freedom to create what game we wanted. I wanted to create a game for the Xbox Live Indies Channel, whereas Dave wanted to create a game for the iPhone. As the Xbox project evolved, it started to build from a small “war based diner dash” type of game into a very original real-time strategy game. Eventually this game became Cavemen VS Aliens, which is quite an unusual choice of characters to fight between, but I think the story, gameplay and characters complement each other very nicely.

ZG: What has been the biggest technical hurdle you’ve had to overcome with the development of Cavemen VS Aliens?

Justin: I have had quite a bit of experience with XNA before so there weren’t many technical hurdles that I hadn’t jumped over before.

There were however other hurdles, mainly to do with the time spent on the project. Originally the development time invested was around 2 – 3 months; however the project started to build up more and more as ideas started rushing in. Due to this, the development time required increased and it became a lot harder to measure how much time was needed to complete certain tasks.

However after completing a project like this, it becomes easier to make better estimates for the future. All you have to do is multiply your first estimated completion date by 2 or 3 and you get your answer right there.

ZG: Indeed. I think most development teams would agree! And my experience proves what you said — the more projects you do, the better you get at estimating.

Tell us some more about the gameplay of Cavemen VS Aliens. Did it have any influences from other games? What are some of the original aspects of it?

Justin: Well Cavemen VS Aliens is a real time strategy game (RTS). The idea of the game is that you have a set of islands that you have to take control over. The cavemen have a base on one side whereas the aliens have a base on the other side. Each team has four ships, that are mapped to the 4 main Xbox 360 controller buttons. If you hover the cursor over an island and press one of these buttons it performs the following actions:

* A – sends health to the island
* B – picks up a caveman from that island
* X – sends a caveman to the island
* Y – sends ammunition to the island for the cavemen

When the cavemen are alone on an island they will build a base. The confrontation comes when the aliens send a warrior to the same island and the battle commences. The winner is usually whoever captures all the islands or kills all opponents.

The concept originated from Diner Dash. As you can see you go to a table, take an order, wait for the order to be cooked then take the food to the table. This simplicity was the basis of Cavemen VS Aliens, however the whole concept of the game evolved gradually. It was this idea of juggling and managing resources that excited our brain cells.

To begin with the game was a 10 by 10 grid. Each cell in the grid represented an island to take control over. The grid system seemed to boring in our opinion so we spruced things up by using islands instead of the cells.

ZG: How does your team keep track of bugs, tasks and deadlines? Do you use any specific project management software?

Justin: I have used software such as Bugzilla in the past to track bugs. However, due to the small size of the game to begin with we decided to use a spreadsheet to hold the tasks and deadlines. Another spreadsheet was used to record bugs. The deadlines sometimes had to be changed, since the estimated time was usually too early or another feature alongside that task was added.

ZG: It’s tempting to keep adding great ideas into games, but ultimately it needs to be finalized. How did you and your team decide when it was time to wrap it up and stop adding features?

Justin: As we saw the game getting closer and closer to the end, we started to realize we needed to stop adding features and try and polish what we had already. As I said earlier, the project was supposed to be a 2 – 3 month project, but when we realized the larger potential of the game we had to build something we wanted. There are a list of features that we didn’t manage to cram in to the time we had, however this may be added to an update on the game maybe or perhaps a sequel dare I say.

ZG: What kind of requirements did you have to meet to qualify for Xbox Live? I’ve heard a little about Microsoft having strict requirements for testing and game quality.

Justin: Well, basically there is an official list of tests that XNA developers check your game against. I as a developer also can review other developer’s games and give them feedback on the official XNA website. If your game fails in any of these tests then your game is not passed onto the “Approve” stage, which means it will go onto the Xbox Live Marketplace shortly.

Instead it is “Failed” and you have to redo the process called “peer review” again. Any kind of action that makes the game crash obviously doesn’t pass Peer Review. Another reason to fail a game is that if it uses the word “Achievements” when you’ve earned an in game achievement for example. Instead you must use another word such as Awards or Challenges. A full list of the tests that are carried out can be viewed here.

ZG: Finally, if you had to share one bit of wisdom about game development to a class based on your experience, what would you tell them?

Justin: I think by doing this project I learned more about time management. Things always take longer than you assume and it was only till the latter stages of the project that I started to realize that. I think the best way to prevent this from adding is to make sure that you keep to a set of requirements to begin with and do not add features onto the game whilst in the development stage, or else it will increase the time taken to develop the game, making the original deadline no longer valid.

Always give yourself more time than needed to make sure that you get a task done within the deadline with ease.

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Are you a game developer? Interested in video game development? Have any questions for Justin? Share your thoughts in our comments!