Posts by kate

Did you ever wonder what would happen if the hit show ‘The Iron Chef‘ got rid of all of the gourmet nonsense and concentrated on video games instead?

Wonder no longer: Global Game Jam would happen.

Each year the IGDA (International Game Developers Association) puts the GGJ together, inviting professionals and hobbyists alike to hunker down and create a game in 48 hours. In case that wasn’t harrowing enough, there is a catch.

From the Global Game Jam site:

 The structure of a jam is usually that everyone gathers on Friday afternoon, watches a short video keynote with advice from leading game developers, and then a secret theme is announced. All sites worldwide are then challenged to make games based on that same theme, with games to be completed by Sunday afternoon. 

Emphasis my own, because secret themes are awesome and should be emphasized. What was year’s secret theme?

An Ouroboros: an ancient symbol representing a dragon or serpent eating its own tail.

And that’s’ it: 48 hours, serpent eating its own tail, good luck.

Who could rise to such an occasion? Jeff Ward for one!

Fire Hose had a couple of people participate in this year’s Global Game Jam this year, Ethan Fenn, whom we will feature in a later post, and Jeff Ward. Jeff’s team created a two player game with the apropos title Eat Sheep and Die.

Jeff on Jam:

This jam was way less stressful than any other jam I’ve participated in. We essentially had something fun to play by middle of day 2, and just polished things throughout the end of day 2 and day 3. As a result, this is probably the most complete jam game I’ve ever worked on. Very little went wrong. It was great.

You can read more about Jeff Ward’s experiences with the Global Game Jam on his blog.

Do you want to work for an awesome indie studio in one of the hippest places on Earth? Fire Hose Games in Cambridge Massachusetts is hiring!

Take a look at our jobs page; We are looking for an Art Director, a Programmer, a 3D Animator, and a 3D Artist to join our team.

Working for us comes with all kinds of perks:

1. You will have unfettered access to chairs with wheels on them!

2. You can draw on our whiteboard with up to four colors at a time!

3. We have snacks, so many snacks, and you can partake in them!

4. We play Dominion!

5. We have a Zombie Apocalypse Survival Plan in place!

6. Some have said that working for us gives you +5 in Speechcraft within Skyrim (yet to be proven)

7.  We make video games!

You psyched? Sure you are. Take a look at the postings and apply.

At this year’s Child’s Play Auction Dinner Fire Hose Games was pleased to donate the oppurtuinty to have your name placed into our game. This was accompinaned by a framed piece of artwork created by our own Jacques Pena.

We are happy to announce that the winner of the auction, with an impressive personal donation of $300.00, was number 520, Don F.

We will be in touch soon, and will share updates on the blog!

For more information on how you can donate to Child’s Play please visit their website.

“Rayman Origins sometimes feels like playing a half-watercolor, half-oil painted version of LocoRoco” -Eric

There have been a lot of Lums at lunchtime here at Fire Hose becuase we’re playing Rayman Origins. It is a bright and colorful platformer that offers fun environmental puzzles and Super Mario Wii-esque four player gameplay (with slightly less griefing).

“It’s awesome!” wrote Jeff, Fire Hose programmer, “Collection performers are totally my thing, in 2D or 3D.  I loved the first Jak and Daxter, I loved Ratchet and Clank, and …Rayman is just really, really polished fun.”

“I agree with Jeff,” said Eric, another Fire Hose dude that was kind enough to bring the game in for everyone to play, “I’ve been playing Rayman Origins and loving the hell out of it.”

We have found that playing with four players can be a bit busy, with onlookers only being able to keep up with Globox, the largest and bluest character.

He kind of stands out.

Everyone else seems to blend into the scene, with cameo appearances made when they make sweeping jumps or fall behind enough to stick out from the crowd.  Not that that doesn’t add a certain level of fun, like Super Mario Wii each player can interact with the others, pushing, prodding, or helping. (Usually just pushing and prodding when we play.)

The game design itself is kind of awesome; there is a rhythm to the game that the player can discover by uncovering “Lums”, which are sleepy personifications of musical energy. A player can go through a level and free the pink and rather fab “Electoons”. You can get one Electoon for making it through he level, but uncovering more Lums and discovering the tempo of the level will earn you more.  Not only that, but as you traverse the stages you may run into a super spiffy King Lum whom will give you further hints which will allow you to uncover the inner rhythm of the level and allow you to save every Electoon. And you totally want to save every Electoon, just check out that pony-tail! Plus Each world contains a “tooth” level. In these levels you have to chase a living treasure chest through a dynamically changing, thematically interesting environment.  They are super challenging but the restart is quick and you frequently get that “just one more try” feeling.

Check out the game for yourself on the official website over here.

This holiday story belongs to yours truly, and it is less of a personal tradition than it is a story of a time honored ritual that I walked into, unknowingly, when I took up a job at the fine dining establishment known as Hillbilly Junction.

I worked as a server at Hillbilly Junction, a combination gas station, gift shop, banquet hall, buffet, steak house, and eatery when I lived in Willow Springs, Missouri. It was a mystifying place and a rather magical time in my life. A time of change, a time of reflection, a time of half off bacon cheeseburgers during any evening shift.

Yeah, that’s me rocking a Hillbilly Junction apron. Hillbillies Holla!

But never was Hillbilly Junction more entertaining than at Christmastime. Right after Thanksgiving, Jani, the manager, would pull out boxes upon boxes from the storage/liquor closet and open them with care.

Dust,  and tiny bits of yellowed Scotch tape filled the backroom like an allergen blizzard as Jani went through each box gingerly removing the holiday decorations. There really was a feeling of joy and astonishment as the restaurant, usually decorated in a “Tex-Mex” style, was transformed into a winter wonderland (mostly by putting hats and wreaths atop the wild game on display throughout the place.)

This is my first Christmas in Massachusetts, and I doubt that I will find any Christmas taxidermy to make me feel at home; but a girl can hope.

Nothing says fine dining like taxidermed animals. Nothing says “Happy Holidays” like covering those animals with poinsettias.

If you find yourself in Willow Springs, Missouri this holiday season, or at any point in your lifetime, be sure to stop by Hillbilly Junction; home of the John Wayne steak and a heck of a great staff.