The end of minimalism
An app designer is calling for an end to minimalism in mobile phone apps, stuck in 10 years old UX models. He argues (what a surprise!) that apps should look more at videogames and do thing in playful, unexpected ways.
I wonder what my game UX friends think about this. While I think this is a good idea, I fail to see it as something that new. And maybe it’s just a way to try to justify selling a subscription for *checks notes* a weather, a timer and a calculator app.
Reprise
Remember the code hidden in the parachute of the Mars Rover? Of course now you can make your parachute code message. Just in case you’re about to shoot a thing to another planet and need it.
Lots of fun.
Chess things
Why don’t you play a chess simulator that resides in 1K of Javascript, has crappy retro CGA graphics and features Beth Harmon looking at you with condescendence?
I don’t because I cannot play chess, but I do love the let’s do it, whatever attitude.
Play it here: https://vole.wtf/kilobytes-gambit/
Something is rotten in the Game Industry.
Hardly news, but this documentary offers an important point of view. Through outsourcing, big companies are trying to clean their names regarding crunch culture just hiding the dust under the carpet of other countries. As an industry, we need to do better.
Want to know more? This article is a good starting point.
Tipping Points
If you don’t know Simone Giertz, you probably should. She’s one of the most inventive and creative makers/hackers around and she’s famous for her comical robotic contraptions. Now Simone has created this, and it’s so clever and sweet that I. Can’t. Even.
Quite possibly the best music video of 2021
(no further comments.)
This camera app
So this interests me a lot because I like taking photos and camera mode in games is usually crappy. I didn’t really like Umurangi Generation on that side, to be honest. It’s an amazing game for a million of other reasons, I just think it’s not what I want to see in term of simulated photography.
Danny Bittman, though, is apparently working on something very exciting.
Follow the Twitter thread for more.
What I’m doing
Despite one of the most challenging terms from when I started my job as a lecturer, I’m doing a lot of stuff. Whoa.
First of all, I’ve written a bit about the MA that I run at Goldsmiths. If you are interested in learning how to make games, maybe my vision on teaching is what you’re looking for.
Together with the awesome people at Distant Connections we released the second number of our lockdown zine! I took part with four pages, so, expect a bit of fox surrealism if you get it (and you totally should!).
Also, to celebrate International Women’s Day 2021, we’re seeking submissions to a zine exploring the differential impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on women all over the world. We welcome any kind of printable content, ranging from graphic narrative to poetry. Please send nice things! ❤
This month I also took part in Channel Twelve’s Creative Quest Club. It’s a monthly thing where you hang out in a group of people and you’re encouraged to creatively explore a certain theme. Which was colour. I ended up losing myself in purple, and with the help of Sylvia and Hannah we came up with a short interactive thing, which you can play here. It’s very small, but we’re proud of it.
I also played a bit with photogrammetry and prepping meshes for being used in realtime contexts. It looks good and now I want to find the time to actually make scans.
Big things are happening in the backstage. Also, I’ll be taking side projects across the summer, so if you need a game designer, maybe drop me a line. I also do Unity production and small VR things.
So, that’s pretty much it. As a sidenote, a friend has pointed me out towards very, very disturbing things happening with Substack. Apparently they are supporting (economically) right wing, racist and anti-trans writers, and I am really not comfortable with it. I just didn’t have time to move everything elsewhere and I cannot commit to a Ghost subscription (which would be ideal). This is a small think I do for friends in my free time, so I need a nice free service. I’ll research on it and see what I can do.
In the meantime, stay safe and happy. ❤