Week 674

What’s this? I’m blogging about my work on a weekly basis – a simple way to track and archive whatever it is I spend my time on.

Last week, some effort went into preparations for an item on Entertainment Experience, a TV program about a crowdsourcing multimedia project headlined by Paul Verhoeven (which I am critical of). I was asked to talk about the crossover of games and movies, and my item was broadcast in two parts: part 1, part 2.

Judging by the amount of comments I got, a lot of folks are still watching TV. Even an obscure station like Veronica. This never ceases to amaze me – when do these people read books? Also, judging by the amount of comments from acquaintances I hadn’t spoken to in a while, seeing someone on TV feels special and noteworthy. Finally, I really need to trim my beard.

Additionally, I published a new column at Gamer.nl, this one about making games as a journalist, and the insights that has given me.

On Tuesday, I visited GameHouse Studio Eindhoven, the Dutch development group of casual games giant Zylom / Real Games. The goal: to interview creative director Michel Maas about his latest game Emily’s True Love. It was great to hear him talk passionately about a popular and lovingly crafted series of games that’s off the traditonal hardcore gaming radar. My interview will become an article in nrc.next.

On Wednesday, I had another good story slash design session at Two Tribes, where I’m helping out with the development of Toki Tori 2.

On the Bashers.nl front, we published what was perhaps Rogier Kahlmann’s funniest parody video yet (though even better stuff is coming up, I’m happy to report). I also spent Thursday morning hashing out the basics of our forthcoming tablet app with the developers.

Finally, I left on Friday for Istanbul, where I joined the Cultures@Play Game Jam with Dutch and Turkish students. Interaction designers, programmers, sound designers and others were challenged to build games around local culture within 48 hours. I was there by invitation of the Utrecht School of the Arts and joined one of three teams.

I reported on this in three parts: part 1, part 2, part 3. In the sense of succesfully making what we set out to do, this was my most succesful game jam so far. Also good: my silver medal, and the fact that I had a couple of hours for sightseeing.