CreatingSFF podcast

Game developers Christian Plummer and Zenas Bellace interview

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I met one of the programmers and one of the developers of the indie game Super Rock Blasters at Super Magfest 2018 and interviewed them about making games.

1:36 – Christian explains what Super Rock Blasters is about. It’s Asteroids but blowing up each other.

2:27 – He’s worked on various projects in the past. He’s done a lot of game jams too.

3:42 – He uses Unity to port the game to other systems. It’s better than in the past but it’s not an easy process.

4:58 – His most important tool is a white board and markers.

5:46 – Special effects is what he most likes working on.

7:25 – Computer games are like raising children.

8:55 – He defines success as people spreading interest in the game through word of mouth.

9:50 – One of the the programmers, Zenas Bellace joined the conversation.

13:35 –Zenas talked about his method in developing games.

14:50 – They see games as a form of information and communication between people.

16:10 – Dune has been an inspiration for Zenas. Christian has been inspired by anime. The hero’s journey also.

17:45 – Zenas would like to create a sort of role playing type video game. Overall, they said to just make games if you want to. Just do it.

19:49 – The game can be found at rockblasters.quadratron.com or on twitter @quadratrongames

 

Links

http://www.quadratron.com/portfolio/super-rock-blasters/

 

For more “Creating Sci-Fi and Fantasy – An Inside Look” please follow me on Facebook at crisalvarezwlc, on youtube at Cris Alvarez and on Instagram @crisalvarezscifi

 

Guests: Christian Plummer, Zenas Bellace

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: science fiction, game design, video games, super rock blasters, special effects, game effects, unity

 

 

Game developers Christian Plummer and Zenas Bellace interview – Super Magfest 2018 – youtube

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I met one of the programmers and one of the developers of the indie game Super Rock Blasters at Super Magfest 2018 and interviewed them about making games.

1:36 – Christian explains what Super Rock Blasters is about. It’s Asteroids but blowing up each other.

2:27 – He’s worked on various projects in the past. He’s done a lot of game jams too.

3:42 – He uses Unity to port the game to other systems. It’s better than in the past but it’s not an easy process.

4:58 – His most important tool is a white board and markers.

5:46 – Special effects is what he most likes working on.

7:25 – Computer games are like raising children.

8:55 – He defines success as people spreading interest in the game through word of mouth.

9:50 – One of the the programmers, Zenas Bellace joined the conversation.

13:35 –Zenas talked about his method in developing games.

14:50 – They see games as a form of information and communication between people.

16:10 – Dune has been an inspiration for Zenas. Christian has been inspired by anime. The hero’s journey also.

17:45 – Zenas would like to create a sort of role playing type video game. Overall, they said to just make games if you want to. Just do it.

19:49 – The game can be found at rockblasters.quadratron.com or on twitter @quadratrongames

 

Links

http://www.quadratron.com/portfolio/super-rock-blasters/

 

For more “Creating Sci-Fi and Fantasy – An Inside Look” please follow me on Facebook at crisalvarezwlc, on youtube at Cris Alvarez and on Instagram @crisalvarezscifi

 

Guests: Christian Plummer, Zenas Bellace

Host: Cris Alvarez

Weapons maker Alekseyev Ilya interview

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Alekseyev Ilya is a weapons maker, armorer, engraver and philosopher. I spoke to him at Magfest 2018 about his work with the Man At Arms Reforged show and other things.

2:03 – Alexei talks about the Kings of Avalon sword. He is proud of the amount of engraving he did for it. Engraving is his specialty.

3:18 – He is inspired sometimes by the subject matter. Sometimes the material he uses inspires him. The challenge of the project also inspires him.

4:17 – He’s a big fan of the Japanese tradition of sword smithing. They treat swords as artwork and have established traditions for this. Most other places in the world do not have a continuous culture of appraising swords and treating them as artwork.

6:43 – His library is the most important tool for his work. His classical literature collection is what is important to balance his skills. It helps to guide his hands.

9:20 – The two things he enjoys most are one, using the charcoal forge. The process is meditative. The second is engraving and chasing.

11:11 – He started weapons making in college when he needed a job while studying Philosophy. His first piece of armor was probably a chain mail shirt. His first sword was a Polish sabre. A 17th century one.

12:38 – His Philosophy thesis was on intellectual property.

17:29 – Philosophy is still a very big part of his life.

18:11 – He doesn’t remember his first professional sale. He works during the day on Baltimore Knife and Sword projects and after that he works on his personal weapon projects. He treats weapons as art objects not as something for violence.

20:19 – He was inspired by Tolkien just like everyone in the Western world. Anime has inspired him a lot. He really likes the anime Kill la Kill. Bladerunner is amazing to him. Zelany’s work is great food for the mind. Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles gave him an appreciation for American literature. Ghost in the Shell was and is amazing.   He knows the Stanislaw brothers works and enjoys them.

23:22 – He would like to make the Divined Jewel Spears of Heavens from the Kojiki. He would like to make one or both of Charlemagne’s swords. The saber was made in Russia and requires a lot of gold.

 

Links

http://imakeswords.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_la_Kill

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojiki

 

For more “Creating Sci-Fi and Fantasy – An Inside Look” please follow me on Facebook at crisalvarezwlc, on youtube at Cris Alvarez and on Instagram @crisalvarezscifi

 

Guests: Ilya Alekseyev

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: swordsmith, armor, engraving, philosophy, charlemagne, japanese swords, artistry, weapons, man at arms, baltimore knife and sword