Rocket 5 Studios at Bento Miso Collaborative Workspace
Tonight I'm attending "Games with Friends" at Bento Miso, Henry and Jennie Faber's Collaborative Workspace and hangout for the Indie Gamer crowd (and much more). We're here for a game testing session for Rocket 5 Studio's Phantom P.I.: Mission Apparition game, in advance of it's release. The game is put out by another husband and wife team, Tim and Cathy Miller. Phantom P.I. has an absolutely charming look and feel to it, and the crowd seems to be appreciating the game play. More than that I shouldn't say for fear of being accused of bias. You see Cathy is my baby sister and Tim is, well I was going to say like a brother to me, but as I have 5 brothers of various degrees of trouble... Perhaps I'll just say that I like him a lot. Then there's the fact that my daughter Christine and nephew Kevin are writers for it, and niece Melanie designed the main character. I'm not surprised that the game looks as good as it does. Both Tim and Cathy have had experience at a number of major game studios, including both having worked at Lucas Arts, where they met. Cathy, the animator, has feature film experience at Dream Works and other studios.
I will comment on the venue though. The wood floors and brick with exposed beam ambience of the Bento Miso space is every bit as charming, and a little reminiscent of Cathy and Tim's game. Both can only be described as works of Art! Henry and Jennie are the consummate hosts. As much as this place is about providing a welcoming alternative to your home office, where you can collaborate and feed off the energy of others in your, or related fields, that is only half the story. The service and business council available from both Henry and Jenny, make this the business incubator that it is.
