WildTangent Studios

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[wildtangentstudios-blog]

Stash day.

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Professionalism is....

splitting the shaft of another dart....

Matt McPherson...you are a dead-eye sir!

That was the shot of the match.  Too bad McMatt ended up on the losing end as I sunk 3 bullseyes in a row to win it.

-Ty

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Guess who got a Keurig

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A few happy revelers...

This photo was taken outside of our building last night.  There were 3 or 4 people who seemed pretty happy about something or another.  I heard a local bird was celebrating a major victory.  Perhaps the Spotted Owl has come off of the endangered list or some such.  It's nice to see people this happy, what ever the heck the reason was.

-Rick

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PB Facebook

I'm particularly pleased with our upcoming Facebook posts this week...

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Go Hawks!

It would appear that Hellboy is a Seattle fan.

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Word Science!

Look at us!

Another game shipped thanks to Dan Banay, Michael Santora, Monte Michaelis, Bob Church and Marquel Basurto.

Word Science launches today in all of the major app stores.  You should go buy it and challenge your friends.  See  that? Facebook integration!  Weekly Tournaments! Fun and Science!

I honestly really like this game a lot. This was Dan's brainchild quite a while ago and it's evolved into something that is truly fun. It's one of those things that, even in its primitive state, nobody could put down.  

I think that's when you know you have something cool.  Even when you are around a bunch of people that design and play games for a living, you give them something that is compelling, interesting, and new. 

Not an easy thing to do.

We hope you can't put it down either.  Go have some fun!

iPhone/iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/word-science/id642964617?ls=1&mt=8

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/WildTangent-Word-Science/dp/B00HEU0DGK/ref=sr_1_8?s=mobile-apps&ie=UTF8&qid=1389292212&sr=1-8&keywords=word+science

-Ty

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Happy New Year!

Look at this awesome little Phaser replica that appeared in my stocking on Christmas morning!  Pretty sweet, eh?  It even lights up.  I hope everyone had a great holiday... 2014, here we come!

-Rick.

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2012, 2013, 2014

Reflecting on the past year and looking forward to next year, I'm impressed at how much we have accomplished.  Since the Studio started up in mid 2012, we have shipped 3 games (all new Polar Bowler 1st Frame, All new art for Penguins! Escape, and FATE on Steam) and we are on the verge of shipping a 4th literally as I write this.  We have another game after that should be shipping soon.  We have been remarkably productive and we will be starting out 2014 with a big project that everyone in the Studio can jump in on and sink our teeth into.  We have a lot to be thankful of and to be proud of, but we are just getting warmed up.  I can't wait to dig in!

Here's to hoping that you had a great 2013 and that 2014 lives up to it's potential!

-Rick.

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Guarded

A Dalek simultaneously guards my Pumpkin Eggnog and my Wacom stylus.

-Rick.

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Game Day

Our office is only a few blocks away from the stadium.  There is a Football game tonight and at 12:30 in the afternoon there are already signs of a energetic crowd starting to make it's way to the event... just now I heard a trumpet blare and a group yelling "Charge!" in response.  This was coming from the street and we are on the 5th floor.

-Rick.

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Zelda

This is my son.  He dressed as Link this past Halloween.  That hair is his.  Pretty much perfect, yes?

Thinking of all you Zelda fans out there picking up the new game today!

-Rick

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Achievements

Achievements are awesome. I absolutely love them.  I've been thinking more and more about them and how they are now such an integral part of making the gaming experience so much more complete. 

Why do I love them?

1. They get you to play the game differently.  Yep, if you are tired of the main storyline, go find some Riddler trophies to get a few achievements. 

2. They CAN be interesting.  They aren't always interesting, but when they are, they're good.  Well done Borderlands 2!

3. They reward you for what you're doing anyway.  Hell, if I'm going to play a game, reward me for playing it well.

4. They add to your gamerscore. I know that's kind of a dorky thing but I like gamerscore.  

5.  You can see what others are doing.  Yeah, I want to know if my friend Dan got that Gears of War 3 achievement.  If he did, I want it too.

Think about it.  Aren't you a little disappointed when you play a game and there aren't any achievements?  Designers, consider giving out a simple one right away.  It helps players feel accomplished and tells them that your game is going to be juuust a little more aweosme than someone else's.

If you want to read a REALLY long paper about achievements, here you go:

http://gamestudies.org/1101/articles/jakobsson

It's long, but it's got a lot of good information in there.  

-Ty

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Boring

While waiting for the crosswalk light to turn green, a jaywalker resentfully remarked to me that it is "Boring to obey laws".  That may be true but, setting aside the fact that I've actually witnessed cops give tickets for jaywalking in Seattle, if everyone disobeyed the law then where would the excitement be in disregarding it?  That guy should have been THANKING me for helping make his day MORE exciting.

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Holiday Lights

Holiday lights have appeared across the street.

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Monster Cake

Check out this amazing cake that my wife and kids made for me for my birthday!  Pretty spectacular, eh?

-Rick

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Floor Warden

We are we having a fire drill at some point this afternoon.  I am the 'Floor Warden' for our office.  I make sure that everyone gets off of the floor when the bell rings.  I get a special vest with the title.  I added the fez. 

Too much?

-Rick