This is Show and Tell, a (relatively) new regular which gives Aussie indies the chance to show off what they’ve been working on. Today we have Alistair Doulin from Bane Games discussing Battle Group, and the most efficient way to get a job at a major studio.
Can you introduce yourself and tell me a little bit about your studio?
I’m Alistair Doulin, the co-owner and lead programmer at Bane Games, a small independent game developer based in Brisbane. I split my time between coding, project management, design and business. We’ve released 2 games for iOS over the past 12 months and we’re working on our latest and most ambitious game at the moment. We all come from a mainstream game development background where we worked for companies like Auran, Pandemic and Fuzzyeyes which have all since shut down.
What game are you working on at the moment?
We are nearing completion on our latest game, Battle Group for mobile, PC and Mac. Battle Group is a fast paced top down tactical/action game with a modern day naval warfare theme. Players command a variety of powerful warships, from Patrol Boats to Guided Missile Frigates, Battleships and even Aircraft Carriers. We are regularly releasing new details on upcoming features on http://www.facebook.com/BattleGroupGame
Where and when can we play?
The game will be available in October on iPhone/iPad (universal), Android, PC and Mac. As well as the respective App Stores we will be selling the PC version of our game from our website – www.battlegroupgame.com.
What’s next for your studio – any big plans?
We will be releasing expansions to Battle Group that will add new levels, player ships, enemies and even a cooperative multiplayer mode. We are also prototyping ideas for our next games. The most popular ones at this stage is a “user generated platformer” and a space game similar to Battle Group.
Any words of advice for those who want to get into the games industry?
I have two main pieces of advice for those looking to get into the games industry. Firstly, unlike in the past, games aren’t just made at the big studios anymore. I highly recommend anyone with a game idea to get together with likeminded people and build something small. With all the digital distribution options now available, it is the best time to be an indie and create something completely different.
Secondly, if you do want to work for a larger studio then a portfolio is the key. When looking to hire developers, having a finished game, even if it’s just a mod of an existing game will help you stand out from the crowd. I always recommend people pick the top 3 companies they would like to work for and find out what technology they are using. If you use these technologies to build a game and submit it to these companies you are far more likely to get hired. You’ve proven you already know their tools and you can hit the ground running.
If you’re an indie developer, or a student working on a cool project, get in contact with us here if you want to be featured in an upcoming Show and Tell!
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