Portland, Oregon, startup news, open source, and tech news, jobs, and events #pdx
Sometimes, even I need a reminder of all of the amazing work happening around here. So when I heard about two household name game titles that are being built here locally, I just had to share. So if you happen to like a speedy little blue hedgehog and digging through cavernous blog filled worlds, get ready to be happy—and full of some hometown pride. Read More
Portland’s indie gaming scene continues to grow and flourish, fueled in part by the wealth of game experience throughout the region. But building games as an independent can sometimes be a very solitary existence. So it’s nice to get out once in awhile. So why not hit a movie? About indie gamers. Okay. Even if you’re not a game developer you should check out GameLoading: Rise of the Indies. Read More
Without getting too philosophical. There are times. (NOTE: This is getting too philosophical, already.) There are times when you’re kind of there in a moment. And you realize that your perception has been nudged. Maybe tweaked. Maybe changed. But definitely nudged. And it’s some crazy work of art that has managed to do it. And I’ll be damned if Mayday! Deep Space hasn’t managed to do that to me. Read More
There are those rare times. You know, the ones. The ones when you know you’ve been lucky enough to be around at the formative stages. Times were you knew that you were witnessing the beginning of something special. You could feel the momentum building. And that’s just what it felt like tonight at OMSI as video game developers from around Oregon gathered. Read More
Oregon has a long—and unfortunately not as celebrated as it should be—history with video games. For years, Eugene has had a wealth of talent with a series of name brand companies pursuing game development there. And Portland’s amazing indie gaming scene has been growing by leaps and bounds. Read More
[HTML3]So the gift giving has subsided. You’ve finished all of Angry Birds and Angry Birds Seasons. And you’re looking for something else to fill your time. Or maybe you’ve got a new iPhone or iPad and you’re tired of the whole tabula rasa thing.
Well look no further than Portland mobile development my friends. Your latest game addiction awaits. Introducing Ramps, a new game from Tyler Sticka and Tim Sears. Read More
And now, that bar just raised a little higher. Portland-based Stumptown Game Machine now boasts the number one free iPhone app in the App Store with its long awaited and much ballyhooed Touch Pets.
Now if you’re building an iPhone app in Portland, the bar is already pretty high. What with apps like the Obama app, Air Sharing, and Fieldrunners, Portland has had its own fair share of runaway hits.
And now, that bar just raised a little higher. Portland-based Stumptown Game Machine now boasts the number one free iPhone app in the App Store with its long awaited and much ballyhooed Touch Pets.
The verdict? It was worth the wait. Read More
Well, the good news is that Instant Action has moved to Portland. The better news? They’re hosting an open house at Ground Kontrol on Wednesday night. Even better? The games are free. And the best news? They’re hiring.
Yes, yes. I realize some of you never had to go through the pain and heartache of putting your quarter up to reserve a video game. Only to have some pushy guy cut in front of you. You’ve been spoiled by having video games at your disposal ever since you could remember. I mean, you’ve even got them on the Web with companies like Instant Action.
Well, the good news is that Instant Action has moved to Portland. The better news? They’re hosting an open house at Ground Kontrol on Wednesday night. Even better? The games are free. And the best news? They’re hiring. Read More
If you grew up in the 80s or spent any time at Ground Kontrol, you’ve been there. You’re sitting there on Missile Command, blood blister on the side of your hand from catching it in the trackball, one missile launch area remaining, one missile, and a ton of inbound targets quickly descending on your last bastion of defense. And yet, you’re overcome by an almost Zen-like state of calm. Knowing full well that one well-placed missile could create a chain reaction of explosions that will carry you through to the next level.
That’s feeling right there? That’s Azplode, the latest game from Portland-based iPhone developer Calvin Rien. Hopefully, without the blood blisters. Read More
Based on how many times I just wanted to chuck my iPhone across the room in the last 30 minutes or so, I think Portland-based iPhone developer Calvin Rien may have nailed it—with Ion Charge.
[HTML2]Every successful game developer knows that they have to walk an extremely thin line. A psychological balance beam between aggravation and satisfaction. Make a game too easy and no one will play it. Make it too difficult and the same thing happens. The challenge is to build a game that frustrates the user enough that they find it challenging—while steering clear of so much hair tearing that they walk away, never to return. It’s a delicate balance.
And it takes skill to pull it off.
Well, based on how many times I just wanted to chuck my iPhone across the room in the last 30 minutes or so, I think Portland-based iPhone developer Calvin Rien may have nailed it—with Ion Charge. Read More