do something BIG!
Meet Alex
Alex was with us for the inaugural session of our iD Gaming Academy, and is now enjoying his time as a full-time web developer. An indie (independent) game developer as well, Alex’s action/puzzle game Aqualux Deluxe is currently available for download. Having instructed summer camps at UC Berkeley, Alex talks about how he benefited from his experiences at our camps in California and shares advice for aspiring developers.
iD: What is your hometown and state?
Alex: I grew up on Long Island in New York.
iD: How many seasons have you been an instructor at iD Tech Camps?
A: At the UC Berkeley locations, I was an instructor in the inaugural session of the iD Gaming Academy and a Lead Instructor at iD Tech Camps the following summer. I also developed curriculum for iD Gaming Academy and iD Tech Camps 3D Game Design course, which I had taught.
iD: What are your favorite memories of instructing at the iD Gaming Academy?
A: It’s really gratifying to see the satisfaction in a student’s face at the moment something ‘clicks’- when they’ve wrapped their head around a tough concept and created something they’re proud of. There’s a thrill to seeing your ideas come to life and I love the opportunity to share that with the students.
iD: What do you do for fun when you aren’t developing games?
A: Draw and play music. I’ve been playing guitar and bass since I was in Junior High, and even though I don’t have the time to play in bands anymore, I still love to write and record music at home.
iD: Does coming to iD help you improve in other aspects of your life besides technology? Can you explain?
A: Absolutely! It’s all about communication. At iD, we cover an immense amount of advanced content in a very short period of time – you have to be able to work closely with the instruction team to plan and coordinate ideas. Teaching a subject, even one you’re familiar with, is a great way to focus your communication skills and think about problems from a new point of view.
iD: What college did you attend?
A: I have a degree in Computer Graphics from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.
iD: What’s your favorite tech gadget?
Cliché as it is, I’m addicted to my iPhone®. I never thought I’d be a ‘pod person,’ but I can’t put it down.
iD: What’s your favorite video game?
A: The Secret of Monkey Island, or just about anything that came out of Lucas Arts® in the early 1990s. Those were the games that got me interested in software development as a kid and they’ve stood the test of time. I’ve probably played through them hundreds of times- they’re just so well designed, well written and funny.
iD: What’s the #1 way you communicate with your friends?
A: In person. I spend enough time in front of the computer- I prefer to meet with friends in ‘the real world’ instead of spending more time on gadgets.
iD: Tell us about your indie game, Aqualux Deluxe.
A: Sure! Aqualux is an action/puzzle game that tasks the player with racing the clock to rearrange a grid of pipe pieces to form a closed path. It’s a classic theme, but with new gameplay mechanics inspired by tabletop slider puzzles. There are portals, frozen patches, switches, un-lockable secrets and other bits that accelerate the challenge and fun as you move along. You can download the demo, or create your own levels to share with friends at http://www.aqualuxgame.com.
iD: What was the greatest challenge creating Aqualuxe Deluxe?
A: I’d have to say time management. I have a full time job as a web developer (which I love) but it takes a lot of discipline to develop a game at the same time. You also need to learn to wear a number of different hats- programmer, artist, designer- not to mention marketing and distribution, which is a full time job in itself.
iD: Any advice for aspiring indie game developers?
A: Start right now! Game development is something you can only really learn by doing- and there’s never been more opportunity than there is now to start honing your skills while you’re still in high school. There are some great tools on the market for developing games on a wider range of platforms than ever before- many of them free- and more information than ever to help you do it. I wish that iD had been around when I was a kid; the opportunity to learn hands- on from knowledgeable instructors, make friends with like-minded people, and find out what it really takes to build games is invaluable.
iD: Any thoughts about gaming trends? Where is the industry headed?
A: I think it’s three key things – digital distribution, wider audiences and network connectivity. The next generation of game consoles will be even more about content delivered directly over the internet than bought in stores. ‘Gamers’ are rapidly growing into a much wider demographic, with new kinds of games that appeal to people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. The significance of gaming on the network is only going to grow, not just in synchronous, complex experiences like World of Warcraft®, but more casual and asynchronous connections will become ubiquitous.
Check out some of the cool courses Alex mentioned. Register early and do something BIG this summer!
