David Hellman

On Monday, the first day of GDC, I joined Scott Sharkey at 1UP and a dark cloud of indie developers for a roaming thunderstorm. Topics include respectful vs. jerky design, challenge/difficulty, inspiration, and more. There is also a lot of giggling. It’s more Judd Apatow than Charlie Rose.

There are two parts:

Starting at 5:30 Scott Sharkey, Derek Yu (Aquaria, Spelunky), Brandon McCartin (TIGSource, Balding’s Quest), Cactus (Psychosomnium, inappropriate hugging), and me

Starting at 38:30 Scott Sharkey, Tommy Refenes (Goo, Super Meat Boy), Mark Johns (Space Barnacle, Shit Game), Mark Essin (Flywrench), and me

Go to this page to download it.

This will only mean anything to you if you have already seen this.

Made by Action Button .net Video.

My uncle, Richard Hellman, is an artist also. Had his childhood been ruined by Nintendo, perhaps he would have taken the same path as I. Instead, he became a master printmaker, and has exhibited and taught for many years.

His new online gallery showcases his work, as well as his bio, and other information.

He also has prints for sale. They’re beautiful, and actually extremely affordable. Go to his site and click Links in the sidebar to find his imagekind storefront.

On his web site, Rick explains, “The creative process for me has always been a dialog between emotions and the intellectual filter that balances our lives. An idea gets modified once the process of “doing” begins. The various forms of printmaking … have allowed for experimentation and balance between planning and spontaneity.”

That bond of powerful feeling — be it dark or vibrant — and a cerebral, organizing impulse, comes through strongly in his images. It’s also a description I can identify with my own work.

Rick’s prints were always in our house when I was a kid, and he always encouraged me artistically. Please visit his online store on the Links page and consider ordering a print for yourself or someone more deserving.

This Game Developers Conference will be my third. At GDC 07 I was starry-eyed, in 08 I was totally jaded, but this year I am excited again because I’m giving a talk. Also, there are a great many people I have gotten to know over the past couple years who are all converging on this hotbed of hot game developer action. It will be great to see them.

The conference runs from March 23 - 27. My talk falls on Wednesday at Noon, in Room 3006 in the West Hall. It’s about Braid, of course, and that dangerous dance between inspiration, illumination, invention, intention, intelligence, intent, and intellect. I call it The 7 I’s, and all development studios should adopt this revolutionary and cost-effective methodology.

For those who can’t attend, I’ll look into providing a recording later on, unless it goes badly.

A Boy and His Blob 2009

Hey, what a nice idea, setting a game outside the hero’s house, with a city twinkling in the distance. I really like that. Does seem kinda familiar, though … Where have I seen that bef—

Braid 2008

Oh, that’s right! Wow! If imitation is flattery, I am FLAT!

Oh, hang on a second…

A Boy and His Blob 1989

My apologies.