Registration for the Games for Change Festival ends tomorrow! Before we tell you about our next amazing nominee, be sure to register no so you’re not sold out! http://gamesforchange.org/festival2012/attend/
Today’s nominee in the spotlight is Phil Stuart from Preloaded, a developer based in the UK. Their game, The End, is nominated for Best Gameplay and Most Significant Impact at this year’s festival. The End (http://playtheend.com) integrates strategy, puzzles and questions into a world which explores a range of commonly, or less commonly, held views about death. The game was funded by Channel 4 Education.
Games for Change: Hi Phil! Thanks for taking some time to talk to us. Let’s skip right to the question everyone has come to love: What game do you wish you designed and why?
Phil Stuart: I am a strong advocate for reductive game design and simplicity. My favourite game – or at least the game I’ve the most hours to – is Drop7. It’s the perfect example of the complexity that emerges out of a simple rule-set and is my benchmark from which all other puzzle games are measured.
G4C: It is a great game. Tell us what made the audience for The End unique.
PS: Our audience is the game-playing mainstream public with a focus on hard to reach teen and pre-teen demographics. Our approach doesn’t target a niche audience, but uses the broad appeal of games to create mass engagement around topics which are underexposed or misunderstood.
G4C: Finish this sentence: The gaming industry is…
PS: The gaming industry is waking up the power of games to do more than just entertain.
G4C: Exactly! How would you describe your work at Preloaded?
PS: We are striving for a blend of commissioned games, joint ventures and self-intiated projects, across (mobile and online) self-publishing platforms. We work in informal learning and social-change gaming but are looking at new opportunities in new territories. Serious games and formal learning are two specific areas we believe can benefit from our methodology, and the key to this will be forging stronger relationships with pioneers and innovators outside the UK.
G4C: Are you working on anything specific right now?
PS: We’ve just finished a gamification strategy for the BBC’s learning environments. We’re about to launch Footfall, a shoe-shop Facebook game for C4 Education. Billed as a ‘socially-minded social game’, the game sets out to demonstrate the social, environmental and financial impact of decisions made when running a business. We’re also working on a small and perfectly formed micro-action-adventure game, pitching the player against 5 incarnations of human emotions on a journey of personal enlightenment. It’s called ‘SuperSight’, is all about resilience strategies for teens and is going to on mobile and web late summer. And we’ve also been working with the Library of Birmingham (UK) team to create a game which will support the multi-million pound development of the new city’s Library. Fingers are crossed for a 2012 launch.
G4C: Wow! Sounds like you have your hands full and there’s a bright future ahead.
PS: We believe the future is bright for games with purpose and are committed to developing innovative and engaging content for ever more mainstream audiences.
G4C: Thanks for talking with us Phil! And good luck at the Festival.
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Don’t get sold out at G4C12! Get your ticket today! http://gamesforchange.org/festival2012/attend/
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