Mole Warfare – FREE demo tunnels it’s way on to android phones

For a while now, as lead creative at Media Wow,  I’ve had the opportunity to work on some fun, side-projects as time allowed. Now, after some intense learning and the release of Flash CS6, I’ve been able to release a demo of my first smart phone game, Mole Warfare!

The inspiration for this warfare epic hit me one day, walking home from work via the Leeds – Liverpool canal. For some time I had been wishing to have a go at developing a simple and addictive premise for a mobile game. I wanted to make use of the touch-screen interface AND the accelerometer as well as some nifty physics in one neat package. This would also provide an opportunity to do some illustration and character design 🙂

To beat the moles you simply light the fuse at the best length / timing and then guide your bomb down into enemy territory to find your quarry. Timing is key to ensure the bomb explodes close to your target so choose your fuse length wisely.

Work will continue towards the full release of the game, with lots of fun levels to play through. For now though you can whet your appetite with the 6 level demo, now available on Google play here!

You can also read more about the game on the Media Wow blog here.

Leeds Alternative Comics Fair

We had a real treat in store for us yesterday: the Leeds Alternative Comics Fair! We both eagerly headed over to A Nation of Shopkeepers in Leeds to see what delights were on offer.

Image © Steve Tillotson

There were a few familiar faces including our friend Fon Ma a.k.a. The Pern (who taught us some kick ass self-defence moves last year), Hugh ‘Shug’ Raine the mastermind behind Reet Comic (we have stacks of those on our bookshelf) and Kristyna Baczynski whose blog we’ve been reading for years after spotting her work at the Northern Design Competition years ago.

It was a great afternoon out and a real contrast to the gloomy weather too. We even grabbed ourselves a copy of Kristyna’s comic, ‘Ladder‘ 😀

Face to Face with Jody Smith

Creative Networks had a real treat in store for us this month – a talk by Jody Smith! The BAFTA award winning, Multiplatform Commissioning Editor for Entertainment and Comedy at Channel 4 (wow, what a mouth full) took us on a guided tour of the history behind interactive TV.

Jody is responsible for launching E4.com and most recently Comedy Blaps. He’s also been in charge of online campaigns for the hit dramas Misfits and Skins and he commissioned the the digital components of the fun-fueled game shows The Million Pound Drop and The Bank Job. These projects earned him, and his team, the 2011 BAFTA award for Digital Creativity.

It was fascinating to find out how people interact with secondary devices (or distractions) while watching TV, such as house-hold chores and how games like these can increase audience participation. The prospect of winning a Million Pounds would definitely have my full attention!

I was asked to produce this promotional e-flyer, as an invitation to sign-up to the event. The design needed to reflect both his career and achievements and so I did a little digging around the internet and found Jody’s ‘Faces in Places‘ blog. This is “A photographic collection of faces found in everyday places” with a contributing community of over 3000 photographers which Jody manages in his spare time. It’s also been published as a book with a percentage of the proceeds of each book sold going to the ‘Hope for Children‘ charity.

Check out the Faces in Places Blog here: http://facesinplaces.blogspot.com
Buy the Faces in Places book on Amazon here
Follow Jody Smith on Twitter here: www.twitter.com/toastmaster

20 Ways Pitch

Our friend Peter Kershaw from Duchy Parade films has produced yet another fantastic film “20 Ways” and is now seeking support to complete post-production. In his own words “20 Ways is a comic satire, a metaphor that uses drama, humor and music to explore the question of immigration.” Watch this video to see Peter’s pitch:

 
The pitch was produced by NMFR at Santa Fe Community College and edited by Gene Mederos. Cinematography by Patrick Reid

You can find out more and offer support by visiting: http://www.indiegogo.com/20-Ways

Cows, Cats and Crazy Creative Animation

We caught this month’s Creative Networks which featured one of our favourite animators and YouTube sensations, Cyriak. We’ve been nagging them for ages to get him in (by putting his name again and again as a suggestion for speakers on their feedback form), so we were really pleased when the talk was announced.

‘cows & cows & cows’ © Cyriak http://www.cyriak.co.uk/

His presentation was hilarious and unusual but also insightful. Having found previous design jobs unsatisfying, Cyriak decided to take his animation skills and love of the bizarre online, showcasing his self-initated projects on YouTube. Eventually he caught enough attention to start winning clients, often approaching him with bizarre and very specific requirements, (things in the same vein as ‘a rhino skateboarding over Jesus’ head and falling into a bowl of jelly whilst waving a white flag’).

‘Welcome to Kitty City’ © Cyriak http://www.cyriak.co.uk/

As well as an obsession with mutating cows, sheep and other animals, (including his pet cat), Cyriak has also worked on some fantastic music videos. One of his latest projects (below) is simply beautiful and shows just how far he has come in a short time but it’s heartwarming to know that he continues to produce his own self-initiated, twisted and higly entertaining animations on the side 🙂

‘Hooray For Earth – “True Loves” (Cereal Spiller Remix)’ © Cyriak http://www.cyriak.co.uk/

Check out Cyriak online at http://cyriak.co.uk/ and on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/user/cyriak

Rest in Peace Racheal

We had some terrible news this week which we found out through a post on Amy’s website: Pikaland. Our friend, Racheal Anilyse, passed away at the end of last year.

We met her online in 2009 and collaborated with her by submitting illustrations to her zine, Underground Art School. Rach worked so hard on it – it was much more than just a zine really, it was a website for recent grads and creative professionals too. We exchanged many emails over the years, chatting about our lives and our creative work. She was always enthusiastic, supportive and encouraging.

Racheal had hinted that she was ill but never to this extent. We had no idea her difficulties were that severe. Reading back over old emails makes us now realise. She was an incredibly brave person. We hadn’t heard from her in a while but thought she was just very busy creating beautiful illustrations for her children’s books.

We never got to meet her in person and now sadly we never will but Amy shared some lovely news that really cheered us up. Racheal’s family has started the Racheal Anilyse Art Initiative through the Rose Foundation of Haiti, and the University of Hartford School of Art (where she studied) has established a scholarship in her name. The University also has an online guestbook where you can leave a message. Knowing that her memory will go on with these initiatives has really made us smile 🙂

Rest in Peace Racheal. We’ll miss you x