I tried to get a good picture of the GamesMaster thing, but it didn't turn out so good, so I guess I can write down what it said.
Start 'interview'.
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pestering the jammiest jobsmiths in the business!
We speak to American programmer Tom Fulp who created run-'n'-gun game Alien Hominid (released on GameCube, Xbox, PS2, PC and Game Boy Advance). He's now now working on the forthcoming Xbox Live beat-'em-up Castle Crashers. So Tom, you created your own game?
Back in 2002, I teamed up with Dan Paladin (the artist) to make Alien Hominid for the web. A few months later, the company Dan was working for shut its doors and his co-worker John came up with the idea of forming a new company to make a console version of it. Some 15 months later, we had achieved our dream of making a console game. It was difficult but rewarding process, so we decided to do it again with Castle Crashers. Three years later, it's almost done.
Was the transition from making web games to programming console games difficult?
I wouldn't say it was a difficult transition, but it was on a much larger scale and required a lot more discipline. With web games, you can wrap things up in anywhere from a few days to a few months, or never. With a console game, you need to work hard everyday, for years if necessary, and you can't quit because it would let too many people down.
What happens in your typical day?
A lot of the time I juggle between running Newgrounds.com (my website hosting Flash games) and programming. The past five moths has been 99% Castle Crashers for the sake of getting it done. It's required 12-18 hours of non-stop programming every day (including most weekends), depending on how crazy and obsessed I'm feeling.
How much of your input goes into the game themselves?
If I can program my idea, I put it in the game, unless anyone else thinks it's a bad idea and convinces me otherwise.
INSERT PIC OF TOM AND HIS DESK AND 5 THINGS MARKED WITH NUMBERS HERE
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
1. A Tankman figure we produce and sell in our online store!
2. My cat tape dispenser. I am totally obsessed with cats.
3. Advil (a.k.a. Ibuprofen). I need it sometimes.
4. A tank trophy we created for our annual awards on Newgrounds.com
5. A picture of my wife, April
FINISH HIM!
Best advice for would-be programmers:
"Finish your projects - It's the hardest part of any project"
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End 'interview'.
