The Golden Age of Gaming - Gaming Memories That Inspire Me

Making my own games is something that I've wanted to do since I was very young.


It's also something strongly imbued with nostalgia.


It takes me back to my childhood, when games were magical.
  
I search through my experiences, trying to find what it is that makes games a special part of my life.  I examine those games which totally captured my imagination, and hours of my interactive enjoyment.  


I ask myself...
Q: How can I imbue my games with this magic?
Q: How can I make great games that last the test of time, that people really connect with?


I don't want to make crappy games. I don't want to make games with core design features that are there JUST to monetize people. Sure, I want to make enough money to live. Hell, I'd love to be rich!  


But for me, I only want to be successful by making great games - special games that connect with people, that get an emotional response, whether that is to make people laugh, feel nostalgic, feel scared, mystified, curious, challenged.  

I want to inspire the sorts of responses that I got from my favorite games - the games that really resonated with me over the years.


As a little exercise for myself, and a sharing exercise with YOU, here are a bunch of games that have really inspired me from my earliest gaming days in the early 80's, and have informed on the sorts of game elements that get me excited.


ENJOY!

NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme)

I've just started the NEIS training course at RMIT University in Melbourne.


NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme) can provide you with accredited small business training, business advice and mentoring, as well as ongoing income support for up to 52 weeks.

NEIS is one of the Australian Government’s longest running employment activities, and has helped more than 100 000 people develop new, viable small businesses around Australia.
NEIS is delivered by a national network of NEIS providers under Job Services Australia, in locations right around the country.


Wow!  Hey?  What a great state!  VICTORIA!  Can I hear an AMEN?
Whooo!


So I'm in my first week, studying a Certificate IV in Small Business.  It's actually really stimulating, and there's great teachers there.  It's good to be back at school.  :)
I'm working on finishing off my first game while doing the 8 weeks of business training.
I'm hoping to have my first game out by around May 2012!
Thanks NEIS!


Find NEIS on Facebook here...
https://www.facebook.com/NEISgovau

Here's an article about The Voxel Agents, a Melbourne indie startup that went through NEIS in 2010, who found it really helpful!
http://indiebits.com/neis-australias-secret-weapon-for-indie-startup-funding/

Murray's Dream

Hi.  I'm Murray Lorden.  
I'm 33 and a half years old, and I live in Melbourne, Australia.

My dream is to make games that are rad, and people love them!  
I've wanted to do that since I was 8.

I used to work at Firemint as a Game Designer, where we created SPY mouse, Real Racing, and Flight Control. Now I've packed my knapsack and gone adventuring on my own.


I'm a twin.  Sometimes I wear red.

I played lots of games when I was little.  I especially loved King's Quest, and anything by Ken and Roberta and the folks at Sierra.

I want to build a recording studio, and a castle.  Here is a concept sketch.

Maybe see you there one day for dinner and a jam.


- Murray Lorden

A Trip to the Beach

Hatching Plans and Dreams

An Introduction to Murray

Freeplay 2004 - Some old photos

Some random old photos from Freeplay 2004.