INDIE INTERVIEWS: SuperBiasedGary (it started with hairs, Com__et, Pen To Paper, Cuties in Kilkenny)
With INDIE INTERVIEWS, I talk to the game developers hanging here on Cohost to learn more about new games you might love.
How many forms can a "narrative game" take? And what's it like to use small side projects to convey different nebulous thoughts and feelings bouncing around your head? I chat with @SuperBiasedGary to answer those questions!
You can find Gary's games on itch.io
Introduce yourself for everyone here on Cohost! Who are you?
I'm @SuperBiasedGary, but you can just call me Gary. I'm from Ireland, where I work for an animation studio programming tools for artists to make their lives easier. I also make small independent games with a narrative focus, lately lots of visual novels. I like playing with the mechanics of how the story gets told and involves the player in telling the story.
Is there a project you're working on currently? Tell us about it!
Currently I'm "almost" finished a new visual novel called Com__et. It's about escaping from a fated romance to go for the one you really want. Like many of my ideas, it came from wanting to play with an existing game concept, the affection meter some dating sims use. And it also hides some text based on where your affection meter is at, which has been fun to write around. I "just" need to do final polish on it, so I'm hoping to have it released as soon as I do the 50 tiny tasks involved.
How did you find yourself first getting into game development?
Back in the early 2000's, I found Hypercard on my dad's Mac. I discovered I could make games that were just slides connected by buttons and was immediately hooked. I later learned programming and game engines in my teens, and have not stopped playing with them ever since. Finding online communities to share work, get feedback and advice has definitely helped me engage with it more actively recently.