‘Horse Talk’ is a new series here on the Octodad blog where we’ll be running some intra-team Young Horses interviews. First up we quiz Devon Scott-Tunkin.
The first 2 or so questions will be the same for each horse, but afterwords we crowd-source the team for things they’d like to ask the interviewee. (Question sources are anonymous to protect the safety of the interviewer from the wrath of the interviewee.)
(Not really.)
Who are you and what do you do at Young Horses?
Am I supposed to answer this? I AM Devon Scott-Tunkin. I wear many hats but usually I can be found programming parts of the game involving Octodad’s parts, NPCAI, or the Macintosh Experience, being the netmaster and wwwdesigner, creating some promo and UI arts, and the treasuring.
What are your favorite games and why?
I am afflicted with terrible nostalgia for Ultima VII, Day of the Tentacle, Betrayal at Krondor, Sam & Max Hit the Road, Simcity 2000, Civilization II, Rock’n Roll Racing and Quest for Glory. My favorite game I’m playing right now is The Real Texas, it has one of the most creative worlds I’ve ever visited. I also get an urge to play Gain Ground and Counter-Strike, every year or so. I guess you could say I like games with strong characters and writing, a wacky sense of humor, realized worlds and deep sandbox simulations. Octodad has all of my favorite “features” (except npc scheduling, but that’s coming soon).
How did you get into game development?
My undergrad degree was in painting and I’ve always been interested in art. I got excited by newer indie “art” games and all the untapped potential in gaming as a new art medium. Whatever that means. Also, I wanted to learn how to program to expand my career choices. Also, I got mature enough to realize games don’t have to be a waste of time, and stopped feeling guilty about all the hours I spent playing Jedi Knight and Ultima Online.
How did growing up in Iowa influence your taste in games?
Mostly it just means games were more interesting than most other things to do in Iowa (besides power sliding Subarus). And that I’m used to being surrounded by uncanny valley white people in real life so now I’m desensitized to it in games. A&E milk is the best milk in the world, though.
How are you going to celebrate when we finish Dadliest Catch?
When Dadliest Catch is released I’m going to drive my 1995 Toyota Camry to the top of the Wesley Willis Tower wearing a Batman cowl and an upside down ankh necklace and just sit up there by myself for 10 hours singing “The Final Countdown” in a deep baritone until Phil calls me and tells me that the game is already finished and that choice of song is unfortunate. Then I’m going to kiss my girlfriend, Emily. Or I’ll just celebrate by doing whatever it is the kids do these days. So probably meth. Meth and Skrillex.
If you could have a tiny US president floating around your head at all times, which would it be and why?
Benjamin Harrison, because no one can hear him scream or cares if he does.
What genre’s would the soundtrack to your dream game encompass?
Post-Baroque Twillwave Grindstep Nocore Chiphop and Dance Thrash and Tom Petty.
Would you ever go back to doing solely art? Or do you prefer doing a little bit of that and programming?
I think I get bored easily and don’t see myself focusing too long on one role. I will probably just forever be “good enough” at everything except cooking, eating, walking, repairing household furniture, accents, singing in my natural singing voice, or pool (I’m terrible at those things). I also think programming is far easier than art, and I enjoy many aspects of programming much more than art creation, so I would only consider doing solely art for a game that I really wanted total control of the aesthetic and the tech was completely dull to me.
Hopefully you didn’t get lost in the rhythmic dance of Devon’s pure-tone hypothesis and can still feel your feet. That does it for this week, make sure to check back next week for another eclectic look into the life of a horse.