10 Game Industry Questions - Rob Blackadder

10 Questions from Cav - Monday, 08 February 2010 @ 11:02pm

Full Name: Robert Blackadder

Nickname: Rob

Gender: Male

Age: Old

Current Company: Bluetongue Entertainment

Current Project: Marvel Super Hero Squad

Gaming Systems Owned: PS3, Wii, DS, PSP, Xbox, Nintendo, PS2, Atari 2600, Amiga, Dreamcast

Q1: What is your job role where you work and can you explain what it entails?

I’m one of the Creative Directors here at Blue Tongue. It is my job to make sure the game is fun and of good quality. My days are spent talking to all the designers, programmers, artists and testers making sure we are all working toward the same goal – a cool game.

Q2: What games have you been directly involved with previously?

Besides Marvel Super Hero Squad I’ve done a few games for Nicktoons and Dungeons & Dragons many Star Wars games and a gladiator game – Gladius.

Marvel Super Hero Squad - Out Now!!

Q3: How did you get your start in the gaming industry?

I wrote a coded a demo fighting game for the 3DO which I sent off to Lucasarts in hopes of getting a job – they liked it and me so I stayed for about ten years ;)

Q4: What has been the most positive experience of working in the games industry so far?

Making an original IP game and getting good reviews for it – doesn’t happen very often anymore that you pitch and idea and get to make it from start to finish.

Q5: What has been the most negative experience of working in the games industry so far?

I took a job where I had to jump into a game that had been underway for well over a year – a tough job to say the least – I won’t try that again.

Q6: What advice can you give to other people looking to get into a position such as yours?

Get some experience as a coder, LD or an artist and get really good at it. You need to have done your time in the trenches if you want to be any good as a leader.

Q7: How do you see Australia as a market when compared to the rest of the world?

Honestly I don’t find it much different other parts of the world in which I’ve lived. Gamers are gamers and we pretty much like the same things no matter where we live ;)

Q8: Got any good stories you want to share?

Funny how the worst days seem to be the best memories; making a game during crunch can be like going to war in that you always bond with the guys you go through the pain with We did crazy 30+ hour days at Lucasarts and I have lots of memories of hours long nerf gun battles up and down the building late at night, bribing testers to eat mouldy food of undetermined age (they did), the pot of coffee challenge - drink and entire pot of hot coffee in one go (near heart attack will follow by the way, followed by hours of shakes). Work hard, play hard, good times.

Q9: What are your favourite games and why?

I’m loving Fall Out which I‘m playing over yet again – such a deep game with tons to do. I also like games you can just pick up and play especially if they are coop. I liked all those games on the snow blind engine a few years back; good fun to hang out with friends and bash stuff.

Q10: If you could meet any gaming character in real life, who would it be and why?

Jill Valentine who I understand may still be alive (still playing RE5 obviously) – I’m a fan boy of the RE series ;)