Gizmodo’s Developers Cubed series offers a behind the scenes look into Australia’s up and coming dev scene. This week: We chat with Tony Takoushi from Total Arkade Software about developing for everything from the Commodore 16 to Bada smartphones.
Developers! Developers! Developers!
It’s not just Steve Ballmer’s favourite sweat-laden catchcry! If you’d like to be featured in Developers Cubed, shoot a note to alex.kidman at alluremedia.com.au. I’d love to hear from you.
Who are you and where do you work?
I’m Tony Takoushi and I head up Total Arkade Software in Brisbane, Australia.
Why do we know you? What have you created?
Most recently, from the mobile title called AbraWordabrA for ios,Android and Bada formats. But I’ve been in the games industry 30 odd years and have worked in many different areas. I created and wrote the Mean Machines section in the mid-eighties for CVG magazine. I wrote 3 games from my bedroom for 3 years for C64, C16,Atari 800, Amiga and Atari ST, wrote 3 books for Scholastic and Pan (Official Sonic 2 guide and best Software guides for Pan) and I was the European Software manager for Sega Europe for 3 years. I had a lot of fun with vetting Japanese games (‘all your base are belong to us’ was a classic that I let through that was popular!). I chipped in on Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 development and many other Megadrive titles. I also worked at various developers like Codemasters and most recently, for 5 years at Halfbrick.
What platforms do you develop for?
iOS, Android and Bada
What are you working on right now?
Closing off the marketing on AbraWordabrA, and finalising the 3 updates that will be given to AWD owners over the next couple of months.
What do you think about the rise and rise of App Stores? How has it influenced your titles?
The rise of App stores has been a great help to development in general.
While it has ripped open the market and allowed all to try, it fundamentally levels the playfield and means you don’t have to go to traditional hardware owners and spend tens of thousands of dollars on development kits and be licensed. It’s a breath of fresh air to be able to create and publish your own game.
What’s your favourite app that you didn’t create?
Cut The Rope
What phone do you use? Why?
iPhone as it has what I need!
What advice do you have for budding Aussie developers out there?
Work hard, stay focused and don’t listen when they tell you it can’t be done 🙂