An open letter to Nintendo

I doubt this letter would ever reach anyone of importance to company, and I doubt anyone with any connections to the company ever reads this blog - but I would like to know that somehow it one day could. Wishful thinking.

I'm a fan of video gaming. I won't deny it. Always have been, always will be. Most likely I will encourage my children to play video games. And perhaps even in the distant future when I am old and grey, I will still play video games.
That is not to say I am creating a wold devoid of life and creativity. On the contrary, I'm a designer. I'm a sociable creature, I greatly enjoy the time I have with my friends and family. Sadly, the ones who are slowly suffering from is a lack of creativity is Nintendo.
It is almost with a heavy heart that I write it. Nintendo? Lacking imagination? Surely not, they've created one of the first motion controlled consoles to sell worldwide. They took something as horrible as the virtual boy remade it and created the highly popular 3DS...and while these are all brilliant innovations, it's somewhat like have an incredibly fine dust jacket for a book. Wonderful to look at, hold and feel. But what's inside is somewhat lacking substance.

Perhaps it is me and I am feeling a little jaded at what I am being offered for games on the wii. It's so very lacking. There are good games. Yes. But they could have been so much more.

Super Mario Galaxy was probably the biggest leap forewords in Nintendo's Mario series within the 21st century. It gave us something fantastic to look at, feel enjoy and experience. The game was flawed in certain areas. However I forgive this. They tried to do something new, if a little formulaic. Galaxy 2 however. It was just something with another number added onto it.
In an age where consoles can instantly have downloadable content to add to the overall feel and the depth of the game, a plot can be expanded, altered, levels could be made harder, enemies could be added we have never seen before and we a perhaps paying just for those individual items rather than just a whole new game.
But thats what Galaxy 2 is. It's DLC, but it comes as a new game. There is nothing new to the gameplay, layout feel, look, music, not even the plot is any different. Of course, yes Mario plots are thin, but there is the difference between using the "Kidnap Peach" idea to completely recycling ideas and presenting them in a manner that they are ment to be new. Nintendo didn't ever really try that for Galaxy 2. And thats why I'm quite bitter about it. I enjoyed the game of course. It's fun to play, but it never offered me anything more than Galaxy did in the beginning. And thats the problem, no matter who your audience is your need to give them something new otherwise they are never going to see the point in buying your products if you can't be brave enough to look outside your box, or comfort zone, or the area of definition.

This is sadly's Nintendo's defining flaw. There are only a few occasions where a team has been brave enough to take a game idea and actual make it real. The best example? Super Paper Mario Witty, fun an actual plot it holds more water than the Galaxy series. And the sad part? Super Paper Mario is a sequel. Yes. It sits in the same corner as Galaxy 2. But it tries. It gives us something and doesn't take the audience for granted.

Of course, you could argue "But it's a children's game. Are you that petty you will try and dissect something that is intended for children?"

My response? It's not just for children. Nintendo broke into the world of family gaming when they created the wii. Creating a console that could span across a much wider audience than they ever did before. Perhaps not just with the wii, but with their entire business model was made with a family in mind. So why talk down to your audience with a game that doesn't try? I honestly have no idea. But I think sooner or later Nintendo will need to show some creative innovations within their games that need to show that they not only have good ideas for consoles. But good ideas for games as well. Maybe the second Wii game will do this. But I'm usure. Hopeful but unsure.

So, what do I want from Nintendo? Well, I want a Mario game that will make me stop and stare at what is happening. Something that will finally top that feeling I got when I fist played Mario 64. Do something no one has ever dared to ask. And don't talk down to us. There was a helping in condescension in every aspect of Galaxy 2, the protective box on the cd case game with instructions, it came with a tutorial DVD,  and a poster on how to play the game, and with an instruction book, not to mention the game gives you constant controller prompts. This just feels backwards. Playing a game and getting to that point you've been struggling to reach for so long is such a good feeling because you got there yourself, and you didn't use cheats, you got through on skill. How does it make me feel then that at every turn I am reminded how to play the game? As if I am too ham fisted to use the controller, I can't possibly jump a ledge without a helpful NPC to remind me to do so?
In the future I want Nintendo to actually look at what they are producing, and think. "What do the fans want?" Yes we could do with another Mario game. But a better Mario game. Perhaps even make a new addition to the Nintendo family? All your characters that you featured in games such as Super Smash Bros Brawl? Perhaps introduce someone else? Create a whole new character that can carry the weight of the Nintendo legacy. Perhaps even let Mario rest for a little while. Create us something truly new and origonal. And don't treat us like children when you show it to us.

Now perhaps this ramble was something I needed to get out of my system. A collection of thoughts that I felt I needed to share. And I know people have done it before. But I'm doing it again. But I want to remind people that I love Nintendo, I love their contributions to games young and old what they have done has been so interwoven into my childhood that if it never existed I would probably never be where I am today. So deep down I would somehow hope this would reach them in an effort to show them from a fan's perspective what is so very wrong. And perhaps prod them into a direction. And who knows what comes of this. If Nintendo ever wanted someone for their ideas team. Well I would be more than willing to live out my life's dream of making games.

So, if anyone from Nintendo does somehow manage to read this. It doesn't matter what part of the building your in, you could be the janitor, or Miyamoto himself. It would just be nice to know that someone out there has read this. And perhaps would agree that things could be changed for better.

Well. That's that out of my system. See you people around.

So now what?

Well it's already August, holy crap did time move fast. Looks like things are moving at a pace I'm only just getting the hang on. So, it was my birthday a few weeks back and I was graced by the gods of Apple with a shiny new Mac Book. Ahh the wonder of it...

So of course that ment I got steam straight away and downloaded Team Fortress 2...it's to help cope with my Fallout and BioShock addiction....it's not working but hey it's something to do after all.


That said, it's not been all without design work, as I quite happily much on some skittles sour I reflect on the upcoming hand in for this west end village. More technical stuff this time, focusing on the nitty-gritty bits and bobs of signage. The designs are a little stripped down from when I started, but I'm trying to retain the ideal amount of individual look/feel while keeping it within the sort of workable level I've been assigned. Not that hard when you think about it. Stuff will hopefully be going up.....sometime. There is all the legal rhubarb about sharing design stuff like this, so for the mean time I'm going to keep those designs nice and snug on my hard drive, despite how mind blowingly awesome they are.

So as I continue to carry on with job seeking - and noticing that Skittles sours have gotten less sour over the years... - I've been working my way to any job graphic or not if it will be enough to have some paying. I'm really also focusing on perhaps going back and continuing to tweak my folio before I go back to the real work, take some time out and treat myself, and by treat myself I mean learning to drive, getting a bog standard job, getting a few of the things I've always wanted to do, but never had the chance purely down to my commitment to college. Hopefully with a part time job I can get a few of the more daydream related stuff done. It's a sizable list, but you never know. No time like the present.


Speaking off a tangent that I need to take... the fantastic web series Back Yard FX has sadly come to a close today, four years old, probably lasting longer than most other web shows. (Or web shows worth talking about anyway). It's been a rather insightful view into the world of creative film making for low budget prices. From Idiana Jones style melting heads to Halo Armour. It was one hell of a show. And I would be lying if I didn't say I would be somewhat sad that it was going, but then again Wayside creations are starting their own show on their separate channel.  They are the wonderful little people behind Nuka break, so it's nice to know that we shall be seeing Zack Finfrock in the future still working on little bits and bobs for us creative folk how have nothing better to do than waste our hours fiddling with hot glue and bits of card.

So I've finished my packet of skittles, and promptly forgot why I was really even making this video. Probably to elaborate on something big, or just to show that I'm still alive. Anyway. Seems that I should be getting back to work. Cv's don't write themselves.

How not to write a CV. A lession in the fricking obvious.

It's come to my attention that being a fresh and new faced graduate means that eventually your going to have your dreams crushed into the dirt pretty quickly. This is because you have no work real experience, no proper design job and only a diploma to your name that says that in theory you might just be able to do the work your given in an agency and not be to terrified by everyone around you.

So you need a wonderful portfolio and a CV to help you get your way though to an interview.


Cv's are awfully annoying things. Well, not really the CV that you hand over. (Though that is variable. I've heard of people attaching poetry to theirs...) It's more just trying to super compress your life's work into one piece of paper, keep it interesting, keeping it fresh and trying not to bore a potential employer while your at it.

And the real dilemma is why should they employ the graduate with neary a job to their name? Well this could turn into the blog of how to give up with as little shame as possible. But I try not to give up. Unless it's really hard, then I just complain about it and then get back to work.

I think it's that visual punch to the face. (Okay not the best expressive turn but you will get what I mean). It's that "Wham" or "Wow" effect that makes that one CV stand out in front of aaaaall the others. It's tricky, there are the brilliant, and then there are the insane, and then there are some that are so mad I could almost give the person the job for having the balls to do it.

The direct approach rarely works for me. 

Thing is how do you be direct and not scary, how do you be subtle without being invisible. Writing the perfect CV to me is akin to a Zen riddle. There are some good examples out there. But it all depends on who your targeting. If it's something design related then there is the elbow room to do something totally new fresh and interesting.

I've been tempted to port my current CV to another more interesting format. Perhaps something a little funky and different, something you don't see on a day to day basis that gets noticed...how I have no idea yet. But as a designer it seems somewhat odd just to offer up a simple sheet of paper to get someone's attention. Okay, its cheaper, but when has that stopped a designer from doing what a designer does best?

Well I'll think of something...eventually.

Laters.

Cabespace AGAIN!?

Herp derp. Again! Yes again!

I think this will be that one project that I will never stop tinkering...why? Because that's what designers do, we tinker, we fiddle, we are up to the wee hours of the morning running of the bare morsel and caffen to power our almighty minds and gigantic egos.

So yes, this one was probably the strongest variant I have produced so far and hits the nail on the head for what I was aiming at. Classical elements of the stars and what not fitting in and making it feel far more true to the original idea of what I was going for. The more muted colours help define the type meaning it sits out more and isn't muddled in with everything else.

Okay, a little bit of a late post I know, and I really have to find my hard drive cable to get dem fancy Batman Live posters on here. I think you guys will love the final poster designs.


Laters all.

Fallout Nuka Break Poster ideas.

A while back the creative minds at Wayside creations announced that they would be creating a full web series based on their on off Fallout fan film Nuka Break. Given that I have recently become a big fan of fallout, and I love it when creative people put their hard work into creating something so well made it stands up to high end productions. And of course anyone who knows me knows my love for poster design, so I cobbled something together.

Here are some basic roughs, knowing me though I will probably be polishing these for a folio in the future.
Wayside are actually looking for funds (at least I think they still are) to help make the series a reality. I'm somewhat tempted to approach them with these rough ideas and ask if they would like to bring in a graphic designer to make some salable promotional materiel. Hey, you never know until you try.


Going to be watching the progress with their project with a keen eye. Nearly a year ago Wayside was a big part in revolutionizing Indy Mogul Back Yard FX. They pioneer short films and have done advertising in the past. If there are any budding film makers out there watching this blog I highly recommend them.

So that's various plugging and fan-boy gushing over with. More graphic/design stuff this/next week. Where I might reveal my new branding identity, a project I am tinkering on with fellow college graduate for Edinburgh council and my thoughts on DC's new visual overhaul/reboot. Hey it's graphics! That's totally legitimate to what I do....sort of....it's my blog anyway!

Keep cool all you awesome designery people out there.
Ben aawwwwwway! ~Whooosing noise~

Nearly over.

Geeze is that time already? Well, time's a marching. Student show looms...and animation is making me pull my hair out. Though I am getting it done, sans for a few bits here and there that still make me go "What the-?" Never mind. I'll get it sorted in no time. Aside from the little tweaking that is left only the prints need to be done, the the buying of mount board and then I go and hide while I wait for it to all be over.

Urgh, I wish. But still, I'm very nearly complete with this project, only a few little bits of animation and what not to be done with. If this works out okay I will be over the moon. Hopefully I will have a means of showing it off for the exhibition as well, I may need to 'borrow' someone's iPad for the job. But we shall see...


But, sadly this update is a little short, needed to check if blogger was still working, and I need to work out if all my video is in proper shape before I go posting things up. Still, if anyone knows how to stop flash files from lagging it would be greatly appreciated. Having some real pain with the one I am working on.

Until later all you graphic folk out there. 

Nanannanananananananana- UPDATE!

Look there, an update, they can be seen after a long tiring weekend of design work and failed attempts to get the tv to work.

So, what have I been doing exactly?

SUFFERING! *Shelob shriek*

Well, it's not been that bad, just the anticipation for the final exhibition is...well....*shrieks again.* Okay that aside I've been really putting the pedal to the medal with my final project, really burning through stuff because I do have so much to do. Even if I did plan the project some time in advance I'm still working on stuff. But my aim is to have it done soon so I can curl up and hide some where in fear of what the real world holds...

So, bet you are all wondering what my project is?

It's Batman...

Nananananananana BATMAN!

Yeah, doing a complete and total overhaul of there advertising campaign, which isn't that hard given how little of it there of it there was to start with. What they had was, well very "eh" and really undersold the idea.

Here's what I have now, more stuff will be impending. Just the web design things the now, don't want to get you all excited.

These are all fancy little designs for a very the very interesting web side of the project. It's a little drab looking right now, hoping to bring colour to certain parts. Will do that soon, icons look a little lifeless like that don't they? Still big shout out to the designers of those royalty free brushes. I would be swamped without them. I had been wanting to make a set of those forever, I suppose time got the better of me, but no matter, they spur me on to make my own resources such as these so I don't have to sift through broken links for the stuff. There's a lesson learned for you. 

Still I find it incredibly funny that Batman would be one to have a twitter page...but after he's developed a coffee addiction, time traveled, been cloned, mind whipped, been turned into a baby, a ghost, robot, alien, fought Dark Seid and punched Captain America in the face...is it really that far of a leap?

My recent survey said yes but I'm doing it anyway. Still, personally I am really pleased with the direction of this project, and if I am lucky I might even be able to sneak in a little, (and I mean little) bit of animation for some of the other elements of the projects.

Okay, toodle pip. Update over, I've got to go design something with the Bat prefix on it.

I should note that all of these images are from my work in progress set, and the finals look a little better than this, but they still need polishing, call this a teaser trailer of what is to come.