Terry Cavanagh | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 1984 (age 39–40) Tydavnet, County Monaghan, Ireland |
| Alma mater | Trinity College |
| Occupation | Video game designer |
| Known for | VVVVVV Super Hexagon Dicey Dungeons |
| Website | distractionware |
Terry Cavanagh (/ˈkævənɑː/ KAV-ə-nah; born 1984) is an Irish video game designer based in London, England. After studying mathematics at Trinity College in Dublin, Cavanagh worked briefly as a market risk analyst before focusing on game development full-time. Many of his titles share a primitive, minimalist aesthetic.[1] He has created over two dozen games, most notably VVVVVV, Super Hexagon, and Dicey Dungeons.[2] He is credited as a programmer for Alphaland, a platform game by Jonas Kyratzes.[3]
Cavanagh has stated that he prefers the personal nature of independent game development, its smaller scale enabling the personality of the creator to shine through in the final product.[4]
Influences
Cavanagh cites the 1997 Japanese RPG Final Fantasy VII as his favorite game, crediting it as his inspiration for becoming a video game developer.[2] In 2009 Cavanagh named interactive fiction writer Adam Cadre as his favorite developer.[5]
Awards
Games
| Game | Platform | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| XOLDIERS | Microsoft Windows | 2008 |
| Squish | Microsoft Windows | 2008 |
| Self Destruct | Microsoft Windows | 2008 |
| Transport Stories | Microsoft Windows | 2008 |
| Never Opened | Microsoft Windows | 2008 |
| We Love Mind Control Rocket | Microsoft Windows | 2008 |
| Judith | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux | 2009 |
| Pathways | Microsoft Windows | 2009 |
| Airplane Adventures | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| The Baron's Volcano Party | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| DAS PÜZZELSPIELEN | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| Nun Squad | Microsoft Windows | 2009 |
| Bullfist | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| Nanny ZERO | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X | 2009 |
| Deterministica | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| Airplane Adventures 2: The Return | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| The Best Years of my Life | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| Bullet Time | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| Don't Look Back | Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android, OUYA | 2009 |
| Radio Silence | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Unity | 2010 |
| N.O.T.T.U.B. | Adobe Flash | 2010 |
| Sumouse | Microsoft Windows | 2010 |
| Kozachok | Adobe Flash | 2010 |
| Going Forward | Adobe Flash | 2010 |
| Bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronn tuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk | Adobe Flash, OUYA | 2010 |
| memrrtiks, suashem | Adobe Flash | 2010 |
| Phobiaphobiaphobia | Adobe Flash | 2010 |
| Red Sky | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Unity, | 2010 |
| Bridge | Adobe Flash | 2010 |
| VVVVVV | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Vita, iOS, Android, OUYA | 2010 |
| American Dream | Microsoft Windows, OUYA | 2011 |
| Hero's Adventure | Adobe Flash | 2011 |
| Oiche Mhaith | Adobe Flash, OUYA | 2011 |
| At a Distance | Microsoft Windows | 2011 |
| Super Hexagon | iOS, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Android, Blackberry 10, Linux, OUYA | 2012 |
| ChatChat | Adobe Flash | 2012 |
| Hexagon | Adobe Flash, OUYA | 2012 |
| Harmonilr | Adobe Flash | 2012 |
| Griefer | Adobe Flash | 2012 |
| Notsnake | Adobe Flash | 2012 |
| Collapse | HTML5 | 2013 |
| Fountain | Adobe Flash | 2013 |
| Naya's Quest | Adobe Flash | 2013 |
| Experiment 12 | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X | 2013 |
| Maverick Bird | Adobe Flash | 2014 |
| Moving Stories | Adobe Flash | 2014 |
| GRAB THEM BY THE EYES | Adobe Flash | 2015 |
| Copycat | Adobe Flash, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux | 2015 |
| Constellation Machine | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Adobe Flash | 2016 |
| Tiny Heist | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, online | 2016 |
| Dicey Dungeons | Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch | 2019 |
| Climb the Giant Man Obby | Roblox | 2021 |
| Anyone Could Be Struck By Lightning At Any Time | Roblox | 2021 |
| Triangle Run | Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux | 2021 |
| Mr. Platformer | Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux | 2023 |
| State Machine | Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux | TBA |
References
- ↑ David Wolinsky (13 April 2010). "AVC at GDC '10: An interview with VVVVVV creator Terry Cavanagh". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- 1 2 Edge staff (12 September 2012). "Terry Cavanagh on making fewer, more ambitious games". Edge. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
- ↑ "Alphaland". jonas-kyratzes.net. 5 May 2011.
- ↑ Cantoni, Chris. "Terry Cavanagh Can't Stop Making Games". International Festival of Independent Games.
- ↑ Gallaway, Brad (18 April 2009). "Interview with Terry Cavanagh, creator of Don't Look Back". GameCritics.com. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
- ↑ "2010 IndieCade Award Recipients". International Festival of Independent Games. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
- ↑ "Five Irish on Forbes 30 under 30 list". The Irish Times. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
- ↑ "2019 IndieCade Award Recipients". International Festival of Independent Games. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
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