Terry Cavanagh (developer)
Terry Cavanagh (/ˈkævənɑː/; 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. His titles all 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]
Terry Cavanagh | |
---|---|
Born | 1984 (age 36–37) Tydavnet, County Monaghan, Ireland |
Alma mater | Trinity College |
Occupation | Video game designer |
Known for | VVVVVV Super Hexagon Dicey Dungeons |
Website | distractionware |
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 developed
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, GNU/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, GNU/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, GNU/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, GNU/Linux | 2015 |
Constellation Machine | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, Adobe Flash | 2016 |
Tiny Heist | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, online | 2016 |
Dicey Dungeons | Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch | 2019 |
State Machine | Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux | TBA |
References
- David Wolinsky (2010-04-13). "AVC at GDC '10: An interview with VVVVVV creator Terry Cavanagh". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
- Edge staff (2012-09-12). "Terry Cavanagh on making fewer, more ambitious games". Edge. Retrieved 2013-09-28.
- "Alphaland". jonas-kyratzes.net.
- Cantoni, Chris. "Terry Cavanagh Can't Stop Making Games". International Festival of Independent Games.
- Gallaway, Brad (2009-04-18). "Interview with Terry Cavanagh, creator of Don't Look Back". GameCritics.com. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
- "2010 IndieCade Award Recipients". International Festival of Independent Games. 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
- "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. 2019-10-12. Retrieved 2019-10-21.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Terry Cavanagh. |
- Official website
- distractionware.com RSS feed http://distractionware.com/blog/feed/
- The Escapist interview with Terry Cavanagh
- The Spelunky Showlike — Making Generous Games with Terry Cavanagh