We sketched all the screens in the app and planned the flow between them. What kind of planning did you do in the run up to the hack? We'd decided that we were only allowed to plan things on paper before the challenge started. We only came up with a rough schedule after the first day of putting together core components It's a game mode per day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, leaving Friday for testing and polishing. ![]() With a little bit of planning, it means we're never holding each other up, nor stepping on each others toes. Katherine is developing the iOS user interface while I take care of managing the data and server back-ends. How are you working within the five day period? Is there a set structure, or are you simply coding as you go? The two of us have quite distinct roles for this one. Concept behind Lightwood's GameHack game Plasma Party We needed to make this game have a wider appeal than something that needed you to have friends with iPhones nearby in order to play it, so the scope of what we wanted to do in the challenge spiralled somewhat out of control! Eventually it included a solo game mode and a turn-by-turn mode played with Facebook friends as well as the multi-screen game. ![]() Keeping with the spirit of GameHack, we decided we should set ourselves another short deadline for the follow-up game. So we wanted to extend that idea into something a bit more accessible and came up with a hidden object game concept that could be spread over several screens. Although the game itself was a very simple 'lights-out' affair, it impressed the judges enough that we won prizes for "best use of mobile" and "most innovative idea". ![]() Pocket Gamer: Can you explain how the Head Hunter Challenge dev challenge came about? Chris Newman: In April we went to the GameHack event held at Pinewood Studios and our entry involved linking lots of iPhones and iPads together to create a game with a huge playing surface. With the hack almost reaching its conclusion, we caught up with Chris to find out how Lightwood prepared for its own hack - the Head Hunter Challenge dev challenge - and to find out what comes next. Rather than entertain another trip out from its base in Stoke for another coding marathon, however, the studio decided to host its own, with founder and CEO Chris Newman telling us it seemed like the logical next step. Having picked up accolades at the first GameHack in the UK back in April, it's of little surprise that Lightwood Games was eager for more.
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