• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

If you’ve ever wanted to create and share your own 2D interactive game then Dan Milward's cloud-based game creating software could be the answer. We hear more about Gamefroot from the Wellington entrepreneur, game developer and hardcore gamer.

If you’ve ever wanted to create and share your own 2D interactive game then Dan Milward's cloud-based game creating software could be the answer. We hear more about Gamefroot from the Wellington entrepreneur, game developer and hardcore gamer.

Milward says the web-based open source software enables anybody to make a game without hard stumbling blocks. Users can create games with characters, backgrounds and soundtracks which can be uploaded, manipulated and created on computers and hand-held devices. 

"Kiwi creatives will be able to use Gamefroot to see their ideas and stories made into playable games."

Gamefroot launches at 6pm (NZ time) on 24 April. 

During what hours of the day do you feel most inspired?

Probably first thing in the morning or really late at night. I'm a night owl.

How would a good friend describe your aesthetic or style?

My good friend Dylan Lardelli just skyped me... "with some confidence, and determination and I would say, there is some fun, and also some clarity in your aesthetic".

What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?

Nothing feels as good as a good hallelujah idea.... like for instance, when we came up with the Gamefroot concept... and then when we implement good ideas or features into it.

How does your environment affect your work?

Well a minimalist office and empty desk means my brain doesn’t get side tracked so I like that. Of course we have an old Street Fighter II Arcade machine in our office and that calms me... so I think as long as chaos is contained I'm all good.

Do you like to look at the big picture or focus on the details?

I'm definitely big picture. I surround myself with people who can help me with the details.

What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?

Most creatives (like myself) don't have a clue about business when they start off - so don't waste any time and start surrounding yourself with people who excel at doing the things that you can't do.

Which of your projects to date has given you the most satisfaction?

Both the WordPress e-Commerce Plugin and Gamefroot have given me a huge amount of satisfaction for different reasons. I'm a huge supporter of Open Source and Internet Freedoms so being involved in NZ's biggest Open Source project is an amazing feeling. That said right I'm spending more time on the Gamefroot project and I've loved playing games my whole life - so right now I have to say that Gamefroot is.

Who or what has inspired you recently?

Things inspire me all the time. On the weekend I was at a WordPress convention in Auckland and did a presentation on Gamefroot. Other people from around NZ talked about all things to do with WordPress... hearing how people use WordPress is always inspiring.

Your team has been making waves internationally from its' Wellington base with WordPress CMS / blogging technology, now you're taking on the gaming space. Why did you want to do this?

Because we love games and we love the web. Gamefroot brings the two together quite nicely - for me personally its been a logical progression, but I can see how that might not be obvious to people that don't know me or my team.

WordPress has meant that anybody can easily setup a website and publish content to it. It now powers more then 15 percent of the websites on the web. Other CMS options don't even come close to that. We want to do the same with games.

What is Gamefroot and why is it different to other gaming software on the market?

It's all web based for a start - so that automatically makes it 100 percent easier for everybody to access and use than anything else that is actually comparable in scope.

As a solution Gamefroot comes pre-bundled with enough characters, tiles, and sounds for anybody to make a game without there being any hard stumbling blocks.

Wellington seems to be an innovative space right now for IT/gaming, is this reputation justified?

Of course, Mario Wynands and his team Sidhe Interactive are global players that make AAA titles, nobody else in the country has done what they have done.

We want to follow in their footsteps and put WGTN on the map.

You operate an international team from Wellington, why is it important for you to do this from New Zealand and bring people over here to work?

Everything is done on a case by case project. If it makes sense for somebody to be here because they need to be working closely with our team then we'd do that.

If geography doesn’t matter, and there are people on our team where it doesn't, then those people work with us but from overseas.

What kind of applications do you see kiwi creatives having for Gamefroot?

Kiwi creatives will be able to use Gamefroot to see their ideas and stories made into playable games. What more could I possibly want for Gamefroot?

If you could go back and choose a completely different career path to the one you've chosen, what would it be?

Either Indiana Jones or Dr Grordbort's

What place is always with you, wherever you go?

Wellington. Seriously. Ok it’s mostly a pre Kerry Prendergast Wellington. But yeah it’s Wellington.

What's the best way to listen to music, and why?

From an arcade machine because its a sound you don't hear enough of. Otherwise while I'm cruising in my automobile because I can play whatever I like as loud as I like without offending anyone.

You are given a piece of string, a stick and some fabric. What do you make?

A bundle. And a rambling I would go!

What's the best stress relief advice you've ever been given?

Somebody once said to play golf. But I really don't enjoy golf. I've learned my own stress relief techniques and normally it involves me going home early and chilling out at the beach near where I live. The view of WGTN from across the way has an almost instant calming effect.

What’s your big idea for 2012?

A new HTML5 + Java Script Game Engine - It might not sound big but it is going to be pretty damn big. These things exist but nothing has been done like how we're going to do it.
 

* * * The Big Idea's 10th Birthday Questions * * *

What does The Big Idea mean to you?

Funnily enough I remember the first time I saw it years ago was in a hotel after the first Game Developers Conference in Auckland. It has come a long way in 5 or 6 years!!!

At the time I seem to remember it being a place where creative kiwis are recognized. Also I've seen my wife on it which means it has to be full of people much smarter than me. So I'm honoured to be answering your questions here now.

What changes have you noticed in (Game Development) in the past 10 years?

Well for a start a lot of the indie games that are being made today are totally amazing. The entire indie game market is maturing, what impresses me the most is that there are indie game developers out there that are starting to make proper businesses out of this content and generating either themselves or their teams significant wealth. I can think of a number of companies & people based in NZ that started off just like us that are now faring pretty well for themselves on the international stage.

Obviously mobile gaming (mostly iOS) is going crazy right now.

What are some of the opportunities and challenges for the next decade?

Keeping up with technology is going to be fun. Right now HTML5 + JavaScript browser based gaming is in its infancy - this area excites me the most and it is going to explode!