games & code related blog

Portfolio

As a programmer there have been a lot of projects since and during my college and work that I have worked on, in almost every field of programming. On this page you will find information regarding my projects and experience as a Gameplay Programmer at Playlogic Game Factory.

Content

• Games
  • EyeToy® Play: PomPom Party
  • EyePet™
  • Fairytale Fights
• Qualities
• Contact

Games

I currently work for Playlogic Game Factory, a Game Division of Playlogic Games located in Breda, the Netherlands. I currently work on Fairytale Fights mostly on gameplay related features and bugs, the rest of the time I'm busy optimizing for the PS3 or Xbox 360 and supporting level designers and artists.

EyeToy® Play: PomPom Party

Platform: PlayStation 2
Release date: 12 November 2008
Producer: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Developer: Playlogic Game Factory
Time on the Project: March 2008 - October 2008

PomPom Party is a game for the PlayStation 2 that is played using the EyeToy® camera and two colored pompom's, by waving the pompom's on the music you score points. For more information about the game see the description below and / or the links.

As intern I started working on this project to improve and automate the pompom recognition. During my internship I've learned how to work with the - not so easy - PlayStation 2. Creating a good system to recognize colors with an almost ten year old console that has almost no CPU power and memory was a hard task, nevertheless I succeeded! The final system was not really automated but a heavily improved recognition system with some default recognition settings that worked in a regularly lit room in the daylight. And a calibration system to optimize the recognition for rooms where the system failed.

After working on the pompom recognition system I started helping the other programmers on regular tasks, from playing songs and scoring systems to profile systems and fixing memory leaks. Playlogic offered me a contract halfway the beta phase to help the team finish the game on time.

We finished the game barely on time, it went to stores on 12 November 2008. Playlogic made PomPom Party as a first party title for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

Description:

EyeToy Play: PomPom Party is your chance to pull off some groovy moves and become the coolest cheerleader around. The game comes complete with a real set of pompoms, and as you follow the directions on-screen and wave them to the groove of the music, the EyeToy USB Camera will detect your movements and score your dancing.

• Lead your own cheerleading troop in energetic, accessible and fun rhythm-action gameplay that anyone can enjoy
• Practice your moves and then challenge your friends to a dance-off
• Comes complete with your own set of pompoms

Links:

• PlayStation.com: EyeToy® Play: PomPom Party
• YouTube: EyeToy® Play: PomPom Party

EyePet™

Platform: PlayStation 3
Release Data: Q4 2009
Producer: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe & Playlogic Game Factory
Time On Project: October 2008 - January 2009

After PomPom Party I started helping out another team within Playlogic that is working together with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe on EyePet, a first-party PlayStation 3 title. I helped the team by doing some prototypes, I can't go into any details since this game is still in development. More to come in the third and fourth quarter of 2009.

Description:

Adopt an egg from the Pet Centre and watch as it hatches into your very own magical new best friend. With a PLAYSTATION Eye camera and the amazing Magic Card, you can see your loveable pal scamper around your living room.

Feed him when he's hungry, play with him when he's bored, and stroke him when he's lonely. You can even draw fantastic new toys for him that spring to life on-screen.

As your pet develops through three unique stages of pet evolution he will become more agile, expressive and intelligent.

An EyePet is interactive family entertainment at its marvellous, magical best. Speak to your pet, customize his fur, dress him up in cool new outfits... the fun is as endless as your imagination...

Links:

• PlayStation.com: EyePet™

Fairytale Fights

Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
Release Data: Q4 2009
Producer: Playlogic Games Int.
Developer: Playlogic Game Factory
Time On Project: January 2009 - Now

Fairytale Fights is a drop-in/out hack-n-slash game for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. It is created on the Unreal3 engine and features dynamic slicing and a volumetric liquid system to enable you to slice and dice through all kinds of enemies and cover the world in blood. The game let's you travel through well known fairytales in many different highly detailed worlds.

I've been working on all kinds of gameplay items. All kinds of devices such as: treasure chests, levers and pressure plates. Kill & death statistics to determine the most cruel player. I've implemented the achievements & trophies. And have been working on some PS3 specific features and TCR issues. We're now finishing the game for shipping! Check for more information one of the links below:

Quote's:

• Red Riding Hood is going to tear your ass up. -- IGN
• The game lets Snow White hack children to bits, after all. It's kind of hard to forget about it now. -- Joystiq
• ...and we hope it doesn’t get lost amongst the sea of other blockbuster titles, because this one is quite awesome. -- 360sync

Links:

• Fairytale Fights official website
• Playlogic Flickr: Fairytale Fights
• Playlogic Flickr: Fairytale Fights @ Gamescom
• IGN: Fairytale Fights Revealed
• GameTrailers: Fairytale Fights
• Joystiq: Snow White hacks up children in Fairytale Fights
• Tweakers.net: E3 Preview Fairytale Fights
• Kotaku: The Brothers Grimm Never Looked So Gory

Qualities

As early as 14 I started programming in all kinds of different languages, programming was and still is one of my biggest hobbies and activities in my spare time. In the list below are some of the programming languages I've worked with.

• C++

  With 5 years experience and everyday usage at work, I can say I'm quite advanced with it. However it is one of the biggest and most living languages out there so there's much to learn still.

• UnrealScript

  After almost a year working with it I've grown to an expert as it is my primary language to work with.

• PHP

  The language my passion for coding started with. I've worked with it in all kinds of different web projects for over 9 years, and can call myself an expert.

• C#

  Gained experience through creation of tools and XNA related projects. I've worked with it for 5 years and am pretty advanced with it.

• JAVA

  One of the primarily used languages at school and also for some side projects. Almost 5 years experience.

• TCL

  For some personal projects I've used this Linux scripting language and have created several cool and fun scripts

• SQL

  Every webproject has it's database, used it alot on my personal projects for almost 8 years. Primarily used it with MySQL and MSSQL and have passed several tests at school with A+.

• JavaScript

  Since the Web 2.0, I've been using it more and more every project: Ajax, Drag-n-Drop and other nifty features. Almost 6 years experience and I could call myself quite advanced with it.

Besides programming, I'm also a great team player and enjoy working, discussing and making fun with my colleague's. At work almost 30% of the employees and also the manager are foreigners and therefor we write and speak almost always in English. Because of that I've developed my English pretty well and can speak it almost fluently. I always put myself into it to be 100% productive all the time, even during overtime.

Contact

You can contact me through email or add me on msn. Or leave a message on one of the following social networks: