I was recently interviewed by the Van Hemlock Podcast about Small Worlds and general indie game stuff! You can listen to the whole show here. There’s a spot of nepotism here, since the co-host Jon is my brother, but if you like to hear two siblings bickering over nothing in particular (and who doesn’t!) then it’s the thing for you!
They gave me absolutely no warning whatsoever for the interview, so I had nothing prepared, which is my excuse for sounding like a total idiot. I haven’t actually listened to it yet, but I vaguely recall rambling incoherently about nothing in particular for twenty minutes. I think I might have even mentioned the game once. Oh lordy I hope it’s not too embarrassing.
In other podcast news, the brand new Jay Is Games/Flash Game License podcast, Way Too Casual just kicked off, and in their first episode they talk about Small Worlds, and how to pronounce my surname. Hooray! I am officially the most famous man on the planet, apart from several million others.
In other news, Small Worlds has been up on Armor Games for a week or so now, and has just pipped the 250,000 plays mark! I know, it’s nothing compared to the 10 million + views that some of the games on that site get, but it’s still an unimaginably high number for me. Thanks everyone! Reading the comments thread is nerve-wracking though; it’s much like YouTube in respect to the crushing lack of restraint shown by commenters. If they don’t like your game, they sure don’t beat around the bush.
Hi David
Are you the david i know from Submarine?
grt,
Peter
Good to hear we pronounced your name correctly!
John was fearing for his very life 
Next episode coming out in about two weeks, so look forward to that! Can’t wait for your next game David, idunno how you are going top Small Worlds 
I am also about to listen to the podcast you were on… Should be interesting 
Just a quick note it’s “Flash Game License, not “Flash License” 
Have a great one,
-Joe
Oops! Sorry – I’ll correct that.
please, make more games, like Small Words ! i like it a looooot ! it’s fantastically simple, but it’s very original..
i like very much your game, please, make more levels !
hey everybody…..sorri my bed english….the game is the most beautiful game that I see…..I think that the game must be played by all the people of the world in particolary by the head of the state……and by the humans that would’t see…..I hope thet the people understand me……ciao ciao from ITALY…..whit smile emanuele
Small worlds is probably my favorite game of all time to not use any words, the suggestiveness of the images is all the player has to go on, and it’s really incredible, when you walk around you feel like your unraveling a story, but really there is no story, and instead you’re unraveling yourself as you interpret it.
Now for the part where I make myself look crazy: I’m something of a writer, and of course by that I mean a college student with nothing to his name and no real works, but anyway, I like writing ranging from fantasy, usually non-realistic, sci-fi etc. stories while simultaneously imagining up game mechanics to go with them. Obviously your talent eclipses mine solely by virtue of having evidence that you even have talent, but if you happen to run into a creative wall email me and I’ll try to help you out, simply put if you ever need somebody to help write a story, and I do mean help, not domineer, I’m here. I know that’s sort of the creepiest known way of phrasing praise, but whatever, it’s done. Anyway, most importantly of all, you’re a talent I’ve never seen before and made just a childishly amazing flash game, 10/10 as far as flash games go.
Absolutely loved Small Worlds. I posted the link on my forum so hopefully more people will be exposed to it. Storytelling through gameplay and atmosphere — you nailed it.
I just wanted to thank you for creating Small Worlds, it shows that a game does not need to be long or have excellent graphics to touch a lot of people.
Thank you.
Hey,
Thanks a lot for the great little game. I really enjoyed the several minutes it took me to get through it. I wouldn’t mind at all seeing another pixelly game from you (so don’t bother changing aesthetics unless you really think you should heh heh). A lot about the game made the whole experience more unique and immersive: the disappearing blackness, the zooming out, Kevin’s great music.
In short, my brother and I enjoyed it a lot!
p.s. I have my own free music on my website if you are ever really bored (http://theblackwizards.blogspot.com) — hey, you gave me free entertainment!
-josh g in canada
Hi David,
I’ve been trying to track down your email address but haven’t managed to find it, so hopefully this reaches you! I was interested in discussing with you the possibility of showing some of your work on the online component of a small university art gallery I work at in New Zealand (you can check us out here: http://window.auckland.ac.nz/ ). We loved Small Worlds, so please get back to me if you’re interested,
Melanie
Hi,
I just recently played Small Worlds and I must admit that it was really great. The atmosphere, the aesthetics, Kevin’s music – everything nicely composed together. One of the things I liked most was the isolation, both of the main character and the player. Keep up the good work man, you’ve got talent for these things.
Although I know that in most cases it is in bad taste to continue something that is already done, but I can’t stop to see the potential of Small Worlds for something bigger. I know that even the very title says it should stay ‘small’, but maybe after adding more locations and some events and/or puzzles, it might be a great game for a longer time.
Although it would probably loose some of its atmosphere this way.
Just ranting. Great game, hope to see more of your works in the future.
Best regards.
I really agree with what Avarice said, no specific story is mentioned, no backstory, no understandable plot, and just a single character and yet the mind seems to go through and jump through ideas and thoughts and feelings loosely put together and perhaps not even fully comprehensible,it kinda feels as if the game is trying to impart a message or a theme. Really though, this game truely shines because it gives players a isolated feeling, perhaps you are the last person alive and you must go through the different levels to get out, or maybe something else.
it has the perfect balance of giving the player the freedom to imagine and spin their own tale or feel or think whatever they want yet it still gives them a foundation to base themselves on. Giving the player freedom to move about and explore giving them the feeling that they are growing or expanding and seeing things differently was great which is also why i feel the zooming out thing is so great.
after having typed this, i realize i have rambled quite a bit but i have to add one more thing. This game reminded me somewhat of Shadow of the Colossus with its theme of exploration and freedom and how the plot is very fluid and moldable to what each player wants to imagine.
I think the idea of adding more things such as adding more locations and puzzles is a good one though this game should just be left alone, adding more puzzles would be unnecessary for this game. this game has a more aesthetic and emotional and perhaps philosophical feel as if there is some deep meaning and understanding that you can reach from it when really your only using the game to dive deeper not into the game, but into yourself. I really hope that you keep up the great work, im looking forward to them and im going to keep an eye out for you and for what you produce next.
Hi, David.
your game “Small Worlds” is really astonishing. I love pixel games, but yours is incredible. And the union with he music is wonderfully sad.
PS: the end is so sorrowful!
However, i’m a music composer and i often collaborate with flash coders or artists. If you want to make a project, maybe you can call me!
here’s my msn address: ilpappone(AT)live(DOT)it
Thanks in advance, and congratulations again!
Hey, I truly loved your flash game ‘Small Worlds.’ It’s one of the best things I’ve played–I’ll probably end up using it sometime(s) as I start to get deeper into my career-education. It’s right up there with other great games that are more than fun to play: they down right say something.
Not only did playing its beautiful atmosphere, both in music and creativity, bring out a number of small writings, but also I had the urge afterwards to make a small .S model (a pixel toy)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/Diadora/PICT0135.jpg
Loving your game, looking forward to whatever else you might come up with!
Found “Small Worlds” today via StumpleUpon. Reminds me strongly of Windowsill (http://windosill.com), except that Windowsill’s take is decidedly warm and hopeful. Anyway, a very rich and beautiful gameplay experience. I think the exploratory aspect might have been lost on some of the players, who were hoping to find a competitive angle (I love how one commenter wanted a way to “beat” prior times). I didn’t have much problem jumping – occasionally I’d “fall” and have to navigate back to where I was, but not often, and without the occasional falls I would been more reckless – jumping around aimlessly – and thus would have been a little less immersed in the environment. Also, I didn’t realize there was music at first (my sound was down) and still thought it was utterly charming – and even a little breathtaking – without getting my heartstrings pulled by the lovely piano pieces. I really liked that each world felt perfectly self-contained – usually in platform games I get disoriented and skeptical that I’ve “covered” everything. I also liked having to discover, initially, what can be jumped on and what can’t. Clearing away the blackness and finding interesting things like the map were very pleasurable – I’d love more things like that. Also, maybe this isn’t the direction you’d want to go in, but the environment (and discovery of “relics”) lends itself really well to a slowly building narrative about how these environments came to be. Altogether I found it very absorbing and interesting, and it’s great to feel like you’ve had an genuine exploratory experience. Please don’t ever add peril or things you have to shoot, or time limits – that would completely ruin it. I don’t think most gamers realize that there are a billion games out there with time limits and hard objectives and things you have to shoot…there’s almost nothing out there for people like me, who’d rather explore the so-called “background” than run from a caterpillar or die under a dripping acid faucet.
Anyway, please send me an email if you make more levels, I’m happy to donate or buy them. I’ve put my email in that “email will not be published” field.
I really love Small Worlds. Thank you for your vision!
I am thankful that this isn’t really a game. There are no puzzles or enemies to stand in the way of discovery. It’s such a pure experience.
I wanted to send you a personal invitation to a semi-private community project. Please contact me so I can give it to you.
Hi David,
Great game, and an interesting interview. If you have the time, I’d like to put a few questions to you for my blog. My email is thatcanonfodderchap [at] googlemail.com – get in touch if you’re interested.
Congrats on your win!
I wanted to send you a personal note of congratulations for the selection of your game Small Worlds as a finalist for The Mochis Flash Game Awards, taking place at Flash Gaming Summit. Flash Gaming Summit is a one day conference bringing together the leaders in Flash games to share insights and knowledge. We had over 900 nominations and selected your game as the finalist to recognize the best Flash games created in 2009. You can see the full list of finalists here: http://www.flashgamingsummit.com/awards.html
The winners will be selected by a panel of judges and announced at the Flash Gaming Summit on March 8, 2010 in San Francisco.
A couple things..
First, if you or your team members are interested and available to attend the conference, please let me know and I’m happy to extend a complimentary pass to attend
Second, I want to make sure that the attribution of your game to be correct. Please let me know your contact information so we can verify the correct attribution.
If you could send us your contact information so we can have that on hand for any future announcements that would be great!
Thanks and congrats again on a great game!
I just played Small Worlds and it’s just awesome… you have some good talent there, pal… Keep it comming.
I recently found small worlds, and let me say, its really just awesome. the music really fits, I love how somehow everything is very pixelated, but I feel like it still feels real to me; the texture that has been applied to everything, that metal one, is really cool, and gives a great feel, like where even in the brown and green level, it feels like some computer generated world where everyone is trapped, sort of like the feel of portal. I loved how magically at the end, you realize that the midway level is a head; its just awesome in every way. Its really a great premise to oner game, and maybe a series, or atleast several more levels, possible to finish a body. Its just… amazing. You definitely get my vote.