15/12/2003 Interview with Chris Brooks- from umbongo software.
1/ How many people are involved in umbongo software and when did it start up? ...and why the name Umbongo?
There's only one full-time programmer at umbongo software which is me. I do have other people who work from time to time (the website is currently being upgraded by someone else). The name comes from a fruit drink here in the UK, I used to love it when I was a child, and I'll still buy it when I can find it. Shaun: wow- that takes me back! Umbongo was a great drink and it's a surprise to know it's still available:)
2/ I presume you were a fan of SFCave and thus that's how Cave Run came about- am I right?
Yes, you're right - I'd used to have a Palm Professional, but it was stolen from my car (serves me right for leaving it in there really) and I used to play SFCave on it regularly, I always found it a little jerky. When I got my Palm m515 it was the first game I loaded up on it. It still ran back and white and was still jerky, I looked around for a better version and found ASCave, I played it for a little bit, but found it far too slow on the m515 and just though I could do a lot better, Hence Cave Run was born.
3/ How long did it take from start to finish to make Cave Run?
I had a basic working version within a day! It took another month to tweak it into an acceptable version for publishing. Version 2 took a lot longer, I really hadn't realised how many platforms it actually worked on, it had only ever been tested on an m505 and an m515 before it's initial release. Version 2 addresses these issues, so it now runs on as many PDA's as possible.
4/ Tell us about any upcoming projects you have?
soo many ideas, so little time... Cave Run version 3 is under construction, it's going to support hi-res screens which a lot of people have requested. An obstacle course editor will also be in there, and the ability to load them up on the internet and vote for them. After that I might put in a 2-player option. All of umbongo software's releases have their own web page with a feedback form, so users can direct me in the way they'd like to see the products go. I have a RTS in quite a late stage of development (No computer AI, and the graphics were 'borrowed' from another game other than that it's finished) but I'm currently sulking because I played Warfare Incorporated, and it's brilliant. I might revive it if I get a free month or two! However it's never a waste of time developing something you don't release because of all the things you learn. I also have a full colour 3D graphics engine which runs at around 50 frames a second on an m515 rendering around 40 polygons, I haven't done anything with it yet, but I have a few ideas... The major project at the moment is a drawing package called Animation, which has been born, like Cave Run, out of my frustration of not finding one I liked. It was originally designed to make simple animated GIF's. After about 3 weeks work and rampant 'feature creep' it became much more than that. Animation is currently under Beta Test, and should be ready in the new year (I'm not saying which month though!) You can see some early drawings on the umbongo software website.
5/ What PDA do you use personally and why?
I have a Palm Pilot Professional, which is now resigned to my "I must make a robot out of this" Pile and my trusty m515 which is beaten, scratched, and has had to be hard-reset more times than I've had hot dinners. I find the m515 perfect for my daily use, and I got a bluetooth card for it recently, so I can now surf the net around the house! When Animation is released I plan to buy more PDA's, namely a Tungsten and a Sony Clie. One of the hard things about developing is testing in the emulators and simulators. Actually having a machine makes a world of difference.
6/ What's the best book you have read and the best song you have heard?
Can I be greedy? My First book is actually a series - George R. R. Martin 'A Song of Ice and Fire'. By far and away the best Sci-Fi Fantasy series I have ever read, he makes Tolkien look like an amateur (no really he does). My second book is Michael Abrash's Graphics Programming Black Book, most computer manuals are incredibly dull and I find myself yawning after about page 3, This is one of the few books I've actually read from cover to cover on more than one occasion. It's a little outdated and also not that relevant to PDA programming, but it shows you how much performance you can squeeze out of a computer processor if you know what you are doing. Best Song is probably Bohemian Rhapsody, because I'm that kind of age :-)
7/ What's your favourite Palm OS game ever?
Space Trader, I played it so much my wife had to snatch the PDA out of my hand to get my attention. If a game does that to you, it's got to be good. I can't wait for picoverse.
8/ If you could choose one feature to be added to a future PDA what would it be and why?
It's a sad developer one - Having a single Hi-res API. It would make the platform so much easier to write for.
9/ Where would you like to see Umbongo in a year's time?
I'd like to have more Applications on the market, hopefully I can quit my job and work from home full-time writing PDA applications, possibly employing a couple more developers... maybe that's a five year plan...
10/ Give us 3 reasons why everyone should own a PDA.
1) To play Cave Run at the bus-stop, on the train, on a plane, anywhere! 2) You look silly with a tablet PC sticking out of your pocket 3) You can have 1Gb Memory Sticks and WiFi, why would you NOT want one!
11/ What is your favourite website?
www.b3ta.com which made me want to make animated gifs and inspired my latest project.
Many thanks to Chris for taking the time to answer my questions. If you have not tried Cave Run you MUST, you really must... it's free, it's brilliant and VERY addictive:) umbongo software are located here.