Wikipedia

Terry Cavanagh (developer)

Terry Cavanagh (/ˈkævənɑː/, KAV-ə-nah; born 1984) is an Irish video game designer based in London, England. He has created over two dozen games, most notably VVVVVV, Super Hexagon, and Dicey Dungeons.[1]

Terry Cavanagh
Cavanagh in 2016
Born1984 (age 39–40)
Tydavnet, County Monaghan, Ireland
Alma materTrinity College
OccupationVideo game designer
Known forVVVVVV
Super Hexagon
Dicey Dungeons
Websitedistractionware.com

Biography

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After studying mathematics at Trinity College in Dublin, Cavanagh worked briefly as a market risk analyst before moving to focus on game development full-time in 2007. While he received some attention in the press for his "serious and arty" indie games, financially, things were not going well and Cavanagh was just about ready to throw in the towel when he released VVVVVV, which ended up a surprise hit, giving him the freedom to continue developing games.[2]

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, he gave away 1000 copies of three of his games for free in the hope it would "offer a distraction" to those in need of it.[3]

Many of his titles share a primitive, minimalist retro aesthetic.[4] He is credited as a programmer for Alphaland, a platform game by Jonas Kyratzes.[5]

Cavanagh has stated that he prefers the personal nature of independent game development, its smaller scale enabling the personality of the creator to shine through in the final product.[6]

Influences

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Cavanagh cites the 1997 Japanese RPG Final Fantasy VII as his favorite game, crediting it as his inspiration for becoming a video game developer.[1] In 2009 Cavanagh named interactive fiction writer Adam Cadre as his favorite developer.[7]

Awards

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  • Cavanagh's game VVVVVV won the 2010 IndieCade Festival in the category of "Fun/Compelling".[8]
  • In 2014, Cavanagh was named to Forbes' annual "30 Under 30" list in the Games category.[9]
  • In 2019, Cavanagh's game Dicey Dungeons won the 2019 IndieCade Grand Jury award.[10]

Ludography

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Game Platform Release date
XOLDIERS Microsoft Windows 2008
Squish Microsoft Windows 2008
Self Destruct Microsoft Windows 2008
Transport Stories Microsoft Windows 2008
Never Opened Microsoft Windows 2008
We Love Mind Control Rocket Microsoft Windows 2008
Judith Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux 2009
Pathways Microsoft Windows 2009
Airplane Adventures Adobe Flash 2009
The Baron's Volcano Party Adobe Flash 2009
DAS PÜZZELSPIELEN Adobe Flash 2009
Nun Squad Microsoft Windows 2009
Bullfist Adobe Flash 2009
Nanny ZERO Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X 2009
Deterministica Adobe Flash 2009
Airplane Adventures 2: The Return Adobe Flash 2009
The Best Years of my Life Adobe Flash 2009
Bullet Time Adobe Flash 2009
Don't Look Back Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android, OUYA 2009
Radio Silence Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Unity 2010
N.O.T.T.U.B. Adobe Flash 2010
Sumouse Microsoft Windows 2010
Kozachok Adobe Flash 2010
Vegetable Game Adobe Flash 2010
Going Forward Adobe Flash 2010
Bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronn
tuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk		 Adobe Flash, OUYA 2010
memrrtiks, suashem Adobe Flash 2010
Phobiaphobiaphobia Adobe Flash 2010
Red Sky Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Unity, 2010
Bridge Adobe Flash 2010
VVVVVV Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Vita, iOS, Android, OUYA 2010
American Dream Microsoft Windows, OUYA 2011
Hero's Adventure Adobe Flash 2011
Oiche Mhaith Adobe Flash, OUYA 2011
At a Distance Microsoft Windows 2011
Super Hexagon iOS, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Android, Blackberry 10, Linux, OUYA 2012
ChatChat Adobe Flash 2012
Hexagon Adobe Flash, OUYA 2012
Harmonilr Adobe Flash 2012
Griefer Adobe Flash 2012
Notsnake Adobe Flash 2012
Collapse HTML5 2013
Fountain Adobe Flash 2013
Naya's Quest Adobe Flash 2013
Experiment 12 Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X 2013
Maverick Bird Adobe Flash 2014
Moving Stories Adobe Flash 2014
GRAB THEM BY THE EYES Adobe Flash 2015
Copycat Adobe Flash, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux 2015
Constellation Machine Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Adobe Flash 2016
Tiny Heist Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, online 2016
Dicey Dungeons Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch 2019
Climb the Giant Man Obby Roblox 2021
Anyone Could Be Struck By Lightning At Any Time Roblox 2021
Triangle Run Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux 2021
Mr. Platformer Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux 2023
State Machine Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux TBA

References

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  1. ^ a b Edge staff (12 September 2012). "Terry Cavanagh on making fewer, more ambitious games". Edge. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  2. ^ Peel, Jeremy (14 September 2021). "How Terry Cavanagh bet it all on the simple joy of platforming". PC Gamer. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  3. ^ Heather Wald (16 March 2020). "Indie developer Terry Cavanagh is giving away free games to help those "in need of a distraction"". gamesradar.
  4. ^ David Wolinsky (13 April 2010). "AVC at GDC '10: An interview with VVVVVV creator Terry Cavanagh". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Alphaland". jonas-kyratzes.net. 5 May 2011.
  6. ^ Cantoni, Chris. "Terry Cavanagh Can't Stop Making Games". International Festival of Independent Games.
  7. ^ Gallaway, Brad (18 April 2009). "Interview with Terry Cavanagh, creator of Don't Look Back". GameCritics.com. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  8. ^ "2010 IndieCade Award Recipients". International Festival of Independent Games. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  9. ^ "Five Irish on Forbes 30 under 30 list". The Irish Times. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  10. ^ "2019 IndieCade Award Recipients". International Festival of Independent Games. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
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