WHO HE IS: Josh Bear is co-founder of game design house Twisted Pixel Games, in Madison, the small, historic, southern Indiana town where he grew up.
Bear and Mike Wilford and Frank Wilson founded Twisted Pixel Games last year. The fellow designers worked together at High Voltage gaming company in Hoffman Estates.
HOW HE VIEWS HIS JOB: As CEO he manages design and art for digital games. “I get to come up with cool designs that make games more like art.”
One job objective is to develop games that can be downloaded through the internet for use on video consoles, like the newly-released Wii remote control that enable players to wave a wireless remote control like they would a sword or tennis racket.
With motion driven controls like Wii, “someone like my mom can get into it.”
PROS: “It’s never been about money. Creating the start up with like-minded people who share your vision has been gratifying. Working on games that aren’t licensed properties allows control.”
CONS: “It’s a lot of work! Typically, designers work 60-80 hours per week for several months. Having your own business adds more work on top of that. I am a Jack-of-all-trades.”
KEY TO SUCCESS: “Persistence and finding the right designers to start the business with.” The commitment and determination of Wilford and Wilson “wasn’t just a lot of talk.
“Even if it didn’t work out, we knew we would always try again. We were great friends, so we knew we could trust each other.”
ON THE SIDE: Bear produced, directed and edited his $5,000-budgeted “The Dorm Room” that premiered Nov. 12 at the Pickwick Theatre. The story is about a couple of guys hanging out in their college dorm room.
He began making films when he himself was a student. His high school’s media director Bob Fourhman allowed Bear and his friends to borrow editing equipment after school. He produced an 85-minute comedy called “Postal” in tenth grade.
BACKSTORY: Bear received a BFA in illustration and animation from Sarasota Florida’s private, non-profit Ringling School of Art and Design in 2001. Unable to find work after graduating, he bought his own filming equipment and began making movies.
He landed a job nine months later at High Voltage as one of some 20 game designers. From 2002-2006 he worked on six licensed intellectual game properties, including Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion,” Xbox game “Leisure Suit Larry” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
BIG BREAKS: Bear says when his determination paid off when he couldn’t find a job. “I kept re-working my portfolio and calling High Voltage’s Tom Smith every Friday for nine months. Finally, he hired me with no experience.”
WORDS OF WISDOM: “There are too many people who come up with excuses that keep them from doing what they want to do. Don’t let anything stop you. Even when it seems dire, just keep going.”
HIS ULTIMATE GOAL: “To be successful, but not based on money. To make really good, fun games that give the kind of excitement I felt playing Nintendo as a kid.”
Josh Bear’s phone number is 630/945-5245; Email, josh@twistedpixelgames.com. See www.twistedpixelgames.com.
