Story: Code, Kickflips and Crunch Time - Mick West's Neversoft Journey
Apr 2, 2024
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Join Mick West in a journey from creating games in Manchester to Neversoft in California. Learn about the challenges in game development, asset creation, and the intense process of crafting Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Explore Mick's resilience, adaptability, and the behind-the-scenes of game innovation.
Successful game design requires overcoming technical challenges and mastering mechanics.
Adaptability and teamwork are key to creating groundbreaking gaming experiences.
Passion, dedication, and lucky breaks can lead to industry success and legacy building.
Deep dives
Building a Video Game Success Story
Catching a rising star like Tony Hawk and his historic skateboarding feat of the first 900 trick added to the Tony Hawk Pro Skater game just before it was being duplicated provided a significant boost to the game's success. Mick's journey from a fresh college grad to a successful industry veteran was highlighted, showcasing passion projects, lucky breaks, and dedication to mastering game design and mechanics that set mega hits apart.
Early Game Development Challenges
Mick's initial foray into game development at Binary Designs involved overcoming technical challenges like inefficient code in the Steve Davis World Snooker game. Moving on to projects like Rotox, Mick and his team faced the hurdles of lacking game assets and milestones, leading to an office surprise due to bankruptcy.
Arcade Conversions and Learning Curves
Undertaking arcade game conversions such as UN Squadron without code or game direction necessitated Mick to learn on the fly by playing through levels, reverse engineering game mechanics, and rebuilding graphics for the Atari ST. The meticulous process of recreating assets from existing games in Parasol Stars showcased Mick's persistence in translating complex elements.
Navigating Industry Challenges
Transitioning to ocean from Tiertex demonstrated Mick's adaptability and perseverance in handling conversions and design challenges, as seen in the game adaptation of the movie Darkman. His experience underscored the importance of resolving technical obstacles, adjusting to limited hardware capabilities, and ensuring precise coding for successful conversions.
Evolution of Neversoft and Career Reflections
Establishing Neversoft and evolving alongside the success of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series marked a significant chapter in Mick's career. The growth of the team, professionalization of processes, and development of the iconic skateboarding game underlined Mick's ability to leverage passion, teamwork, and adaptability to create groundbreaking and memorable gaming experiences.
Meet Mick West, whose career began in an unusual office setup — sandwiched between a kebab shop and a phone sex hotline. From there he worked all over Manchester, making computer games for Tiertex and Ocean.
Career opportunies brought him to California and to his own game dev company, Neversoft. At Neversoft, navigating team growth and tight deadlines, Mick played a key role in creating "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater." This wasn't just another game; it was a huge hit and secured Mick's legacy in the gaming world.
Join us as we explore Mick West's journey from a quirky start to the heights of video game innovation and beyond. Discover the resilience, adaptability, and teamwork that fueled his success and how he continues to explore new horizons. How did he tackle the technical challenges that came his way, and what can we learn from his relentless pursuit of the next big thing?