Mike Bithell is on the Game Industry Biz Top 100 list
Posted: April 5, 2017 Filed under: Alumni, Awards, Press, Uncategorized | Tags: Games Industry Biz, Mike Bithell, Thomas Was Alone, Top 100, University of South Wales, USW Computer Games Design, USW Games, USW Graduate, Volume Leave a commentA huge well done to Mike Bithell (BA Computer Games Design Graduate) for making the Games Industry Biz Top 100 Most Influential People in the British Games Industry List.
Taking up coding at a young age, Mike Bithell was destined for games. Although he worked at studios such as Blitz, it was his indie project Thomas Was Alone that made his name.
Taking inspiration from filmmakers such as Kevin Smith, Bithell focused on making impressive titles with a tight budget. Now he is an aspirational figure for many a hopeful one-man indie, but when asked for advice on how to make it in games, he reminds fellow developers that “they are not on the same journey.”
“The business changes weekly, so I try not to give too much advice,” he says.
Following huge commercial success came the chance to meet his heroes, such as Hideo Kojima, which Bithell describes as a “massive privilege.” But according to the Volume creator, it’s the audience that drives him.
“It sounds corny, but the best part of this job is meeting the people who play our stuff,” he says. “Fan art, cosplay, videos – everything that folks do with the games we make.”
Extract from http://www.gamesindustry.biz/top100/indie-leaders
Thomas Was Alone is released on iPad
Posted: May 20, 2014 Filed under: Alumni, Releases | Tags: iPad, Mike Bithell, Newport Alumni, newport computer games design, Newport Graduate, Thomas Was Alone, Unity, University of South Wales, USW, Volume Leave a commentSo Mike Bithell has been pretty busy, not only has be been busily working away on his new game Volume, he’s also released Thomas Was Alone on iPad.
Mike has also been talking about the release of the iPad version in Polygon.
Newport Alumnus Mike Bithell Develop awards nomination
Posted: May 1, 2013 Filed under: Alumni, Awards, Events, Press, Releases, Student Successes | Tags: Award Winner, BAFTA Cymru, Newport Alumni, newport computer games design, Newport Graduate, Thomas Was Alone Leave a commentMike and Thomas was Alone is nominated in several categories including, New IP, Use of Narrative and Micro Studio.
The July 10th Develop Awards will toast another diverse array of the finest European game development talent.
Almost 100 different companies have been listed as finalists for the July 10th event.
The shortlists for the 19 main prizes represents 36 different games and their creative talent, 49 different games studios and ten different European countries.
http://www.develop-online.net/news/44031/Develop-Awards-2013-The-finalists-are
Mike Bithell’s Thomas Was Alone wins Games BAFTA Award 2013
Posted: March 6, 2013 Filed under: Alumni, Awards | Tags: Games BAFTA, Mike Bithell, Newport Alumni, newport computer games design, Newport Graduate, Thomas Was Alone, Unity Leave a commentMike Bithell’s Thomas Was Alone has won a Games BAFTA Award 2013, in the Performer category for Danny Wallace’s narration. Well done!
Mike also announced a few weeks ago that Thomas Was Alone will soon be making it’s debut on PS3 and PS Vita!
Mike Bithell’s Thomas Was Alone gets 3 nominations at the Games BAFTA Awards 2013
Posted: February 18, 2013 Filed under: Alumni, Awards | Tags: Games BAFTA, Mike Bithell, Newport Alumni, Thomas Was Alone, Unity Leave a commentIt’s great to see that Thomas Was Alone is in the headlines once again. This time Thomas has been nominated for three Games BAFTA 2013 awards, in the categories, Story, Original Music & Performer (for Danny Wallace’s narration).
Thomas Was Alone is released
Posted: June 30, 2012 Filed under: Alumni, Releases | Tags: Desura, IndieCity, Mike Bithell, Newport Alumni, newport computer games design, Newport Graduate, Thomas Was Alone, Unity Leave a comment
It gives us great pleasure to announce that Newport alumni Mike Bithell’s game Thomas Was Alone is now available to download from Desura and Indie City.
Over the last few days there has been great press coverage and reviews… Rock Paper Shotgun, Gamasutra, Gamespot UK, IndieGames.com, Just Press Start, Size Five Games and GameZone, to name a few.
Follow Mike Bithell on Twitter.
Thomas Was Alone is set for release on June 30
Posted: June 27, 2012 Filed under: Alumni, Releases | Tags: Desura, June 30 2012 Release, Mike Bithell, Newport Alumni, newport computer games design, Newport Graduate, Thomas Was Alone, Unity Leave a comment
Thomas Was Alone is a minimalist game about friendship and jumping and is due for release on June 30, 2012. It will be out first on Desura, then shortly on other digital distribution platforms.
Thomas Was alone has been created by Newport graduate Mike Bithell, in his spare time, whilst not working as Lead Designer at Bossa Studios.
There is a great review/interview on Gamasutra and a short preview on N4G.
We can’t wait to get our hands on it and have a go.
Newport Grads talking at Develop
Posted: May 22, 2012 Filed under: Alumni, Events, Student Successes | Tags: Dan DaRocha, Develop Conference, Indie Dev Day, Jon Savery, Mike Bithell, Newport Alumni, newport computer games design, Newport Graduate, Q.U.B.E., QUBE, Thomas Was Alone Leave a commentOnce again the Develop Conference will be taking place this year in Brighton from the 10th-12th July.
This year three Newport alumni will be panel members for discussions held as part of the Indie Dev Day.
Mike Bithell will be a panellist for “Marketing: Explore the Dirty Indie Secret“, which will be taking place on 11th July 2012.
Dan Da Rocha and Jon Savery will be panellists for “Ways To Fund Your Indie Game“, which will be taking place on 12th July 2012.
For full details please click the links above.
Mike Bithell talks about Thomas Was Alone at Game City Nights
Posted: May 12, 2012 Filed under: Alumni, Events, Releases | Tags: GameCity Nights, Mike Bithell, Newport Alumni, newport computer games design, Newport Graduate, Thomas Was Alone, Unity Leave a commentMike Bithell has been pretty busy lately getting Thomas Was Alone (a minimalist game about friendship and jumping) ready for release, but he has still managed to find time to give a really insightful presentation at GameCity Nights about the development of Thomas Was Alone.
New trailer for Thomas Was Alone
Posted: April 30, 2012 Filed under: Alumni, Releases | Tags: Mike Bithell, Newport Alumni, Newport Graduate, Ones to Watch, Thomas Was Alone, Unity Leave a comment
Mike Bithell has been very busy lately continuing the development of Thomas Was Alone. There is a fantastic new trailer with voice over by Danny Wallace and a great new website.