FRD extrat > Free Radical Design - Articles > We call him 'Sizzlewood'...
We call him 'Sizzlewood'...
What do you do at Free Radical?
I'm project lead on HAZE and also company tea expert. Want to know how to brew the perfect cuppa? Or which blend is the best choice for the middle of the afternoon? I'm your man.
How did you get into the 'biz'?
By convincing FRD's directors that there aren't as many differences between developing games and baking bread as they thought.
What was your worst piece of work?
The space station level in TimeSplitters 2 - less level 'setup', more 'level with enemies randomly thrown at it in about two days'. In my defence we only had a matter of weeks left to finish the game at the time, and I was enormously sleep deprived.
What piece of work are you most proud of?
Probably a tie between the Siberian Dam level in TimeSplitters 2 and the 'Reliance' level in Second Sight. The Dam was the first level I ever set up (although I'd be lying if I said I got it right first time - the whole thing was reworked at least three times before it was finished!), but I think came out very well in the end. 'Reliance', meanwhile, was nightmarishly complicated to set up but really satisfying to play at the end of it, and I love the atmosphere of the level.
Who do you admire?
Anyone who's managed to find a job in the games industry that doesn't involve them doing crunch.
Who rips off your ideas?
Dave Doak. All the bleedin' time. His beard was my idea, y'know.
What was your nickname at school?
Actually I've had more names at FRD than I had at school. Thanks to your good self I'm never going to escape the name 'Sizzlewood'...
What do you think is the best game of all time and why?
I'd have to go with (deep breath) IcoMario64RezPanzerDragoonSagaShadowoftheColossusStreetFighter2HaloMarioKartTetrisSuperMetroidZeldaLinktothePastHalfLifeYoshisIslandGuitarHero, because I find it impossible to single out just one game as the very best.
What do you think is the worst game of all time and why?
TimeSplitters 1.
Heh, no, only kidding. I'd have to say Goldeneye: Rogue Agent, because it's the most appallingly cynical cash-in I've ever seen, with literally no redeeming features but a completely undeserved level of hype based entirely on that name.
What question are you glad I didn't ask you?
Why is the main character in HAZE called 'Shane'?
Written on 2007-08-24
What do you do at Free Radical?
I'm project lead on HAZE and also company tea expert. Want to know how to brew the perfect cuppa? Or which blend is the best choice for the middle of the afternoon? I'm your man.
How did you get into the 'biz'?
By convincing FRD's directors that there aren't as many differences between developing games and baking bread as they thought.
What was your worst piece of work?
The space station level in TimeSplitters 2 - less level 'setup', more 'level with enemies randomly thrown at it in about two days'. In my defence we only had a matter of weeks left to finish the game at the time, and I was enormously sleep deprived.
What piece of work are you most proud of?
Probably a tie between the Siberian Dam level in TimeSplitters 2 and the 'Reliance' level in Second Sight. The Dam was the first level I ever set up (although I'd be lying if I said I got it right first time - the whole thing was reworked at least three times before it was finished!), but I think came out very well in the end. 'Reliance', meanwhile, was nightmarishly complicated to set up but really satisfying to play at the end of it, and I love the atmosphere of the level.
Who do you admire?
Anyone who's managed to find a job in the games industry that doesn't involve them doing crunch.
Who rips off your ideas?
Dave Doak. All the bleedin' time. His beard was my idea, y'know.
What was your nickname at school?
Actually I've had more names at FRD than I had at school. Thanks to your good self I'm never going to escape the name 'Sizzlewood'...
What do you think is the best game of all time and why?
I'd have to go with (deep breath) IcoMario64RezPanzerDragoonSagaShadowoftheColossusStreetFighter2HaloMarioKartTetrisSuperMetroidZeldaLinktothePastHalfLifeYoshisIslandGuitarHero, because I find it impossible to single out just one game as the very best.
What do you think is the worst game of all time and why?
TimeSplitters 1.
Heh, no, only kidding. I'd have to say Goldeneye: Rogue Agent, because it's the most appallingly cynical cash-in I've ever seen, with literally no redeeming features but a completely undeserved level of hype based entirely on that name.
What question are you glad I didn't ask you?
Why is the main character in HAZE called 'Shane'?
