ActionPants Games
So for the last year or so I've been hearing more and more about a Vancouver based developed named ActionPants. I don't know anyone who works there, nor do I have any idea of what sort of games they're working on, but they have an employment perk I haven't seen before so I thought I'd blog about.
If you visit their website and click on the 'Art Portal' link you are brought to a page talking about their 'External Art Space'. From their photos and descriptions this appears to be a multi-disciplinary studio space for many forms of non-digital artwork (painting, sculpting, wood working, etc) open to any ActionPants employee looking to keep their creative juices flowing even while away from the computer.
I think this is an amazing idea not only for employee retention (creative hooks like this certainly help a studio stand out in the mind if its employees as unique) but also as a vehicle to promote ideas that could end up benefitting the quality of the games. I think of it as being in a similar vein to Google's "20% time" perk. I can certainly see employees exploring through clay character designs they've had in their mind for ages and using such a work to help convince others of the appeal. If nothing else a deeper (physical) mastery of 3d space and physical form can never hurt...
If you are in Vancouver and know more about ActionPants, and in particular this studio space and how it is percieved by the employees, I'd love to hear about it!
If you visit their website and click on the 'Art Portal' link you are brought to a page talking about their 'External Art Space'. From their photos and descriptions this appears to be a multi-disciplinary studio space for many forms of non-digital artwork (painting, sculpting, wood working, etc) open to any ActionPants employee looking to keep their creative juices flowing even while away from the computer.
I think this is an amazing idea not only for employee retention (creative hooks like this certainly help a studio stand out in the mind if its employees as unique) but also as a vehicle to promote ideas that could end up benefitting the quality of the games. I think of it as being in a similar vein to Google's "20% time" perk. I can certainly see employees exploring through clay character designs they've had in their mind for ages and using such a work to help convince others of the appeal. If nothing else a deeper (physical) mastery of 3d space and physical form can never hurt...
If you are in Vancouver and know more about ActionPants, and in particular this studio space and how it is percieved by the employees, I'd love to hear about it!
Labels: Creativity, Game Development, Morale
posted by Ben Mattes at 3:15 PM
3 Comments:
wow!
It looks like something we discussed about in the Social Committee at the 'loft without getting the support we needed... :(
...ahh...The 'Loft. What times those were. ;(
HI Ben :) It was nice reading about Action PantsInc on your Blog. I work there :) As for the art studio, I am running it together with one of the execs. We love both the copmpany and the art studio!!!!!! If you interested to here more about AP feel free to ask :)
have a good day
beata
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