The name's Anders. I'm 28 years of age and live in Copenhagen, Denmark. Living in this city offers a lot of opportunities within the field of IT for a young man such as myself. Besides all the related companies that reside here, there's a vast amount of possible educations to take if you 'what to do something with computers'. And that what I want, 'something with computers'.
More specifically I'm taking a Master's in computer graphics and multimedia technology (Cand.IT, Multimedia technologist). This degree will enable me to become a programmer within some segment of computer game development. So in short I want to make computer games.
As a child of the late 70es, where the commercial computer games started gaining world wide popularity, computer games have always been a part of my life. I've witnessed the then unimaginable evolution of computer games. From game classics like Pacman and Asteroids to the vast rhizome structures of Freelancer and the stunning graphics of Doom3. I've been a devoted gamer for years and therefore found it natural to proffesionalize myself within the field when the time came to make my carrier choices for the future. The growth within the computer game industry in the past year has made me further convinced that I'm becoming part of something that'll influence the future of all entertainment. Could anything be more exiting?
First breed of what?
The title of this site is a bit bold I realize. Calling oneself a 'first' or 'new' breed of anything probably seems arrogant to the majority. No such meaning is intended though. Instead 'firstbreed' simply refers to the new corner of the digital arts that I believe I'm becoming part of.
The distinguishing characteristics between 'the technical' and 'the creative' within the field of computing have always been very obvious. In short, the technicals are the ones that make things work and happen whereas the creative are the minds behind vivid ideas. These two segments of IT development are known to be very different which often leads to misunderstanding and conflicts. This fact is partly due to conflict of interests but also, I believe, because they both individually know too little about the others field of work.
As my projects section will substantiate, I have through my studies gained in depth knowledge and hands on experience with both the creative and technical side of digital media development. I started out as a graphical designer with prime interest in visuals and I am now moving towards the functional aspects of game development.
The goal of my education is to become some sort of conciliator between the two classical sides of digital development. A 'middle man' with knowledge and skills from both sides that amongst other things can solve communication problems if such should occur in a development process. So 'First Breed' relates to my belief that the multicolored educations I'm taking, will spawn a new breed of IT developers. A breed with a more wide computer science education containing the 'best of both worlds'.
My interests right now
If somebody had told me a few years ago, that the mobile phone industry would be where it is today , I would probably have laughed them in the face. Because how could something as simple as a phone become as fast growing an industry as it is today by just making it portable?
When I got my first mobile phone 6 years ago I got it only due to demand from my surroundings. I found the devices unnecessary and couldn't see any potential in them. It was alright to be able to get in contact with 'whoever whenever', but nothing in my life was so important that it couldn't wait till I got to a stationary phone. Actually I found mobile phones so ill equipped that I wrote a school project that turned the mobile phone into a multimedia device (a very good idea time has shown).
The technological advances of mobile phones, that have since been introduced, have made me think otherwise though. Features such as megapixel picture- and video cameras, W-Lan support and hardware accelerated graphics have made mobile phones an exiting medium to work with and develop for. Soon we will see games with features that match titles released on the original Sony Playstation on our mobile phones. Imagine how cool and conveniently portable that is going to be! The potential of the wireless development industry is also worth noting. At present time, 2006, no less than 700 million employed mobile devices are Java enabled and therefore supports games. As a comparison, Sony states that 70 million Playstation 2 consoles have been sold. The target audiences of mobile game release are therefore very interesting and makes wireless development attractive for any investor.
The last few years, I have worked on several J2ME game titles and have done freelance jobs using both the J2ME and Symbian platforms. With the introduction of HW accelerated graphics for mobile phones (Nokia N93 summer 2006) advanced 3D graphics will become possible on SmartPhones and I therefore foresee that I'll stay in the wireless segment of game development in the years to come.
CV
Personal Data
Name:
Anders Bo Pedersen
Born:
1979
Nationality:
Danish
Residence:
Copenhagen, DK
Occupation:
Lead Game Programmer,
Mobile Phone Software Developer & Consultant
