ETSU Student Achieves Dream Of Designing Video Games

Jonathan Phebus is 27 years old, attends ETSU, and does what many kids can only dream of. He designs video games. While he works as a programmer and has been doing that since he was five, that’s not where his passion lies.
“... gaming is what got me interested in programming in the first place, and I have always dreamt of designing and producing a game that others would enjoy,” said Phebus, who has a seven-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter. He and his wife Amanda moved to Fall Branch, Tenn. in 2003.
His game is currently only available on the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch, two similar devices that utilize a touchscreen and motion tilt.
“SpectrumTap is a puzzle game in which the player is presented with a board full of six-sided gems which randomly change colors,” said Phebus. “The player’s goal is to tap groups of same-colored gems before time runs out and the screen turns completely red. As groups of gems are cleared, the remaining gems keep consolidating into the middle of the screen. The levels become more difficult as the player progresses: gems change colors much faster and time runs out quicker.”
Phebus had to tailor his virtual creation for Apple’s popular platform.
“When I set out to design a game for the iPhone and iPod Touch,” said Phebus, “I had to think about what kind of game would work well on those devices. I also didn’t want to make anything too complex, because I wanted the game to appeal to a large and diverse audience. I sat down with pencil and paper, and started drawing up plans for SpectrumTap.”
Aspiring game designers will be happy to know that Phebus found it quite easy to start creating a game. Well, easy for an experience programmer. “Geographical location and business connections in the gaming industry weren’t really an issue for me. Through the iPhone Developer Program, I simply paid $99, completed an online application and signed a contract, watched some instructional videos, downloaded some code samples provided by Apple, and got to work.”
Phebus has more plans for SpectrumTap, and he’s using the social networking sites to get his idea out there. “I would like to do some more with SpectrumTap in the near future,” said Phebus, “developing Windows and Mac versions, as well as Internet versions that could be played online and integrated with Google, MySpace, Facebook, and other social networking sites.”

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BE IN THE KNOW when the time comes to purchase a gift for the video gamer in your life.

From music games to action packed worlds, video games are once again the hottest thing this holiday for kids and parents alike. And while parents have traditionally been alienated from the fastest growing medium in entertainment, there are increasingly more games being made for an unfamiliar generation.
Most of that is in thanks to the success of Nintendo’s unique, motion-controlled Wii console and its handheld equivalent, the DS (dual-screen), which utilizes a touch-screen for ease of play. When Nintendo released Wii Fit earlier this year, millions of consumers starting exercised daily on the tilt-sensitive balance board.
While Nintendo has surpassed the other consoles in terms of sales, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are still battling it in this generation’s console war. Recently, Microsoft dropped the price of its Xbox 360 consoles to an entry point of $199.
Both the Xbox 360 and PS 3 are offering hardcore players a lot of great games this holiday. There are too many to count, so consider this a highlight reel:

SPORE

From the maker of Sim City and the insanely popular The Sims franchises comes a game about something you’ve probably learned about in biology class. Legendary designer Will Wright set out to make a game about everything and ended up with Spore, a game about evolution. But Spore is also about creation. Players have the opportunity to build, twist, stretch and tweak their own creature creations, and then populate a world with a unique race of googley-eyed creatures. Your creations then evolve through five unique phases of gameplay (which pays homage to the history of video games itself). Get online with Spore and you can download other people’s creations and have them populate other planets in your world. It’s a universe of different races and it’s up to you to explore it. (rated E , $49.99, on PC and Mac)

MUSIC GAMES

Enter Guitar Hero. It set the world on fire with its clever use of a plastic guitar and classic rock songs. But now music-rhythm games have exploded into other franchises, like Rockband and Wii Music.
The sequel to last year’s four-instrument enabled music game, Rockband, is hoping to steal the show with 84 news tracks to choose from. The goal of Rockband 2 requires players to match their guitar’s colored buttons to onscreen signals in time with the music. On top of guitar, bass, and drums, players can also sing karaoke style to onscreen lyrics. The sequel has fixed many of the problems that plagued last year’s version (now players can switch instruments freely). But the biggest addition is going to be found online: Battle of the Bands. Now players can form their own band, get online, and do battle with other bands from all over the world in a series of challenges that are added constantly. Rockband 2 also has 500 songs available to play through added downloadable content – it’s an insane amount of content.
While Rockband was the first to get into the multi-instrument scene, Guitar Hero has quickly caught up. Riding the waves of the already established franchise, Guitar Hero: World Tour will be a huge competitor for Rockband. While both the games and instruments are nearly identical, many critics already favor Guitar Hero’s instruments. Also, GHWT features an in-depth music creation mode that allows players to create and mix their own tunes to play and share online. Both Rockband 2 and GHWT retail as a game ($59.99) and instruments ($189.99 for all instruments, and sold individually) for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii and are rated T for Teen.
The recent success of the Nintendo Wii has prompted the Japanese games company to get into the music sensation themselves. If Rockband 2 and GHWT are for the hardcore gamer, then Wii Music is for the more casual player. The different between them is that Wii Music doesn’t require frantic button mashing or exact rhythm. While there isn’t much known about the title, it’s evident that players will mimic different instruments using the Wii’s motion control. If you want to play saxophone, move the Wii Remote like that instrument and hit any button in time with the music to keep the song going. Nintendo is obviously gearing this game more towards families and the non-Guitar Hero crowd. (E for everyone, $49.99.)

DOWNLOADABLE GAMES

While most games are still bought in traditional, brick-and-mortar stores, increasingly smaller games can be bought via internet download, straight to your console. All three of the big game makes, Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, feature online stores that players can buy from with ease (and with a credit card).

Braid – One of the most critically acclaimed games of this year can only be found on Xbox 360’s Marketplace. Braid was developed and funded almost entirely by one man, Jonathan Blow. The game is like a traditional platformer, a la Super Mario Bros., but with a twist! Players can’t die, but can instead reverse time at will, using the mechanic to find hidden puzzle pieces. The game’s story is interestingly about a relationship gone awry for the main character Tim. It’s sad and literary tale and a landmark for gaming. (Retails for $15, Xbox 360 Exclusive, E for Everyone)

Bionic Commando Rearmed – This remake of a cult, NES classic can be found on both the Xbox 360 and PS3. The game features everything that was great about the original and has remixed it for a new generation. From the techno beat music to the HD graphics, this game has been amped up considerably from the original. Players play as a military tough-guy searching for “Super Joe,” who was lost in battle. Of course, your character happens to have a bionic arm and can swing from platforms. (M for Mature, $10, on Xbox 360 and PS3)

Wipeout HD – A PS3 exclusive, Wipeout is franchise favorite for those looking for lightning fast races and killer crashes set in a sci-fi world. The latest game is only available on the Playstation Network Store and features awesome, High Definition graphics to rival the best on Sony’s PS3. Try ripping your own music to the games soundtrack and watch as the race tracks pulse to the beat of your favorite tunes.(E for everyone, Playstation 3 exclusive, $20)

ADVENTURE/SHOOTER

Gears of War – Of the big, loud action games this year, few can hold comparison to the Xbox 360 exclusive, Gears of War 2. The graphics are more realistic, the multiplayer has more exciting modes, and the story is supposed to delve deeper into the universe. In this case, more is better (M for Mature, $60)

Mirrors Edge – What would it be like to free run across roof tops, narrowly jump across chasms, and wall kick a gun toting enemy in one acrobatic move? You can find out with the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 releases of Mirror’s Edge, making its debut this fall. While your body won’t get the same work out playing this parkour (the art of fluid physical movement) influenced game, your thumbs most definitely will. The world of Mirror’s Edge is inspired by an Orwellian dystopia and puts players in the first-person perspective of Faith, a free runner who is trying to escape from thos. (T for Teen, $60)

Fallout – While the other games listed could be completed within a couple of days calling in sick to work, one game will require a period of unpaid leave. Fallout 3 is quite simple humungous. Developed by the creators of the popular Elder Scrolls franchise, Fallout 3 continues the Fallout saga in a giant, gritty, post-apocalyptic world. At least it keeps its sense of humor. The game is considered part RPG, part first-person shooter, and part addictive substance when it releases late October. (M for Mature, $60)

HOLIDAY CONSOLE WINNER

Hands down, the Xbox 360. Coming on the heels of a price drop, Microsoft’s console is offering an insane amount of new content and games for people of all ages this Holiday. In November, Microsoft released a huge update for its already successful online interface called Xbox Live. The update is called the New Xbox Live Experience and will completely reengineer the online marketplace (a virtual place where you can buy games, movies, and TV shows already) with a new visual style.
Most importantly, Microsoft has signed a deal with popular movie rental service Netflix to offer its streaming online content on the Xbox 360. Yes, that means you will be able to watch 1000’s of new movies and TV shows right on your TV via the Xbox 360. Also coming is a new way to interact with your games, called Avatars. You can create a cartoon likeness of yourself and use her in online games against friends. With all of these things, plus a ton of news games coming out this year, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 has definitely won my heart this holiday.

STEPHEN WOODWARD is a freelance writer. He may be reached at .