It took 20 years for Children of the Sun to become an overnight success

Children of the Sun burst onto the indie scene like a muzzle flash on a dark night. Publisher Devolver Digital dropped the game’s first trailer on February 1, showcasing frenzied sniper shots and a radioactive art style. A Steam demo highlighting its initial seven stages went live that same day and became a breakout hit during February’s Steam Next Fest. Two months later it landed in full and to broad acclaim. This explosive reveal and rapid release timeline mirrors the game itself — chaotic but contained, swift and direct, sharp and bright. Though it feels like Children of the Sun popped into existence over the span of two months, it took solo developer René Rother more than 20 years to get here. René Rother As a kid in Berlin in the early 2000s, Rother was fascinated by the booming mod community. He spent his time messing around with free Counter-Strike mapping tools and Quake III mods from the demo discs tucked into his PC magazines. Rother daydreamed about having a job in game development, but it never felt like an attainable goal. “It just didn't seem possible to make games,” he told Engadget. “It's like it was this huge black box.” Rother couldn’t see an easy entry point until the 2010s, when mesh libraries and tools like GameMaker and Unity became more accessible. He discovered a fondness for creating 3D interactive art. But aside from some free online Javascript courses, he didn’t know how to program anything, so his output was limited. “I dabbled into it a little... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2024-04-18 19:45:11 UTC ]
News tagged with: #soundtrack collaborator #band nadja #similar droning #slowcore vibe #casual message #nice experience #proper word #psychedelic clarity #super spontaneous #necessarily knowing #eventually lead #required work #— chaotic #— visuals #major publishing #libraries

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Children's book sales defy recession

Written By: Charlotte Williams and Philip Stone Publication Date: Fri, 30/09/2011 - 08:40 Children’s books sales outperformed the rest of the market in the first half of 2011, down just 1% year on year to £143m, due to blockbusting brands and the delay in children adopting digital content in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dahl in R&J Children's Christmas Book Club

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 29/09/2011 - 09:37 Titles by Roald Dahl, Rod Campbell and Janet and Allan Ahlberg are included in the selection for the third Richard and Judy's Children's Christmas Book Club, launched today in W H Smith stores. The 12 Richard and Judy... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lizzie Kershaw leaves Hearst after 29 years

Lizzie Kershaw, executive group publishing director of Hearst's Women's Interest Group, is leaving the UK publisher in the midst of a restructure after 29 years service. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2011-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin targets growth in children's

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Thu, 15/09/2011 - 11:35 Penguin is "significantly" increasing its investment in its children's division, with a focus on pre-school, big brands and the global market, as well as on digital innovation, according to UK c.e.o. Tom Weldon. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Waterstone's add new categories to children's book prize

Written By: Caroline Horn Publication Date: Wed, 14/09/2011 - 09:28 Waterstone’s has extended its children’s book prize to include teen fiction and picture books, in addition to books for five to 12 year olds. Waterstone’s spokesman Jon Howells said: “The children’s award had done very well... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dolls help to launch children's novel

Written By: Caroline Horn Publication Date: Fri, 02/09/2011 - 15:00 Teacher and artist Patricia Le Baudrier is using digital printing and marketing to launch her debut novel The Orphans of St Cecile, which she created using dolls she has modeled and using photographs as illustrations. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dawn Porter to write for Hodder Children's Books

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Thu, 01/09/2011 - 14:45 Hodder Children's Books has bought two teen titles from journalist and presenter Dawn Porter. Publisher Emily Thomas did the deal directly with Porter for a "sizeable" sum. The books are described as "epic stories of an... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kay wins Scottish Book of the Year award

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Fri, 26/08/2011 - 14:34 Jackie Kay has won the £30,000 Scottish Book of the Year award for her autobiography Red Dust Road (Picador). The award, which is run by Creative Scotland, was presented to Kay by Dame Jenni Murray today (26th August) at an... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Private Eye to mark 50 years with anniversary book

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Wed, 24/08/2011 - 14:46 Private Eye is marking its 50th anniversary by publishing a book looking back at the history of the satirical institution. Private Eye: The First 50 Years is written by Adam Macqueen, a journalist on the magazine since 1997. It... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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American Printer Magazine Closes After 128 Years

Started in 1883 as Inland Printer, Penton Media's American Printer magazine will be stopping production after 128 years. The August 2011 edition has been the last title published. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-08-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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One in six children doesn't read a book a month

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Mon, 22/08/2011 - 15:18 One in six children do not read a single book per month, according to a new survey by the National Literacy Trust. The research suggested the United Kingdom is polarised between those who do not read and the one in 10 children... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Report: Tablet Sales to Cut Magazine Paper Use 20 Percent by 2015

Even paper-focused companies are predicting a major fall for the printed page in the coming years. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-08-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indie opened by A A Milne's son to close after 60 years

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Thu, 18/08/2011 - 12:15 A Dartmouth bookshop opened by the son of Winnie-the-Pooh author A A Milne is closing down after 60 years. The Harbour Bookshop on Fairfax Place was opened in 1951 by Christopher Robin Milne, the inspiration for the character... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Food Network Magazine Raises Rate Base for Sixth Time in Two Years

Once identified as the most notable magazine launch of the year in 2009, Hearst's Food Network magazine is continuing to ride a wave of reader enthusiasm with the announcement of its sixth rate base increase since the title went live. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children's Laureate attacks Future Libraries report

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Fri, 12/08/2011 - 08:40 The recently appointed children's laureate Julia Donaldson has condemned the "Future Libraries" report as a "cost-cutting exercise" containing among its recommendations some likely to lead to a deterioration of the service.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins reports best year since 2008

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Thu, 11/08/2011 - 15:31 HarperCollins has had its best financial year since 2008, with ebook sales accounting for 10% of total revenue during the past four weeks, its c.e.o. has said. Victoria Barnsley was speaking as parent company NewsCorp reported... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The 10 Dumbest Things I’ve Heard This Year

When you deal with a lot of people, along with the brilliant stuff comes very dumb stuff as well. Inexperienced voices should be forgiven but when the big and powerful make appalling statements you have to ask yourself how they ever got their jobs.Here are some of the ones that have left me most... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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July books spending hits seven year low

Written By: Philip Stone Publication Date: Thu, 04/08/2011 - 15:50 Spending on physical books in July slumped to its lowest level in seven years as ebooks continue to encroach onto traditional bookseller territory. According to Nielsen BookScan data, £111.5m was spent on printed books in the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The 10 Dumbest Things I've Heard All Year

Creative consultant JC Suares shares some of the biggest headscratchers he's heard from editors, publishers and designers. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rasmussen new Macmillan Children's Books m.d.

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Mon, 01/08/2011 - 15:54 Macmillan Children's Books has appointed current Carlton Publishing m.d. Belinda Rasmussen to the role of publisher. She will report directly to Pan Macmillan m.d. Anthony Forbes Watson, and will join the Pan Macmillan... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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