INTERVIEWS: FERRY HALIM

Ferry Halim is a 28 year old freelance designer working in Fresno, California. You love him for for his super cute web games. Every day someone emailed the b3ta site saying, "have you seen his fantastic games?" We got bored of saying "Yes, they're very nice aren't they?" and got in touch to ask him loads of random stuff.

What's your favorite computer game?

(pep)

Let's see.. I think it will have to be Civilization

What is your favorite website?

(rob)

Linkdup.com They have directory of tons of awesome websites there.

Why did you make that one where you hit crabs?

(crab_bloke)

Because I was playing with the idea of a simple shooting game, yet with a different approach.

What is your favorite Joke?

(roby)

"Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life"

What do you think of the Kerb agency?

(monkeon)

Honestly, no opinion whatsoever.

What ideas have you rejected and why?

(monkeon)

A lot of ideas. For example, I was thinking of making a game with clouds in it, but realize that I've alredy have a game with similar theme. I always try to make something different. That's the problem. Sometimes I got a good idea, yet it's too hard to make. So, I dump it.

Your bee game is fantastic, isn't it?

(monkeon)

That is, actually, the number one game on the site. The hits for that game is at least twice of any other games.

You don't really do first person shooters, do you?

(chthonic)

I try to avoid that, since there's already a lot of those games on the net.

Where do you get your music from?

(chthonic)

Japanese songs, mostly. Problem is, I can't read Japanese, so most of the time I have no idea what's the title of the songs.

Do you suddenly wake up with an idea for a game and have to make it, or are all the games on your site the product of hours of eyeball-straining effort?

(chthonic)

I would say that 90% of the games are the results of brain-boiling.

Do you ever feel like making horrid things?

(crab_bloke)

Nope. Everyone has their own style, and mine is the "clean & nice" style.

Have you ever been across the mersey?

(crab_bloke)

No

Are you sick of that Joke?

(rob)

I honestly have never heard of the joke before. Spare me. I've only been 2 years in this country, and I spent all my time in front of my computer.

When did you last cry and why?

(monkeon)

Lets see.. I think it was 3 weeks ago, when I fractured my hand.

What is your most embarrassing flash related moment?

(monkeon)

When someone asked me Flash 5 questions and I can't answer them because I'm still using Flash 4. :P

Is there any animal favoritism as to what you make?

(monkeon)

No. I just try to have a wide variety to the games.

What would you like to be reincarnated as?

(Neil)

Hopefully, not my iguana. The poor thing died because I didn't take good care of it. Since then I always hope that I will not get reincarnated as my iguana.

Tell us your weirdest dream?

(Neil)

There's this dream : a beautiful girl is falling in love with me. And I thought to myself, "This must be a dream". I woke up, and yes, it ACTUALLY IS a dream. Why, oh why should I wake up so soon?

Did you have a nickname at school and, if so, what was it?

(MartinH)

It was "Padang". That's the name of my home town.

Are you a little bit scared of all the Japanese names in your high score lists?

(chthonic)

Sometimes I wonder if those are really names, and not dirty words. Because a lot of kids come to the site and play.

Where is the strangest place that you've had sex?

(Neil)

Nothing strange yet. Till now, they all took place in the bedroom. I'll keep you updated.

What are the things you deliberately avoid having in your games?

(monkeon)

I don't want to put blood or decapitated organs in my games. Since I want the games to be playable by kids & adults.

Tell us about learning to swim.

(monkeon)

You don't need to swim. Just don't get into the water.

We had cows, monkeys, and then kittens. Which animal will be the next "nets coolest animal?"

(rob)

I have no idea.

What's the fastest car you've ever driven?

(stouffer)

My car. The 2001 Honda Civic. I never got a chance to try others.

What's the slowest car you've ever driven?

(stouffer)

My car. The 2001 Honda Civic. I STILL never got a chance to try others.

What is your favorite chocolate bar?

(MartinH)

KitKat

Which gaming platform are you most excited about?

(rob)

My old Nintendo system. I have a lot of fun with that thing. Ninja Gaiden, DragonBall, TwinBee...

What input device do you wish came as standard on PCs? And how would that change gaming?

(rob)

A virtual reality goggles for those 3D adventure games. Wouldn't it be cool?

What game would you like to be able to play on your mobile phone?

(rob)

Super Mario Bros

How do you like your eggs?

(pete)

Scrambled, please.

My flash designer mate says that one day the entire web will be made of flash and whenever you log on you will just see lots of colorful morphing shapes with accompanying ambient sounds and a disorienting navigation method. Another mate of mine likes linux and he says that we don't need any graphics at all and the web will soon go back to being just plain text files. Who is right?

(TommyTheMuff)

Both wrong. I think there will always be Flash and text. None will wipe out the other. In addition, if everyone has broadband in the future, I think we will see more sites in 3D. Shockwave has the capability for that.

Do you think you could take Rolf Harris in a fight?

(Fnord)

Nope.

What do you think of Brian? Ferry.

(Fnord)

I think he's a good guy. He just needs to lose a little weight.

How has being called Ferry affected your life?

(rob)

Amazing. I know now what name to use for my Driver's License.

What does the future hold?

(bazman)

Tears and joy.

Teleportation?

(bazman)

Maybe

Jet packs?

(bazman)

Hopefully

Meals in pill form?

(bazman)

Hopefully not. I like KFC.

Unisex beings connected to their organic computers via a kind of umbilical cord, laughing at kittens and poetry?

(bazman)

Hmm... not a bad idea. I would suggest to use bluetooth though. Make it wireless.

Thanks to everyone on the b3ta board who contributed questions to this interview.