Terry Cavanagh (developer)

Terry Cavanagh (/ˈkævənɑː/ KAV-ə-nah; born 1984) is an Irish video game designer based in London, England. After studying mathematics at Trinity College in Dublin, Cavanagh worked briefly as a market risk analyst before focusing on game development full-time. Many of his titles share a primitive, minimalist aesthetic.[1] He has created over two dozen games, most notably VVVVVV, Super Hexagon, and Dicey Dungeons.[2] He is credited as a programmer for Alphaland, a platform game by Jonas Kyratzes.[3]

Terry Cavanagh
Born1984 (age 38–39)
Tydavnet, County Monaghan, Ireland
Alma materTrinity College
OccupationVideo game designer
Known forVVVVVV
Super Hexagon
Dicey Dungeons
Websitedistractionware.com

Cavanagh has stated that he prefers the personal nature of independent game development, its smaller scale enabling the personality of the creator to shine through in the final product.[4]

Influences

Cavanagh cites the 1997 Japanese RPG Final Fantasy VII as his favorite game, crediting it as his inspiration for becoming a video game developer.[2] In 2009 Cavanagh named interactive fiction writer Adam Cadre as his favorite developer.[5]

Awards
  • Cavanagh's game VVVVVV won the 2010 IndieCade Festival in the category of "Fun/Compelling".[6]
  • In 2014, Cavanagh was named to Forbes' annual "30 Under 30" list in the Games category.[7]
  • In 2019, Cavanagh's game Dicey Dungeons won the 2019 IndieCade Grand Jury award.[8]

Games
GamePlatformRelease date
XOLDIERSMicrosoft Windows2008
SquishMicrosoft Windows2008
Self DestructMicrosoft Windows2008
Transport StoriesMicrosoft Windows2008
Never OpenedMicrosoft Windows2008
We Love Mind Control RocketMicrosoft Windows2008
JudithMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux2009
PathwaysMicrosoft Windows2009
Airplane AdventuresAdobe Flash2009
The Baron's Volcano PartyAdobe Flash2009
DAS PÜZZELSPIELENAdobe Flash2009
Nun SquadMicrosoft Windows2009
BullfistAdobe Flash2009
Nanny ZEROMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X2009
DeterministicaAdobe Flash2009
Airplane Adventures 2: The ReturnAdobe Flash2009
The Best Years of my LifeAdobe Flash2009
Bullet TimeAdobe Flash2009
Don't Look BackMicrosoft Windows, iOS, Android, OUYA2009
Radio SilenceMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Unity2010
N.O.T.T.U.B.Adobe Flash2010
SumouseMicrosoft Windows2010
KozachokAdobe Flash2010
Going ForwardAdobe Flash2010
Bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronn
tuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk		Adobe Flash, OUYA2010
memrrtiks, suashemAdobe Flash2010
PhobiaphobiaphobiaAdobe Flash2010
Red SkyMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Unity,2010
BridgeAdobe Flash2010
VVVVVVMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Vita, iOS, Android, OUYA2010
American DreamMicrosoft Windows, OUYA2011
Hero's AdventureAdobe Flash2011
Oiche MhaithAdobe Flash, OUYA2011
At a DistanceMicrosoft Windows2011
Super HexagoniOS, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Android, Blackberry 10, Linux, OUYA2012
ChatChatAdobe Flash2012
HexagonAdobe Flash, OUYA2012
HarmonilrAdobe Flash2012
GrieferAdobe Flash2012
NotsnakeAdobe Flash2012
CollapseHTML52013
FountainAdobe Flash2013
Naya's QuestAdobe Flash2013
Experiment 12Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X2013
Maverick BirdAdobe Flash2014
Moving StoriesAdobe Flash2014
GRAB THEM BY THE EYESAdobe Flash2015
CopycatAdobe Flash, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux2015
Constellation MachineMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Adobe Flash2016
Tiny HeistMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS, online2016
Dicey DungeonsMicrosoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch2019
Climb the Giant Man Obby Roblox 2021
Anyone Could Be Struck By Lightning At Any TimeRoblox2021
Triangle RunMicrosoft Windows, macOS, Linux2021
Mr. PlatformerMicrosoft Windows, macOS, Linux2023
State MachineMicrosoft Windows, macOS, LinuxTBA

References
  1. David Wolinsky (13 April 2010). "AVC at GDC '10: An interview with VVVVVV creator Terry Cavanagh". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  2. Edge staff (12 September 2012). "Terry Cavanagh on making fewer, more ambitious games". Edge. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  3. "Alphaland". jonas-kyratzes.net. 5 May 2011.
  4. Cantoni, Chris. "Terry Cavanagh Can't Stop Making Games". International Festival of Independent Games.
  5. Gallaway, Brad (18 April 2009). "Interview with Terry Cavanagh, creator of Don't Look Back". GameCritics.com. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  6. "2010 IndieCade Award Recipients". International Festival of Independent Games. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  7. "Five Irish on Forbes 30 under 30 list". The Irish Times. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  8. "2019 IndieCade Award Recipients". International Festival of Independent Games. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
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