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Terry Cavanagh (developer)
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<h2 id="biography">Biography</h2> <p>After studying mathematics at Trinity College in <a href="/facts/Dublin/Fv8ezm8a">Dublin</a>, Cavanagh worked briefly as a market risk analyst before moving to focus on game development full-time in 2007. While he received some attention in the press for his "serious and arty" indie games, Cavanagh faced significant financial difficulties in his early career. He was reportedly close to abandoning game development when <i><a href="/facts/VVVVVV/3byLkcTe">VVVVVV</a></i> (released in 2010) became an unexpected success, providing him with the financial means to continue developing games.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p><p>In the midst of the <a href="/facts/COVID-19/YsUgvsaX">COVID-19</a> pandemic, in 2020, he gave away 1000 copies of three of his games for free in the hope it would "offer a distraction" to those in need of it.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p><p>Many of his titles share a primitive, minimalist retro aesthetic.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> He is credited as a programmer for <i>Alphaland</i>, a platform game by <a href="/facts/Jonas_Kyratzes/TQ4oGawC">Jonas Kyratzes</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p><p>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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="influences">Influences</h2> <p>Cavanagh cites the 1997 Japanese RPG <i><a href="/facts/Final_Fantasy_VII/9nbejnjN">Final Fantasy VII</a></i> as his favorite game, crediting it as his inspiration for becoming a video game developer.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> In 2009 Cavanagh named <a href="/facts/Interactive_fiction/1gG7AC6k">interactive fiction</a> writer <a href="/facts/Adam_Cadre/Dml9kkNx">Adam Cadre</a> as his favorite developer.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="awards">Awards</h2> <ul><li>Cavanagh's game <i>VVVVVV</i> won the 2010 <a href="/facts/IndieCade/kAAF3Hzo">IndieCade</a> Festival in the category of "Fun/Compelling".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></li> <li>In 2014, Cavanagh was named to <a href="/facts/Forbes/lyULpGhW">Forbes</a>' annual "30 Under 30" list in the Games category.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a></li> <li>In 2019, Cavanagh's game <i>Dicey Dungeons</i> won the 2019 <a href="/facts/IndieCade/kAAF3Hzo">IndieCade</a> Grand Jury award.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="ludography">Ludography</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Game</th><th>Platform</th><th>Release date</th></tr><tr><td><i>XOLDIERS</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows</td><td>2008</td></tr><tr><td><i>Squish</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows</td><td>2008</td></tr><tr><td><i>Self Destruct</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows</td><td>2008</td></tr><tr><td><i>Transport Stories</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows</td><td>2008</td></tr><tr><td><i>Never Opened</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows</td><td>2008</td></tr><tr><td><i>We Love Mind Control Rocket</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows</td><td>2008</td></tr><tr><td><i>Judith</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux</td><td>2009</td></tr><tr><td><i>Pathways</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows</td><td>2009</td></tr><tr><td><i>Airplane Adventures</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2009</td></tr><tr><td><i>The Baron's Volcano Party</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2009</td></tr><tr><td><i>DAS PÜZZELSPIELEN</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2009</td></tr><tr><td><i>Nun Squad</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows</td><td>2009</td></tr><tr><td><i>Bullfist</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2009</td></tr><tr><td><i>Nanny ZERO</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X</td><td>2009</td></tr><tr><td><i>Deterministica</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2009</td></tr><tr><td><i>Airplane Adventures 2: The Return</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2009</td></tr><tr><td><i>The Best Years of my Life</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2009</td></tr><tr><td><i>Bullet Time</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2009</td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Don%2527t_Look_Back_(video_game)/yqzul00H">Don't Look Back</a></i></td><td>Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android, OUYA</td><td>2009</td></tr><tr><td><i>Radio Silence</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Unity</td><td>2010</td></tr><tr><td><i>N.O.T.T.U.B.</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2010</td></tr><tr><td><i>Sumouse</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows</td><td>2010</td></tr><tr><td><i>Kozachok</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2010</td></tr><tr><td><i>Vegetable Game</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2010</td></tr><tr><td><i>Going Forward</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2010</td></tr><tr><td><i>Bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk</i></td><td>Adobe Flash, OUYA</td><td>2010</td></tr><tr><td><i>memrrtiks, suashem</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2010</td></tr><tr><td><i>Phobiaphobiaphobia</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2010</td></tr><tr><td><i>Red Sky</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Unity,</td><td>2010</td></tr><tr><td><i>Bridge</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2010</td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/VVVVVV/3byLkcTe">VVVVVV</a></i></td><td>Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Vita, iOS, Android, OUYA</td><td>2010</td></tr><tr><td><i>American Dream</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows, OUYA</td><td>2011</td></tr><tr><td><i>Hero's Adventure</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2011</td></tr><tr><td><i>Oiche Mhaith</i></td><td>Adobe Flash, OUYA</td><td>2011</td></tr><tr><td><i>At a Distance</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows</td><td>2011</td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Super_Hexagon/LaSzWoWW">Super Hexagon</a></i></td><td>iOS, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Android, Blackberry 10, Linux, OUYA</td><td>2012</td></tr><tr><td><i>ChatChat</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2012</td></tr><tr><td><i>Hexagon</i></td><td>Adobe Flash, OUYA</td><td>2012</td></tr><tr><td><i>Harmonilr</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2012</td></tr><tr><td><i>Griefer</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2012</td></tr><tr><td><i>Notsnake</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2012</td></tr><tr><td><i>Collapse</i></td><td>HTML5</td><td>2013</td></tr><tr><td><i>Fountain</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2013</td></tr><tr><td><i>Naya's Quest</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2013</td></tr><tr><td><i>Experiment 12</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X</td><td>2013</td></tr><tr><td><i>Maverick Bird</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2014</td></tr><tr><td><i>Moving Stories</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2014</td></tr><tr><td><i>GRAB THEM BY THE EYES</i></td><td>Adobe Flash</td><td>2015</td></tr><tr><td><i>Copycat</i></td><td>Adobe Flash, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux</td><td>2015</td></tr><tr><td><i>Constellation Machine</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Adobe Flash</td><td>2016</td></tr><tr><td><i>Tiny Heist</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, <a href="https://terrycavanagh.itch.io/tiny-heist">online</a></td><td>2016</td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Dicey_Dungeons/KgY9wICm">Dicey Dungeons</a></i></td><td>Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Playstation 4, Playstation 5</td><td>2019</td></tr><tr><td><i>Climb the Giant Man Obby</i></td><td>Roblox</td><td>2021</td></tr><tr><td><i>Anyone Could Be Struck By Lightning At Any Time</i></td><td>Roblox</td><td>2021</td></tr><tr><td><i>Triangle Run</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux</td><td>2021</td></tr><tr><td><i>Mr. Platformer</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux</td><td>2023</td></tr><tr><td><i>Terry's Other Games</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux</td><td>2025</td></tr><tr><td><i>State Machine</i></td><td>Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux</td><td><i>TBA</i></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Terry Cavanagh. <ul><li><a href="http://distractionware.com">Official website</a> </li> <li><a href="https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/how-vvvvvv-saved-an-independent-developers-career/">The Escapist interview with Terry Cavanagh</a></li> <li><a href="https://thespelunkyshowlike.libsyn.com/33-making-generous-games-with-terry-cavanagh">The Spelunky Showlike — Making Generous Games with Terry Cavanagh</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Edge staff (12 September 2012). "Terry Cavanagh on making fewer, more ambitious games". Edge. Retrieved 28 September 2013. <a href="http://www.edge-online.com/features/terry-cavanagh-on-making-fewer-more-ambitious-games/" target="_blank">http://www.edge-online.com/features/terry-cavanagh-on-making-fewer-more-ambitious-games/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Peel, Jeremy (14 September 2021). "How Terry Cavanagh bet it all on the simple joy of platforming". PC Gamer. Retrieved 3 February 2024. <a href="https://www.pcgamer.com/how-terry-cavanagh-bet-it-all-on-the-simple-joy-of-platforming/" target="_blank">https://www.pcgamer.com/how-terry-cavanagh-bet-it-all-on-the-simple-joy-of-platforming/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Heather Wald (16 March 2020). "Indie developer Terry Cavanagh is giving away free games to help those "in need of a distraction"". gamesradar. <a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/indie-developer-terry-cavanagh-is-giving-away-free-games-to-help-those-in-need-of-a-distraction/" target="_blank">https://www.gamesradar.com/indie-developer-terry-cavanagh-is-giving-away-free-games-to-help-those-in-need-of-a-distraction/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>David Wolinsky (13 April 2010). "AVC at GDC '10: An interview with VVVVVV creator Terry Cavanagh". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 23 July 2014. <a href="http://www.avclub.com/article/avc-at-gdc-10-an-interview-with-ivvvvvvi-creator-t-39174" target="_blank">http://www.avclub.com/article/avc-at-gdc-10-an-interview-with-ivvvvvvi-creator-t-39174</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"Alphaland". jonas-kyratzes.net. 5 May 2011. <a href="http://www.jonas-kyratzes.net/games/alphaland/" target="_blank">http://www.jonas-kyratzes.net/games/alphaland/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Cantoni, Chris. "Terry Cavanagh Can't Stop Making Games". International Festival of Independent Games. <a href="http://www.indiecade.com/interviews/terry_cavanagh/" target="_blank">http://www.indiecade.com/interviews/terry_cavanagh/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Edge staff (12 September 2012). "Terry Cavanagh on making fewer, more ambitious games". Edge. Retrieved 28 September 2013. <a href="http://www.edge-online.com/features/terry-cavanagh-on-making-fewer-more-ambitious-games/" target="_blank">http://www.edge-online.com/features/terry-cavanagh-on-making-fewer-more-ambitious-games/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Gallaway, Brad (18 April 2009). "Interview with Terry Cavanagh, creator of Don't Look Back". GameCritics.com. Retrieved 24 July 2014. <a href="http://www.gamecritics.com/brad-gallaway/interview-with-terry-cavanagh-creator-of-dont-look-back" target="_blank">http://www.gamecritics.com/brad-gallaway/interview-with-terry-cavanagh-creator-of-dont-look-back</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"2010 IndieCade Award Recipients". International Festival of Independent Games. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2014. <a href="http://www.indiecade.com/2010/awardresults_post2010/" target="_blank">http://www.indiecade.com/2010/awardresults_post2010/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Five Irish on Forbes 30 under 30 list". The Irish Times. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014. <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/five-irish-on-forbes-30-under-30-list-1.1647194" target="_blank">http://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/five-irish-on-forbes-30-under-30-list-1.1647194</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"2019 IndieCade Award Recipients". International Festival of Independent Games. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019. <a href="https://www.indiecade.com/awards/" target="_blank">https://www.indiecade.com/awards/</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>