PixelJAM Games
IndustryVideo game Developer
Founded2005; 19 years ago (2005)
Founders
    • Miles Tilmann
    • Rich Grillotti
Headquarters
Asheville, North Carolina
,
United States
Number of employees
5 (2015)
Websitewww.pixeljam.com

PixelJAM Games is an American independent video game studio run by Richard Grillotti (b. 1972), Miles Tilmann and A.D. Bakke, known for their pixellated Flash games that "toy with traditional genres, but have quirky ideas and touches."[1][2][3][4] Their most notable games include Dino Run, Gamma Bros, and Potatoman Seeks the Troof.[5][6]

History

The name "PixelJam" comes from an "abstract pixel animation art experiment/site" that Richard Grilloti was playing around with in the late 1990s. Around 2004, he and his friend from college, Miles Tilmann, made their first game, also collaborating with 8bit musician Mark Denardo.[2][6] Grilloti and Tilman were originally both based in Chicago, then the studio went virtual for a couple of years when Grilloti lived in Oregon, but both Grilloti and Tilman later moved to Asheville, North Carolina.[7][2] The studio has made many games for Adult Swim.[8] In 2015, the studio had 5 employees.[7]

In 2007, PixelJAM developed a Flash shoot 'em up game, called Gamma Bros. It was nominated for "Best Web Browser Game" at the Independent Games Festival.[7] The player takes control of brothers Buzz and Zap Gamma who are on their way home from a galactic commute and must survive hoards of oncoming enemies.[6]

In November 2013, PixelJam launched a Kickstarter campaign for a sequel to Dino Run, but it failed to achieve its funding goal. A second campaign in 2018 succeeded. The game remains unreleased.

Games

References

  1. ^ Webster, Andrew (24 May 2010). "8-bit heroes: Ars explores the resurgence of pixel art". Ars Technica. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Stuart, Keith (27 May 2008). "Pixeljam: the art and science of browser game design. Part one". the Guardian. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  3. ^ Stuart, Keith (28 May 2008). "Pixeljam interview: part two". the Guardian. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  4. ^ Holmes, Jonathan (23 February 2013). "Adult Swim, success, and failure with PixelJam". Destructoid. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Everything All at Once with Pixeljam Complete - Hardcore Gamer". hardcoregamer.com. 2019-10-15. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  6. ^ a b c Burch, Anthony (25 March 2009). "GDC 09: Making Web Games: The Indie Experience". Destructoid. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Byrd, Caitlin (November 8, 2014). "Asheville indie game company isn't playing around". The Asheville Citizen Times.
  8. ^ Webster, Andrew (15 June 2011). "Nothing too crazy: why Adult Swim may be the best indie game publisher". Ars Technica. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
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