Introduction
This is the personal site of Tom Kitchin.
I'm currently based in Sheffield where I work as a Technical Lead and web developer.
Outside of work, my primary field of interest is games and game design, including videogames, board games, roleplaying games and even megagames.
I'm interested in game design, game analysis and discussion and in public speaking on those topics. If you're looking for someone with public speaking skills and a broad awareness of game design and the gaming industry, please check out my previous talks and definitely contact me.
I can be reached via my email at tkitchin@gmail.com or on Twitter at @TwoDaemon.
I also made Vennt, a tool for helping out with game night by comparing your Steam games library with your friends and showing you games you all already have. Give it a try!
Writing
Some thoughts on game design in written form. I prefer speaking, but it's good to write once in a while.
- A Good Death - Some thoughts on failure and frustration in gaming.
Speaking
When I have time, I do public talks on topics related to game design.
These are some events I've been involved in:
- A Good Death, an analysis of player failure as a part of game design. Delivered at GameCamp 2013, 18/05/2013.
- Chasing Butterflies, a microtalk on the design challenges of escort quests in games. Delivered at Nine Worlds, 10/08/2013. Followed the '20-20' constraint, twenty slides with the slides transitioning automatically every twenty seconds.
- Difficulty In Games: a barrier to art?, a panel discussing the issue of challenge in games blocking some players from the full experience. Panel at Nine Worlds, 11/08/2013. Fellow panellists: Shirley Procter, C.Y. Reid, Alan Zucconi.
- Theme and mechanics in a story-driven genre, a talk on the use of mechanics unusual in the adventure game genre to affect the player's interaction with and perception of the story. Delivered at AdventureX 2013, 07/12/2013.
- Drowning in the atmosphere, a talk on the power of theme and background narrative in games. Delivered at GameCamp 2014, 17/05/2014.
- Cardboard Thinking, a talk comparing design and thinking between video and board games. Delivered at AdventureX 2014, 06/12/2014.
- Gaming Across the Streams, a panel discussing differences and similarities across all the forms of gaming. Panel at Nine Worlds, 08/08/2015. Fellow panellists: Grant Howitt, Matt Johnson, Mary Hamilton, James Wallis.
Contact Information
- Tom Kitchin
- Email: tkitchin@gmail.com
- Twitter: @TwoDaemon