New Feature Posted: Ben at the Pen Finale

Dale Weir · 11-11-2006, 06:00 PM

Brad talks with GameCritics.com alum Ben Hopper in the final installment of Ben at the Ben. We learn what happened to Ben after all of those years attending DigiPen and being thrown out into the world on his own.

"It was much harder than my first year, and the first year wasn't exactly cakewalk. I was coming out of an internship at Nintendo Software Technology in which I got to work on a GameCube title and a Game Boy Advance title, so I wasn't totally prepared to step back into the full-time student role at that point. Working at Nintendo after one year of school was a dream situation for me--I had always wanted to work there, so it was kind of a drag when it ended and I had to return to school."

Read more here:
http://www.gamecritics.com/feature/i...er4/page01.php

Gene Park · 11-16-2006, 02:47 PM

Congratulations to Ben on his gainful employment, and to Brad for finishing this long-time series.

Brad Gallaway · 11-16-2006, 06:21 PM

Thanks, Gene.

(and i'll pass it along to Ben when i see him.)

It's funny, all this time and i thought i'd hear a few words on the completion of the piece, at the very least something like "done with typical GC expediency" or somesuch, but nothing.

ah well... it's a good thing i do this stuff because i like it. ; )

Hopper76 · 08-01-2007, 02:13 PM

Thanks again Brad for doing this series. It's been a while since I've talked to you. Are you still in Portland? I thought you had moved back to the Seattle area, but I hadn't heard from you so I wasn't sure.

Anyway, I've been at Snowblind Studios since January, and it's awesome. I'm an animator on an upcoming Xbox 360/PS3 title that will be announced at the beginning of next year.

Get in touch with me when you get the chance ...

Peace.

Bai · 08-01-2007, 06:13 PM

That's the cruel truth isn't it Brad? People only say something when they *don't* like your work!

Seriously, great article. I liked the bit where he talked about staying with you and then now working across the street from there. Would have liked to see some solid $$$ figures when you asked Ben about salary but perhaps that's private. And what dedication to keep the series going after a three-year break! Yeah, good job.