Waegu!!!

Been working on this dude today for a small game with a friend at work. :)

Dan. x

My long time indie dev friend Lee Zhi Eng just informed me of his new blog. I continue to be  impressed by the amount of work Lee produces over other indies. His dedication is impressive as is his continual improvement.

Drawings from 23/09/09.

First idea draft of pirate trading shop.  Get your crabby bait here!

So jeah.

My ex-house mate, Yannik Eilers and his lovely lady friend Angela Chick have started a sweet little blog. It chronicles the wonderful (woeful) people of Port Slade who wait outside a certain bus stop. These people are sketched and what not, then exhibited on the interweb for all’s amusement. So that’s right. Go and be amused.

Much love.

I just came across the website for another toy retailer based here in the UK. Here’s what’s written on the about page.

Kawaii UK was founded in 2003 and had its first retailer UK designer toy store in Edinburgh, Scotland. The concept of Kawaii UK was to promote the distribution of imported Asian toys and American toys that had already received strong acclamation in their native territories, to other interested consumers existing in the UK and Europe. Like all business emerge we started a product range that varied between Japanese fancy stationery, gifts, and anime toy memorabilia. While not long after we evolved to a funkier approach and melded en vogue figurines with the next revolution of Hip Hop and Urban fashion that expanded into clothing as – well.

The movement of the so called “designer toy” began in 1997, when the Hong Kong artist Michael Lau displayed his work of customised GI-Joe figures in the HK Toy fair. His work inspired many artists from all over the world and contributed to the “designer toys movement”. This designer explosion plastic toy phenomenon has captured the imagination of toy designers, art toy collectors and toy lovers worldwide.

Our products are imported from the USA, Japan, and Hong Kong and since we stock the latest goods we are also up to date with the latest news, this meaning that when limited edition items are released overseas we will also be there to try ensure that Kawaii UK has them too. These products do not exist merely as a form of recreation for our younger generation but our designed with the intention that they will be admired much like any work of art, which is why there are at times limited editions that can multiply in value due to their uniqueness and low supply. Most often the case it is best to purchase these as early as possible.

To date we have a number of limited Japanese fancy stationery (Sanrio, San-X, Crux, Kamio, Q-lia and various other brands) and we also have a close partnership with Japan’s largest stationery distributor, Fuji Industrial Ltd. Therefore due to our connection with one of the largest distributors in Japan this also means that when they receive new products so do Kawaii UK so both customers be it in Japan or overseas can have instant access the latest goods.

Kawaii UK hopes to bring the ultimate in Urban Vinyl Designer Toys and offer much more also. The website we operate is open to all and we wish to provide an impeccable level of service and that browsing and shopping with us becomes enjoyable and all right to everyone visiting Kawaii UK.

As a reader, you may have travelled to us from the Realmcrafter community expecting to find more info on the image I recently published there. Here’s the scoop.

I have had an RC license for a while now but have yet to create anything really fun with it. In fact I dont think I have ever played an RC game that I enjoyed. But hopefully both the ‘lack of creation’ and the ‘lack of playing of a good RC game’  will change with Waegu.

As you might have guessed WTVG (Waegu the video game) will involve pirates and plunder. It’s going to be more about interaction between players and the world rather than character building. Don’t fret though! There will be some reputation building and character customisation too.

WTVG is not completely designed yet. And I expect the design to change as we test play things. But I am aiming for a slim, lean game with room for additional content.

I expect development to progress at a leisurely pace but no doubt things will pick up as we progress and I may find some room for extra scripters and balance/test designer. Be sure to check back often for updates!

Dan.

Recently I have been working on some characters. Shown here is Sinbad the skuba monster.

You could say it all started with this MediCom 400% Kubrick Alien.

I purchased it from one of my favourite shops in Brighton, Doyobi. Of course I have other toys, but this was the first serious bit of vinyl in my collection. To be honest, even as I bought it I wasn’t convinced that I would start collecting. I have mixed feelings on collecting things these days. In my opinion, collecting things often begins to cross over into the realm of “buying things for the sake of it”, which is the sort of consumerism that I sincerely wish to depart from. On the other hand, I am a working artist. An affectionado of craft and artistry. I love nice things! With all this in mind I have arrived to the following conclusions. My collection is not about numbers or sets. It is not about rarity. It is not about being in mint condition. Daniel Lodge’s  collection is about inspiration. It’s about appreciation, celebration and about preserving my personal journey as a creative person, like a diary of inspirational doodles cast from plastic. Since I don’t believe in manufacturing scarcity intentionally, I will endeavour to keep an up to date photographic catalogue of my collection available online for any curious parties to browse.

So with that decided, I begin!