Lance McDonald is an independent game developer. He has a 7 year old daughter who would watch him work. She showed a keen interest in her father’s work and eventually wanted to make one of her own.
Penny McDonald released her very first game, Answer the Question, on Steam this month. The game was met with a large amount of positive reviews.
The game is a question and answer type game where the players are supplied with an infinite (?) supply of math questions with correct answers scoring them points. Penny wanted to make an action game but did not feel ready so this was her first step into game development.
After completing the game, Penny asked Lance to help her submit it to Steam. Lance agreed, thinking that since their family enjoyed it, why not other people.
However, her first foray on to Steam was not smooth sailing. The service initially rejected her game, but it wasn’t because of its content. Rather, it was for the fact they thought it needed a better logo.
This stumbling block was overcome the very next day when Penny came back from school and promptly drew up a new logo. This is what it looks like and we think it is honestly the most charming thing.
Source: Steam
Though her game is simple, she plans to learn more and make more games. According to her father, her next goal is to make a text-based adventure, which will lead her closer to the goal she set out to achieve from the very beginning; creating an action game.
We look forward to seeing what Penny comes up with next, and we hope that more young developers are encouraged to throw their hat into the game development ring following her achievement. Game development, like all creative industries, could always use fresh new ideas and perspectives brought in by the younger generation to innovate it.
So what do you think, dear readers? Are you interested in trying it out? Or are math problems just not your cup of tea? In either case, Penny might be a good up and coming developer to keep an eye on.
Header Image Source: Kotaku
