Game Making and Movie Magic
Mon January 27, 2025
This issue was written and edited by Ben Gillbanks. Ben is a Web Developer with over 20 years experience of building things online.
Welcome to the second issue of Ninja Sparks, your bi-weekly dose of creative inspiration, tools, and ideas!
After a few days of working through my taxes—never fun or inspiring—I’m thrilled to have them finished for the year. To celebrate, I treated myself to some Pokémon singles. There’s something about the artwork on Pokémon cards that feels like collecting tiny art works. One day, I’d love to create my own Trading Card Game, but that’s a distant dream at the moment.
For now, I’m diving back into my JavaScript game library. I started it last October and can’t wait to get it online. I’m a big believer in releasing early and often, so I’m hoping to share a preview soon. That’s when things get really interesting for me—collecting feedback from real people and building something even better.
Pocket Platformer
Ever wanted to create your own retro-style platformer game? Pocket Platformer makes it easier than ever! I can’t quite remember how I stumbled across it, but my son was with me, and he’s since spent hours making his own little games.
A screenshot of Pocket Platformer with a simple game level I created
The app is incredibly easy to use for creating simple, tiny platformers—and surprisingly powerful. Just experimenting, I discovered lots of possibilities. But after reading the devlogs, I realized there’s so much more you can do. If you want to dig deeper, you can create some really complex games.
Once you’re done, you can download your game as a single HTML file to upload to your website, play offline, or share with friends. It’s a clever setup—packaging everything into one file makes sharing and hosting games so much simpler than traditional methods that use multiple files.
If you’d rather just play games, check out this collection of Pocket Platformer creations on itch.io.
With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and focus on simplicity, this browser-based app is perfect for creators of all ages and skill levels. Design levels, add characters, and share your creations—let your imagination run wild!
How Massive Film Sets are Designed and Built
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating world of set design on the Apple TV show Silo with Adam Savage.
Note: These videos contain some spoilers for Season 2 of Silo. If you’re planning to watch it, you might want to save them for later.
I really miss the detailed behind-the-scenes features we used to get on DVDs. While Disney+ still offers some, they often feel more like promotional material than true insights into the creative process.
This is where YouTube really shines. As a Brit, I’ve always been aware of Adam Savage and MythBusters, though I never had the opportunity to watch it. But since he transitioned to YouTube, I’ve come across so many fun, movie-related videos.
Adam has made multiple videos about Silo, including ones on stunts, VFX, and more. If you’re a fan of filmmaking, they’re well worth exploring!
Sparked Discoveries
1. Nintendo Switch 2 Announced
Back in the 80’s and 90’s there were a lot of arguments at school about whether you were a Nintendo or Sega fan. These things were based entirely upon what console your parents bought you. But I got my start with Nintendo - and I’ve owned all the major consoles since the NES. So even though the Switch 2 does not look as revolutionary as some of their consoles, I’m still looking forward to it. I love that Nintendo focus on fun for everyone over chasing specifications.
2. Interview with Takaya Inamura, Nintendo Game Artist
This is a fantastic interview with Takaya Inamura, a veteran game artist who spent over 30 years at Nintendo. He shares insights about his work on iconic titles like Zelda and Star Fox, as well as his journey into the industry. I love hearing stories like this—it’s inspiring to see someone stay passionate about their craft for so long. It’s also a great reminder of the incredible talent and dedication that fuel the games we love.
3. Promptbrush
This is such a fun concept, and it even inspired another project I’m working on. It’s a website where you can request a picture, and an artist creates a unique, hand-made piece of art for you. The idea is meant to be an antidote to AI-generated art—a process that often uses real artists’ work without permission to cobble together something new. Here, the artwork is created by a real person, making it truly one of a kind. I love this am working on something similar for Brush Ninja. The only thing holding me back is the fear of being overwhelmed—animations take much longer to make than a single image, so I might end up making them endlessly!
4. An Amazing House in Boca Raton
Someone shared this unique house in Boca Raton on BlueSky recently, and it left me in awe. Let’s set aside the eye-watering price and the sheer number of bedrooms for a moment—what really stands out is the intense interior design. There are actually parts I love. Every wall doubles as a cupboard, making it super practical, and the art workshop (complete with sculpting tools, a kiln, and a printing press) is absolutely my dream space. I’m also a fan of the kids’ (or perhaps guest) room with the bunk beds—check out photo #139! That said, the rest of the design feels a bit overwhelming for me. Still, I can’t help but admire the creativity. It’s clear the previous owners loved this space—they wouldn’t have gone all-in on such bold design choices otherwise.
Thank you for reading Ninja Sparks! Have something you’d like me to feature, or any feedback on what you read? Hit reply and let me know.
Until next time, keep creating! 🚀
Ben