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iPhone geek who has made fortune in his bedroom
Mark Prigg13 Mar 2009
A self-taught computer "geek" is set to become a millionaire after inventing an iPhone game in his bedroom in Dalston.
Simon Oliver, 31, dreamed of becoming a games programmer but was rejected by dozens of firms because of his lack of experience so he decided to teach himself how to design games for the Apple iPhone in his spare time.
Mr Oliver, who earned money by building art installations for the Natural History and Science Museums, began learning the new skill in March last year.
By July he had uploaded a video of his game on YouTube, where it was spotted by a small US games publisher and put online to download.
Today it was revealed the £2.99 game, called Rolando, has been bought by several hundred thousand people and a sequel is already in production.
Mr Oliver has set up his own firm and is on track to make his first million. He said: "I've always wanted to be a computer game programmer but I just couldn't break into it. I wrote to dozens of firms, but never got anywhere, so I decided to teach myself.
"Once I had a small demo, I uploaded it on to YouTube, and everything went mad. It received over 100,000 views, and I got called by a publisher very quickly." After being contacted by ngcomo, which published the game, Mr Oliver quit his part-time job to concentrate on finishing the software.
He was then flown to San Francisco to polish the product.
Mr Oliver said: "It was incredibly hard work, but it has really paid off. I've been amazed by how well it has done, and I've recently been able to set up my own games publishing firm, and got a real office in Shoreditch.
"I moved all of my things out of my bedroom last week, and it was an amazing day."
In the game, players tilt the phone to guide small ball characters called Rolandos around a maze. Mr Oliver was inspired by Gerry Anderson's cult Eighties TV show Terrahawks, with small robot "balls".
"I wanted to keep the game very simple, and it seems to have paid off as everyone from children to adults seems to like it," said Mr Oliver, who admitted it was still odd seeing people playing.
"I had a mate fly to New Zealand a while ago and when he got back he told me three people on the plane had been playing it. It's great when you hear about your own work spreading around the world like that."
A sequel and several other games are planned by HandCircus, Mr Oliver's new company.
"This is really my dream, and if anyone said a year ago I'd be running my own games studio with a hit under my belt I wouldn't have believed them."
Reader views (12)
Just shows what a lot of hype and spin is attached to these devices when some guy can teach himself how to do it in a year.Most professionals have to slog out years obtaining a degree or just learning their profession on the job before getting reasonably paid for it.
- Colin Snelling, Melbourne Australia, 16/03/2009 03:36
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Hard to believe an "art installer" is out of work in this era of bloated gvt. Gosh, the economy must be pretty bad after all..
- Trunk, US, 13/03/2009 17:37
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Well, I still maintain my opinion but if those people who are calling themselves 'geeks' don't have a problem with it, I guess it's hard to argue? I would take a bit more pride myself and prefer to be called a techie - 'geek' is usually the term used to imply you must have acne and not know how to iron a shirt just because you're scientifically minded and therefore, I would call it a term of abuse personally. However, since I am neither a techie nor a geek, who am I to say?
- Real, London, 13/03/2009 17:22
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Great news - Britain needs more like him.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants, 13/03/2009 16:55
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I think tech or techie is way cooler than geek. But who am I to argue with the english language? Or the modified form spoken across the pond?
- John, Chatham, 13/03/2009 14:51
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> Probably some pen pusher in HR ticking boxes, but cannot see human potential.
It's a very rare games company that *has* an HR company. Take it from me.
Shame the guy couldn't find work but it seems to have paid off for him in the long run.
A bit of advice for anyone looking to get into games programming: Get a portfolio together and consider companies all over the country. The London based ones tend to prefer experience over untested talent but that's nor true all over.
- T O B E, London, UK, 13/03/2009 13:52
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I think Geek is the wrong word, techie is much better. I agree with Real, Geek is kind of offensive but it depends on how its said and the way it is said. As long as the person who it is being said to is alright with it, Geek can still be used, but i think this term will die out hopefully.
- Steve, london, 13/03/2009 13:34
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well done old son.
- Squiz, islington, 13/03/2009 12:45
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I don't think the word geek is at all offensive, I'm a geek and proud of it.
- Bob, Cheam, 13/03/2009 12:37
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Real, like most techies I am proud to be a geek.
- Roy, England, 13/03/2009 12:27
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it is nice to know the gamimg companies that rejected his application know talent when they see it! Probably some pen pusher in HR ticking boxes, but cannot see human potential.
- Darren, london, 13/03/2009 10:00
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I think the word 'geek' is offensive in any context and is possibly the equivalent of 'bimbo'. This is an intelligent, dedicated, ambitious, young(ish) man who taught himself to design something technological. Why demean him and mystify what he's done by calling him 'geek'? So everybody innovative who didn't do it the conventional way requires a demeaning label? Not many conventional people invent anything anyway. Lets not call them geeks, so much as 'entrepreneurs'.
- Real, London, 13/03/2009 09:36
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