Solo creator juggled project with parenthood.
A Milton Keynes developer has had his action 3D game released on Nintendo Switch.
Ali Collins, from Campbell Park, has released a fully self-built 3D action-platformer called The Bee Hive on the popular game console, after spending nine years juggling a job and parenthood with his creative hobby.
Developed through his studio Never Sleep Games, The Bee Hive is an action packed adventure set in a tiny insect kingdom.
Ali created everything for the game, from the code and design to the art and animation, all of it in Milton Keynes. And he says the city is perfectly placed as a hub for the console games industry.
“Milton Keynes is in a really interesting position within the UK games industry,” says Ali. “People often think of London, Oxford, Cambridge or Leamington Spa as the main hubs. But MK sits right in the centre of all four, making it one of the most strategically placed cities in the entire UK game development ecosystem.
“You can reach any of those major studios within about an hour, and a lot of indie developers quietly work from MK for that exact reason. It’s becoming a natural crossroads for remote and hybrid game development, and that’s where The Bee Hive was born.
“I built the entire game over several years here, as a local developer and parent, juggling life in the city while working on a major creative project. I wanted to craft something vibrant, warm and full of personality for a new generation of players.”
The Bee Hive is available through Nintendo eShop, priced £9.99.
