Hey Everyone,

So, not ‘directly’ work related, but I just had to share my excitement.  As most of you know, arcade machines (and retro games) are a big passion of mine (see my previous post if you missed it…http://bit.ly/mBAUc1 and http://bit.ly/kEy31u) and my collection is about to grow once more!

Take a look at this beauty!

My previous arcades have all been new builds, built from scratch, but this time I wanted to bring a peice of history into the collection…an original Mortal Kombat 2 cabinet! I’ve saved this little beauty from the scrap yard and its on its way into my loving arms :)  Its due to arrive next week and I’ve got my arcade technician on standby ready to come in and give it some TLC.  The cabinet is extremely good condition, but as with all clouds, they have their silver lining…it doesn’t work, but I’m hoping my techy can fix it…fingers crossed.

I cant wait to start restoring this back to its former glory.  Rock on!

More shots coming once she arrives.

Mike.

Hey Everyone,

Well, its time to announce the free app that’s in production for the iPad!

After the 100′s of thousands of downloads of the iPad Moods I created many months ago, I decided that it made perfect sense to turn those little critters into something a little more fun, something a little more app like and something dedicated to the iPad!

I’m sure you’ve got many an idea as to what the app is, or what the app maybe, but I’ll leave you to think about that just a little longer.  The design of the app is now nigh on complete, and is entering development.  So watch this space for some exciting new updates!

Oh, and did I mention that its going to be free? Smiiiiiiile :)

More info REAL soon!

Mike.

Hey Everyone,

It’s been a fair while since my last proper post (bar the flowery photos a couple of weeks ago) as I’ve been consumed with project work (more so than normal).

There has been SO much going on behind the scenes as I’ve got my head deeply implanted in a few new games! Exciting stuff!

The main projects that have been consuming my time are a kick ass facebook game for the guys over at Aranim, a suuuper exciting game for the guys at Thunder Game Works and some more epic MMO action for the Haypi team.

I’ve been lucky enough to spend the VAST majority of this time illustrating too.  To give you a rough idea, I’ve probably put together something like 50 new characters over the past few months, people, soldiers, zombies, animals, monsters, dragons, you name it, it’s been bloody marvellous!  I also got to try my hand at matte painting on two separate projects too, something I’ve always fancied a pop at.  It was a steep learning curve but I was exceptionally happy with the final results…I just need the respective projects to launch so I can release them :)

Add into this lots of other smaller projects and you can expect some rather epic updates to FI over the coming months.  I genuinely cannot wait to get all these things out into the public eye!

The other very exciting sideline project I’m cooking up is Fully Illustrated’s first dedicated iPad app!  But watch this space for a dedicated blog post about that soon, it’s shaping up rather nicely!  And note the word app, not game ;)

Catch you all soon.

Mike.

Hey Everyone,

Its been a while since my last post.  I’ve been insanly busy over the recent months, but just wanted to say hi and post up two lovely photos I just took in some nearby woodland.  I’ve mentioned a few times how nature is one of my biggest sources of insipiration, and when springtime comes along, and everything comes into bloom, it brings me sooooo many visual ideas.  One of the best parts of spring is the arrival of bluebells, carpeting the woodland floor with a rich purple haze.  Its stunning, and this year, I thought I’d try to capture some of that in a couple of photos.  Take a peek below…

So yes, there you go, a couple of nice nature shots.  Quite a dramatic step away from my usual all action video game work ;)

If you’re wondering how I take direct inspiration from things like this, its all about light, colours, tones and palettes.  Just look at how well those purples work with the greens.  I’ll eye drop all the colours in these photos and save the pallete for a future project.

Mike.

Hey Everyone,

Looks like being a popular month for my birds of prey photos, firstly Swarovski using one of my Steppe Eagle shots in a new ad campaign and now one of my Barn Owl photos being used on the leaflet cover of a new ‘Adopt an Owl’ pack down at the sanctuary.  Its so nice to see these images going to good use!

I recieved an email recently from Swarovski, asking to purchase one of my Steppe Eagle photos!  I was totally bowled over by this as my photography work has only ever been (except for a 6 month stint as a commercial photographer) a personal venture.  I absolutely love shooting birds of prey, so to see the fruits of my labour being used like this was rather rewarding.

With that said though, as I’d shot this photo for Turbary Woods Bird of Prey Sanctuary, I decided that the proceeds from this sale should go entirely to the santuary, as those guys need all the help they can get, especially in the winter months.

Anyway, that’s it really, I just wanted to share my excitement.

Mike.

Being something of a thoroughbred geek, I actually have some other interests other than retro video games that are as equally geeky…the main one being retro radio controlled cars! Are you spotting a theme here? Yes, retro, I know, I know, typical 30 something reliving his teen youth, but its been a love of mine since childhood.  Anyway, I doubt that many Fully Illustrated visitors will find this sideline of mine very interesting, but for those who do, take a peek at www.tamiyaegress.com, its my new personal blog covering the restoration of a 1989 Tamiya classic.  The design is rather different from my usual stuff as its based around the spares boxes that Tamiya make and I absolutley love this box art.  Anyway, just thought I’d share that with the world.  Out of the 50k visitors that pass by the blog each month, there must be one that finds this of interest ;)

Mike.

Happy New Year everyone!

Wow, what a fantastic year 2010 was!  I can’t believe it’s over already, it seems to have come and gone in the blink of an eye.

I’m looking back at 2010 to try and pick out a particular highlight (other than the obvious one of becoming a dad!), but I have to say that I was blessed last year with so many superb projects and opportunities.  I guess what’s needed here is a HUGE THANK YOU to all my kick ass clients!  Guys, you all rock and keep me smiling from ear to ear :)

2011 promises some amazing new events for Fully Illustrated too, a lot of which are focused around the iPhone and iPad, but I’m also very excited about my new relationship with the legends that are Microsoft Game Studio.  The Neosaurs project was one hell of a way to end 2010, it’s given me a lot to strive for this year.  I also can’t wait to announce some other BIG relationships that I’ve got in the mix at the moment.  Once I’m able to officially announce more I surely will! I know that sounds very cloak and dagger, but NDA’s have the last word in my book ;)

And last but most surely not least, a big thanks to all the wonderful people that visit Fully Illustrated so often and are kind enough to drop me a mail, it’s great to see you returning on such a regular basis.  I’ll try my level best to keep the site as regularly updated as its always been.

Here’s to an exciting 2011!!!

Mike.

Hey Everyone,

Yesterday’s Stenches launch was little short of mindblowingly epic! Not only did we get reviewed as TUAW’s Daily App, but we also got a killer review from Touch Arcade & Slide to Play…but that’s just the tip of the iceberg…we also got the AMAZING accolade of Apples (US) ‘iPhone Game of the Week‘! OH MY GOD!

Thanks to everyone out there that is saying amazing things about Stenches you are all so, so awesome!

Thank you world!

Mike.

Hey Everyone,

Welcome to a spooky All Hallows blog entry!

As this year is the first year of being a dad, I decided, or should I say my wife decided, that it was high time that my cartoon skills should meet pumkin flesh…and what a wonderfully good idea that was!  I got rather excited by this, and as you’d expect, it couldnt be just a simple case of throwing down some holes in a pumpkin…ooooooh no, this needed sketching, planning and nice new ultra sharp set of cartoon pumpkin carving knives…and a massive spoon ;)

So I spent some time sketching out some ideas and soon settled on the final one, and what a handsome monster he was too.

So last night I set to work carving him out and I have to say that it was a total blast!

Its been such a long time since I’ve strayed away from my computer or sketchpad to actually create something, so this felt, well, special!  Needless to say, after a couple of hours of cutting and chopping he was ready!

I couldnt wait to get him candlelit and in front of my door.

I cant wait for next year!

Hope you like him.

Mike.