http://dev.paxsite.com/schedule/panel/rebooting-the-insomniac-tools-new-tech-for-a-new-ip-and-a-new-generation The explosion of web-based enterprise applications, fully-web enabled mobile devices (like the iPhone and iPad) and browser-based gaming sent a clear signal that the era of native applications living in a sandbox was over. Not just for games, but also for the tools we use to develop games. We felt this was an opportunity to make a strategic change that would position us much better and net us valuable experience for the inevitable changes to operating systems, development tools and user expectations. This is the story of our move to AAA game development tools as a webapp. We will share our most significant choices and the costs of those choices. We will suggest alternatives where we feel that better results can still be achieved. And we will share details of the technical architecture of the new tools suite.

1. Rebooting the
Insomniac Tools
New Tech for New IP and New Generation

2. Whirlwind tour through
problem-space
Mike Acton, Engine Director
macton@insomniacgames.com

3. Start with the problem
Whirlwind tour through
problem-space
Mike Acton, Engine Director
macton@insomniacgames.com

4. Start with the problem
Understand the impact of context/culture
Whirlwind tour through
problem-space
Mike Acton, Engine Director
macton@insomniacgames.com

5. Start with the problem
Understand the impact of context/culture
Gather and understand real life data
Whirlwind tour through
problem-space
Mike Acton, Engine Director
macton@insomniacgames.com

6. The problem
New IP

7. The problem
New IP
New Publisher

8. The problem
New IP
New Publisher
New Platform

9. The problem
New IP
New Publisher
New Platform
Efficiency

10. The problem
New IP
New Publisher
New Platform
Efficiency
New Tech Spaces

11. The problem
New IP
New Publisher
New Platform
Efficiency
New Tech Spaces
Culture

12. The problem
New IP
New Publisher
New Platform No "Right" or "Best"
Answer
Efficiency
New Tech Spaces
Culture

13. The problem
New IP
New Publisher
New Platform No "Right" or "Best"
Answer
Efficiency
New Tech Spaces
Except what allows us to
be the best creators we
Culture can be

14. The problem
New IP
New Publisher What's the real problem?
New Platform
Efficiency
New Tech Spaces
Culture

15. The problem
New IP
New Publisher What's the real problem?
New Platform New code...
Efficiency
New Tech Spaces
Culture

16. The problem
New IP
New Publisher What's the real problem?
New Platform New code...
Efficiency New assets...
New Tech Spaces
Culture

17. The problem
New IP
New Publisher What's the real problem?
New Platform New code...
Efficiency New assets...
New Tech Spaces More versions...
Culture

18. The problem
New IP
New Publisher What's the real problem?
New Platform New code...
Efficiency New assets...
New Tech Spaces More versions...
Culture More iteration...

19. The problem
New IP
New Publisher What's the real problem?
New Platform New code...
Efficiency New assets...
New Tech Spaces More versions...
Culture More iteration...

20. The problem
New IP
New Publisher
New Platform
Efficiency
New Tech Spaces
Culture

21. The problem
New Publisher
New Platform
Efficiency
New Tech Spaces
Culture

22. The problem
New Platform
Efficiency
New Tech Spaces
Culture

23. The problem
Efficiency
New Tech Spaces
Culture

24. The problem (big changes)
Efficiency Usability testing
New Tech Spaces
Culture

25. The problem (big changes)
Efficiency Usability testing
New Tech Spaces Chrome Web App
Culture

26. The problem (big changes)
Efficiency Usability testing
New Tech Spaces Chrome Web App
Culture Open houses

27. The problem (6 examples)
Efficiency
New Tech Spaces
Culture

28. The problem (6 examples)
Efficiency 1. Tools UI
New Tech Spaces
Culture

29. Tools UI

30. Tools UI

31. Tools UI

32. The problem (Tools UI)
Efficiency Who can + Edit speed
New Tech Spaces
Culture

33. The problem (Tools UI)
Efficiency Who can + Edit speed
New Tech Spaces HTML5/JS
Culture

34. The problem (Tools UI)
Efficiency Who can + Edit speed
New Tech Spaces HTML5/JS
Culture Feedback

35. Tools UI (sub-problems)
Chrome

36. Tools UI (sub-problems)
Chrome Standards + No cross-browser

37. Tools UI (sub-problems)
Chrome Standards + No cross-browser
Javascript + jQuery

38. Tools UI (sub-problems)
Chrome Standards + No cross-browser
Javascript + jQuery UI iteration time

39. Tools UI (sub-problems)
Chrome Standards + No cross-browser
Javascript + jQuery UI iteration time
Remove Flash

40. Tools UI (sub-problems)
Chrome Standards + No cross-browser
Javascript + jQuery UI iteration time
Remove Flash UI iteration time

41. Tools UI (sub-problems)
Chrome Standards + No cross-browser
Javascript + jQuery UI iteration time
Remove Flash UI iteration time
Data divide

42. Tools UI (sub-problems)
Chrome Standards + No cross-browser
Javascript + jQuery UI iteration time
Remove Flash UI iteration time
Data divide Maintainability

43. Tools UI (sub-problems)
Chrome Standards + No cross-browser
Javascript + jQuery UI iteration time
Remove Flash UI iteration time
Data divide Maintainability
Custom controls

44. Tools UI (sub-problems)
Chrome Standards + No cross-browser
Javascript + jQuery UI iteration time
Remove Flash UI iteration time
Data divide Maintainability
Custom controls Problem first

45. Tools UI (sub-problems)
Chrome Standards + No cross-browser
Javascript + jQuery UI iteration time
Remove Flash UI iteration time
Data divide Maintainability
Custom controls Problem first
Pages

46. Tools UI (sub-problems)
Chrome Standards + No cross-browser
Javascript + jQuery UI iteration time
Remove Flash UI iteration time
Data divide Maintainability
Custom controls Problem first
Pages Stability

47. The problem (6 examples)
Efficiency 1. Tools UI
New Tech Spaces 2. Tools server
Culture

48. Tools server

49. Tools server

50. The problem (Tools server)
Efficiency Stability
New Tech Spaces
Culture

51. The problem (Tools server)
Efficiency Stability
New Tech Spaces Everything HTTP
Culture

52. The problem (Tools server)
Efficiency Stability
New Tech Spaces Everything HTTP
Culture Local -> Global services

53. Tools server (sub-problems)
RESTful API

54. Tools server (sub-problems)
RESTful API Standards

55. Tools server (sub-problems)
RESTful API Standards
CGI scripts

56. Tools server (sub-problems)
RESTful API Standards
CGI scripts Stable experiments

57. Tools server (sub-problems)
RESTful API Standards
CGI scripts Stable experiments
mongoose

58. Tools server (sub-problems)
RESTful API Standards
CGI scripts Stable experiments
mongoose Simple, small

59. Tools server (sub-problems)
RESTful API Standards
CGI scripts Stable experiments
mongoose Simple, small
mongodb

60. Tools server (sub-problems)
RESTful API Standards
CGI scripts Stable experiments
mongoose Simple, small
mongodb Asset queries, Javascript

61. Tools server (sub-problems)
RESTful API Standards
CGI scripts Stable experiments
mongoose Simple, small
mongodb Asset queries, Javascript
Perforce integration

62. Tools server (sub-problems)
RESTful API Standards
CGI scripts Stable experiments
mongoose Simple, small
mongodb Asset queries, Javascript
Perforce integration Simultaneous edits

63. Tools server (sub-problems)
RESTful API Standards
CGI scripts Stable experiments
mongoose Simple, small
mongodb Asset queries, Javascript
Perforce integration Simultaneous edits
Universal undo

64. Tools server (sub-problems)
RESTful API Standards
CGI scripts Stable experiments
mongoose Simple, small
mongodb Asset queries, Javascript
Perforce integration Simultaneous edits
Universal undo Maintenance, analysis

65. The problem (6 examples)
Efficiency 1. Tools UI
New Tech Spaces 2. Tools server
Culture 3. Asset management

66. Asset management

67. Asset management

68. The problem (Asset management)
Efficiency Build times
New Tech Spaces
Culture

69. The problem (Asset management)
Efficiency Build times
New Tech Spaces Live tracking
Culture

70. The problem (Asset management)
Efficiency Build times
New Tech Spaces Live tracking
Culture Personal asset branches

71. Asset management (sub-problems)
JSON format

72. Asset management (sub-problems)
JSON format Ease of edit

73. Asset management (sub-problems)
JSON format Ease of edit
File backed

74. Asset management (sub-problems)
JSON format Ease of edit
File backed UX culture

75. Asset management (sub-problems)
JSON format Ease of edit
File backed UX culture
Auto version upgrades

76. Asset management (sub-problems)
JSON format Ease of edit
File backed UX culture
Auto version upgrades Various versions

77. Asset management (sub-problems)
JSON format Ease of edit
File backed UX culture
Auto version upgrades Various versions
NTFS tracker

78. Asset management (sub-problems)
JSON format Ease of edit
File backed UX culture
Auto version upgrades Various versions
NTFS tracker

79. Asset management (sub-problems)
JSON format Ease of edit
File backed UX culture
Auto version upgrades Various versions
NTFS tracker 3rd-party tool edits

80. Asset management (sub-problems)
JSON format Ease of edit
File backed UX culture
Auto version upgrades Various versions
NTFS tracker 3rd-party tool edits
Build manager

81. Asset management (sub-problems)
JSON format Ease of edit
File backed UX culture
Auto version upgrades Various versions
NTFS tracker 3rd-party tool edits
Build manager No choice = automate

82. Asset management (sub-problems)
JSON format Ease of edit
File backed UX culture
Auto version upgrades Various versions
NTFS tracker 3rd-party tool edits
Build manager No choice = automate
Runtime linking

83. Asset management (sub-problems)
JSON format Ease of edit
File backed UX culture
Auto version upgrades Various versions
NTFS tracker 3rd-party tool edits
Build manager No choice = automate
Runtime linking Iteration, Disc layout

84. The problem (6 examples)
Efficiency 1. Tools UI
New Tech Spaces 2. Tools server
Culture 3. Asset management
4. Lighting, materials, FX

85. Lighting, materials, FX

86. Lighting, materials, FX

87. Lighting, materials, FX

88. Lighting, materials, FX

89. The problem
(Lighting, materials, FX)
Efficiency Lightmap bottleneck
New Tech Spaces
Culture

90. The problem
(Lighting, materials, FX)
Efficiency Lightmap bottleneck
New Tech Spaces Realtime everything
Culture

91. The problem
(Lighting, materials, FX)
Efficiency Lightmap bottleneck
New Tech Spaces Realtime everything
Culture Build-time optimizations

92. Lighting, materials, FX (sub-problems)
Realtime edit

93. Lighting, materials, FX (sub-problems)
Realtime edit Lighter iteration

94. Lighting, materials, FX (sub-problems)
Realtime edit Lighter iteration
Artist materials

95. Lighting, materials, FX (sub-problems)
Realtime edit Lighter iteration
Artist materials Styles, optimization

96. Lighting, materials, FX (sub-problems)
Realtime edit Lighter iteration
Artist materials Styles, optimization
Game parameters

97. Lighting, materials, FX (sub-problems)
Realtime edit Lighter iteration
Artist materials Styles, optimization
Game parameters Runtime advantage

98. Lighting, materials, FX (sub-problems)
Realtime edit Lighter iteration
Artist materials Styles, optimization
Game parameters Runtime advantage
Runtime classify

99. Lighting, materials, FX (sub-problems)
Realtime edit Lighter iteration
Artist materials Styles, optimization
Game parameters Runtime advantage
Runtime classify Anything moves, changes

100. Lighting, materials, FX (sub-problems)
Realtime edit Lighter iteration
Artist materials Styles, optimization
Game parameters Runtime advantage
Runtime classify Anything moves, changes
Occlusion

101. Lighting, materials, FX (sub-problems)
Realtime edit Lighter iteration
Artist materials Styles, optimization
Game parameters Runtime advantage
Runtime classify Anything moves, changes
Occlusion
Memory, accuracy

102. Lighting, materials, FX (sub-problems)
Realtime edit Lighter iteration
Artist materials Styles, optimization
Game parameters Runtime advantage
Runtime classify Anything moves, changes
Occlusion
Memory, accuracy
Indoor/Outdoor

103. Lighting, materials, FX (sub-problems)
Realtime edit Lighter iteration
Artist materials Styles, optimization
Game parameters Runtime advantage
Runtime classify Anything moves, changes
Occlusion
Memory, accuracy
Indoor/Outdoor Optimization

104. The problem (6 examples)
Efficiency 1. Tools UI
New Tech Spaces 2. Tools server
Culture 3. Asset management
4. Lighting, materials, FX
5. Animation, cinematics

105. Animation, cinematics

106. Animation, cinematics

107. Animation, cinematics

108. Animation, cinematics

109. The problem
(Animation, cinematics)
Efficiency Gameplay and post cost
New Tech Spaces
Culture

110. The problem
(Animation, cinematics)
Efficiency Gameplay and post cost
New Tech Spaces Graphics vs. Animation
Culture

111. The problem
(Animation, cinematics)
Efficiency Gameplay and post cost
New Tech Spaces Graphics vs. Animation
Culture Gameplay custom

112. Animation, cinematics (sub-problems)
Performance tracks

113. Animation, cinematics (sub-problems)
Performance tracks Lighting, camera, events

114. Animation, cinematics (sub-problems)
Performance tracks Lighting, camera, events
Gestures

115. Animation, cinematics (sub-problems)
Performance tracks Lighting, camera, events
Gestures Runtime adapt

116. Animation, cinematics (sub-problems)
Performance tracks Lighting, camera, events
Gestures Runtime adapt
Anim drivers

117. Animation, cinematics (sub-problems)
Performance tracks Lighting, camera, events
Gestures Runtime adapt
Anim drivers Animator control

118. Animation, cinematics (sub-problems)
Performance tracks Lighting, camera, events
Gestures Runtime adapt
Anim drivers Animator control
Blend graph

119. Animation, cinematics (sub-problems)
Performance tracks Lighting, camera, events
Gestures Runtime adapt
Anim drivers Animator control
Blend graph Size, reuse

120. Animation, cinematics (sub-problems)
Performance tracks Lighting, camera, events
Gestures Runtime adapt
Anim drivers Animator control
Blend graph Size, reuse
Variations

121. Animation, cinematics (sub-problems)
Performance tracks Lighting, camera, events
Gestures Runtime adapt
Anim drivers Animator control
Blend graph Size, reuse
Variations Reuse, character iteration

122. Animation, cinematics (sub-problems)
Performance tracks Lighting, camera, events
Gestures Runtime adapt
Anim drivers Animator control
Blend graph Size, reuse
Variations Reuse, character iteration
Events (tricky!)

123. Animation, cinematics (sub-problems)
Performance tracks Lighting, camera, events
Gestures Runtime adapt
Anim drivers Animator control
Blend graph Size, reuse
Variations Reuse, character iteration
Events (tricky!) What to expect

124. The problem (6 examples)
Efficiency 1. Tools UI
New Tech Spaces 2. Tools server
Culture 3. Asset management
4. Lighting, materials, FX
5. Animation, cinematics
6. Debugging

125. Debugging

126. Debugging

127. Debugging

128. Debugging

129. The problem
(Debugging)
Efficiency Speed to decision
New Tech Spaces
Culture

130. The problem
(Debugging)
Efficiency Speed to decision
New Tech Spaces Separate analysis
Culture

131. The problem
(Debugging)
Efficiency Speed to decision
New Tech Spaces Separate analysis
Culture "Actionable"

132. Debugging (sub-problems)
Asset analysis

133. Debugging (sub-problems)
Asset analysis Relationships & pivots

134. Debugging (sub-problems)
Asset analysis Relationships & pivots
Game live connect

135. Debugging (sub-problems)
Asset analysis Relationships & pivots
Game live connect Runtime-only info

136. Debugging (sub-problems)
Asset analysis Relationships & pivots
Game live connect Runtime-only info
Actionable > Accurate

137. Debugging (sub-problems)
Asset analysis Relationships & pivots
Game live connect Runtime-only info
Actionable > Accurate Few understand

138. Debugging (sub-problems)
Asset analysis Relationships & pivots
Game live connect Runtime-only info
Actionable > Accurate Few understand
Debug menu

139. Debugging (sub-problems)
Asset analysis Relationships & pivots
Game live connect Runtime-only info
Actionable > Accurate Few understand
Debug menu Controls & UX

140. Debugging (sub-problems)
Asset analysis Relationships & pivots
Game live connect Runtime-only info
Actionable > Accurate Few understand
Debug menu Controls & UX
Peek/Poke from JS

141. Debugging (sub-problems)
Asset analysis Relationships & pivots
Game live connect Runtime-only info
Actionable > Accurate Few understand
Debug menu Controls & UX
Peek/Poke from JS VS memory edit

142. Debugging (sub-problems)
Asset analysis Relationships & pivots
Game live connect Runtime-only info
Actionable > Accurate Few understand
Debug menu Controls & UX
Peek/Poke from JS VS memory edit
JSON reports

143. Debugging (sub-problems)
Asset analysis Relationships & pivots
Game live connect Runtime-only info
Actionable > Accurate Few understand
Debug menu Controls & UX
Peek/Poke from JS VS memory edit
JSON reports UI formatting

144. The problem (6 examples)
Efficiency 1. Tools UI
New Tech Spaces 2. Tools server
Culture 3. Asset management
4. Lighting, materials, FX
5. Animation, cinematics
6. Debugging

145. The problem (6 examples)
Efficiency 1. Tools UI
New Tech Spaces 2. Tools server
Culture 3. Asset management
4. Lighting, materials, FX
No "Right" or "Best"
5. Animation, cinematics
Answer...
6. Debugging

146. The problem (6 examples)
Efficiency 1. Tools UI
New Tech Spaces 2. Tools server
Culture 3. Asset management
4. Lighting, materials, FX
...but some do suck less
5. Animation, cinematics
than others.
6. Debugging

147. The problem (6 examples)
Efficiency 1. Tools UI
New Tech Spaces 2. Tools server
Culture 3. Asset management
4. Lighting, materials, FX
Twitter: @mike_acton 5. Animation, cinematics
6. Debugging
@insomniacgames