While making videogames for a living has its obvious perks (getting paid for tweaking the graphics in level three, Rock Band nights, and actually enjoying your work to name a few), one of the more unsung benefits is the utter lack of a dress code. Most developers are too busy being happy over you showing up clothed at all to care about your funny T-shirt from the internets or your raggedy jeans, and the resulting laid back atmosphere helps take a bit of the stress off when things get hectic.

At Powerhead Games, we appreciate the chance to let our respective freak flags fly around the work place so much that a few of us have taken it upon ourselves to institute Formal Fridays. Every Friday we put away our band shirts and trusty jeans and deck ourselves out in, if not necessarily traditional white collar garb, the nicest clean clothes we can find. It’s our way of saying “thanks” for the clothing freedoms we enjoy during the rest of the week. Also, suits and dresses are totally awesome.

It’s a small group now, made up mostly of the North side of the office (because South side are made of lame), but we’re growing. Pictured below from left to right: Natasha, Nathan, Chris (me), Christy, Niki, and Greg.

Last Friday was Rock Band Night! Read on for a semi-exciting tale of Chinese Food, Duct Tape, and the Majesty of Rock!

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Every now and then we’re going to use this space to feature something about NYC, especially our neighborhood, that gives us much joy. Today we focus on: The Shake Shack. It’s only a few blocks south of our office, in Madison Square Park. Here’s a nice write up. It’s not for the cholesterol conscious. In fact, I don’t think we can legally recommend this place without also reminding you to exercise regularly. Oh, then we should probably mention that you should consult a physician before any strenuous exercise. Of course, don’t see a doctor without checking their references. And eat an apple. Unless you’re allergic.

All that said, the lines can get pretty crazy, so it’s good to go during off hours. Fortunately, the clever folks at The Shack have provided a quick way to check out the length of their queue. In fact… there’s no line right now!!!

(Disappears in a puff of smoke.)

Stealing a page from our friends over at Bethesda, we’re going to take a look at what some of our guys are playing. (Thanks to Chris for bothering everyone compiling the following:)

Jim: Team Fortress 2, God of War: Chains of Olympus
Ed: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Matt: Apollo Justice, Wipeout Pulse, Flow
Nikoma: New Super Mario Bros.
Christy: Professor Layton, Burnout Paradise
Niki: Rock Band, Team Fortress 2
Randy: Cities & Nights of Catan, Puerto Rico
Ramiro: Rock Band
Chris: Assassin’s Creed, Rock Band, Professor Layton, Super Smash Bros.
Brawl
Gregg: Mass Effect, Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Nathan: Ico, Professor Layton
Yury: WoW, Sam & Max Season 1, Advance Wars: Days of Ruin
Mike: Gears of War, Rock Band, Team Fortress 2, N+
Sean: Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Rock Band
David: Oblivion, Final Fantasy XII, Super Robot Taisen Original Generation 2
Ethan: WoW, Crysis
Jason: Zelda, Rez HD, Defending an Ancient or three

As a video game developer, it helps to be well-versed in what’s going on in the game industry. Of course, this doesn’t just apply to video games; that’s why every few months, we hold Analog Game Night, where we all get together and play board games and card games and relax and have fun. But I’ll post more on Analog Game Night another time. This post is about that other analog game some of us at Powerhead play: Dungeons & Dragons.

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