Quick Facts
Biography
Terry Cavanagh is an Irish video game designer based in London, England. After studying mathematics at Trinity College in Dublin, Cavanagh worked briefly as a market risk analyst before focusing on game development full-time. His titles all share a primitive, minimalist aesthetic. He has created over two dozen games, most notably VVVVVV and Super Hexagon. He is credited as a programmer for Alphaland, a platform game by Jonas Kyratzes.
Cavanagh has stated that he prefers the personal nature of independent game development, its smaller scale enabling the personality of the creator to shine through in the final product.
Influences
Cavanagh cites the 1997 Japanese RPG Final Fantasy VII as his favorite game, crediting it as his inspiration for becoming a video game developer. In 2009 Cavanagh named interactive fiction writer Adam Cadre as his favorite developer.
Awards
- Cavanagh's game VVVVVV won the 2010 IndieCade Festival in the category of "Fun/Compelling".
- In 2014, Cavanagh was named to Forbes' annual "30 Under 30" list in the Games category.
- "2010 IndieCade Award Recipients". International Festival of Independent Games. 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
- "Five Irish on Forbes 30 under 30 list". The Irish Times. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
Games developed
| Game | Platform | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| Don't Look Back | Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android, OUYA | 2009 |
| VVVVVV | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Nintendo 3DS, GNU/Linux, iOS, Android, OUYA | 2010 |
| American Dream | Microsoft Windows, OUYA | 2011 |
| Hero's Adventure | Adobe Flash | 2011 |
| Constellation Machine | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, Adobe Flash | 2016 |
| Oiche Mhaith | Adobe Flash, OUYA | 2011 |
| At a Distance | Microsoft Windows | 2011 |
| Super Hexagon | iOS, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Android, Blackberry 10, GNU/Linux, OUYA | 2012 |
| Naya's Quest | Adobe Flash | 2013 |
| Experiment 12 | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X | 2013 |
| Maverick Bird | Adobe Flash | 2014 |
| GRAB THEM BY THE EYES | Adobe Flash | 2015 |
| ChatChat | Adobe Flash | 2012 |
| Hexagon | Adobe Flash, OUYA | 2012 |
| Copycat | Adobe Flash, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux | 2015 |
| Moving Stories | Adobe Flash | 2014 |
| Collapse | HTML5 | 2013 |
| Fountain | Adobe Flash | 2013 |
| Harmonilr | Adobe Flash | 2012 |
| Griefer | Adobe Flash | 2012 |
| Notsnake | Adobe Flash | 2012 |
| Radio Silence | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Unity | 2010 |
| N.O.T.T.U.B. | Adobe Flash | 2010 |
| Sumouse | Microsoft Windows | 2010 |
| Kozachok | Adobe Flash | 2010 |
| Going Forward | Adobe Flash | 2010 |
| Bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk | Adobe Flash, OUYA | 2010 |
| memrrtiks, suashem | Adobe Flash | 2010 |
| Phobiaphobiaphobia | Adobe Flash | 2010 |
| Red Sky | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Unity, | 2010 |
| Bridge | Adobe Flash | 2010 |
| Judith | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux | 2009 |
| Pathways | Microsoft Windows | 2009 |
| Airplane Adventures | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| The Baron's Volcano Party | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| DAS PÜZZELSPIELEN | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| Nun Squad | Microsoft Windows | 2009 |
| Bullfist | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| Nanny ZERO | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X | 2009 |
| Deterministica | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| Airplane Adventures 2: The Return | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| The Best Years of my Life | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| Bullet Time | Adobe Flash | 2009 |
| XOLDIERS | Microsoft Windows | 2008 |
| Squish | Microsoft Windows | 2008 |
| Self Destruct | Microsoft Windows | 2008 |
| Transport Stories | Microsoft Windows | 2008 |
| Never Opened | Microsoft Windows | 2008 |
| We Love Mind Control Rocket | Microsoft Windows | 2008 |
| Tiny Heist | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, online | 2016 |