No Average Joe

06/12/2024

🎄𝗢𝗪𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗬 𝗣𝗔𝗬 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗬!🎄

Six years ago, on a whim, we veered wildly off course from our usual work in content creation and video production to launch our very first game, Owe Money Pay Money (𝗢$𝗣$). It was a scrappy, self-published affair on its own domain - proper ghetto-style, if you like. You’ve probably heard us waffling on about it before. And if not, well… now you have.

Fast forward to today, and we’re absolutely chuffed to announce the re-launch of 𝗢$𝗣$ on our shiny new Steam page! The best part? It’s completely free to play (because, let’s be honest, who’s paying for this?). Consider it an early Christmas pressie from us to you!

Oh, and did we mention? 𝗢$𝗣$ is, somehow, an award-winning game, having bagged ‘Best Video Game’ at the inaugural Asian Academy Creative Awards. (No, we’re not sure how that happened either.)

But wait, there’s more! We’ve also released a short documentary, 𝗡𝗢𝗢𝗕𝗭: 𝗔 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗩 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬, on Viddsee. It’s a behind-the-scenes dive into our chaotic first attempt at game development - part cautionary tale, part comedy, and 100% delusional ambition.

And because it’s the season of giving, we’ve just launched our very own merch store! We’re kicking things off with exclusive 𝗢$𝗣$ designs, but there’s plenty more pixel art goodness in the pipeline. Show some love (and part with your hard-earned dosh) by grabbing tees, hoodies, bags, mugs, and more!

Check ‘em all out here:
https://tinyurl.com/owemoneypaymoney-steam
https://tinyurl.com/owemoneypaymoney-viddsee
https://tinyurl.com/owemoneypaymoney-redbubble

Happy holidays, everyone, and as always, cheers for being part of this barmy adventure!

Big Chief embarks on a quest for justice & cold hard cash in this retro brawler. Packed with eye-popping pixel art, 8-bit bangers, & a Singaporean twist, it’s as bizarre as beat ‘em ups get. Welcome to Owe Money Pay Money (O$P$)!

31/10/2024

𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗘𝗗 to post this before October ended, or else we’d be stuck again in the cycle of belatedly acknowledging our milestones. For those who missed it, 13 August marked 20 years since No Average Joe (NAJ) was founded, and just last weekend, 26 October, was our 15th anniversary as an officially registered business in Singapore. Where has the time gone?

Anyway, anniversaries aside, the point is: we’re grateful to still be here, doing what we love (and sometimes what we must, lol). Over the years, we’ve been called the “Red Bull guys” and the “O$P$ guys” - the former from nearly a decade of factual work with the Austrian energy giants, and the latter from our cathartic early days developing our first video game. Ultimately, though, we’re still just good ol’ No Average Joe, your regular indie production house, punching above its weight.

At the heart of this “little engine that could” are its people - more than just the anthropomorphic silverback at the helm, mind you. And while many have passed through our hallowed halls (well, it’s really just 𝗧𝗛𝗘 hall of The Broom Cupboard), this "dirty dozen" depicted here, in an homage to Jim Lee’s historic X-Men Issue 1, lives long in memory for their invaluable contributions to NAJ and our clients.

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁:

𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗮.𝗸.𝗮. 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 - our first production manager, who kept us organised behind the scenes, especially in the pivotal transition from sole proprietorship to an incorporated company.

𝗚𝗘𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗡 𝗮.𝗸.𝗮. 𝗚𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗼 - a founding member who remains our UK & Europe rep to this day, while running his own agency, Eagle & Beagle, out of Cambridgeshire with the lovely Emma.

𝗡𝗨𝗥 𝗤𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗛 𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗭𝗔𝗛 𝗮.𝗸.𝗮. 𝗤 - joined as a junior editor in 2010 and is now one of NAJ’s executive directors, taking on countless roles to help us pull through time and again.

𝗟𝗢𝗛 𝗪𝗛𝗬𝗘 𝗞𝗘𝗔𝗧 𝗮.𝗸.𝗮. 𝗪𝗶𝗸𝗶 - our one and only “Super Intern”, who evolved from a shy but enthusiastic learner into a versatile creative, beloved by all along the way.

𝗚𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗡 𝗠𝗜𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗘𝗟 𝗕𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗚𝗔𝗢 𝗮.𝗸.𝗮. 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲 - who helped NAJ realise its ambitions in game development and publishing, and remains an active member in our gaming and esports ventures.

𝗥𝗨𝗗𝗬𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗟 𝗮.𝗸.𝗮. 𝗥𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗶 - our shooter extraordinaire, covering land, sea, and air, from event highlights to feature documentaries, lifestyle to product photography, and mastering drones.

𝗫𝗜𝗡 𝗭𝗛𝗘𝗡𝗚 𝗮.𝗸.𝗮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 - a fascinating member we first met as an admiring client, then a job applicant with little production experience, now an ace producer who’s always been terrific with people.

𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗬 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡 𝗮.𝗸.𝗮. 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗿 - an inimitable character who practically volunteered himself to the cause, taking on leadership roles and leaving a lasting influence (for better or worse) on our young ’uns.

𝗛𝗨𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗞𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜 𝗮.𝗸.𝗮. 𝗖𝗼𝗯𝗿𝗮 - joined as a seasoned producer and left as a brilliant story editor, seeing through her transformation with aplomb and producing some of our best work.

𝗞𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗘𝗩 𝗚𝗛𝗢𝗪𝗦 𝗮.𝗸.𝗮. 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗼 - our first-ever hire and an ongoing collaborator, responsible for much of the “cool sh*t” we produced early on, particularly in our motion graphics and reels.

𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗧𝗘𝗢 𝗮.𝗸.𝗮. 𝟱𝗗𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗧𝗲𝗼 𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻 - an incomparable “partner in crime,” bringing a true adrenaline shot to every project with his ingenuity and inspiring others through his photography.

𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗞𝗢𝗛 𝗮.𝗸.𝗮. 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵 - our very own “struggling artist,” responsible for the bulk of our artwork and designs, from the first iteration of our logo in 2004 to this tribute to Jim Lee, and everything in between.

𝗣.𝗦. - 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦, 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘳𝘺. 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘑𝘰𝘦, 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘋, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘴, 𝘒𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘮𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 “𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘴” 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 “𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘻𝘦𝘯” 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩.

19/10/2024

About this weekend.

26/09/2024

𝗨𝗻𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗱: 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗼𝘀 📽🕹🎨

A couple of decades ago, driven by necessity, fueled by blind confidence, and running on a shoestring, 𝗡𝗼 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝗲 (𝗡𝗔𝗝) was born. We were clueless, over-aged college kids winging it, but our business cards told a different story.

Our original quartet was a motley crew: 𝗝𝗼𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿, producer with a minor in improv; 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗻, sound guru and pistonhead; 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝘆𝗼𝗻, DP with a serious gaming habit; and 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗞𝗼𝗵, coerced into being a partner-in-crime, whose illustrations spawned our inimitable logo.

We've been notoriously absent on socials this year (hence this belated founders' day post – 13 Aug just slipped by!). But we couldn't wait any longer to share this piece. A tribute to Eastman & Laird's self-published Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) comics – the gritty originals that inspired 𝗡𝗔𝗝'𝘀 indie ethos (not the cartoon with that annoying theme tune).

We've reimagined the iconic issue 1 cover with our founding four. And with TMNT's 40th anniversary this year, what better way to celebrate our 20th? We're pretty chuffed with it! 🐢🐢🐢🐢

Stay tuned for follow-up posts, trips down memory lane, and updates on what's been happening and what's next. Oh, and next month, we're quietly celebrating 15 years as a registered Singapore business! You wait for one milestone, and two come along at once! 🙏

25/09/2024

3 Guys, 2 Girls & Pancit Place...

21/06/2024

What’s a tabletop con without an anthem? 🎶 To celebrate the inaugural TableCon Quest, here’s a specially composed symphony of fantasy, folk, & metal vibes - the perfect soundtrack for this weekend’s adventures! 🛡️🎲⚔️

And if you haven't already, get your tickets stat:
https://tinyurl.com/tableconquest2024

16/06/2024

Brace yourselves for Singapore's inaugural TableCon Quest (TCQ), celebrating the resurgence of Tabletop & Card Games!

Organised by our partners Eliphant - Game Marketing & Esports Specialist (the legends behind GameStart Asia), TCQ is perfect for both seasoned board game veterans & curious beginners alike.

Dive into an array of games from Dungeons & Dragons to Warhammer 40,000 & everything in between. Be the first in Singapore to play the Ultraman card game, try a demo of Shadowverse Evolve: Gloryfinder, meet renowned game designers, & discover unique board games from local indie studios.

It’s all happening next weekend at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre. So, round up your friends & grab your tickets now: https://tinyurl.com/Tableconquest

P.S. – We’ll be there too, capturing every angle of the weekend’s adventures, so keep an eye out for our cameras!

10/04/2024

As we embrace the end of and celebrate , our hearts go out to all our Muslim brothers and sisters, particularly those facing hardships in . May you find peace and blessings on this sacred day.

20/02/2024

From overcoming fear to crafting creativity, Michael's journey defies expectations, highlighting the transformative power of education and real-world opportunities provided at a tertiary level. We've known him since his early days as an intern in 2016, now a key member of our team, showcasing the remarkable evolution of an artistic self-starter.

08/02/2024

In the Year of the Wood Dragon, may we embody its essence, embracing our creativity, compassion, & adaptability. Gong Xi Fa Cai!

25/01/2024

What an incredible start Own Time Own Target (OTOT) has had at the Taipei Game Show! As virtual unknowns in the indie game dev world, the response from the constant flow of visitors to our booth and their experience with OTOT has been overwhelmingly positive. We're truly amazed.

While we have always believed in the game's potential, witnessing others share our enthusiasm is truly quite humbling. With Day 1 of 4 behind us, we're energised for the remaining 3 days. Here's to more positive engagement ahead!

24/01/2024

Don't call it a bribe... it's just a friendly incentive! 😬

Swing by our booth at Taipei Game Show, play OTOT with a friend (or a foe), share your insights, & you might just walk away with a Divoom Ditoo, courtesy of Retro City. There are four up for grabs, one for every day of the show, so tell all your friends!

Venue: Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1
Booth: Indie House S59
Dates: 25-28 January, 2024

22/01/2024

If you haven't heard yet, we're hitting the road again with our baby, Own Time Own Target (OTOT) – this time to Taipei Game Show (TPGS)! We're on a mission to connect with collaborators, investors, publishers, & just about anyone who shares an interest in realising OTOT’s full potential. Whether you're at TPGS this week or can't make it but have played the game in recent years & loved it, give us a shout!

15/01/2024

Absolutely thrilled to showcase our upcoming game, Own Time Own Target (OTOT), at one of the region’s premier game conventions – Taipei Game Show!

Join us at the Indie House booth (S59) from January 25 to 28 and be among the first to experience our refreshed beta demo. As a bonus, we’re giving away a Divoom Ditoo daily to those who show us some love, try our game, and share constructive feedback.

So, dive into the dystopian realm of OTOT, where bullet hell frenzy meets fighting game intensity. Brace yourselves for endless rematches that might just cost you some friendships!

p/s - OTOT is the spiritual sequel to Owe Money Pay Money 😬

19/12/2023

Season's greetings, one & all! 🎄🎅🏾