About SharkByte Studios...

What is Sharkbyte Studios? Sharkbyte Studios is a software development company. What do the developers  in Sharkbyte do? We create software solutions for business and entertainment.

Sounds too simplistic? Words like innovative, dynamic, maverick, groundbreaking, and unique are used by the fledgling companies to describe their product or service hoping to differentiate themselves from the pack. Once these words lose their bite, they are replaced with ones like “new and improved” or “version 2.0” and repackaged to sell more of the same.

After each iteration, the complacency to churn out “product” can take over. The once “maverick” programmers become part of a machine. The ideas and practices that distinguished the company are replaced by a bureaucracy to maintain the status quo. The status quo may represent profits, it may represent a large staff, or it may represent status in the industry. This may be how some companies' measure success.

SharkByte Studios is a software development company first and foremost. The developers that make up SharkByte Studios bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. But what sets SharkByte apart is the philosophy of applying this knowledge and experience in the software development industry. Developing a software application to solve a business problem or developing a game for entertainment can be accomplished by any team with the capability of doing so. But to design the application based on the concept of “the best line of code ever written is the one you never have to write” seems a bit of a contradiction. It simply means write code focusing on form and content. If you can accomplish the same task with 10 lines of code instead of 100 lines, then do it. Less is more.

The essence of this philosophy carries through to other parts of the company. In programming, develop a solid foundation on which to build the system but don’t let that foundation impede progress. Be forward thinking. Design your system to handle change.

In regards to the approach in creating solutions, we believe in working ourselves out of a job. We design it so it serves the clients need, where it meets and exceeds their expectations. Design it where maintenance and support are the exception, not the norm. Design it to anticipate the clients’ growth and changing needs.

Working long hours does not always equate to being productive. However, working smarter, not harder, usually yields us a greater return. Although this is not an original concept, being capable and willing to apply that concept is.

Giving back to the community means being involved. SharkByte  started the first Houston IGDA (International Game Developer Association) chapter  in  March 2001. This SIG provides a forum for Game Developers/Artists and enthusiasts to interact and share ideas. The first meeting welcomed Timegate's "Kohan" Game of the Year. Over the years many up-and-coming Houston developers have provided "sneak previews", "how-to's" and various presentations to attendees. The IGDA continues to thrive and visitors from around Texas come to enjoy the meetings.  

Local schools have picked up on what students are really looking for and many are starting to offer "Gaming and Simulation" programs. SharkByte assisted by sitting on the initial board for a couple of schools, Houston Community College and North Harris County College of Tomball. We also have provided internships for The Art Institute of  Houston and the University of Houston Downtown. In the fall 2006 we will open our doors to Houston Community College students.

Our Company is located in a quiet area of the Heights in a 1920's style house that has been retrofitted with Cat 5 throughout, a modest parking lot, party patio, and all the comforts of home. Kids usually rule the roost when the  family is around.

Simply put, SharkByte Studios is not just a software company, but a company that holds itself to a higher standard.

So when someone asks, "Who we are?" all we say is "a software/game coding/revolutionary/hard working /highly productive solid company that gets things done!"...      actually we usually just say "SHARKBYTE STUDIOS".