Nothing of note. I did a fair bit of work on Tuesday, but I've been in a do-nothing mood all week. I haven't even been playing games.
I'm in a sort of block. I need some programs or devices to help with my work, but I get no answers on the boards. Or when I do get an answer they don't explain why it would be good for me. All I want is a nice handheld tablet that I can draw on, not a Wacom tablet, something like Nintendo's DS where I can see stuff. Also, I need an animation suite for 2D that supports physics... but I have no idea where to even start for that.
Current Projects
Minor scripting and room transitions. I was having trouble with dialogue boxes so I started a new project just for that for practice. Even though it's just the chump work, I put in more hours this week than I have for the last two months, which isn't saying much.
Other Projects
I've been thinking of reducing my target goal of a full game and releasing something much simpler. I also have not found any place to put my games for people to download. And while I always intended for my games to be donation-ware I don't even know how to get it so someone theoretically could send me money. Not that anyone would pay for something that wasn't a full game...
Gaming
I played a few of my standby's for a while, but I've not been feeling good.
Other
I don't think I'm sick, but I've been mysteriously losing weight for nothing and having sleep problems.
Blah, Lok
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Paperwork Part 2
Ok, here's a sample of what my development process looks like on paper
Ok, I couldn't find the wire for the scanner so I used a camera instead.
I work on a lot of different ideas on the same page. In the upperleft is an idea for a load animation for RPS (Rock is a circle, scissors the triangle, square the paper). Upper right is a sample stage plus a quicky of the first bit of Super Mario Bros. and some adenosine triphosphate for some reason. Under that is some block samples. In the middle are some animals. There's a few failed designs for Dr. Strobe around the page, I don't really know what to do with him yet. Bottom left is some sample items and face types. Bottom right is ideas for Cytomight.
Of course, this week I didn't get much time in... I got hooked on Dungeons of Dredmor.
Current Projects
Cytomight, RPS, and Epilepsy Man concept art. I'm still way behind. You wouldn't believe how brutally inept I am at drawing. It makes my coding look like I'm some sort of savant.
My new game idea, the one I announced on Monday, was a little too grand. I had this idea for an intergalactic cooking show style game as a cross between the prep mini-games of Cooking Mama with the harsh bitterness of TV's Hell's Kitchen. Playing up as many in-jokes about casualware and TV cooking as possible. Ya, they did a little of this on Futurama, but I'm going for a darker political tone.
The story begins as the protagonist starts his second season of Earth's first intergalactic cooking show broadcast. Previously Earth TV was found to rely too much on Earth pop culture and not enough on understandable themes. Since everyone can relate to food (and the weather), this new show is a hit. On the other side, replicators make food pretty decently so only chef elite are still in business... working for upper class twits who need a more refined taste than simple replication.
The intro twist is the player inadvertently causes an interstellar incident with a major cultural faux pas... namely, the accidental butchering of an alien princess. (He couldn't tell the difference between the person and the food, weird alien stuff). So he goes down to being a pit cook for the scum of the universe (the kind of people who can't afford high technology) and learn to overcome his xenophobia...
Other, more interesting plotlines will pop up. I got so caught up with the idea of TV Chef IN SPACE! that I couldn't think of anything else this week. That being said, I don't know if it should be a casual-ware game (prep mini-games) or a point and click adventure (focus on the story) or even an RPG (exploring planets for rare ingredients).
Other Projects
None. I think I'm overloaded. I get so caught up shifting between projects I end up doing nothing.
Gaming
Mostly Dungeons of Dredmor. Just like for programming, I got so many games now I find it impossible to choose. I think I may have a serious problem here, I spend HOURS just "choosing" and not actually playing... and I don't even get bored. This is a brain trap I must escape from.
Other
Still aren't sleeping well. I was getting up in the morning pretty good for a while, but then I got less and less tired each night.
I wish I could focus on this game design more. Some sort of life coach might be helpful, or any real world encouragement of any kind. Plus, I think my disability is getting worse.
Well, there's not much for new games on the horizon. The Wii release of La-Mulana is pretty much the only game I'm anticipating so after that and I finish my entire backlog of games I'll have no possible excuse to avoid working. But I can't afford to wait that long, I need to be working NOW. Why do I have so much trouble doing things I want to do?
Just work, Lok
I work on a lot of different ideas on the same page. In the upperleft is an idea for a load animation for RPS (Rock is a circle, scissors the triangle, square the paper). Upper right is a sample stage plus a quicky of the first bit of Super Mario Bros. and some adenosine triphosphate for some reason. Under that is some block samples. In the middle are some animals. There's a few failed designs for Dr. Strobe around the page, I don't really know what to do with him yet. Bottom left is some sample items and face types. Bottom right is ideas for Cytomight.
Of course, this week I didn't get much time in... I got hooked on Dungeons of Dredmor.
Current Projects
Cytomight, RPS, and Epilepsy Man concept art. I'm still way behind. You wouldn't believe how brutally inept I am at drawing. It makes my coding look like I'm some sort of savant.
My new game idea, the one I announced on Monday, was a little too grand. I had this idea for an intergalactic cooking show style game as a cross between the prep mini-games of Cooking Mama with the harsh bitterness of TV's Hell's Kitchen. Playing up as many in-jokes about casualware and TV cooking as possible. Ya, they did a little of this on Futurama, but I'm going for a darker political tone.
The story begins as the protagonist starts his second season of Earth's first intergalactic cooking show broadcast. Previously Earth TV was found to rely too much on Earth pop culture and not enough on understandable themes. Since everyone can relate to food (and the weather), this new show is a hit. On the other side, replicators make food pretty decently so only chef elite are still in business... working for upper class twits who need a more refined taste than simple replication.
The intro twist is the player inadvertently causes an interstellar incident with a major cultural faux pas... namely, the accidental butchering of an alien princess. (He couldn't tell the difference between the person and the food, weird alien stuff). So he goes down to being a pit cook for the scum of the universe (the kind of people who can't afford high technology) and learn to overcome his xenophobia...
Other, more interesting plotlines will pop up. I got so caught up with the idea of TV Chef IN SPACE! that I couldn't think of anything else this week. That being said, I don't know if it should be a casual-ware game (prep mini-games) or a point and click adventure (focus on the story) or even an RPG (exploring planets for rare ingredients).
Other Projects
None. I think I'm overloaded. I get so caught up shifting between projects I end up doing nothing.
Gaming
Mostly Dungeons of Dredmor. Just like for programming, I got so many games now I find it impossible to choose. I think I may have a serious problem here, I spend HOURS just "choosing" and not actually playing... and I don't even get bored. This is a brain trap I must escape from.
Other
Still aren't sleeping well. I was getting up in the morning pretty good for a while, but then I got less and less tired each night.
I wish I could focus on this game design more. Some sort of life coach might be helpful, or any real world encouragement of any kind. Plus, I think my disability is getting worse.
Well, there's not much for new games on the horizon. The Wii release of La-Mulana is pretty much the only game I'm anticipating so after that and I finish my entire backlog of games I'll have no possible excuse to avoid working. But I can't afford to wait that long, I need to be working NOW. Why do I have so much trouble doing things I want to do?
Just work, Lok
Monday, July 18, 2011
Interjection!
Brand new game idea. Giddiness ensues. Will include it in next Saturday's paper scan update.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Paperwork
Didn't do much work this week. Most of it was paper work, which frankly is just as good as real work since it doesn't take long to convert.
Current Projects
Drew a few levels on paper, tossed them out, drew more and so on. Just wasn't into it this week. I mostly need graphics which is by far the slowest part of the process for me. I could use some software recommendations. Also, my little keyframe dude needs some animations... I think I should get Pivot again, just 'cuz I need a simple overlay.
Other Projects
None
Gaming
Played Team Fortress 2 mostly, now that it's free to play there's a great number of easy new targets to pick on. A lot of players just don't think strategically. Which is something I have to keep in mind when I make my game, "flow" control.
When a person is really into a game they can achieve flow, staying there as long as possible is a mark of an engaging game. Interrupting flow with uncharacteristic puzzles or dialogue can snap a person back into apathy. However, using anxiety can be a valuable tool to get a player to improve themselves. If I do release a game I have to make sure my material is achieving the effect I want on others, not just myself.
Other
Basic sleep problems and irresponsible use of time. I'd much rather be working on one of my game projects, but I get sidetracked by gaming. However, even playing games helps in making games. Sure, I'm not looking for things to copy, but it's important to find out why a game is good or bad. When a writer tells a joke, is it universally acceptable or would only the target culture get it.
Motivation!, Lok
Current Projects
Drew a few levels on paper, tossed them out, drew more and so on. Just wasn't into it this week. I mostly need graphics which is by far the slowest part of the process for me. I could use some software recommendations. Also, my little keyframe dude needs some animations... I think I should get Pivot again, just 'cuz I need a simple overlay.
Other Projects
None
Gaming
Played Team Fortress 2 mostly, now that it's free to play there's a great number of easy new targets to pick on. A lot of players just don't think strategically. Which is something I have to keep in mind when I make my game, "flow" control.
When a person is really into a game they can achieve flow, staying there as long as possible is a mark of an engaging game. Interrupting flow with uncharacteristic puzzles or dialogue can snap a person back into apathy. However, using anxiety can be a valuable tool to get a player to improve themselves. If I do release a game I have to make sure my material is achieving the effect I want on others, not just myself.
Other
Basic sleep problems and irresponsible use of time. I'd much rather be working on one of my game projects, but I get sidetracked by gaming. However, even playing games helps in making games. Sure, I'm not looking for things to copy, but it's important to find out why a game is good or bad. When a writer tells a joke, is it universally acceptable or would only the target culture get it.
Motivation!, Lok
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Enough Sale: Back to Work
Steam sale ends tomorrow, will play for a bit and then get back to work.
Current Projects
Might cancel the military shooter. Frozen Synapse does everything I wanted so no need to continue. On the other hand, I wanted a more real time AI emphasis than strategy. Something I like in shooters is seeing your AI bots do creative things on their own.
Other than that - I'm still just working on graphics for Cytomight, Epilepsy Man and RPS. I made a few levels, but scrapped them. Being all alone with no help it's hard to tell if my level design would be good for the average player or just me.
Other Projects
Nothing comes to mind, I plan to do graphics mostly this week.
Gaming
Need to catch up on all the games I got during the summer sale... I haven't even done all the games I got in the winter sale! But I need to prioritize work.
I didn't like Mount & Blade, but Warband is a huge improvement in removing the various pet peeves I had. Frozen Synapse is the summer winner as far as I vote.
Other
I wouldn't mind some recommendations of graphics software to use. GIMP and Photoshop are great for scenes and drops, but sub-optimal for sprite work. GraphX2 is ok, but it's not very fast / lacks automation.
At least I'm trying, Lok
Current Projects
Might cancel the military shooter. Frozen Synapse does everything I wanted so no need to continue. On the other hand, I wanted a more real time AI emphasis than strategy. Something I like in shooters is seeing your AI bots do creative things on their own.
Other than that - I'm still just working on graphics for Cytomight, Epilepsy Man and RPS. I made a few levels, but scrapped them. Being all alone with no help it's hard to tell if my level design would be good for the average player or just me.
Other Projects
Nothing comes to mind, I plan to do graphics mostly this week.
Gaming
Need to catch up on all the games I got during the summer sale... I haven't even done all the games I got in the winter sale! But I need to prioritize work.
I didn't like Mount & Blade, but Warband is a huge improvement in removing the various pet peeves I had. Frozen Synapse is the summer winner as far as I vote.
Other
I wouldn't mind some recommendations of graphics software to use. GIMP and Photoshop are great for scenes and drops, but sub-optimal for sprite work. GraphX2 is ok, but it's not very fast / lacks automation.
At least I'm trying, Lok
Saturday, July 2, 2011
I Called It
Steam Summer Sale. No work for me.
Current Projects
Worked on some animations and sprites and did a little work on a mini war game.
Other Projects
Stymied by discounts.
Gaming
Played a lot more Dwarf Fortress (Maybe I should update that blog) and have been getting a lot of the sale games.
Other
For how long I've been working on these games a lot of coincidental greatness keeps showing up. As long as I'm playing games the need to create is suspended. However, I am constantly making paper notes whenever I get a new idea.
Plus, I had an idea for a very short joke game based on a scene from TMNT. The game would only need 3-5 stock pictures, two animations, two sound effects and would play for only about 8 seconds.
Oh, I got a new TV. My old one broke a while ago. But this one is an HDTV and it makes my NES and stuff look terrible, double deinterlaced maybe. I think I need an SD converter box or something.
Well, it's 11 AM... MORE STEAM!!
I'm sure an uninteresting week of gaming will come up, Lok
Current Projects
Worked on some animations and sprites and did a little work on a mini war game.
Other Projects
Stymied by discounts.
Gaming
Played a lot more Dwarf Fortress (Maybe I should update that blog) and have been getting a lot of the sale games.
Other
For how long I've been working on these games a lot of coincidental greatness keeps showing up. As long as I'm playing games the need to create is suspended. However, I am constantly making paper notes whenever I get a new idea.
Plus, I had an idea for a very short joke game based on a scene from TMNT. The game would only need 3-5 stock pictures, two animations, two sound effects and would play for only about 8 seconds.
Oh, I got a new TV. My old one broke a while ago. But this one is an HDTV and it makes my NES and stuff look terrible, double deinterlaced maybe. I think I need an SD converter box or something.
Well, it's 11 AM... MORE STEAM!!
I'm sure an uninteresting week of gaming will come up, Lok
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