Sunday, January 5, 2014

Now that the first post nerves are gone.

Most of the hobbies people enjoy, I enjoy also, but ever since last summer I've had the idea in my head to create a video game.  I even started to tinker with some simple games/programs that have opened my eyes on a different way to think of things.  How bounding boxes allow you to create triggers, how the animations should work, the whole idea of creating scripted scenes, etc.  It was quite eye-opening, but at the same time I realized that from an idea point of view, it's not to hard to create a simple platformer.  What I didn't realize is how un-artistic I am.  One of the first things that will need to be done is to create the images/sprites.

So now i'm scared.

I've decided to try and create mini 'sprints' in order to keep myself on track, and also to limit the scope of the game that i'm creating.

January -  Storyline and sprites
February - Storyline and sprites
March - Basic programing (collision detection for map and projectiles, Game screen/loading screens)
April - Basic programing (map/level/game progression, and basic AI)
May - Advanced programming (Boss AI, Beginning/ending scene animations)
June - Music for the game, intro screen, levels, boss fights, etc.
July - Any last minute bugs.  The time for features is done.  Play testing goes on, and finishing touches happen.

Now you might think this is odd since it's a hobby a year, and I've mapped out the game until July.  I thought it would be nice to give the world a present on my birthday in July.  And if all goes wrong, I can just continue on past July.  If I do finish it, the last couple of months will give me the time to try and get it on steam, and send it forth into the world.  If this happens, i'll probably create another game, which will probably be smaller, and try testing out some interesting things, rather than just a simple platformer. (other game design, 3d, etc)

That's it, seems quite simple right?  It could be, or this could turn into the most stressful catastrophe I've had in my life.  We'll See.   :)

Fangen wir an!

Okay, so I am someone who has a lot of hobbies.  Because of this, I feel like i embody the saying 'Jack of all trades, master of none'.  To some degree i have been fine or even happy with this, but I do feel sad that I never get to do everything that I enjoy.  I know that if I were to get to choose my own special power, it would be that I could stop/rewind time so that I'd have enough to do/practice/learn anything I want (Like 'Groundhog's Day', except I get to choose when and for how long)

Anyway, back to the topic at hand, I have had fun with my hobbies, and have bettered myself.  But I decided that it's time for me to become more proficient with some hobbies, and allowing myself to give some hobbies that would take more time, a chance.

So, I've decided a couple months ago, that I would dedicate every year to a specific hobby.  This will give me ample time to dive deeper into the subject that I would normally allow.  It will also not be too long that I will then end up avoiding my other hobbies.

This blog will be a type of Journal, allowing to keep track of my experiences, but in a way that others may also enjoy, if they can stumble across it.