Woo, starting a new game tomorrow!

Finally I've finished localising Fairway Solitaire (God it was boring, but it will generate more sales). And now I'm ready to start a new game. I love this bit - end of one project, start of another.

For a few days I'll be going over the new game's design docs (sent to me by John Cutter from BFG) and offering my feedback on them, and then I'll make a giant plan with time estimates before I even start programming. It's a fun stage full of idea generation and lots of lying around on my sofa thinking stuff up haha. I'll be working with a new artist on this one and a new art director (the artist for Fairway was great but he's busy on other things, shame though as we got to understand each other really well).

Anyone else exited to start something new recently (or soon)?

Aside from having just written the greatest match three engine, like, ever, I'm doing web stuffs now.

I couldn't sleep last night - was still coding in my head. Suddenly I thought about doing a follow-up to Hole in One, in Blitzmax.

I'm OK now though, I've upped my medication.

BTW - would that be ex-Cinemaware John Cutter?

I think 3D building block applications are going to be the new thing - computerised Lego-type stuff. Apps, where you can build things by simply placing blocks, as and where you like, to build your own computerised Lego-type creations.

GfK: ooh, go on, make a golf game. I'd love to play it. A 2D one right? (or maybe a world class leaderboard style one - fake 3D) I fancied making one of those.

Yeah "Defender of the Crown" John Cutter who I worked with on Fairway too. He's a great guy. Has too many ideas for the number of programmers in existence. Actually he used to program and he still makes like mock up prototype games so when he talks to me he knows what is really feasible for a programmer to make (unlike some designers).

puki: sounds cool, my kids love Lego. I wonder if it'll be cheaper to buy virtual blocks that the really expensive real-life ones ;-) Anyway, there's still a great benefit to kids to use actual physical lego, but perhaps using 3D lego would train them to be 3D artists/designers in the future...

If that's true, tell him to email me - I'll take a few off his hands.

Some games are pre-written in non-computer format.

One of the biggest areas to plunder are board games that are not yet computer games. Or, old board games that are not sold anymore. Waddingtons was a massive outfit - no longer in existence - tons of stuff to plunder.

...brilliant plan, except they were bought by Hasbro.

Ah, but which ones are not out on computer formats?

Hasbro are having a big push to license a load of their games at the moment I believe. Certainly some board game rules can be good inspiration for casual games I guess...

Maybe I have one of those licences.

:)

I love to do this sort of thing. I go to the goodwill and buy old board games for one or two dollars, just so I can take them home and see how they are played. Gives me ideas for how a game could work, or how a point system might work, or other things like that.

I have stacks of old board games in my garage that I bought for cheap, just so I could see how they were played.

Nice! I look forward to it as always Jake,



Not so much, but I am rather excited at the progress we are making with the Flow demo right now. We refused to go the whole "throw code together until it works" route this time and actually spent a weekend on a basic design doc. Things got off to a slower start BUT the whole things making better progress for it. Plus, It's the first time we've been able to divulge into a bit of games programming for quite some time!

And when you're into it to make games, but are only making apps for 2 years, It starts to grind! X-)

So, the fact our little robot appeared on screen: yay,
The fact it moves and you can make it do a little dance with the mouse: Feck yeah!
The fact it jumps and responds with the physics system: NOW we're getting there
...The fact we integrated weapons: Oh hell yeah, Seeing the little guys gun barrel rotate and hearing it fire is REALLY motivating.
The fact that pressing a single button throws you into and out of the editor.. :D

So yeah, I think we're all pretty excited right now! :-)

speaking of Flow.........

;)

I'd be working on my part of Flow right now if I wasn't at work. Believe me, it's what I'd rather be doing. Still, I'll be home in 5 hours, Woop!

X-D Patience!

Cygnus: Cool, I look forward to seeing more. I'm more of a "I need something to play" man rather than "look at an engine" if you know what I mean.

Hey Jake - good luck with the new project - I'm glad you are doing soooo well.

I am on the virge of a new project (or maybe two!!!) so I'll let you know when/if they come to fruition.

IPete2.

IPete2: Thanks! Hope yours turn out well. Are you ever going to make public that really cool one you showed me?

Hiya Jake,

not public, maybe privately - the nda wouldn't let me discuss it openly in public unfortunately, but I will be posting a page and images and maybe video on my website very soon - and if people feel like they wanna go see, then I'd love to hear from them.

IPete2.

I WANNA SEE. You've got me intrigued....

Cygnus... soon, soon.

IPete2.

haha cool. If I'm in the area I'll check it out.

Have you started it yet?

haha, no :-) How did you guess. Actually, I had a late night last night and because it's half term, I didn't have to get up this morning, so I played Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass in bed ;-) Then I had to deal with a load of localisation loose ends. However, I'm starting right now!

I've seen IPete2's cool game... although not actually played it because he's still not sent me that DVD he promised some time ago.

Ahem. :)

Ahem:) coming to a letterbox near you - soon (ish) - er maybe.

IPete2.

I'm waiting (and have been for 6 or so months) for some proper spare time, then I'm gonna work on Niinjah. I've got loads of ideas and general improvements written down but I only want to start work on it when I'm completely satisfied that I can concentrate on it fully (god knows when that will be).

I'm not sure there is such a thing as proper spare time ;-) I wish I could buy it in a shop...

Hey Raz

Glad to hear you're still around. Your games rock.

Hey Caff, ta muchly! :D

Since, writing my previous post, I actually started mucking around with blitz again. Just the framework at the moment, but it has begun!