the game begins…

Two things I have learned since starting my projects is, I underestimate everything and in the process overestimate my capabilities. I finally got a very basic framework setup that is very much influenced by XNA. An excellent framework limited only by the fact that only two platforms can use it  (if even that). It will be mostly 2D, using C++ and SDL/OpenGL under the hood. After all this time of messing with SDL, now is when I’m getting the hang of it. I love how much you learn by doing.

Enough of this pointless post… Expect more detailed explanations soon about my experiences so far.

radioact1ve programming

Finally getting a good understanding of my programming skills. Not as good as I thought they were. Might have something to do with C++… Only one way from here, up!

radioact1ve programming

It’s been a while since my last serious post. Still working on Project B and Project Optimus. I just wanted to take a time out and discuss a little bit about what I hope to accomplish with this site.

Basically this is my personal site/blog/space. Can’t make any promises but I will mostly stick to game development and game related topics (industry/business and indie news, critiques, etc.). But it won’t be limited to such topics; we all need some diversity. As I said this is my site so anything goes.

I definitely want to use this tool to my advantage. That is to respectfully get both of my projects and my name out in the open. What I don’t want happening is for this blog to take over my work. Both projects come first so if time allowing, you will see updates. Goal is to have 3 or 4 post a month but we’ll see.

radioact1ve blog

A great read, that I found via Raphael Koster. I always love challening “the norm”.

And let’s remember why Goliath made that rule: when the world has to play on Goliath’s terms, Goliath wins.

radioact1ve business, game design, inspiration

I would like to announce my second project, codename Project Optimus. It will hopefully be my first complete and polished game to be shown publicly. Here are some of the details I would like to share as I start this trip.

Thinking this through, I’ve decided the easiest point of entry for Project B and myself would be a 2D game, most likely a platformer. Of course, this is the genre most indie game developers fall back on but it’s with good reason; it’s quick and easy! The plan is to release the game ASAP so chances are this game won’t be pushing the genre forward in regards to innovation. But I sure hope it will be original and unique in it’s own right.

My “job description” on this project is simply the designer and programmer. I’m not the most experienced designer or programmer (I would say intermediate) but I have to start somewhere. With the ideas in the back of my head, I hope to implement them in the future when my experience has greatly increased. Project Optimus is great opportunity to start. There are a few people in mind in regards to music and sound, but I feel the artwork will be the hardest/costly of the two. But it has to be done.

On the programming side of things, I have a relatively small framework in place to get the game going. Simply don’t have the time or the experience to develop an “engine”. Make the game first and adjust accordingly. This won’t be entirely from scratch thanks to previous demos I’ve worked on and the greater open source community. Those guys kick ass! Hopefully I can contribute as well.

I hope to update regularly as the project evolves. Topics would usually cover the game’s design and implementation (programming) details. Let me just say this is all a work in progress and subject to change. Hopefully not much though. Lets do it.

radioact1ve Project Optimus

End Goal:
Fun, respected, and profitable game studio with the freedom to do as we please.

I’m finally putting Project B out in the open. This is my first of two announcements, the other obviously coming later. Project B (codename mind you) will be my own independent game studio. It’s a way of getting off my lazy ass and actually starting my dream. At the same time documenting my experience right here for all to read, as well to reflect on later. Let’s be clear, this is in no way my “How to start/run a company”. I’m not an expert (but not flying blind either). This is simply my own adventure.

Why:
Being an aspiring game developer living in Miami, FL, your options are really limited. Seeing as I can’t move to any game development “hub”, closest one being Orlando, I have to make it happen. At the age of 15, as my (healthy) love for games grew, I found my calling in game development; that would be my career. Being a tech head, game programming really stood out to me. Yes I got into programming because of video games! A couple of years after that revelation, after trial and error, failure and success, learning and reading, I knew one day I would open my own game studio. Why not make that one day, today? Like I said early, I’m no expert. For the past three months, I’ve been fighting with myself whether or not go along with this. After evaluating my current position and options I decided: Project B is a go!

Current Goal:
My immediate goal is to get a game done! My second announcement is in regard to this. More details to come. Other than that, it will just be me working on building the foundation. Part of this process is creating a company identity that is unique. Can’t mess this one up. Basic things like company name, website, and incorporation as well. Planning for the future will always be on mind while I build this.

Future Goal(s):
Once the business is “set and done”, then these are some of the actions I have planned. Keep in mind this is all tentative. Anything can and will happen to change this “plan”. The more the merrier. I would love to turn the business operations over to my partners while I fall back and focus on game design/development with a little programming from time to time. Indie all the way! Again always looking for future opportunities here to. While this will be a game development studio, I strongly believe that it will have to be an entertainment company as well, branching out where it makes sense.

I like to think I know what I’m getting into. Aware of some of the risk involved, as there will be others that sneak up on me. Either way I have to try and learn from the mistakes I will make. This is what I want and I will work my ass off for it. There will be failures, but I have to dust myself off and try another way. I have to. Total failure is not an option.

radioact1ve business, Project B

So this is it. I really want to get my plans going, which I will release more info as time goes on. So basically, this is an official announcement that an announcement is coming… yeah I know. I just want to find the right words.

And I’m serious this time about using my blog more. Join me (once you find out what I’m doing.)!

radioact1ve

radioact1ve indie, videos

I added the WP-Captcha-free plugin for Wordpress. Those spam comments were driving me crazy. Let me know if you run into any problems!

radioact1ve

What a great game. I was really looking forward to this one and it’s everything I expected it to be. Only issue I have with it is Seth & Zangief. Man how I *hate* those guys. But it’s nothing the excellent Flower can’t take of. Definitely see myself playing SF4 in the months to come.

radioact1ve video games