Reclaiming my name... and Mini-Chess!

Taking my name back

Over seven years ago, I registered xenoclone.com. I thought it was the perfect oxymoron to describe myself and my projects. I used the site as a home for my projects, such as my Total Annihilation mods. Later, I even used it to blog about science fiction movies and reviews. But when 2005 rolled around, my life changed.... I started grad school, I got a full time internship, and I started dating the gal I recently married. As as such, poor xenoclone.com went without an update for a long, long time.... Plus, my host killed its Coldfusion support, and my site was 100% CFML.

I took for granted my high ranking in google. If you wanted a Star Trek: Enterprise review or a cool TA mod, my site popped up always in the top 5.... the top 5! Oh, how I miss those days. Best of all, googling "xenoclone" meant xenoclone.com came up first. Now? Number two. In 2005, a poorly-received game called Project Xenoclone cropped up. And I find myself frustrated that my handle is no longer unique to me. Googling "xenoclone" now pulls up countless links to the game. Why should my name be buried by some latecomer to it?

I've decided to take action. For starters, xenoclone.com will now be maintained regularly. It contains my development blog, sections for my projects, and (in time) more. I also intend on running more of my testing through the site. For example, the second "late beta" testing of Xeno Versus: Space Melee will be done through the site. So check it out and let me know what information would be interesting to my fellow indie developers.

Announcing Mini-Chess!



Mini chess is a speed chess variant. This type of game has gained more and more popularity in recent years. Most forms were invented in the 90s. Currently, I have a complete mini chess game in a late alpha / early beta stage. It has a solid computer opponent AI in a tiny package. The AI is fully integrated into the executable, runs fast, and employs many professional AI tricks.

The plan is to add network multiplayer, custom skins, and more (for example, Intel laptop gaming technology). I have asked the kind folks at Garage Games to take a look. What says "casual games" more than casual chess? :)

Here is a slightly dated picture.



I never thought I'd have two projects running at once, but I have a different set of teammates for each. And that's made a huge difference! I've got 3 artists (besides myself), 1 programmer (me), and 1 musician. Now if I could just get an assistant programmer.... then I'd be set. ;)

That's it for now. The next blog will undoubtedly be about the space melee again, as that game continues to inch closer to the finish line.