Big News, and New Documentation

*Disclaimer* - I am running on about 8 hours of sleep for the past three days, so forgive any incoherent babble that comes out during this .plan. Also, no pictures...sorry. I've created about 70 pictures in the past week, and am too tired to do anymore.


New Documentation
I'll start with this subject since this is why you probably clicked this .plan to begin with.

Some readers may remember the 3 part documentation series I started a while back:

• -Doc 1[li]-Doc 2[li]-Doc 3

The past month or so I've been having a real itch to go back and expand on those, add a few more entries since the demand has risen. Despite having a day time job, running an Indie company on the side, and hanging out with my girlfriend(sort of) and dogs, I always found time to relax. There were lulls of craziness, but there was always some chill time.... That's when I usually wrote the docs.
That was BEFORE GDC 2008. (My experience of GDC is at the bottom of this blog)

So, while hanging around the GG booth waiting to introduce myself to Matt Fairfax, I had a chance to talk to Deborah Marshall. When I introduced myself, she knew my name from my postings here on GG (very flattering btw). She said I should talk to Matt, but some random programmer was chatting his ear off about shaders. Smoothly interrupting the conversation, she wedged me in so I could say "Hi."

For some weird reason, Matt knew who I was too (wtf?). He mentioned seeing my tutorials, and asked if I would be interested in working on official Torque documentation...

Official Torque Documentation!

Sure, some people have found my small resources useful, but what's the best way to help every single Torque License holder? Well, my answer was quick and obvious: Hell yes!

So, all that extra free time I used to have: POOF! Gone! I started working as soon as I was given my assignments. I even bought a $1,500 rig with dual monitors and an 8800 GTS just to help with my doc writing (yeah, that's how I'm justifying it, leave me alone).

So, that's the reason why I'm running on practically no sleep right now.

I'm wicked excited to be working with the GG developers, and ecstatic that I get to help out the rest of the community on this large of a scale.

And that's not even the big news...

THE BIG NEWS!!!1!1!one
I finally gathered the courage (and funds) to propose to my girlfriend. After four years, we have finally taken the next big step.

Few know how happy this makes me. If it weren't for Heather, I would not have finished school, probably wouldn't have made it to my current level as a game developer, and more than likely wouldn't even be a member of the GarageGames community. So, if you like any of my future resources or work, she deserves as much credit as I would receive =)


GDC 2008
Ever since I learned of its existence, I've always wanted to attend GDC, but ever had the funds. This was my year: my day time job sprung for the All Access Pass, flight, hotel, and food. I mostly attended the Indie Games Summit, which was awesome beyond all awesomeness.

I also got to see live game play for Prototype and Smash Brother Brawl (pre-USA release). On top of everything else, I finally got to meet some GG employees and get involved in some of their GDC shenanigans:

Attended the "The Web Game Renaissance" where Josh Williams talked about Instant Action.

Attended the IGDA Party where I finally got to introduce myself to Ben Garney

Attended Ben Garney's Tamarin session (very cool stuff)

Hung around the GG Exhibition Booth:

• -Got hands on time with Fallen Empires: Legions[li]-Hung out with Deborah Marshall[li]-Got introduced to Matt Fairfax[li]-Had a comical discussion with Davey Jackson[li]-Got really cool swag, including my favorite new t-shirt (Instant Action short sleeve)[li]-Attended the GarageGames suite night where I met Talana Fairfax and other GG people

It is no exaggeration when I say GDC has changed my life. I've learned so much, was offered an amazing opportunity, and had a frikkin' blast in the process of it all.
Well, wish me luck everyone! For both the documentation and the wedding plans.

Next blog: Pictures, Ars Moriendi game information, and hopefully a new AFX Creator update.

Closing thought: zzzzZZZzzzz

*Forgot To Mention* - Also had a meeting with Brett Seyler in regards to my day time job working on a new project. Sounds, boring, I know...but meeting with Brett was critical to helping us out. Also, got to say "Hi" to him afterwards in less formal conditions. Cool guy =)