Where to from here...
by Quinton Delpeche · 07/14/2012 (1:42 am) · 7 comments
How many times have I written a blog this and said these things ... I am getting so frustrated with myself. This time I am going to do it. So what has changed this time around? Well I have set myself some definite deadlines and have said that if I don't complete them this time around ... I am packing in the Game Development and calling it quits for sure. It is like anything in life ... you get to a stage where you need to step up or bow out ... I have invested so much money and time into Game Development that I owed it to myself to get it right this time around.
And as they say ... it is always the first game that is overwhelming ... but once you have done it ... it becomes easier. :)
Once again the time has come to look at the projects I have in planning stages and to decide the priorities thereof. I have narrowed the Gobbo Games projects to 4 distinct and unique projects that I want to use as a launching pad for Gobbo Games.
Re-Spawn - First Person Shooter game inspired by Quake2; Quake 3 Arena; and Unreal Tournament.
Twilight Wars - Turn Based Tactics game inspired by Valkryia Chronicles.
Wizard Wars - Turn Based Strategy (like Chess) game inspired by a Pen and Paper game called Spell Craft.
Soul Wars - Multiplayer Role Playing Game inspired by Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights.
All these games will be built using Torque 3D (more specifically the enhanced Community Edition) and will be powered by proprietary software called Game Stream.
Currently I am preparing all the base code for the 4 projects and ensuring that they are kept up to date with the Torque 3D Community Edition source tree.
Once this is complete I will be focusing on the first project which is ... (begin drum roll) ... Wizard Wars. The reason for choosing Wizard Wars is threefold:
Before all this gets underway there are a few core objectives that need to be accomplished:
So stay tuned for the upcoming releases and updates ... it is sure to be exciting. I am hoping to finally make some definite forward progress with Gobbo Games this time around. It is sometimes difficult and frustrating to remain focused ... but I have put some methodologies in place to make sure I get it right this time around.
Wish me luck ... tally-ho ... and here we go again.
And as they say ... it is always the first game that is overwhelming ... but once you have done it ... it becomes easier. :)
Once again the time has come to look at the projects I have in planning stages and to decide the priorities thereof. I have narrowed the Gobbo Games projects to 4 distinct and unique projects that I want to use as a launching pad for Gobbo Games.
Re-Spawn - First Person Shooter game inspired by Quake2; Quake 3 Arena; and Unreal Tournament.
Twilight Wars - Turn Based Tactics game inspired by Valkryia Chronicles.
Wizard Wars - Turn Based Strategy (like Chess) game inspired by a Pen and Paper game called Spell Craft.
Soul Wars - Multiplayer Role Playing Game inspired by Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights.
All these games will be built using Torque 3D (more specifically the enhanced Community Edition) and will be powered by proprietary software called Game Stream.
Currently I am preparing all the base code for the 4 projects and ensuring that they are kept up to date with the Torque 3D Community Edition source tree.
Once this is complete I will be focusing on the first project which is ... (begin drum roll) ... Wizard Wars. The reason for choosing Wizard Wars is threefold:
- I have a complete design document with all Game Mechanics clearly laid out and defined for the project.
- I have all the art and assets that are required for a full release of the game.
- I initially wrote Game Stream to handle specifically this type of game play.
Before all this gets underway there are a few core objectives that need to be accomplished:
- A new look-and-feel Gobbo Games website.
- The first version of Game Stream with corresponding website and webservices.
- A new look-and-feel Wizard Wars website that is integrated with Game Stream technology.
So stay tuned for the upcoming releases and updates ... it is sure to be exciting. I am hoping to finally make some definite forward progress with Gobbo Games this time around. It is sometimes difficult and frustrating to remain focused ... but I have put some methodologies in place to make sure I get it right this time around.
Wish me luck ... tally-ho ... and here we go again.
About the author
Gobbo Games is an Independent Games Development company operating from Durban in South Africa. We believe in creating high-quality cost-effective games that remain true to the belief of Independent Game Developers around the world.
#2
07/14/2012 (5:47 am)
Quote:How many times have I written a blog this and said these things ... I am getting so frustrated with myself.I know the feeling! Sometimes you just have to look about you a bit and reorganise your head. Good luck with your projects!
#3
@Jean-louis: Thanks. I believe in my project now ... I have just finished entering the entire design document in Confluence and I have created all the features in Jira. The source code repository is set up and cleanly plugged in to Fisheye ... so I am good to go. :)
I am using an Agile methodology (SCRUM development) as I use it at work and it definitely has its merits ensuring that you complete workable tasks for releases and not end up with a deadline and nothing to show. This is the main reason I chose Jira.
Warscale was a project that I got involved in with a fellow Torque 3D member called Guillermo, unfortunately work got in the way for both of us and we never managed to finish it ... although Guillermo did manage to get it a good Beta going way before I got involved and it was very playable. Just do a search for Warscale ... it is all Guillermo ... I played a very little part in the whole thing ... unfortunately. I need to update my website ... I am busy working on a brand new design now ... that will also be integrated with Game Stream and powered by my own custom built CMS system.
I will provide more information about Game Stream in the near future. It is currently in Early Beta and I am about to start plugging Wizard Wars in to it. I'll do a full Blog on Game Stream when I have something tangeable and a workable example to show.
Today (after posting my blog) has been a very productive day for the projects ... and I feel like I have actually started making some small progress ... 8-D
07/14/2012 (6:59 am)
@Daniel: Thanks and good luck with yours. Just read your blog post ... keen to see your progress on that.@Jean-louis: Thanks. I believe in my project now ... I have just finished entering the entire design document in Confluence and I have created all the features in Jira. The source code repository is set up and cleanly plugged in to Fisheye ... so I am good to go. :)
I am using an Agile methodology (SCRUM development) as I use it at work and it definitely has its merits ensuring that you complete workable tasks for releases and not end up with a deadline and nothing to show. This is the main reason I chose Jira.
Warscale was a project that I got involved in with a fellow Torque 3D member called Guillermo, unfortunately work got in the way for both of us and we never managed to finish it ... although Guillermo did manage to get it a good Beta going way before I got involved and it was very playable. Just do a search for Warscale ... it is all Guillermo ... I played a very little part in the whole thing ... unfortunately. I need to update my website ... I am busy working on a brand new design now ... that will also be integrated with Game Stream and powered by my own custom built CMS system.
I will provide more information about Game Stream in the near future. It is currently in Early Beta and I am about to start plugging Wizard Wars in to it. I'll do a full Blog on Game Stream when I have something tangeable and a workable example to show.
Today (after posting my blog) has been a very productive day for the projects ... and I feel like I have actually started making some small progress ... 8-D
#4
Good luck, mate!
On another note: 4 projects? Maybe succeeding in one at a time might be a better bet for shipping something.
07/14/2012 (12:31 pm)
Quote::)
This time I am going to do it.
Quote::(
I am packing in the Game Development and calling it quits for sure
Quote::)
Turn Based
Good luck, mate!
On another note: 4 projects? Maybe succeeding in one at a time might be a better bet for shipping something.
#5
Limit what the game will do to a distinct set of features and only those features.
Are you comparing your work to that of others who are many times more experienced than you?
Don't. This is bad for you. Compare against where you were at some time point and where you are now. Use that to gauge your progress.
Do you switch game designs like switching channels on the TV?
I do this. I bugs the hell out of me. I have had to learn to focus even when I do not want to. This is something you will need to learn to overcome.
Have you won any sports events, completed any complex projects, earned any school degrees, been awarded any certificates, landed a job, graduated from some level of schooling, beat the odds, overcome a fear?
If you have then focus on those events in your life that you felt like you were on top of the world and accomplished something great. Don't look at the accomplishment in terms of worldly impact, but in the terms of YOU overcoming something in order to achieve. Then, start seeing yourself accomplishing the task you want to achieve by remembering those past achievements and saying to yourself, "This is going to be even more awesome than those past accomplishments. It will feel twice as good to finish my milestone or complete my game." You have to program yourself this way no matter what you do.
One thing that has helped me is to focus on the right things. I no longer want to create a video game for making a video games sake. I want to enhance the lives of millions of people by providing a tool to improve themselves. I believe I can do this by creating a video game that helps people focus on improving themselves. These are the areas I intend to design my games to help people improve: self image by teaching people to overcome obstacles by improving over time, positive reinforcement of good habits, physical improvement, time management by providing tools in game to help monitor their playtime, thinking and problem solving skills, and positive socializing with other people who want to improve themselves.
My goal is not to take anybodies money. My goal is to genuinely improve the lives of others in exchange for money people decide to invest in themselves. This is a win-win situation. Many people believe business is about winning at the expense of others. The truth is it how you treat other people is how you will be treated. If you chase money you will have none, and if you do somehow get money it will be empty if you hurt other people in the process.
You have what it takes to succeed: a desire to make a great game. Try to find more motivations than just that. Find something that makes you force yourself beyond where you have previously tread. Look for purpose in your actions. Imagine the blog where you announce your games release to the market!
I believe in YOU!
07/14/2012 (5:23 pm)
Are you having issues with feature creep?Limit what the game will do to a distinct set of features and only those features.
Are you comparing your work to that of others who are many times more experienced than you?
Don't. This is bad for you. Compare against where you were at some time point and where you are now. Use that to gauge your progress.
Do you switch game designs like switching channels on the TV?
I do this. I bugs the hell out of me. I have had to learn to focus even when I do not want to. This is something you will need to learn to overcome.
Have you won any sports events, completed any complex projects, earned any school degrees, been awarded any certificates, landed a job, graduated from some level of schooling, beat the odds, overcome a fear?
If you have then focus on those events in your life that you felt like you were on top of the world and accomplished something great. Don't look at the accomplishment in terms of worldly impact, but in the terms of YOU overcoming something in order to achieve. Then, start seeing yourself accomplishing the task you want to achieve by remembering those past achievements and saying to yourself, "This is going to be even more awesome than those past accomplishments. It will feel twice as good to finish my milestone or complete my game." You have to program yourself this way no matter what you do.
One thing that has helped me is to focus on the right things. I no longer want to create a video game for making a video games sake. I want to enhance the lives of millions of people by providing a tool to improve themselves. I believe I can do this by creating a video game that helps people focus on improving themselves. These are the areas I intend to design my games to help people improve: self image by teaching people to overcome obstacles by improving over time, positive reinforcement of good habits, physical improvement, time management by providing tools in game to help monitor their playtime, thinking and problem solving skills, and positive socializing with other people who want to improve themselves.
My goal is not to take anybodies money. My goal is to genuinely improve the lives of others in exchange for money people decide to invest in themselves. This is a win-win situation. Many people believe business is about winning at the expense of others. The truth is it how you treat other people is how you will be treated. If you chase money you will have none, and if you do somehow get money it will be empty if you hurt other people in the process.
You have what it takes to succeed: a desire to make a great game. Try to find more motivations than just that. Find something that makes you force yourself beyond where you have previously tread. Look for purpose in your actions. Imagine the blog where you announce your games release to the market!
I believe in YOU!
#6
@Frank: Thanks ... very good motivation there and some very valid points to draw on. I have implemented the systems now to make sure I focus on the project and that I can't stray from the project.
I have also been putting money aside every month from my salary into a secondary bank account ... this is money I would normally spend on myself during the month (not drinking or smoking or drugs as I don't do either 8-}) ... but for games purchases or new hardware or stuff that interests me. I have now set up definite and reachable goals for the project ... if I achieve these I am allowed to take money from this account ... takes a lot of self-control but having run my own business before ... I am used to it.
My main problem in the past was losing focus ... now I have simple principles in place to ensure I don't. I also have a few of my 'trusted advisers' who are going to keep me on the right path. 8-}
On another note ... Wizard Wars is being released for FREE ... I am making the game to prove I can ... not to make money. I have a day job, I am happy in it and good at it ... my Game Dev is my hobby.
Thanks to everyone who responded ... it means a lot. 8-}
07/14/2012 (10:54 pm)
@Steve: Thanks. The 4 projects on the four final ideas that I have. The other 3 are shelved and are not going to be worked on at all during the work on Wizard Wars. They are merely the type of games I want to make and that is where there involvement ends. Wizard Wars is the main focus and will be until it is complete ... having the other 4 not being touched is a way of motivating myself. 8-}@Frank: Thanks ... very good motivation there and some very valid points to draw on. I have implemented the systems now to make sure I focus on the project and that I can't stray from the project.
I have also been putting money aside every month from my salary into a secondary bank account ... this is money I would normally spend on myself during the month (not drinking or smoking or drugs as I don't do either 8-}) ... but for games purchases or new hardware or stuff that interests me. I have now set up definite and reachable goals for the project ... if I achieve these I am allowed to take money from this account ... takes a lot of self-control but having run my own business before ... I am used to it.
My main problem in the past was losing focus ... now I have simple principles in place to ensure I don't. I also have a few of my 'trusted advisers' who are going to keep me on the right path. 8-}
On another note ... Wizard Wars is being released for FREE ... I am making the game to prove I can ... not to make money. I have a day job, I am happy in it and good at it ... my Game Dev is my hobby.
Thanks to everyone who responded ... it means a lot. 8-}
#7
As an interesting side note. Do you know why the Arduino was created? If you don't research it. You will be fascinated by the companies back history. They never intended to 'make money' with the Arduino. It was to supplement their educational efforts.
07/15/2012 (1:31 pm)
Quote:if I achieve these'when' I achieve these
Quote:I am making the game to prove I canFor the love of creating...awesome!
As an interesting side note. Do you know why the Arduino was created? If you don't research it. You will be fascinated by the companies back history. They never intended to 'make money' with the Arduino. It was to supplement their educational efforts.
Torque Owner Jean-louis Amadi
Game Alchemy Entertainment
Yes, it's true, the first game comes always with lot things around before the begin of the pure development, such as the game design, the plans, the web site, the communition about it, ect. And it is not always easy to manage the whole.
So, when you believe in you and your project, regularity, perseverance and humility are the master words.
Is Warscale(see on your web site) is another name for Wizard Wars, or another game?
I would like to know more on your methodologies and your Game Stream technology.