Plan
by Matthew Grint · 08/05/2005 (8:31 am) · 10 comments
Well, this is my first .plan as you guys can obviously see so I think I had better explain a little bit about myself and what I'm planning to do. My name is Matthew Grint, I'm 15 and I'm from Kent in England. I've been coding for a few years now and I have seriously enjoyed every minute of it; even when i'm shouting at the screen in front of me for not being able to find a file which I know is there, or for deleting random files, or refusing to do what i'm telling it, I can look back on it later and laugh at the stupid mistake I was making. I am not old enough to be a professional programmer so there is never a time when I am creating a program that I don't like, everything I am coding is something I want to create and in my opinion that is what coding is about, creating something out of nothing because you want to.
My interest in developing games started at a very young age, I remember asking my parents "How can I make a computer game?" and both of them shrugging and telling me to "ask my grandad". My grandad used to be a programmer, he worked with several of the first major computer companies and has recently showed me some of the code that he created - the level of programming was far beyong anything that I have seen. When I asked him he explained a little about programming, let me go on his computer and told me about something called "the Internet". Since that moment, I have been hooked. I've bought countless products that help you develop games, The Games Factory and DarkBASIC spring to mind but I didn't start seriously considering making a full, commerical quality game until I was having a chat with one of my best friends. He said that when he was older he wanted to be a Games Designer, I replied that I wanted to be a programmer and it didn't take long before we were discussing game ideas. None of them ever got much further than an introduction, but they were fun to make and we had a great time making them.
When I was 12 I started secondary school, there I made another good friend who was very good at art. We had a lot in common and became best friends, going through school life together, getting into trouble together and generally making a nuisance of ourselves. He was also interested in game development and I started discussing game ideas with him as well. Together we came up with a great idea for a game that was original and interesting. I told my other friend and he liked the idea. At this point, my best friend from seconday school moved away and now lives a fair distance from me, meaning that we rarely get to meet up. 4 days ago, however, he came and stayed at my house and we started going through everything that we had thought about for this game, everything that we had written, drawn, dreamt and doodled. We turned this into a design document and combined our knowledge of the area the game is based in to produce a plan. We ordered Torque on Monday and development has begun.
The game we are making isn't just a "game", it is a dream that I have had for a long time, this is the game I want to make but most importantly this is keeping my strongest friendships together. If we finish this game, it will be filled with our passion for game development and our friendships with each other and I think that is something that you don't get with many commerical games today.
Thanks for reading, sorry if it's a bit scattered but so are my thoughts right now. Torque has lived-up to and exceeded my expectations and the more I learn about it, the more I realise there is to learn.
My interest in developing games started at a very young age, I remember asking my parents "How can I make a computer game?" and both of them shrugging and telling me to "ask my grandad". My grandad used to be a programmer, he worked with several of the first major computer companies and has recently showed me some of the code that he created - the level of programming was far beyong anything that I have seen. When I asked him he explained a little about programming, let me go on his computer and told me about something called "the Internet". Since that moment, I have been hooked. I've bought countless products that help you develop games, The Games Factory and DarkBASIC spring to mind but I didn't start seriously considering making a full, commerical quality game until I was having a chat with one of my best friends. He said that when he was older he wanted to be a Games Designer, I replied that I wanted to be a programmer and it didn't take long before we were discussing game ideas. None of them ever got much further than an introduction, but they were fun to make and we had a great time making them.
When I was 12 I started secondary school, there I made another good friend who was very good at art. We had a lot in common and became best friends, going through school life together, getting into trouble together and generally making a nuisance of ourselves. He was also interested in game development and I started discussing game ideas with him as well. Together we came up with a great idea for a game that was original and interesting. I told my other friend and he liked the idea. At this point, my best friend from seconday school moved away and now lives a fair distance from me, meaning that we rarely get to meet up. 4 days ago, however, he came and stayed at my house and we started going through everything that we had thought about for this game, everything that we had written, drawn, dreamt and doodled. We turned this into a design document and combined our knowledge of the area the game is based in to produce a plan. We ordered Torque on Monday and development has begun.
The game we are making isn't just a "game", it is a dream that I have had for a long time, this is the game I want to make but most importantly this is keeping my strongest friendships together. If we finish this game, it will be filled with our passion for game development and our friendships with each other and I think that is something that you don't get with many commerical games today.
Thanks for reading, sorry if it's a bit scattered but so are my thoughts right now. Torque has lived-up to and exceeded my expectations and the more I learn about it, the more I realise there is to learn.
#2
08/05/2005 (9:02 am)
Thanks Andrew, if the GG Community continues to be as welcoming and helpful to a complete stranger (they don't come much stranger than myself) then the game should come along nicely. 
#3
I wish you the best of luck, looks like you have a good spirit but still have your feet on the ground. I'll second Andrew's comment with "keep us posted" =]
08/05/2005 (9:06 am)
I started on the games factory many years back too, hehe.I wish you the best of luck, looks like you have a good spirit but still have your feet on the ground. I'll second Andrew's comment with "keep us posted" =]
#4
A hearty good luck to you and your friend!
08/05/2005 (9:33 am)
I started at about the same age (12 or so). I finished the first couple of games I did, and then I got too ambitious, didn't finish another game until college. Make sure you start small!A hearty good luck to you and your friend!
#5
You seem to have a good head on your shoulders (just from reading your .plan). This had better not be your only .plan we see here. Make sure to ask lots of questions and you'll do just fine. I'm sure myself and others will be cheering for you along the way :]
08/05/2005 (9:43 am)
Good luck Matt. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders (just from reading your .plan). This had better not be your only .plan we see here. Make sure to ask lots of questions and you'll do just fine. I'm sure myself and others will be cheering for you along the way :]
#6
08/05/2005 (9:47 am)
Thanks guys, I really appreciate your support and I know "thanks" is a common word but I really mean it when I saw thanks for your support, it really does make my day. Also remember that help works both ways, if you guys ever need anything from me all you have to do is ask and I will do everything I can. 
#7
btw glad you gave us some personal info on how came to game development, it really helps get an idea of who you are... and to echo others, be sure to ask a lot of questions.
08/05/2005 (11:33 am)
Look forward to seeing things progress - be sure to give us lots of pics =0btw glad you gave us some personal info on how came to game development, it really helps get an idea of who you are... and to echo others, be sure to ask a lot of questions.
#8
08/05/2005 (2:38 pm)
Good Luck Matt, i'll see you around man. I saw a marine recruiter and looks like June 18th i'll be shipping out to boot camp. I got alot of PT from now untill then, but i'll help ya out as much as i can. BTW, Give my reguards to your family. 
#9
Remember to start small (yes small is less than HL2 ;)). You'll learn a lot by doing mini games instead of huge unfinishable game. Don't try to copy an actual genre. You want to make a FPS? that's ok, now try to imagine a fun gameplay with only 1 char model needed (color variation possible) and 2 maps only. That way you'll finish your project.
IMO that's an important advice, I truly believe you learn more when finishing a game.
Games factory was the best 2d game making software. I'd still use it if the extension, resolution and a few other thing weren't so restricted.
Now go get some experience, my brushes are waiting... ;-)
08/05/2005 (3:06 pm)
Good luck Matt, you have the chance to grow with a super-developed internet with many tutorials and help.Remember to start small (yes small is less than HL2 ;)). You'll learn a lot by doing mini games instead of huge unfinishable game. Don't try to copy an actual genre. You want to make a FPS? that's ok, now try to imagine a fun gameplay with only 1 char model needed (color variation possible) and 2 maps only. That way you'll finish your project.
IMO that's an important advice, I truly believe you learn more when finishing a game.
Games factory was the best 2d game making software. I'd still use it if the extension, resolution and a few other thing weren't so restricted.
Now go get some experience, my brushes are waiting... ;-)
#10
08/06/2005 (1:44 am)
Cheers guys and good luck Chris, I'll be around on MSN if you need anything. I have created a few small games in DarkBASIC, simple "Tic-Tac-Toe" or FPS with 1 gun and randomised maps against hordes of enemies. This project is more ambititous but I believe it is possible, even if it takes me the next few years to finish! Thanks for the advice Ben, I'll remember that (have to cancel my HL2-clone :) ) and hope to see you around the site! 
Torque Owner Andrew Nicholson