Oh Designer Where Art Thou?
by Axel Cushing · 01/11/2006 (1:26 am) · 3 comments
It's a quarter after 2AM. I should be going to bed. I should be going to sleep.
I can't.
I haven't posted in almost a year. I have spent the better part of that year trapped in probably the worst help desk job on the face of the planet. One so utterly heinous and soul-crushing that it did something no other job has ever managed to do: it had virtually cut off my ability to create. Oh, I found the odd project here and there, but overall my creative output could be measured with teaspoons, not measuring cups. Even NaNoWriMo was a dismal failure, a fact which I am actually quite bitter about.
But this is a new year. I have a new job. I am soon to have a new apartment. I will soon have a new computer, built by my own hands, into which I will pour my creativity, my imagination, and my utter will to dominate all...wait, wrong movie.
Yes, things are starting to look up. There is a new confidence and fresh expectations for the year. I plan to get some things accomplished this year that I can look back on a year from now and say "Damn, but that was worth it."
These are not New Year's resolutions so much as strategic goals for myself
--Set up my development rig (including Torque, natch)
--Try yet again to teach myself how to code
--Begin work on a machinima studio project
--Begin work on an episodic game system (computer gaming's version of penny dreadfuls, dime novels, and comic/manga books)
--Resume work on the generational RPG
The first two are paramount, and probably the most likely to succeed. As for the others, time will tell. IT's a new year. Anything can happen.
I can't.
I haven't posted in almost a year. I have spent the better part of that year trapped in probably the worst help desk job on the face of the planet. One so utterly heinous and soul-crushing that it did something no other job has ever managed to do: it had virtually cut off my ability to create. Oh, I found the odd project here and there, but overall my creative output could be measured with teaspoons, not measuring cups. Even NaNoWriMo was a dismal failure, a fact which I am actually quite bitter about.
But this is a new year. I have a new job. I am soon to have a new apartment. I will soon have a new computer, built by my own hands, into which I will pour my creativity, my imagination, and my utter will to dominate all...wait, wrong movie.
Yes, things are starting to look up. There is a new confidence and fresh expectations for the year. I plan to get some things accomplished this year that I can look back on a year from now and say "Damn, but that was worth it."
These are not New Year's resolutions so much as strategic goals for myself
--Set up my development rig (including Torque, natch)
--Try yet again to teach myself how to code
--Begin work on a machinima studio project
--Begin work on an episodic game system (computer gaming's version of penny dreadfuls, dime novels, and comic/manga books)
--Resume work on the generational RPG
The first two are paramount, and probably the most likely to succeed. As for the others, time will tell. IT's a new year. Anything can happen.
About the author
Axel Cushing currently writes for the game site The Armchair Empire, when he's not working on game designs, novels, or screenplays.
#2
I wish you well on your projects! I'm not sure how you learn, we each have our own style, but for me I found that trying to learn everything at once wasn't cutting it. Instead of working on scripting, C++, mapping, 3d modeling and animation I've now limited it to just working with modeling and animation. There is enough to learn there to keep me busy for a while. I still need to learn myself and then teach my son. Once I have the art pipeline down then I can move on to how Torque actually displays all this stuff.
Well, that is what worked for me. I needed to drill down on one thing at a time because I was all over the place and not really learning anything.
Steve
01/11/2006 (6:51 am)
Hi Axel,I wish you well on your projects! I'm not sure how you learn, we each have our own style, but for me I found that trying to learn everything at once wasn't cutting it. Instead of working on scripting, C++, mapping, 3d modeling and animation I've now limited it to just working with modeling and animation. There is enough to learn there to keep me busy for a while. I still need to learn myself and then teach my son. Once I have the art pipeline down then I can move on to how Torque actually displays all this stuff.
Well, that is what worked for me. I needed to drill down on one thing at a time because I was all over the place and not really learning anything.
Steve
#3
NaN...mOr...Wu...bA...what? Anyway, glad to hear your getting it back together and you have a great outlook on this new year. I feel the same way. Whatever Nanrimro was, it failed? I'm all for original titles and all but I've learned that 9 out of 10 times, when people can't pronounce a product, they won't buy it. I wouldn't even be able to Google that name to find out where to purchase it. But keep at it and you'll do fine I'm sure. Better luck next time man and happy new year.
-Ajari-
01/11/2006 (9:25 pm)
Quote: Even NaNoWriMo was a dismal failure, a fact which I am actually quite bitter about.
NaN...mOr...Wu...bA...what? Anyway, glad to hear your getting it back together and you have a great outlook on this new year. I feel the same way. Whatever Nanrimro was, it failed? I'm all for original titles and all but I've learned that 9 out of 10 times, when people can't pronounce a product, they won't buy it. I wouldn't even be able to Google that name to find out where to purchase it. But keep at it and you'll do fine I'm sure. Better luck next time man and happy new year.
-Ajari-
Torque Owner Dave D
You've never worked for a cable company.