To be a kid again.

Alright I was gone for a while that time, but I think I know why. I think I haven't done enough to make this personal to me. It showcases some of my work and links to profiles and my resume....which is great for a potential employer, but I have to think that some insight into who I am has to be at least as valuable. So I'm going to try to keep you posted on who I am as much as what I'm doing.

So during my absence there I had an interview with Open Path Products in Annapolis, MD. I won't say it went perfectly, but on the whole I thought it went well. It's been almost 2 weeks now and I haven't heard back. I may still be up for consideration but the job hunt continues regardless. Also I'm going to follow up with a phone call soon.

Alright now for the insight I mentioned earlier. Let me start by saying that I've never really stopped being a kid. I watch cartoons, I read mostly comic books, and I've spent way too much time this week shooting random objects in my room with a Nerf gun. Yet, as shocking as it may be, I'm an adult. I work, I pay bills, and when the time comes I know when to be serious and handle things rationally.

That's where the XKCD comic strip at the top of this post comes in. Granted it would be amazing to swim around my bedroom in playpen balls, but what I truly appreciate here is the line in the second panel. "We're grown-ups now, and it's our turn to decide what that means." It's one of the most brilliant things I've ever read, and yet it's ultimately very simple. If you can have the privileges of an adult and your childhood wonder then why should you have to choose between them. Sure, I've grown out of a few things, but I've realized that some things are worth sticking with. I'm not alone in this idea either. You almost have to be a kid to stay in this industry when so many in this world scoff at the idea of making games for a living.

I could probably continue on that thought for a while, but it would become drawn out and preachy, which is not my intention here. I'm just hoping to create a window into who I am. So maybe I'm an overgrown kid. Maybe I'm an adult who is perfectly content defining his own maturity. Maybe I'm another one of thousands who rambles about the same thing to just a couple of willing readers. View me however you please, but I am who I am; and I'm likely to stay that way for a while.

I kinda want to end on that note but I would be remiss if I didn't encourage everyone to experience Scott Pilgrim. Not just because it's not doing as well in the box office as it should be, and not just because the media of tomorrow is tied to the trends of today. The real reason is that the movie, books, and game are all a part of a fantastic adventure and it would be a shame for anyone who can appreciate a work of art to miss out on that experience.

"Almost Home"

I'm back in Florida for a while. I've got roughly a month to tie everything up before I close this chapter of my life for good. It also gives me some time to relax with any of my friends who are still down here. Picking up the job hunt with full force. I got a bit too relaxed while in Georgia, but it also helped to motivate me forward. Seeing my family and friends who have been so incredibly supportive this whole time is a reminder of how much I owe them.

I also noticed something interesting during my exciting 8 hour drives to GA and back. Near the end of both trips I found myself saying "almost home". The best part of that is that I wasn't wrong either time. My parents are divorced so even growing up I had multiple homes, but since they were all in north GA it never felt like a dramatic shift. It was interesting to come to the full realization that I had a home in what felt like two separate worlds.

So there is good news and bad news on the side project. The former being that I'm really starting to design what I want to come out of it. I'm still keeping it under wraps, but I'm sure that there is a fun experience in there. The problem is that I can already feel myself over scoping the game. Granted its a personal project so there is no real time constraint, but what I'm starting to imagine is still a bit more than 1 programmer should take on alone. For this project to be what it should be I'll need a good bit of sprite art, a solid and fitting music track or 2, and a good deal of time. Add particle effects, voice acting, and a couple of other things to that list for polish.

I know talented individuals who I am certain could fit the roles, but they each have their own lives, and I have little in the way of compensation. In truth this was intended an independent project so I hesitate to bring in any help. It's not that I'm too proud to accept help, and it's not that I want total control over the game. The reason I want to create this project own my own is so that I can know and show what I'm capable of on my own. The more assistance I receive, the less I feel the project reflects my abilities. Also I still need to determine what I will used to create the game. I've considered making it in flash or with Microsoft XNA, but each solution seems to have its own set backs.

I've gone on for a while with this post but I feel there is one more thing I should clarify. I want to work on a team. I want to be a part of a collaborative process that provides the public with what they most enjoy. I want to be a part of something bigger than myself, something bigger than any single individual. When that opportunity arises again I will take it without a second thought, but in the mean time I want to create something to reflect me. If the public can enjoy the experience then I've done my job.