"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.