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Less game development, more music
Posted 10 years agoSoooooooo ... I've been screwing around with Reaper, and really loving it. I think my muse is wanting me to move in a more musical direction, and I'm certainly not complaining. Check out my latest musical submissions and tell me what you think!
I know, I know ... you're probably wondering if I'm going to resume work on any of my game projects. Unfortunately, the answer is currently no. While I absolutely enjoyed the experience of building my own game and interacting with a growing player base, game development is not a hobby one can easily accommodate with my present work and life schedule. This is why I'm so excited about this new musical kick that I'm on, because it gives me a new creative outlet that I can actually pursue with what little spare time I have.
Will I work on more games again in the future? Well, that depends. If I can find a way to make progress on a game project an hour or two at a time every few days, that'd work. Or if I suddenly came into an amount of money large enough that I could leave my current job and still pay all the bills.
What? It could happen.
I know, I know ... you're probably wondering if I'm going to resume work on any of my game projects. Unfortunately, the answer is currently no. While I absolutely enjoyed the experience of building my own game and interacting with a growing player base, game development is not a hobby one can easily accommodate with my present work and life schedule. This is why I'm so excited about this new musical kick that I'm on, because it gives me a new creative outlet that I can actually pursue with what little spare time I have.
Will I work on more games again in the future? Well, that depends. If I can find a way to make progress on a game project an hour or two at a time every few days, that'd work. Or if I suddenly came into an amount of money large enough that I could leave my current job and still pay all the bills.
What? It could happen.
RainFurrest! ... Again!
Posted 11 years agoSeriously? My last journal post was about RainFurrest 2013? Exactly one year ago? Sigh.
...
I had a really fantastic time this year. Furries continue to be awesome people, and the vacation time came around just when I needed it.
The room we stayed in had, shall we say, character. It was the Rodeway this time due to a technical error on my part. Quality of lodging was overall fair, but would not do again.
We spent the first night catching up with
sunspot and meeting a friend of his. There was Denny's, then hanging out at the room.
Friday morning was laid back. Mostly crawled the Dealer's Den. The afternoon held two panels that I'm really glad I attended.
The first was Introduction to DJing. This was way cool! The panelist, a DJ of 20+ years experience, gave some really good advice on how to easily acquire the necessary goods and start using them. Very encouraging. I think with what little skill and experience I already have, with a little sniffing around for a starter deck and some decent open source software, I could be mixing in no time. I'd love the chance to see if I'm any good. On the off chance that any of you reading this already practice mixing as a hobby, you're welcome to drop me a note with advice on where to acquire either of the above. Oh ... a decent set of headphones will be a must as well, something I've been wanting for a really long time now.
The second panel was a 60 second meet-and-greet, designed to cram as many introductions to new folks as possible into a 60 minute panel. I met a bunch of nifty folks, most of whose names I cannot remember, but a few have stuck with me. Vobe the Anubian Jackal,
roflkitten, Draft John, and others. Lots of furs from Portland, as well. Apparently, the Portland furry scene has been doing really well lately, its ranks blossoming and events of all sorts being held. I'd like to try and reconnect with the Portland furs at some point. I really, really do. I'm just not sure when I'll find the time.
...
Anyway, after all that was hanging out, including a dinner where we introduced Moorcat, Mursa, and friend to one of our favorite near-RainFurrest Thai places. Other than a hubbub about the rice being extra, the food was delicious and the company enjoyable.
The Friday dance was amazing, as good as ever. RainFurrest really has a strong musically oriented community. It was really neat to learn that the veteran DJ's were pairing, teaming up with the up-and-comers to put on a show. I really feel like I've been having a strong musical calling lately, and dances like this are a great reminder.
Saturday ... oh my gosh, so many panels. There were animals. Also, dice games while we waited for the fursuit parade. I have many photos of fursuiters and partial suiters, bats and cruxes and satyrs and ... just plain monsters! I'll need to find time to get all those posted. Ugh, I never did finish posting all the photos from LAST year.
...
There was a Spirituality panel in the evening that was good, followed by a panel devoted to the transformation sub-fandom. It was really neat to hear opinions from all the folks in there and talk about an interest that is, apparently, more common than I thought.
After so much intense discussion,
justawerewolf and I decided it was time for sushi. There's a fun little sushi place buried in the mall just east of the con where the chefs perform at the table and sushi plates are as decorative as they are tasty. It's a little spendy, but a neat experience.
After we got back, the karaoke was already over, and the dance just seemed too intimidating, so we shared some time in the room before bed.
Sunday morning, we bumped into Vobe again. Kinda wishing I'd given him some kind of contact information so we could, in theory, keep in touch. The three of us played dice, and then there was the firespinning and poi panel. My love wants some poi now, and I think I have some real potential for staff-spinning. Would love to find some way to keep practicing.
There was one last panel about spirituality and fursuiting that I wanted to attend, but we opted not to and I don't regret the decision. Being able to relax at home after a long, fun-filled weekend gave me a chance to sit and digest all the wonderful food for thought.
At present, I'm suffering from some serious con drop (but thankfully not con crud, knock on wood). Every time I look at my con badge, I get a sort of homesick feeling. I know that if I could, I would establish a permanent settlement somewhere in the pacific northwest where all the like-minded, good-hearted furries could be gathered to do all the things they love - draw, craft, play, chat, run around in suit, and end every day with a communal rave. And then we'd never have to leave con-space, ever. It may be a rather rosy-colored view of the fandom and life in general, but I'm a rosy-colored kind of guy. I want the whole world to know such joy and be able to make it a part of their daily lives.
So here I am, with all of my desires: to find and participate in a community, to be social, to make music, and to practice staff-spinning. All on top of my pre-existing stuff: GM'ing one game, participating in two others, playing games, gardening, holding down a job, spending time with my love, keeping house, and lamenting my lack of time to work on personal projects like EverDelve. What to do?
Honestly, my life is good right now. Really good. But it also feels like I'm treading water, both economically and mentally. I feel like if I can just hold out for another year, maybe I'll finally have the strength to make a grab for that carrot the universe keeps danging in front of my face.
Today's time is over. Now is the time for sleep. And tomorrow, more work, more chores, more time at home with my little family of four (me, my wolf, and the pets), delightfully seasoned with sweet memories and savory hopes for the future.
Wishing the best for all,
~ Flash
...
I had a really fantastic time this year. Furries continue to be awesome people, and the vacation time came around just when I needed it.
The room we stayed in had, shall we say, character. It was the Rodeway this time due to a technical error on my part. Quality of lodging was overall fair, but would not do again.
We spent the first night catching up with
sunspot and meeting a friend of his. There was Denny's, then hanging out at the room.Friday morning was laid back. Mostly crawled the Dealer's Den. The afternoon held two panels that I'm really glad I attended.
The first was Introduction to DJing. This was way cool! The panelist, a DJ of 20+ years experience, gave some really good advice on how to easily acquire the necessary goods and start using them. Very encouraging. I think with what little skill and experience I already have, with a little sniffing around for a starter deck and some decent open source software, I could be mixing in no time. I'd love the chance to see if I'm any good. On the off chance that any of you reading this already practice mixing as a hobby, you're welcome to drop me a note with advice on where to acquire either of the above. Oh ... a decent set of headphones will be a must as well, something I've been wanting for a really long time now.
The second panel was a 60 second meet-and-greet, designed to cram as many introductions to new folks as possible into a 60 minute panel. I met a bunch of nifty folks, most of whose names I cannot remember, but a few have stuck with me. Vobe the Anubian Jackal,
roflkitten, Draft John, and others. Lots of furs from Portland, as well. Apparently, the Portland furry scene has been doing really well lately, its ranks blossoming and events of all sorts being held. I'd like to try and reconnect with the Portland furs at some point. I really, really do. I'm just not sure when I'll find the time....
Anyway, after all that was hanging out, including a dinner where we introduced Moorcat, Mursa, and friend to one of our favorite near-RainFurrest Thai places. Other than a hubbub about the rice being extra, the food was delicious and the company enjoyable.
The Friday dance was amazing, as good as ever. RainFurrest really has a strong musically oriented community. It was really neat to learn that the veteran DJ's were pairing, teaming up with the up-and-comers to put on a show. I really feel like I've been having a strong musical calling lately, and dances like this are a great reminder.
Saturday ... oh my gosh, so many panels. There were animals. Also, dice games while we waited for the fursuit parade. I have many photos of fursuiters and partial suiters, bats and cruxes and satyrs and ... just plain monsters! I'll need to find time to get all those posted. Ugh, I never did finish posting all the photos from LAST year.
...
There was a Spirituality panel in the evening that was good, followed by a panel devoted to the transformation sub-fandom. It was really neat to hear opinions from all the folks in there and talk about an interest that is, apparently, more common than I thought.
After so much intense discussion,
justawerewolf and I decided it was time for sushi. There's a fun little sushi place buried in the mall just east of the con where the chefs perform at the table and sushi plates are as decorative as they are tasty. It's a little spendy, but a neat experience.After we got back, the karaoke was already over, and the dance just seemed too intimidating, so we shared some time in the room before bed.
Sunday morning, we bumped into Vobe again. Kinda wishing I'd given him some kind of contact information so we could, in theory, keep in touch. The three of us played dice, and then there was the firespinning and poi panel. My love wants some poi now, and I think I have some real potential for staff-spinning. Would love to find some way to keep practicing.
There was one last panel about spirituality and fursuiting that I wanted to attend, but we opted not to and I don't regret the decision. Being able to relax at home after a long, fun-filled weekend gave me a chance to sit and digest all the wonderful food for thought.
At present, I'm suffering from some serious con drop (but thankfully not con crud, knock on wood). Every time I look at my con badge, I get a sort of homesick feeling. I know that if I could, I would establish a permanent settlement somewhere in the pacific northwest where all the like-minded, good-hearted furries could be gathered to do all the things they love - draw, craft, play, chat, run around in suit, and end every day with a communal rave. And then we'd never have to leave con-space, ever. It may be a rather rosy-colored view of the fandom and life in general, but I'm a rosy-colored kind of guy. I want the whole world to know such joy and be able to make it a part of their daily lives.
So here I am, with all of my desires: to find and participate in a community, to be social, to make music, and to practice staff-spinning. All on top of my pre-existing stuff: GM'ing one game, participating in two others, playing games, gardening, holding down a job, spending time with my love, keeping house, and lamenting my lack of time to work on personal projects like EverDelve. What to do?
Honestly, my life is good right now. Really good. But it also feels like I'm treading water, both economically and mentally. I feel like if I can just hold out for another year, maybe I'll finally have the strength to make a grab for that carrot the universe keeps danging in front of my face.
Today's time is over. Now is the time for sleep. And tomorrow, more work, more chores, more time at home with my little family of four (me, my wolf, and the pets), delightfully seasoned with sweet memories and savory hopes for the future.
Wishing the best for all,
~ Flash
Announcing my presence at RainFurrest with ... a meme!
Posted 12 years ago- Staying at:
Clarion SeaTac
- Arrival and Departure?
Arriving late Thursday, leaving mid-day Sunday
- Mode of transportation
Jeep!
- Rooming with:
justawerewolf
- Who Will I likely see you with?
justawerewolf, mostly.
- Con Plans:
Any of the religious/spiritual panels, such as "Guided Meditation" and "Spirit Guides, Totems, Familiars and Fursonas". Most of the dances. Furry Karaoke! Other events I may attend (tentative): Gender and Sexuality, Tails Building Workshop, Guest of Honor Concert, Voice Acting Workshop, Furry RPGs. If anybody needs a singer for either of the Rock Band tournaments, I AM INTERESTED. I'd also enjoy meeting various local furries that I only know from the internet, such as
SunTattooWolf, 
SlinkyDragon, or 
tazel.
- How can I find you?
See above. I don't stand out well in a crowd, but I'll have a badge matching my featured submission. Most likely I will be seen wearing my Utilikilt and a T-Shirt with the Flash (DC) logo, a brightly colored tie-die.
- Do you do free art?
Art, no. Games, yes.
- Do you have prints/Cds?
I so wish I could demo EverDelve at the con, but ... well, it's not ready for primetime yet.
- Will you be fursuiting? if so: What suit(s)?
Nope. Maybe wolf ears and tail, but that's all you're getting.
- Will you be going to parties?
I'll be at the dances, but I'm actually not much for parties. Loud, crowded rooms full of people I don't know is just AWKWARD.
- Will you be performing?
I will sing the shit out of Karaoke. ^^
- Smoke?
Nah.
- Drink?
Mildly.
- Gender:
Dude.
- Can I hug you?
I like hugs, so ... maybe?
- Can I talk to you?
Totally! If you see me about, don't be shy!
- Will you be at any panels?
See earlier answers.
- Can I touch you?
You are allowed to ask this question, and I am allowed to say no.
- Can I buy you drinks?
No, thank you.
- How old are you?
100000. (That's 32 in binary.)
- Can I snuggle with you?
Ask justawerewolf.
- If you're pissed off, should I approach you?
I don't recommend approaching anyone when they're pissed off! That said, I'm very hard to anger, and rather non-threatening when I am.
- Are you nice?
I like to think so.
- Cliquey?
I don't actually have a clique among furries. That could be fun.
- How tall?
6 feet.
- Can I Take pictures of you?
Warn me!
- Will you get anything commissioned?
I would love to.
- How can I get your attention?
Shouting something like "Hey, Flash!" usually does the trick.
- Can I ask you to dance at the raves?
Are you kidding? Lets tear it up! XD
Clarion SeaTac
- Arrival and Departure?
Arriving late Thursday, leaving mid-day Sunday
- Mode of transportation
Jeep!
- Rooming with:
justawerewolf- Who Will I likely see you with?
justawerewolf, mostly.- Con Plans:
Any of the religious/spiritual panels, such as "Guided Meditation" and "Spirit Guides, Totems, Familiars and Fursonas". Most of the dances. Furry Karaoke! Other events I may attend (tentative): Gender and Sexuality, Tails Building Workshop, Guest of Honor Concert, Voice Acting Workshop, Furry RPGs. If anybody needs a singer for either of the Rock Band tournaments, I AM INTERESTED. I'd also enjoy meeting various local furries that I only know from the internet, such as
SunTattooWolf, 
SlinkyDragon, or 
tazel.- How can I find you?
See above. I don't stand out well in a crowd, but I'll have a badge matching my featured submission. Most likely I will be seen wearing my Utilikilt and a T-Shirt with the Flash (DC) logo, a brightly colored tie-die.
- Do you do free art?
Art, no. Games, yes.
- Do you have prints/Cds?
I so wish I could demo EverDelve at the con, but ... well, it's not ready for primetime yet.
- Will you be fursuiting? if so: What suit(s)?
Nope. Maybe wolf ears and tail, but that's all you're getting.
- Will you be going to parties?
I'll be at the dances, but I'm actually not much for parties. Loud, crowded rooms full of people I don't know is just AWKWARD.
- Will you be performing?
I will sing the shit out of Karaoke. ^^
- Smoke?
Nah.
- Drink?
Mildly.
- Gender:
Dude.
- Can I hug you?
I like hugs, so ... maybe?
- Can I talk to you?
Totally! If you see me about, don't be shy!
- Will you be at any panels?
See earlier answers.
- Can I touch you?
You are allowed to ask this question, and I am allowed to say no.
- Can I buy you drinks?
No, thank you.
- How old are you?
100000. (That's 32 in binary.)
- Can I snuggle with you?
Ask
justawerewolf.- If you're pissed off, should I approach you?
I don't recommend approaching anyone when they're pissed off! That said, I'm very hard to anger, and rather non-threatening when I am.
- Are you nice?
I like to think so.
- Cliquey?
I don't actually have a clique among furries. That could be fun.
- How tall?
6 feet.
- Can I Take pictures of you?
Warn me!
- Will you get anything commissioned?
I would love to.
- How can I get your attention?
Shouting something like "Hey, Flash!" usually does the trick.
- Can I ask you to dance at the raves?
Are you kidding? Lets tear it up! XD
Hey EverDelve fans ...
Posted 12 years agoI know I've been quiet for a good long while now. I have a confession. I probably won't be working on EverDelve as much for a while. Maybe a long while. I don't really know. My enthusiasm for that game project no longer outweighs the responsibility. To a lesser extent, I also blame my wonderful full time job. If I can motivate myself enough, I'll try to release one last set of changes and then officially put EverDelve on the backburner. To everyone who's shown me and my game so much love and interest, thank you so very much. Your enjoyment has brought me no end of delight. EverDelve has been a wonderful project. It has taught me much, and showed me just what I'm capable of if I really put my nose to the grindstone.
And now for the good news. With EverDelve set aside, I'm free to focus my limited energies elsewhere - perhaps a new and different game. Something a bit more graphical and animated. A game where resources are gathered and stuff gets built. A game whose development may already be underway. There may or may not be teaser screenshots soon. Mwa ha.
And now for the good news. With EverDelve set aside, I'm free to focus my limited energies elsewhere - perhaps a new and different game. Something a bit more graphical and animated. A game where resources are gathered and stuff gets built. A game whose development may already be underway. There may or may not be teaser screenshots soon. Mwa ha.
I'll be at RadCon this weekend ... come find me, if you can!
Posted 12 years agoThe subject says it all. RadCon, this weekend, Red Lion hotel in Pasco, WA. I may be tough to find, but here's a few hints:
* My badge will say "Flash" on it.
* I'm a 31 year old male with brown straight hair in a ponytail down to mid-shoulder blade plus a goatee.
* I am most likely to be found at panels involving game creation, computers, or roleplaying.
* I plan on attending both raves (good luck finding me amongst the smoke and laser lights!)
If you find me there, feel free and introduce yourself!
* My badge will say "Flash" on it.
* I'm a 31 year old male with brown straight hair in a ponytail down to mid-shoulder blade plus a goatee.
* I am most likely to be found at panels involving game creation, computers, or roleplaying.
* I plan on attending both raves (good luck finding me amongst the smoke and laser lights!)
If you find me there, feel free and introduce yourself!
Late night note-induced video game rant
Posted 12 years ago[[ The following rant is brought to you by a note I received from a total stranger with well meaning intentions. It contains the better tidbits from a much longer rant that almost got sent as a reply. ]]
I've developed a habit of looking at startup indie game projects with a pessimistic eye. Most often the ones I encounter stem from a group of like-minded, excited, inexperienced, yet more or less talented individuals with big dreams about making their own video game. While I very much want each project to bear fruit and be a dream come true for its creators, I recognize the reality that most indie teams fall apart before they reach their goal.
It makes me sad, but unfortunately I can't say I'm surprised. The video game industry is harder to play than Ninja Gaiden on Master Ninja difficulty, with both hands tied behind your back, one eye shut, and a car battery wired to your nipples. Everybody wants in, so there's a super-saturated talent pool. High supply of talent and low demand of work means talented people get paid far less than they're worth, or get rejected entirely if they ask too much. The people who start the game projects often don't have what it takes to finish them - namely project management skills and work ethic. And most teams completely neglect the marketing/business side of creating a video game, so even if they do produce a product that works and is kinda fun, nobody hears about it, and those who do don't want to pay the asking price. Making video games is harsh, plain and simple.
Whether you're an aspiring artist, designer, or developer, or you already have a place on a game project somewhere in cyberspace, I wish you the best of success.
I've developed a habit of looking at startup indie game projects with a pessimistic eye. Most often the ones I encounter stem from a group of like-minded, excited, inexperienced, yet more or less talented individuals with big dreams about making their own video game. While I very much want each project to bear fruit and be a dream come true for its creators, I recognize the reality that most indie teams fall apart before they reach their goal.
It makes me sad, but unfortunately I can't say I'm surprised. The video game industry is harder to play than Ninja Gaiden on Master Ninja difficulty, with both hands tied behind your back, one eye shut, and a car battery wired to your nipples. Everybody wants in, so there's a super-saturated talent pool. High supply of talent and low demand of work means talented people get paid far less than they're worth, or get rejected entirely if they ask too much. The people who start the game projects often don't have what it takes to finish them - namely project management skills and work ethic. And most teams completely neglect the marketing/business side of creating a video game, so even if they do produce a product that works and is kinda fun, nobody hears about it, and those who do don't want to pay the asking price. Making video games is harsh, plain and simple.
Whether you're an aspiring artist, designer, or developer, or you already have a place on a game project somewhere in cyberspace, I wish you the best of success.
*un*Lucky7 - An indie game plug
Posted 13 years agoI know they're already advertising on this site, but what I've seen looks really promising. I have no relationship to the people involved. I just see something that looks cool and very promising and thought I'd give it an honest plug. Maybe I'm doing this for the karma since I eventually plan on crowdfunding something of my own. Anyway ...
If you like the old school top-down RPG games, story, puzzles, multiple endings, and horror genre games, you should take a look at *un*Lucky7. The art is good quality and evocative, mostly pixel art with full size art for the characters. The music (by FoxAmoore, no less) is top-notch. The game concept itself is nothing too groundbreaking, but keeps pace with many other indie games I've seen on the market, rolling some of the best features from various games in the genre together into something more modern yet comfortably familiar. Anyway, you can check it out for yourself by watching their trailer at IndieGogo.
http://www.indiegogo.com/unlucky7
And if you happen to be part of the team behind *un*Lucky7 ... best of luck to you! =)
If you like the old school top-down RPG games, story, puzzles, multiple endings, and horror genre games, you should take a look at *un*Lucky7. The art is good quality and evocative, mostly pixel art with full size art for the characters. The music (by FoxAmoore, no less) is top-notch. The game concept itself is nothing too groundbreaking, but keeps pace with many other indie games I've seen on the market, rolling some of the best features from various games in the genre together into something more modern yet comfortably familiar. Anyway, you can check it out for yourself by watching their trailer at IndieGogo.
http://www.indiegogo.com/unlucky7
And if you happen to be part of the team behind *un*Lucky7 ... best of luck to you! =)
HAPPY TWELVES!!!!
Posted 13 years agoMy computer currently says it's 12:12 AM on 12-12-2012.
*runs around screaming just because*
*runs around screaming just because*
EverDelve - Coming soon, Talent trees!
Posted 13 years agoSteady progress for EverDelve lately, which means a new update is on the nearby horizon. Soon, talent trees! At last, you can mix it up in combat and use cool new special moves to decimate your foes! Of course, this could very well mean that the enemies have some new tricks of their own ...
EverDelve New Version: 0.5.2
Posted 13 years agoI've added a few little fixes that should: 1) help me reproduce that stinkin' level without a key bug, and 2) fix it blindly so it doesn't happen to anyone ever again.
And, just for fun, rolling your own seeded random number generator is super-easy. Go, Mersenne Twister, go! XD
And, just for fun, rolling your own seeded random number generator is super-easy. Go, Mersenne Twister, go! XD
EverDelve New Version: 0.5.1
Posted 13 years agoI just put out an emergency release of EverDelve that fixes a show-stopper bug. You can now save your games in empty slots. Sorry about that!
Also, on further testing, it doesn't look like online saves are possible from furaffinity.net due to security settings on somebody's end (mine or theirs, not sure). Editing the Flash Player Global Security Settings doesn't seem to change this. Online saves ARE working at shurikengames.com, though. If you want to save your game and play it from any computer, head over there!
My next priority is the houdini-bug that's causing level keys to randomly not appear in mazes. Beware, houdini-bug ... I will hunt you down and smite you with the wrath of a thousand digital suns. *growl*
Also, on further testing, it doesn't look like online saves are possible from furaffinity.net due to security settings on somebody's end (mine or theirs, not sure). Editing the Flash Player Global Security Settings doesn't seem to change this. Online saves ARE working at shurikengames.com, though. If you want to save your game and play it from any computer, head over there!
My next priority is the houdini-bug that's causing level keys to randomly not appear in mazes. Beware, houdini-bug ... I will hunt you down and smite you with the wrath of a thousand digital suns. *growl*
EverDelve: Good progress, 1 more thing to fix
Posted 13 years agoGot a little bit done on EverDelve today. :) Found a fair compromise that will allow me to get EverDelve posted much sooner - stall the release of the talent trees until further testing can be done. There's enough other goodies to warrant an update without them. One last thing to fix and then I'll post. Hopefully tonight or tomorrow night.
Also ... source control is a wonderful thing and I don't know how I got along without it thus far.
Also ... source control is a wonderful thing and I don't know how I got along without it thus far.
EverDelve, of course
Posted 13 years agoJust a quick note ... EverDelve is seeing a bit more love in recent days, but not in the way of development like most of us would hope, including me. Mostly I'm doing some project re-organization. It's gotten a bit of dust on it, and I'm hoping that some improvements to the development process will help spark the drive to start coding and developing again. So far, so good! EverDelve is now under version control via a local TortoiseSVN repo on an external drive, and I'm steadily in the process of moving most of the development docs to Google Docs!
I know I have so much to offer with this next update, but I've already noticed a few glaring bugs that need to be addressed before next release. I'll try to be more communicative about EverDelve now that the dust has mostly settled from the move across town.
I know I have so much to offer with this next update, but I've already noticed a few glaring bugs that need to be addressed before next release. I'll try to be more communicative about EverDelve now that the dust has mostly settled from the move across town.
EverDelve - An Update
Posted 13 years agoJust a quick note here. I don't know who actually reads these, but I have to say this somehow.
Bad news: Due to moving and settling into a new job and very tight finances, further work on EverDelve is postponed for a few weeks.
Good news: The new job and new place are both very awesome, and I should have a lot more time to devote to personal pursuits again soon!
As for the current state of EverDelve, it seems promising. Initial playtests of the new version of EverDelve appear to be stable. The biggest feature, online save/load, is working like a champ. Not all the new features have been thoroughly tested, though, and I've noticed a few of the new combat abilities don't seem to be working right, or at all. Plus, the dreaded "maze without a key" bug still lurks elusive and undetected, despite my best efforts. Might need to look into different methods for communicating bugs and fixes among the team.
Bad news: Due to moving and settling into a new job and very tight finances, further work on EverDelve is postponed for a few weeks.
Good news: The new job and new place are both very awesome, and I should have a lot more time to devote to personal pursuits again soon!
As for the current state of EverDelve, it seems promising. Initial playtests of the new version of EverDelve appear to be stable. The biggest feature, online save/load, is working like a champ. Not all the new features have been thoroughly tested, though, and I've noticed a few of the new combat abilities don't seem to be working right, or at all. Plus, the dreaded "maze without a key" bug still lurks elusive and undetected, despite my best efforts. Might need to look into different methods for communicating bugs and fixes among the team.
Hardware Failure
Posted 13 years agoMy trusty PC of 4+ years has suffered some kind of power/hardware failure and will not turn on. At this particular instant, I cannot afford conventional PC diagnostics and repair. This will, unfortunately, set EverDelve's development back by at least a week. I apologize to those of you still patiently waiting for the next update. I promise it's going to be worth it!
EverDelve: Still Alive
Posted 13 years agoAnd believe me, I am still alive ...
I'm making talents and I'm still alive ...
I feel so hopeful and I'm still alive ...
And while you're playing I'll be still alive ...
And when you're done I will be still alive ...
Still alive ...
Still alive ...
... somehow.
I've been quiet for far too long. Mostly because I haven't had much to say, but that's no excuse. SO! I will say that the class talent trees for EverDelve have been proceeding, albeit slowly. There are two reasons why. First, I'm doing my best to make the abilities as balanced as possible right out of the gate. This has involved a lot of math at every step of the design, but I think I have most of the math worked out. In the latest builds, the talent trees themselves are working great: talents are being awarded and can be spent on the level up screen. Talents purchased grant their related abilities and attribute bonuses appropriately. I just need to shape and create the combat abilities as I have envisioned them, and the talent system will be ready for action!
As a side note, if anyone knows of ANY companies in need of a software developer in the greater Portland or Seattle areas, I am in DESPERATE need of work right now. My savings is falling out from under me fast. Frankly, I'm amazed I've stayed afloat these last three and a half months with no income. But it's not going to last. If I don't get some stable employment soon, it's going to be game over for me and for EverDelve. I've been hunting on my own, of course, but thus far my job search has been unsuccessful.
But enough of that stuff. There will be some other fun additions in the next version of EverDelve, but I'm going to leave those as a surprise! Thanks for being patient, and keep watching here (or at my website, shurikengames.com) for more details!
I'm making talents and I'm still alive ...
I feel so hopeful and I'm still alive ...
And while you're playing I'll be still alive ...
And when you're done I will be still alive ...
Still alive ...
Still alive ...
... somehow.
I've been quiet for far too long. Mostly because I haven't had much to say, but that's no excuse. SO! I will say that the class talent trees for EverDelve have been proceeding, albeit slowly. There are two reasons why. First, I'm doing my best to make the abilities as balanced as possible right out of the gate. This has involved a lot of math at every step of the design, but I think I have most of the math worked out. In the latest builds, the talent trees themselves are working great: talents are being awarded and can be spent on the level up screen. Talents purchased grant their related abilities and attribute bonuses appropriately. I just need to shape and create the combat abilities as I have envisioned them, and the talent system will be ready for action!
As a side note, if anyone knows of ANY companies in need of a software developer in the greater Portland or Seattle areas, I am in DESPERATE need of work right now. My savings is falling out from under me fast. Frankly, I'm amazed I've stayed afloat these last three and a half months with no income. But it's not going to last. If I don't get some stable employment soon, it's going to be game over for me and for EverDelve. I've been hunting on my own, of course, but thus far my job search has been unsuccessful.
But enough of that stuff. There will be some other fun additions in the next version of EverDelve, but I'm going to leave those as a surprise! Thanks for being patient, and keep watching here (or at my website, shurikengames.com) for more details!
2000 pageviews! :D
Posted 13 years agoCongratulations and thanks to justawerewolf for bumping me up to 2k views. Your prize is ... kisses! *dashes into the other room*
Almost to 2000 pageviews ...
Posted 13 years ago... and no, I'm not planning on doing anything particularly special. If anything, I'll probably just watch the ball drop, as it were.
Still working on getting class abilities and skill trees into EverDelve. But also, I've been really cracking down on getting a team assembled for EverDelve, including artists, writers, playtesters and a second coder. Once the team is on the job, the updates should occur much more frequently, I'd imagine.
Still working on getting class abilities and skill trees into EverDelve. But also, I've been really cracking down on getting a team assembled for EverDelve, including artists, writers, playtesters and a second coder. Once the team is on the job, the updates should occur much more frequently, I'd imagine.
So many views!
Posted 13 years agoThe current version of EverDelve has over 500 views on FA, YAAAAAYYY!!
RadCon this weekend!
Posted 13 years agoI'll be attending RadCon this weekend. It's an "all things geek" convention at the Red Lion Hotel in Pasco, WA. I'll be going by the handle of Flash (of course). Most likely you'll find me sitting in on various panels, playing Magic: The Gathering in the card room, or sitting in on a tabletop roleplay session in the game room.
Reposted: The History of Valentines Day
Posted 13 years agoLooking for tabletop roleplay?
Posted 13 years agoI'm considering putting together a group for tabletop roleplay, and I think I've seen some interest in the local area. I'm willing to organize and even run things, but I need some info. If you're interested, please leave a comment here or send me a note with the following info:
1) Preferred system (d20, Storyteller, Rifts, GURPs, etc.)
2) Availability (what days can you roleplay, and for how long?)
3) Play Style (serious, silly, horror, kick-in-the-door vs. rich plot and character depth)
4) Are you willing to host the group at your home, or do you know of a place that can be used?
Furs and non-furs alike are welcome, so if you know someone who's interested you're welcome to note me on their behalf. Locals only, please (Portland, OR).
Here's my info:
1) I am most comfortable in d20 systems. I have experience running D&D (2nd, 3rd, and 3.5 ed.), d20 modern and future, and Mutants and Masterminds 2nd ed. I'm willing to play in other systems.
2) Evenings and weekends are best, Friday and Saturday preferred.
3) I prefer moderate games that lean slightly silly and slightly deep with long running story lines.
4) We can host at our house, but it's tiny and will not accommodate a large group - maybe 5-6 at most.
1) Preferred system (d20, Storyteller, Rifts, GURPs, etc.)
2) Availability (what days can you roleplay, and for how long?)
3) Play Style (serious, silly, horror, kick-in-the-door vs. rich plot and character depth)
4) Are you willing to host the group at your home, or do you know of a place that can be used?
Furs and non-furs alike are welcome, so if you know someone who's interested you're welcome to note me on their behalf. Locals only, please (Portland, OR).
Here's my info:
1) I am most comfortable in d20 systems. I have experience running D&D (2nd, 3rd, and 3.5 ed.), d20 modern and future, and Mutants and Masterminds 2nd ed. I'm willing to play in other systems.
2) Evenings and weekends are best, Friday and Saturday preferred.
3) I prefer moderate games that lean slightly silly and slightly deep with long running story lines.
4) We can host at our house, but it's tiny and will not accommodate a large group - maybe 5-6 at most.
Status of EverDelve
Posted 13 years agoNot a lot of work has gone into EverDelve recently, for a number of reasons. Primarily, stress.
Aside from working on EverDelve, I've been looking for paying work, and while the search has shown promise thus far there hasn't been anything truly solid yet. I am currently living off of savings, and if I don't have a paying job by end of March then I and my housemates will start to suffer for it. It was my hope to achieve some supplemental income with EverDelve via crowdfunding, but I've started to realize just how much work needs to happen to make such an effort truly successful. I need to add more people to the development team, I need to delegate work to these new team members, and I need to advertise the heck out of EverDelve on every site I can think of. The first two are do-able, but the third ... well, EverDelve is in its alpha stages. A lot of its players have seen the potential, but if it gets posted to other Flash game sites it will sit side-by-side with games that are finished (and likely much more appealing). I'm not sure how much of a draw EverDelve will be in such a case.
This does not mean I won't be continuing work on EverDelve. It's just starting to look really daunting as of late. If/when I get some income, I'll be able to work on EverDelve and be more relaxed.
When I next work on EverDelve (which will hopefully be sometime today), I'll be focusing on improvements to the character class system: adding more classes, and creating some basic talent trees, one for each class. The class you choose at the start of a new game will determine your default attack method. During character creation and at each even numbered level, you will receive a talent point to be spent in your class's talent tree. At each odd numbered level, you will receive a talent point which can be spent in any talent tree of any class.
Aside from working on EverDelve, I've been looking for paying work, and while the search has shown promise thus far there hasn't been anything truly solid yet. I am currently living off of savings, and if I don't have a paying job by end of March then I and my housemates will start to suffer for it. It was my hope to achieve some supplemental income with EverDelve via crowdfunding, but I've started to realize just how much work needs to happen to make such an effort truly successful. I need to add more people to the development team, I need to delegate work to these new team members, and I need to advertise the heck out of EverDelve on every site I can think of. The first two are do-able, but the third ... well, EverDelve is in its alpha stages. A lot of its players have seen the potential, but if it gets posted to other Flash game sites it will sit side-by-side with games that are finished (and likely much more appealing). I'm not sure how much of a draw EverDelve will be in such a case.
This does not mean I won't be continuing work on EverDelve. It's just starting to look really daunting as of late. If/when I get some income, I'll be able to work on EverDelve and be more relaxed.
When I next work on EverDelve (which will hopefully be sometime today), I'll be focusing on improvements to the character class system: adding more classes, and creating some basic talent trees, one for each class. The class you choose at the start of a new game will determine your default attack method. During character creation and at each even numbered level, you will receive a talent point to be spent in your class's talent tree. At each odd numbered level, you will receive a talent point which can be spent in any talent tree of any class.
I am 36% furry
Posted 13 years agoStolen from everybody else who's done this meme
[ ] you meow/bark to get attention
[ ] you find pets toys amusing
[ ] you get hyper by the smell of catnip
[ ] you growl/hiss when someone gets too close to your food
[ ] you growl/hiss when someone you dislike is too close to you
[ ] you purr/shake your leg when someone shows you affection
[x] if someone tosses a ball, you chase it and bring it back
Total: 1
[x] you love to be scratched behind the ear
[ ] you love fish/meat
[x] you like to stick your head out through the window of a moving car.
[x] you like when people pet your head
[x] people can make you stop doing stuff by hitting you on the nose with a newspaper
[ ] you think feathers are fun to play with
Total: 4
[x] you sleep a lot during daytime
[ ] you enjoy scaring birds
[ ] you lick peoples faces to show you like them
[ ] you bite people if they annoy you
[ ] you tend to steal food from your friends/family's plate when you have eaten all of yours
[ ] milk or water is your favorite drink
Total: 1
[ ] you own a collar and you enjoy wearing it
[ ] you own a leash and enjoy wearing it
[x] you own animal ears/tail/paws or a fursuit
[x] you enjoy long walks in the park
[ ] you meow/bark when you see something you want
Total: 2
[ ] you call your hands and feet "paws"
[x] you tilt your head when you do not understand what someone is talking about
[ ] you run to the door when someone mentions a walk
[x] you really enjoy cuddling
[x] you stretch your body and whimper a bit every morning when you wake up
[x] you can wake up and go back to sleep right away after looking around (I made Moorcat bust up laughing at a Con one time ...)
Total: 4
[ ] you have your favorite spot besides your bed where you like to sleep
[x] you meow or bark very often
[x] you hide when you get scared
[ ] you run to the door to see who it is every time someone comes in to the house
[ ] you like to chase flying insects and try to catch them with your bare hand
[ ] you tend to chew on stuff a lot
[ ] you like to do tricks to get a treat
Total: 2
[ ] you own a wearable item/tag with your name on it
[ ] you refer to yourself as an animal
[ ] your username has something to do with animals
[ ] your e-mail has something to do with animals
[x] if you get a bleeding wound, you lick it to make it feel better
[x] you look for edible stuff often (I majored in fridge scavenging with a minor in leftover recycling)
Total: 2
[ ] you often find yourself looking through the window for a long time
[ ] you like to say hi to strangers
[x] you like to be petted when you have done something good
[ ] people think you act like a pet
[ ] you growl/hiss at stuff you do not like
[ ] you like to eat grass
[x] if you get wet, you shake to get rid of the water
Total: 2
Add up your total and then x2 and that's your %
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
There are so many other mousey habits this meme doesn't cover, like squeaking when startled, instinctively trying to wriggle free when pounced/grabbed, finding the idea of hiding in a nearby bush to be strangely comforting and appealing, etc. Clearly this meme caters mostly to canine/feline furries. Oh well.
[ ] you meow/bark to get attention
[ ] you find pets toys amusing
[ ] you get hyper by the smell of catnip
[ ] you growl/hiss when someone gets too close to your food
[ ] you growl/hiss when someone you dislike is too close to you
[ ] you purr/shake your leg when someone shows you affection
[x] if someone tosses a ball, you chase it and bring it back
Total: 1
[x] you love to be scratched behind the ear
[ ] you love fish/meat
[x] you like to stick your head out through the window of a moving car.
[x] you like when people pet your head
[x] people can make you stop doing stuff by hitting you on the nose with a newspaper
[ ] you think feathers are fun to play with
Total: 4
[x] you sleep a lot during daytime
[ ] you enjoy scaring birds
[ ] you lick peoples faces to show you like them
[ ] you bite people if they annoy you
[ ] you tend to steal food from your friends/family's plate when you have eaten all of yours
[ ] milk or water is your favorite drink
Total: 1
[ ] you own a collar and you enjoy wearing it
[ ] you own a leash and enjoy wearing it
[x] you own animal ears/tail/paws or a fursuit
[x] you enjoy long walks in the park
[ ] you meow/bark when you see something you want
Total: 2
[ ] you call your hands and feet "paws"
[x] you tilt your head when you do not understand what someone is talking about
[ ] you run to the door when someone mentions a walk
[x] you really enjoy cuddling
[x] you stretch your body and whimper a bit every morning when you wake up
[x] you can wake up and go back to sleep right away after looking around (I made Moorcat bust up laughing at a Con one time ...)
Total: 4
[ ] you have your favorite spot besides your bed where you like to sleep
[x] you meow or bark very often
[x] you hide when you get scared
[ ] you run to the door to see who it is every time someone comes in to the house
[ ] you like to chase flying insects and try to catch them with your bare hand
[ ] you tend to chew on stuff a lot
[ ] you like to do tricks to get a treat
Total: 2
[ ] you own a wearable item/tag with your name on it
[ ] you refer to yourself as an animal
[ ] your username has something to do with animals
[ ] your e-mail has something to do with animals
[x] if you get a bleeding wound, you lick it to make it feel better
[x] you look for edible stuff often (I majored in fridge scavenging with a minor in leftover recycling)
Total: 2
[ ] you often find yourself looking through the window for a long time
[ ] you like to say hi to strangers
[x] you like to be petted when you have done something good
[ ] people think you act like a pet
[ ] you growl/hiss at stuff you do not like
[ ] you like to eat grass
[x] if you get wet, you shake to get rid of the water
Total: 2
Add up your total and then x2 and that's your %
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
There are so many other mousey habits this meme doesn't cover, like squeaking when startled, instinctively trying to wriggle free when pounced/grabbed, finding the idea of hiding in a nearby bush to be strangely comforting and appealing, etc. Clearly this meme caters mostly to canine/feline furries. Oh well.
EverDelve development is briefly on hold
Posted 14 years agoAll last week I've taken time off from EverDelve development to focus on a lot of pressing life issues that have gone neglected for far too long. There are still a great number of issues on this to-do list of mine, but the list is shrinking day by day. I predict I'll be able to start working on EverDelve by end of this week if all goes well.
So far, the Shuriken Games donation button has seen very little use. Same goes for the Shuriken Games forum. I plan to do some more networking and crowdbuilding activities for Shuriken soon, though (it's on the to-do list). EverDelve, though, has seen plenty of love! That much, at least, is encouraging. :) It's neat to see EverDelve added as a favorite alongside other popular FA Flash games. That always makes me smile.
So ... stay tuned!
So far, the Shuriken Games donation button has seen very little use. Same goes for the Shuriken Games forum. I plan to do some more networking and crowdbuilding activities for Shuriken soon, though (it's on the to-do list). EverDelve, though, has seen plenty of love! That much, at least, is encouraging. :) It's neat to see EverDelve added as a favorite alongside other popular FA Flash games. That always makes me smile.
So ... stay tuned!
