Don't push the button...

...The button is bad.

A gut-wrenching ordeal.

Or not.

So this is "female protagonist" from "Undisclosed project". I imagine it's still a little early for anyone (and by that I mean my sole reader) to know what it is but hold out there Drew... It'll be obvious by tomorrow.

In other news: I think I know what I'm going to focus on... I just need to check some particulars first to make sure I wont be wasting my time.

Lastly: I think I went about this all wrong, and I should've done some front/side character design sketches first. Maybe that can be something for the weekend.

Hey there!..

... It's been a while! What's news? How are you going?

So admittedly, I've been pretty bad. Sure, I've had my reasons... But let's be honest: reasons are only a lazy mans excuse to be lazier.

So, what's the plan now? No idea. I want to do something that a) I might actually finish and b) that I might eventually be able to sell. What exactly that is, is still up for debate.

It could be Project Voltron... but I suspect that might require me to learn 3d modelling. It could be this other iPhone game I have in mind that wouldn't require anything tricky. Or alternatively, it could be something involving this guy to the right. only time can tell... and I'll probably decide by the end of the week. But in the meantime I think I'll keep drawing concept sketches for this thing... Maybe you'll spot some familiar faces!

Get on the damn heart!!!

Due to non-Valentines Day issues I almost didn't have the love to do anything today... But then I figured if I didn't do anything, that would mean the terrorists have won.

So here we are... It then became apparent that it was getting late, and also that I didn't want to be the terrorists too much, so nothing but flat colours for everyone.

Lastly, this goes out to anyone who's not a crazy bitch (unless you're a crazy bitch in a good way).

A belated Merry Christmas and a Batty New Year.

Happy new year! How the bloody hell are you?!

I figure I've left long enough of a gap to make a proper, stylishly late entrance.

So, in the 2 months absence, the following things have happened to/around me:
- I didn't finish Project Voltron.
- I got a promotion.
- I got a new car.
- I moved to the Gold Coast.
- I almost touched a rhino.

I believe all of this adequately sums up why I haven't posted anything during that time.

Meanwhile, its a new year, so what better time to review my previous resolutions! I'm not going to re-do my bar-graphs... so text ahoy.
- I'm now officially a Game Designer. One of the first things I'll be doing is level design, which is what John Romero started doing, plus I'll be developing new IPs. So thats a tick and an increase in the first column. I'll possibly concede some of that increase because I'm yet to have a beautiful jet black mane to back up my design skills. Similarly, for reasons I can't disclose I'm also "known" in some of the right circles, so I'm totally taking that as a tick too.
- I'm getting better with the drawing. Marvel and/or DC are still being coy, but I know they just like to play hard to get... That's no tick for that resolution. However, I do think I'm improving, and I can draw hands and feet, so I'm totally increasing my rank in the second column to some place above Rob Liefeld. I will have to take away some points for repeated lack of unnecessary pouches and belts. I guess thats something to improve on this year.
- I've listened to music. And I played a fair bit of Rock Band and DJ Hero. Half-hearted tick.
- Ok.. Realistically...While I have been going to the gym and such, I would still make a pretty poor Batman. Plus, I totally failed to stop any crime this last year. No tick. However, I've seen Adam West in tights and I think I can compete. Plus I do a pretty competent Batusi.

So... What are my resolutions going to be this year? I haven't really thought about it yet. Do you have any ideas? Let me know! I'm lazy!

Hi! My name is...

...Don or Dana (or Daria) Darling (depending on what gender the player chooses/how I feel at the time)

Due to an administrative error, what was supposed to be a draft of the famous flying ace D. Daring, resulting in mild-mannered accountant/furniture salesperson/professional gamer (once again, depending on how I feel at the time) D. Darling being drafted instead.

The purpose of such a backstory is two-fold: 1) So it doesn't seem stupid that a world famous fighter ace has to have the controls/ship details/back story fed to them, as well as making it not odd should the player absolutely suck. And 2) Allow the characters some personality to bounce off of each other. Sure, we could have the player as a grizzled old vet, but I'd rather save that for an NPC (who can actually fly like a hero). It's not exactly a tough (or seemingly important) decision, but I guarantee it'll improve the overall vibe of the game. Look at something like Monkey Island for an example of what I'm after.

So in other news:
- I need to change the eyes for the Female variant because every time I look at them it makes me feel stupid (although I don't feel so bad about it when she's shrunk down).
- I also need to have some kind of startup/cool-down animation for the launch of the evasive move, but that shouldn't take too long.
- I'm currently working on a base level enemy. When that's done, I'll do some basic shooting animation (as simple as possible) AND THEN I'm going to start on an engine demo.
- It is too damn good a time for gaming at the moment. That is all.

Night of the typing dead.

Here is an animation test of the player ship's movement. Of note: Idle movement gleam, directional tilting and evasive move. My apologies for subjecting you to a .gif file in this age of web2.0 and all, but I though my blog could do with a Geocities make-over. Next week: "Under construction" images.

Please ignore the jerkiness and the graininess, but I knew no other way of uploading an animation without having to do a whole flash thing. It will look smoother/sexier in game. Also ignore the shoddy jet burner animation, but it's late, I'm tired, and I don't love you nearly enough.