Quest: Pacific Northwest Adventure - Complete!
Take forever over here... I guess if I miss a month or two it's ok. I want to post some substance rather than act like some genius game designer who feels the need to give a self validating blah-blah all the time. But I am long over due for a check in so lets do this.
Ok... As far as developing a mobile/iOS game by myself, I knew it would not be easy... I am not talking about developing some arcade clone 'me too', 'lets try to get in on some App money', hackity hack... I am talking about developing a game that 'I would want to play'. Let's be honest. Most people do not get to do that, especially people in the game business on a corporate level. I have seen a lot of people I know all the sudden become enthusiast of some kind of sport, or subject matter that, well... was of no interest to them before they got that 'licensed game' to work on or before they had to get stuck on sequel number 7. And I am guilty of that myself and will probably be at some point in the future.
Either way, when making a game that you honestly want to make you burn creative energy really fast as the desire has been pent up for so long to do just that. A break before the end to prevent burnout is sometimes necessary... and boy, oh boy, did I get one. My fiance's parents were so kind to include me on her visit to Sitka Alaska to visit them!
Leaving was tough as it felt like I was creating a huge hole in my game development. But that eased when I just accepted that the game in its current shape was in good standing. So to reward myself for such hard efforts I broke down and bought this awesome shirt that was waiting for me on my return!
Getting away gave me time to think about what needed to be done. How I should release the game to the public. What the best chances of the most people seeing/playing my game? (this is most important to me as I would rather have a ton of people play it and make less money, than make average iOS returns and hardly anyone know about it or have the chance to at least load it). Plane rides have a way of forcing one to either take time to think, or sleep. Both of which I very much needed.
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| Drawing designs for the game on the plane |
I will not be able to do the trip justice in this blog by trying to describe the thrill of visiting the places I have been. It was amazing seeing the Tlingit totem poles nestled in the moss covered north American Forests. and clear water creeks that had turned into gushing waterfalls and sprang from mountain glaciers.
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| Tlingit Totem |
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| Tlingit Totems |
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| I was in such awe at the craftsmanship and longevity. |
The wildlife was incredible. Ravens are definitely high up on my list now as favorite animals as we heard them every day. People in Texas like to think of themselves as 'good old country folk', but honestly most of them are only exposed to dogs and cats on a daily basis and they take no time to look at the birds that are displaced by over development. Going through the list I saw (besides dogs and cats), bald eagles (at least 50+), ravens, ducks, a bunny, chickens, roosters, jellyfish, a sea lion (!), mini squirrel thing, and of course the rockfish I let go that I like to call Merlin...
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| Merlin the Murloc RockFish! |
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| This guy just woke up from a nap. |
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| Impressive sign! Not to mention, nice backdrop! |
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| Check out those bears! |
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| Amy has bears in the background too!! |
Then there was the Raptor Center... These birds impressed me so much. I still can not get over how awesome and huge they are.
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| This guy is the oldest resident. |
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| The wise snow owl checks us out! Who is watching Who? (pun intended) |
Many are to be kept for retirement, but unlike the bears, the birds of prey that seem to be independent enough will be released back into the wilderness. Most of the eagles I saw were actually in the wilderness and in the town of Sitka (high up in the trees, often swooping down in the docks). But I never got to see them up close until the Raptor Center.
The surrounding area on the island was more beautiful than I ever imagined before this trip began. It is so unspoiled by human development.
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| Cruise Time. Embodiment of the wrong way to do things. |
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| The view from our boat. Much more up close and personal. |
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| Success. Insert Canadian rock band RUSH lyrics here. |
The human development that is in the town of Sitka, makes me feel right at home. :)
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| This is a street named after the First Governor, chased off by the Presbyterians. |
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| Wow! I have always wanted to see this! |
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| On the Space Needle with the love of my life, and the source of my inspiration. |
And as a game creator for over 24+ years I have really learned to enjoy the position I am at currently. It might not be as glamorous or financially comfortable as many of my friends that are currently heading off to e3 to show off their current work. But I just can't pass up this unique position to create a game completely by myself. While the pitfalls of working in a corporate setting are gone, other pitfalls exist. However I am up for the challenge. And I look very forward to presenting it to the public really soon. I have come to the realization that while most of the delay has been technical, some of the delay has been personal as I really don't want this part of the journey to come to an end.
"From the point of ignition
To the final drive
The point of a journey
Is not to arrive
Anything can happen..."
-Neil Peart / Rush, Prime Mover
A great trip! Sorry we didn't meet up while you were in Seattle. Guess you'll need to do it all over again soon but with an extra evening free!
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