Organizing my thoughts

Another fun filled week has gone by and it is time once again for an update on my life.

Woo Hoo!!!!!

On the game front, I did manage to work on it some this past week. I have started to flesh out more of the main quest line. I worked on a couple of new maps too.

Most of the week I did spend messing around with a new program that I thought might help me with my planning. It is called XMind. It is a mind mapping program that is suppose to help you organize your thoughts and help with brainstorming. Well, that is what the definition of mind mapping software says anyways. For me it hasn't helped too much. I have spent more time thinking about how I want the mind map to look like then I did about my project. I am not saying that the program didn't work. I seems to work good. I am talking more about the fact that mind mapping didn't seem to work for me. I have been doing just fine with jotting down notes.

That is why I am sticking with Evernote. I like this because I have it on my phone, my computer, and my tablet. I can jot down a note when I am at work and when I get home, I can pull it up on my computer and use it in my project. I also use it to make lists that I can set up either on my computer or phone and update them when I need to. But, like I said, that is what is working for me. As long as I make a note of my idea, I don't seem to have a problem remembering the connections.

I know I was suppose to do a review for Crusader Kings 2 last Friday. I didn't get the review finished yet because of the XMind thing. I hope to get on it and finish it this weekend so I can post it on next Friday. I will probably not get it done for this Friday though if I do, I will post it then and leave notice on my Google+ and Facebook accounts.

I have been thinking about starting up my Generation Demigod title again. I went to see Xmen: Days of Future Past yesterday and it got me thinking about a super hero storyline again. That always happens whenever I watch one of the super hero movies or read one of my comics. So, I may start working on that web series soon. Maybe. No promises. Not yet anyways.

Other than that, it has been a quiet week. Nothing exciting or terrifying happening (well, not to me anyways). So I will sign off for now.

Writer ya later.

Games, Comics, and Reading

Welcome loyal follower to another edition of my blog. Unfortunately, I don't have much to update on this week. I didn't really spend much time working on my game or world. I did however spend quite a bit of time playing a game called Crusader Kings 2. I am not going to say much about it here cause I am writing up a review of it and will post it later (hopefully on Friday).

I did work on my test game a little. I have actually taken to calling it Shadow Hunter. I have completed a couple more maps on it and worked on a side quest some more. I am having a bit of trouble getting a part of the quest to work properly. I am not sure why it isn't working. I will have to go to the forums for RPG Maker and see what they say.

I started reading Earth 2 by DC. So far I have read only the first 4 issues and they have just been introducing the way things are on this version of Earth. The interesting thing about this series, and what got me wanting to read it, is Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman sacrifice themselves to stop an invasion from Apokolips. So far, they have introduced The Flash (he got his powers from Hermes), Hawkgirl, and Green Lantern (who isn't a universe cop but the champion of Earth). They have also introduced Grundy who is described as basically the anti-champion of Earth. When he showed up the whole world started dying. Oh, and did I mention that Green Lantern is gay in this version? That was something I wasn't expecting. It didn't upset me, just surprised me.

I also downloaded a new series today called Post-human by David Simpson. (Well, I guess it isn't too new. Just new to me.) I am planning to read the first book and post a review soon. I also signed up for an advance reading group that he is starting. He says that he wants people who have read all the books so I will need to get reading. Plus, this series is being made into a movie. So, if it is good that is something else to look forward too.

Well, I can't think of anything else to add, so I guess I will end here. I shall try my best to have more of an update next week. Until then...

Write ya later.

Progress Report

So, it has been two weeks now since I started my game and I am coming along alright. I have several maps drawn up for it and part of the main story line, I am even working a secret quest line to get the strongest weapon for your character. The thing with this game is I am just doing the story on the fly. I do have an idea as to the ending, but not really any outline or plot synopsis for the story. Then again this is just a 'get to learn the engine' game. I have decided to change the name of the game too, but I am not sure what it will be called yet.

I am also working on other parts of my fantasy world. They are all currently focused around the Aegis Knights. I have started planning out the story for my first serious attempt at a game. This one is going to be very long and have a complicated storyline that will be dependent on your choices and the way you play your character. Well, that is the plan anyways. I don't plan on this one being done anytime soon. So far all I have completed with it is an overall brief plot synopsis and then I broke it down into 4 acts and did a brief plot synopsis on each act. Next I will do a more detailed act synopsis.

Next, I am starting work on the web series about the beginning of the Aegis Knights. This will be strictly online (duh, I did say it was a web series, sometimes I can be such a stereotypical blonde) (no, I am not really blonde). I also have plans to work out the history of the First Gods War. That will be strictly background material. Maybe in the form of an online book or wiki.

If anyone has any thoughts on this, or if they would like to see any posts on my world building, just let me know. You can email (knightwrtr at gmaildotcom), comment, or post to my google+ account.

Write ya later.

Vacation time

So, I have been on a forced vacation since Monday. (Okay, so it wasn't so much forced as not planned out. BOSS: You are going on vacation next week. ME: Okay, have a nice week.) I got in this situation because I spent a lot of time the last 360 days bouncing between stores. I would help out at a store for a few days to a few weeks. Then there were the transfers to other stores, which would mean that they were usually short handed so I wasn't able to take anytime off. I did finally take a few days off last month because I was planning to go to Comicpalooza in Houston, TX. But those plans kinda dried up so I just had a few days off. That still left me with 50 hrs of vacation time. So my boss tells me this past weekend that starting Monday I am on vacation.

I have actually taken this time to start work on my very first video game. Actually it is my third game. The first two are from high school programming classes, though the second didn't actually get finished and the first one didn't work properly. That is why I am considering this as my first game.

I am using RPG Maker VX Ace to help me create this game. Mostly because it has been waaay too long since I last did any programming. But also because I learned to program on an apple computer back in the eighties. (Damn, I think I just gave a hint as to my age there.) It is a pretty cool program. It is mostly just drag and drop. But you can learn the scripting language to change just about everything in the engine to make the game the way you want it. Plus, I can sell my games that I create with it without buying any expensive licenses.

The game will look like an older style game, the kind I used to play on the Nintendo. And unless I find a kind artist to do the graphics for me, I am needing to purchase the graphic and sound packs from their store. But I am planning on using this as a stepping stone. I am planning to work with this engine for a while and if things go well then probably move on to Unity. And if things go good with that engine, I might try to create my own engine. Maybe not. By that time I might not want to deal with it. Then again, I should be able to higher someone to do the programming for me by that point.

Anyways, the game I am working on is tentatively called Aegis Knights: Beginnings Chapter 1. It won't be a very long game, you will probably be able to finish it in one sitting (depending on how long you are willing to sit there and play). I expect it will take no longer than a couple of hours. There is going to be the main story line with a couple of side quests, one of which (while not necessary to complete the game) will hint at things to come later.

Then plan is to work on each chapter and learn more about what I can do with the engine each time. And then when I get Beginnings completed I will work on combining all the chapters together into one game and probably sell that version. We will see how things go. When I get it completed I will post it here and either start up a web site (though I am already thinking of starting one for the world information) or maybe just send it to those who are interested. Probably the website though.

Guess I will get back to work. Write ya later.

Favorite Character

So, the other day my wife asked me who my favorite character was. And my response was...I don't know. I have several characters that I like. Thor, Wolverine, Drizzit, Teen Age Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sheldon, just to name a few. But not a one stands out as my all time favorite. Then she asked me what my favorite TV show/movie was. Again I draw a blank for my all time favorite. Equilibrium, Star Trek, Star Wars, Smallville...there are just so many to choose from.

So, do you have an all time favorite character/TV show/movie?

Write ya later.