Dev Diary 2: Problems Learning (Project Aquarius)

I have been working hard to try and find a way to make all my dreams come true with this game.  I have given it a project name now:  "Project Aquarius"  This has nothing to do with the final project but I thought it would be better to give it a name rather than keep referring to it as, "my game."  I have realized that the biggest problems that I am facing right now is the lack of knowledge that I currently have.  I am not afraid to learn but I do feel that I am trying to learn too much too fast and that I am not giving myself time to slow down and have fun with the exploration of the new software that I have been working within.  That being said I keep changing and updating my to do list, so here is the newest version of said list.  We will be updating it and adding project samples as I get a little more down for the game itself.

To Do:

• Finish the Unity Tutorial series
• FPS
• Cart Game
• Sandbox
• RPG
• Scripting
• Finish the Intro to Blender Tutorial
• Level 1
• Level 2
• Level 3
• Level 4
• Title Screen
• Artwork
• Coding
• Asset Creation
• Main Character
• Male
• Female
• Character Allies
• 2 for pre alpha build
• Mobs
• Outer
• Inner
• Manor
• Boss
• Animations
• Scripting First Level

Started:

• Loot Tables
• Abilities
• Mechanics Rough Sketch

Finished:

• Monster Stat sheet for Outer Mobs
• Rough Outline of Demo Zone
• Demo Classes

I know that for most of you this will mean absolutely nothing, but I am excited to keep updating it and making it work as we continue to grow through this development process.  I can say that I have a better appreciation for folks that work in the industry and hopefully I will be able to add my stamp to it in some way.  If nothing more than detailing a game project from start to finish.  

Game Dev Diary 1

Today I have taken my first steps towards building this amazing game, I have started to play around with a 3D modeling program to learn a bit about how to make nodes and I have downloaded a few different game developer tools.  One, godot, is very code heavy and has a steep learning curve.  The engine seems powerful enough, if not a little slow at the rendering.  I am not sure if I will be using this one, but it does seem to be a lot of fun to play around with.  I also downloaded the unity engine, which is capable of a broader reach, though I fear that I will start to get sucked into the perfectionist status that I seem to be doing.  We will have to see which one I end up using after I play through some of the tutorials.

Today I worked one hour on this new passion project and found that I have a solid idea.  I was able to lay out some of the functionality of the main menu and what I want it to be able to do.  I need to continue to work through youtube videos in order to make sure that I am able to produce the code required for the project.  This week will be a bit more of the planning and learning phase of this game development.  I believe that I have a solid idea I just don't know where to begin which is causing a lot of stress.  I am excited to jump in and start coding some actual play of a game, but I know that in order to do it justice I need to slow down and make things work a little at a time.

Road Ahead:

• Learn how to model in Blender
• Start to layout and create buttons for the main menu UI
• Work through a tutorial for the Unity Engine
• Code the utility of the opening menu in the game
• Start to brainstorm starting zone
• Starting stats
• Starting gear
• experience points per level
• design.

I will keep you all posted on progress as I get where I need to get.  I thank you for coming in and joining me as I work through some of the kinks of being a brand new game designer.

The Day After Blizzcon!

I have a strange thing that I decided to do today, the day after BlizzCon.  I have been so inspired by the wonderful creations of, in my opinion, one of the best video game companies to exist, and downloaded a game design tool.  I am relatively new to coding, but have always had a lot of very creative ideas that float around in my head from time to time.

My latest idea has been used within the confines of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign that I have been building.  I don't want to go into too much detail but I thought this campaign would be amazing for a video game and so I have started to learn code in a way to bring this creation to the world.  I don't know why but the idea of creating something for the world is both very exciting and extremely terrifying as well.

I was talking to my wife as I started to learn all that I could about this game development software and said, "you know what? I think that even if I do sell a game, if it doesn't sell it could become a great addition to a portfolio."  I think that is what I am going to be doing.  I am going to be creating a hobby project and build a game that I have always wanted to play.  I will be working through the tutorials at the beginning to build up a skill set and from there I will be moving forward and kicking butt at game design.

I am always super excited after BlizzCon every year, but this year I feel a greater push towards becoming what I have always dreamt of becoming.  I will be a successful content creator and I am excited to be here and being a part of it with you all.