howtonickshit-blog

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First colour prints made tonight, back to the cutting board we go!

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Mono print rough rubbing with pencil

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Face full of java

So today ive had some time to look at some more java, (putting the pdf form text book on my smartphone was a stroke of genius) and I’m glad to be able to say it still makes sense. When I first started looking into programming I found a complete java course and the theory was a little daunting. The concepts were entirely new to me and having never been of a scientific mind, they took a while to stop sounding like hebrew. Now im at a point where new concepts introduced are furthering my understanding instead of stalling it, and I feel confident in my progress. Currently I’m looking at and reading up on Classes and their role in oop and implementing Javadoc into earlier programs. Looking at classes has quickly made me realise ways to improve the overly ambitious javascript game I tried to code a while ago. Getters and setters and such are a lifesaver. In other news, my story for the RPGMAKER game is finding its feet, my love of mmorpgs is still alive and well and I really want some 8-bit prints for when I have my own office space. I saw a rag wrapped around a tree that looked like a crocodile and cooked a delicious steak dinner for me and the lady. I have he day off work tomorrow and intend to do some more study and some early concept art for ‘HTNS’. The music I most enjoyed today was Dolphin Park from Wave Race 64

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I’m dying 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 #pokemon #snorlax #yourmom #tbt

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Using theft as a mechanic

Theft in itself is fairly easy to use as a mechanic. I can set an event that gives an option to take an object, and if the player decides to then hit them with a reward or a punishment. I can mix it up and offer to increase the potential value of a lootable item by finishing a quest, waiting for value to increase over time or even offer your money paid to a merchant to be included. (Eg stealing a shopkeepers money bag before or after you buy some items that themselves are not able to be stolen). Giving real reasons to steal however is another challenge entirely. For some the thought of more loot or money will be sufficient but this would make for a very shallow and ultimately one sided game. "I might as well steal everything because I can and there is no punishment" reminds me of my time in Oblivion: The Elder Scrolls IV, where being a thief was not only an option but also surprisingly easy and for me at least, very unfulfilling. Levelling up in the skill wasnt leading to bigger risk only bigger reward and difficulty. For my game I want the story to give good reason for the theft that takes place, such that it represents the best method of solving a morally complex challenge. For example, I would like to include quests where items have been lost from npcs that were wrongfully taken, repossessed or even traded unfairly. The story will set up ways to help bring those items back but will offer multiple avenues and outcomes depending on the method used. In some cases theft will be the best solution (though hopefully not the easiest), but in others completing a quest for the current holder of the item could return the item. I want to reinforce the idea that stealing for personal gain is wrong, and that it is not a glamourous or ideal lifestyle. The reason the PC engages in these activity is the result of thougt and for an outcome that is as harmless or just as possible.

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Poverty does not always lead to crime

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WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT ON YOUR PLANET?

New Zealand. Who wouldn't?

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After a few solid sessions on Rpg Maker VX I came to the realisation that the best way to learn about making games would be to actually make one, instead of cobbling together random events with no end product in mind. Making a game means more than iust a funny title and some bad dialogue, and so I have begun making notes and story for a game that will hopefully be a way to express some of my own ideas and personality. I also aim to keep its progress up to date online to show myself and the world where I am and where I am going. If you have found this blog I hope it will be of help to you in your own endeavours or at least entertain you forbhald an hour:p Heres to the game then, which I have given the working title “How to nick shit”, as my story involves a thief.

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Humble beginnings

I began with a lite version of rpgmaker vx ace when it was released on steam, by downloading the lite version directly from the developer. The limitations of the lite version eventually led me to download the 30 day trial and after that I missed the boat on a steam sale for 50% off. I’d debated the cost over and over and decided against it. This bugged me to no end when the sale ended, but I got lucky when an email newsletter informed me that they were having a golden weekend sale (look up golden weekend). Not missing a good opportunity twice I bought the full version and a tileset to play with and proceeded to further develop what I had accomplished in the trial. My project at that point was just a culmination of learning to use the interface but it was headed somewhere and I decided that I would keep the premise and start anew with an actual development plan and a story. So, with some inspiration from Simon Sinek and a $3 kindle book I now have the beginnings of my game development journey. I am simultaneously reading the following books. The art and science of Java: a textbook used in the stanford cs106a course available to watch in lecture form on youtube. (Mehran is an amazing lecturer and the series is easy ti get into. All of thr course material is available online for free except the text book, some lookig around produced a copy I now use.) Character Development and Storytelling for Games: a text book outlining how to write compelling characters and stories for non linear storytelling mediums (video games). Lazy Designer- start your career in game design now: an insiders guide to getting started in the video games industry. Annnnd various guides online and on YouTube for working in rpg maker. ——- With that list and my progressbin those books so far, I began with writing my story, and for this I stared with WHY…