Ok, so I guess I'm obsessed with the idea of making computer games out of board games and card games. You've all heard me talk about this at one point or another, but I'm beginning to think that I just have to take some time ( like a year or two ) and try this out. It can't be any worse that building software that I don't care about for people who don't care what I think.
So, first of all, I'm not talking about making another computer version of Solitaire or Checkers. I'm talking about taking games like Guillotine ( a card game by Wizards of the Coast ) or Pirateer ( a board game by Mendocino Game Company ) and making compelling computer versions of games like that.
I really like playing these games with people, and I realize that the social nature of playing these games in person is an important element for almost everyone who enjoys these games. I'm not looking to replace that experience. There are lots of times when I'd like to play one of these games and my friends are not available. There are other times when I'd like to try out some new strategies or explore the different scenarios possible in the game.
There have been many times that I had wished that there were good computer versions of these games that I could play, either with strangers on the 'net or against AIs. I think that there might be a significant number of people "out there" who must feel the same way. Take Settlers of Catan as an example. There is a whole community of people who have developed a computer version as a project on SourceForge.
As a child of the Atari generation, I have always wanted to develop games. I understand that the "game industry" is a bad scene, that the annoyances I have seen at Adobe and at Apple pale in comparison to the ridiculous antics of execs at game studios or game publishers. I think, however, that as a cottage industry, indie game development is really interesting, and I'd like to try it. I think I'd like to learn to develop Flash® and see what I could do with the technologically simple but really fun to play games that we play on "Game Night". I'm pretty damned sure that I'd enjoy that a hell of a lot more than what I'm doing now. I'm sure enough that I'm thinking that I'll try it for a year or two and see where it leads. I've been working for other people for the past 20 years, and I've achieved my all of my goals in that regard. Now, it's time to try something else... or maybe it's just a way to recharge... either way, I'm ready for a change.
Monday, May 29, 2006
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