Indie Cabin = The Last Shadow prototype

So everyone keeps telling me to do game jams, but I sometimes have trouble understanding how they can do this. I feel like I spend almost every waking moment working on the games that need to make me money, and have a wife & child that take up every other moment. Where can I find the time? How can I say to Holly: "Hey, take care of the kid for the weekend, Imma go work on a game, oh but not the one that I've been telling you will be done for the last 2 years..."

So there was an "indie cabin" that we put together to go to Tahoe and hang out & work on games together. I wanted to use this as an excuse to bang out a prototype I wanted to make, essentially do a game jam.  But as the date got closer I had so much to do I decided not to. Then when I got there I was so out of my day to day mindset that I decided to spend my 2 days jamming out my game, and did just that.

The Last Shadow prototype that I made at the cabin
 

I have to say, it was awesome. I got so much done, have the beginning of a possible new title, and feel refreshed. I spend so much time wearing my biz dev hat, my PR hat, etc, that I forget I can develop too sometimes. Not only that but it's what's most important. Holly saw the change in me instantly and is a strong proponent that I do this at least 3 times a year or so. She's awesome, and I've already married her so find your own! If you're a game maker: people care about us because of that, so let your PR be showing what you make, my weekly videos are trying to do just that.

As for the cabin, it reminds me yet again how incredibly fruitful it is to be around amazing and creative people. We played each others paper prototypes, games, and just enjoyed each others company. I'd like to do that 3 times a year as well ;) Thanks Brendan!

Indie Cabin-ers: Left to Right: Myself (Tim Keenan), Brad Johnson, Pete Angstadt, Brendan Mauro, Ryan Williams, Randy O'Connor, Rich Vreeland, Holly Keenan

Dusker 318

So our second prototype has a 'working title' of 'Scavenger'. I have a tendency to have working titles that are pretty straight to the point since it saves time, and in Scavenger you board derelict space ships, temples and the like to basically tomb raid them, like a scavenger.

The problem is that we're going to give our current prototypes to our community to try out, and as such I want names that I can at least put a google alert on. So when musing on a name less generic than Scavenger, Holly came up with the word 'Dusker'. She thought it was the slang name that Dwarves in Dragon Age called surface people. Turns out that was a mis-memory. But we both liked the word as an invented slang term for people that may be doing less than legal activities after dusk. Dusk-er.

I didn't want to name the game Duskers since that felt like it'd be a story about a group. Then we thought that perhaps we could tack on a number to it. After all that only makes it sound more sci-fi, like the name of a ship (Holly chose 318 scientifically: it's our address). Then I thought that maybe these 'Duskers' have a code or guild. They'd have a ship name, but if they recognized you as another Dusker they'd use that as code. Kindof and honor amongst thieves deal where, if two of them came upon the same derelict ship, the more senior would get "dibs". Hence the number. If your number is lower, you're more senior. I thought it'd be cool if you were scouring a ship and another vessel approached claiming the call sign "Dusker 200" and told you to get the hell out, leaving you with a decision to make. I've heard decisions are good things to have in games.

It's only an idea of a name, and possibly only for the prototype at that. Some have mentioned it may be too similar to Dust 514. Maybe we could go with Duskers. Feel free to comment or tweet at me with any thoughts. 

The Awesomeness of Indies + CTG design feedback

How amazing is this: I forgot my badge one day at GDC, so I sent out a message that if any indie devs wanted to play my paper prototype of 'Chess the Gathering' they could meet me somewhere and play. Then Dave Carrigg, Erik Asmussen, David Evans, and Michael Carriere came to my rescue and hung out and played my infant prototype over some beers. I have to admit all GDC I felt kinda like the hot chick at a bar that forgot her wallet and is rewarded by being bought drinks all night, but really: indies are amazing and GDC is awesome.

Below is footage of some of the play through, but most importantly the design discussion at the end.

Again, I've fallen behind on posting videos. For videos 2, 3 & 4 of gamers playing CTG in the PAX East table-top area, check out the CTG playlist.

Chess the Gathering at PAX East tabletop area

[Update: sign up for CTG early access & updates here: http://ctg.misfitsattic.com/]
[Update2: Jess Conditt just wrote an article about this]

I took the "Chess the Gathering" paper prototype to the PAX East table top area hoping to see people play and hear what they thought. Jeremy & Kelly were the first ones to take a chance on a prototype and Jess Conditt (Joystiq) showed up in the middle to see the tom-foolery. I plan on posting the other 3 games as well. Then write a real blog post about it. Oh, and I missed about a months worth of updates so here's the Scavenger stuff you missed and here's a chat I had with Brian Cronin (Unknown Worlds/Natural Selection) about AVNT, CTG, & Scavenger :)

Scavenger: Paper Prototype 1

This week. Holly and I show a new paper prototype for a game we currently call 'Scavenger': where you control drones to explore/loot derelict space ships. We show the basic gameplay elements: dungeon crawling + a type of 'rolling' tower defense. For our other paper prototype check out our 'Chess the Gathering' playlist.

CTG goes digital

This week Holly and I finally show off the "digital" prototype for the first time. In this episode we show the level editor, basic pieces & movement, our first spell card, and a chat window! This series shows how we designed "Chess the Gathering", a board game mash up of Magic, Chess, and other geeky concepts. This is in response to questions about our "paper prototype" video. Video below!

Chess The Gathering: Making the Pieces Digital

Last week I forgot to post our third design video for "Chess The Gathering" so (oops) here it is. This week Holly and start making a digital version of the paper prototype and realize that the creatures and modifiers may be a bit trickier on a computer screen. Video below!