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VouSei Advent - Update 5

I've been working on character design. Refined a few characters, polished character relations & conflicts, and so on. I also did a number of concept sketches for the newer characters. Turned out better than I thought, but take note that illustrative art does NOT come naturally to me. My anime-illustrating skills are completely from practice, not talent. I'm confident in my drawing skills - I can recreate a wine glass right down to the very last dot of light (ok, maybe not), but illustrating (drawing from imagination) is a whole different story. It is unspeakably difficult, in comparison.

Aside from that, I've also sketched out several ideas for sceneric backdrops. I think I can pull them off, but I have to go for a more "artsy" approach than a realistic one. Otherwise, this game won't be finished in this lifetime.

Since graphics are much more difficult to deal with than everything else, production (not design) for VouSei Advent will be slowed down a bit. There will be about 9~10 characters in this game, which will take a while to do. I'm thinking about asking for help in the graphics area, but since making this game is a self-training process, I should cherish the learning experience and do it all myself.

I'll show a few concept sketches as soon as my scanner is fixed. They're completely awesome for non-artists, but completely horrible for artists. A mixed bag, I guess. The main character portrait is already colored and usable though. Take a look:

"Go - Drops Of Life" - Submitted

This is a little Go board for 2 players only. It's nothing fancy, but does have a few small goodies thrown in. More details are written in the game page, which should be up soon (hopefully).

One

Since I'm focusing on design for VouSei Advent at the moment, I'm going to make some notes on "One" (card game) and, if time permits it, start on its engine. I've decided that "One" is going to be a fully playable GM card game, instead of just leaving it as an interactive manual like "Duarn IV" and "Kaed Arkome".

4-Hour Challenge?

To test myself, and looking at so many "short & simple games", I'm thinking about doing a complete game within 4 hours, from scratch. Graphics, sounds, music, coding… everything. It won't be great, but it'll hopefully be fun to make. I'm thinking about doing a simple first-person flying-shooter, but I'm not sure yet. As for when I will be doing this - I have completely no idea. I can't even guarantee that I will do this, but I'm toying with the idea.

Anyone care to join? As in this being a community challenge (not a contest), where many people makes games in 4 hours at a certain time and date? *shrugs* Doesn't sound like a bad idea, but it can be a hassle.

Complaint - About the rating scale

This is absurd. From the look of things,

10 = i really like this game

9 = i like this game

8 = it's ok

7 = it can be better

6 = i don't like it

5 = it sucks

…and nobody gives anything lower unless it is out of spite. I know, people like high marks, but let's be realistic here. In this case, the exceptionally superb masterpieces will only score as high as something that most people just happen to like, regardless of any lack in depth, variety and other important factors.

This place needs a clarified rating scale like GameMakerGames.com (<a href="http://gamemakergames.com/?a=about">see it here if you haven't yet</a>). And if nobody has the heart to use the full scale to rate, do a scale that is out of 5 points instead. In this case:

5 = great game

4 = good game

3 = decent game

2 = not-so-good game

1 = bad game

At least, that's what I believe.

Philosophy - Buddhism

Recently, I've become a firm believer of Atheistic Buddhism. Buddhism, strictly speaking, is a religion that, although does not acknowlege the existence of God, does not deny it. However, although I respect such beliefs, I believe Buddhism strictly as a philosophy and not a religion. To keep things simple, you can say that I'm an Atheistic Buddhist.

Anyway, I wish to say something about the common Western belief that "work" and "leisure" are two separate things. However, we believe that "work" and "leisure" are not opposites, but complementary concepts. It is often believed that "work" is the "sacrifice of pleasure to gain wealth in return", while "leisure" is the "sacrifice of potentially productive time to gain pleasure in the place of wealth (or through the expenditure of wealth)". It seems like an extremely obvious concept, but it is actually possible to be constantly productive and engage in "leisure work", which basically means to "enjoy work". This, also, is not a new concept, but Western (and also Far East Asian) people - more often than not - believe that the "experience" of "work" is opposite from the "experience" of "fun". In fact, I've become such a firm believer that I cannot fathom how it is possible to "have fun without being productive", when, even if it is only deep down, you know that you are being a leech to society at that very moment, contributing nothing to alleviate the problems and satisfy the needs (not wants) of mankind. To have fun in such a state is to be ignorant and oblivious to the guilt it generates. And from that guilt, an urge to work forces you to go back in that vicious cycle of "sacrifice". Working without pleasure then robs you of spiritual dignity and freedom; and as a result, you go back seeking for "leisure" and again, sacrifice productivity for it.

If you have that fire - that spark of passion, you can grow along with it. I believe that dedicating yourself to "enjoying your work" - not "working" - is essential for long-term spiritual development and contentment.

This is the reason why I disapprove of people who do things hedonistically for the sake of pleasure alone. It is these same people that are most likely to express discontentment with the harsh realities of life, instead of either accepting them as truth, or setting about on a noble journey to change that truth.

Of course, I'm not trying to change anyone's mind. Everybody has their own opinion and outlook on life. However, I am saying that certain, popular beliefs are not neccessarily the best ones to follow. If you truly value your own thoughts and beliefs enough to find the will to challenge mine, I urge you to please consider whether it is the best ones to follow. I'm idealistic, so please forgive my antics. :P

Weekend - went to a symphony orchestra concert

It's sad. People don't actively listen to music much, nowadays, much less appreciate classical music. That said, Tchaikovsky is awesome, as is Shubert. I'm getting sick of Beethoven though - too much of him all the time. I don't like Mozart at all. Too… honey-dipped, so to speak. My favorites though, are Thai folk melodies that are re-arranged into full-blown symphonies. Good stuff.

VouSei Advent - Update 5 & More

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