Keeping on track – development
This is in response to a comment on another thread and always to all projects not just web game development. If you code, this may be helpful.
I do rather code intensive ActionScript projects at work and I find the best way for me to actually manage my time and progress is do simply set goals. I build EVERYTHING in functions pretty much and this always me to not only to quickly update and manage code, but allows me to manage my time and progress easier.
What I do is set a goal, and work in a very linear fashion. I start with the base function, then the menu, then the images, then the animations. This works out very similar for a game too. Start with login in, player home page, inventory, item info, player info, befriending, mail, attack, etc etc.
And then you can even break some of those pages down into functions themselves and you can set a path for you to follow through it. My problem before doing things this way of using functions and setting a path, was getting overwhelmed and trying to figure out what to do next.
If you want to take it a step further you can plan out your path on paper or use some software to do it. Another thing I do, and I find this saves me much time and frustration, is that I work on functions, not pages at a time. So I may need to write 3 functions, each approximately taking 45 minutes to write. I write a function, take a break, get a drink, then next function, break, eat, whatever and if I see I only have 30 minutes before I need to leave and I know it’s going to take me an hour or 2 for the next one, I usually will put it off until I have time and hop to a quicker one or call it for the day.
If ya push yourself too much you’ll get frustrated and won’t want to work on the project. So take your time, think out a path and things will go much smoother. Chances are you’ll actually save time takes all those breaks, because I know when I get frustrated I start going in mental circles and write sloppy code. So I find it easier to walk away and when I come back calm.
I hope that answered the question ^_^
PS: I used writing this post for a break from a script I am writing at the moment. Now I can go back to it calm and with a clear mind 
new layout / next podcast / help?
Hey all,
Changed up the layout of the blog. I’m simply using default wordpress themes so it was no effort on my part I like this one but when I have more time I will go through the rest to make sure there isn’t one I like better.
The next podcast will hopefully be out tomorrow night since I am going to my parents for the weekend and want to get it out before I leave. It will be about how to make a players/characters feel like they are growing. I will likely focus on RPGs/Strats since they are what I know best.
Also, I am looking for someone to help me write articles. They can be damn near about anything as long as they relate to web gaming, but I would like someone that could write technical posts on an array of langauges. If you are interested, send me an email with an article or podcast (whichever you like ^^) and after a week if I receive any submissions I will ask the person I find the better blogger/podder to join me.
And just a side note, I’m thinking of just throwing up little paragraph posts about little things I think of. What are your thoughts readers!? Would that be fine or would ya’s rather just the weekly post?
OpenBracket Podcast!
This is my first podcast thingy ever so check it out. It’s about revenue and how I think it should be done.
If you like the podcast better than articles, let me know! If enough people like it I will keep doing it.
Looking for games
Well I am looking for some new web games to play and this is how I would like it to work.
If you know of a really good game, send me a link through the comments. I will NOT sign up using a referral link. I will sign up normally through the main page. If you own a game, please include that information in a post.
Please do not email me. Just leave a comment, since I get emails about the comments. But if you are an owner and want to give me a beta or special account, then you can email me.
What I will do for every game I sign up for is this: I will do a week long review of game. I will cover everything from interface to graphics to gameplay to the community. So if you think you have a great game and want some free advertising, leave a comment and I will play your game and review it.
I will be brutally honest in my reviews but I mean no offense. I feel that if mistakes aren’t pointed out they can’t be fixed or improved upon and will only eventually get worse.
So everyone! Suggest to me your favorite web games and I will try them!
Future of Web Gaming
What do you see when you think of the future of web games? What is going to to pull this genre out of the niche that it’s currently in, and out into the mainstream? Will it be AJAX? Or maybe flash integration? Possibly better graphics?
Personally I don’t think these will be the kickers for the next ‘gen’ of web games. And I’m sure some of you who read this article or my blog regularly have an idea of what I’m going to say next. The most important thing that will pull web games out of its little corner niche will most likely be game play. This is where some may start to get confused but I’m going to set things straight. Using better technologies DOES NOT mean it will improve game play.
Let me give you an example, a rather popular one: Weewars.
Now this game is pretty advanced, utilizing some great technologies. But does just because it has a really slick interface make it a good game? No. Don’t get me wrong; Weewars is fun, but I wouldn’t give it the game of the year for game play. Game interface or technology usage maybe. Plus I really love that they are pushing the genre with new technology but that isn’t enough. The game itself is very limited. You have a handful of units, and you goal is to beat the other player. Simple, fun – but only for a period of time and then the games start to look the same, and start being played out the same ways. Overall the game is lacking in the game play department. But this is a far cry from the worse example (I mean no offense to the game or it’s makers so please don’t bash).
Now a game that I loved for game play reasons was TornCity. That game was addictive. Nothing special technology wise. Just plain php and html. But god it was fun. I had options, I could play the way I wanted, I could do what I wanted. If you go to TC now, it’s dying due to lack of innovation and expansion, but in it’s hay-day it was great.
But it still wasn’t enough.
What I see when I think of the future is a game the resembles Renaissance kingdoms, but… fun. I see a game where players activity take part in how the game world is form, how items, money, everything works in the game. I see a game play style that is a mix of traditional Pen and Paper RPGs and current MMORPGs. I see a living, breathing world where players can shape events. I see a world where new content is not just being created by the admins or GMs, but by players. Where content isn’t added every few months, but very few days.
And this can be achieved with basic PHP/HTML but people now want the fancy AJAX menus or options since they know they exist. Which is fine. AJAX is a great technology that will allow us to push or games further, but as I stated, it isn’t enough. So what is keeping designer/developers from creating such huge intertwined games?
One reason, would some people aren’t recognizing that they need to actually sit down, and spend two or three months developing their games on paper before looking at a computer. Another would be the sheer size and difficulty to produce/maintain something of this scale. But this is where I believe many are wrong. A game that in depth, that completed as the one I see when I think about the future of web games wouldn’t be that difficult to create or maintain.
Sure there’s going to be a mountain of coding involved, but it won’t be overly difficult. And maintaining: that’s only as difficult as your custom tools are bad. The same applies to adding new content. We soon won’t be able to produce web games by ourselves (which I don’t think we should be doing now). We will eventually need a team of coders and a group of designer to successfully create a enjoyable game. Long is gone the day where I will play a game, even casually where I can’t foresee a in depth, ever changing game play model.
Some may disagree with my visit of the future, and think it’s all in the technology. But I see technology as just a medium, a support, not the driving force of games. Game play is and has always been the thing that revolutionizes a era of gaming, pushing it forward, and I don’t think that will ever change.
