The little things...
by Adrian Wright · 02/27/2006 (6:28 am) · 10 comments
Its been awhile since my last post, as I am mostly really busy with working my 40 hour a week day job, and then leading development of multiple game projects in the evenings and weekends.
But every once and awhile something happens that I really would like to share with those of you in similar situations, cause I have found over the last few years that the little things that happen can have a big impact on me, and help refresh me from time to time.
So here is a little story :)
I have had the opportunity on several occasions now to see MGT's game Lore: Invasion played in person, and I thought there was no greater joy then seeing the mayhem and excitement on players faces when it came to game development. But I was wrong.
Currently, we are working on a couple casual games, something that is new to us as we are all diehard hardcore gamers, and it has been very difficult for me to guage what we are doing along the way. But last week, I think I realized that something was going right.
After a long day doing design work on a business application, I came home, sat down on the couch to relax. My wife, daughter and youngest son were there with me watching "Danny Phantom", yes I am 35 and still enjoy watching cartoons with my kids :). My oldest son (5) was upstairs, supposedly playing in his room.
The next thing I know I faintly start hearing one of my games playing in the background noise upstairs in my office, so I thought I must have left the dang menu screen running. Well i figured i might as well go up and get back to work, so up the stairs I went.
When I got to the door to my office, the lights were out, and there sitting in front of my computer was my 5 year old son playing a game that we have been working on since before IGC. He wasn't very good at the game, but he obviously was really enjoying the visuals, the sounds (as he kept giggling and laughing when certain things happened), and beleive it or not, he actually got the gameplay to a point that he knew he had to match thing, knew when he was about to loose.
I stood in the doorway for about a half an hour watching him play for a few minutes, loose, startover and just keep playing and really him just having fun playing something that I have made.
I have seen my wife play, seen other people play, and watched how they have enjoyed playing this game, enjoyed watching people at LoreCON 2005 play a game I have great passion for, and yet I don't think those events (though very important to me) have impacted me as much as seeing my son so enjoying something I have created.
I share this, cause sometimes we all need inspiration and sometimes without looking for inspiration it comes to us, even in the smallest packages :)
But every once and awhile something happens that I really would like to share with those of you in similar situations, cause I have found over the last few years that the little things that happen can have a big impact on me, and help refresh me from time to time.
So here is a little story :)
I have had the opportunity on several occasions now to see MGT's game Lore: Invasion played in person, and I thought there was no greater joy then seeing the mayhem and excitement on players faces when it came to game development. But I was wrong.
Currently, we are working on a couple casual games, something that is new to us as we are all diehard hardcore gamers, and it has been very difficult for me to guage what we are doing along the way. But last week, I think I realized that something was going right.
After a long day doing design work on a business application, I came home, sat down on the couch to relax. My wife, daughter and youngest son were there with me watching "Danny Phantom", yes I am 35 and still enjoy watching cartoons with my kids :). My oldest son (5) was upstairs, supposedly playing in his room.
The next thing I know I faintly start hearing one of my games playing in the background noise upstairs in my office, so I thought I must have left the dang menu screen running. Well i figured i might as well go up and get back to work, so up the stairs I went.
When I got to the door to my office, the lights were out, and there sitting in front of my computer was my 5 year old son playing a game that we have been working on since before IGC. He wasn't very good at the game, but he obviously was really enjoying the visuals, the sounds (as he kept giggling and laughing when certain things happened), and beleive it or not, he actually got the gameplay to a point that he knew he had to match thing, knew when he was about to loose.
I stood in the doorway for about a half an hour watching him play for a few minutes, loose, startover and just keep playing and really him just having fun playing something that I have made.
I have seen my wife play, seen other people play, and watched how they have enjoyed playing this game, enjoyed watching people at LoreCON 2005 play a game I have great passion for, and yet I don't think those events (though very important to me) have impacted me as much as seeing my son so enjoying something I have created.
I share this, cause sometimes we all need inspiration and sometimes without looking for inspiration it comes to us, even in the smallest packages :)
#2
I think at the heart of why many of us like to create games is that we like to entertain people. Unofrtunately, we typically don't get to "see" those entertained because the customer is on the other side of the world or continent. The ability to entertain someone so close to your heart and home has to be extra meaningful.
I especially love that there are no politics, sales figures, or anything like that in this story - it's just straight up innocent fun.
Thanks for sharing.
02/27/2006 (7:03 am)
I love that he found it on his own and started playing. It wasn't like you said "hey son can you play this for a while and see what you think". Even though you and I talk many times a week about game development and our games, this is the first time I heard this story and I'm not only touched but inspired.I think at the heart of why many of us like to create games is that we like to entertain people. Unofrtunately, we typically don't get to "see" those entertained because the customer is on the other side of the world or continent. The ability to entertain someone so close to your heart and home has to be extra meaningful.
I especially love that there are no politics, sales figures, or anything like that in this story - it's just straight up innocent fun.
Thanks for sharing.
#3
02/27/2006 (8:20 am)
Soo cool, from the play testing of babes comes positive reinforment . . . or something. . .Keep up the great work.
#4
02/27/2006 (9:04 am)
Great story, Adrian. Certainly something inspirational to start the week. :) 
#5
create games my kids can play and sometimes creating it especially for them as
a gift on their birthday or because its monday ;p
Indie game dev has so many undiscovered perks!
~neo
02/27/2006 (9:13 am)
That has always been one of the main attractions to me personally, being able tocreate games my kids can play and sometimes creating it especially for them as
a gift on their birthday or because its monday ;p
Indie game dev has so many undiscovered perks!
~neo
#6
02/27/2006 (11:44 am)
Nice. Now if I can just get my cats to play my games... 
#7
In terms of having a game ready for my 4 year old to play, I'm not there yet - but I will one day, and soon. :)
02/27/2006 (12:29 pm)
You describe, more or less, what got me into programming in the first place. My dad had programmed a small "basic" game for me when I was just 6. It asked very simple questions like "What is your name" and "How many sisters do you have", etc. I was SHOCKED that the computer new everything about me! All that and he wasn't even really a programmer. I figured I just had to get into programming, to let others feel that same excitement and amazement that I felt.In terms of having a game ready for my 4 year old to play, I'm not there yet - but I will one day, and soon. :)
#8
I've watched my 15month old nephew recently get into tv commercials. He's not forced to sit and watch tv but when he is near it, he gets excited and tries to dance when _certain_ commercials are playing.
After watching this, I started trying to see what gets him attracted. It has to have good music and also visuals. It seems obvious but when I see a new commercial and think that he might like it, he sometimes does and sometimes does not like it.
There isnt a specific element that gets his attention, but it has definately got me rethinking about game design.
02/27/2006 (12:39 pm)
I think its great to see a child interested, enjoying, and perhaps even more so, to "get" the game.I've watched my 15month old nephew recently get into tv commercials. He's not forced to sit and watch tv but when he is near it, he gets excited and tries to dance when _certain_ commercials are playing.
After watching this, I started trying to see what gets him attracted. It has to have good music and also visuals. It seems obvious but when I see a new commercial and think that he might like it, he sometimes does and sometimes does not like it.
There isnt a specific element that gets his attention, but it has definately got me rethinking about game design.
#9
Its one of those things that just comes out of nowhere. Those are always the best things, things that inspire you to keep at something which can REALLY be tedious at times.
Thanks for sharing.
Phil.
02/27/2006 (1:21 pm)
Lovely story Ade! I've not got a 5 year old, but having a son playing your game is so cool!Its one of those things that just comes out of nowhere. Those are always the best things, things that inspire you to keep at something which can REALLY be tedious at times.
Thanks for sharing.
Phil.
#10
02/27/2006 (3:47 pm)
I have a feeling I know what game your son was playing... and that delights me no end. :) 
Torque 3D Owner Tim Muenstermann
That's a great story! I too am a hard-core gamer, and didn't think I would enjoy building a 2D game. However, I find myself playing my game more than I work on it.
Again, a great story to start my day!
-Tim