The Game-Changer
Why am I so glum today?
It might be the impending end of the new Rumors of War comic. It might be that I did my taxes yesterday — actually, finishing our taxes was relaxing considering I spent a chunk of the day playing Dark Souls. That game stresses me out.
But no, now we’re two weeks out and I need to get something off my chest. Maybe some people make a bigger deal of this, but I’ve been trying to make sure my life isn’t going to fall apart first.
I quit my job of eight years to go back to school.
Now, I’ve actually been going to school since last summer, but on a strictly night-school kind of scenario. But let me tell you — married, child under two, no job — I’m scared. I did everything “right” but there’s a lot of uncertainty.
My family is set to “cruise control” — I don’t actually know what that is since I don’t drive, but it sounded good — for up to a year while I try to knock out as many requirements as I can to move up to the next rung in my career.
What is the next rung? That’s a very good question.
What is even my career? That’s another good question.
I’ve been entertaining several options. Obviously (?) I want to make games, but failing that I’d make a pretty good accountant. Maybe it’s the rules lawyer in me but accounting concepts come to me pretty easily.
So Plan A is accounting. It has to be. That’s the one everyone respects.
It isn’t the one I want for Plan A, but it isn’t about me anymore. I guess it hasn’t been about me for a long time but this change really brought that home.
Plan B is game design. I’m still working on the game book, and that’s great but I’ve hit some snags. To be perfectly honest I’m not super-enthusiastic about tabletop gaming right now. I’m hoping it’s just a phase.
I haven’t stopped working on the book, I’m just working on it slowly.
What I have been working on however, is a video game. Using RPGMaker VX Ace, I’m about halfway through a pretty generic fantasy RPG.
It isn’t going to be stellar — but it is going to be a game. From the beginning to end. The combat math is something I’ve been working on for a couple years so the game is going to be tough, but fair. Like my D&D campaigns.
It’s going to be pretty grind-tastic but I don’t see that as bad.
I’ll talk a bit more about this game in another post.
Plan C is novel-writing. I’ve worked on a few novels before but between work, school, and family there was no way a novel was going to happen. The comic squeaked by at times despite all the preparation I put into it.
My responsibilities at work, school, and home were only increasing — but a novel might happen now. I make it sound passive but I’m serious. There wasn’t time before but I might have time to make it happen now.
Even that could wait for another post.
I’m writing about fear. All this future-stuff sounds great but I’m afraid of becoming aloof (more aloof, I guess) and complacent. I’m afraid of losing that lean, hungry attitude that works. I’m also afraid of over-compensating.
So, it’s fears all around. But also stuff to look forward to. Huzzah?
You could always try to pick up some freelance (contract-based) technical writing work. Good game design is basically technical writing, but about something fun.
Awesome that you’re considering work on a novel. I’m still and always available as an editor.
My only advice on the game thing is to start with something small but of good quality that can be thrown up on something like Kongregate, then develop that into something salable. Most importantly, stick around: there are game developers that I would’ve gladly thrown money at if they hadn’t disappeared, both in video games (guys who made Ge.ne.sis or Starwish) and in tabletop (guys who wrote the Terror in the Gloaming module).
I appreciate your support. I’m probably going to be reaching out a lot in the coming year. I’ll look into the technical writing thing. Maybe pick up some experience there first. :)