The Never Ending Story

So I'm finishing up this Spring quarter at the Art Institute and summer break will soon be upon us!

Oh, but I won't be idle.  Like I had mentioned in my last post, I'll be working with my team for the NaGaDeMo for the first two weeks of summer break.  We'll see how far that project goes and hopefully we can produce something portfolio worthy.

Speaking of portfolio, looks like I'll be moving up again next quarter.  Which means I've got to get my stand built for portfolio review (I'll see you there) and major updates to my website.

I've gathered some constructive criticism and critiques regarding my website, so big changes to my site will be underway starting in the Summer quarter.  Changes will include an overall style pass on the banners, background, and icons, some layout revamping, and definitely some content updates and additions for new projects and games.

If you're following my blog or twitter, you may have noticed that my blog is now being powered through blogger.  I didn't mind editing a static, html blog, it's just that I wanted the ability for readers to comment, vote, and whatnot.  Why reinvent the wheel, right?

NaGaDeMo 2012

Today marks the last day of Week 10 at the Art Institute's Spring quarter. That means there is only one week left until those lucious three weeks of Summer break!

But today ALSO marks another event, the National Game Development Month (also known as the NaGaDeMo)!  Okay, so it really started last week, but don't you worry,  this event lasts the whole month.  This event is similar to the National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, which occurs annually in November, and the annual Global Game Jam (GGJ) that lasts for a single weekend in January.  The goal for the NaGaDeMo event is to create a game, but you have an entire month to do so.  While the GGJ has been running for the last four years and the NaNoWriMo has been around since 1999, this will be a first for the NaGaDeMo.

"Okay," you say, "And why are you telling me this?"  Good question!  My personal blog here will mostly be inactive since I'll be knuckling down for the rest of this month while participating in the NaGaDeMo.  If you're interested in following along with the team's progress, we'll be frequently updating this blog here.

"But Tessa, who do you mean by we?"  That is another good question, anonymous-but-talkative-stranger.  By "we", I mean my team.  I've been putting a team together this week.  These are people I've worked with a few times, or only once, within the last three years.  They are people who I've noticed are dedicated to their major and have the spirit and motivation to do anything that gets thrown at them.  These people are great to work with and they get along with each other fabulously.  The people I'm talking about are listed here:

• Oliver Austin: 2D Artist;
• Travis Kehler: Level Designer;
• Tessa Liddington: Programmer / Technical Artist;
• Osei Mcmillan: Concept Artist / Technical Artist;
• Andrew Richards: Concept Designer / Scripter, and;
• Alexis Stinson: 2D Artist / Concept Artist.

Not all members and positions are finalized.  Some may change throughout the course of this project depending on schedules and skills available.  Aside from who's working on this game, you may also be wondering what it is we're making.  Well, I won't be dishing out the details here until the game is finished, but you're always welcome to follow us on the project's blog!