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Games
In order to see my resume as a consultant for game development, go here.
The Early Years
You want proof that I'm a hardcore gamer? Have it your way, you
skeptical bastard...
On the Web
Even though I tend to despise all technology that revolves around the
HTTP protocol (as you can tell by these crudely-crafted Web pages), I
have toyed with games that are Web-centric.
http://www.wildtangent.com/default.asp?pageID=webdriver_download
Once that driver has been installed, you can play the game. Entrez ici.
Experiments with RPG2K
If you've never heard of it, a Japanese company called ASCII has created the software package "RPG2K", a suite of tools which you can use to create RPG games for the PC without any programming experience. Though they have not released a U.S. edition of the package, a Russian programmer was able to alter the package a few years back and create an English edition. Out of curiosity, I got a copy of this edition and tried it out by attempting to create an adaptation of my favorite novel "Atlas Shrugged". The results were interesting, but I decided not to keep using it since I generally don't like to use packages that I haven't paid for. Hopefully, someday, ASCII will come to the U.S. and release a legitimate version of the package. In any case, here are the three parts which, when integrated into a single folder, constitute what is my RPG2K adaptation of "Atlas Shrugged".
Open-Source Community Service
A few years back, while perusing the pages of SlashDot and SourceForge, I came upon a few references to an open-source community with the aims of creating the first successful open-source MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game). The community was called WorldForge, and its idea appealed to both my intellectual curiosity and my desire to start making games. So, for a few months, I decided to join the community and pitch in, learning about the project and contributing source code wherever I could. As an experienced programmer on server applications, I was able to provide the initial code which would become part of the engine's framework that handles threading and synchronization; this part of the engine would soon be known as the Pan module of the Stage server application. With the passage of time, Worldforge has now become a project recognized by various communities and is included in various distros of Linux, including Gentoo. You can find the evolved version of my initial code here.
Creating Alliances
Being a resident and a programmer within the New York City area, you learn to accept the fact that the game industry is about as active as maple syrup. Of course, one very bright day, it was my delight to find a small studio called Electric Fun Stuff, specializing in a field of the game industry called "edutainment". For a few months, I worked with them in order to create the prototype for a game that they had in mind. Even though that project has been postponed for now (since they need to work on actual projects which make real money, in order to put some vitals on the desk), I hope that the day comes when we can work on the project again. In the meantime, though, you should wander on over to their site and pay David and Spencer a visit.
Into the Lion's Den
Even though I had no real business being there, I decided to go to the GDC in 2003; for the newbies out there, the GDC is the Game Developers Conference, which is held every year in San Jose. For those of you who have thought about going, I would recommend that you don't...not unless you have a blockbuster game which you plan to pitch to a major publisher. Of course, I had expected an event with networking being a major component; unfortunately, for the most part, networking constituted 99.99% of the whole conference. Aside from a few interesting keynotes from the "big guys" of the industry (like Warren Spector and Will Wright), a few thoughtful presentations by the next generation of the industry (like Eric Zimmerman and Jonathan Blow), and some independent games by hopeful "garage developers", the conference looked more like the Game Marketing Conference than the Game Developers Conference. However, if you wish to become more familiar with how the industry is currently run, you should definitely go and experience the whole event for yourself...though chances are that you'll come back with the same story that I did.
I should also note that San Francisco is the most overrated place on the planet, and San Jose is the equivalent to San Francisco in its ability to suck life from your body and bore the living crap out of you.
Flash Game Room
Games are in development and will be announced as they are completed. In the meantime, here are my first adventures in Flash programming... and don't try to laugh too hard...
In the Near Future
Here are a few goals which I have in mind...