moxiemixgames

First post!

I really didn’t know whether I should start a blog or not. I’ve started and stopped so many projects, I wonder if I’m grown-up enough yet to really keep up with a blog. Seems like a responsibility. Like getting a hamster. But I thought, “It’s fun looking through other people’s ideas, dreams, and experience, why don’t I give it a try?”

So this is a blog concentrating on my journey as a game developer. Keep in mind, I’m a complete amateur. I I hardly play video games, to be honest, and my chosen media is an obscure niche in the vast world of gaming called Visual Novels. What’s that, you may ask? Think book meets video game meets anime meets choose-your-own-adventure. It relies on art, music, and writing to immerse the player in the story. Think of playing a video game, cut out all the cutscenes and dialogue and smash them all together, to make it almost like a movie. Then you’re in the ballpark of a visual novel. Throw in a lot reading and you’re all set.

I’m using the engine Ren’Py, created by PyTom specifically for visual novels. I’ve had a few dry runs with making visual novels, but I’m looking forward to making and sharing bigger, better quality games. The first three or four were purely experimental to test my teeth. I think I can handle solid food now. ^_^ I’ll be posting progress on the games I’m making, ideas, flubs, and any experience I think may be useful to anyone remotely interested. I hope it will be an encouragement to anyone undertaking any sort of game-making.

I suppose I should tell you a bit about myself too. Right now I’m a freshman in college who is on winter break, and so has some time on her hands to concentrate on making games. I’m frequently on Lemmasoft, a Visual Novel making community forum, though I only recently made an account. I fell in love with anime in third grade thanks to InuYasha, fell hard for manga in 6th grade, and discovered my passion for drawing in 8th grade. I’ve always loved reading, so this word-heavy game genre is perfect for someone with poor hand-eye coordination. I love doing martial arts. I love the color purple, like school (I’m a geek) and dream of zombies. My favorite food is fried chicken, I can’t go a day without listening to music, and I’m a hardcore Christian. Meaning, I believe Jesus is God, was born, died, and rose again to save me from myself. I meet a variety of people making games, but haven’t met a bunch of Christians just yet. Looking forward to meeting more. I love that about making games though, I meet so many interesting people, so different from me, but we all have the same passion, so we have something to connect us even if we have nothing else alike.

I was in the midst of typing out my progress for the game I’m working on, but I’ll save that for next time. I should have much more to show tomorrow. For now, I’ll just reveal the premise.

The earth is dying. Man has destroyed itself and took the world down with him. The last two people alive on earth meet. Will they be able to survive together or die alone? Their fate is up to you.

I hope you enjoyed this first rambling entry. I’ll post as often as I can. Thanks so much for stopping by and looking around. I hope to see you around!