And I'm back...

It's been a while. Instead of explaining why it's been so long, I'll just pick right up where we left off...

So, release should be soon... within 2010 at least. Our entire "staff" is now either a bona fide programmer or well on their way to becoming just that. This will prove to be a very good thing. In the meantime...

StarCraft 2 looks absolutely amazing! I've been watching some casts of the Beta matches (at HDStarcraft and HuskyStarcraft youtube channels). Those are both great channels for anyone to get a good preview of SC2. Thanks guys for casting!
Blizzard has definitely topped the original in every way. This game is very well balanced, fun to play, and absolutely beautiful to look at. Pre-orders are already up for it.

Progress

I'm excited to announce that our first iphone app is nearing it's debute. We have not yet posted any super secret details about it, but soon... very soon. Until then, it's an original puzzle game centered around a unique gameplay mechanic. The level editor/creator is being finished as we speak, and the engine is in bug-fixing/testing stages. There will be more detailed, frequent announcements/blogs/tweets/etc as we near Appstore release (very soon).

PAX East

If you haven't gotten your pass yet, do it! Apparently, there's a much bigger interest in PAX East than anticipated. It should be an amazing expo.

Programming

I've been trying unsuccessfully for months to start learning how to program. At long last, here I go...
I've been testing the waters a bit with C++, Java, and C. I have to say that I like C best. It just makes sense to me, but I also have nil experience in this field. The idea of programming is very interesting. Practically anything is possible. I have lots of ideas on things I'd like to see/play/use and one day would like to be able to construct them myself.
With the current Opensource movement (it seems like a movement), I have plenty of options to test myself as I learn. Google Wave, Android, and Facebook have decent APIs just to list a few. Give them a look.
There's so much I have to learn before that...

Fuzzy

Games are supposed to be fun, not break the bank account.

At long last, Command & Conquer has made its way to the iPhone Appstore (link). Imagine my continued dismay when I saw the $9.99 price tag. I should qualify that a bit... I love games, especially games I can play anywhere, but I am continually disappointed when "The Big Publishers" price their apps so high. My personal stance is that a game for a mobile platform better be really freaking amazing for $9.99. I hope to avoid this with our apps. Affordable fun for the Masses!

Rant: They could probably achieve the same, if not better, fiscal results by pricing the app cheaper (3.99ish) and having "true" expansions for $0.99, not just maps you couldn't work into the campaign mode.

I may try this on a sale week, if they ever have one.

/disappointed,

Fuzzy

PAX cometh.

Penny Arcade is finally bringing PAX to the East Coast. Check it out. Sign up now before tickets are sold out.

Sketchbook Mobile

While I don't have an abundance of natural talent at sketching, painting, drawing, etc, I enjoy trying and have accepted the fact that the quality of my art will always be lacking. Creating art is just plain fun. Cavemen did it, and anyone who has ever been a student has paid their doodling dues. The folks at Autodesk have released an amazingly good mobile version of Sketchbook Pro for the iPhone, aptly named Autodesk Sketchbook Mobile. The full version (iTunes link) is only $2.99 and more than worth it, but there's even a simpler "Lite" version (iTunes link) available.

Having said that, it does have at least one shortcoming. There's no basic shape tools; I really really want these. I enjoy sketching things with sharp corners(machines, buildings, etc) and I'm no Giotto when it comes to circles either. My fingers are crossed that Autodesk will release an update adding these tools.

Some things I've done...