So this is super late but so much awesome has been occurring lately, I really need to be documenting it all lol. Shouts out to #INeedDiverseGames again for allowing me to experience GDC for the first time. Everyone there was amazing, super friendly, and just made you feel comfortable. I talk a bit more about my experience on my podcast here...
Followed up with tons of people, and hope to start an ongoing relationship with my new friends. I went out there with the purpose of pitching the Indie Cluster to those that could help. We got some bites and proud to say, started the conversation of sponsorships.
I got to see the Independent Game Festival live for the first time... That was dope. I met Tim Schafer and a few other indie elites. Met people from around the world, and partyd my face off. San Francisco was so amazing and I can't wait to go back next year. I love gamers...
Did I mention it was my first time on a plane... smh
Yay some more afro art coming down the pipe. I've been really inspired by some of the artist I follow and want to express my own culture, just because I can :D All paintings available in custom sizes and prints!
So I've been trying to crank out painting left and right... small ones nothing too big. You know, my #FAFAtl styles. But I'm not sure if I want to drop these for free, at least not yet. I took pics and opened up that Etsy shop. So I want to experiment with making prints and recreating the concepts as larger originals.
So I started a new store... It was tough picking between shopify and etsy, but honestly I can't afford another monthly bill and want to just test the online store theory lol. I mean I still have my Society 6, and it's great... but it's that kind of store. I'm looking for an all-purpose hub to start selling my paintings. So I started one and it seems legit. I'll buy some SEO for it to generate some traffic and see if my works are loved by the populous.
So I just started with a few of my recent little works of awesomeness (will blog about them soon). Check them out here and give me some feedback please on the storefront. Is this a better method you would want to buy stuff from me? Do you want to see more sexy art? Should I get a shopify and be more professional?
I'll figure out a way to use my Society 6 through etsy if it's a success... I just really wanna get into this selling art bit. So prints and originals are being orchestrated for the use of the masses. Thanks... now GO... Click here!
Cool if you guys haven't heard, here in Atlanta we had the biggest game jam site in the world at one point. Last year we were all at SCAD before the tragic health complications of one of Atlanta's game mentors. So everyone left but I ended up doing my game from home. Never made a trailer, and still working on it, but it was my game Third Wheel if you see it in the future. This year we decided to split up in 3 different spots, SCAD, GSU, and Southern Poly or now KSU. I chose the normal KSU spot to solo dolo again. Crazy how many people were there and 60% were first timers.
So because my last jam session was such a success (the Rockstar Jam), I wanted to use the same tactics and scheduling. However what slowed me up a bit I wanted to make a specific game once we all went to start working (3 hours after we started), but even then I changed my design. I'm glad I did, I wasn't feeling the old one anymore. However I end up going a route that made me work in 3d and with code I didn't use everyday. Not a bad thing but I wanted to work on a simple, easy project, and all of this put me a day behind schedule. But with all the upsets, I think I pulled through pretty good. Honestly I wanted to just focus on making pretty pictures and spend a day making a trailer... Because I learned my lesson from past jams.
Finally what you've been waiting for... my entree for the Global Game Jam 2016. The theme was "Ritual" by the way. Think survival mode in MineCraft with Patapon crafting controls while you try to build your village, army, and crops like a god game. I like it, must continue...
Here are the rest of games from the KSU campus, a few good ones I think
Okay so this was the second year I was moving, working in motion, and actively con'n compared to crunching in the registration room during SIEGE. Man I really had a full weekend, so much so I'm not sure if I want to be that busy again. The Cluster was my mission once I set foot on site. I needed to find the expo hall and help set up, take names, and distribute information. Pretty cool looking like I was in charge or at least feeling like I had a purpose. But I was already late so I had to set up my game as well, and plan for the rest of the weekend.
I wanted to show White's latest beta, most of my GGDA peeps hadn't seen it yet. Also SIEGE Tower (duh) needed to have a presence there, or at least at the party. Yeah so besides the expo, we had planned to record an episode of #IndieDEV, host a suite party on Saturday, and I had a panel to speak on Sunday morning. Mind you I couldn't get to sleep the night before the conference, so I was already running on fumes. However my body was enjoying everything so much it didn't mind only getting 5 hours of sleep all weekend. Nothing was gonna stop me from having fun and taking advantage.
So we had 14 teams come out to be apart of the Cluster, I'm so proud of them. Only like 8 at first, but they kept coming. Unfortunately some couldn't make it but you know, maybe next year. I think the Cluster is proof that the Atlanta game community is growing. People again really loved that there was a little big booth of Indies. We took up half the expo hall and felt good about it. After things died down a bit I was finally able to sneak off and start the podcast. Me and Scott started it off and we just kept bringing in random passer-byers who all gave great additions to the discussion. It took me forever to upload it because the audio quality needed some major help, but its still a great listen. Check it out
This year we were given some rooms to throw a suite party with all the other high rollers on Saturday. So like the boss I am, I told all of our participants to hold a tournament in the rooms. That went better than expected, On top of that we wanted to do something fun and competitive amongst the studios. And so was born the inaugural best drink based on a game competition. I will say all parties involved enjoyed the night.
I love Saturday nights because even after all the parties and networking, there's magic in the chill time where people just talk til morning. However this aided in no way my responsibility to be at a panel at 10am. Was pretty sure I wasn't gonna make it, but I woke up on time and drugged myself down. It was called the Hangover Rant on purpose. Even then I had no idea what I was gonna talk about but I didn't do too bad. I was happy to be invited on by the creator Joe, one of my biggest supporters. It being my first time speaking at SIEGE, it was a lot of pressure, but can't wait to do it again.
I was excited to open the program book and not only see my name, pic, bio as a speaker, but to see a whole page for the Indie Cluster. Definitely a great con, I glad my father came back this year to help me out. He was able to steal my brother as well and I mad my girlfriend come out and experience the gamer love. Appreciated their help over the weekend, it felt good showing them a slice of my life full frontal.
Okay so now my blog is finally caught up... Back to making games and being awesome
