Upcoming Projects
After several months of half-arsed efforts to get back into programming and into modern programming (Object-Oriented Programming, using Python) I finally bought a book to get me going. The online tutorials are good but many of them are rather dry and I often feel that although online reference material is good, tutorials are easier to use in printed form, so I was looking for something I could have next to me at the computer and read over in bed. I got “Game Programming” by Andy Harris (Wiley Publishing). I found it by accident really as I didn’t expect to find a Python and PyGame programming book in town without having to order it. I have also been selected to review Will McGugan’s new PyGame book, “Beginning Game Development with Python and Pygame” published by Apress. I eagerly await the arrival of that title - watch this site for the review (although it may well be cross-published in other places too).
Armed with these books, my trusty Linux system and a bucketload of enthusiasm I am planning some projects to work on. Between now and the end of 2007 I will mainly be working on two projects: an addon utility for my favourite IRC client, Konversation and the first of a possible series of “Old Skool” games starring Hamish and Angus the PolarBears (of course). The script for Konversation is mainly an exercise in text manipulation and will produce action events (a.k.a. “slaps” but there are nice and nasty variations) to amuse and annoy people with, it may develop more functions (some might even be practical) but as long as I can get the basic “nasty” and “nice” functions working I will be glad to call it my first proper program in many years. Keeping my ambitions under control with game ideas is never easy but I have planned a screen-per-level platform game in the tradition of “Manic Miner”. Later on I might do a sequel with scrolling or flip-screen but that would be a much bigger game and I want to start smaller so that I can actually get something finished! I do have another big project on the drawing board though - an American Football game that will be played over the internet with an online league structure.
The IRC script is already in early testing and hopefully the test version of the first game will be available soon. I can code and I am happy to do music and sound effects but I cannot draw at all so I am seeking artist(s) to contribute sprites and tiles for the game. The levels for the game will be designed by myself and Angus the PolarBear. We have already come up with several wacky ideas for sound, music and levels and characters and I will be formalising a specification soon so that we can start designing the levels and tell artist(s) the sizes of the sprites and tiles. If you can help with graphics feel free to contact me hamish[at]thepolarbear[dot]co[dot]uk.