WHY I'M DOING THIS

I suppose the introduction I gave to this blog leaves something to be desired. The point of this blog is not to pick up where the Crpg Addict left off. I have real reasons for doing it, and it's probably time to share what those reasons are.

At the age of 41, I decided that a career as a retail supervisor wasn't for me. It was what I had done for 15 long years, and I had no passion for it. In fact, I only got into the role because I needed a job when I was young and sort of got stuck there. It wasn't what I wanted to do...not by a long shot. In reality, I've always wanted to be a computer programmer. I had past experience as a programmer for a short time, and I have always been able to pick up computer languages pretty quickly. So, my wife and I made the decision that I should stop what I was doing (which was making me very unhappy anyway) and go to school to get a degree in computer programming.

Code in Visual Basic

At this point in my life, I know a couple of languages: Visual Basic (shown above), C++, Visual C# and Java. I'm still working toward the degree (with a year to go). This doesn't give me a lot of free time, but I still manage to find time to enjoy what I love. One of the things I love is CRPGs.

As a programmer, it seemed only natural that I write one of my own. It wouldn't be the first time...I've written CRPGs using engines created by other people (I have a couple of well-liked designs in SSI's Gold-Box Toolset called Unlimited Adventures, and a Hall of Fame persistent world that's still up and running in the original Neverwinter Nights by Bioware). In my youth, I wrote a couple of throw-away CRPGs in BASIC on my old Commodore 64, which are now (thankfully) lost in time.

So, I've been working on an "old-school" style CRPG for the past couple of months. It is purposely old-school in it's approach and graphics style. Called Lands of Adventure, this CRPG is one that I intend to release upon completion as freeware for the world to enjoy. The screenshots that follow are from the project at this early stage.

The amazing title screen

So, the purpose of this blog is not necessarily to play CRPGs (though, I will be doing that), but to simply talk about them and get feedback. Completing a game isn't as important as learning something from it.

Rolling character stats

Putting what I learn into words will make it stick better, and it might just entertain some of you. My schedule is pretty hectic these days, but I know I can manage a post or two a week, at least (probably on the weekends or in the evenings). I hope you will all join me for the ride.

An early version of the main interface. Very similar to SSI games of the 80s.

On occasion I will update the blog with my progress on the program as I finish it up. I might even ask some important questions of those who are reading it about what you look for in a CRPG. Who knows, maybe you'll even get a mention in the credits. Won't that be fun?

Early prototype of the psuedo-3D engine.  It's working, but hasn't been fully fleshed out.