What I Learned from Train Jam
Code is Just
Code is Just is now complete. I've written three seasons worth of material on Twitter, and you can find the entire, epic thread pinned to my Twitter profile.
It looks very much like it's going to come to TV, and I'm also working on an expanded and detailed version of the thread in the form of a book.
If for some reason you've been waiting until I was done before diving in, now's the time!
Chimera 2
I also used Code is Just Season 3 as an excuse to finally commit to Chimera 2. I've been teasing it for over a decade, but it was time to release something, or forever have it an industry joke — not an unkind joke mind, but nevertheless, a joke.
If you'd like to support it, you can find a link to it below. My latest devlog sets out my plans. While Season 3 was running, every day I'd insert an unlock code into the thread somewhere that opened up a new feature. Given I have several day jobs, this was ambitious in the extreme, but it showed me that a fast release cadence is possible, and got me into the discipline of building and releasing a small feature every day on PC, Mac and Linux.
If you've already supported it, then my heartfelt thanks.
The game I should have made 36 years ago instead of Pandora
What I Learned from Train Jam 2014
While at PlayStation, I self-funded my attendance to the inaugural Train Jam, a game jam that took place on a train from Chicago to San Francisco to arrive in time for GDC.
It was a life-changing experience. It encouraged me to get back into games development. I knew it would be almost stupidly risky to abandon a fruitful and successful career at PlayStation to do so, but that itch I had would never go away until I at least gave it a shot.
I shared a cabin with Eric Robinson. He is one of the loveliest human beings it has ever been my pleasure to meet.
Whenever I'd entertain an idea, whether it was to have breakfast, go to a carriage, whatever, he would respond with a bright and cheery "Let's do it!"
It was so affirming, so positive, so committed.
Life is too short to mess around with indecision. Eric taught me not just that quick commitment to following through with a thought is good, but that it can be done with such enthusiasm, you just want to keep making decisions and doing things.
I hadn't felt that way since I was a child.
Next time you're wavering, stand up firmly, smile, clap your hands and say out loud "Let's do it!" — it's fun, and so life-affirming.