Double Fine Adventure and other things

Last week I became a "slacker-backer" for Double Fine's Kickstarter project called Double Fine Adventure. Being a slacker-backer basically means I missed the kickstarter itself but have hopped on the bandwagon before release of the game. For $15 I will get access to a digital download of the game, I have access to the backer's forum and the documentary series, which is being made along side the side by another company. The documentary series was my real motive for pledging.

Since last week I have watched all the documentary videos so far and have found them facinating! Watching how Tim Schafer and co go about constructing their game world through concept art, story boards and test programs is inspiring. I cannot imagine ever working in an environment like that, it seems like a dream world that doesn't actually exist.

My Open Uni work is currently getting in the way of making amendments to Wastelands, which is developing nicely. I was able to play an ENTIRE GAME of it this last weekend with my brother and a mate. There were some trials rules which we discussed when the arose, which I think we resolved pretty well, but the game took less than 2 hours and I think once you get people who know the game it'll be more like an hour to 90 minutes for 4 players - first time through always takes a little longer!

My brother won the game by getting a V10 engine and all the parts within the first 15 minutes of the start!! I think I should have shuffled the cards better, or he has the luck of the devil... But despite this it still took the full amount of time for him to win, as we all fought to win Championship Races and play cards to slow his progress. I came so close to installing a V8, which with my supercharger would have been a match for his V10! But I couldn't get to where I needed to buy a car part I needed before the next Championship Race came around.

I'm so pleased at how Wastelands is going! At the moment though, I must focus on Open Uni work; it is important and once I get through this course I'll be able to start taking some more practical courses, which might lead to the dream...