So then...

On the good side of things, the meeting with Activision last Wed. for War Dogs went very well. Tomorrow, there's a couple meetings in SF with Capcom and Eidos as well, and the roadshow/pitch continues apace. If you want to get an idea of what made sure that I only got 4 hours of sleep in two days here's a couple shots of the demo character that we're using to show what War Dogs will look like with Morph Targets, Normal Mapping, Hybrid Shaders, and Specular Channel support.





The game is really coming together, and like all periods when you're out selling a game to publishers, it's a bit nerve-wracking and frazzling, but I'm a pessimist by experience, and I'm feeling pretty positive about how all of this is developing. We've got a really unique gameplay mechanic, and one that's actually a lot of fun to play. Combine that with a really dramatic overarching story-centric campaign and I really think this is something that *I* would buy. To me, that's always a sign that you're on the right track. If you;ve lost mosterous amount of sleep and sanity for months on end working on something and are still excited about getting it done so you can PLAY the damn thing.

On the "gee this sucks" side of things, The textbook chapter is coming together, but still isn't done. it has to be done by Wed. because the family is going out of town for almost a week for the holiday and I don't have a laptop and I'm not about to use my mother in law's crappy comp and dial-up connection to be working on it. Besides, who the fuck wants to WORK when you're on XMas vacation?! This seemed like a good idea at the time (doing the chapter) and while I'll be glad to have it under my belt and have it done, it has made me very aware that I need to really think about accepting "prostitution" freelance.

Aside: All art, to me, breaks down in to either Masturbation or Prositution. Either you are doing it for someone else in order to get paid, or you;re doing it to give yourself pleasure and satisfaction. In regards to the question "well what about those people who end up getting rich from doing just what they want to do?" Well, to that I say a.)there's always sick bastards who like to watch, and b.)you must put on a hell of a show jacking off ;)

Any art that gets done over the holdiay is going to be Masturbation. The stuff for Steve and Dave over at the Panic Channel? Masturbation. The 'homecoming' graphic novel? Masturbation. Getting ahead on DeathMarch? ...That's like Catholic Schoolboy guilt Masturbation...lol

And here I am... it's 1:21 am as I write this, and I'm officially 37. Damn. I need to go to bed. best to all of you and if I don't write any more before XMas, may all of you and yours find happiness and joy this season, and may this upcoming year be a damn sight better than the last one.

-R