A few weeks ago I was poking around Vizzed, kind of mopey because I felt like I knew that I enjoyed many different aspects of web design, coding, using my paint.net program and video games in an aimless sort of way. I started looking at some of the profiles of the people on my friends list and happened to notice a link to a program on

SteveTheGuy : 's profile to a game he made called AVGN Dis-Ventures (WARNING:EXPLICIT LANGUAGE). The game was made with a program called Puzzlescript!. When I found it I thought 'This looks kinda cool' but the more I messed with it the more I came to the conclusion that

• I really didn't want to learn another programming language (Javascript has been a boring flop for me)
• The limitations of the pixels was annoying to me.
• It wouldn't be the sort of creation that I could actually take pride in

So, feeling deflated, I started looking around at some of the flash game sites like Kongregate and Newgrounds because I've always had an extreme admiration for the Indie development of flash games. Then, I stumbled upon Pull the Wire and under the 'Author Comments it said "Game was made for Ludum Dare #27 at compo category. It means that


whole game (graphic, code, music, etc) was made in 48 hours by one man.


Theme is "10 seconds"

I had to know more...

When I got to the site I was amazed at some of the quality of the games in the top 100 of LD#27 - I really liked #5 called Duke Dashington. Dashington's look, gameplay and sound all reminded me of an NES game. Also by playing that game, I found myself at a website called Stencyl.

After very little looking around Stencyl, I realized that it was actually a free and powerful flash game/Android & Apple app creation software site. I downloaded the software, completed the 'crash course's' and have been super excited ever since. Stencyl's user interface is so smooth it almost made me feel dumb for not making my own games for the past year. I love how you work with the code or events!

Now I've moved into a new area of making vector graphics with Inkscape which pretty much leaves mspaint and paint.NET in the dust. Soon I'll be trying my hand at game music creation.

I think it's pretty unlikely that I'll be ready to actually compete in this years Ludam Dare by about 2 to 3 weeks or more but that won't stop me from competing next year AND developing some other stuff until then. I got a great idea for a game that I've tentatively named "The House of Infinite Doors" and I'm getting closer to that idea every day.

Anyways, I wanted to share what I've been up to and sort of leave a trail of breadcrumbs for any of the rest of you that might want to go in the same direction. Now I'm going to summon some people that I think might find this useful, enjoy the read or might actually be confident enough in their skills to compete in the Dare.

By the way, this years game theme is SLAUGHTER and voting for next years theme is underway right now.

Singelli:

Sword legion:

tgags123:

mrfe:

Lazlo Falconi:

Juliet:

thenumberone:

Collapz3:

Blubcreator:

Fireproof:

Beastmode64:

AWW, ALL THOSE SUMMON FAILURES TOTALLY SUCK! (The one person that got summoned has been inactive for 4 months) Anybody wanna help me out there?

Singelli :

Sword legion :

tgags123 :

mrfe :

Lazlo Falconi :

Juliet :

thenumberone :

Collapz3 :

Blubcreator :

Fireproof :

Beastmode64 :
Singelli :

Sword legion :

tgags123 :

mrfe :

Lazlo Falconi :

Juliet :

thenumberone :

Collapz3 :

Blubcreator :

Fireproof :

Beastmode64 :

Let's give that a try.

And I really want to offer you to help me make my PC game now, except, I doubt that you'd like the programming route I've choosen, but if you know of a good music making tool, hey man, I'll take it. That is, if I can save the stuff as MP3's, or, at least I think so.

thephantombrain : I'm a little surprised you summoned me to this post but it is an interesting read. I don't think I'll compete as it will probably require more time than I have or am willing to give to this. Maybe if I find time, I might dabble in it.

Heh Im not exactly the best at making game mainly because I suck at graphical art. I'm more of a software programmer and scripter. But I'll keep and open min and check it out. It is something I've always wanted to learn.

I'm actually really impressed by a lot of the work on the site. Duke Dashington was really well made.

Sword legion : I struggled with whether or not to pursue the chance to work with you on your project. Ultimately, I decided it was best to follow my passions. No offense, but I'm not really passionate about C++ or story driven games. I know you are though and I wish you the best of luck, my friend.

As for music making tools, I haven't had a chance to look at it but I know of ONE free one. Musagi

Also, here are links to some very thorough resource guides that have sections devoted to music, sounds and a whole bunch of other useful stuff for the game developing entrepreneur.
The Ultimate Indie Game Developer List (You'll like this one!)
Indie Resources
Pixelation -Tools, Resources and Linkage
EDIT - Just realized that Ludum Dare has a tools page that has quite a few resources listed.

Blubcreator : Yeah, I was impressed too with how well Dashington played after only 48 hours. Then once I understood how Stencyl worked I realized that with a little practice I could produce a 2 day game as well.

You might check out The Ultimate Indie Game Developer List above, there are links to free Python game engines. Some of them might be open source and fun for you to play with from a programmers perspective...

omg I literally just found the program today and when I was reading your thread I was like "wheres the challenge?" then you say Stencyl I was like OMG he knows what I know  and another game designer. So anyway good luck on the games it seems like we be facing off one day  (too much scary fate stuff).

thephantombrain :

Thank you so much.

Just thank YOU SO MUCH~!

I'm terrible at searching the internet for stuff, and you gave me everything I needed.

Thank you soo much. Please, if you need help with something, ask me, I'd be happy too.

My pixel art is good if you need me to remaster a few things or provide a base for something, that's why my bro has me do art for his Cave story mods. Others say that I do well at pixel art, so if you need it, ask, (just not too much, cuase I'm terribly busy.)

P.S.

because everyone has a different art style, you'd probably be best off having me remaster what you have already put down, or have me go off of a base.

Sorry for late reply I have been busy since I have entered school. But I am up to try all of these (especially because I have my AP Computer Science class; loving it so far) thanks for the websites I feel like I can play around and try my skills with these. 

Sword legion : You mentioned something about music making software. What is it? Does it have any potential for dubstep or like electronic feel type of stuff because I am really reluctant to try making some of my own music. If you ever need any creativity I would be more than glad to help you with a track (as long as you teach me

Extra random topic: I have been using raidcall for a while (for gaming) is kind of like skype voice chat, but takes up waaaay less bandwidth and can sustain way more people at the same time. I think a channel can hold up to multiple hundreds of people at the same time it's really neat. I would be glad to help moderate or admin a channel if we made that. I am summoning you davideo  

Collapz3 :

I dunno, I like electronic music. Vectorman, beatdrop, City escape classic, and waking up are some of my favorites, along with dreams of an absolution. but I can't seem to get the exe to work on my computer, here's what I downloaded:

http://www.drpetter.se/project_musagi.html

I don't know what it is, but I'll tinker with it once I finish my character sprites since I need to get enough art done for my programmers to work with before I worry about music.

Sword legion : Oh okay, then I guess I'll look into that, I'll try some free softwares and let you know if I find anything, sprites I have always wondered how people get those? still is there a way to personalize the sprites that show above your profile picture or are those just the ones from the genre you choose (Pokemon, FF) that change per level. I like a lot of electronic music too. I used to be really into dubstep before but now I like to listen to chillstep, deep house and EDM. Do you take any classes in school for programming or do you do it on your own time?? I am curious to know how all of the cool people in vizzed learn their programming and coding I totally am jealous of all that skill. 

Collapz3 :

others are programming it for me, I'm just the artist, and brainstormer. XD

but I have RPing experience and such, (a lot actually) though I do want to learn C++ and help them. They're learning online, though one guy happened to be taking a college class for C#, and he'll be programming with that hopefully.

Just search C++ courses if you wanna help and such.

I made art for a few hacks, mostly cave story, before I did anything like this. I use Paint.NET for all my pixel are, though thephantombrain might get me into inkscape here. :3

If you want to do something, then decide to face whatever you gotta face to get it done.

Others have succeeded before you, that's what Zig would have said. And he's right.

I've wanted to do this my whole life, - and all you have to have is the effort and time to learn to do something- don't ignore your natural talents though.

I don't know enough about music to talk about it unfortunately, I'm just a Sonic drive jukebox junkier, n other words, I love sonic music. XD

bu go ahead and send me a friend request and PM, I would love to continue this then, But I have to go to bed now.

so see ya man.