You can't learn to program. Just try. And everyone who says he can teach you how to program can only teach you how to understand programs and programming.

Meh, I only half agree with that You can't "learn to program" per se, but you can definitely learn all the tools (ie. algorithmic foundations, language syntax, etc.) that will enable you to program. But I agree, there's this creative, personal touch in programming that can't really be learned, it has to be developed by oneself.

I tossed that just to see, based on an old project's graphics.

Ok well... Hi, i'm ak. I'm 29, i live in Paris, France where i work as a freelance illustrator/cartoonist. I've been more and more interested in the indie games community for a few months now. This might not be a very original opinion, but i think there is more creativity there than in most commercial games i've played. Naturally, i've been developing a growing need to create my own games and i'm hoping to find inspiration and help on this forum (i've actually found the first one already).

Well, that's it Thanks for these great games and this forum .

We always need more frenchies here. Welcome!

I'm thinking of getting a DSi just for this game. Is that OK?

Just played that.

(I know, I'm late, but hey summer breaks are there to catch up :D )

It was awesome, even though way too short.

Is the name Citizen Abel a reference to a movie/book/something though? The whole game is a pastiche of the espionage genre, but I feel like I'm missing a bigger reference.

Well, it took me a few hours, but I nailed one of the elements on my list today Now I just need to work on the speed, and the world will be mine.

four years is too goddamn long.

I'm going for a PhD, and I find that 4 years go by pretty fast :D

Derek: Translate Aquaria & Spelunky in mandarin :p

I'm in the same situation as you all guys. 19, entering 3rd year of college, tons of interests which can't be fulfilled by just one job.

After having seen a psychiatrist and read various books on the matter (and discussing a lot with a girlfriend in the exact same situation), I've come to realize there are two things that make me tick:

- Learning. No matter what it is, I love learning, discovering, researching, exploring, moving.
- Teaching. I've worked in summer camps every summer for 3 years now, and there's nothing that makes me feel more alive.

Right now, I'm heading towards a researcher and university teacher position. I think that'll do the trick. If in a couple years I realize it doesn't work, maybe I'll try being a full time K-12 teacher- that'd leave some free time for all the hobbies and game making.

I don't think finding a job is about telling yourself "ooh i like this field, and that job is in that field, so that works". It's more about finding core ideas, concepts and motivations that you have, and then getting the job that goes with it. You can always read about your various interests, practice your hobbies, etc. during your free time (if you don't work 80 hours a week anyway).

I'm driven by knowledge, learning, etc., hence the whole "research & teaching" direction I'm taking.
To cite another example, for my girlfriend it's about being creative and innovative, but also about knowledge and culture, and actually doing something with her hands. She's finishing her degree in anthropology/french just for the sake of it, and will then head towards cooking which she believes suits her more.

I hope my 2 cents helped a bit.

I'm also trying to properly learn C++. I've been avoiding that for years and years because I think it's an old tired convoluted abomination and it needs to die. But that doesn't look like it's happening anytime soon.

Sir! You have offended me! 

I have never met a language that implements the OOP paradigm as well as C++.

- Fencing. Because I want a rason to say En Guarde!

Find a good place to do it. I've fenced for several years, and had to stop because my new fencing club was just unfriendly. Fencing is an awesome sport only when practiced with awesome people (I guess you can say that of a lot of sports )

I have to talk my girlfriend in letting me cosplay our cat into Puzzdog's arch-enemy. Pictures will be posted.

What's the nemesis name by the way?

I wanna learn to provide first-aid 

I've been qualified for first aid, CPR, and such since roughly 3 years.

Do it.

I'd even go as far as saying it's your duty as a citizen to be trained for that.

I don't know how it is in your country, but just ask around. Here in France, it's a training given by local first aid organisms, the red cross, etc. It's probably the same in your country- just ask around

In order of achievability:

- Solve the Rubik's Cube
- Draw better
- Play an instrument well (piano/violin/bass) (but I guess I'll get to that when I settle down and have money for it )

Just a quick shot to try out some stuff, nothing serious there.

Puzzdog cosplay!

Here's the name of an old pet dog o' mine.  His name was Numbers.  Trust me, this is just cute enough for the girlfriend.

The origin of his name is biblical.  I met a guy with a dog named Deuteronomy and I figured two could play at that game.  Numbers!

I'll have to strongly second that.

My cat's named Wiki, if that can inspire anyone.

Pokémon came in pixel art, and it kicked serious butt.

Definitely. Because Pokemon is an AWESOME game. If it had had crappy game mechanics with the same graphics, kids would have hated it.

In the end, it doesn't matter- that whole "kids like realistic graphics" argument is flawed to the core.

http://box.noxneo.net/dewplayer.swf?mp3=http://box.noxneo.net/theme.mp3

Someone composed that for me a while back, as the main theme of one of my games. Might actually reuse it pretty soon

Children have a wonderful imagination. No matter what you present to them, they'll find a way to fill the gaps with their imagination.

Problems appear when their imagination is hindered for too long.

To those wondering whether children will dislike their game or not because of the graphics, you're asking yourself the wrong question. If children dislike your game, it's because it sucks (at least to them)- not because the graphics are not realistic.

When I was a kid, I played in my backyard with a stick and pictured myself as a dangerous, sword-mastering knight in a magic kingdom. All I had was a stick and a backyard. If I had a realistic full plate armor, sword and castle, would I have enjoyed it more? I think not.

Children don't "like" or "dislike" pixel art. They dislike bad games with pixel art, the same way they like good games with pixel art.

Source: I work with children, and I'm a game designer- whether it is computer games, board games or outdoor games.