Hello readers, thanks for checking in on the stream of consciousness that is my Fresh Look column. I have been thinking about how my last thirteen years at Game Industry News have been amazing, and how much I am looking forward to the next decade or so. I have reviewed a lot of games and wrote about many topics in the game industry. But the one thing that has been constant is me being judgy about titles, what some would call overly critical. Well, I have decided to try and put my money where my mouth is. I am going to try and design my own RPG.

While it may seem odd for someone with a business background to try to design one, I agree. Growing up, my father always taught me that if you don’t like something, then you need to try and change it. I’ve been reminded by many people here that I constantly grump that games aren’t like they were when I was much younger. So, I have conscripted two close friends, and we are going to try and make a simple RPG.

My plan is to develop a 2D turn-based RPG like old Final Fantasy and Golden Sun. Thankfully, many of the tools are friendly to beginning developers these days. One of the most popular, RPG Maker, is easier to learn than a full programming language. However, I have also been studying some game programming books I picked up in a Humble Bundle sale. Some of the latest game development engines like Unity are also easier to master than those that came before them, and they support most programming languages.

Generally, I have high hopes but low expectations of this actually getting to the finish line anytime soon. I mean, I still have not finished replaying Final Fantasy XIII despite only having to fight the final boss.

The other thing I’m dealing with is anxiety, depression, PTSD, and ADHD, all of which make long term projects difficult for me to accomplish. For example, I have been meaning to continue working on my novels and short stories, but it has been hard to accomplish lately. Regardless of the challenges though, I want to at least put in a genuine attempt to complete this project. Maybe having my friends with me for this ride will help keep me going when I have bad days.

So, what is the point of my column this week? Well, I’m not sure to be honest. I guess I wanted to open a window into my life and let you all see an unfiltered part of it. Hopefully, if anyone has similar experiences, they can find my new project motivational. Some days it’s hard, and all I want to do is lay on the couch and play 7 Days to Die until I pass out. Other days, I go to write a review, and the words escape me while I stare at a flashing cursor.

But just know things are all right. Life is hard, and we are all doing our best. Don’t be afraid to have bad weeks or even months. Try a new challenge or learn a new skill. Find friends to help you, even if it’s just talking to you as you work. Now, I am off to work on this new project some more. I hope to have occasional updates for you all in the future.