Where have I been? Well, I have been busy and, sadly, far away from the crazy world of blogging. I really want to continue blogging; but, I have just been so busy working on projects. That being said, I really do need to maintain my writing. I have been slacking, I apologize.

A few weeks ago I posted a popular Gamasutra blog post called Stupid Simple Code. Unlike past writings, this particular piece is about engineers and engineering, not general culture, hiring, or management. To some degree, I think I need to start talking more about engineering specifics.

In that vein, I have decided to document the game I am currently building on the side and provide code snippets and solutions. The game, Wings of Vengeance, is currently being developed for iOS and Android using HaXe and NME. I have been working on the project for a good amount of time now and have learned a thing or two about HaXe, NME, mobile development, and more.

Generally, I reserve engineering specific talk for the graduate classes I teach; however, I now feel it appropriate to write here and now about my experiences as a software engineer, about code, and about architecture. So, I promise to document my exploration of HaXe, NME, and mobile engineering in detail. While I do have extensive experience building complex game engines and systems AND experience building mobile games, I have yet to discover my favorite or most comfortable method of mobile engine development. I am going to make mistakes. I am going to spit fire and curses. There will be humble moments as I race through my code looking for obvious flaws (as happened last night).

I promise to document them all. Here. As they happen.

Stick with me. The ride is about to get bumpy.

Quick talk about all of the projects I’m working on and brief overview of some aspects of Hero’s Journey.

Quick chat about how I create characters with a focus on Alero from Cataclysm. Hope you enjoy and have a great weekend!

I’ll get details to you about my two next projects soon (early next week). For now, my thoughts on D3 and Blizzard. Enjoy!

So, let’s play with this a bit. I’ve decided to try a few video blogs, see how they work out.

Enjoy

This week has been spent in a small bay-side house with my fiancee and dogs. We’ve explored every nook and cranny of the neighboring beaches, our lab-poodle mix romping through the cold waves and rolling in the damp sand, our tiny papillon a pale shadow in her wake. Last evening, we drank champagne on the dock and watched cool night slowly wash away the last semblances of gray day.

I keep promising myself time to sit and think, to compose my thoughts and finally reach decisions about the future of my writing. Instead, I’ve found myself taking the easy way out by embracing the moment. This reads Buddhist, to meditate on the instant of being, but I think it’s an easy escapism. My head is swirling with ideas for new novels, yet I find myself unable to commit.

Cataclysm is out. I already have a rough outline for a second novel in the series, but I’m not certain it’s my next project. There’s an undead story floating around pumped full of sarcasm, a fantasy novel meant to defy standards, and one or two other bands of thought that could evolve into more meaningful cords.

Cataclysm took years to write and edit. What’s next? How long will it take? Committing to writing a story requires dedication. I don’t want to wantonly jump into a project without first considering my options.

So, there you go. Que sera, sera.

I’ve been a very busy bee, I apologize for the lack of updates. In recompense, I offer you this: my first self-published novel. One small step for Amazon, one large step for A.A. Grapsas. I tore my hair out (and nails off) attempting to write a well-crafted teaser:

The Houses are long dead, purged from colonized space with vengeful steel and angry rifle. The charred ashes of the ancient monarchy have since been built over by industrial hunger, dark secrets carelessly forgotten. Now, buried ghosts are mysteriously returning, threatening to ravage humankind and rip apart the delicate peace struck between the representative democracy of the United Republics and techno-democracy of Sol. At the center of the tempest is an enigmatic man driven to discover the truth of his nightmarish past, a man soon to become entwined in the pain and disaster of the coming cataclysm.

Follow a brutal tale of high technology across humankind’s vast territories, far into the dangerous wilds of the Reaches where life is won and lost by a blade’s nano-thin edge, and deep within the mechanized efficiency and political web of the Core worlds. Encounter desperation, terror, betrayal, and retribution as a cunning information thief, a rogue ship captain, a tortured mercenary, and others become entangled in humankind’s struggle for freedom and survival amongst the blood stained heavens.

If that sounds interesting to you, please purchase a copy and let me know what you think! Writing should be a dialogue between author and readers, not a one way spew fest. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Other Stuff

I really have been busy. I’ve been working for Sojo, crafting great gameplay experiences that give back to those that play. The company is great and, hopefully, in the near future I’ll blog about how amazing it is to be doing good.

Expect more updates! I’ve said this in the past; but, all is a-changing.

That’s enough for now. Enjoy the beautiful weather!

From the notebook for my new novel:

We are controlled by vampires; creatures that prey on the talents, abilities, and work ethic of others. Yet, no one drives a stake through their black hearts. No one sees the ghoul in the shadows. They are the 1%.

We are zombies. The walking dead. Not the suave, smart image of the vampire, wise with time and fat on blood. We are the dumb, shambling horde. We are driven by our search for flesh and brains, never smart enough to stop and question our single minded hunger.

We should fear this similarity. Monsters lurk in the night and, no, they are not the apparitions of fairy-tale origins. They are very, very real.

Writing a book is hard. Cataclysm, my soon to be released space opera, took years to outline, write, and edit. Now, I’m shifting gears and preparing to write something completely different: a book on software development.

How’s it going?

Well, I started an outline… and immediately realized it was all wrong. Here you go:

Well, it’s apparently going to flood in Hoboken, the city I live in. You can read more about it here. One of my buddies already urged me to leave. Sadly, I’m stubborn. I’m the kind of guy that feels exhausted at the 17,000 foot mark of an 18,000 foot summit, takes a moment to reflect, and then trudges onward.

I have a plan

Sure I do! (Disclaimer: I’m an experienced mountaineering and outdoorsman with extensive first aid training, CPR training, and wilderness training meant for conditions where no one else is nearby).

My plan is simple: be prepared for the worst.

What could happen

Flooding

They’re saying a class 1 hurricane would flood my area of the city. A class 2 would flood significantly more. Flooding would definitely reduce mobility, pollute clean water sources, and potentially cause significant damage.

Winds

They’re fast. They’re scary (maybe not as much as raptors or zombies) and they’re coming. The winds of a class 2 could easily damage buildings, knock out the power, and drive branches through a window. If the electricity goes out, say goodbye to the refrigerator, 360 (most important element), and lighting.

People

Panic is dangerous. People do crazy things when they’re panicked. Additionally, most people do not prepare. They’re just not ready for what’s about to happen, for whatever the reason.

My solutions

Beef Jerky

The jerky won’t spoil if the electricity goes out and it’s fairly cheap. I was planning on making a big batch anyway. Now, it’ll just act as survival food.

Ice, ice, ‘fridge

I’m making a LOT of ice and storing it in the freezer in bags. These will make it easy to pack the fridge in the event of a power outage and will let us keep refrigerated food fresh for some time.

FreshDirect delivery

FreshDirect is delivering within the next 40 minutes a HUGE load of food Enough to keep me going for awhile. We also have plenty of rice (requires water for boiling), canned food (beans and so forth), and energy bars.

Water, water, everywhere

I’m one of those guys. Yeah, I have empty wine bottles, so what? They’re pretty. Well, they’re all now pretty useful. Each equates to roughly 750ml of water. Not bad. Add some plastic bottles we had and we’re up to several gallons, plus what’s already stored in the fridge. I’m also going to be making 2 gallons of tea (easy to store and has sugar for energy).

Zombie defense

I know it’s not the best defense, but I have three dogs. Two are mine, and the other is one that my fiancee is looking after for the week. Together, they add up to 125 lbs of muscle! (55, 65, and… 5… hey, the 5 lbs one is fast! — her name is Bardot, she’s a papillon, so CUTE!).

So, overall, I think we’re in good shape. I also have a first aid kit, leatherman, and duct tape. There are no trees near the apartment building and, frankly, it’s an all brick building that’s probably been around for 80 years, very sturdy and well built.

We’ll be fine

What am I going to do if the power stays on?

I’ll obviously be playing video games; but, I think I’ll also be making them — why not? The theme? Hurricanes! (And possibly zombies… with hurricanes).

Follow me on twitter for more about that!

Wish me luck!