Thoughts on Victory Points

The Game Design Round Table with Jon Sheafer, Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron discussed Victory Points on their recent episode. Here are a few thoughts in reply which started to get too long to write in a comment box. If you haven't listened yet, go on over and check it out.

Why am I starting a game company?

Incidentally I have a 'real job', in the financial services industry which I am good at and do not hate.  But despite the safety and security of the day job it just does not keep me interested.  Something more creative is needed.  I crave something more.  What has so captivated my attention about game design?  Why do I make games?  For that matter, why does anyone?

There are so many things that it could be.  But lets strip away all the bullshit reasons, vanity, peer pressure, 'cool', why anyone does something.  Read Fuck Videogames.  What are you left with? Make good art.  Each of these pieces of advice are powerful alone.  But are especially so when combined.

Domain name issues...

Look at that traffic pick back up!  So apparently when you have a working URL people can actually see your blog.  Look at me learning how the internets work.  Although I haven't been able to login to my domain registrar yet and solve the current issue, it's most likely a simple lack of payment.

Now is a good opportunity to raises a question, is www.zorts.net really me anymore?  Zorts or Zombie Real Time Strategy is neither a successful project, nor part of my identity anymore.  It's not even on my old business cards let alone my Dormouse Games business cards.  If not Zorts then what?  Jspringfield211 is still available by virtue of being a terrible brand.  But it is my twitter handle.  So there's that...

Dormousegames.net might be a valid thing to try.  Squat on my own companies alternative URL.  But ultimately won't that suffer the same issues as zorts.net?  My identity will change and grow, my URL static despite the best efforts of DNS.  This feels like picking a tattoo, for my forehead.

I have a (forced) opportunity to change my url to something that fits me better now.  Unfortunately I'm terrible at naming things.  Help me pick a new URL.  If you haven't yet read some of my blog posts (if you're new here) and tell me what works for my identity.  Group brainstorm: go!

Blog post meta blog post.

The Dormouse Games website is looking a lot more professional these days.  The blog aspect is basically going to be my domain.  We're going to be posting information specifically about the games we're making the and thought process that will go into them.

This blog is going to stay active.  The tone here will more personal, rather than business related.  Talking about events I go to, talks I like, etc.  But there might be some crossover.  So if you enjoy the stuff I post here, follow the blog at Dormouse Games as well!  Just in case.  Wouldn't want to miss anything, right?

For the company website I rewrote some concepts and ideas about Paper Prototyping because we used it recently.  You may see some revisions and changes in thinking.  This represents the things that I am learning through the process of starting company and applying all the lovely theory.

Merit vs Acheivement

Most games track progress in some way. It could be a level system, a system of experience, a score, or some form of achievements. There has been controversy about the value of achievements in games. Although now they are basically accepted as part of gaming. For Steam Scouts we want to introduce a system of both achievement and merit. So what's the difference?

3 great GDC Vault talks.

Or why I am a Luke Muscat fanboy.

Officially Beta!

Steam Scouts: On Track is in Beta!

Closed Beta for the moment.  Open beta coming soon.  And more art as well.  ;)

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