For the next week or so, I’m running a private demo / beta of this project to solicit feedback. If you’re interested in helping me out, thanks! You can contact me for a download either through this site, by, uhh… phone, or… you know.

A Czech review for my first game called it “Bitonal” (according to google’s translation). I thought that might be a fun challenge, so I’m cutting the second incarnation of this project to display all content using only two colors.

Okay, three in the screenshot (the sun / reflection are white), but I’m still working.

One thing about the weather here - the climate in the city of Eugene seems pretty defiant to adopting gray tones on October’s behalf. My work habits are still acclimated to a more Northern climate, because the work being produced in my studio usually gets quieter, and more deliberate as the air gets colder and this year has been the same.

I wear my winter coat while painting, since I’m interested in keeping the door open. The folks passing by on the street might be more inclined to step inside and take a look around.

Speaking of work, I’ve renamed one of the video game projects I’ve been working on to “Cart Life,” out of concern that the previous title, “Commerce Unread,” presumed too much tone over the game’s content. “Cart Life,” I think, is more subjective and a better fit with the game’s theme of simplicity and welcome accommodation of audience preconceptions.

Ink Thirsty’s gallery debut showcased the new arcade cabinet for Cart Life. The cabinet houses a special, self-contained build of the software (which actually works!). If you’re in or near Eugene, feel free to stop by and play it. There’ll probably be a fresh pot of coffee on.

Also displayed here are a few watercolors (including the one above): a series of forecasted, cartoony self-portraits. The image above is “At Forty.”

More projects are taking root. Summer’s over, and the basketball court under the bridge will be demolished soon. Now, there’s no choice but to paint, steer pixels, and share blankets.

I’m developing a game where one of the characters has a nicotine addiction, so I found this quote by Jim Steyer of Common Sense Media to be very compelling (as would anybody, I suppose):

“Studies prove that playing these violent video games are bad for kids’ mental and physical health. […] The health threat involved with kids playing such games is equivalent to smoking cigarettes.”

 

According to the American Cancer Society, no less than 430,700 Americans die each year from smoking-related illnesses. It’s apparently very common for a piece of entertainment to draw criticism for portraying (either realistically or not) the use of tobacco - but that hasn’t always been the case.

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