Things are coming to a head!

Many of the projects we are working on are coming to a head. A good job really because we have been on them for so long, it's about time the general public had a play with them.

Life has been interesting and as ever has throw it's challenges at me. Just the other day I managed to trip over my dog whilst running fast, I ended up skidding along the road in the wet. It felt like being a kid again! Luckily I wasn't too badly hurt, stupid me (and dumb dog).

I am busy making tutorial videos for X10, I started with a lot of passion but now it's like hard work. Still, just a few more to do and then I'm done.

Ibiza was hot and so is X10!

My family went out to Ibiza last week. It's a hot island but when we landed (4 hours late) it as raining like a monsoon. The next day the sun showed up and normal service was restored. The week was both enjoyable and painful. I doubt anyone in their right mind would have a proper holiday taking their kids!! Enough said eh?

We got delayed 7 hours on the way back, not much fun when you have kids in toe.

Since getting back I have had the pleasure of using X10 and it's certainly come a long way since I saw it last. Still needs a number of things improved but it gets better with ever build.

What the Bleep do we know?

Last night I watched the film "What the Bleep do we know?", this new age, what the hell's life about stuff is what I tend to crave. It was a fascinating movie and did leave me with some new insights. The main lesson was to use a quiet time in the morning to prepare myself for the day, having the intention of setting it up so that it would all go to plan and so the universe will also help me get the results I'd like.

Check it out here if you're interested: http://www.whatthebleep.com/

Back from Wales

Our family week in Wales is over now. It was a nice break away from being online and staring into this Dell monitor! The kids had a good time and the dog enjoyed the sea air. I came back to 890 emails, 90% of which we're killed off by the junk filter.

Monday will be catch up day and I have just printed the next Newsletter off - so time to read what Steve and Rich have been up to, on the surface it looks as interesting as ever.

While away I listened to a lot of pod casts, one of which I can highly recommend, check it out here:

http://www.aquietmind.com/

Rick Packs up for a week...

My last day before I take the family to Wales. The weather looks terrible so I'll be listening to my iPod, reading book, walking the dog and dealing with the kids.

The past week has felt like walking in slow motion, so many things need to be fixed in X10 but I know Lee will sort them while I'm away.

Dave and Mike are getting close to completing their project (a new learning to drive title), so I'll have two bug free products to come back to (dream on man!). They will both need a long break after they master that huge title.

Train keeps on chuffin!

Another long day in the saddle! Yeh, debugging mode all round for the team. Things are getting sorted though and it's all necessary steps to reach the end goal. The journey must be enjoyed not just the destination.

Thanks to all of your who have added into the map, so cool to see you all around the world using our tech.

Here's a video of our Dog Teddy. This was taken when he was a pup. He's now 9 months old but you get a good idea of his character.

Map for TGC users!

The gravy train

Both FPSC X10 and DTSP2 are in debug mode and like all debug modes it feels like these projects will never be finished and off our books. History shows that this is not true and it's just the task, task, task period until it's done. A lot of self doubt can come up when working in this phase, you can start comparing your project to bigger titles that the huge studios create. I need to remind myself that we are a small company, delivering innovative titles to niece audiences.

Well, back to the daily tasks...

Cans and worms

Software development is full of challenges. Each tiny aspect of a game these days has a massive array of extra issues surrounding it. This week was the first week when I really felt that FPSCX10 was going to deliver the ability to animate over 50 enemies. The rag doll effect has also been crafted better and we're throwing in more smoke and blood effects. There's still lots to do and I hope we can do it justice in the time frame.

Two weeks of holiday coming up, one in Wales and one in Ibiza. So I need to get my skates on and get everyone up to date.

DTSP2 is almost done, still a lots of little issues but we can see the end in sight.

Also met Steve Vink this week and Lee's house. It was a good meeting with lots of new ideas thrown around.

Back to family life today, rain is coming so it's a game of chess maybe?

Weekend of cleaning up

Spent the weekend cleaning up around the house doing gardening and brushing up the general dust and dirt. We are now ready for the tree surgeon guy on Monday.

Live Earth was worth a view on TV, some good groups.

Lousie, Granny and James went on holiday.

Life explained for FREE!

Check out this FREE pod cast. It will certainly give you something to think about!

http://removebarriers.libsyn.com/

Over the hill...

Last week I turned 40 years old. Wow, life seems like it's only just begun and I've hit this milestone. Better get my skates on if I want to use my time wisely.

I'm reading "The GOD delusion" by Richard Dawkins - should make for interesting reading.

FPS Creator Video Tutorial Going Live

Today we purchased 37 video tutorials that help users get the most out of FPS Creator. I'm currently uploading them all to soapbox. Here's one for you to look at:

Video: FPS Creator: The Basic of the Editor
Sorry for the lack of posts. Life got very tough a few months back.

Work, work, work

The many plates have been spun and I feel as if lots of them have now had their spin and can be tidied away. I think I have done too much this week, a blood vessel in my eye lid is pulsing - a sure sign I need to take it easy and get away from the monitor.

Our XBOX 360 has decided to start scratching disks - 2 copies of Sonic have big round scratches, thanks Microsoft!

Work on the projects is all going well - there's a real feeling of completeness coming!

Happy weekend is a coming...

Clearing my in box

Seems like my inbox has mould growing on many of my emails. It's weird how some of them seem to hang on in there, not urgent, not deletable and at some time in the future they require my attention. Ideally I'd like to pass them over to another team member but I just know it'll come back to me.

Monday busy monday

Lots to do today, the spinning plate operation begins and I find that I'm in the zone when it comes to keeping my plates spinning. Spoke to Lee this morning and it seems he's in the zone too.

It's been a day of constant tasks. Life is very much, events, events, events. Success = lots of little jobs done to a satisfactory state, I just seem to have my fair share of them!

Family life

Oh the joys of family life! No sooner do you help a family member to overcome a mundane issues when another family member creates another issue for you to hopefully pass wisdom upon. With the kids being 10 and 4 and us having 2 budgies and a new puppy, life in the kitchen can be noisy and annoying. I do my best to remain calm and in the moment and then all of a sudden I'll decide I've had enough and need to raise my voice. Oh well, it's all part of the learning process I guess. :-)

Today we've mainly stayed in. I walked Teddy with Hollie in the morning and then Sam went out with his Dad for 3 hours while Hollie, Caz, Teddy and I visited Lou, James and Granny. Then we popped in to see Grandad.

A typical Sunday I guess.

I have started my blog!

Well I have finally decided to do something new and start a blog. I'll be 40 this year and it feels harder to get in tune with the new ways of the world. Well, I've done it and soon it will be second nature.

In business work is going great with lots of things to do and plenty of opportunities on the horizon. We are very busy working on our Windows Vista! version of FPS Creator, check out some information here. That's a video of a demo that runs on Windows Vista! in Direct X10. Only a tiny percentage of users will be able to run that demo but in time they'll be a mass market out there.

Home life is great too, there's a lot happening around our family but I'm sure we'll be fine. Here's a video of our puppy Teddy