While somewhat old news to some, the Google App Engine is an amazing tool allowing developers to tap into the scalability offered by the Google framework while developing entirely standalone applications. What’s more, along with the offer of the code base to build from, Google also allows developers to host their projects, at no cost, on the Google App Engine server (up to 10 applications per user, no less). I was excited to learn of the project initially, and the more I have delved into it, the more enthralled I have become.

For years now, I have wanted to have the means by which to develop a small tactics style RPG game, and while I have had the basic coding knowledge needed (not to mention buckets of ideas), it has been difficult to bring myself to the point of actually taking on such a daunting task. Having the opportunity to build on the data store and framework Google has offered with their App Engine has given me that extra little boost to begin development on one of my long time goals. Read more

Well, those of you who know me in the least are aware of my passion for video games. I have, quite literally, been a fan of console and PC gaming for as long as I can remember. My parents will vouch for the fact that, on my fifth birthday — before I could read — I was situated in front of our living room TV set with our TI-99/4A on my lap, an open code book next to me, pecking character by character until I had basic animations appearing on the screen. I vaguely remember those details, although I can remember playing games like Parsec and Hunt the Wumpus, but the passion for gaming is still there to this day.

My focus, however, has shifted from simply being a placid gamer to wanting to delve more into the inner workings of the game development process and the gaming industry in general. Choosing web development as a career path has given me more of an insight into the principles that make games work, and I greatly admire those with the knowledge and fortitude to stick with it during the grueling development process, but I still have that burning desire to be more actively involved in the industry in some way.
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Project Top Secret is an absolutely astounding venture that I happened upon a few weeks ago. After spending a few days doing some research, I discovered that this was no new discovery. In fact, this project, spearheaded by renowned video game director David Perry and Acclaim, has been going on for several months and has been featured on sites such as IGN, The Inquirer and Joystiq. From recent readings I have done, it seems that the consensus of the gaming community, driven by the announcement of the genre of the game, is one of skepticism. I must admit that skepticism has haunted my thoughts at times and the community driven discussion has at times seemed to be a bit out of order, I am reminded that nothing worth doing is ever easy. This game, in a nutshell, is to be an entirely community driven venture; no, not simply the character creation and story input, but everything from the world design to that of community development teams doing the final programming themselves.

After my initial research on the project, the desire to be a part of the game creation process in some way that has smoldered in me just about as long as I can remember began to be fanned to life. Ever a fan of the RPG genre, I fell into the same assumption that so many people who have read about this project were also guilty of: this game, obviously, is going to be some sort of MMORPG. In fact, while this game is an MMO, it is going to be following the racing genre! Read more