Quote: "What's happened to Wolf?"
Quote: "Hey guys,
it's been a while... Wolf isn't in game design anymore. "
Yes its true! I actually started to write a humongous "good-bye" thread where I'd recap my projects, post a compilation of some of the best FPSC Projects that came along during its long runingtime (because whenever a user posts such a list its lacking a lot of projects, especially ones made outside of this community...and contain some that are very outdated and dont hold up anymore.) and share some community anecdotes. I also wanted to add a rant on how I thought that by now videogames would have finally reached a state where they are an interactive story-telling medium for all ages but ...that hasn't happened yet, has it?
I decided against it seeing how the old community was dying down a little and I figured I'd just fade out, having the screenshots on page 4 of this thread as my final contribution as a videogame developer.
Less relevant thought:
You see, when I was a teenager and really into videogames, it was exploration and a sense of wonder that made games "magical". It enjoyed interactive 3D worlds and a certain artistic approach and attention to detail made these really come to live. Morrowind had that, a lot of fantasy games from the 2000 to 2005 aera. Modern games are often so overproduced, with the art department just producing assets, disconnected with the rest of the development that all the details and more are there, and it looks really awesome, but feels shallow and lifeless in many occasions. It really sticks out, comparing Splinter Cell: Blacklist to Chaos Theory or Morrowind to Oblivion. (Skyrim suffers it too but hides it a lot with way better aesthetics than you find in Oblivion.)
Gothic I and II compared to latter installments. However, 3D worlds are no longer interesting and the modern gamer takes them as a given so essentially I'm still crafting "swords" where the general audience already uses "rifles".
The golden age of shooters is also over. Remember when shooters had a nice "hot and filthy" manly B-movie flair? When you where shooting demons from hell and not minorities in a pseudo-warfare scenario? Yeah! These games still come out, and there where some great additions in the last few years but I feel that games in general take themselves too serious and are too dark nowadays. Don't get me wrong, horror-games should be dark. Games with a military conflict thematic should be dark... but we also need the fun stuff!
However, something I announced long ago finally manifested itself: I'm done with videogames. I wanted spyra to be my epitaph in this and it certainly was the best compromise between ambition and something that I could actually achieve in FPSC but I'm simply done with it. I was into making videogames since late 2004 and bought FPSC in late 2005 (or very early 2006). During that time I grew from a child to an adult and making games as a creative outlet became part of my identity. However, over the last few months I was still working on Spyra I felt how it was less and less fun and compared to the other things I was working on a lot less rewarding or important. Since I study psychology which is a subject that requires me to do a lot of reading I do also lack the time to make any substantial progress in this kind of hobby.
I'm a very different person now and making videogames is no longer part of who I am. I even quit my coffee habit
Now I'm aware that this might sound like I "outgrew" making videogames and am "beyond" you guys but that is not what I ment. I still think that making games is, as long as you dont dedicate TOO much time to it, a rewarding and intelligent creative hobby. I'm thankful that I had it during my teens and adolescent years simply because it gave me something to keep my hands busy whenever I was lovelorn and something to keep my brain entertained whenever I was working some unchallenging job. (and I worked quite a few of these until I found where to take my career.)
I'm not saying "farewell" because its possible that I will throw together a small game every now and then but this will certainly not happen this summer. Maybe once I reach one of these life-phases again where everything is more routine and I need some outlet for my "creative energy".
Spyra and all my other projects still live on as a backup I can dig out if I ever feel like painting some polygons on a 3d canvas again. I did however delete all of my tools and software I gathered throughout the years (modeling etc.) but kept the really good ones as a backup aswell.
Quote: "I fear we may have lost him to another engine! "
No! That just doesn't work for me. Too time-consuming.
Quote: "He's focusing on art now."
While its true that I draw and paint, I can't say that I focus on it. It certainly doesn't take up the same focus and dedication Spyra did.
Quote: "Shame At least he's good at art!
"
Thank you! Thats very kind!
Quote: "Argh don't say that! I'll go all nostalgic!"
Yeah! Whe where a fun bunch! Weird and sometimes a little psychotic but fun
Quote: "Crap, talk about a shocking news... so this is why he deleted nearly all of his FPSC videos from his Youtube account ?"
They are hidden, not deleted! You can send me a PM or add me in skype if you want to see one
Quote: "
There will be a gaping hole without him. Yep, he will be missed. :/"
Wow! Thanks!
Quote: "Maybe this is how things are supposed to be, I mean, "elders" ( if I may say ) are leaving, then the newcomers have to succeed them.
"
I'm 22 =D ...but yes! As far as FPSC is concerned, I guess I count as a fossil
I'd love to see the newcomers bring out some fantastic FPSC games! Altough it looks more like the community disintegrates right now
So! I hope some of you carry on making some great games and I will check on the community every now and then and throw in some help for the newbies
Bye,bye!
-Wolf
