An Apology To Full-Time Workers With Passion Projects

I haven’t written a blog post in about two months, which is the longest I’ve gone since I started this site. The reason is simple: I have a full-time job now.

What bothers me the most about this is how much I’ve given up to make a living. I barely spend more than a few hours each week on making games anymore. Not long ago I had the opinion that no game, no matter how big or small or size of the development team, should take more than a couple of years to make. My experience now gives me a whole new appreciation to full-time workers who make games in their spare time.

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Game Conventions In Ontario & Beyond! A Helpful Guide For Local Indie Game Developers

One of the best parts about indie development is the ability to participate with the community. There are many conventions and events every year throughout the world that celebrate video games, anime, comics, television, and geek culture in general, perfect opportunities to promote yourself. However, I noticed that most major game events in North America are on the West, East and South sides of the United States, central North America (specifically Ontario, Canada) has very little for indie games. Comics and tabletop games, sure, but indie games don’t really have much to be at. Its also really difficult to find any reviews or information outside the events’ homepages, so its hard to know what to expect.

If I Want To See Indie Games in this "Dead Zone," Where Do I Go?

If I Want To See Indie Games in this “Dead Zone,” Where Do I Go?

The following is a list of events I’ve been to, with my impressions of what type of atmosphere they provide. I hope the following information will be useful to developers in the Ontario area. This comes from me being in Windsor, Ontario, depending on your location you might have other better options.

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“Unfinished – An Artist’s Lament” unfinished sketches from other artists

In June, I introduced a promotional contest of sorts for artist’s to contribute to my new indie game “Unfinished – An Artist’s Lament.” I wanted unfinished works of art by as many artists as I could find to enhance one of the levels. 25 artists (most of which made new work live in front of me at Toronto’s “Stage Select Gaming Expo”) contributed work, which you can see in Level 4 along with my own collection of sketches, making for over 50 scattered drawings across the place. You can also see the contributed art works individually in a gallery in the Options menu. I place them here as an archive for you to see.

Remember that these were “unfinished” artworks. Some of them are fantastic, others less so, many of these people admitted they are not very good artists. All the same, I would frame them all on my wall if I had the space. If you were one of these artists and do not agree with how you are given credit or would like your work removed from the game, please contact me at ahlynka@fromdustscratch.com and I will sort it out. I had contacted all the artists weeks ago, but some have still not gotten back to me.

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What Is “Arcane Bullshit?”

If you’ve read any of my exploits or seen me at any game conventions, you know that there was a second product sharing the table with me every time: the tarot card deck “Arcane Bullshit.” It will be with me again at ConBravo 2015 on Saturday, July 25.  But what is it, you ask? Come into my post and see the future:

The Future Is Bullshit

The Future Is Bullshit

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Dust Scratch Games Is Taking Over Toronto May 9 – 10!

I like going to events to promote my games. Or rather, not the games (which are questionable in quality), but the unique animation style that I want to see more of in other games. And so, it was announced weeks ago that Dust Scratch Games will be in Toronto Saturday May 9 and Sunday May 10 at:

… Yes, this means I will be in three places at once Saturday, May 9. For the record, I didn’t find out I was accepted to be at Bit Bazaar until two weeks ago, something must have went wrong with the contact information. Thankfully, I’ll have a little help from my friends, I’ll be showing up randomly at all of these places throughout Saturday, expect to see a “representative” at the tables if I am not there.

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