I DO MY OWN STUNTS Update 22

 I DO MY OWN STUNTS Update 22

 

 

There are two types of graphics used to draw on computers: Vector - which creates points in space and has the computer draws lines to them - as seen in the game "Battlezone" and Raster - which requires the user to draw using pixels to create images - as seen in the classic arcade game "Donkey Kong". 

When I started my career in video games I learned how to use raster-based drawing tools like Adobe Photoshop, which you use to create and alter pictures using pixels. The alternative tool was Adobe Illustrator - a vector based tool that I found to be very un-intuitive and fiddly to use. I've been a "photoshop guy" for forty years and I was pretty happy with that choice... until this week. 

 

 

You see, in order to create custom meeples, you need to create SVG files. SVG stands for "Scaleable Vector Graphics" and to create vector graphics you need to use Illustrator. 

 

These meeple images might appear very simple to you, but they took me hours of trial and error to create. I'm still not sure that I like them, but I've got to get moving on this game and I can't let a little thing like my own ignorance stop me. 

 

The other big task this week was getting all the assets ready for the printer. This means taking all of the images and putting them in a LONG PDF file. I don't know what the printer will do with them. Perhaps they can send me photos. 

 

I'm really out of my comfort zone with both of these processes, but that's why I'm doing this, to learn how everything it takes to make board games.

I DO MY OWN STUNTS Update 21

 I DO MY OWN STUNTS Update 21

Whew! I've finished all of the production files. It took twice as long because I didn't prepare the files properly for the printer when I created them (CMYK, 300 dpi, TIFF - for future reference) so I had to rebuild most of my cards.

 

The other big task, writing the rule book, is also complete. Here's where you can help. Please read over these pages for typos, bad grammar, unclear illustrations or directions.

I appreciate your help in advance!

 

UPDATED with revisions! Thanks so far!

ANOTHER UPDATE: Thanks for all of the help so far! Lots of good changes made.

I also got rid of that "steeple" terminology. As my pal Andy Ashcraft says "Why make up a word when there's a perfectly good one for it already?"

I DO MY OWN STUNTS Update 20

 

I DO MY OWN STUNTS update 20

They say that if anything is gonna “get ya” during a game project, it’s shipping.

But this time, it isn’t a miscalculation on my part, but a change in policy by our lovely current authoritarian regime.

I just received news about the government’s removal of the De Minimis exemption on USPS mailing. You can read a detailed summary elsewhere online.

I had originally planned on using USPS to ship I DO MY OWN STUNTS but unfortunately it’s no longer an option.

It’s a shame because I’ve always found USPS to be a reliable and safe way to mail packages whether in the USA or abroad. It’s so stupid that the current regime is attacking its own services.

I will be looking into DHL and FedEx and PirateShip as alternative options, although I don’t know how it will affect the shipping price of the game.

I will keep you posted to what that means for the game. Meanwhile, I have lots of boxes to return…