After going through Demo Day for Launch Pad (and getting more than a little bummed about not getting a dev grant) I’ve decided to throw myself back into working on my game – which has been neglected for far too long. Marketing might not pay off immediately, but jumping into something created by my own 2 hands pays off now…

Except when you try to work, your wife – who is also working from home – gets slammed with an absolute Suez Canal sized shipping container of work. I felt just as stuck as that boat. Can’t concentrate on tutorials with her constant zoom calls, can’t focus on what I’m working on because she often need beverages because she is non-stop talking all day long and I still have a house, decimated by two rampaging boys to clean up.

Not to mention the cat always wants food / attention / go outside.

I need to drown out the noise. I can’t focus otherwise

Hence- noise cancelling headphones. They’ve been a godsend when I just need to focus. I’ve been so distracted by things that any moment of quiet gives me the ability to get something done – which these days, is priceless.

The other big thing that was a boost, was the release of this book.

I had done an informal interview with Todd over Twitter – and initially he thought this would just be a blog entry. But then he’d ask a question. And then another. And I’d go off on tangents (a huge part of my chapter is focused on my time in NYC and post 9-11 life) – and suddenly he says that he’s making it into a book. And so he did.

Last year I was honored to illustrate the cover of a book – this year I have a whole chapter in one. Next year?? Either a whole book about me; or I gotta write one.

So, last year I was honored to illustrate the cover of a book.

This year, I was the subject of a chapter in a book.

Next year??

The banner photo for this piece is from a year ago, when it was officially announced we’d be staying at home, the kids would stop going to school and we were all uncertain as to what the future might bring; so we neighbors all gathered for an impromptu beers and hang out session, enjoying just one last hang out.

(it wasn’t until I previewed it that I realized the image was posting upside down, but I thought I’d leave it as a way of illustrating what this past year has been like.)

This was the last of a crazy season of pitches, presentations and lectures, I’m thrilled to get a small amount of exposure across the pond, and it was a lot of fun. I credit my 11th grade Speech & Presentations teacher Mrs. Collins for my ability to keep my presentations on focus, clear and (hopefully) with a minimum of filler words.

It was also the first time I got paid for a speaking gig – could totally get behind having money thrown at me for spouting off to a captive audience. I think I’d do a monologue style like Spalding Gray:

Considering I’m probably not the best example case for how to be a solo dev, I think I could get more traction by telling amusing anecdotes about having a neurotic housecat or that time my kid projectile $#!+ on the curtains.

Or I could tell of the year of the pandemic; how I was set to be interviewed on the radio, or about to show my demo to the largest audience yet at the Cleveland Int’l Film Festival – and how having those things yanked away because of lockdowns just wrecked me. I went months not looking at my game, or doing anything other than doomscrolling social media and drinking more than I should have.

It wasn’t until September and getting into the Oculus launch Pad program that got me turned around and focused again, and I’ve been going at a decent clip since. Now that the vax is right around the corner and the kids are going back to school, maybe I can get back to cranking on my game with a little more regularity.

Or maybe spend more time with the wife who is working from home and taking more walks around the neighborhood…

Sorry, I’m a sucker for Van Halen lyrics…

So, only an month and a half into the new year and I’m JUST getting around to making a blog post – but I swear I’ve had good reasons! Let’s work backwards:

I just did an interview with a podcast called BandanaGames, and it was a blast; looking at the rough cut, I’m this animated, geeky spaz – but its nice to see my enthusiasm carries over, and I do believe – its infectious. We talked about everything under the sun and 40 minutes blew past before I knew it. I could have talked longer.

2 days before that – I submitted my Oculus launch Pad demo (fingers crossed!) hoping for that sweet sweet dev grant money. I checked with the other local dev who was in the program and she’s not even trying for it! Guess that means one less person I’m competing against, but I feel bad that she missed an opportunity.

The above screenshot is from The Big Indie Pitch – a ‘speed dating’ style of pitching games to industry types; mostly for feedback, but there was a cash prize for the winner. I feel honored that I got an honorable mention, along with a twitter pal who is an amazing indie games advocate. I did get some amazing feedback and energy – but pitching to 5 groups of two judges each was exhausting. It also taught me that not everyone will be excited about my game and I need to adjust my tactics when I encounter folks who are less than enthused.

I also had an article published in VR Trends magazine! Now, granted, I wrote the article and furnished the screenshots and contributed to the Patreon – but still! I’m in a magazine!

I also had a marketing consultation meeting with a UK based team that specializes in indie games called Game If you Are, a special courtesy given to select Oculus Launch Pad members. They looked over my logo, pitch deck and short descriptions and gave a LOT of great feedback, in addition to reminding me that I’m not just trying to sell to kids, but more importantly their parents.

So, all told, 2021 has been an amazing year. And its not even halfway through February. I also have a mini lecture next month with the Tinderbox PlayAway Games Festival, and they’re going to do a separate interview next week, and I’m in talks with a programmer who’d really like to join the Booper team. I just hope I can keep this streak rolling.

With all that’s been going on in the world, its tough to see the high points with any clarity.

As its been pointed out, time is elastic. Its been a Groundhog’s Day year where every day seems to loop back into the next, yet somehow – here we are with the holidays upon us and facing a New Year, new administration; and with promising results from the big pharma industries, perhaps the promise of a return to normal.

My dev work had been slowed by a slew of marketing and promotional activities that seemed to hit all at once. The Youngstown Business Incubator announced a Virtual Pitch competition with a prize of $5000 and while my chances are slim, it was a great opportunity to see just how quickly I could mobilize a ‘get out the vote’ campaign of my own. I did daily reminders on my soc med accounts and got a lot of positive feedback from a few posts made on reddit.

Right on the heels of that, I got a comment on Twitter that blew me away:

VR Trend saw a post where I mentioned my game and saw a gif and sent me that message – so suddenly I needed to put together a 300-500 word article, 5 images of my game and a logo. All for an issue that should be coming out next month.

Right on top of that, I got a reminder that Unity for Humanity was looking for pitch submissions and needed a pitch deck, budget AND a timeline – all of which I never had attempted before – so in addition to all my daily dadly duties, I was furiously researching / making / begging for crits on a pitch deck.

AND on top of that – I get an email out of the blue asking if I wanted to be a part of the newest Big Indie Pitch. Which was happening in 4 days.

Sadly, I just had to turn down that one, as I had zero prep time for it – but the contact was understanding and very graciously offered me a guaranteed spot at the one in February; which I jumped on and now have a little time to practice both my demo skills (which I haven’t used since last February) and sharpen my pitch deck even further.

Now I just gotta wrap up my vertical slice for Oculus Launch Pad before then.

So, as I’m prepping my Thanksgiving dinner (gonna brine a duck here in a little bit) – I must say, I’m thankful for the opportunities even a pandemic will bring. I’m fortunate my family is safe, we’re all together, we haven’t driven each other nuts and there is a little brightness on the horizon. Even if in the meantime I have to rouse myself at 5:30 in the AM and setup a photo workshop in the basement, since the wife & kids have taken over my office: