Game Development Life

Recently our life has gone through some needed change.

As mentioned before, my brother Arden moved here this past month, bringing with him our ability to work on our indie video game project like never before. In one month’s time, we’ve probably made half as much progress as we have this whole past year combined.  Percentage-wise, we still have a long ways to go.  My guess is we’ve moved up from 10% complete to %15 complete this month.  It’s been great to be able to work out of the same room together.  We work hard all day on Wednesdays and Thursdays and are getting the right level of focus, energy and unity we’ve needed to make this game possible.

We hope that once we release this game, we’ll gain the investment for us to be able to move on to the next game project.  We’ve always wanted to make a living doing this, but it’s taking this season of sacrifice; a season in which things are already tight.

To free up my time and help a growing furniture business, Jess and my brother have taken over some of my job hours at the in Newnan, where we all now work.  Thankfully there’s less time I’m there without there being less money coming in.  It’s kinda fun that we all get to share a job:  Jess is in charge of decor, my brother and I do projects and deliveries and Jess and I help run the floor throughout the week.  Our boss/friend Ted has been very helpful in working out a schedule that’s a “win, win, win, win, win” (for everyone).

Music

This is still a vital part of our lives.  I mean it’s our mission, ministry and, in most ways, our purpose behind the decisions we’ve made and are making.  When there’s time to focus on it again, it’s what Jess and I really want to develop.  However, it’s a passion that needs some fuel (time & money) behind it to make any major steps.  Once our resources regain balance (through the game project being completed), the album will be finished up and our music will get back on track (i.e. live shows/tour).

In the meantime, I’m attempting to aim my Monday mornings at working on music in the studio.

From a different direction, music opportunities seem to be coming out of everywhere.  I’ve been continuing playing at our church every other week.  One of the regular drummers broke his wrist, so I’ve been able to help out on drums lately, instead of guitar.  I’ve also been asked to start playing on some Wednesday nights, doing songs that are “different” (i.e. coffee-shop style covers, not so much “church music”).   That should be fun.

The three of us Georgia-based DeCuirs are also helping a church plant in Newnan (simply called “Newnan Church“).  We’ll be leading the music at their launch service on September 16 and most likely once a month from there forward, at least for a while, I hope.  We like the church launch team and all that they’re about, plus the chance to get to play a part in something fresh.  At the same time, we don’t want to abandon our friends at Southern Hills Christian Church in Carrollton.  It may be interesting to see how that balance plays out between now and January, at which time Newnan Church is supposed to upgrade from monthly preview services, to weekly services.

Creative Projects Website

This month, I quickly whipped out a basic website design for dijastudios.com.  Dija Stuios is a name I always used to kinda house all of my/our media projects under in the past.  The plan with reviving this “business” (which never really made a dime), is to have an outlet for possible projects to happen under.  My house is filled with talented people now and, if there ever comes an opportunity to help someone out with our skills in media production, we’d like to be able to take it on as “work”.  All the projects we’re working on anyway will sort of become our portfolio now and over the years…  perhaps someday Dija Studios will be developed into a real business.  For now it’s a shell with some potential.

 

Well, that’s all I can think to share right now.  It’s been a nose-to-the-grind-stone kind of month or so.

Thanks for stopping to read the post.