This is maybe not a comprehensive plan, but I wanted to at least state publicly what I intend to do about this project. There are a lot of people interested in this game–that motivates me a lot. And it’s also very helpful that I just plain old really want to play it, too! So here’s what’s going to happen.
It’s a holiday, so that slows everyone down, I think. But also I’m crunching for a deadline and so the Flash game I’m working on for that is consuming all (like 12 hours a day) of my time. The upshot, of course, is that all that effort will have multiple payoffs, one of which is building a starting point for Lila Dreams’ client and tools. I’ve implemented some things that had only been hopeful thinking in the past, so it’s really a good thing in the long term.
Once this small project is wrapped up (at the end of December), I can start to put some part-time effort into Lila Dreams again. This will involve building up more code libraries and refining all the stuff I’m doing right now.
One way I want to do this is to create some small multiplayer games. I have a basic server implementation, but it’s not tested and is still incomplete. The best way to get this into shape to handle a full MMO is to use small games to refine it. So, you can expect some progress in that area. Those little games would also help refine the code behind Lila’s client. And, heck, maybe I could make some money on these other games, too. That would really help!
Obviously, then, Lila Dreams will not be in full production for a while. But, in the mean time, I will be releasing games and polishing up the code libraries that Lila Dreams will be constructed upon.
Let me put this in perspective: I’m so anxious to continue work on Lila Dreams that sometimes, after a 12 or 15 hour day of coding my other game, I get in bed with my laptop and just browse the source code as I drift off to sleep. No, that won’t get anything accomplished, but it keeps everything fresh in my mind so my subconscious can crank away on it. 
It might be a snail’s pace for a while, but I am going to finish this game.
P.S. I’ve had some offers to help, and I will be contacting folks about this when the time comes. So, if you are one of them: I haven’t forgotten!
8 comments ↓
“it might be a snail’s pace for a while, but I am going to finish this game”
I think that’s the only it will ever get done. Patience and resolve. I am also working on a personal project, which would take one month tops if I had the time, but is going to take one year (and some) because I gotta work to eat.
Look at it this way: after you got this far, you really gotta do it. There is simply not enough interesting video games and we are drowning under photo-realistic, unplayable, super-technical games. I really, really, really want to play it. To say Lila Dreams is going to be a good game would be just plain flattery at this point, but I can say with confidence that it is going to be a really interesting game. Heck, the title is already great.
I’d really like to help too, but I really can’t. Sorry!
keep your spirits up! I strongly believe in this project.
Hey there, I’ve been reading this blog for a while now. Have you heard of whirled.com ? I admit I work on it, but it might be a fast and easy platform to get a Flash MMO off the ground if you’re interested.
Bill, of course I’ve heard of Whirled! Every online game developer worth his or her salt has.
In fact, just last night–how weird is this?–I was looking over the API documentation. Synchronicity, I guess, or maybe telepathic communication. I’m interested in figuring out just what is possible there. Not for Lila Dreams (because, well, I have a contract and a desire to launch it with Kongregate still), but definitely for other ideas. May I email you for further discussion?
Hi Jason,
I’m glad to hear that you plan on getting some time in for lila this coming year. I know a lot of us are really stoked to play it!
My programming knowledge is minimal to be honest but I will straight up learn what I need to if it means I can help you along!
Thanks for staying with us, it’s nice to hear about lila every once and a while.
Hi Jason,
Glad to hear things are plodding along, keep up the good work!
Are your other games going to go on Kongregate as well?
SaintAjora, very likely, yes, my other games will be on Kongregate and any other game site that will take them. There will be a lot of stuff happening “around” these new games, so you’ll hear all about it if you keep reading this blog. Thanks for asking!
SirWamsly, you and the others that have shown strong interest in the game from the start will always be in the front of the line for when I need testers and community leaders.
Those kinds of contributions will be needed just as much as anything else. And your moral support has helped keep me going, so I thank you all Real Big for it.
Thanks Jason, it means a lot that I can help.
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