I know New Year’s resolutions get a bad rep because of how seldom they are actually kept, but I do have some ideas for things I’d like to do this year on Big Head Mode. I’d like to secure a domain and have Big Head Mode stand on it’s own. I’d like to be more consistent with columns like “Games I Am Playing” and even bring back some abandoned segments like “Remembering Schlock” and “Remembering A Classic”. But there is one major goal I would like to share with you. In 2007, the year of the pig, I will make a game. Obviously, it’s tempting to sit on the fence and critique games for their lack or innovation and stale nature, but I need to take the next step and try my own hand at it. Also, given my current emplyment status (testing), I haven’t done much coding in a while, so I want to stay in practice. I’ve made games in the past, but they were either ports of an existing game, or something I never finished. This time around, I want to make a complete, original title. Here are the details:

Microsoft has developed the XNA framework to make developing for the PC and Xbox 360 easier. Their major focus is on encouraging indie games. Given this is exactly what I want to do, I will try it out. So my game will most likely be for the PC and the Xbox 360.

Too often I “sprint” with my projects. I work like crazy over a few weeks and then abandon a game, program, or application without ever finishing it. This game will be a fully fledged game, developed from the groundup, tested, and (hopefully) distributed.

I will set monthly goals, and document the entire process on this blog.

I will not use any company’s IP or copyrighted music or art. Not because my goal is to make money off of this (although I wouldn’t mind some), but because I want to exercise and learn my creative boundaries. I am not a very creative person, so this is actually quite a challenge. It will either have to be something I create or public domain.

I will plan on completely finishing the game by the end of the year, to be released on January 1, 2008.

Just to let you know, I have no idea what kind of game I want to make, I am leaning towards games like classic RPGs, puzzle games, or platformers. Simply because those are genres I know very well, but you never know. My very first goal is to completely develop my game idea by the end of January. That entails game design, story, locales, etc. I will try my best to post a report the first of every month, but I may be a few days late.