JPS Grooves

I’m learning a lot, every time I code in this new game. I’m learning that I’m at the beginning of a process..this game did NOT look like this a month ago..that being said..I’m not even sure it looks good lol. I broke down and tried out a Ai generated art piece for the grass field…but it was just a modification of my own work, so I wasn’t completely phoning it in, but…I didn’t like it..it didn’t work. It wasn’t mine and I knew it..The snow looked good, the water looked good, but it wasn’t mine..so after some shading, a few flower dots, and roughing out the top of the grass band with smooth hills, I decided to go back to my artwork..I know why it is important to me, I just didn’t think I would hold to my original artwork guns so late in the evening, tired, and ready to quit, I said no…no Ai art here. It just can’t do it like I can from a production standpoint..and I need what I need, when I need it. I learned this lesson early when I tired to do background variations for SnowCone MathFest; the Ai could never provide the precision that I needed. So I now I do my own art. My next objectives are to turn the concert field buttons into actual locations.

But to get there.. man…I had to do a skyband, mountains, redraw the mountains, mist, clouds, redraw mountains again, redraw clouds again, add code, test, cuss, redraw again. then I added a weather system (that snows in winter) and an entire sun and moon cycle. Stars? Did it. The redrew it. None of this is perfect..but as I look at it, I see progress.

game two weeks ago..

Game now!

It just doesn’t always feel like progress. I often feel like quitting coding forever. I’ve been writing about this form the very beginning: “Stay in your lane!” I can’t believe I shipped an entire game that works across multiple browsers, mobile, and is even on the iOS store. I keep wondering if I should just be developing that app more, instead of doing this new one. But it was just kinda done. I was kinda done. I worked relentlessly on SnowCone MathFest and was so glad when I finished it, even doing a release party. I wasn’t sure if I would keep doing it or what. I got some great feedback at the release party, made some adjustments, and sadly, that felt like it had to be it. The app has stalled out at 23 copies sold, which I’m very very very very very grateful for, but it offers everything it needs to for the 3.99 price frame. So do I make a new game? Of course!

SnowCone MathFest: Simulator? I’m still not sure. I’m positive that this is SnowCone MathFest, but I’m still not sure if that’s what I will call it. This game is something different and I have so many plans in store in my mind for it…but sometimes I can’t even get a fog layer to work right, and I wonder, WHERE IS THIS VIBE CODING THING? Patch is supposed to be able to do it all, greatest technology known to man, and I’ll admit that I wouldn’t be able to make games without it, but I’m gonna be able to take way more credit for this new game, hardly vibe coded, more along the lines of Ai assisted coding. but I digress.

I play guitar too. This week’s practice has really convinced me that I need to play more. I like coding with Ai, I like drawing, but I love music. That was the whole point of SCMF in the first place, that I might get to make some new tunes in the process! Well…I’m finding that my time is definitely best spent NOT coding. I like it. It’s fun. but as with every space…It’s super freaking competitive. I just gotta be me. I gotta trust that I’m not really doing this for anyone but myself. The audience is small, distracted, and unforgiving.

“If you actually played your guitar more, you’d actually be pretty good…” ~ me to myself

So here I am..wondering if I keep going with this coding thing…wondering if it’s me or not..and I think it can be..I like it. I like making games. I like playing games. I like the idea of challenging myself and diving into something so new to me that every part of it feels like an adventure. Now though, it has to be spread out. I have to find a way to be with my family and friends first, and then play music or write books, and THEN I can code and use my computer and technology in that way, when I please. Oh yea..and do my actual day job of course lol. Why would I make a math app? because I’m a teacher, no other reason..This app though, the new one…is for funsies..maybe some learning worked it to make it feel useful…

Until next time!

Buy that game I made!!!

Stay safe!
JPS Grooves