I was quite happy with the way I approached SYNSO in one respect. I had the game I wanted to write there, but went back for another pass of the code (or twelve) to go back and add optional stuff so that people could tailor it to their needs. Of course, this isn’t always a sensible option depending on just how much complexity you’ve built into it – but I don’t see the harm in letting people “break” my design. I did it to a lesser degree with the separate colour blindness version of WT. There’s a thread on Rodent somewhere with a running commentary of feedback and me adding stuff accordingly if you ever get bored and fancy a shit read

I still end up with the game I wanted and other people get to tinker with it a bit to shape it to their needs. ‘Course, you can’t please everybody as the opposing reviews in RGCD prove but if it breaks down at least one barrier between someone else being able to play it and enjoying it, it’s worth the time to do.

And, oh, the small things. They’re my favourite parts. Where I felt I went wrong with SYNSO was in adding stuff because I sort of felt that was what was expected. I threw in an effects overload for a game that would have been better served with subtlety. I’m still quite proud of sandwiching in the Think Of A Number theme and a ruck of Luke Haines lyrics though. It’s likely no-one else knows they’re actually there (except KG but that’s probably only because I told him!) but I spent hours trying to get the Think Of A Number loop to fit with Gordon’s music.

I’d probably go spare without doing stuff like that. And besides, anyone can create an engine and get something moving around screen – some bugger has to take the time to do really anal amounts of tinkering.

Rich – ta! Now finish Pixe or I’m going to have to plump up for an upgrade to Pro Motion soon

Gnome – I dunno, but I’d like to see what would have happened if Kafka had made a game…

I find it tricky about halfway through a project not to get caught up in appealing to players other than myself, which is annoying, the man on the street being a c**t and all.

How does this fit in with you thinking too much time was spent on SYNSO perfecting tiny details? For me those tiny details, areas of my personal interest, are one of my main motivations, even if most players can’t even detect the distorted expletive when you loose a life.

Cheers!