Print 10 "Hello World"

Ahhh. The joys of BASIC. Like many computer users, that line of code was the first one I ever typed. But this blog wasn't started to reminisce; especially about a process I learned was finicky and time-consuming when I was seven. Thankfully there is software that does the hard stuff for you nowadays. Hard what, you may ask? Well, the reason why I was trying to teach myself how to program a BBC Micro at school (they were the only computers we had for years!) was I wanted to write computer games. I'm one of those people who can't watch a good movie, read a book or indeed play a video game without getting creativity-lust. Sure, it often comes to nothing, and even if it does make it to fruition, your own project is frquently, not too put too fine a point on it, a big pile of crap.

But that's not the point. The pertinent fact is; you had fun doing it. So today, I start work on a new game. And I'm going to be blogging the process (amid tossing in any general thoughts I have about video games). I'm doing this blog primarily as a motivational tool. Keeping this record gives me a feeling of accountability, both to myself and anyone who happens to read this journal and actually expects me to come up with something. It's also meant to act as a therapeutic process, and a personal record for the future. And lastly, I hope it will entertain the reader. (The singular may well prove to be literal)

Before I start talking about my game (and games in general) I will make one last point; This isn't going to be a diary of my life. There are plenty of people with more interesting lives doing this already, and much better than I ever could. Whilst the odd detail might slip in occasionally when relevant, I'll work on the assumption you couldn't care less about my mundane existence.

Onwards!