1. Hi there! What's your name? Want to introduce yourself?
My name is Norman B. Lancaster. I work as a software engineer doing business and industrial software. Wanting to make games is what got me into programming at the age of 12, although I've only finished one game in my whole life - a Snake clone :(
2. Did you participate in the last jam we held? If so, what do you plan on doing better this time? If not, what's your reason for joining?
No.
3. What games are your favorites? Did any of them inspire you, or made you want to make your own?
My all time favorite game is Secret of Mana for the SNES. I still remember the moment sitting in my room playing that game when I thought, "I bet I could make something like this". I spent hours sketching out a plan on paper before realizing I had no idea how to get those ideas into a cartridge. Teachers and mentors would point me toward programming.
Today I mainly play games of the 80's and very early 90's with a few modern Rogue-likes and Rogue-like-lights in there. Games like Metroid, Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link, Ultima 5: Warriors of Destiny, and Nuclear Throne.
4. Do you have experience with game development? What did you do/with what engine?
I've had more aborted attempts than I care to admit. My one minor success was an XBox Live Indie release of a Snake clone called Snakeman. It sold about 2000 copies. I was very pleased with that. I would have given it away but the terms of the platform did not allow that.
5. Tell us about something you're passionate about!
I am very passionate about software engineering. Not only the technical side but also the people side - the soft skills. I am a student of everything that needs to happen to help a team come together and solve complex and interesting problems while still enjoying their job.
6. What are your goals for this game jam?
Complete a game! But it has become more than that. Thanks to the theme - and a recent concussion - I finally see video games as a means of self expression. Am am using this jam to explore and express what my dreams mean to me. And it's not very pretty.
7. Any advice to new jammers (if you're a veteran)?
This is my first jam but I know a thing or two about time management. Two phrases I like to keep in my head are, "Perfect is the enemy of the good", and "Perfect never ships". Make it good, not perfect.