Game Design Geek

Today was the first day I have went home from work when the sun was still out. I have to admit that was a really odd feeling. We have basically hit alpha for all intents and purposes and now we are going to review what we have done and send it out. I have to admit that its a big weight off my shoulders to finally get to this point. Its been a long hard road to get here and its been not just tough physically with all the hours, but mentally. I have been at my wits end for a long time on this project as it has really worn me out and I’m really glad this is wrapping up soon. This is usually the point where I start thinking of where I want to work next, and what type of project I want to work on. I have been a journeyman of sorts and have found myself job hopping quite a bit in the last 4 years.

I would love to settle down and not have to move again for a long time. Is that in my future soon? God I hope so, but finding the right company and the right project isn’t as easy as it sounds. But at this point I have to admit that its less about the project, and more about the ability to put down roots and stay. Id love to see that happen. But until then, I trudge on with an uncertain future hoping that something will eventually work out and go my way. I have had a few opportunities here and there, but none have panned out so far. Lets hope soon that it comes to fruition.

I created a tumblog.  This tumblog isnt something I want to post here, it will just be for things Im doing, seeing, or watching during my day.  It will be located at http://tumbl.josephmauke.com

That’s right, you heard it. As we go into crunch for alpha submission, I find myself spending more and more time at work. Sometimes leaving at midnight, or very close to it. You know how it is with salaried employees, you pretty much don’t have a choice. Its all about getting the game out on time. I have to admit though that I am glad we are getting down to the wire. I’m looking forward to wrapping this game up and moving on to my next project and company. Unfortunately I haven’t seemed to be a good fit for Spark or the design team. I’m not really sure what the problem has been other then the normal personality issues, and the scrum process with this very junior design team. Scrum works really good with a team full of seniors, but with a young team, I find the scrum process tends to break down at some point. Its definitely been a learning process for me on project management and the software product design process. Hopefully what I have learned here will help me in my next project. I have to say that I have made some really good friends here, including Chad, our AI programmer.

I am looking forward to the weekend, I am picking Austin up and we are going to spend the day with my family Saturday and then he is going to spend the night with me. I’m sure we will wake up fathers day and do something in the morning, then I will drop him off.

    I know its been a long time since I have posted anything. The main reason is that a few weeks ago Rose went into the hospital with stomach pains and she found out that she had stomach cancer and that it was spreading fast. I went down there the day I heard it from Gary, and saw her in the hospital. She looked very weak, and I knew when I saw her that she wasn’t going to last much longer. I am glad though that I did get a chance to talk to her before she got so bad that she couldn’t communicate. She was released a few days later, and the doctor told her that she had from 3-9 months left. Then just 3 days after her release Gary called me again saying that she was back in and that they put her on life support. The cancer had made its way from her stomach to all her other vital organs including her liver, her kidneys, and her lungs…..and it was now on its way to to her heart. I left immediately after he called me and went down to see her again. I have to admit that it was really hard seeing her with all those tubes and being hooked up to all the machines. Needless to say it was only a matter of time before she crashed with heart failure. So I went back to work the next day and asked for a few days off so I could go back out. Well, in that one day she passed. luckily Patrick, Laura, and Gary were there. Unfortunately Albert didn’t make it in time, she passed at 12:45am, and Albert made it to the hospital at 1:20am.

The body viewing and the service were both beautiful. There was a lot of work involved and I was happy to lend a hand getting things set up. I had to admit that a lot of people that I thought would show up didn’t, but there were no shortage of people there that loved Rose. Gary’s mother and Father-in law really went above and beyond and we are all really grateful that Rose had them around for her when she needed them. Pastor Nelson really did a great job with the service and we all think that it went very smooth and that Rose would have loved that so many people came out to celebrate her life. Myself, along with a few others including Patrick, Albert, Laura, Mrs. Lopez and yes, even Gary got up and told everyone how Rose touched their lives, and how much we would miss her. You know, Brawley is pretty far away from any airport so you can imagine the amount of effort for people to get out there.

Manny is taking it really hard, and I really worry about him. I know that people think that he’s a hardass (remind you of someone) but I think he honestly is going to miss her and that his life wont be the same anymore. I know mine wont be. Rose was the glue that kept everyone together, now I don’t know whats going to happen…..I guess we will just have to see.