So as many of you have probably noticed I have not been nearly as active within the Deus Ex community in the previous months as usual. There are several reasons for this, some of them fairly significant, and I felt I should update you on what's what. So, in no particular order, here's why I've not been hanging around my usual haunts lately:
1) I have a new girlfriend. Yes, that's right, we gamers do occasionally find real women to spend actual time with. Alas she is not a gamer herself, but my relationship with her is the most serious one I think I've ever had with another person. (e.g. we're probably moving in together next month) She is very understanding of my compulsive need to code, but at the same time she is a distinct and persistent distraction... no, a better offer than spending hours on the computer all day. Which is not to say that I don't most of the time still, just that much of my weekends are spent with her being all lovey and happy and generally sweet enough to give you cavities and diabetes.
2) My parents' company is in deep shit. Without going into too many specifics (so as not to potentially reveal personal info I don't want to give out) the company my parents started several years ago and have been working to build into a multi-million dollar enterprise is (for the time being anyway) dead, thanks mostly to horrible mismanagement by the current CEO. (Things like incurring massive debt and not bothering to tell the President, a.k.a. my father, about the hole the company was digging itself into) This isn't going to put them out on the street (hopefully) but it's made things VERY dicey for the next several months and possibly years. Understandably I need to chip in and help however I can, which is taking up a bit of my time.
3) I have been distracted by another game. Okay, I'll admit, something else shiny came along and caught my eye. I'll tell you what it is, but don't laugh.
I said, don't laugh.
Promise you won't laugh.
Okay...
I have been caught up in the scripting capabilities within Second Life.
...you're laughing, aren't you?
Anyway, yes, I have been caught up in the most un-game-like game currently on the internet, Second Life. (Initially as a way to stay in touch with the new girlfriend as we live about an hour away from each other) The specifics of where my interests lie might surprise some of you, or come as no shock, but regardless I have found a LARGE need for someone with good coding skills. In particular, I've found a frustrating lack of free scripts of a certain variety, ones which are absolutely vital to people with the same interests as myself, and have taken it upon myself to create a free version of what others charge $500 in-game for. (What can I say, I'm a man of the people) I've almost finished that, but what may keep me on Second Life (aside from the people I interact with) is the potential for making a rather significant amount of in-game money with my talents, especially since in-game money can be exchanged for REAL money. (At a rate of about 250:1) It wouldn't be enough to live on exclusively, but it'd sure be nice all the same.
So anyway, now you know what's what. The first two issues I'm dealing with, and the third will be less of an issue now that the initial novelty of it is wearing off. Expect me to return to "active duty", so to speak... eventually.
