[Freeciv-Dev] Re: hobby as process? (was Re: Migration)

["Brandon J. Van Every" <vanevery@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Raimar Falke wrote:
> Brandon wrote:
> >
> > Ok, what *are* your tools worth?  For all these years of effort, you
> > have produced: Civ II.  In C.

Admittedly, with better cross-platform and network support.

> > My tool is my wallet.  I bought Civ II:
> > Test Of Time, which has better graphics than your Civ II, for $20 at
> > full retail 4 years ago.  I think your tools are worth $20.
>
> Education. Knowledge. It may turn out that this knowledge will never
> yield a profit.

Maybe there's an age difference here.  I'm old enough to have gobs of
computer knowledge.  I don't want more knowledge and potential.  I want
empowerment to get what I want done.  There's nothing interesting to me
about "computer knowledge for its own sake" anymore.  Been there, done
that.

> But for a regular income you have your regular job.

Bizzare to me to concede ownership of one's time and inclinations to
someone else.  But I suppose you said you liked your database job.

> > > You can learn how to spot
> > > errors in your code and the code of others.
> >
> > Are you young enough to still give a shit about this?
>
> The faster you spot them the faster you are done.

You could spend your whole life "practicing" at this, or you could cut
to the chase and avoid projects / job descriptions / implementation
ideas / groups of people that cause you to need to spend your time this
way.

> > Choose something bold for a change.  What's the boldest
> > thing you could
> > do with Freeciv?  Why be timid when there's no money on the
> > line at all?
>
> What is the point if Freeciv is rewritten in .NET with OpenGL and with
> a FPS perspective and none of the old users like the new version?

For you that don't like it, nothing.  It of course could have tremendous
value to other people.  I'd hope you'd define your bold project vision
as something *you* want.  And if you don't ever want anything bold, IMO
you are boring.

> It is possible that this new Freeciv would attract new users.
> But there is no guarantee.

If you are worried about marketing problems, deal with them.  Marketing
*is* tractable.  Techies often forget that marketing even exists, or is
useful for anything.


Cheers,                         www.indiegamedesign.com
Brandon Van Every               Seattle, WA

20% of the world is real.
80% is gobbledygook we make up inside our own heads.