I've been meaning to post a wrap-up of the MAGIC contest for a while, but it's not quite over yet. I've still got to give tag his Lua book. I was expecting to have to post the book half way around the world, but I was most surprised when tag replied with a postal address that's only a few kilometres away; I had no idea he was a local! Paradoxically this has actually delayed the send off, as I naturally responded with an email asking when he'd like me to drop the book off in person to which he hasn't replied yet; if he'd lived in any other city I'd have posted the thing by now. At least though now I'll have the opportunity to say hi to a GameDev member in person.
I've also posted up a feedback request for the MAGIC contest. I've got a hankering to run this thing again in a few months time. If possible I'd also like to try limiting the contest with a fixed set of art assets; I'd provide a set of sprites and backgrounds that everyone must use. While this might mean a lot of similarity in the games produced it should make it a lot easier for people to get started. It also is an excuse for me to get moving on my art practice, as it would be best if I could provide the custom art myself.
As for the Diagonal Game Library; I'm busy working on the revamp of the graphics system. It's currently very broken due to my inability to think clearly (I point the blame firmly at winter). I've reworked the internals but every new thing I put in breaks it in a nasty new way, and my new data structures all have a fatal flaw that I don't spot until half-way finished. I think the system I'm currently attempting will work, but it's slow and painful going. I'll post more on this once I've got something that actually works.
Only four more days until the winter equinox, and then this stupid season will be on the way out. I can't wait for spring; most of my best work seems to get done then.
