Tasks Accomplished: Week 9
| Technical Tasks | Art Tasks |
| Fixed bugs in pathfinding scripts | Textured island with pixel art |
| Refactored part of NPC generation script | Created idle animations for main characters |
| Created meshes to cull portions of NavMesh for optimization | Designed & drew characters for wandering NPCs |
| Finished game logo | |
| Cleaned up environment props, sectioned off unused areas of island |
I Realized I’m Not Too Much of a Blogger
Being so deep in my work that I forgot to write this blog showed me this a little bit. But even more so, I noticed I have a much harder time writing or even talking about how I’m feeling and what I’m doing than when I just draw.
It’s easier for me to “talk” through drawings, even if they’re of chili pepper-shaped cats. I wonder if this is a coping mechanism for being overshadowed in my family quite a bit. Not when it comes to accomplishments, but how naturally vocal I am compared to a lot of my family, including extended members. I tend to be the kind of quiet person who gets interrupted a lot or forgotten about once in a while. I used to be in my head all the time as a kid, so perhaps this is partially my fault. As an adult, I’ve tried to remedy this, but sometimes things just stick.
It’s easier to get responses or start a conversation with a bright picture or a detailed painting. I have worked actively towards being more social without using my art as a crutch, and I’m proud of the progress I’ve made. Sometimes it’s nice to go back to the drawings though.
The skill I’ve worked to develop has helped shield me from some things. Like having an art degree… people laugh until I show my resume and my skills, and then they laugh less. Much less, a little less, still less. Doing art in tech can net me, and has netted me, more money than being a fine artist or working in animation. That’s good for me (and partially a reason why I’m getting this CS degree), yet I still feel like a fish out of water. People see my art skills and assume that I’m scared of STEM, that I can’t do it, and that I don’t want to do it. That I am stupid. That I am useless because I am an artist.
It’s not any of those things for me. It’s more the people themselves making those assumptions. I’m afraid of and annoyed at those people. But I have to be brave and move forward. I need to be the different fish in the water. I know I can do it.
Wow I just typed a lot with no pictures. Happy to grow. 🙂
Ryan Davis
