The Crossroads
TWP #10 - Weaving paths and divergent trails
Note: This seems to be a big post, so your mail client will most likely truncate it. You can view it here https://www.theweeklypage.com/p/the-crossroads:
Sometimes the words come easy, other times the blank canvas refuses to give way. Normally I would reflect on something I read or something I watched but its been a quiet few weeks. I say weeks because I didn’t get anything published last week. I think we should talk about the idea of compounding. What is this you ask? Like a snowball rolling down a hill, it builds upon itself each rotation until it is no longer a small sphere but a giant unstoppable force. I had written about this years ago (on dev.to) but I think its important to revisit this idea.
The idea of compounding is simple. Every day build on the previous day's results. This can be stringing together workouts, working on side projects or just maintaining a schedule. Eventually as we build up our routines they will become habit. I found it easiest to progress by breaking everything up into smaller pieces. As I achieve even the simplest of items this gives me visual affirmation that I am moving towards my goal.
There is no bounds to how lofty or crazy your goals and dreams should be. Nothing in this world is realistic when it comes to your aspirations so mine as well achieve the wildest goals your heart aspires to. Now, what is realistic is understand that the end goal is not a one step process to achieving it. Its the sequence of many small achievements that are the foundation for success in your life. This is where compounding is important. Little by little these things add up. If you struggle to work on your passion project, and you can only muster 45 mins a day to work on it, well you are infinitely better off than someone who couldn’t find any time to put towards it. Look back at your week, while in the moment those small chunks of work seemed meaningless in the larger picture those are monumental foundational successes. Not only did you fight the dragon of motivation, you overcame the negative mindset that is afraid to even begin. We are not guaranteed “next week”, but we are guaranteed a better “next week” if we overcome the hurdles of today.
Game Dev Update
With my current project (for now lets call it Project Pluto, that’s my codename for it) that I have talked about in previous TWPs I have been on and off working on it for about 1.5 years. It’s difficult when the interest wains and life gets in the way to keep consistent progress on anything, especially something as complex as a game. I have shook off most of the rust and have been fully engaged again. With this weeks post I will focus a bit on the Greenhouse.
For this area I really wanted something bright and green, something to give a bit of juxtaposition against the backdrop of being alone in space. Space stations are a bit of an enclosed, never varying type a beast. Long hallway, cookie cutter rooms, the same look and feel for most of the areas. I wanted each room to be unique, each area to give a bit of excitement and wonderment when entering it. When I was laying out the greenhouse area I knew it would be a larger, rectangular type room. There would be some tables, containment units of various vegetations, some bright lights for growing certain species. As I got around to level design I kinda had to ask myself the question of “What would this area look like if there was no outside intervention. What would it look like if the plants just thrived on their own and took over.” With that idea, the idea of an overgrown greenhouse but at the same time still a clean/pristine scientific environment I started piecing together what is below:
What I am Playing
Honestly not much this week. Mostly just Destiny when I find some time. Suggestions are welcome.
In Conclusion
These posts vary week to week. Sometimes I have a lot to say about things I read, or played. Other times its more focused on my game projects or AI interests. This will continue to find its footing as the format evolves over time and I iterate on what I think is best.
All art here was generated using Midjourney.