---
title: We're Creating a Game!
date: '2024-08-29'
updated: '2024-08-29'
tags: ['development', 'gaming']
draft: false
featuredImage: blog/sleepy-slawths-sketches.jpg
summary: >
  We're creating a game! Sleepy Slawths is a 2D platformer game with plans for engaging art,
  immersive gameplay and a rich soundtrack. Coming in due time!
---

## The Idea

The leading protagonist is (you guessed it) a sloth!

The basic premise is this: a sleeping sloth MUST remain asleep! At all costs.

## The Plan

We're working together as a family to draft up some art and come up with ideas on the storyline. So
far, it's been a lot of fun to brainstorm and come up with fresh ideas!

We'll share more here as the concept is solidified.

## The Technical

### The initial plan is this:

1. Draft up rough sketches and fun ideas as a family.
2. Scan rough sketches into Photoshop.
3. Clean up initial images and increase contrast.
4. Use these images as reference images in an AI image-generation workflow to expand the character
   design.
5. Use available software tools (more details to come!) to animate the characters as sprites and
   generate landscapes based on more stylized reference images.
6. Use Unity to develop the 2D platformer game and stitch everything together.
7. Share free game updates for our friends to test out until we refine this thing!

## The Blog

In an effort to remain accountable to myself and to generate some traction and interest, I plan to
blog about our progress and document the technical challenges we overcome along the way! Articles
will appear rough (like this one) to start, and will be edited over time to a suitable state.

Stay tuned!


We're creating a game! Sleepy Slawths is a 2D platformer game with plans for engaging art, immersive gameplay and a rich soundtrack. Coming in due time!


We're Creating a Game!

---
title: Why Do We Create Content?
date: '2024-03-14'
updated: '2024-08-22'
tags: ['content', 'michaelndad']
draft: false
featuredImage: blog/michael-and-memphis.jpg
summary: >
  Why do we create content? How do we create content? Learn about our drive and the reasons behind
  documenting our family time in video to share it with the world.
---

## A Brief History

It was 2016 and I was just getting into my early 30s. My wife [Yohana](https://linktr.ee/yoyosnails)
and I had been married for about four years, and we had two young children at home: Michael (3) and
Maia (not quite 1 at the time).

Michael discovered that he _really_ enjoyed playing on the iPad; he'd play Red Ball, Geometry Dash,
Mario, other puzzle games, and even explore Garage Band to make music.

I was working fulltime as a graphic designer and web developer for a media school, while also
attending college to further my studies and grow in my career. I didn't have much time/energy after
those obligations to play as much as I'd like. However, Michael and I still found time to play
together and he would often show me new things that he'd learn on the iPad.

Yohana and I were familiar with YouTube, as we had published some content on the platform before. My
niche was [hip hop and electronic music](https://youtube.com/@missionmikemusic), and Yohana's forte
was [nail art tutorials](https://www.youtube.com/@yoyosnails).

While finding new things for Michael to explore on his iPad, we found some children's shows on the
YouTube app for Michael to watch... and he seemed to greatly enjoy the videos. It didn't take long,
however, for the YouTube algorithm to recommend him new content, and he soon discovered some family
vlog channels and gaming content creators &mdash; parents who played with their kids and recorded
the process.

I remember peeking over Michael's should one day thinking "wow, that's so cool!" when I first saw
what [FGTeeV](https://www.youtube.com/user/fgteev) was doing. Michael would just CRACK UP watching
him and his family play together.

A seed was planted.

## Pondering and Planning

I began to ponder the steps I'd have to take to figure out how to create content like this... how to
record video from an iPad, capture audio, get a decent picture and lighting, and work with a green
sreen... most of which was brand new to me. I had history working with audio, and some digital video
experience, but not at the level I'd feel comfortable with to put ourselves out there for the world
to see.

There was so much content out there already. Such a high bar for quality standards, so many channels
and personalities; it seemed like there's no way I could create something fresh to stand out.

It took some self-convincing, but we eventually tried to record our gameplay!

## An Attempt

In early 2017, I purchased a fabric green screen with stand along with an iPad lightning-to-USB
adapter so we could capture video into OBS. I used my wife's digital camera to capture the video of
us playing. I hoped to edit it together in Adobe Premiere.

Michael and I sat down on some metal folding chairs next to each other in the
office/slash/nail-room, and we played.

Michael was naturally engaged with the game and our togetherness. He was having a **great** time. I
did my best to focus on playing and having fun &mdash; but my career-focused and
responsibility-laden mind sometimes has a difficult time letting go.

When we were finished playing & recording, I copied the files. I made a brief attempt to edit the
footage in Premiere Pro before I gave up, feeling defeated. I just wanted to create something cool,
but self-doubt and harsh self-criticisms won that night... I backed up the footage and called it a
wrap.

I didn't think we'd try to record again.

<Aside>

### Memory May Not Be Reality

Three years went by before we tried to record again. Whenever I thought to try again, my mind went
back to the place we left off, and I remembered the attempt to be a disaster... but in reality, that
_couldn't have been further from the truth._

Just because the first recording didn't go perfectly **did not mean that it was a failure.** _Nobody
starts off perfectly._

I didn't even look at the footage again for many years.

When I finally did... **wow.** _It wasn't even bad._ All that negativity in my mind prevented me
from moving forward.

Reader: if you're considering trying new things, don't make the same mistake I did!

</Aside>

## Ambition Rekindled

When we finally recorded our gameplay again, we had a great time! This is our
[first-ever published video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4imEkTEjMmM&t=7s) on YouTube, from
December 2020.

We began the video by playing next to each other on one computer (Michael's). After some time, I
really wanted to play too so I broke out my clunky Dell i5 laptop and quickly installed Minecraft +
OBS, spun it up and recorded my screen!

Editing this was so much more fun than the iPad video I tried to edit before... because I let go of
my self-imposed high quality standards. I focused on the fun and the memories, and I let go of the
fact that I wasn't going to produce some seasoned, well-refined video content on the first try! What
a refreshing take.

## Conclusion

In conclusion... just create. Don't judge yourself too harshly. Above all, have fun doing it!


Why do we create content? How do we create content? Learn about our drive and the reasons behind documenting our family time in video to share it with the world.
