Collectible Card Game Headquarters

This is going to be posted Wednesday on my blog but since you guys are "in the know" you can read it here first. In summary, I haven't worked on version 2 because version 1 is great and I have coders block (it is like writer's block but instead of coffea, I consume Mountain Spirit, Mountain Dew's cheaper brother )

I don't really know why I haven't worked on Forge in awhile. Maybe I've burned out programming Magic for awhile. I'm "supposed" to be working on Forge version 2.0 but I know how big version 1 is, and yes version 2 might be smaller, it still very big. On version 1, I didn't mind making mistakes because I just wanted to get it out-the-door (i.e. working). I knew that everything could have been done better and I just designed stuff on the fly.

_And_ version 1 is 95% great. Yes the AI could be better and yes it could have more cards but basically version 1 is remarkably good. The quest mode keeps me coming back for more and we, on the forums, are talking about adding a card shop. People can upload and download decks. Drafting is a blast, even if it is just a simulator and sealed deck is challenging because it makes you think in different ways. Right now Forge kicks a lot of ass and maybe version 2 could kick more ass but I don't really know.

If Forge stopped right now and was never developed any further, it would still be an awesome program that people would want to play for years. Similar to Shandalar, Forge is an enduring classic because Magic is an enduring classic.

And I feel like I've let a few people down since I haven't worked on version 2 in awhile. Sometimes it feels like programming just drains your lifeblood and you only have so much to give. Even though I enjoy programming, it is always very hard.

Failure is also hard to deal with. If you think you will fail, it is hard to get started. I just finished reading this great book and I thought the author was very good. I almost choked when I read that this was his third book and the first two books didn’t get published, ouch!

So in conclusion, enjoy Forge as-is because I have no idea when version 2 will get off the ground. This-just-in, according to my sources (sources, source code, I kill me) version 2 will be finished days before the fourth Matrix movie. :=)

Fact: Forge and Manalink have been taking away most of my time from testing Incantus. Well, that and actual paper Magic.

Let me suggest something. Instead of trying to get the "perfect" model why don't you just throw out what you've got and let the community digest it. Even if the thing won't do anything yet. Look how many people have picked up the torch for v1... maybe some folks would enjoy helping you build from the ground up.

yeah, I think this is a good idea, but of course we respect your decision. *advertising* my project is also not runnable, but the source code is online for a long time now. It has grown by almost 2000 lines since...

I think that we all understand. At some point everyone will burn out and find that they have run out of steam. I do not think that it is uncommon.

And trying to code v2 on your own while the rest of us are going strong with v1 … well that could make matters even more difficult for you to find any incentive. And v1 is still there. You may want to consider making an occasional small contribution to v1 and just shelf v2.

So v1 is not perfect. So what. And anyone who wants to play against a strong opponent should play against a human being instead.

I think you should rather bring your ideas from v2 into v1 progressively. Start with the easy bits, like changing the AI interface so that it matches what you have in mind for v2, while still working with v1, that kind of stuff... (just an example, I don't know if this is actually an easy bit)

Your work wouldn't be wasted AND you would get the best of both worlds.

I don't believe in "v2 from scratch" in software.

Thanks for the support.

I probably hyped v2 too much but that is often the problem with the hypothetical-will-change-the-world v2. Like most people I still have a ton of improvements in mind. (I started writing about DSLs, so I decided to start a new topic.)