Many years ago I created a simple tornado that moves randomly across the screen. You can see it in the header of this web site. For a long time I thought “there has to be an online game in there somewhere”. I have been looking for an idea that I can launch on Facebook, and it would need to be a casual game type of idea. So recently I started coding something in my spare time. Its been an exersize in using 30 minute sessions to create one new simple feature each time, and walk away. Definitely a new approach to coding for me, but one that has proved valuable in both my use of free time, as well as keeping the energy and ideas fresh.

If I had a “labs” section to my site, thats where this would belong. It’s far from finished…

With each new feature, I just let them game evolve. There was no specific road map, I just did what I wanted to do each time I sat down. I wouldn’t claim that this approach is all that practical in the world of client-driven software development. I guess thats why I really like building things for myself, and the pure love of seeing it take shape. I don’t know what this will become, but I’m having fun and thats what counts. (Try saving the cows by dragging them into the barn)

After reading Stephen King’s On Writing, I realized that some very successful people actually try to let their story tell itself. One thing I took away from the book, which I felt was really valauble, was the notion of starting my story with one simple situation. Now you may be asking, how is a Flash game a story? Well..in my opinion, it better tell a story or all you have is a lot of randomly moving pixels! The best games out there all have a terrific narrative, in addition to stunning graphics. My games don’t always have stunning graphics, so I at least need a good story. So getting back to Stephen King…I loved his idea of not knowing ahead of time how the story was going to unfold. Start with an interesting situation, in my case, a tornado touching down on a farm. What happens next? Well, who doesn’t marvel at seeing livestock getting tossed around? I don’t know where this is all going to lead, but I hope it becomes a King of a story