I'M WORKING ON A VIDEOGAME: "BRAID"

(Screenshot shows work in progress.)

Where have I been in recent months? Working on a video game! From the official web site:

Braid is an action-puzzle game about manipulating the flow of time. The player journeys through a series of worlds; in each world, time behaves differently. The game provides a mind-expanding experience that is filler-free, treating the player's time as precious.

My contribution is all of the world art, all the locations you'll visit. (Character art is coming from Edmund Mcmillen.) I really think people who liked A Lesson Is Learned will be into this. It's playful, unconventional, and philosophical.

Braid won the Innovation Award at the Independent Games Festival this year. It's also a finalist in the 2007 Slamdance Guerrilla Gamemaker Competition.

In development at Number None in San Francisco, Braid is penciled in for a first quarter 2007 release for Windows. Please check back, or join my mailing list, for more details as they emerge!

DAILY FORBODING ROCK FORMATIONS

This was a concept for "Labyrinth Isle," the everlasting "next" episode of A Lesson Is Learned.

END BOW RESULTANT, RETREAT AN INSTANT

Rim spangle car leisure. Rum sing graft measure span. Glad horror master plan; deposit.

KARL PILKINGTON WITH TESTICLEARS

Karl Pilkington of the Ricky Gervais Show podcast requested a couple of anatomical modifications, for safety and convenience. (Listen to Series Three, Episode Five for the lowdown.)

DAILY EXPRESSION OF UNEASE

I drew this a while ago...

WAS THERE A BURGLARY?

Stepping lightly, slipping slightly, terrorible snow.

IT'S A DUCK READING A NEWSPAPER

I've been pretty busy, but I always try to make time to draw a duck reading a newspaper, as you can see.

FORWARD-THINKING MOTORIST INVENTS MAGICAL HOVERCRAFT

I believe it is controlled by simply displacing one's weight in the desired direction.

READERS EVINCE SULLEN SOLIDARITY

In response to yesterday's sketch of a man wracked with existential turmoil, Dan Scannel of Penn State writes:

Hello David-

You have descended into a good sulk, and gradually you grow covetous of it, and every potential interaction with someone not sulking is viewed with paranoia. I know this feeling well. It is amplified by the irritability that follows a pot of coffee.

I recently sat on a bench on campus here at Penn State and was indulging a good sulk when someone I know happened upon me and wrenched me out of my reverie and confused and annoyed me.

-dan

Great letter, Dan!

MY SULLENNESS SHALL NOT BE TRIVIALIZED

Does this happen to anyone? E-mail me!

BEHOLD YOUR NEW LEADER

"He said what he meant." Behold one dude's propitious ascent to the major stations of his savored nation. Repentant and resplendent, he was always a gent.

DAILY HALLMARK ILLUSTRATION WITH GRADIENT

Sad to see you go.

SECOND DAILY SKETCH BEGINS TO JUSTIFY "DAILY" QUALIFIER

A moment familiar to many of us.

INAUGURAL DAILY SKETCH

To keep my brain active as I recede into silvery retirement, I'm going to post a sketch every day. I won't spend much time on these, just keep 'em coming! We'll see where it goes...

CUTE DOG SPARKS DISCORD FOR DOUR MEN

Today brings another adorable creature requiring Flash of its adopters. This one you can actually play with!

"FAVORITE" ANIMATION PUPPETS (160k)

This idea originated from playing video games with friends and finding the expressions and movements of the characters often more entertaining than the game's prescribed goal. My desire to win was frequently overrun by the temptation of doing something funny. It made me wish there were more ways to express myself within the game, and some motivation besides conquest.

My first experiment was a simple realization of the concept "digital puppet." Using Flash, I drew an old man whose eyebrows and pupils could move independently. Different combinations of brow and pupil positions seemed to evoke different emotions, from pity to whimsy to rage. But the face didn't do much on its own. It just stared out of the screen. I added another character with the same behaviors, but surprisingly, together they looked even more idle. I added a little yellow dog – and immediately the scene gained focus. It's about the dog, who is either a treasure or a nuisance, and the mens' reactions to it. The dog can be in one lap or the other, but never in between. Therefore the scene is always unbalanced, and never resolved. It's still only a modest demonstration, but I like the direction.

WEB CARTOONISTS' CHOICE AWARDS 2006

This year A Lesson Is Learned took home three awards from the WCCA! Thanks everybody!

WELCOME SECRETARY OF STATE

In celebration of Donald Rumsfeld's lunch, please accept this Supercilious Man.

ATHLETICALLY DISINCLINED DINOSAUR ANIMATION

This little fella requires Flash to view, but those ready for the responsibility and emotional investment will find a friend for life. Just don't expect any cute tricks.

DINOSAUR w/ BALL ANIMATION (124k)

WELCOME INTERNET DENIZENS

In celebration of the site's launch, please accept this Inspirational Bee.