How do Alex & Derek got started?

[Land Whale]

How do you two got started?

Do you take any education so that you can make games or are you self-taught?

How old are you two, btw? I'm in my mid-20's just dropped out of college. Personally, that's a sad moment for me, but I firmly believe that young or old, anyone can make at least a good video game. Look at Tolkien, he made Lord of the Rings at ripe old age. There are others who made great stories & art in their later life, as well as in other field. As far as I know, there's Jim Morris, the "oldest" rookie in baseball. Talent isn't the only thing; it's willpower, determination, hard work, and more importantly, passion.

Care to reply?

[Derek]

I agree with you - age should never be a limitation for anyone.

I studied computer science in college and even though I learned a lot then, I feel like the time I spent outside of class drawing and designing games was probably more valuable for me now!  I did get interested in art and games very early on.  (One of these days I'm going to have to dig up some of my old game designs.)  I started out designing games on paper with my friend Jon and doing a lot of diagrams/sketches... eventually I learned some simple programs and completed some small game projects.  From then on, the projects just got bigger and bigger.  By the time I met Alec I was fairly confident that I could complete a pretty long project!

The moral of the story is that people learn things different ways.  I feel like I benefit more when I learn from just making things, as opposed to sitting in a classroom and being told how to do things.  But for some people, school is the environment they thrive in.  For games, though, even if you're in school, my opinion is that you should be making games in your spare time.

Btw, I'm 24 years old.

[Land Whale]

Speaking of drawing, Derek, that's really your art in the game, right? How did you start drawing anyway?

[Quemaqua]

Since we're the same age, I'm going to try to forget about how few goals I've accomplished and that I'm not doing anything cool for a living.  I'll just try to remember that even when I get old and (more) stupid, there's still a chance I can make something of myself.  Damn you, future!  I will best you yet!

[PHeMoX]

Since we're the same age, I'm going to try to forget about how few goals I've accomplished and that I'm not doing anything cool for a living.  I'll just try to remember that even when I get old and (more) stupid, there's still a chance I can make something of myself.  Damn you, future!  I will best you yet!

That's the right spirit, never give up, but also do not be afraid to start something big, risky and ... end it. Best of luck!

[Alec]

and ... end it.

Ah yes, the hardest part. 

I believe that you're never too old to start something new.

[Derek]

Speaking of drawing, Derek, that's really your art in the game, right? How did you start drawing anyway?

Sorry, I somehow missed this question!  Busy busy...

Yep, that's my art.  And I started drawing when I was really young... 2 years old.  And my first drawing was, funnily enough, of a whale.  No joke!  Ask my parents, they still have the drawing somewhere!

[Quemaqua]

In fact, I'm not afraid.  I just put together a "test" preview DVD for the book I'm writing.  It's one of my last hopes for the whole "make something happen with your life" thing.  The DVD is basically just an interview and a "trailer" for my book... and they're all pretty sad in the grand scheme of things.  But I proved to myself I could do it, so now I just have to get the thing a little closer to publication and then do it for *real*.

It's weird seeing something I did on YouTube, especially because I kind of hate it.