DJ retirement from calculator programming (and related news writing)

[DJ Omnimaga]

As you might have noticed lately, my activity in calculator-related topics have been nearly non-existent. This is partly due to having been busy last month, but also because I have slowly been losing interest towards calculator-related stuff over the last few months. As some of you know, I have started programming TI-83 Plus BASIC in July 2001, before most current Omnimaga members started elementary school, then moved to Axe Parser in March 2010 to finally stop programming in July that year. Afterward I continued following calculator projects for a while, but after a series of bad life events that lasted from the end of 2009 to the end of 2010, my free time slowly shifted towards different interests and when life got better again, this resulted into less Internet activities and more real life ones (although I guess this is good in some ways).

The last big entire calculator game I ever finished was in June 2006 (Metroid II: Evolution) and my last big project (Illusiat 13: The Final Chapter) lasted through most of 2009. If we include smaller games such as The Game... er... I mean Tunnel clones, my last release was over two years ago.

While I still do play some calculator games from time to time, my activity in the calculator world is no longer enough to handle my duties as calculator news editor like I used to. I might still post some site-related news (such as activity stats or music stuff), but calc-related ones will be sparse, if not absent. I will still remain around the forums, though, so if anyone got a calculator game news or feature request, he is free to send me a description and small screenshot of it, then if notable enough, I might hopefully create a front page article about it, in the same fashion as Slashdot (quote). Of course, if the administration prefers to not go that route, then they are free to demote me from my newser position, though.

While this doesn't mean I'm leaving (in fact, during the second half of July, my activity will most likely skyrocket), this basically marks the official end of my calculator programming career, so no ROL4 (*cough*sorry Yeong*cough*), Axe Metroid remake or finishing Illusiat 13, although I might still increase my calculator collection to something higher than 23 in the future. As for news, you probably already noticed that this is my first news in almost two weeks so you will probably not notice much difference about that.

This was quite a good run, though, I think, as most people will not do anything calculator-related for more than two years, and most people who stay longer will do it for about 5 years before stopping entirely. Only a few, such as BrandonW, KermMartian, PatrickD and JamesV, have been coding for over a decade. I still encourage more people to start, since today's tools and calculators have a lot of potential and calculator programming can help you a lot later, while contributing to a growing program database.

[Juju]

this resulted into less Internet activities and more real life ones (although I guess this is good in some ways).

Yeah, it's always fun to hang out with you IRL

[blue_bear_94]

It's sad to see you stop. Hopefully someone will umm... "take your place?"

[Happybobjr]

love you DJ
glad you aren't leaving us

[JamesV]

Sad news, but hopefully we still see you around Best of luck with everything man

[hellninjas]

I wish you luck and best a happiness with your IRL stuff DJ

[jwalker]

Yep, best of luck. glad you arent leaving us.

[Chockosta]

That's a bit sad, but I'm happy that you stay here

[totoyo]

Visit us from time to time

//Rends-nous visite de temps en temps

[FinaleTI]

This news makes me a little sad, but you had a great run with calculator programming in my opinion. Your games are some of my absolute favorites, especially the Illusiat series, and you always produced impressive programs in my opinion, and I'm sure many others agree with me.
I am glad that'll you'll be staying involved here, and I wish you the best of luck with your future endeavors, both IRL and online.

[Eiyeron]

Oh nooo, you can't do that, I cannot!
So... Thank you anyways for the whole work you did for us here, and, See you maybe.

[Sorunome]

Good luck with your IRL stuff!

[blue_bear_94]

Before whatever happens, can I port Illusiat 12 to the 68k calcs? Also, good thing you won't stop being here at least!

[Juju]

Also you have the ROL0 PC port in the works, which is non-negligible. Omnimaga also welcomes computer projects.

[DJ Omnimaga]

Before whatever happens, can I port Illusiat 12 to the 68k calcs? Also, good thing you won't stop being here at least!

You can, although you might want to add graphics to villages or make custom menus with getkey, otherwise towns made with 68K-like menus would look pretty well. (in Illusiat series, villages are menu-based)

Also you have the ROL0 PC port in the works, which is non-negligible. Omnimaga also welcomes computer projects.

True, although keep in mind that ROL0 is not programming, since it uses RPG Maker 2003, meaning just pasting pre-made events here and there and using patches to do stuff RPG Maker 03 cannot do.

That said I might eventually do like Zera/Grendel did a few years ago with Escheron: Shadow over Rangaroth: design some calc or PC projects with every map, the story, items, etc, but leaving the entire coding task to someone else (or do the game using different means and someone ports it to a more efficient language later)