M.A.D. Enters the IGF

[BS-er]

An early beta of the game was completed on November 1, just in time to be submitted to the Independent Games Festival contest.  It would be quite an honor of our game makes it as a finalist.

[bigbadbogie]

Good luck with the contest.

Hope all goes well, as you certainly deserve it to.

[bigbadbogie]

Whats happening with the contest? Any results yet?

[BS-er]

The finalists will be made public in early January.  If we make the final round, then its off to San Francisco.

[JonathanS]

Dang. I'll be in Basic Training before I find out if we made it to the finalists...Next time I'll be able to look is in May.

[Black Manatee]

Just give us your contact info once you get a minute (probably not for the first couple of weeks at least!).  Once we know that, we can write (and possibly e-mail) with any news.  Don't worry--the Earth Defense Force would never abandon one of its own!   

[JonathanS]

Email won't be an option as they won't allow me to even see a computer screen. It's run, pushups, get yelled at, repeat.


We are allowed mail and I can have my brother Timothy give you my Flight address and email it to you if you'd like. I feel all warm inside knowing that people look out for me. I hope to do the same if I ever get the oppurtunity.

[Black Manatee]

Don't worry, Jonathan--we'll be sending mail.  Bob and I were both there; I did OCS/OIS (in my last year of med school, but for some reason the Navy wasn't as interested in me once I quit medicine--writers/game-designers weren't in quite as much demand, I suppose... ;-)  ).

Anyway, from my limited (easy officer-level training) experience, it was really tough for the first couple of weeks--especially the first week or so.  Making at least a couple of pals will make a HUGE difference--they'll help look out for you (when possible), and listen to your gripes when things don't work out (which will happen a lot).

After a couple of weeks--and certainly after the first month--you'll feel much more a part of the team, much more attached to the other folks in your unit (usually not everyone, though; there's always a jerk or two!).  My training only lasted a couple of months, but I can tell you that by the end of it, I was honestly sad to be saying so long to the unit, and especially to the really good friends I had made.  I was NOT sad to be done with the drills and marching and PE and all that, but it sure puts you into fantastic shape!

And that was only my limited O-school experience (at Newport).  I know your Basic will be a lot more physically challenging, but based on what other military friends have said, I'm confident you'll get through it and have at least as much "fun" as I did (though it's always more fun to look back on than it was to actually be doing it!).  And knowing you, you'll make a ton of great friends, probably including a lifetime buddy or two.

And we'll be happy to send along some letters--especially during that first month or so, when you're settling in, feeling bewildered and alone (and TIRED as he11!).

And at your gloomiest times, when you're feeling ready to cash it all in and hijack an Urban Assault Vehicle (like Bill Murray in Stripes), you've just got to remember why you're doing it, what all that sweat and striving and sacrifice is for--your ultimate goal:

To be a Hovertank Pilot in the Earth Defense Force!

[BS-er]

Yeah there's always a cast of characters in basic training.  Quite a mix of cultures, ethnicities and personality types.  Generally a pretty good bunch, most people joining the military seem to have a pretty good attitude.  There's always a few smartasses though.

Take it from me though, avoid being late for formation.  I've had to knock out 20 or 30 on more than a few occasions .

[bigbadbogie]

Is there anyone here not involved in the military? 

The most 'military' thing I have ever done is cadet camp for a week a few years ago.

If that is anything to go by, you will be woken up at 4am every morning to rush out of your cabin and do 50 pushups, starjumps and then a 2km run.

Then you will be yelled at for an hour for not having your belt done up tight enough. Then you can look forward to fighting with 20 others over who gets the last loaf of stale bread.

Look at me, I'm Mr Optimism. 

[JonathanS]

That's different then Basic Training (for the air force at least).

Though we're yelled at for messing up what we should have known, and doing a lot of physical excersize, the Air Force takes care of it's own, even if you are recruits. We get good food (not long to eat though), and good living quarters for Basic.

I'm not worried about failing basic or even the yelling and work...I think the hardest for me is to leave my family as I'm a homebody who hasn't left home except for 3 day trips to other places (and then I had at least one family member)

Bob and bill, any tips about Homesickness?

[BS-er]

Bob and bill, any tips about Homesickness?

Well when you're a great distance from home with no good friends or family anywhere nearby, you definitely get that "there's no place like home" feeling.  You'll miss driving around in a car, playing your favorite music and a lot of other simple pleasures that you take for granted, especially after a few months.  However my attitude was that basic training is designed to take the "baby" out of you.  You are there to be strengthened and forged.  If you have that attitude, and see the benefits of what you're going through, it will make it easier.  It's a unique experience that you'll likely never go through again, but its worthwhile.

I actually liked the drill sargeants better than the wannabes at the initial processing station.  When you first arrive, you get a lot of regular service folks who seemed to enjoy taking jabs and being a bit mean.  I remember a dude about 5 ft tall with a real chip on his little shoulder.  The drill sargeants were hardcore, loud and in your face, but never seemed too personal or mean, even when picking you apart for some mistake on your uniform etc.

You can take comfort in having 30 days a year of paid leave.  Also, the service is a great opportunity to save money, and get college benefits (hopefully you got all you could).  I had an $8000 sign-on bonus as well.

[JonathanS]

BSer,

Thanks for the advice. Alot of it I have been doing and I'm glad to see that I am doing it right. I fully understand why the T.I.s are doing what they are doing and so that part is understandable.

I didn't get any sign-on bonus. The Air Force filled it's quota for the year back in March and so they don't need people and so don't have to do sign-on bonuses. I take it you were in the Army?

Thanks for the advice. You're all great friends!

~J

[Black Manatee]

I got pretty homesick for a while, Jonathan (as you're doubtless aware, manatees grow very attached to their pods).  ;-)  Seriously, though, it was a particular bummer because Lady Alice (Manatee, a.k.a. Major Wyndt-Essex) and I had gotten married just a couple of months before I had to report to Newport for training.  Not much of a hardship compared to the guys (and ladies) who are having to leave kids behind, or miss them being born, or leave the day after getting married!  But everything's relative to your own experience, so as I say, it was a bummer.

And like Bob said, it's not just being away from home and family; it's the strangeness of the environment (unless you're an "army brat"), and discovering how much you've taken certain things for granted (driving, listening to music, making your own decisions about what to wear, what to do in your "off time" . . . and especially calling/texting/e-mailing friends and family (not to mention playing BZ2!)).

But still, everyone else in your company will be more or less in the same boat.  You'll meet all kinds of people from amazingly different places and backgrounds--and you'll be surprised how many of them are an awful lot like you, despite the surface differences.  And like I said earlier, the best bit of advice I can offer is to be open to making one or two friends at least.  Your shared experience of going through Basic together can forge friendships that are especially strong--and it really helps make things tolerable if you've got someone you can gripe with, or share your disgust with cleaning chores, or laugh at some of the crazy arbitrariness of military rules...

Plus, you'll have status reports from M.A.D. to look forward to when the mail comes.   Is your brother a member of the M.A.D. community?  It would be nice if he could check in once in a while and let us know how you're doing (along with giving us the contact info and stuff).  Feel free also to pass along my e-mail address so he can reach me directly if he wants!

[OvermindDL1]

Yes, would be nice to get updates.