I know this is a game development forum, but I'm asking how you are, and not just how your source code is. But if your project is an important part of your life, you can tell us about it.

I am struggling right now in college. I really enjoyed school but I started getting lower grades and since my first course is closing out, things are getting hard. At least for this week until I begin a new course.

I am also awkward at conversation. I tend to absorb details about people and feel like I start to know them but then I realize, they probably don't know me all that well. Which makes it hard to make friends, because I don't like to beat around the bush. In other words, I'm not willing to make the effort to be known.

I sold my XBox 360 awhile back and months later and just now, I have realized I will not be able to play one of my favorite games again, which disappoints me. I wish I had remembered this game at the time.

I find it hard to live with myself because sometimes I look back on my past and due to medical conditions and immaturity, I haven't done much I can stand by now. But my medical problems are at least being treated now.

I know this is a game development forum, but I'm asking how you are, and not just how your source code is. But if your project is an important part of your life, you can tell us about it.

Im good, thanks. Projects are good too and are an important part of my life :)

I am struggling right now in college. I really enjoyed school but I started getting lower grades and since my first course is closing out, things are getting hard. At least for this week until I begin a new course.

Sucks, not sure what you are studying but in addition to learning at school learn at home too, through your own methods

I am also awkward at conversation. I tend to absorb details about people and feel like I start to know them but then I realize, they probably don't know me all that well. Which makes it hard to make friends, because I don't like to beat around the bush. In other words, I'm not willing to make the effort to be known.

You can be the most open / closed person, it doesn't really make a difference to making friends, you don't have to force yourself to make friends either, only make friends if YOU want to and I say this as someone who would be described as extrovert most of his life (but now introvert).

I find it hard to live with myself because sometimes I look back on my past and due to medical conditions and immaturity, I haven't done much I can stand by now. But my medical problems are at least being treated now.

Its good that you are being treated, not sure how old you are but just remember it is fairly common for people to be immature to the point of shocking up to 25 or something, don't feel guilty about it, accept that you once weren't the person you are now and move on, it really isnt uncommon to have a dark messed up teenage / early 20 past

Struggling at college as well, due to chronic inability to fall asleep at night, but I'm making progress step by step

I'm okay, I live together with my girlfriend, I still can't find my place in life (whatever that bullshit means) but I plan to move to Finland to live there again, I will participate in two Lego Technic building contests, I'm a forum addict (that's why I'm posting here now), I can't enjoy music as I did in the past doe to the marginal taste I have, I stutter but I'm not awkward in conversations and I could easily make friends but I'm not interested in that stuff, I cut my hand with a Swiss army knife two days ago, I'm about to continue watching World War Z, I always thought I'm a smart person who is very good at understanding people and how the world works but 2-3 years of foruming taught me that I'm actually not very smart and I can only think out and write bullshit, There is always something up with the flat we rent, and some other random stuff.

I'm great. I just wish I had more free time for my projects...

I'm the CTO of a startup that's starting to make a nice chunk of money (1m/year gross)

and as my full time job I'm the Senior release manager and security specialist for a large medical payment processor in the USA/Puerto Rico, and several small countries.

Although as I said, I really want to make a game project of mine work, it's very hard to find free time to spend with my girlfriend and my game projects... I'm only 25 but I have a mid-life style schedule where I have people/co-workers trying to squeeze me for time which I don't have.

To that note, I strongly respect game devs who turn down the money in business development and follow their dream to make games full time.

Personally, I'm tired, but good. My daughter is my biggest project right now and she takes up most of my time (I'm on vacation for a bit). The last game I worked on is doing pretty good and I'm getting excited for November when people can try out the Xbox One and PS4 versions of the game.

On the personal side, I've finally started working on my personal game project again after having it on the back burner for a few months since my actual job was taking up all the time I wasn't spending with my family. It's still a long ways off from being done, but it's all built from the ground up (not using an existing engine), and now that the tools and "engine" are built I can start hammering out the actual game. On that note, does anyone have any good links to teach programmers who suck at art how to make mediocre 2D tiles? I've made some grass/sand/ice/etc. tiles and they are passable, but I'd like the quality to be a bit higher in the final product.

As for the OP's post, don't get too preoccupied with grades, unless you have prerequisite grade requirements I guess. I've gotten mediocre grades in courses where I understood the material and fantastic grades in courses where I was completely lost. College is really just a starting point to your education anyways. They can only cover so much in course materials. As long as you direct your own studies outside of the classroom you should be fine.

You also say you can't stand your past immaturity, but you are only in college. You're allowed to be immature when you're young!!! I'm still immature, you just need to learn how to balance it with being respectful and professional, and choosing the appropriate times for each.

I'm also awkward in conversation and don't go out of my way to make aquaintances, but it's an important part of the college experience in my opinion. Keeping in contact with your college friends post-graduation is a great way to get interviews at companies that might otherwise ignore your resume.

On that note, does anyone have any good links to teach programmers who suck at art how to make mediocre 2D tiles? I've made some grass/sand/ice/etc. tiles and they are passable, but I'd like the quality to be a bit higher in the final product.

Check in the visual arts forums - they could give you the pointers you are seeking.

On that note, does anyone have any good links to teach programmers who suck at art how to make mediocre 2D tiles? I've made some grass/sand/ice/etc. tiles and they are passable, but I'd like the quality to be a bit higher in the final product.

Check in the visual arts forums - they could give you the pointers you are seeking.

Or something like this might be a good start, although I don't think it covers tiles: http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/pixel-art-tutorials/

Last time I tested it, some of the links no longer worked, but most do.

Things are pretty good right now. Even though I have lots of college work to do its not that bad. The main thing is I have gotten m 8 month work experience with Demonware. I had set out to get it and I'll be starting work in January and I can't wait.