My Starting Capital

It gets tiring listening to the news and feeling angry and powerless at what is going on.  So, I decided to do something about it.  I started my own game development company.

I first registered with the Virginia State Corporate Comission.  The processing to start a limited liability corporation (LLC) cost $100.  I registered myself as the sole owner.  About 2 weeks later, I got a certificate in the mail that said that I am a registered LLC and can do business in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Half-naked amazon standing on a dead man... Best... Flag... Evar!

Once that was done, I electronically filed for a Federal Employer ID Number and then with the Virginia Department of Taxation.  Both of these were free.  And I was done!  Or so I think…

I keep telling myself that it can’t be this easy or that I’m doing something wrong.  If so, time will tell, and I’ll be sure to write about it.

Now, this may sound all fancy, but in reality I own a ”Corporation of One….  Me.”

My first project is to make a Flash Game and get a good sponsor for my game.  Hopefully, I can get a decent amount of money to get a new laptop that can run Adobe CS5.  As it is, I have a decent “beater” laptop that is about 3 years old, and a bunch of free software to make a Flash Game.

I am only using all free tools to make my first game:

• Adobe Flex SDK 3.0 which runs on Java
• Flash Develop which is a free compiler for making Flash on the Flex SDK
• Paint.NET for some very basic graphic manipulation
• GraphicsGale (free trial) for some basic sprite animation
• Textpad for basic text manipulation (especially for HTML)
• FileZilla for uploading my files onto servers
• Inkscape for vector graphic manipulation

I should have everything I need to conquer the world…  Except that I can’t really draw that well.

Time to make some friends…

…Are greatly exaggerated.

This is my boomstick.

It’s been a busy month and I’m wrapping up my remaining projects by this week so I can get down to the good stuff.

A lot has been going on in the blogosphere. I have a lot of thoughts on the Apple vs. Adobe war and I’m writing a long article on the matter. It’s very comprehensive that I’m daring to call it a “manifesto”, even giving the article it’s own URL and website.

And, to put my money where my mouth is, I’ve also incorporated my own game company.

Now before everyone gets impressed the humble reality is that it’s still just me, working in my spare time, late at night, after my day job and when my family is asleep.  So it’s not like I’m hauling off and going at this full time when the only game to my name got me $100 in MochiAds.  I’m just setting things up so I can pay some artists and musicians for some commissions for my next game.

Anyone willing to work for hope and change?

Currently, I am also working on my company website to detail my adventures as a part-time business owner hoping to encourage other people to do the same. I figured that at worst, I will be providing some money to some starving artists and musicians in this terrible economy.

So don’t worry, I’ll be back in about a week with my manifesto.

But for now, you can catch me on Facebook in the “I’m with Adobe” group.

Looks like I have to rethink my calling.