Okay, so I'm no longer going to make the mistake of trying to establish release dates and deadlines. Too much real-life stuff knocks me off course and then I get stressed out because of it. To paraphrase the great John Carmack of Id software, RAGE and Buddy Knavery II will be released "when they're ready".

But I will simply say this: the plans for Buddy Knavery II are starting to come together very nicely. The plot, the music, the mechanics, everything. It will be worth the wait.

So here's the project that kept me over-caffeinated the last couple weeks:

The Ultimate LOST Trivia Quiz

Long story short, it's both a mini-game and a tribute to the show I consider the best of all time. If you also enjoy the show or want to see another example of what Silverlight can do, check it out!

I've posted a very early screenshot of RAGE here. You'll notice I keep qualifying it with "very early", since the UI isn't my primary focus for the time being. The article should still give a general idea of how RageEngine/RageBuilder works.

Update 2/21/2010: Another screenshot added here, along with a new article entitled Anatomy of a Script.

This should give a general idea where things stand on the RAGE project, and I'll update the graphic as things progress. I'm also preparing a number of resources that will be released on the same day:

• Video/textual walkthroughs of primary features (some with sample projects)
• Tips and resources for building your first adventure game
• The RAGE version of Buddy Knavery Episode 1 (open source)

Edit: my target date is "when it's ready". I tried establishing hard dates as a motivator, but what it actually translates to is unnecessary stress. They will be completed and released... when they're ready :)

You can never have enough point-and-click adventure games. With any luck, RAGE will help usher in a renaissance!

The engine's still in its infancy but the goals are clear:

• Creation of point-and-click adventures becomes fun and easy when leveraging Silverlight and RAGE.
• Nearly zero code required for a basic adventure.
• Creators focus on art, storyboards, and storylines. RAGE handles the grunt work and stays out of your way.
• The engine is fully extensible to support advanced scenarios and scene-level logic.

There will be updates and articles posted throughout the development cycle, so check back often!

Hello. My name is Buddy Knavery. You may remember me from such games as... Buddy Knavery. And you just might be asking yourself, "What the heck is Checksum Labs?"

Consider it a mix of modern technology and old-school nostalgia. For example, point-and-click adventures still have a place in the Checksum Labs, and they will be made here. Oh yes. They will. Muhwhaha.

Hope your chair's nice and comfortable — this place has that new checksum smell and it'll be around for years to come. I'll see you soon, as in Buddy Knavery Episode II: The Rock of Aegis.

Welcome to the new home of casual game development. Have a look at the navigation menu, then stop by the boards and say hello. There's a lot planned for the near future, so make some room in your Favorites list!