Another long break between posts, so there is a lot to cover. I have purchased a Unity license although it was more challenging than it should have been. I setup a similar test application using Unity that I was using with MonoGame. The process to do so was completed in a week or so: much less time than expected. I had spent a couple weeks about a year ago with Unity tutorials, so I already had a leg up on how things worked. It was still nice to get something that worked on all but one of my currently available platforms. Prior to last week, I have spent a couple weeks working on the first game. Of course I stumbled upon some of Unity's lackings, but so far nothing that I have not been able to work around. Last week was a trip to Ireland. Yesterday was a holiday. Today through the rest of the week will be in the mountains.
Ireland was amazing. We spent a couple days in the Killarney area followed by a couple in Dublin. Killarney reminds me a lot of the Highlands or Helen. Small town, lots of small restaurants and pubs. Temperature was mild, warm enough to not require a jacket and cold enough that jeans were comfortable all day. The people bring new meaning to the term friendly. Yes, it is a little touristy. Everyone was helpful and kind. There is a large park area that we drove through on one of our touring days that looked just like the mountains of the southern Appalachians. The park was filled with mountain laurel, rhododendron, and scrub trees. Had that same fall temperature feel as well. Mountains, sea, and plains all right there. I did walk a sea beach, but it was too cold to even think about going into the water.
Dublin, while still a small town in comparison to big cities I am used to, has an old city feel like Washington DC or New York. It is however much older. There are no mega tall buildings. There is plenty of history. The people are just as friendly as they were in Killarney. It was fun to watch Georgia Tech Football in another country, even if it was configured with a bias for Boston College. Irish Catholic school, go figure. At least we now know that 4th and 19 is possible. Go Jackets!
Facts I find interesting: Ireland's land area is slightly more than half that of Georgia. Ireland's total population, both Ireland and Northern Ireland, is about 60% of that of Georgia. The Republic of Ireland's population is less than the Atlanta metro area. If you turn Ireland just a bit, it almost entirely fits inside of Georgia.
A slightly strange thing is the English abbreviation for Ireland is IRL. To me, that stands for In Real Life, an old BBS/gamer term.
Now onto the north Georgia mountains and next week back to game development.
