Depending on the situation, I could be working on the development of a website while working completely off a local copy of the database. Later I may need to point the web pages to a different database for testing that could be on one of the other corporate machines. Lastly, I could need to point the development to the live production server.

I used to accomplish this by having multiple versions of the web.config file that would point to each location. Now instead I add all the connection strings into a single web.config file and then comment out all of those that I’m not using.

I use Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2008 Express as my development tool and I can easily manage the web.config file internally and use one-click toolbar buttons to comment or uncomment out portions of the code.

Now I don’t have to worry about maintaining multiple web.config files and making sure I mirror any changes in one with all the others. Now I just use one file and have all the connection strings available at anytime as needed.

Image: Screen capture of web.config development interface

Post from: EveryJoe

Using Multiple Connections for ASP.NET Development

There are a lot of aspiring game designers out in the world today and I’m one of them. Well, I would be one if I could draw and come up with a story. Without those two things, you might as well just jump off a cliff when it comes to making a game. But there are plenty of other people out in the world who CAN draw and come up with cool stories and those are the people who should be entering the Pax 10 competition!

So, what’s all the hoopla about the Pax 10? Well, for one thing, they’re games that are going to be judged by the enormous web comic, Penny Arcade, which probably means a lot of people will see your submission if it wins. In fact, you’ll get to display your game at the super bad assed Penny Arcade Expo, where games are played and seen by many.

I think this is a great opportunity to get fans of games, especially of adventure games, out and seen in the world of players of games. There are tons of ideas out there for adventure games, so maybe we should let ourselves be heard, dangit!

If you’re interested, check out the official Pax 10 rules page.

Post from: EveryJoe

PAX 10 Competition

There are tons of awesome ways that the mere mortal human being can make adventure games and there are a lot of great tools out on the Internet that will help you achieve those goals! The one that I like the best is the U.K. based adventure game tool Adventure Game Studios. Not only is it pretty easy to work with (once you know how to program), there’s also a huge community over in the AGS forums filled with people who are just waiting to help you with any questions you may have.

Now, this community is so awesome that one of the members, Dave (a.k.a Densming), took some time and made a ton of tutorial videos for Adventure Game Studio that he put up in YouTube. Not only do you have a tool to help you make adventure games, but now you have a tutorial on how to use the tool!

Here’s the first video in a long line of tutorials that Dave has started:

Dave makes it look easy, doesn’t he? If you’re interested in checking out one of his 23 tutorials on AGS, check out his Youtube page.

[Special thanks to SSH's AGS site for being so awesome!]

Post from: EveryJoe

Want to make an adventure game? Here’s how!

There is a new adventure game creation tool that is bound to hit the Internet any time now developed by a guy going by the name Clarvalon. The new creation tool, which is called XAGE (XNA Adventure Game Engine) is going to be using Microsoft’s XNA framework, which is good for a lot of developers who don’t want to learn a new programming language, but still would love to create adventure games.

Now, XNA is being used on a number of different platforms, including the Xbox 360, Microsoft’s Zune MP3 player and PC. This can only mean good things for the adventure game genre, as there is the potential of getting these games created by indy developers out on Xbox Live.

And adventure games getting more lime light definitely can’t be bad.

If you’re interested in taking a look, check out the video below:

Post from: EveryJoe

XAGE – New Adventure Game Creation Tool

Good news for adventure game development company, Lighthouse Interactive, developer of Belief and Betrayal, Keepsake and BarrowHill. They just signed a publishing deal with Nintendo UK so that they may create Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS games for our little hungry hands.

Steve Wall, the VP of Lighthouse Interactive says this about the deal: “This is a significant milestone in the continued growth of the company. It gives us the opportunity to further expand our product catalogue and take Lighthouse Interactive to the next level. We look forward to working with Nintendo.” Good move, Lighthouse Interactive!

[Image courtesy of Lighthouse Interactive.]

Post from: EveryJoe

Lighthouse Interactive – Nintendo Certified

There’s a guy out there named Josh Roberts, who owns his own little game production company called Chapter 11 Studios, that is creating his very own adventure game called Rise of the Hidden Sun that has apparently been in production for quite some time. But you know what? Life gets in the way! And Josh’s life has also got in the way, as he now has a house, a kid and one less kidney. I mean, that’s a lot of life happening and I can’t blame a guy for taking some time off from the game he’s creating, even though it looks pretty damn awesome.

And I want to play it.

Anywys, Josh wrote an Adventure Architect article on Adventure Gamers. Adventure Architect articles are awesome, because you get to hear all the nitty gritty details of some kick ass indy adventure game developers. And what isn’t cool about that?

So if you’re into this sort of thing (like me), sit back, grab some coffee (or a coke, whatever makes you happy) and read the damn article.

[Image for Rise of the Hidden Sun courtesy of Chapter 11 Studios.]

Post from: EveryJoe

Adventure Architect: Rise of the Hidden Sun

The German adventure game development company, Daedalic Entertainment and Russian publishing company, Game Factory Interactive, have signed a deal together to bring three of Daedalic’s newly developed adventure games – A New Beginning, The Whispered World and Edna & Harvey: The Breakout – to Russia in a hopes to make world peace.

Seriously. These two companies are going to bring world peace to the world, or the world will end.

Okay, it won’t really end, but at least the Russians are getting some kick ass looking adventure games from Germany. And in my opinion, that’s really nice.

All three games will be released on PC in Russia, the former USSR and the Baltic Region of Europe sometime between now and next year. Yes, I know it’s a long span, but I hear it’ll be worth it. Very worth it.

[News found via GameIndustry. Images courtesy of Game Factory Interactive and Daedalic Entertainment.]

Post from: EveryJoe

Russians and Germans sign a deal without resorting to fisticuffs!

If you would like to find out a little more about this sweet looking game, check out Vince’s video below:

Post from: EveryJoe

Resonance – A Video Preview!

Post from: EveryJoe

Adventure Game Studio on XBox Live and Valve!

Oh, you know you love developer diaries, don’t you? Because in the back of your head, at some point, you’ve probably thought, “Hey, I would love to make a video game. Let’s do it.” And then you just realize it’s too much and it makes you want to cry like a little tiny baby with colic.

At least that’s the thought process that goes through my head when I ever think that maybe I can make a kick ass game.

Well, there are people out there who are brave enough to confront their game creating demons and better people still who document what their doing as their doing it. Yes, that’s right – Vince Twelve of xii games has once again updated his Developer Diary on his new creation, Resonance. That would make this Vince’s VIIth (or for those of you who don’t know Roman numerals, 7th (and for those of you who don’t know numbers, seventh)) developers diary. This guy is on a ROLL.

In this Developer’s Diary, we learn that Resonance has three acts, with the first one being the toughest – at least programming wise. Vince also tells us that he’d guesses it’ll take him and his team of awesomeness to finish the project. I’d have to say that’s not bad… not bad at all.

But why would I want to spoil everything for you? I say, go over to xii games and read the diary entry yourself.

Post from: EveryJoe

Resonance Developer Diary VII