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The software reviewed and/or downloadable in this site, along with any related images presented or concepts related to the software, belongs to its respective people, companies, and development teams. All downloadable titles in this site are "freeware", and the source of each software is clearly stated. The opinions presented regarding such software does not reflect the views of its creators; the intention of this site is to inform and pay tribute to the many programmers who have chosen QuickBasic 4.5.

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Should Programmers Shrivel Up or Succeed?

(2/20/2001) Is there a life after QB programming? Many of QB's veterans like Enhanced Creations and Master Creating show us how to treat the future best.

As a QB gamer, one of the things that saddens me the most is when I visit one of the QB sites which I go to at least two or three times a day and see the entire site replaced with a Goodbye message. It depresses me because the webmaster strips the site bare before they go. This provides some form of closure, but it also ensures that programmers new to the scene have no chance of finding out what these webmaster's contributions were to QB. A lot of QB programmers have gone this way and I'm afraid that all it will take is but a few years for these people to be forgotten.

But even sadder to me is when these great QB programmers disappear and never seem to do anything after that. Too many times I've seen a QB programmer disappear from the face of the earth with an angry "Goodbye" message. I wonder what happens to these people. Do they continue to program in any programming languages? Do they get the retributions they seek? Will they lead long and happy lives?

No matter what programming language you choose to work with, one important thing to plan ahead of time is what your goals are. Then success is meeting those goals and creating new and higher goals for yourself or enjoying the success that you have already attained. In this sense every programmer's path is endless, and thus the path for every programmer is different.

Take Enhanced Creations as an example. With the DirectQB library (a staple of many QB games) and the award-winning Wetspot 2, these guys left the QB community for about a year's time, but then returned as a programming group who does C and Allegro programming. But at the same time, they didn't neglect their roots and all their QB-related projects are downloadable from their site.

Master Creating's path to success is slightly different. After eight years of programming in QuickBasic, they've chosen to publish their upcoming line of games commercially. In this sense, Master Creating will hopefully get the financial retribution that they deserve. But what's important is that Master Creating didn't forget their roots either. Although it will update less often, their QuickBasic site will not be taken down and all their QB projects can still be downloaded for free.

But money is not the only measure of success. With it's six Gaming Gold awards, the people of Darkness Ethereal more than deserve the title of being successful. They set out a plan to create an amazing game, they released it to the QB community and through CNET, and now their game is literally played and enjoyed by thousands of people around the world. To a game programming team, this is a dream come true.

Finally, let us not forget about the successes made by webmasters who like QuickBasic just fine as a hobby that gives back. News sites like Abyssware Studios, Future Software, Quickbasic News, QB Cult Magazine, GBGames, QB on Acid, NeoBasic, StattoNet, and ourselves all play a role in keeping the well-oiled machine of QB information and program distribution along with other QB sites that are just beginning to surface. It's this link among QB sites that keep the community strong. 

And thus the capacity for success in the QB community is never-ending. But let's not forget the biggest success when it comes to QB games. People play QB games to have fun and learn new tricks. Perhaps QB webmasters should do the same when it comes their websites. As stinging as it seems, the climate is not as harsh in the QB community as most people believe it is. So when you're absolutely sure that it's time to put down your QB website, don't just pack it up and leave. Keep in touch. You'd be surprised how many people not only play the games you've made in this community, but also care about your future as a fellow programmer and comrade as well.

Vance Velez 

Editor, V Planet! QuickBasic Magazine

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