Progress…

Way to stereotype, O'Reilly.
The site is slowly being filled up with some content! You’ll find updated About Me, CV and Contact pages, so this website is slightly more useful now… at least people will be able to contact me. The layouts still need a bit of work, but feel free to leave me feedback about anything on the website – The more comments I get, the better I can make it! The next step will be working on my example projects, so I can actually show my work, but let’s take this one step at a time!
My first new project will be Java-based, because I seem to have forgotten how to Java (if that’s possible, it’s exactly the same as C#). Probably something using Swing and networking, probably some kind of poker game / chatroom. If you have any good project suggestions, let me know. I’m blasting through Head First Java by Kathy Sierra, and I’m really liking the unique learning style. It definitely sticks more than your standard wall of words textbook, and most beginner Java books are pretty hefty. I also have Beginning Android Games by Mario Zechner waiting for me, like I mentioned previously – I’ve read through some of it before, and I’ve been told that it’s the best by various other people. Still, I’d rather have the better Java foundation first before working on Android projects (of which I have a few good design ideas)!
Made my day to read this comment about HF Java, so thanks for that. And I can completely relate to the more-books-more-learning thing postponing just making something. The “best” approach (from a learning and expertise perspective) seems to be iterative… learn a little try a little learn a little make a little (thing) etc etc etc.
Java was just about the *only* language or tool where I did not fall into that, but for two reasons:
* It was 1996 and there were only TWO java books, period, and some sketchy Sun documentation, so, nowhere else to go
* The API was teeny. The entire JDK package/class chart fit onto a single sheet of paper.
Now, it is so ludicrously out of control that it makes you feel like you really need to learn/know more before diving in. I have been feeling the same way forever about video editing with Final Cut Pro (vs. iMovie).
Anyway, best of luck and just GO MAKE SOME GAMES. Or anything, really. Your instincts about that are dead-on.