DDR Championship preview!

That's right! It's that time of year again where we will be hosting the Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix Dance Off Championship Preview! Ok, this will actually be the first time we will be doing this and it's actually won't be a competition. But we're inviting anybody who wants to come over tomorrow at say4:30ish pm to enjoy an afternoon of watching people try to dance to pumping bass beats! We know of a few slow songs to get you started and then maybe you can move into the quicker steps and finally mastering songs that have 209 beats per minute! I canna even do that yet. Give us a call or drop an email to let us know you might drop by for some dripping action. It should be a fun time had by all!

Dance Dance your feet off!

If it wasn't so late right now, I'd be doing just that! Damn! I want a house with no neighbors within 10 feet in all directions! Oh well. It will come, one day. I found a really fast song to dance to. I forget the name of it, but it's easy, but yet fast. I got a decent grade on it the first time I tried it. I like songs that I can get a decent grade the first time on. On some of the songs, there's these combos where you have to get the corners of the mat at once. In the first songs I saw that in, I couldn't do it. I couldn't figure out how to move my legs in the direction I wanted them to go and because of that, there was no way to set myself up for the next beat. However, I did find a song that was slow enough to let me practice those wiley corner combos. Now if I can only remember what it was called.

I have some news that I'm hesitant to say anything about. It's still being worked out and it may not even happen. So, I'll leave it at that. One day I might have a story about I had big news that I didn't tell anybody. Wow, now that's would be a great short story. I'd call it, "Big news, Small brain" or somethig like that. Err, maybe not.

Welp, that's it for tonight. We have this guy coming over at 10am tomorrow to asses the property value for the landlord. Wheee.

Make way for the Revolution!

Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix that is. I just got that today for the Xbox and boy is it addictive. I played 2 hours straight at least! So far my best score on a song is a C. I'm just average. *sniff* And that's on the easist settings too! So, I think I'll be moving ahead my goal of weight loss a little. heh Here's some testimonails about losing weight with DDR. Ok, that's enough. Time for some more DDR heh

Day Five: Pissed at the Advisors

Ok. I'm really really really really pissed right now. I'm getting the run around at the WSU pullman campus regarding my MIS minor. The good business advisor of the east is gone for 5 months. Replacing her is some troll-orc halfling thingey saying I still need one class. Though, her little peanut sized brain is not grasping the fact I have these classes already. So, I'm waiting to talk with the local advisor here. Hopefully it will get turned. But if I need to, I'll do some sort of test showing I don't need the stupid ass class.

In other school related news, I'm pretty caught up. Not too far behind in math anymore. Tomorrow should place me even. Two test on Monday. A true/false in Intro to AI and your basic math test in Calculus.

Well, that's it for right now. Until next time.

Day Two: Legs of Soarness -3, don't fail me now!

So, I've been walking a lot since I started back at the CBC campus. I'm having to walk from one corner of the campus to the other. It might be even further as it would seem that the place that I park at that used to have lots of empty spaces had none today. But that's ok cause the overflow parking is right nearby. Anyway, I'm walking a lot. And my calves are feeling it. Yes, moo calf, moo. It's pure fun walking upstairs. But it's all for the good.

I actually did some math sections today. Finally finished up (sort of) the first section and started on the next section. However, my algebra is off as the book is listing the answer as one thing and I'm getting something different. I'll take another hack at it tomorrow morning, when my head isn't swimming.

I took a can of the soup-at-hand from cambells today for lunch. Only 80 cals. And surprisingly, it filled me up, along with my chips and salsa. Not a bad little lunch. And far cheaper than subway.

I'm pretty proud of myself. I did homework against the better judgement of my swimming head. I'm keeping the focus. I just need to catch up. Welp, so until next time.

Day One: Cardboard and Coffee

This morning I read two chapters in my bio book. I had coffee too while reading. I'm prepared for lecture for tomorrow. Last lecture, the instructor kept on grilling everybody on things that she thought we'd know. I was thinking that it was from last quarter. Normally, I would have read the chapter before going to class, and I did. Cept that she decided to press forward to the next chapter, one I haven't read yet. The questions she asked I had thought came from last quarter was actually in the chapter I didn't read. But it's not my fault! I didn't know she'd cover two chapters in one day. Anyway, I finished reading that chapter and the next. I think we have a test on Thursday. Tomorrow I will begin studying for it. A bunch of things to memorize. The biggest reason why I hate Bio. And undergraduate studies in general.

Following bio book reading (say that fast and you might get bible book reading), I broke down the cardboard for the recyling bins and got it ready for our trip that occured in the afternoon. Pretty much a successful morning, if I'd ever saw one. heh Though, just before we left, I got a huge headache, I suspected it was cause by the overdosing on coffee. I took some excederin which normally works in like a half hour or so. But the headache wouldn't go away. So, later in the afternoon, I made more coffee. I poured it into my big extra large Gas Powered Games coffee mug. For us computer folks. Anyway, I drank it all. Still, my headache remained. I cotemplated taking my contacts out and taking a nap. But I didn't. I tried to do some math homework. Well, I did a few problems at least. Tomorrow morning I plan to do some more over some....wait for it....Coffee.

The headache is gone now. I'm gonna to write out a few things I want to say at my next game dev meeting. That's a whole 'nother can of beans in itself. So, I'll see all you fine folks tomorrow.

Roadmap to: Creating Games

This is the first goal listed, for good reason. It is something I want to do for a long time coming. Games are interesting, challenging, and like, movies and the theater, can change a person's view on life. This goal came about from the desire to make games that are better than what is available now. This was more than ten years past though. I'm still not to a point where I can create a game better than what is currently available. I could blame the ever changing technology trend. I could say that making a game in the early 90s pre-DirectX was like forging a fine piece of jewerly from a lump of coal. Both are the whining of an undedicated man who deserves no cheese. Wine, cheese....get it? Nevermind....

So, the path to creating games has been littered with unread books, untested knowledge, and a long list of college classes that have no meaning. So really, a bunch of time wasted. I'm still along that path to the goal of creating great games though. As varied and widespread as it is. Here are a few of the milestones that I will use set my path straight to the goal I want to be at:

• Finish 3rd Quarter Calculus with the greater understanding of Math as applied to 3D objects


• Finish Duck/hunter game with Game Development Club members


• Research new directions for games


• Learn the technology required to make the games


• Interest others into a collaboration


• Learn the business side of creating games as related to owning your own business


• Getting into the Game Industry itself


• Daily focus to see the end of my path

In the previous post, there is a link to articles on how to motivate yourself and/or others. There within was the suggestion of creating a "due date" for your goals or they are just dreams. There are only two definite dates in the milestones above, daily focus and the end of the quarter for calculus. I've also heard of story about Jim Carey and how he wrote himself a million dollar check just before he came to Hollywood. He post dated the check for some amount of time, I forget how long, but he managed to cash that check by the time on the check. I can see the sense in doing this. So, with that said, here is the time that I will give myself to achieve this batch of milestones:

3 years

There you have it. 3 years from today, January 18th 2004. Using the daily focus goal, I will achieve this. Please keep track of this to chart my progress.

Doing the footwork

Doing a quick search for how to get motivated, I came across this site with some articles that seem to ring true. You may go over them in your spare time. Della's Advice I've read a few articles. Truth seems to pour from them. The search continues....

Of rolling pebbles and immovable boulders

I am but an immovable boulder in a water furious with action. I am but a stationary slab watching the raging water flow around me. Small pebbles scream past in the flood. Pebbles moving fast to their goal, smoothed at the end.

Yeah, I don't know what I'm talking about either. Actually, it's kind of simple really. It's a metaphor on how I seem to moving no where fast, filled with too many goals to actually achieve to move in any one direction. The pebbles are those that have clearly defined goals and move in the river of life, not resisting, only getting more beautiful with time, eventually ending up on some river shore. I feel like a big ol rock (and look it). Though I may have goals, they are not clearly defined with no direction associated with them. Let me list some of my goals that I can control:

1. Creating games


2. Writing fiction


3. Learning Japanese


4. Losing weight/get fit


5. Travel the world

Each of these items have a path that all lead in different directions, though some might have a common path at the beginning. I find it very difficult to be in all places and achieve all goals. But you are going, why don't you just accomplish one goal at a time? That seems like the most logical choice, dumbass. True, that seems like the most logical choice. However, my mind is untrained. I tend to flutter between projects, creating one, abandoning another, wishing I could do the next thing. Thus, I have many things I have started and left for dead. I can see another goal here I can add to the list: Achieve goals, one at a time. Something I can control, for the most part.

Change is the hardest thing in life. In order for me a become that smooth pebble at the end of the long journey, a change in attitude, in outlook, in being, is needed. What to start on first? Realizing that what I am doing now effects what I do later. Possibly a good way to see this is making a path for each of my goals. Also, it won't hurt to think of what you need to be doing as what you want to be doing. Case in point, I need to be doing my homework for math. The need is simply for the grade. However, the want is connected to the desire to create games as computer games rely heavily on math. So, that will be my starting point, as all pathos have beginnings and endings.

So, there you have it. My ramblings about my life in general. This just might be my craziest, but true, post ever. I'll be sure to keep you posted inbetween my other insights.

Sunday Matchup!

Yes, it's Sunday again. Meaning? Just another week of my life has gone by...again. Time flies when you're lazy. Time flies even faster when you are actually doing stuff. I'm several sections behind in my math class. However, I'm pretty much right on in my readings in my other two classes, Bio and Intro to AI. I just haven't been able to figure out a good homework schedule yet. Yes, I know....just an excuse in this sea we call Life.

Welp, I really don't know what to say here, so until the next time I have nothing to say.

Rightey oh!

Well, now that it is out of my system, time to post about Return of the King.

ROTK was a great movie.

Come back next week where I will do my review on Stuck on You. Here's a little taste: "It was great...."

All Nude, All the Time

Nude Stick Figures. Please be warned, this is for the "over 18" crowd. Please be responsible.

Of things Me

You represent... apathy.
You don't really show any emotion. You can be
considered cruel and cold, but you just don't
really care about anything. This is just the
way you are... you're quite a challenge to get
close to, and others may perceive you as
boring.


What feeling do you represent?
brought to you by Quizilla

I'm actually happy about this one. hehehe cause it's true!

The comments?! Where did the comments go?!

Ok, I'm a little miffed that my comments have gone away. Its not like I memorize that code. Damnit! Ok, so I'll be commentless for a while. Hell, I might even start using CV's little slice of Internet. Too much work!

Starting off with a BANG!

I wonder if my title is a little redundant. Let me explain. In close knit computer circles, the exclamation mark is also known as(AKA) the bang. I don't know why and nor will I be spending hours researching the history of it either. Just let it be known.

I just moved a portable heater down here so expect less typos. It's freaking cold you know. Ok, enough with the boring dribble. Lets get to the good stuff!

Lately, I've been reading a book about the plot of a good portion of stories that have a hero element. The book is called The Writer's Journey. The author, one Christopher Vogel, basically takes another book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell, and rehashes it. Actually he takes the contents and applies them to the screenplay. I haven't read the second book, but I will someday.

In any event, both books go about telling each point of the journey of the hero. It would seem that many a movie use this format. From Beverly Hills Cop, to, my favorite, Star Wars. Good ol George L. read the second book many moons ago and applied the hero structure to the first Star Wars film. It was interesting to see how closely the movie followed the hero structure. I should say that this wasn't any ol hero structure. It was the basic backbone found in most myths, as you all probably knew because of the numerous documentaries you have seen on Star Wars.

But now, if you've gotten this far, you're wondering why I read this book. Well, as some of you know, I want to become a game programmer/designer. One day while reading a blog from some guy in the game industry (which will remain nameless, but can be found at the bottom of list of links) I stumbled across a list of books he recommended reading if you want to get in to game design. I saw it and decided that I would read it. I found a copy in the WSU library network of great libraries (it came from George Fox University in Newell, OR) and I started reading it. These past couple days of school cancellations helped in the speed of finishing it. I am nearly done with one chapter left. It has been an eye opener to say the least. Before, the subject of theme, motivation, metaphor, motif, insert your favorite literary tool here, were just the subject of high school english. NO MORE!! It is painfully apparent that I need to learn some more before I go about creating the next best seller!

Oh yeah, for those of you who keep up with my Seattle Seahawks craziness, they loss last weekend in a close one. A really good game. The only turnover made by either team resulted in the touchdown that won it for Green Bay. So another year goes by with Seattle needing another year to think about things. Lets all hope for a successful season next year.

So, until next time...

This Writing Life

Well, my two month anniversary is fast approaching. Two months of keeping a blog. Can you believe it? It's been quite the ride. I know the next two months will be just as good.

Lately, I've been having dreams that I am actually able to remember. It's kind of nice to live my second life in my head at night. It's certainly more interesting than what I'm capable now. Dreams are interesting though. I don't remember many dreams. The one that I still remember from my childhood was more of a nightmare. In fact, most of the ones I remember are nightmares. They also tend to relate to the current going owns in the world. For example, the dream that I mentioned above I had just about the time of the eruption of Mt. Saint Hellenic. And, as you might have guessed, the dream had to do about volcanoes. Some of my other dreams include nuclear holocaust. Because of those dreams, I was afraid of Air Raid sirens. Nothing like hearing those things go off while you are in northern Montana during the mid 80s, on the 4th of July no less.

I keep on telling Dawn that she should write down her dreams into screen plays so I....err we can make lots of money on them. She just doesn't understand how talking bears out for revenge would make a great movie! Millions I tell you!! I just had a dream the other night that I thought I would write down. However, it seemed kind of cliche. Kind of like most movies/TV shows/books. Well, maybe I'll do a little outline or something so I don't forget it in the time I'm working on my multi-million dollar games. lol

Just a reminder for you crazy NFL fans. Wildcard weekend is this weekend. And more importantly, the Seahawks play Sunday at Green Bay. Everything I've read so far is that Seattle is gonna get trounced. We will see though.

Well, so until next time...

Happy Fricking New Year

Why hasn't there been a book called "How the Grinch stole New Years?" I'd buy that book.