Wow it has been a while. I have recently restarted school and am deep into wonderful software engineering papers and research. So exciting. Starting the semester turned out to be a lot harder than I originally anticipated. In order to give a proper understanding I must start back earlier in June. This is when I had my first clues that electronics just were not for me.
June: My desktop burns out its Video card. Luckily EVGA the producer of my card has a lifetime warranty policy and gladly allowed me to RMA the card for a new one. When I receive my new card my laptop promptly decides to short its own video card and give me lovely pink patterns on the screen. Still I fortunately have a replacement plan on the laptop and sent it in to get repaired.
August 20th: I have been playing laptop tag with the laptop warranty people for over two months now and they still claim to be unable to detect my problem. Finally I tell them to keep the laptop until they can find the problem. A couple days later my video card shorts out on my desktop computer AGAIN! This time it takes the motherboard with it (perhaps the cause of the first problem?). EVGA makes my motherboard as well and gladly lets me RMA both units for a free replacement. (BTW EVGA has incredible technical support well beyond the call of duty and they have fast response times, and allow you to leave your phone number rather then wait on hold. If you do this they will call you back when your place in line is reached. I cannot say enough about how awesome their technical support is.) At this point school starts in a week. Finally the laptop people find my problem and start sending it back.
September 10th: Middle of first week of school. Luckily I have had my laptop to complete assignments. My parts from EVGA arrive. The motherboard arrived dead with the dreaded FF error. (see internet for tells of woe and sadness over the FF error) EVGA again offers free replacement. I pull out my TI-83 calculator to ready it for classes to find out the memory unit has been corrupted and is dead. Missing my good sound system I plug my speakers into my laptop. A day later while sitting on my bed and NOT using my speakers at all they short out and die making HORRIBLE thumping, bumping, staticy screeching sounds. After sitting on hold with Logitech for FOREVER I finally get somebody who barely speaks english to explain to me since Circuit City (the store I bought them from) is closed they cannot complete the warranty and can only give me a coupon. Sad day... I also lost my jumpdrive.
Present Day: My computer and laptop are both finally back up, I found my jumpdrive again, and my replacement speakers are in the mail. Wow... I do not want to repeat that again. However I do have ALOT of experience in dealing with many different tech support lines now. I guess thats a plus. So much for the bonus money I got in scholarships though.
Well I've got homework to do so I'll see you later.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Projects and Purpose
A few days ago, a close friend and roommate of mine finally put our plans into motion. Under the name of Novabox Studios we have started work on a large scale software project, a video game we have named Gunslingers.
As this is a freetime non-profit effort, it has not progressed very far, but we haved launched a blog, novaboxproductions.blogspot.com, and a facebook group to post updates on the games progress. Currently we are waiting to have some cool things to show before we start posting, but it is an exciting time. My current tasks are Networking, and menu design. I have completed the functionality parts of both, but need to polish and pretty them up in order to be pleasing to the eye and efficient.
If you are interested in learning more please follow us on our blog and on facebook. We are planning on a new post every week to talk about aspects of the project, and show clips and screenshots of the game in progress.\
Hope to hear from you soon.
As this is a freetime non-profit effort, it has not progressed very far, but we haved launched a blog, novaboxproductions.blogspot.com, and a facebook group to post updates on the games progress. Currently we are waiting to have some cool things to show before we start posting, but it is an exciting time. My current tasks are Networking, and menu design. I have completed the functionality parts of both, but need to polish and pretty them up in order to be pleasing to the eye and efficient.
If you are interested in learning more please follow us on our blog and on facebook. We are planning on a new post every week to talk about aspects of the project, and show clips and screenshots of the game in progress.\
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Writing...
You may or may not know this, but I like to write. In fact I try to write often. however it seems one thing or another always stops me and I end up getting nothing down on paper. Then I ran across this quote the other day.
"A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper." - E.B. White (1899 - 1965) American writer.
Pretty harrowing quote for me,apparently I need to put forth a little more effort into my work! My dream is to publish several of my stories. I have always fancied the art of storytelling and love reading great stories. I suppose that is why I love being a GameMaster when roleplaying. I get the opportunity to make the world, and influence how the story is told.
Apparently though I need to do a little more work to get something done. Shouldn't have been such a shocker I suppose, but I have been at it for a long time.
For those that are interested here is a portion of my projects.
"A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper." - E.B. White (1899 - 1965) American writer.
Pretty harrowing quote for me,apparently I need to put forth a little more effort into my work! My dream is to publish several of my stories. I have always fancied the art of storytelling and love reading great stories. I suppose that is why I love being a GameMaster when roleplaying. I get the opportunity to make the world, and influence how the story is told.
Apparently though I need to do a little more work to get something done. Shouldn't have been such a shocker I suppose, but I have been at it for a long time.
For those that are interested here is a portion of my projects.
- Science Fiction book series.
- Fantasy Book about Summoners in a never ending war between three nations
- Cyberpunk set in the years 2021 and 2051 with a world of magic clashing with the world of technology.
- Finished a script for an Real-Time-Strategy remake of a game set in a future where Antimatter weapons have destroyed 80% of the landmass on earth.
- Finished a script for a current Videogame project named Gunslingers (c) NovaBox studios 2010
- Multiple song lyrics
- a few short stories
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Loco Logo
The new logo is up! however I cannot seem to get my transparency working. Blast!
Oh Well. Comments indicated a like for the rough sketch style, so I tried to keep the roughness but make it look a little more professional.
Thanks for your comments. Real posts to follow soon.
Oh Well. Comments indicated a like for the rough sketch style, so I tried to keep the roughness but make it look a little more professional.
Thanks for your comments. Real posts to follow soon.
Monday, March 22, 2010
New Logo Idea...
So the transformation of my blog is well underway. Thanks to one suggestion, the colors are more cheery, and hopefully easier to read. I also have a sketch of the idea for my new logo.
For those who find this rough sketch messy, the items on the left are a notebook, some paper, and a couple pens. The items on the far right are a couple cds. The laptop is my newest tech gadget, and I love using it at school. Finally the text will be computer placed in the final version and won't look so sloppy.
I would love some comments, to know if you like, dislike, think I should stick with the original picture, etc...
Hope to hear from you soon!
I would love some comments, to know if you like, dislike, think I should stick with the original picture, etc...
Hope to hear from you soon!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Updating...
So I am considering updating some of the pictures and things on my blog. It just doesn't seem to feel like home yet. I was wondering if any of the few people who read this had any ideas.
A couple I have been thinking about:
-Actually putting my face on the blog... (maybe some people like it better without it)
-Changing the header picture to better reflect my hobbies and passions.
(I shall have to post the concept idea tomorrow.)
-Changing the colors to be a little more inviting.
-Adding more pictures to the sidebar.
Well thats about it for my creativity right now. Finals are starting up again. Please post some comments and help me get this place a little more interesting. G'night!
A couple I have been thinking about:
-Actually putting my face on the blog... (maybe some people like it better without it)
-Changing the header picture to better reflect my hobbies and passions.
(I shall have to post the concept idea tomorrow.)
-Changing the colors to be a little more inviting.
-Adding more pictures to the sidebar.
Well thats about it for my creativity right now. Finals are starting up again. Please post some comments and help me get this place a little more interesting. G'night!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Review: Plants vs. Zombies
Being overwhelmed with homework this semester, my only time for gaming has come in brief 15 minute or so intervals. Most games I am used to playing require more time. Then I stumbled onto this little gem by Popcap games. Easy to learn, full of style, and fun this defense based game, has been alot of fun.
The concept of the game is pretty simple. Zombies are coming to eat your brains, and your only hope of defense is to strategically place plants to guard your lawn, pool, and eventually roof. At first the zombies are easily stopped by plants such as the peashooter, and chomper, or the potato mine. As the levels progress bigger and harder zombies begin to appear. Bungie zombies, buckethead zombies, pogo zombies, and the scary gargantuan zombie. Eventually you must face the evil Dr. Zomboss, who is out for suburban dominance, with his zombie horde, and large robot.
The beauty of the game comes in its ability to be simple and easy to play, yet with enough options to please any strategic mind. The many game-types ranging from adventure, to puzzles give a refreshing amount of variety.
The art is also a winner, with fun and brightly colored plants, and entertaining variations of zombies. My favorite was the newspaper zombie, who uses a newspaper as a shield and upon losing it goes into a rage and runs at your plants (he was THIS close to finishing his sudoku puzzle).
The music didn't fall behind either, a fun upbeat score, keeps your head bobbing as you fight off the undead horde. for the end credits a fun music video completes the well done musical score.
In closing I recommend this game for anyone. It is fun and easy to play, and not demanding on your time. Just check out this sample of the credit video. I give it a 10 out of 10.
The concept of the game is pretty simple. Zombies are coming to eat your brains, and your only hope of defense is to strategically place plants to guard your lawn, pool, and eventually roof. At first the zombies are easily stopped by plants such as the peashooter, and chomper, or the potato mine. As the levels progress bigger and harder zombies begin to appear. Bungie zombies, buckethead zombies, pogo zombies, and the scary gargantuan zombie. Eventually you must face the evil Dr. Zomboss, who is out for suburban dominance, with his zombie horde, and large robot.
The beauty of the game comes in its ability to be simple and easy to play, yet with enough options to please any strategic mind. The many game-types ranging from adventure, to puzzles give a refreshing amount of variety.
The art is also a winner, with fun and brightly colored plants, and entertaining variations of zombies. My favorite was the newspaper zombie, who uses a newspaper as a shield and upon losing it goes into a rage and runs at your plants (he was THIS close to finishing his sudoku puzzle).
The music didn't fall behind either, a fun upbeat score, keeps your head bobbing as you fight off the undead horde. for the end credits a fun music video completes the well done musical score.
In closing I recommend this game for anyone. It is fun and easy to play, and not demanding on your time. Just check out this sample of the credit video. I give it a 10 out of 10.
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