Digital Dave

It’s about time I get to write a post…

You could not begin to imagine the problems I’ve been having within the last week-and-a-half.

1. First, it began storming incredibly bad (the week before last), so I unplugged my desktop to avoid a disaster.  The next morning, I go to plug in the computer and I hear a quick hiss sound coming from the computer.  Before I had time to react, I smelt the smell no tech nerd ever wants to smell.  Today I got this beast back up after I replaced the motherboard and power supply.  I also lost a hard drive in this situation as well.

2. A few hours after my desktop died, I was playing around on my backup computer (laptop)… The fun didn’t last.  Yes, my laptop died and I had to contact dell for the FOURTH time!  They ended up fixing my laptop today – after replacing my graphics card for the 3rd or 4th time (I forget exactly).

3. While my iPhone still functions, I’m having screen issues (fading, bubbles).  Considering that my one year hardware warranty is up soon, I needed to send the phone in to get it replaced.

4. I recently purchased a 360, but the power supply screams while plugged in.  It isn’t the fan, it’s a really high pitched sound that is constant whether the system is on or off.  It’s plugged directly into the wall, so I know it’s getting enough power.  But, the thing had to be sent in to Microsoft in order for me to get a new one.

I’ve been going nuts with nothing to do, but to watch TV… Luckily, that internship gives me the opportunity to do some programming through the day.

So, I picked up a game internship today.  Was I saving the best opportunity for last?  Well, I hope.

I’ll share more information later… However small that may be.

Having to reinstall/setup libraries all over again…

SDL…

OpenGL or DX…

Boost… <- Especially

Lua… <- Especially

…

They are one of those things that never install the same, twice.  At least, it feels that way. Argledargle!

Imagine… What would it feel like if you went swimming in an MMO and a god like creature came out of it like the picture above? Yeah, I can’t wait until the technology reaches that milestone… It’ll take the “Oh Shit” factor up a few thousand notches. >:oD

So, yeah. I seen the second installment of the Chronicles of Narnia movies last night. Even though I’ve seen several reviews that didn’t rate it too hot, I really enjoyed it. I would say I enjoyed it a bit more than the first one (watched it again tonight, just because I couldn’t remember some of the references in the second movie), but not by a whole lot. They’re both pretty good in my mind.

Also, yesterday, the early access for Age of Conan began. I’ve been looking at this game for quite some time, especially since the fall of Vanguard (Hopefully, things are better now). I haven’t played a whole lot, but the first impressions are decent. It’s incredibly new for me to watch my girlfriend create a new character, in an MMO, and then begin to run around in circles without a top on — boobies everywhere. *laughs*

I’m still trying to get used to the chat. For some reason, it doesn’t come as natural as the other MMO’s that I’ve played.

I’m on the only RP server, which just happens to be a PVP server (Cimmeria), which also happens to be my first time playing PVP since the first EverQuest (1999, and for a few days).  Uh, I’m not sure what to think about it.  I’m not a cruel person, by any stretch of the imagination.  But when I have level 13s and 15s that are grouped, and for no reason, come over to kill me — a level 6 — it blows my mind.  I brush it off, but a part of me really wants to put them on my guilds kill list.  I’ll probably get into it a little more once I get used to the character.

I definitely recommend trying it.  Try a friends account or splurge.  It really satisfies the need for a good realistic fantasy MMO.  People cry that there are way too many fantasy MMOs, but there is definitely a void for a really great realistic fantasy MMO.  I’m not sure AoC will do it, but it’ll satisfy for now.

I have one more shot for an internship this summer.  It’s for a local independent game development company, which is rather new (I think), and can’t afford to pay (Ah, the life of an indie!!!).  I’m actually really excited to learn a bit more about it.   I have a lunch meeting this Tuesday, and hopefully, we’ll find an area that I can tackle.  The position is for a mechanics programmer, so I’ll be dealing with the control system, database integration, and some other things. We’ll see how it goes.

If I can’t manage to lock on this internship, I’ll be going forward with my plans to concentrate, full time, on a demo.  After a heap ton of advice from people at gamecareerguide.com, igda.org, and my developer network, guided me, I’ll be concentrating on learning more 3D and putting it into a packaged demo.  Implement, polish, polish some more, and move to something new.

Bring it on, Summer!

I decided to start another Flash project before the summer kicked off, and before I started to work on my main summer project (to be determined, still).  Here are some early user interface shots that are subject to change, but to keep with the spirit of development progression, I thought I would share them.

This is definitely inspired by the Lemonade Tycoon games.  It was this, or a Harvest Moon inspired game! Mmm, Harvest Moon. Err, Pictures:

… was one of the many companies I applied for to internship with this summer, and actually got a coding test from. I just found this recruitment video that they put together, which is a sheer piece of excellence. I might just try to work there for free after seeing this. They have friggin royal purple walls! I would have felt right at home. (Kansas State University Colors: Royal Purple/White). Arghgledargle!

Thought I’d Share

Nothing too exciting, but some real nice treats and a good ol` fashioned walk tonight.

The semester ends next Friday, and the internship outlook is looking pretty dismal.

Or is it?

Well, I’m firing up Plan B.  Which is essentially to create my own internship.  Working on a project from 8 to 5+, Monday through Friday.  I have a few ideas, and I continue to think of more ideas, but I can’t decide which route to go on selecting a project.  The plan is to create a prototype (2-3 Weeks), Seeing how people respond (Kongregate), and then transitioning it to a full blown project using a mixture of tools (likely being C#/C++).  This project will likely spill over into the fall semester, too.

Whatever it is, I need a 180 to make this summer an achievement of some sort.

I didn’t anticipate finding an internship being ‘easy,’ by any means. But, damn, I just ended up hearing my voice mail messages and got one that said, “… sorry, the position has been filled.”  This was for an opportunity that wasn’t even given a chance…  I had a meeting with them on Friday.

It’s certainly not looking good for the summer.

It’s one thing to know that you ‘CAN’, and ‘WILL,’ succeed, but relying on other people giving you the ‘CHANCE’ to succeed is painful. It’s no wonder why I have an entrepreneurial spirit deep within me.

Anyway. Thought I’d vent a little. Back to my final project. ;]

Oh. You should go play on http://www.kongregate.com(Referred: Me). They have some fun flash games and a great reward system.