A Rock and a Hard Place.

I am currently on the fence with where I am currently in life. I received a 3D Animation degree which right now feels like an $8600 piece of paper. I am considering returning to school, but this time at the University of Alberta for a Computer Science degree. I keep hearing it's easier to break into the games industry and right now that is my largest hurdle. I can see the rest of the hurdles and by comparison, they're only lines on the road ahead.

Everyone keeps telling me how much work it is, and I don't think they understand that I am up for the challenge and have a better grasp of what the industry has to offer than most applicants.

Anyway I just thought I'd post here since I've been neglecting it since I started learning scripting in Neverwinter Nights. I don't have much free time, my schedule most days consists of waking up at 7:30 am, busing to work, working 8:30 am to 5 pm, busing home, arriving at 6 and then eating, showering and trying to fit as much learning and module making as possible into the few hours I have left. It's rough, but as my best friend put it, "That's Life". He's right, and that's what makes it all the more frustrating. I have almost no time to spit and polish my module but refuse to submit something I can't enjoy. Also, there's still so many little things I want to do that I need more scripting for. Ah well, hopefully this weekend I will have all the scripting tutorials read and tested so I can start into the meat and potatoes of the actual story and module.

Anyway, until next time... wish me luck!

Insanity.

Bioware has posted the Quality Assurance position once again to their glorious website. It is unfortunately routed through the EA job bank, which makes me wonder who is hiring for this position. I am considering walking a resume in just to set myself apart from all these other submissions. I have already applied through the internet, but can you apply too many times? I mean after all, I moved 3000 kms to be closer to them because I want to start my career there. I definitely don't want to harass them, but I do want to maximize my chances.

Also, on top of that I have a multitude of projects I am working on at various stages of completion. It's kind of terrible because I find myself torn between multiple projects like this all the time. I am reading two different books as well, one on storyboarding and one on scriptwriting. Perhaps I should focus on one thing at a time but I feel like time is disappearing into oblivion. Also this way it keeps everything fresh, exciting and I never feel like I have to work on them, I just feel like I want to work on them all at once. Too much passion might be getting me in trouble! My XNA subscription ends next month and I have done nothing with the previous year. I might indeed leave it for the coming year, so I at least have the option of going to it whenever I want. Living with a computer engineer helps in this respect, although we're toying around with many ideas at the moment.

Anyway I am heading off this is just a quick update, but I'll write again soon.

Juggling Chainsaws: The Beginning

I've been overwhelmed with ideas as of late and it's definitely going to take some time to get my bearings again. I may have said it before, but if not, here it is: I am inspired by anything and everything.

I might be sitting at home watching the rain fall, and imagine up some tornado ripping across the city and mowing homes down like hay piles or I might be just listening to some music that inspires a character, or emotional scene. No matter what though I sometimes get inspiration from inspiration. Many people find themselves unable to finish things because they lack self motivation or just the devotion to one thing for a long time. Unfortunately I could be grouped with these inidividuals, but I am of a different mindset.

I once listened to a slow orchestrated song that rose up to a dramatic climax and maintained the speed until the dramatic finish. This sparked an image of a group of knights marching through volcanic caves and stopping at the sight of a bridge over lava. To the other side was a single warrior, clad in the darkest of metals, only runes shown through a bright red, almost as if they'd just been branded in. Fearing his own demise the leader of the group of knights sent his men to the bridge to fight the single warrior. They marched simultaneously onward, (then the music began to pick up) suddenly the warrior begins trotting, then matching tempo to a full on run (the music at this point is in full tempo). He bursts through the first rank as if they were made of wet paper, (much to the crashing of percussion) and meets the second rank with a few quick parries and pushes into the lava. The idea continues until there are only two left on the bridge: A Warrior and a Knight, staring each other down over the licking flames of the lava. Suddenly, this sparked more ideas. Where did these knights come from? Where were they going? Who was this mysterious warrior? What did he represent? So suddenly I had two back stories to write and no time to do either one. But, I did indeed begin! Then... As I was discussing the knights being sent to defeat the Queen of the Flames, I suddenly thought man... she needs a guardian, that warrior is already set up, but that would be too easy!

So now I had the fight scene between Warrior and Knight, I had a story as to where the Knights had been and where they were headed and now I was creating another character who we hadn't even met yet but would meet the best of the two locked in epic battle over a lake of heated, liquid earth. Not only that, but what of the Warrior? What was he doing there? His quest was far simpler, but he thought he was being followed by a terrible group of assassins. His quest simply lie in the fact he had to summon the Great Fire Wyrm, Veloki, and be blessed by his breath of fire. Upon receiving the blessing, the Warrior would become a Dragoon or Defender of the Dragon Race. These were like Paladins but for Dragons. So if you've been following, you've already probably been overwhelmed by my jumping between ideas. Worst part is, I can recall any idea I've had and begin or continue again.

So imagine having to deal with that, constantly, especially being in a new city where everyday is an adventure. I get lost, experience new types of music at work, and occassionally just daydream where i should be more productive. But to give myself some explanation, I'm enjoying imagining again because for so long I had been so concerned and cornered by everything. Somedays I wonder if there is really a position for guys like me... some sort of "Locked in a room, chained to a desk thinking up new ideas, stories, backgrounds, worlds and puzzles" kind of guy. I almost need to find some sort of way to channel out every idea I can at once. Some kind of multidata stream where my thoughts funnel right into text files which can then be printed into money. I'll need to focus if I want a job writing professionally, but I figure I've got at least 5 years in Edmonton, so enjoy a little bit while I can. It's been awhile since I have just hung out and played some games with my best friend and that has been my biggest lure from focusing. Also, three of us read comics here, and two (not me, as the third) of us make the money to afford comics like every week. I've been reading up a storm and just finished Supreme Power 1-3 published by Marvel. So far? I love every page. Art, story and 100% pure unadultered "awesomeness" seeing these heroes cast in a different light. I definitely recommend them. Anyway, I've done my typing flood again, so I hope you got something out of this.

Exhaustion.

So, as usual work an a bus take a lot more our of a day then I'm used to. Work is 8.5 hours long including my unpaid break. Also, I leave 1 hour before my shift to ensure I arrive early at the very latest. Coming home generally only takes 30 minutes. So after some simple math, I spend 8 hours (or less, mostly less) sleeping, and 10 hours out due to work. So 18 of my 24 hours is already spoken for leaving me with 6 hours left to do what I want. However, living with other people I have to also help cook, clean, mow, labour, etc... So, the average time I have to do things per day is probably closer to 4-5 hours. Not bad, but not great either. Despite my powerful motiviation to try and get on at Bioware, I feel myself slipping with exhaustion.

Trying to learn and focus on making a module is frustrating at the best of times, but being tired is a whole other story. Perhaps once my body gets used to all the exercise it's been getting, maybe I'll be more aware. Anyway I am a little frustrated for the moment but still have my eye on the prize, I will design games at some point... right after these "Zzz" messages... zzz...

D&D - The Campaign

The idea for the moment. I am currently creating a D&D campaign for people to play together, seperately or completely one on one with the DM. The rules!

Each player will create a detailed backstory as well as help complete the map of their hometown. This will give them a feeling of already being very much involved in the campaign. Also, this allows for them to know the complete ins and outs of their hometown such as shortcuts, good bars, great inns, a free place to stay, and contacts. I've also decided if indeed they want to start off seperately I'll be roleplaying an NPC to accompany them if they so choose. This will be a character type opposite to their main class, or even of their choosing. The character is run by me, and I make their choices so it's not just two characters for the one player.

The world will be most likely small thinking in terms of the length of Balder's Gate or Neverwinter Nights sans expansion packs. As always any world can be altered to fit the demands of its players. The best part of this whole experience will be seeing how easily the players punch holes in my world. I hope they decide to go with not starting off grouped up and choose characters and support characters that complement each other. Of course, not all parties probably worked like that. I am hoping for chaos and luck and an enjoyable experience for all. I'll keep you posted.

Also, the newer design challenges seem a bit off the mark so I haven't been bothering to post them on here or take part. I check them out, occasionally post in the forums but they don't have the same punch as when James Portnow was reigning over them. Also, the Nextgen forums didn't seem to care about the design challenges, so I avoid a place where I cannot get constructive criticism.

Also, does anyone know any Swing Metal bands? I know of none, but the Diablo Swing Orchestra is as close to the medium as I have found. I think I was expecting more metal... perhaps Metal Swing would be better? Let me know! Till next update!