Balance

Before we release the next rendition of our beta to our testers I will be going a bit of balancing. Most testers have stated that our levels are currently too difficult. Well fear no more! After checking out this article I feel much more comfortable tweaking our game. "Balancing is creating dynamics." This is the best way to describe it. So here goes! It is all about numbers. Lots and lots of number. I feel that we definitely have a good start with where we are so tweaking won't be as tedious as one might think.

Heat Map

Our programmer is amazing. So we're just about to send out another play test for our tester and we're getting very excited about it. The thing I am most excited about is the implementation of heat maps! You might look at this and say "what a gross mess" but this is really going to help with design of our levels. With the help of these heat maps we can see what areas of the map are being use most often. This will also show us what areas aren't being used and give us a good idea at how we can better utilize our level.

FireFight Ad

My programmer and I decided that it was time to get a little advertising going on our game. This was just our test run; round 1 if you prefer. Playing safe to begin with, we put $5 into a Facebook ad to see what it would get us. Just one day after, I can say the results were quite satisfying. We have reached almost 4k people and now have close to 60 likes on our page. This was very exciting for us. I had no idea what to expect, especially with a game that is still in progress.

I have currently been working on the art for a new level for our game. It will be the tutorial level! You're welcome play testers! We love you! Instead of throwing our poor play testers into the fray of level 1 with only a quick controls layout sheet, we're working on a full fledged level just so players can get a hang of the controls before the real fighting begins.

Pokemon

There is a new video game coming out (well really it's a remake of an older game). It's not just any old game though. It's a new Pokemon game. I'm sure you've heard about Pokemon before. It's practically everywhere; from video games and card games to t-shirts and cell phone cases, Pokemon has essentially taken over every form of media there is.

I'm not just going into this subject because of how popular it is but I'm writing this because of how powerful it is and how much it has influenced my life. Now this may seem strange but I'm going to be completely honest with you. Pokemon is super important to me. Sure it's just a game, a brand, a franchise, but of the few people I have said that to, no one has fully understood me.

Pokemon is the reason I got into game design. With its first release in 1996 in Japan, it instantly became a worldwide sensation. It is a fairly simple concept: travel the world with your friends and battle to become the very best like no one ever was. In my opinion it is a beautifully crafted game.

 

The main mechanic of the game is to battle with your pokemon. Pokemon are the creatures that inhabit the world. They have magical powers that are aligned with the elements. Humans have the ability to capture pokemon and raise them to make them stronger. That's where battling comes in. People who own pokemon match up against each other to see who has raised their pokemon the best.

To make your pokemon stronger you need to raise them with love and care. The bond between you and your pokemon is what sets you apart from the average trainer.  

It was only until a few years ago that I really realized how much is actually in this game. There is a ton of math and strategy involved that I finally began to understand. I had a new appreciation for a game I already love so much.

I always wanted pokemon to be real, ever since I was old enough to hold a GameBoy in my hands. It started off with games of pretend. Around 1st and 2nd grade I would talk to my friends about Pokemon during recess (my older cousin had introduced it to me and I just couldn't keep it to myself) and we would take turns pretending to be pokemon and trainers having battles. But my imagination didn't end there. Any time I was in a car I would pretend that I was riding my faithful pokemon to our destination and before I went to sleep at night I would always pretend to tuck my pokemon in first. 

Even though they were just pretend they were there for me when I was alone. Like any kid with imaginary friends, I had conversations with them and fit them into my everyday life how ever I could. Even today my mind wonders to pokemon when I'm not focusing on anything. More often than not, when I'm walking to class or sitting in the dinning hall, I'll pay careful attention to the people around me and take a guess at what pokemon they would have on their team (if they were real that is).

In 2004 Pokemon Colosseum was released in the U.S. I spent so many hours playing this game. It was unlike any other Pokemon game to date. The 3D models of the Pokemon really gave them life! They moved and interacted like never before. This game was so moving to me that I still go back to it every once in a while just to relive those feelings I had as a kid (even if the graphics of the current Pokemon games, X and Y, for the 3DS are superior). 

A lot of parents are reluctant to let their kids get into this game franchise because they believe it to be too violent. Yes these cartoon creatures fight but there is no blood or cuts or bruises or anything like that. If a pokemon is defeated in battle it does not die, it just gets too tired to continue fighting (essentially it passes out until you give it medicine or bring it to a pokemon nurse). I completely understand that it is a parent's decision what a child can and cannot play with (especially when it comes to the controversial topic of video games in the first place) but I believe that this game is less about fighting and more about growth and friendship.

After countless victories in battle, when you have gained your pokemon's trust and friendship, it grows and eventually (in many cases) evolves. The evolution of a pokemon is a special thing. It is when your pokemon takes on its new form, becoming all around stronger. I feel that this change can also be seen in ourselves. When we are put through tough situations we need to fight our way through it (not as literally) and when we come out on the other side we are usually better and stronger as a person. 

I think that if pokemon were real I would finally know exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I know that I would have the dedication to take care of these creatures and help them achieve their full potential. Both of us learning and growing side by side. But really that's just a silly dream of mine.

Not Necessarily To Be Taken Literally

"Not Necessarily To Be Taken Literally". This was the name of my latest photography assignment. And I sure had fun with it! My professor assigned me 22 things to take photos of ranging from my biggest fear to something I don't understand. The best part of this crazy list was, you guessed it, they didn't need to be taken literally. This allowed me to stretch my imagination and really push the boundaries of my own creativity.

Bellow are just a few of my favorites that I took for this project. Enjoy!

"Your best friend"

There's something about these games that has really stuck with my throughout my life. They are something solid I can always turn to and rely on. Although they are not literally a friend of mine, I think are pretty dang close for being inanimate objects. I know that I can turn to this simple game when I'm feeling down and it will brighten my mood. In some ways Pokemon is as real to me as you or I.

"A fleeting moment"

I can't think of anything more fleeting than the last few moments of a leaf's life in the fall season. As a side note, the sky in this photo isn't edited. We had some amazing coloration in the sky that afternoon and I just had to capture it. (Nature is freakin' cool!)

"Something timeless"

 Classic books. The value and culture locked within the pages of these masterpieces will forever remain a wonder and pleasure to read. Reading is one of my favorites hobbies and reading a classic piece is always a thrill.

"Your favorite place"

My favorite place has to be the outdoors. There is so much peace and tranquility you can find stepping out into nature. The fresh air is such a relief in contrast with my stuffy dorm room.

"Somewhere you've never been"

This photo was actually taken at an arts festival. The gondola represents Venice of course, someplace I've never been. I would actually love to see Europe. It's one of my dreams for the future.  



In no way an I a professional photographer but I feel like with each new assignment I am gaining a little bit more skill. I already feel like I have a good grasp on composition and lighting. I want to keep pushing myself to get better at this. Next semester (my last semester of college) I will be taking a photo editing class. Hopefully this will help with the quality of my photos. Who knows, maybe I can even find a career in it if I'm lucky!

Surviving Class Registration

It's that time of year again (no not Christmas)! Class registration is one of the most frustrating and hernia-inducing things about college (at least from my own experience). Not only do you have to battle your friends and classmates for a spot in that particular class that is only offered spring semester but you also have to fight the rush on the registration site. That means staying up until midnight sitting on that site, refreshing the page every 2 minutes waiting to be able to press that "register for sections" button.

The key to this is to get a good nights sleep the night before if you do not stay up until midnght on a regular basis (like myself). Eating well is also important. A dinner with lots of carbs, like rice and pasta, will give your body an extra boost of energy to help you reach your midnight goal. Fruits are great to snack on while you wait as well. Around 10:30 - 11, you might find yourself getting a bit hungry, bananas and apples are great, healthy foods that will help you power through.

(Here are some more good examples --> Energy Foods)

Being a senior, class registration is very important. This is your last chance to fill up your schedule with classes required to graduate. One of two magical things are about to happen to you. Either A) you're going to have loads of open electives left and are going to enjoy your relaxing (yet productive) last semester of college or B) you're going to be stuck taking all those classes you've been putting off because they didn't seem like any fun.

To avoid a stressful and packed last semester, a good plan is to space your least-liked classes throughout each semester of your college career. Another strategy is to get them out of the way as soon as you can. I've seen it done either way. The choice is up to you. 

Backtracking for a moment, once you pick your classes you then have to meet with your adviser. That is, if you have trained in the arts of bounty hunting and can successfully track down another human being. Of course I'm only kidding, but it can be a bit of a pain. More often than not, if your schedule does not match up with this particular person who holds the key to your registration success then you're stuck waiting in line for hours on end. 

I tend to be on my game about these things. I will literally ask to be let out of class early just so I can meet up with my adviser during these times (class registration is really important to me). There is this cool thing my school recently implemented (that sadly, not many students take advantage of) where you can register for office hours online. It seems to be working fairly well (especially since I scheduled an appointment the day after we were told our class registration date). 

After successfully meeting with your adviser, checking off what classes you've already taken and which ones would be in your best interest for the future, all you have to do is wait for you class' scheduled registration day then you're set (granted none of the classes you wanted filled before you could register for it). Seniors have to do an extra step. Seniors get to fill out a little form entitled "intent to graduate". Apparently this needs to be filled out in order for you to graduate.

I can't believe it took this one simple form for it to finally hit me. I've seen it on the website before and I have always said to myself "oh I don't have to worry about that, that's for seniors"...well it's finally my turn. It finally hit me that I'm going to graduate. All of this hard work and dedication is coming down to this one thing: my "intent to graduate." Yes I DO intend on graduating! This is a very exciting time for me and I worked hard to get here.

It will be worth it in the end I'd say. The degree I'll be handed is a Bachelors of Arts. So I have a really great feeling I'll be able to have a decent upper hand when it comes to getting a job in any type of creative field. I was worried at first that I wouldn't find a job once I was out of college but now that the end is drawing closer I am not as scared. 

All of the work I have done throughout my college career has only helped solidify my good work ethic which I can bring to any job setting. I can do anything!

 

Sick Ramble

Being sick makes even the most mundane tasks unmanageable. This week has been no fun for me at all. I've been sick. Not even the regular kind of sick where you have an annoying runny nose that lasts a week, but the miserable kind of sick where every muscle aches and you can hardly talk because your throat hurts so much. But luckily I did not have to be on my own.

Being sick at school is tough. Of course my dorm has to be the furthest from the dinning hall. Normally I would not complain about this because I love the exercise (even though there are often scary homeless people throwing insults at anyone who walks by) but these are not normal circumstances. When you can hardly move, walking a couple of blocks up hill just isn't going to work. I had to call someone.

I am so lucky to have someone special in my life who would drive 2 hours just to come pick me up from school. Stuffy and sniffling, miserable me waiting in my sweatpants, hardly able to carry my own bag of clothing for the weekend; it was definitely a sad sight. But that didn't matter. He gave me a huge hug and helped me with my bags. He just wanted to do what ever he could to help me, even if there was a chance of him getting sick too. I can't thank him enough.

We went back to my house. It was much more comfortable there than at school. I got to rest and eat soup and watch movies all day (and since this blog is all about life tips I'll throw this in as well: when you're sick it is key to stay hydrated). It would have been an amazing mini-vacation if I hadn't been so sick. Waking up at 5 in the morning with a coughing fit just stinks. But I'm getting better, I don't feel as achy. I had to return to school because I couldn't miss any more days of class. Luckily for me it was a Wednesday when I got sick. Usually this would have been an issue to go home in the middle of the week but thanks to optional midterms I only missed two classes.

I don't like missing my photography class but I really wasn't feeling well. I did some practice at home for a big project that I'm working on (surprises! You'll have to wait and see!). I don't like missing classes in general. Not only am I paying for them, I also don't like letting people down. I felt bad having to tell my group for my cultures & heroes class that I couldn't make it. We were doing a group presentation. I sent in my work of course but I wasn't there to help present (I couldn't have anyway, I could hardly talk).

So now I'm back to school (even though I wish I could still be home snuggled warm on the couch). But I have work to do and obligations to keep. I will push through this sickness the best that I can and stay positive all the way.