Summer Projects
6.8.09

So far this summer, I plan to work with several other students at DePaul university in creating a student-made game that will go on to compete in competitions, including the Independent Games Festival. I am currently given the task of historian, as well as my more traditional position of programmer and sound/music designer. I am really excited to see what comes out of this project and have great hopes for its success.

I plan to also retool my Jeopardy program to be more friendly for other people to use and create presentations out of. My goal is to also move away from being simply a Jeopardy ripoff and creating something more removed from the brand in order to publish on Xbox LIve Community Games. Test audiences for the game so far have been very positive, and I believe that others could get a lot of enjoyment out of it as well.

I am currently running through ideas of both games to possibly pitch to the "DePaul Game Elites" group for IGF, as well as thinking about ideas for my senior capstone coming up next year. The purposes of each don't necessarily generate the same ideas. For IGF, the game must be very unique and on the verge of being experimental. Whereas, with the capstone, I am considering more mainstream approaches to gameplay that will better guarentee a motivated team participating.

posted on monday, june 8, 2009

Project Updates
4.29.09

I've been continously updating my website, bit by bit, to try to incorporate some of my more recent work. I have a decent amount of my work-in-progress music tracks up, as well as list of most of the game projects I have been working on.

By the end of this quarter, I expect to have finished a few more projects and be able to put more things online. I'm currently working with a group creating a game for their senior capstone. I've been working on sound, UI, and helping with parts of other areas, as well. By the end of the quarter, I hope to encorporate my shader programming class's final project into some aspect of the game. I am also working on creating the sound and music for an animated short for another group's animation capstone. Then, I plan to have a short educational game sample created for my serious games class.

posted on wednesday, april 29, 2009

Website Redesign
10.7.08

I finally have a working version of my latest website iteration which is up if you can see this news post. The site isn't finished yet, but I will hopefully be able to finish each section pretty soon. I decided to change it up a bit to give more screen space to my actual work. I also wanted to be able to be a little different with the design on each page while maintaining a standardized navigation bar. It sort of simulates a projector screen, since I'm kind of known to randomly take my projector places. I'm hoping other people like the redesign.

I got a position on the DeFrag board, so I hope to help make the events they run even better. I chose to be part of the development comittee so I can get more people involved in different aspects of game development. I want to try to get all aspects in so that anybody can participate. Previous competitions were a bit limited to programmers and artists, so I want to try to get the spotlight on other areas of game development.

LittleBigPlanet beta keys have been sent out to a lot of places on the web and I managed to win one through one of Joystiq's lottery drawings. I've been excited for the game for quite a while, and the beta has really cemented my thoughts that this is going to be a spectacular game. Though some of the user levels are hit or miss, it still manages to be fun just trying out other users' creations. Unfortunately, this game is probably going to make me buy additional controllers so my roommates can play. The game comes out October 21st, so I don't have to wait much longer until the full version.

posted on tuesday, october 7, 2008

Summer Plans
8.1.08

I've been working on a lot of different projects recently as well as creating plans for some new projects this fall. One of my latest web designs is for a friend and is turning out really well. It's probably my favorite design yet and makes me want to redo my own website.

I'm working on editing another wedding video. I'm still amazed at what the Canon HV20 can do. Blu-ray burners are getting cheaper every day, though the discs are still about $15 each. I've been filming videos for clubs at school, so I will be trying to finish up the DVD by September. I have a lot of footage to cram on a DVD, so I'm wondering how that will work out.

I look forward to doing some sort of project with XNA so that I can put up a game on Xbox Live Community Games, which starts this fall. If I'm successful, I could make a bit of money from it too, since Microsoft gives up to 70% of the revenue to the developers. I'm still working on composing different songs, though I've been away from my main desktop for quite a while now, so I haven't done anything. I've been getting better at orchestration, so songs are starting to sound pretty decent.

posted on friday, august 1, 2008

Game Development Project
3.8.08

I am currently starting a project with a few other students at DePaul for a game development competition with the game development club, DeFRAG. I am not sure what the game will be about, exactly, but I do think the team I am in will do some good work. It seems pretty balanced. The idea so far has something to do with positioning lights in order to make a city happy, since the requirement for the competition is that the game has something to do with light.

We have one person doing art, and two programmers aside from myself. Since I'm not as advanced as they are (they are both graduate students), I will be concentrating on doing the sound, music, documentation, and graphic interface work. I plan on taking a class next quarter that would teach me more about programming in C#, which is helpful to work with XNA. XNA is a platform Microsoft created to make quick games for both Windows and Xbox 360.

posted on saturday, march 8, 2008

High-definition Video & Other Projects
9.21.07

The Indiana FFA 78th State Convention DVD set is now complete. Although the original footage was captured in high definition, most people will be unable to enjoy it at this point. Although it is not an option for this convention, DVD can store a certain amount of HD footage. However, this footage can only be played back on computers and a few other multimedia devices, such as the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

As for current projects, I am currently playing around with music composition, 3D animation with Maya, high definition video production, and creating a submission for a club website.

posted on friday, september 21, 2007

Indiana FFA 78th State Convention DVD
6.29.07

I am currently working on a 2-DVD set of the convention footage for sale by no later than September, although I am trying to get it done as soon as possible. The source footage is in 1080p HD, so I will have to downsize it to standard TV resolution. I have decided not to use dual-layer DVDs, since they will likely cause compatibility problems with other people.

I will have more information regarding prices later. One DVD set will include all the sessions from the convention including the hypnosis. I plan on selling the hypnotist session alone at a lower price with a bonus. Expect prices to be around $25 or so.

posted on friday, june 29, 2007

Spring Finally Arrives for one day
3.29.07

The weather has certainly been a lot warmer recently with signs that winter is officially over. I'm still working on my music compositions and uploaded updated songs in my music portfolio.

I recently ordered a Canon HV20 and I'm excited to get to try it out. It's a high-definition camcorder. I previously sold my old camcorder, a Sony VX2000, on eBay so that I could replace it with a smaller camcorder. I would like to do a video project soon after I receive it in the mail and will probably post some test footage. All the early reviews say this camcorder is amazing at it's price-point, so I'm eager to shoot some stuff with it.

posted on thursday, march 29, 2007

Another Update
1.30.07

I have been working on some music compositions which you can hear some of here. It is a single MP3 that goes through several unfinished songs. Right now I am working on getting a good melody before perfecting the timing, instrumentation, and dynamics. The music is targeted for video games. I also have the Electric Playground arrangement sheet music available for those interested. I think it's the only source for high school level Super Mario concert band sheet music.

Chicago is very cold right now and it doesn't look like it's going to get any warmer anytime soon. I am planning on being a mentor for freshmen next year for the Chicago Quarter classes that are required for them to take. I think it will be a fun experience.

posted on thursday, january 30, 2007

Happy New Years
1.4.07

I'm currently working on finishing up corrections on Electric Playground in order to upload the sheet music so that other bands can play it. The target MP3 of what it is supposed to sound like is up on the projects page. Chicago really isn't that cold right now, and I'm hoping it will stay like that for a while.

posted on thursday, january 4, 2007

Thanksgiving
11.20.06

I've had a really enjoyable week working towards Thanksgiving break. I went to go see Wicked, a private screening for Casino Royale, a symphony concert, the Magnicificent Lights festival, and got the Nintendo Wii. I don't really have too much to do for finals, so I'm trying to pack and get everything situated.

I plan on working on putting more of my portfolio online as well as work on a new video project. I will post it when I finish it. We might be doing some sort of James Bond parody or a music video. We haven't really decided yet.

posted on monday, november 20, 2006

A lot of "Finals"
11.11.06

I'm coming close to the end of Final Fantasy XII. It's a really fun game, but the plot seems to suffer in comparison to previous games in the series. I'm rushing to finish the game since I won't be taking my PS2 home over break. Square-Enix has made the decision to also release Final Fantasy V Advance (GBA) and Final Fantasy III (DS) within the same two weeks as Final Fantasy XII. It's been a very expensive year for gamers although satisfying.

I'm down to only a few assignments to be done before break:

• Play paper for Game Design class
• 6-8 page research paper for World Literature class
• Final Flash project for Motion Design class

Since I'm not taking my desktop PC home, I'll be limited to what I can do on my laptop and the computer at home. I have alternative methods, but if an electric outage causes my computer to shut off, I won't have any way of turning it back on. I will be backing up everything on external hard drives, so I will have all my data handy.

Oh, here's another music sample.

posted on saturday, november 11, 2006

Final Fantasy XII
10.29.06

On Halloween, Final Fantasy XII will finally arrive in stores. It's been awhile since the last Final Fantasy game was released, although I have been kept entertained by FFXI for a long time. Final Fantasy III for the Nintendo DS will be coming out later in November, so I'm excited about that too.

I did finish my video on Lincoln Park, which you can view here. I went to go see Wicked last week. It was great, as always. I will have to try to go see the Chicago Symphony sometime. They play in the building behind the DePaul CTI building, so it is easy to get to.

posted on saturday, october 29, 2006

Music Compositions
10.22.06

I've been working more on original music compositions. I've been interested in doing some for a while, but had worked on arrangements for band instead. I'll probably have some songs finished by winter break.

I finally finished my research paper for Neighborhood Bakeries class and now will be working on my project for Strategies in Game Design. I plan on making some kind of scrabble-derived game with musical notation. I will post it in my portfolio after I finish. After I finish my Lincoln Park video, I'll upload it on YouTube.

posted on saturday, october 22, 2006

Website Updates
10.13.06

I've updated the website for a few things, including broadening my portfolio. I'd like to put some clips up for everything, but I have to wait until I get the backup CDs from home. I'm coming home November 23rd and will have a six-weeks vacation until January 3rd. I was lucky enough to get my bus ride home to Indianapolis for only a buck.

Chicago has been great, although the weather doesn't cooperate much. I waited outside in 40 degree weather to preorder the Nintendo Wii. I showed up at about 7:25am and was the 8th person in line. There were around 36 people in line by the time the store opened at 10:00am. Apparently the store only had 14 consoles for preorder, although the same store had 16 Playstation 3's.My brother happened to get #4 on his PS3 preorder (thanks to me), so he is excited about that. The line was very small for the Gamestop in Madison, IN.

I'll be working on, and hopefully finishing, my research paper on bakeries in Lincoln Park, Chicago. I'm putting together a short video of the area for my presentation, which I'll put on YouTube shortly after.

posted on friday, october 13, 2006

NYC Trip & DePaul Update
08.21.06

Well, I thought I would update this site more often with stuff but so far I have not. I came back from my trip to NYC a few weeks ago and had a great time. I'm excited to be heading off to DePaul soon, to major in computer games development. It looks like I will be getting along well with my roommates and hope the year goes well.

DePaul is on the quarter system. The first quarter goes until Thanksgiving, where I will then get a six weeks vacation until New Years when the second quarter starts. It will go until spring break (two weeks) and then I will attend the third quarter until around the first week of June.

posted on monday, august 21, 2006

Website Overhaul
06.22.06

I've decided to redesign the website to give it a more simpler feel. I'm not sure if I like it better than my previous design, but do think a lot of the pages needed to be converged or rid of.

The picture in the title bar I will probably swap every once in a while with a new picture. This was one of pictures from my trip to Japan during spring break. It was interesting to see rows of bikes without them even being chained down. That and everywhere I went there seemed to be a vending machine present.

posted on thursday, june 28, 2006