More Lighting Toys

Those Bastards

This one video game rakes in ~US$75million revenue a month. Talk about being filthy rich.

360

I've had a couple of peeps ask me over the past couple weeks whether I own a Xbox 360...
The answer is no. My main reasoning being that I think there are currently zilch good games on it. There's simply no "must buy" title right now. I've gotten the chance to check out most of the 360 titles at work, and my initial impressions are that they're all at most only a x1.5 enhancement (visually) of any of the current generation titles. The current games are all based on the same gameplay genres we've seen for years- same stuff regardless of the console.
In fact, the only game I'd praise would be "Geometry Wars" which is a retro-Xbox live arcade game that could have easily been made for a PS1 or PS2. Last of all, if I did own a 360, I would have probably sold it on ebay for a triple profit.

Lost

I broke my thumb playing basketball again. Sucks. Until this recent injury, I was on a roll; I was balling 2-3 times a week and no scratches at all. I even started wearing a thumb guard to keep me protected. I guess it just didn't stop the inevitable from happening again. I feel cursed. Do I really need to quit basketball for good?

I went to see the Sonics rock Lebron and the Cavaliers this week. Next up later this month will be Yao and T-Mac =]

Every so often, I wish I would be thrown into a scenario such as the one in ABC's TV series 'Lost'. I want to try and live life by the basics; working with what/who-ever is around me to attain a fundamental goal: survive and find home. I think such experience would allow me to find out much more about myself and what really matters to me in life. Although it probably isn’t in my character to do so under such circumstances, I'd want to sit by the beach all day. I'd probably make my own guitar out of scratch during my free time.
I presume another reason for such wish is that I want escape. I want time away from my current surroundings, and I want to remove myself from who I am and what I currently do everyday. It’s like starting a new life. I want to break away from my current responsibilities and worries.
I probably should also be careful what I usually wish for.

Music from Thxngiving

A-Track
~~~ Phoenix - If I ever feel better ~~~

B-Track
~~~ General Electrics - Term and conditions apply ~~~
~~~ Soulwax - Saturday ~~~
~~~ Paloalto - Breathe in ~~~
~~~ El ten eleven - A watched pot ~~~

Its been busy. I presume its a good thing. Being busy keeps me in shape.

I have entertainment attention deficit. I easily lose focus when TV series or video games don't consistently keep me interested. Stories that drag on or repetitive content (such as gameplay) will lose me. Sometimes I think maybe its just because I have very high standards. If I'm not kept immersed, my mind will wander off and I'll start thinking to myself I could be doing something else more interesting. I need to be kept in that state where I'm losing track of time, which I'm finding harder and harder to stay in as I grow older. It wasn't so much of a problem when I was a kid.
Speaking of entertainment, I've recently been watching ABC's TV series 'Lost'. I can really appreciate the story/plot. Its so fundamental, it works so well. Anybody can relate to survival. Even a 7 year old kid and my grandma would be able to enjoy 'Lost'. Respect to the production team. They do their jobs well.

B-Track
~~~ the get up kids - close to me ~~~
~~~ the jealous sound - anxious arms ~~~

I'm glad thxngiving is just around the corner.

I'm in the mood to talk about some very depressing topics. Today, however, I'm going to keep that to myself because I do that too often and am going to soon scare off everybody.

A-Track
~~~ Ringside - Struggle ~~~ Like music? You will like this.
~~~ Swing - 1984 (demo) ~~~

I went to see a Sonics game last Friday. Pretty awesome with cheesecake (blueberry flavored..hehe). I thinking about getting season tickets. I really should make the most out of this opportunity before its too late. Before I say bye to Seattle, which I assume will happen soon enough given history.

I have problems spending money. Mainly due to the fact that each dollar saved is an opportunity for investment. Ever since I graduated from college and took stocks seriously, I realized making money was all about having money. The more you have in your pocket, the more you can make. Because of this fact, it will never be a good time for me to spend (at least not in the near future).

I wonder if the sacrifices I've made (and will make) in my life will ever really be for the betterment of my future. Somehow I'm starting to think it's just part of who I am and it will never change.

Famicom Winamp Skin

I love music games.



Gamespot.com - 9.0
IGN.com - 9.2
1up.com - 100/100

I recently bought a new blender, a Tribest Personal Blender. It's main feature is that it does the blending in the same cup I serve in. It's awesome. HAha.
It’s interesting how a simple product (such as a blender) can bring me so much value. In this case, more value than its moneys worth; a mixed berries soymilk smoothie to kick-off or end my day is priceless. This brings me again to my belief that it’s those little things in life that make it better.
I think the growth of life is more than just the process of accretion; iteration of consumption over attainment is often overlooked. Maybe some people will disagree with this notion, but I think life would be so linear if it weren't also about consistently branching towards the "greener pastures".

A-Track
~~~ Augustana - Boston ~~~

Recently, I've been thinking about the importance of the initial establishment of relationships (including those with multiple actors). I believe most new and short-term relationships are generally established at the very beginnng, during what I would call the 'free-for-all' period. This is the period where key conditions are being set, and also what we generally refer to as 'first impressions' when we meet somebody for the first time. To make my point, I would go as far as saying that I believe the conditions of the relationship(s) establish at a rate of exponential decay. The very beginning is vital.
The 'free-for-all' period is like a shot in the dark. It's only throughout time then the actors true characters are revealed to the other(s). Its the addition of the time variable that allows the evolution of a relationship; generally so slow it doesn't play much of a role in most relationships. And of course, when I refer to "relationships", I am talking about all of them and not just those that are comparatively more significant to us.
Similarly, I think the chemistry of a team or the culture of a company is mainly determined at the very beginning. It's the initial hiring process and workflow that establishes how everything will run for next good couple years or so. These conditions, although not point and fact, are obvious to its actors.
In the case where upper management is replaced with a new one, I see that analogous to the replacement of actors in a team. Especially when a team is represented by a hierarchy of authority, this allows for a 'sub-free-for-all' period within the team. The more changes to the actors (and especially those with more authority), the more changes to team chemistry. Hence, turning a company around.

Enough bull shit. Good morning everybody.

A-Track
~~~ Jimmy World Eat - No Sensitivity ~~~

B-Track
~~~ Frou Frou - Holding out for a Hero ~~~
~~~ Weekend Players - Best Days of Our Lives ~~~
~~~ Hawthorne Heights - The Transition ~~~
~~~ Mae - This is the Last Time (Wave Remix) ~~~

I haven't really been motivated to write an entry lately... I've been spending a lot of my free time crashing on my couch instead. I wonder if it has anything to do with the weather getting cold now. I don't feel as motivated to be productive when its not as nice and sunny outside. I prefer to stay inside and read a book or something.

Mae live @ El Corazon

I want the Ambient Orb

This is how you play Ikaruga

This is how you play Street Fighter 3

A-Track
~~~ Augustana - Stars and Boulevard ~~~
~~~ Weezer - So it ain't so ~~~

B-Track
+++ Plump Djs - Saturday Night Lotion +++
+++ Soulwax - Much Against Everyone's Advice +++
+++ Music for Robots Vol.1 +++

Recently caught up with Robot Chicken.

Lives Right Here

+++ DJ Cappel & Smitty - Blue Eyes Meets Bed Stuy +++ Biggie and Sinatra mash-up.

A-Track
~~~ Death Cab for Cutie - Soul Meets Body ~~~
~~~ Stars - One More Night ~~~
~~~ Citizen Cope - Bullet and a Target ~~~
~~~ Kanye West - Heard em say ~~~
~~~ Spoon - I turn my camera on ~~~

Easy Star All Stars live @ Chop Suey.

On July 8th 2004, I once wrote I wanted to be a video game developer. And now, a little over a year, my aspirations have finally come true…

In fact, I’m actually settling in pretty nicely at Surreal. As a kid, I never imagined I would ever be in this industry. A hybrid of tech and entertainment is just perfect for me. Maybe I was never ought to be at one of those corporate powerhouse (a la Citigroup, Merril, and all those names). It never occured to me when I was a kid I’d be work at an office with game consoles are all over the place and toys at my desk. Making video games was always one of those don't bother to dream about type things.
The hours are longer than average, but they are flexible and the environment is easy going enough to feel like you are just hanging out. I like the corporate owned start up environment. We have weekly massage sign-ups, pizza and beer on Fridays, and alcohol induced meetings. Talk about getting drunk with your colleagues and then skipping work for the rest of the day. As long as I get my work done, I am free to do what I want. I can freely surf the web, chat, read a book/magazine, play poker or video games casually at work.

After basketball at Archstone last night, it struck me during my way home how we easily often forget and dismiss the fundamentals. I had choked during my first game; put all my efforts into it, and failed miserably. The reason was not because I was slow, didn't have the skills, tired, or not in shape like I had originally thought. It was because I had forgotten about teamwork. I've been playing basketball for 11+ years, yet I dismissed the fundamental notion of teamwork. Instead of trusting your team members to share responsibility and maximize abilities, I tried to take it all upon myself. It really struck me how it took less grunt effort to win the next 7 games in a row because I had trusted their abilities. Gifts differing. I wonder how often I forget the other fundamentals in my life.

Whats with all the ad/spam/yuck comments on my blog?

~~~ Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American ~~~ Staple band. Nuff said.

Working at a video game company has really gotten me to think about how creative work is accomplished in the real business world. Especially since video game development is steering towards the US$10-20 million production budgets. On one hand, we want the logistics to keep the people and work being done by them under control, yet on the other, we want to encourage creativity. Finding that balance between freedom for creativity and bureaucracy is not easy at all.
In addition to having to search for the right balance between freedom for creativity and bureaucracy, being able to maintain it is just as much of a challenge. The development team are not robots, they are human. Humans with emotions, needs, ego, and baggage. They don't act upon your commands (even if you are paying them). I'm not sure I have an answer to the problems at hand, but I will say people need be dealt with on an ad-hoc basis. There is no consistent solution.
Oh, and of course, creativity (even at its best) doesn't necessarily equate to financial reward.
This is probably why I'm attracted to game production.

We <3 Katamari

The sequel to the unexpected cult-hit came out today. I can't say I'm a fan of this series (mainly due to the motion sickness), but I can say its uber simple game design really hits the spot. Musicians often mention they would come across songs/lyrics that they wish they had wrote; I think I'd say the same for this game concept.
Its definitely cool when the members at the studio gather around to check out the latest titles during work.

Lenard and I worked on this set of two towards the end of the summer. The painting with the orange is called X, the painting with the purple is called Y. Together, they are X&Y. They are both 36"x48" each. I don't want to sound artsy and all that; and am not going to talk about the inspiration and story behind them. Batman and I, however, have agreed that it would be interesting if somebody wants to guess what it is about. Add it as a comment if you'd like to do so.

Finally a better digital camera

Shades of Bellevue


E3

A-Track
~~~ James Blunt - Tears and Rain ~~~

Its been busy...why?
- Work at Surreal Software
- Approving work visa!!
- Bumbershoot
- Pigfest @ Hansville
- Searching for an A3
- Royksopp Concert =]
- Erh...naked chicks.

A-Tracks
~~~ Anberlin - Naive Orleans ~~~
~~~ Embrace - Gravity ~~~
~~~ James Blunt - You're Beautiful ~~~
+++ Kanye West - Late Registration (Album)+++

B-Tracks
~~~ Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict a Riot ~~~
~~~ Pinback - This Red Book ~~~
~~~ Cake - Never There ~~~
~~~ Kings of Convenience - Misread ~~~
~~~ Buckcherry - Lit Up ~~~

4/9

HK Goods

So far I've accumulated a Patrick Cox wallet, white Nintendo DS, Parman no.1 figure, and a pair of AKG K-240 studio headphones.

I've been incredibly busy lately. Both on and off work. Lenard came to visit Seattle and we've been out and about.

My 2.5 week vacation begins today. Gonna fly back to Hong Kong next week (after Coldplay @ White River!) to enjoy the rest of the summer. Yeah, working at Surreal Software now. I'm pretty excited about that; it's another step closer to achieving my goals =]
I never expected things to turn out the way they did. But I'm glad it turned out this way. Its a big fat confirmation to my beliefs; with perserverance and effort, there is no impossible.

Oooooooo~~~!! Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 dev kits at work! No pics for nobody tho.

FAHRENHEIT / INDIGO PROPHECY

I don't normally try video game demos, and haven't ever rated/promoted one. But today it's going to be an exception. Fahrenheit or Indigo Prophecy's demo (two different names depending on location) oozes with cinematic style and narration. I give the demo a 9.5 out of 10 because I think the game has shown much potential to become the next mega hit. The game seeks to add excitement to the narrative process through a range of action events and in depth player involvement. It gives the player the chance to choose how puzzles are solved and also create the story/experience for themselves. I don't think words can describe what I mean by this well produced and innovative simulation. If you like adventure games, take the time to check it out! Trust me!

Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy certainly has enough innovative features to grab my attention and it will be interesting to see if it can breathe new life into the adventure genre as a whole.

A-Track
~~~ Story of the Year - In her bedroom ~~~
~~~ the killers - jenny was a friend of mine ~~~
~~~ Phantom Planet - Always on my mind ~~~
~~~ Howie Day - Falling in Love ~~~

On a side note: Nutella is a gift from the Gods.

"group is full, we have a better priest for this instance"

People who don’t stick to their word annoy me. More often than not, people loosely accept invitations to events and end up ditching last minute because they’ve found better things to do. I find that frustrating to cope with because it’s like indirectly saying ‘I’m a selfish bastard’ and ‘I’ve now found a better thing to do now, you’re just backup’.

I went to see my first Mariners game this week. And Ichiro sucked.

A-Track
~~~ Foo Fighters - What if I do? ~~~

B-Track
~~~ Moby - Sunday (the day before my birthday) ~~~
~~~ Nova June - Another Try ~~~
~~~ Fall Out Boy - Grand Theft Autumn ~~~

An excerpt I came across in Han Fei Tzu's writings..
The Way is the beginning of all beings and the measure of right and wrong. Therefore the enlightened ruler holds fast to the beginning in order to understand the wellspring of all brings, and minds the measure in order to know the source of good and bad. He waits, empty and still, letting names define themselves and affairs reach their own settlement. Being empty, he can comprehend the true aspect of fullness being still, he can correct the mover. Those whose duty it is to speak will come forward to name themselves; those whose duty it is to act will produce results. When names and results match, the ruler need do nothing more and the true aspect of all things will be revealed.

I've been playing a lot of basketball these days. Averaging ~3 times a week, which is pretty good compared to zilch times a year ago from now. Its been pretty chill; a way to release all the stress I accumulate at work. I'm also finally losing my rust and getting both my game and my body back ^^;
Three months ago, when I was still taking classes during the spring, I told myself I had to get back into the routine of doing sports. I'm finally here. As long as I don't get injured (which happens ALL the time), I'm going to keep up this healthy routine. I think it'll be good for me in many different ways.

A-Track
~~~ Howie Day - Falling in Love ~~~
~~~ Iron and Wine - Such Great Heights (cover) ~~~
~~~ Grandaddy - The Crystal Lake ~~~

B-Track
~~~ Lazyboy - Facts of Life ~~~
~~~ Gorillaz - Dare ~~~

Pink Floyd, Stevie Wonder, and Greenday @ LIVE8!!

Double Header

I made this collage aroung a month ago (click on it). It's 60"x30", and it's called 'E3'. I used a 1.2 megapixel camera to take a picture of it so you can't see all those little extras on it (theres a lot more in it than you can see from the pic =/). It definitely took a while to do. Maybe someday I'll use a better camera so I can hyperlink it to a bigger high-res picture.


I made this 'pollack' style painting this past weekend. It's 48"x36", and it's called 'Shades of Bellevue'. It was fun as hell to make, I can see myself do another acrylic painting soon. God damn why are art supplies sooo expensive!!

I'm a fan of "end of the world" genre movies. It’s not so much wanting to see everybody get killed and die (or is it??! ^^), but the aftermath of the story I am usually attracted too. It’s the effects of the what ifs…such as the societal, political, and human consequences. I think ‘28 Days Later’ and ‘Cube’ are good examples of such movies.
I saw ‘War of the Worlds’ yesterday, and found that similarly entertaining. Never mind the fact that the ending is too positive due to various Hollywood-management issues; I liked the raw emotion of the film. It felt immersive. I could understand why the background and its characters behaved the way they did. ‘War of the Worlds’ is no doubt an entertaining movie on the big screen. The energy throughout the movie is balanced just right so that the slower parts of the movie give the audience enough breathing room but not so much that it becomes boring or slow. The movie is intense throughout.
This is the first summer blockbuster I’ve seen so far this summer.


+++ L'Arc en ciel - Awake +++
+++ Royksopp - The Understanding +++

Now I want a DS too

Kirby Canvas Curse is one of the first platform games to rid traditional control over the on-screen character, yet at the same time give players an entirely new way of maneuvering around the world. Here, players must guide the spherical hero using nothing but the Nintendo DS stylus and the wonders of the touch screen technology. And believe it or not, it works incredibly well; the game is among the few titles on the system that could never be done without the touch function because it's been integrated so well into its design. What's more, it makes the game incredibly unique and amazingly fun to play.

Kirby Canvas Curse as another one of these successful departures from the usual Kirby offerings. It's an outstanding design that captures what the Nintendo DS platform is all about: unique and creative gameplay, and speaks volumes of the potential this system can offer gamers down the line.

- Craig Harris

I now have a monkey on my desk

Sympathy for the Record Industry

SAN ANTONIO SPURS.

Last Week I said I'd make put together Jessica Simpson's 'These boots are made for walking' video together with Watashi Wa's song 'How She Sees'. So here it is. Who thinks it works?
Download Jessica Simpson x Watashi Wa Music Video

Battlefield 2

This is just a beautiful game overall, especially when everything around you is in motion. Tanks and vehicles are rendered with astonishing detail, such as swaying antennas, while the environments themselves are simply beautiful. There are so many tiny details at work, from the concussive effects of nearby blasts blurring your vision to the clouds of dust that appear when tank cannons fire to the tiny fountains of dirt that kick up when rounds land next to you...
The best thing that we can say about Battlefield 2 is that even when it's at its worst, it can still be as much fun as its illustrious predecessors. However, when you experience Battlefield 2 like it's meant to be played, with everyone working together and using real-time voice chat, the game quickly becomes unlike anything else that you've played before. When it's at its best, Battlefield 2 elevates online gaming to whole new heights. Put simply, this is a thrilling and revolutionary game that just has to be played to be believed.

- Jason Ocampo, GameSpot

Agreed.

Also, Robert Horry is sick.

Walalalalalalalla

A-Tracks
~~~ Morcheeba - Women Lose Weight (feat. Slick Rick) ~~~
~~~ Butterfly Boucher - Life is Short ~~~
~~~ Foo Fighters - Best of you ~~

B-Tracks
~~~ The get up kids - close to me ~~~
~~~ Hawthorne Heights - Life on Standby ~~~

The Spurs beating the Pistons on Game 4 is worth $15.

~~~ Luna Sea - Shine ~~~
~~~ Beck OST - I've got a feeling ~~~

I just watched Jessica Simpson's video 'These boots are made for walking' while listenning to this song called 'How she sees' by Watashi Wa. It seemed like it fit well. Haha. I think it would be an awesome music video for a band like Watashi Wa. It would be the perfect Marketing scheme to get their name out there. If I was a music video director, I'd totally try to get the rights to do that. It would catch a lot of attention; a video that wasn't made for a band like Watashi Wa in mind. Seriously, the next thing you know, everybody will have heard or seen it.
I'm going to do that. I'm going to make the video so we can all see what I'm talking about and whether i'm just bullshitting (yes, it is definitely a possibility..)
Download Jessica Simpson x Watashi Wa Music Video

So yeah...I ended up 3rd place in the RiffRumble contest. I got pwned (wuhaha...). I had 107 cheers compared to 1st and 2nd place of which got 515 and 473 cheers. My song obviously wasn't a match. I apologize for spamming and wasting the time of all those of you who 'added' me a cheer =/

Available on PS2, Xbox, and PC

So of course I need to do some promoting for my own office...



A-track
~~~ Coldplay - What if ~~~
~~~ NERD - Run to the Sun ~~~
~~~ Graham Colton Band - First Week ~~~

B-track
~~~ Nove June - Another try ~~~
~~~ Tortoise - I set my face to the hillside ~~~

Riff Rumble

I know my song isn't that great. But I want a free amp and more sounds files so I can make even more music (and maybe even get good someday?!). Haha. Please help me by giving me a cheer.

Cheer Me

Just talking crap

People who think they know who I am but get it all wrong are irritating. And I say that for a good proportion of people who think they know me for what I seem to be and not who I really am.

Apple devotees who own a PC instead of a Mac piss me off. When people boast about how great the Mac is and blah blah blah; they better own a Mac themslves. Otherwise it will only seem to me either they don't know what they're talking about or they're living one big contradiction. I'm definitely not an Apple fan, but I could respect it for somebody elses way of life.

LoL

Memorial Weekend

~~~ the Bravery - Honest Mistake ~~~

It's been a crazy week. Repeat: It's been a crazy week.

My first couple days of work at Surreal were exhausting. My brains are fried by the time I get back to my car to drive home. On a typical night, I am out by 11pm.

This past long weekend has been a trip. I've ended up at random places with some very "unexpected" people. Sometimes I don't believe how I get myself into these scenarios. Maybe its how I act in front of others. I wonder the impressions I give people I've met recently.

Anyhow, this week has been very productive. I like a balanced dose of extracurriculars while I'm working. I hate to know that I'm just a slave of work. I pray only better things will come. I will try to make it happen.

One Crazy 1st Week of Work

A-Track
~~~ Razorlight - Golden Touch ~~~
~~~ Citizen Cope - Sun's Gonna Rise ~~~
~~~ Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc. ~~~
~~~ Audioslave - Be Yourself ~~~

+++ Belle and Sebastian - The Boy with the Arab Strap +++ (the album)

I finally found web hosting space for my songs. Any feedback would be awesome..

KAirik - Vancouver.mp3
KAirik - Song2.mp3

My brother Edwyn @ Wired

~~~ Pinback - Seville ~~~

E3 has been exhausting this week. Hell, the trip to SF and LA has been exhausting. I must say its been a lot more doing than thinking.

Stuff I look forward to after my E3 visit:
Playstation 3
Final Fantasy 7 (the cg movie)
Super Mario Strikers
Exteel
Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance
Odama
The Movies


I don't have a camera and don't have pics of the trade show to post. I'm sure, however, you can find them all over the web.

Thank you for the *ah-hem* "anonymous" comment...

I'm probably going to need to look for web hosting space to get the download to work. Bare with me.


Glad to see at least a minimal response. Haha.

I've been saying (for quite a while) I will post my guitar recordings on my blog. So here we go. Download Me

Boohoo. Nobody wants to comment me. Boohoo.

These albums are coming out this month....

+++ Audioslave - Out of Exile +++
+++ Gorillaz - Demon Days +++
+++ Oasis - Don't Believe the Truth +++
+++ Coldplay - X&Y +++

I've been busy lately. Not busy with work, but busy trying to get ahead of myself again. It's like one of those bizarre episodes from 'Psychonauts'; all these wacko ideas and themes are out and about. It's driving me mad, I get so tired from chasing them in circles.

Saturday

In attempt to prepare myself for another full day of work, I had chocolate chocolate-chip pancakes and eggs benedict for breakfast today.

Oh yeah, and also a copy of Mae’s new album “The Everglow”.

OMG

Its absolutely beautiful here in the summer.

We all start somewhere.

I still clearly remember the days when I was clueless about what music was all about. Not that I can say I know now, but I will say I've come a long way. I still remember 5-6 years ago back at Northfield, I decided to try rap music one day. I sound so chink mentioning it now, but back then, I really had no idea who Eminem was. Hell, I thought he/she/they were called M&M. I had no idea. I felt so exposed when I asked my friends about it, but I did anyways. I figured I was better off finding out then than stick to my little conservative world.

I actually had trouble being able to hear the lyrics at first, but i liked it. It was the style that caught my attention. Rap was something different compared to what I have heard of all my life. And most important of all, I felt there was a need to at least be able to appreciate it even if I didn't like it. Dr. Dre's “Chronic 2001” and Em's first “Slim Shady LP” album popped my cherry.

I believe it's the thought that truly counts. Everybody starts somewhere. Nobody is born in the right place and with all the right things. Something that seems ridiculously conventional may only seem so from ones perspective. We live in a world of diversity; I believe the only way to be “open” is to constantly find, try and learn new things. Maybe I'm blabbering about the obvious again, but I don't see these values being applied around me much.

~~~ Cool Hand Luke - Cinematic ~~~

Happy Birthday YOU! You know who you are!! LoL.

I can hear the leaves talking to me

The summer has already started resurfacing here in Washington. And I'm loving it. During my drive back home from school today, I could already smell the grass in the air. The sun spanking in the middle of the sky, its radiance wrapped across my windshield...it makes for one of those moments to roll down the windows and crank up the volume of the stereo. Then somebody said hotel california...

My summer will be spent at Surreal Software. It will be a good way to spend the time. I need to get me back onto my feet.

A-Tracks
~~~ DJ Dangermouse (the Beatles & JayZ) - What more can I say ~~~
~~~ Stereophonics - Pick a part thats new ~~~
~~~ Slick Rick - Street Talking feat. Outkast ~~~

B-Tracks
~~~ The Zutons - Pressure Point ~~~
~~~ Garbage - I would die for you ~~~
~~~ Bloc Part - Banquet ~~~
~~~ Story of the Year - Anthem of our dying day ~~~
~~~ Pink Floyd - Breathe ~~~

What I do in my free time.

Instead of studying de Boor's algorithm, B-splines, and that sort...Luke, Mark, and I went frisbee golfing in between classes today. Either because I'm still an amateur frisbee golfer or there were people waiting behind us (or both?), my first drive at hole #1 flew completely away from the pin and landed in a swamp.
At that point of time, the three things that came to my mind (in its respective order) were:
1) #%&##!!@~
2) I'm wearing a nice pair of white Adis.
3) Am I going to have to roll up my jeans and take my shoes and socks off?

It was disgusting. And since we just arrived at the first hole, I had no choice but to complete the rest of the game with bare muddy filthy feet. It was definitely one of those moments when I'd rather be in front of the books. I ended up trodding bare foot through swamps, dirt, mucky mud patches, wet grass, and all that good stuff.
It was still fun altogether. I mean, what else could I be doing on a Wednesday afternoon? Other than the little jagged rock paths and thorn prodding vines, I enjoyed it. I guess I was just glad Mark had bottled water in his trunk when it was all over.

Evidently, the first thing I did when I got home after class today was take a shower. My feet were still mud-stained then, so I rubbed it with soap. I repeatedly rubbed it with soap and water but it still didn't quite do the job. That was until I realized I wasn't using soap. It was shampoo. Haha. The next thing I realize, I've been using shampoo instead of soap for the past couple of months.

This is my life.

This is Worth Seeing...

GoW

Its been three hours since I finished 'God of War'; I am now feeling bored, fidgety and uneasy....why?

I probably sound like I have no life or crazy, but I just spent my entire Sunday (~12 hours) in front of a television and playstation2. I'll assume it would be the latter giving that I also study ~8 hours at a time =P. The point is: I was plugged-in. And if I had to choose again, I would only hope that the experience lasted longer than it did.

'God of War' is one of those titles that proves to the world American developers know how to make a blockbuster console game. I rate it at 9.8 (equivalent to IGN). For those of you who didn't know, it ain't easy for a video game to keep my attention for long. But 'God of War' did it.
The action is new and intense throughout the game. You would never have to complete the same type of puzzle more than once, and it rarely (if ever?) made you do anything tedious or repetitive.
The story is basically a tale of vengeance, set against the backdrop of ancient Greek mythology. The game is bloody, stylish, and has some over-the-top combat. Beating the crap out of the minions and facing the bosses were simply fun as hell.

'God of War' is simply a high-class production in every single facet of its package. From the finely balanced gameplay, to the magnificent presentation, you can't help but be impressed by what this game has to offer. It's simply a marvelously executed experience that's fun from beginning to end, and anyone with a taste for mature content and the action adventure genre would be foolish to pass it up.

Haha. Yeah, the game is rated 'R'. It features sexual situations, bare breasts, and excessive brutality.

A-Track
~~~ Pinback - Fortress ~~~

B-Track
~~~ Hoobastank - Same Direction ~~~
~~~ Head Automatica - Brooklyn is burning ~~~
~~~ the Notwist - consequence ~~~

Best Put

Relaxing is for the other guy. I may be sitting in front of the TV, but I’m not watching it unless I think there is something I can learn from it. I’m thinking about things I can use in my business and the TV is just there.

I could take the time to read a fiction book, but I don’t. I would rather read websites, newspapers, magazines, looking for ideas and concepts that I can use. I spend time in bookstores because 1 idea from a book or magazine can make me money.

I’m not going to go to dinner with you just to chat. I’m not going to give you a call to see how you are. Unless you want to talk business. Other guys play fantasy sports. I fire the synapses to get an edge.

That’s what success is all about. I’ts about the edge.

It’s not who you know. It’s not how much money you have. It’s very simple. It’s whether or not you have the edge and have the guts to use it.

The edge is getting so jazzed about what you do, you just spent 24 hours straight working on a project and you thought it was a couple hours.

The edge is knowing that you have to be the smartest guy in the room when you have your meeting and you are going to put in the effort to learn whatever you need to learn to get there.

The edge is knowing is knowing that when the 4 girlfriends you have had in the last couple years asked you which was more important, them or your business, you gave the right answer.

The edge is knowing that you can fail and learn from it, and just get back up and in the game.

The edge is knowing that people think your crazy, and they are right, but you don’t care what they think.

The edge is knowing how to blow off steam a couple times a week, just so you can refocus on business

The edge is knowing that you are getting to your goals and treating people right along the way because as good as you can be, you are so focused that you need regular people around you to balance you and help you.

The edge is being able to call out someone on a business issue because you know you have done your homework.

The edge is recognizing when you are wrong, and working harder to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

The edge is being able to drill down and identify issues and problems and solve them before anyone knows they are there.

The edge is knowing that while everyone else is talking about nonsense like the will to win, and how they know they can be successful, you are preparing yourself to compete so that you will be successful.

- M. Cuban

Avenue A and 11th Street?

#define private public

A-Track
~~~ Phoenix - Too Young ~~~

B-Track
~~~ Straylight Run - Existentialism on Prom Night ~~~
~~~ Head Automatica - beating heart baby ~~~

Moving from city to city in the past 2 years is starting to make me lose grasp of reality. Any one of those temporary settlements could have very well been a dream or just another fragment of my memory.
Returning back to Seattle from spring break felt weird. I guess thats when I realized being on the move so often makes you feel this way. Everything feels surreal.

Spring break was awesome. But I look forward to the next couple weeks just as much.

Gish

Gish isn't your average hero, in fact he's not your average anything...Gish is a ball of tar. Life isn't easy when you're a 12 pound ball of tar...

This is one of those games in which the developers lived with nothing but a vision to complete. Respect. Gish is an indie old school platformer game with some very innovative game design. The heart of the game (or programming) is the character Gish itself. Gish possesses the ability to stick to surfaces, slide in between cracks, and make small jumps. Gish is hard to control, but not impossible. The ball of tar is incredibly well balanced and acrobatic-like leaps can be pulled off. Momentum is key in this game. Although subtle, any true gamer will find this piece of art a pure pleasure to play and master. Just don't come and tell me this game is no good until you reach at least world 4.
I gladly payed $20 for it. If anybody wants the full version of the game, let me know.

Not just another from the Series

Make no mistake, another installment from these series doesn't automatically mean they aren't worth your time...

|| Gran Turismo 4 ||
|| Devil May Cry 3 ||
|| Resident Evil 4 ||
|| NBA Street V3 ||

Media to Share

+++ www.artpad.art.com +++ Record and share your paintings
+++ www.fraps.com +++ Make videos of your own desktop
+++ www.ofoto.com +++ Printing those millions of pics on your PC
+++ www.number27.org +++ Concept Art & Technology

Listen.

A-track
~~~ Audioslave - What you are ~~~
~~~ Papa Roach - Scars ~~~
~~~ Azure Ray - November, If you fall ~~~
~~~ Jet - Rollover DJ, Cold hard bitch ~~~
~~~ Wilco - Jesus, etc ~~~

B-track
~~~ No Motiv - Independance day ~~~
~~~ AFI - God called in sick today ~~~
~~~ Hoobastank - Remember Me ~~~
~~~ Modest Mouse - Float On ~~~

Studies show that frequent video-game players have more "lucid dreams" (in which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming) than non-gamers. Often, the dreamer can even manipulate the action or observe it in third-person, much like a video game.

Issues

Sometimes I'm so conflicting I don't even believe it myself. I often feel what I want is not who I am. My values, beliefs, and needs do not sum up properly. Sure, I can reason my attributes, all of them being extremely logical deductions, but they aren't a wrap. Either I'm just an another 21 year old trying to find himself, or maybe just simply psychotic.

I've always wished to be killed unintentionally. I wish a meteorite would drop on my apartment and headshot me tomorrow morning. If that day ever turns up; feel happy for me for it was truly what I've wanted. I would be glad to be knocked out for good. Call me a jaded soul...for I know that is who I am. But I don't think its something I decide for myself either. I don't consider myself a very pessimistic person (I am at times very optimistic), I just think life sucks. Or to better clarify that, I know life sucks. Its because of who I am and not what I have.

I live a lot of things many would aspire to have. I could be wrong, but having had the opportunity to grow and live in comfort, travel around the world at a young age, and graduate with what we call a ‘prestigious degree’ at 20 is a lot of blessing. You can think I’m a fag here for whining, but realize what I have/had has nothing to do with my state of mind everyday. All these things I have is a consequence of my dad having worked his ass or my hermit-like existence at my work desk. And when one gains, one must sacriface something else to give it balance. I can't say for my dad, but I sure don't fully know how to enjoy life for what it is.

On another note, I now realize why punk is dead.

Help Me. Pls Help Me.

A-Track
~~~ Third Eye Blind - Motorcycle Drive by ~~~

Stuff

Following the Super Bowl, I watched a preview episode of 'American Dad' (the new series by the creator of 'Family Guy'). Maybe I was just drunk (or high!?) off my ass, but it was hilarious. I soooo can't wait.

Sometimes I really wonder who I am. Sometimes I feel like I don't belong. Theres so much behind me and so much more to live for. It gets to my head, and prevents me from enjoying the moment...enjoying life. Is there really all that to prove? Is there? I need to learn to take it easy. Maybe what I want is not how I think it is accomplished.

I need inspiration. I've been trying to write songs for my band (we don't have a name yet). But nothing close to satisfiscation dribbles out. I'm not very good at combining the melody (vocal) and the riff together....Help.

Comment Me!!

Its time to introduce reader comments to my blog. Something I've always wanted to include, but somehow never got to.

So here we go. Please leave comments. Whether to tell me you like my entry or should just shut up... Say something. Anything. Let me know you are there, and give me a reason to write more crap.

We have a Winner

Yes. I am here to talk about the PSP (playstation portable) handheld again. I guess I just can't stop mentioning the potential of this 'premium gagdet' taking upon the world near us. If there is anybody that will stop Apple from dominating the portable media device market, Sony will be it.
Sure, $250 retail in the States is not exactly a budget price, but I believe Sony decided on this because it has the power to do so. It would have killed all competition (aka Nintendo's dominant gameboy market) if it had decided to retail it at $200. Sony knows even at $250 a pop, the first million shipment of PSPs will sell out in March (it is already sold out as I speak today). 800,000 units were sold out within the first couple hours in Japan on December, and I don't see any reason why it will be any different half way across the world this time.
I never thought the DS and PSP were competitors because they targeted a different audience. But my predictions are that unless the Nintendo gets its act together (such as dropping the price as soon as it can), the DS will get knocked out before it knows it. Its not that the DS is an incapable machine, its just that the games for it right now are close to worthless. Not to mention round 2 of games are just as much sleepers as of those it started off with.
While on the other hand, the PSP has around 24 games lined up for launch(5 of which will be ready to be played online through a hotspot, and ~4 of them worth buying). Not to mention the device also acts both as a video/mp3 player. Seriously, $250 is equivalent to an iPod-Mini, I'm a music freak but would still choose the PSP instead.

Then again, this is all just a bunch of my speculation. My vision is that the PSP will be a sure fire hit in the next 2+ years or so. It will change portable gaming forever. Oh and yeah, I already pre-ordered 5 PSPs.

Settling Down.

Its been a great week. Things are starting to come together up here in the northwest. Considering everything here, I think I'm going to love it. Maybe this is what I've always been looking for...

Things that Matter Most

We live in such a sad world. If anything, I believe the demise of human existance would be a manifescation of our own. I want you, and you want this. It never ends. Why can't we live peacefully? Why not more ideal? At the rate we're going, the later we are born down the road...the more miserable life gets.

Anyways, my point is there are many things which matter a lot to me. Many of them I probably don't stress enough or any at all. Every so often, I lose perspective of my values, and I don't quite come across the way I would want to in the long run.

I hate myself when I am: cocky, arrogant, ignorant, cheating, stupid and not smart enough, immature, not taking care of myself, mean to my family, lying, moody, selfish, criticizing, obnoxious, not understanding enough, talking too much, etc...
I still have a lot to improve on.

Slacking Off.

I realized its time to start labelling the music I recommend. From now on, the easier to listen to stuff are called 'A-tracks', and the 'B-tracks' are for hardcore people like me.

A-Tracks
~~~ Nelly - My Place feat. Jaheim ~~~ Played out, but I like.
~~~ Lenny Kravitz - Lady ~~~ Only cuz my guitar is in the video..haha..
~~~ David Tao - Fated ~~~ New album for the fans.

B-Tracks
~~~ Alpinestars - Burning Up ~~~ Not for everybody.
~~~ My Chemical Romance - I'm Okay (I promise) ~~~
~~~ Death Cab for Cutie - Title and Registration ~~~
~~~ Hawthorne Heights - The transition ~~~ Punk/Emo i've been into recently

Maybe I'm just not the average video gamer...

I don't want to come up here and recommend just another game thats on the top-seller list (unless its well deserved of course..heh). Its what I think makes me different from the typical gamer. I like games like 'Bejeweled'. Its original, quick and addictive. From a marketing perspective, a super low budget game like this could succeed very well. The reason for that is because even some inexperienced programmer (such as me) could write a polished version in a week or so. Thats a miniscule input compared to the games we see and play today. Just compare the price of 'Bejeweled' (if you choose to install it) and any average game on the shelf at the game store. And if you say, who would pay for 'Bejeweled'? HAha. My mom would. I mean it.

Recently, I've spent a lot of time in search of bright game ideas. Mostly just asking others what their dream game would be if they could make anything (hehe...soo much easier you know). For the most part, I hear of the same already existing genres but with a different scheme/setting. I don't normally tell them, but in most of these cases, the scheme/setting mentioned have been developed before already. They just never made it big, and hence, wasn't heard by too many. Why? I think its obvious. I do, however, find it contradicting that the consumers aren't revealing a lot. Could it be because they are happy with what already exists?

Ideally, I'd love to develop something brand new or original. Haha, I have been told that thats such an 'Erik' comment. But yeah, when I say something original, I don't mean games that fall into the misc. category of games (such as Wario Ware, Katamary Daimacy, blah blah). I meant something genre breaking. Or to better put it, the birth of a genre on its own.
I don't quite have 'the idea' yet. But I do have ideas. I've already previously mentioned the potential of multiplayer, portable, wireless gaming. The birth of that realm, thanks to the PSP and DS, is screaming for ideas. Its just like the internet, not many could have envisioned Google, Blogs, Ebay, etc... Other ideas include balancing the pace of games. It can change a game significantly, an example I love is 'Counterstrike'. It remade the pacing in FPSs; through short 5-10min action packed battles, it made the player wait if they died. This in turn, glorified stats, incorporated more teamwork, made the player play safer (much more realisitic...we are shooting each other...), etc... I mean, to think about it it is where the term 'camping' originated.

Time to go. I shall continue next time, eventhough I know its most probably not going to happen.

Downtempo for the Masses

Downtempo/Groove (many of which I probably may have already named):

~~~ Air - All I Need, Playground Love, La Femme D'argent ~~~
~~~ Bent - Irritating Noises ~~~
~~~ Blackenized - 360 'vibe'rations ~~~
~~~ dj Food - gold in my pocket ~~~
~~~ Royksopp - Poor Leno, eple ~~~
~~~ Telepopmusik - Breathe ~~~
~~~ Tosca - Honey, suzuki ~~~
~~~ Destiny - Spinning, Destiny ~~~
~~~ Mr. Scruff - cheeky ~~~
~~~ Kruder Dorfmeister - Orozco ~~~
~~~ Royksopp - Poor Leno ~~~
~~~ Lemon Jelly - Life of King Rahm, In the bath ~~~

Ok. Here are some non-downtempos:

~~~ Lifehouse - Only One ~~
~~~ Lostprophets - last summer, make a move ~~~ Soo good.
~~~ Chromeo - Needy Girl ~~~
~~~ Phoenix - Run Run Run ~~~

More moments of inspiration

Knowing that I'm all about the band sound, my (anime junkie) little brother introduced this new anime called 'Beck' to me. I can really relate to it: the love for modern rock music, the guitars, the riffs, finding band-mates, etc... It inspires me to find my own sound. Play in my own band. Get into the scene for myself.
I'm super jealous band music is huge in Japan. I recall visiting numerous music shops and listenning to plenty of jap indie band records when I visited Tokyo last Christmas. Oh yea, and of course, was fortunate enough to be brought to a gig too. Something I would not have been able to do if it weren't that China brought me =).
But yeah, the music industry in Japan is something a guy like me would die to live in. To say the least, I can at least enjoy such animations such as 'Beck'.


~~~ Amber Pacific - Always You ~~~
~~~ Beck - Wheres it at ~~~
~~~ Taking Back Sunday - A decade under influence ~~~

Prelude to Eden

Michel Gagné showed up at my school today. Definitely an individual I respect. He's not exactly what I want for my own life & career, but I could definitely learn to apply the same attitude of pushing oneself to make things evolve or happen. Check out his 'Prelude to Eden' animation.

Over the past couple of days, I've been settling down here in Bellevue/Redmond for the most part. Furniture shopping, starting services, looking for a band-mates (Heehee), getting into the groove of school, and other errands.

Speaking of school, I realized I haven't spoken much about it on my blog. I think it may be because I'm really still trying to decipher it myself. My video game school 'DigiPen', aka 'Nintendo U', is not exactly as cool and fun as it sounds. Other than the plaques of articles from every magazine you can name/find on the walls, nobody would be able to distinguish it from any other tech school.
And so this brings me to the part that creeps me out slightly: all the students seem so uptight. Yes, I know I am too, but still. The students, which typically come across as a mixture of weird, hippy, or geek (HAHa. Sounds so me!), seem so disciplined. Meaning they are all focused on getting a job in the industry? Hmm..I can't say for sure.
But anyhow, the halls and classrooms at my school are dull, white, and no fun.

Starting New

Its been a hell of a week.
Moving into my new apartment, starting school, and coping with jet lag at the same time has definitely been a mission. I'm glad to say things are working out nicely though. If anything, I'm most happy about the area I reside in now. Its nice and quiet at Le Chateau in Bellevue, but also at the same time I'm 5 minutes away from a mall, a cinema, and a variety of cuisines (and I mean a huge variety!! Including Vietnese, Japanese, Thai, Jamba Juice, Coldstone, blah blah blah....hehe).

Speaking of food, here is my late new year resolution: I will eat a maximum of 2 or 3 fast food (high cholestral and fatty foods) meals a week. Yep, it'll be an intelligent 2nd step after my previous goal....which was to get food into the stomach as often and consistently as I can. So I suppose now that I have access to a variety of cuisines as I was mentioning earlier, I have no excuse. Haha.

Its going to be a relaxing semester. Two or three CS classes, one Math (oh dear... --; ), and one computer animation class. Should be ok. Hopefully I'll be able to make something out of the extra time I'll be supplied with. I tend to think life (not only school) is a learning process. Its what you make out of it every minute.

+++ http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/weblogs/story/0,14024,1388466,00.html +++ Haha. Watch what you say in your blog.

The DVD Monster

I swear I'll catch it one day. And on that day, I will burn it alive in triumph for all the trouble it has given me. I've wasted way too much time looking for those lost dvds of mine. I will not forgive it.
I bet it lives up up at the attic or something. Sniggering while munching on those dvds it has stolen from my family and I. You will pay! And if for anything, especially for taking the Family Guy season 3 stuff!

~~~ Dragon Ash - Under Age's Song ~~~ Their first hit single way back.
~~~ Coheed in Cambria - Blood Red Summer ~~~ Punk.

Welcome to 2005.

~~~ Lostprophets - Last Train Home ~~~ One of those songs that hit me hard

So many things have changed in the past couple of weeks. It feels like as if my life spun around. And all of a sudden, I'm heading towards a direction completely different than I was originally. My goals seem so much clearer to me now. My doubts are finally behind me. I'm extremely happy about that.

I'm not hoping because I know only good things are to come in the future.