Oct 30th 2006

Lately, I've been trying to learn to play Jack Johnson's 'Better Together' on the guitar. I'm going through the acoustic guitar phase again. I think its because my friend Ryan had to move back to LA. He used to on the drums while I'm on the electric, and it was great even if it was just us two jamming.
Last week, I purchased an acoustic on Ebay. A big baby Taylor. I'm very very much looking forward to it. It's about time I put aside that super high action K-Garage acoustic my brother bought when he first began to play.


What is this world coming to when people camp out at stores to pre-order a product? Yesterday, I arrived at ToysRUs at 2am to attempt to line up for a ps3 and wii. First of all, that entrance to the store looked like a camp site. Secondly, I was told I had to be 10 hours earlier than I was to get a hold of a ps3.


Guilt
Some people might think I just sound ridiculous, but I am normally at guilt of not making every second of my life. I'm not a very good procrastinator. And don't know how to lay on my back and do nothing for hours on end. I suppose a trait as such is normally what people strive for, but if you live it day in day out, life can feel murderous.


I haven't yet asked my parents about it, but they once mentioned that starting my own business would be a great experience to see what types of people are out there. Cause I'm definitely getting a good dose of that.

Times Like These

What else do you do when you're sick and home alone?

You make banana pancakes. Yep, banana pancakes. Well, actually...it was my first time and they ended up a little thicker than they ought to be. But they turned out ok. I'm not sure whether pancakes are the preferred food of choice when you're sick, but i wanted them. So yeah.

Being up at 6am and not having went to pre-order my wii or ps3 is quite dumb of me.

Wow. One of the best business books I've read for a long long while. Most business books don't tell you crap other than what is intuitive already. This book changed how I would think and work at work for the rest of my life.

B-Track
+++ Pepper - No Shame +++

On another note, if I were in a band, the Strokes would be a pretty awesome one to be in.

If my last post sounded like I'm a materialistic bastard...then don't get me wrong. Money is just how I measure my success.

I've been taking it easy over the past week. I've found that time off from work is incredibly important. I've been playing my guitar and playing video games, reading, and re-evaluating this past summer's work. I feel guilty of not getting back at my desk, but this is also probably the best time to get some rest...

More Recommendations




A-Track
+++ Scissor Sisters - Ta-Dah +++
+++ Audioslave - Revelations +++

Jack Johnson, John Mayer and Beck are my idols.

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind

1. Rich people believe "I create my life." Poor people
believe, "Life happens to me."
2. Rich people play the money game to win. Poor people
play the money game to not lose.
3. Rich people are committed to being rich. Poor people
want to be rich.
4. Rich people think big. Poor people think small.
5. Rich people focus on opportunities. Poor people focus
on obstacles.
6. Rich people admire other rich and successful people.
Poor people resent rich and successful people.
7. Rich people associate with positive, successful
people. Poor people associate with negative or
unsuccessful people.
8. Rich people are willing to promote themselves and their
value. Poor people think negatively about selling and
promotion.
9. Rich people are bigger than their problems. Poor
people are smaller than their problems.
10. Rich people are excellent receivers. Poor people are
poor receivers.
11. Rich people choose to get paid based on results. Poor
people choose to get paid based on time.
12. Rich people think "both." Poor people
think "either/or."
13. Rich people focus on their net worth. Poor people
focus on their working income.
14. Rich people manage their money well. Poor people
mismanage their money well.
15. Rich people have their money work hard for them. Poor
people work hard for their money.
16. Rich people act in spite of fear. Poor people let fear
stop them.
17. Rich people constantly learn and grow. Poor people
think they already know.

A Track
+++ John Mayer - Continuum +++
+++ Snow Patrol - Eyes Open +++

B Track
+++ Stabbing Westward - Darkest Days +++

Nintendo Wii

There's no doubt this thing is going to sell like hot cakes. The question is whose stock to buy to make some extra dough off this.

The Entrepreneur's Hardship

Money

I'd be joking if I told you money didn't matter. The truth is that there will always be only a limited number of people around you who see the bigger picture. I sometimes wonder if it's because it takes a crazy person to see the light at the far end of the tunnel or if it's because many people are simply just not bright enough.


Uncertainty

Oh, how I love uncertainty. It makes my toes feel funny before I go to bed every night. Starting a company is like being lost in the Amazon. You can only make the best out of your current surroundings; you don't know what to expect next and you don't know who's coming with you. Everyday is an adventure, jackpot could be tomorrow.


People

Roleplay at it's best. Who can do what and how well. Who will step up and who will bring the team down irresponsibily. The truth is that people aren't as modular as they might seem (depends on the business). The people (the team) makes the company. One lagging peer is a hole in the balloon.

Patterns

Tell me fear I do not know
Shake my hands I've never felt
The keys to heaven are in the soul
Bring me near without a hand
For I shall swim until I fly
Baby, fear nothing.

If you want a recommendation...

Life's like a game.

You choose an avatar with different skills. You have a certain number of points to share among your attributes. You can be strong in one attribute at the cost of another. Or you can be mediocre at everything. You can't have all the stars in the sky.

So my beloved job has taken over my life recently. I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not. It's stressful, but I am enjoying it. I probably wouldn't want to do anything else with my life right now. I have, however, also on many occasions put the rest of my life aside for it -and it's starting to take its toll on me.

The thought that the choices I've made and will make in life has its consequences scares me. One of such is the thought that if I devote too much of my life to my job, I'm afraid I'll lose touch with reality.

A Track
+++ Gym Class Heroes - As Cruel as School Children +++
+++ Daft Punk - Daft Club +++

B Track
+++ Banco de Gaia - Farewell Ferengistan +++

Cream Puffs.
Qdoba.
Work.
Feist.
Work.
Need time.
Need more time.
Not enough time.
Too young.
Tired.
Really tired.

Good People

People like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet have all my respect.

A Track
+++ Handsome Boy Modeling School - White People +++
+++ The Fray - How to Say a Life +++

B Track
+++ MF Doom - Metalfingers Presents: Special Herbs, The Box Set Vol. 0-9 +++
+++ Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters +++
+++ Nonpoint - Statement +++

All I Know

So what have I been upto?

For the past month or so, I've dedicated my life to my game 'Harmotion ', which if you read the Double Jump Studio Blog as well, you'll see that I've made it a habit to write in everyday.

Recently, my life changed. I've been happier than ever. Exhausted from work, but feeling the purpose driven life. I don't think most of my peers understand what I mean by that I love what I do. I don't love it like a job, I love it as life. It's what I want to do everyday.

It has been and is going to be quite an adventure; entrepreneuring is what I want to do. I feel like I can relate to those that say being an entrepreneur is in the heart.

Rhapsody has been keeping my entire team alive. Here's some recent stuff I've been listenning to:
A-Track
~~~ Gnarls Barkley - Crazy ~~~
+++ Head Automatica - Head Popaganda +++
+++ Phoenix - It's Never Been Like This +++
+++ Gorillaz - Laika Come Home, B-Sides +++

B-Track
+++ Kid Loco - Prelude to a Grand Love Story +++
+++ AFI - Decemberunderground +++
+++ The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers +++
+++ Ulrich Schnauss - A Strangely Isolated Place +++

I wish I had time to write on this blog.

E3 2006 The Nintendo Wii Line

Hahahha. I'm in this video at 1:54.

Work = Life

Double Jump Studios, my latest endeavor, has been one of the most exciting, challenging (and hopefully rewarding?) things I’ve come across in life thus far…

Everything I know and have done in the past is being put to the test now: design, art, games, business, technology, sound/music. My job makes me feel like I’m putting my life to good use now. Or better yet, it’s a challenge to keep me going and quit questioning life and my existence.

‘I love what I do’. And it’s fuking amazing. If I could, I don’t think I’d ever stop working for my own business. It only seems natural to pour my own blood and sweat into my own bottom line. Why would I want to do that for somebody else? I can finally work every waking hour and be content now.

Yey, maybe I'm not that crazy afterall.

So here I am.

The past couple of weeks have been unreal.
I'm now a business owner. The opportunity to make it happen is right in front of me. I'm not exactly nervous or worried though; I'm just eager. It's going to be one hell of an adventure, and I'm going to love every little bit of it. If anything, the most important thing is that the experience will force me to become stronger. Failures and obstacles are expected, lets just hope I learn those lessons.

HKBomber

Stealing a post from Gary's diary...

So a month later, lets recap Budapest:

I have already forgotten most of the sightseeing / working details (it has been a month) and I really dont have ways to make the working / flying part of my trip interesting. there is one little story i would like to share though.

I dont see myself as a long term relationship type of person. Reason? Simply because my interest spans is a lot shorter than that of most other people. Of course there have been girls i really want to be with but they never like me back so I never got to test how long my interest span would last with them. Sometimes, seeing someone i barely know next to me on bed does give that emptiness feeling; but when i think of all the troubles and potential disasters a relationship bring, I still feel that less attachment is better. So how does this link to Budapest?

After work one night, i went drinking with the budapest office people. Apparently, Budapest is the so-called "sex capital" of Eastern Europe, so you see lots of single women waiting for guys to show up. I went up to the bar trying to get some drinks and a single blond came and ask if i want to buy her a drink. Too much makeup, look a little mom-aunt-esque age, not interested. In the meantime, I sighted this very clean looking girl, quite a cute young face and an attractive body, on the other side of the bar. I have never really been rich enough to just buy girls but my testicular fortitude told me to go over and ask "would you mind having a drink with me?" She smiled, "sure"

She could talk, she could drink, she even liked similar music as i do. The conversation jumped from movie stars, my trip, her work, to small kisses. We started to get close physically and the office people just let us be. 2am that night, we went back to the hotel together.

The next 90 minutes is perhaps the most exciting and enjoyable time of my life.

Woke up next morning, she just finished showering. I started thinking how much i should pay her, and the words "so how much should i pay you?" were just about to come out of my lips. Then she came over, kissed me on my cheeks, pulled (equivalent of) $100 US our of her purse and laid it gently next to my bed. My brain froze. I didnt know how to react. The first thought I had was that "i didnt think there are chinese prostitutes working in Hungary"

I laughed.

We didnt leave the hotel room for another 2 hours.
(I think she got her moneys worth)

Heres some listening material off the Hungary Streets
The Streets - When You Wasnt Famous
Frente - Girl
Big Muff - My Funny Valentine
Claude Monet Presents Monica Nogueira - Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M'en Vais
45 Dip - Lizzie's Balloon
Trouble makers - Electrorloge
Gotan Project - EPOCA

Checked Out

Wrote this at work one day...

Oh my head is in the clouds
I'd like to keep them around
I think I'm done and down
It's my mind thats bane
Pull the muppet, drag it around

Going to keep it here since I'm going to throw the post-it away.

April 15th 2006

I don't think I've been able to successfully predict the trajectory of my life since I graduated from college...
It seems like I've been going off on a different tangent every half year or so. I'm excited to find out where I'll be in the future. I'm not sure I have many peers that I can reference from. I wonder if it's my head that's bigger than this world or the other way around.

A Track
~~~ Earlimart - Color Bars, Sounds ~~~ Saw them at SF last week.
~~~ Elliott Smith - Independence Day ~~~

B Track
~~~ Bent - Welly Top Mary ~~~
~~~ Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth ~~~

March 20 2006

I haven't had time to write any entires lately. The truth is I've been debating whether I should quit this blog. My reasoning being that I'm finding less and less time to keep it up. I'd hate to keep a blog I rarely update; out-dated entries are boring and worth nothing online...
The birth of the Double Jump blog hasn't made it easier either. The studio itself has been taking up a lot of my free time and I often feel like I should focus more of my energy on that. Why would I write an entry on this blog when I can write an entry on DoubleJump that may get me somewhere someday?

A Track
+++ Jack Johnson - Sing-a-longs & Lullabies for the film Curious George +++
~~~ Belle and Sebastian - If She Wants Me, Dress Up In You ~~~

B Track
+++ Mylo - Destroy Rock and Roll +++
+++ GoldFrapp - Supernature +++
~~~ Karminsky Experience Inc. - Departures ~~~

It's GDC (game developers conference) this week in the Bay Area. Maybe I've already gotten use to Washington State, but I'm not finding North Cal that great. Sure, the weather is nicer and more consistent here but it's not necessarily better. Somehow somewhere I think the seasons up Northwest causes its culture to more resemble those in the East. It's nice to be able to enjoy the best of both worlds in Seattle. Another plus up Northwest is that it is a lot more accessible to get around. I can't stand sitting in my car all day. It's an easy way to lose my valuable time.

Why Won't American Publishers Take Risks?

Developer: "Let's make a game with blocky graphics and crazy music where you have to roll up everything you can find in the world using a huge sticky ball! And these balls will be used to recreate all the stars in the universe after your father destroyed them all in a drunken bender!"

Publisher: "What the heck are you talking about? Are you freaking insane? Get the hell out of my office!"

Developer: "Well, they just released the same game in Japan..."

Publisher: "Those Japanese gamers are so crazy! I love it! Let's publish it!"

Why do we have to continuously wait for games like this to be translated and released in the States? Why can't an American publisher try something just a little bit risky, create a few smaller "oddball" titles each year and see what happens?

Top Ten Facts About Gamers

1. The average game player is 30 years old and has been playing games for 9.5 years.
2. Seventy-five percent of American heads of households play computer and video games.
3. Fifty percent of all Americans play video games.
4. Sixty percent of online game players are male. Forty percent of online game players are female.
5. Adult gamers exhibit a high level of interest in current events, with ninety-four percent following news and current events, and seventy-eight percent reporting that they vote in most of the elections for which they are eligible.
6. Fifty-three percent of game players expect to be playing as much or more ten years from now than they do today.
7. The average game buyer is 37 years old. In 2005, ninety-five percent of computer game buyers and eighty-four percent of console game buyers were over the age of 18.
8. Adult gamers have been playing an average of 12 years.
9. In 2004, nineteen percent of Americans over the age of 50 played video games, an increase from nine percent in 1999.
10. In 2005, more than 228 million computer and video games were sold, almost two games for every household in America.