Well, my second-ever grad course has started. I did incredibly well on the first one, and I'm really looking forward to this course, called Appropriate Web Technologies. You too can see my progress on this course - some work will be on display on my WPI webspace at http://www.wpi.edu/~damo/awt/
This course is online-only, so I won't have to drive to Worcester or Westborough every week. It's the first time I've ever taken a completely online course, though I certainly have tons of experience with online education thanks to my job. Judging from the course description and schedule, I'm going to be very busy in the next two months! I'll be learning a ton, and quite a bit of it will be stuff I've been wanting to learn for a long time (Ruby on Rails, more Javascript, etc.).
Here's to a great class!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Snake with Legs!
Not that I need any convincing for myself about the truth of evolution, but there was recently an article at the BBC about a fossil snake found with two vestigial legs.
It seems snakes evolved from more "normal" four legged reptiles, and then following evolution, lost the legs slowly over the course of millions of years. I think (I could be wrong) you can even see some species of snakes alive today with the remnants of legs.
In the very, very loosely reminiscent words of Carl Sagan, "science and reality are far more amazing than fiction!"
It seems snakes evolved from more "normal" four legged reptiles, and then following evolution, lost the legs slowly over the course of millions of years. I think (I could be wrong) you can even see some species of snakes alive today with the remnants of legs.
In the very, very loosely reminiscent words of Carl Sagan, "science and reality are far more amazing than fiction!"
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Doing My Part
Maybe you've heard of it, maybe not: there's a new documentary coming out in a couple weeks called Expelled. It is hosted by none other than Ben Stein. This is a propaganda film through-and-through for intelligent design - they attack biology, evolution, and true science every chance they get. Full disclosure: I haven't seen it yet. All I mention here can be read online or heard on podcasts.
Some of the actual scientists interviewed were lied to about what the documentary would be about, and some have been barred from screenings at theaters (in one case the person kicked out was actually in it!). Talk about expelled!
In my mind, the most egregious fallacy purported by this movie is their claim that evolution = atheism = Hitler and the Nazis. Huh?
I will do my part to spread the truth about this film by linking to Expelled Exposed. Read and enjoy!
Some of the actual scientists interviewed were lied to about what the documentary would be about, and some have been barred from screenings at theaters (in one case the person kicked out was actually in it!). Talk about expelled!
In my mind, the most egregious fallacy purported by this movie is their claim that evolution = atheism = Hitler and the Nazis. Huh?
I will do my part to spread the truth about this film by linking to Expelled Exposed. Read and enjoy!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Underway
Well, my class in software engineering is well underway, and it's going great. My group did a presentation a couple weeks ago, and we did a great job I thought. It's a lot of reading and a bunch of homework, but I've been able to keep up. The stuff I learn in this class will really help me when I make my games, and also even in my job for the next larger-sized programming project (whatever it may be).
I've thought of a couple more very stand-out games from the past:
The Dig (PC) - an incredible adventure game from the likes of LucasArts. This game was awesome, I mean, Steven Spielberg was involved! I remember purchasing this one by scraping together quarters, dimes, and nickels - that's how much I wanted to play it.
Command and Conquer (PC) - This game (like The Dig) started out for me with a demo. I played the demo level of this one more times than I care to mention. In my mind, this is THE real-time strategy game. It's what started me on that entire genre of video game.
Ahh video games. I am determined to show people that video games are not just for kids - they are for us older citizens ("adults" if you will) as well. Even more, I'm going to use them in the classroom.
I've thought of a couple more very stand-out games from the past:
The Dig (PC) - an incredible adventure game from the likes of LucasArts. This game was awesome, I mean, Steven Spielberg was involved! I remember purchasing this one by scraping together quarters, dimes, and nickels - that's how much I wanted to play it.
Command and Conquer (PC) - This game (like The Dig) started out for me with a demo. I played the demo level of this one more times than I care to mention. In my mind, this is THE real-time strategy game. It's what started me on that entire genre of video game.
Ahh video games. I am determined to show people that video games are not just for kids - they are for us older citizens ("adults" if you will) as well. Even more, I'm going to use them in the classroom.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Busy-ness
So much going on! First and foremost, I've begun graduate school back at my old alma mater, WPI. My first course is called Design of Software Systems (basically Software Engineering), and I've had a couple classes so far. It's great to be back in school - I can really tell I'm going to learn quite a bit in this class. It'll certainly be a lot of work (already is), but it is awesome. In fact, I'm procrastinating on some homework right now...
I realized that trying to put together a personal top 10 games of all time is a useless pursuit. I've played way too many games in my life, with so many amazing memories, that trying to pick 10 is incredibly difficult. Every time I tried to think of a game to put in the top 10, I'd think of another one, and then another one, and so on. What do I base it on? Games I thought had the best graphics? Games that made the biggest impression on me? The ones I thought were the most fun? The ones I spent the most time playing? It's too much. I think I'll just take a swig of beer and think about how great the sushi was that I had for dinner tonight.
Well, how about I list a few games that just popped in my head, just because.
Solar Jetman for the NES
Super Mario Kart for the SNES
Super Mario World for the SNES
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the SNES
Syndicate for the PC
System Shock 2 for the PC
StarCraft for the PC
Command and Conquer for the PC
Portal for the PC (check this out)
Space Quest 1 through 6 for the PC
Final Fantasy 7 for the PlayStation
And there are so many others. How about I say now that I'll post any more games as I think of them, from now on. It'll be like a retro (and sometimes brand new) gaming remembrance. Hey, just thought of another:
Battletoads for the NES
Alright, back to the homework. Or maybe bed. Tough choice...
I realized that trying to put together a personal top 10 games of all time is a useless pursuit. I've played way too many games in my life, with so many amazing memories, that trying to pick 10 is incredibly difficult. Every time I tried to think of a game to put in the top 10, I'd think of another one, and then another one, and so on. What do I base it on? Games I thought had the best graphics? Games that made the biggest impression on me? The ones I thought were the most fun? The ones I spent the most time playing? It's too much. I think I'll just take a swig of beer and think about how great the sushi was that I had for dinner tonight.
Well, how about I list a few games that just popped in my head, just because.
Solar Jetman for the NES
Super Mario Kart for the SNES
Super Mario World for the SNES
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the SNES
Syndicate for the PC
System Shock 2 for the PC
StarCraft for the PC
Command and Conquer for the PC
Portal for the PC (check this out)
Space Quest 1 through 6 for the PC
Final Fantasy 7 for the PlayStation
And there are so many others. How about I say now that I'll post any more games as I think of them, from now on. It'll be like a retro (and sometimes brand new) gaming remembrance. Hey, just thought of another:
Battletoads for the NES
Alright, back to the homework. Or maybe bed. Tough choice...
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Make Things!
I just read an article called New Years Resolutions for Game Industry Newbies, since I do one day, eventually, want to make games. All five points really made sense. Number one was to Make Things - something I'm incredibly excited to do.
I've been thinking quite a bit (instead of Making Things, I'll admit) about the marble game that I want to create. After playing Portal, seeing and trying (links at bottom) Echo Chrome, reading about Braid, and playing Cursor*10, I've made the decision that I don't want to make the same marble game everyone has seen and played before. I want to make something different - something that makes people really think and use their brains in a way they haven't before.
I'd say that's one of the powers of video games. It's the ability to change and bend the reality that someone is experiencing. Maybe you can see yourself through a portal, change your perspective to solve a problem, or help yourself in a new way. I absolutely love things that make me think in new and exciting ways, and those are the kind of games I want to create and let people experience as well. Perhaps you'll learn something about others, and especially about yourself.
And, since it's literally 2:30 AM right now and I can't sleep at all because there are huge trucks doing some damned loud revving engine (moving trees? blasting the road? digging for pipes? performing an alien landing cover-up?) things on the street across from my front door, I'm going to expand my mind with some Portal. Making Things is not an option at this time of night, except for a blog post I guess, but I don't think that counts.
I've been thinking quite a bit (instead of Making Things, I'll admit) about the marble game that I want to create. After playing Portal, seeing and trying (links at bottom) Echo Chrome, reading about Braid, and playing Cursor*10, I've made the decision that I don't want to make the same marble game everyone has seen and played before. I want to make something different - something that makes people really think and use their brains in a way they haven't before.
I'd say that's one of the powers of video games. It's the ability to change and bend the reality that someone is experiencing. Maybe you can see yourself through a portal, change your perspective to solve a problem, or help yourself in a new way. I absolutely love things that make me think in new and exciting ways, and those are the kind of games I want to create and let people experience as well. Perhaps you'll learn something about others, and especially about yourself.
And, since it's literally 2:30 AM right now and I can't sleep at all because there are huge trucks doing some damned loud revving engine (moving trees? blasting the road? digging for pipes? performing an alien landing cover-up?) things on the street across from my front door, I'm going to expand my mind with some Portal. Making Things is not an option at this time of night, except for a blog post I guess, but I don't think that counts.
Missed Games
Last week I took a short couple-of-hours-a-day for a week fun course called "The History of Video Games." It was fun, and I learned a lot of things about the world of video games. The course ended with a sort-of list of the top 10 video games of all time. Our teacher left out the entirety of computer games, and the list was heavily weighted to the Nintendo side, so there was a bit to be desired. The list was of course much-contested by everyone in the class (since top 10's are incredibly objective), but some games were mentioned that I've never played.
I decided to make a list of games that I totally missed in the last 15 years that I'm going to go back and play someday. One reason I missed them is because after purchasing a PlayStation and a few games for it in the mid-90s I basically went completely to computer games, leaving out consoles until about 2003 when I bought a PS2. Here they are, in no particular order:
N64:
Super Mario 64
Star Fox 64
Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time
Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
GoldenEye 007
GameCube:
Super Smash Brothers: Melee
PlayStation:
Metal Gear Solid
PS2:
Shadow of the Colossus
Resident Evil 4
Okami
We Love Katamari
God of War 1 and 2
XBox:
Halo 2
PC:
Deus Ex
Some of these games seem to be on just about everyone's best-of all time lists. Do I have any glaring omissions? Maybe I need to put together my own personal top 10 list. I think I will, but I've really got to mull over it for a while. Check back in a couple days!
Since I'm currently still playing The Witcher and BioShock, I won't be playing these too soon, but we'll see. I will say that after about getting 10-15 hours into The Witcher, it is still very, very good. It just might make it into my top-10 list...
I decided to make a list of games that I totally missed in the last 15 years that I'm going to go back and play someday. One reason I missed them is because after purchasing a PlayStation and a few games for it in the mid-90s I basically went completely to computer games, leaving out consoles until about 2003 when I bought a PS2. Here they are, in no particular order:
N64:
Super Mario 64
Star Fox 64
Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time
Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
GoldenEye 007
GameCube:
Super Smash Brothers: Melee
PlayStation:
Metal Gear Solid
PS2:
Shadow of the Colossus
Resident Evil 4
Okami
We Love Katamari
God of War 1 and 2
XBox:
Halo 2
PC:
Deus Ex
Some of these games seem to be on just about everyone's best-of all time lists. Do I have any glaring omissions? Maybe I need to put together my own personal top 10 list. I think I will, but I've really got to mull over it for a while. Check back in a couple days!
Since I'm currently still playing The Witcher and BioShock, I won't be playing these too soon, but we'll see. I will say that after about getting 10-15 hours into The Witcher, it is still very, very good. It just might make it into my top-10 list...
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