Anonymous Users
Not wishing to cause any havoc and hell, I'll just put it out there. I finally realize the... "burden" of allow anonymous comments. Now I don't mean that people shouldn't comment (in fact, I love it because that means people read my blog), but as a blog author I wish I knew who all these people are and if they are just friends, family, or random viewers.
Don't get me wrong though. I get it. I like to be anonymous sometimes too.
Thanks to whoever put up the comment in the last post. I try my best to be a good friend and student.
Change
Sparked by a recent post by another blogger, I've decided to once again write about change. However this time I've decided to write more about the change of my old friends.
I can't say for sure how my old friends are doing. The ones that I have seen, well, some are doing much better (academically and socially) than they did in elementary. Some have just lost it.
Near the end of the school year I visited Van Tech. After thinking about my visit I realized that I'm actually really glad I ended up at Alpha. Looking at the people there, well, it was hard to even think about me having any friends there if I had gone to Tech. I feel like if I had gone to Tech, all my friends would be the same as before.
For some reason I feel at fault for the friends who have become worse through high school. Maybe it's because I grew up with them and I feel some sort of obligation to watch over them like a father watches over his children going to college.
Whenever my mind reaches this certain topic, I always wonder what my life would be like if I had somehow gone to Tech. I wonder how life for everybody would change if that happened. Would people at Alpha be affected for better or worse? I know a lot of people would say worse, but how can we know for sure? Maybe there would be another "Kevin" to replace me.
I wonder if Alpha really needs me. I like to think that way, and maybe Alpha does need me, and maybe it doesn't. To a lot of people I'm a good friend, and to others I'm just another person in the hallways. Maybe Alpha doesn't need me, and maybe another school is in greater need of me. I guess I'll never know.
Sorry For So Many Words
For some reason I just couldn't find a spot to put in any images in. None of the topics I've discussed really needed any, so that's why there aren't any. If you've read through all of this, give yourself a pat on the back. No, seriously, if you haven't done it yet, do it.
Anyhow, my biology unit in my summer course finally ended and now all that's left is the physics unit (which I love so far) before the Provincial. I feel like I should be a 9, but saying that doesn't feel right. So I'm going to go with 8. Thanks for reading through if you have.
"The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost." - Gilbert K. Chesterson
July 31, 2013
July 30, 2013
Another Amazing Game
I was not expecting the thrill ride that I received when I downloaded Ib. Ib is a horror adventure game created by kouri. The game puts an emphasis on puzzles (I just love them) and discovering. There's an genuinely interesting story that I thoroughly enjoyed and also scares that made you jump.
The game follows the story of a young girl named Ib who is visiting the art gallery with her parents. When she stumbles upon an interesting painting, everything changes and she must find her way out of the hell that she's fallen into.
If you have ever seen or played To The Moon, you'll quickly seem similarities in design. The game takes an interesting turn in creating a spooky atmosphere and it is definitely one of my favourite games. I finished the game all in one go (excluding my dinner break) in around two hours and a half, and I loved every bit of it. Different endings, sudden scares, unsettling events, all of these are featured in Ib. You can download the game for free from the official site.
Another Lyric Video?
After finishing the Can't Hug Every Cat kinetic lyric video, I soon thought about making another one. I actually enjoyed creating the video and look forward to doing more kinetic typography if not kinetic lyrics. Anyhow, it might just be another short side project to add to my list. I just wanted to put it up on this blog as an update to what I'm doing.
The song I currently have in mind is Counting Stars by OneRepublic.
Cognitive Process
As I've said in a few posts before, I have taken up anime and the series I last finished was Accel World (which by the way I really enjoyed watching). In the anime there is a program called Brain Burst that increases the cognitive processes of the user. Essentially to the user it seems like time slows down and gives them time to think.
So the idea that I have derived from this concept (that is unfortunately fictional) is that time passes more slowly if you increase your cognitive processes. The fewer processes that you have, the faster time goes by. That is saying that if somehow we were able to create something that increased our cognitive processes (or perhaps our consciousness), we would (in a way) slow down time.
It's really interesting to me because time slows down for some people while to others time just flies. I don't know what I'm saying. It's just how I see it.
Post Done.
Playing Ib took a lot out of me (glad I didn't have any homework today), and that will be all for today. It feels like summer has been really long and school is still a far amount of time away. I'm kind of anxious to see how people will be like after we've gotten over our first year of high school and now know (for the most part) the true colours of each other.
It feels like some of my friends have grown really distant and I'm actually scared of losing them. I know I will never be able to be good friends with everybody that I want, but I still want to be friends. What I'm scared most of all is missing out on meeting people. I'm an 8 today.
"It isn't what they say about you, it's what they whisper." - Errol Flynn
July 28, 2013
The 80th Second
Lately there have been quite a few puzzle type games on this blog, so I'll try to make this the last one. But hey, I couldn't help but be caught dead in my tracks by this game.
The 80th Second starts off with a simple story. There is an orchestra that will preform an 80 second piece the next day. Everybody is off practicing for the big day in their private caravans. After 80 seconds, an explosion that kills everybody occurs, and you must travel back in time and interrogate each orchestra member to find out who planted the bomb.
There's a lot of running around in The 80th Second, so if you're one who isn't patient (like me), then you should probably not play this game (I quit after 10 or so minutes). I'm sure there's an intriguing and amazing ending, but I personally will probably never finish the game by myself.
This game is available for download at Game Jolt. It will definitely take some time, but if you ever figure out the puzzle, be sure to tell me.
Juggling Life
I'm a person with many interests. For example, I enjoy reading, playing sports, playing games, blogging, and hanging out with friends. Now if you look at a single interest, you'll find that there are many things that you can do. You could read this book or that book. There are so many different sports and games.
So when somebody has all these interests, they're bound to have all these... projects. That's what I've called them for a while (I'm sure you've noticed in the past). Projects. I've thought about writing a short novel, starting a review blog, and starting a YouTube channel, just to name the big ones. You can already imagine how much work it would take to write (and finish) a novel, and, well, it's just a lot of work for projects.
But projects require work right? Yes. Successful projects should have countless hours of work and effort invested into them (but what do I know?), so if I wanted to run a successful review blog, YouTube channel, and a novel, it'd be impossible. So for now I have to channel all my work into one project. Still, there are other things too, like family, friends, and fun.
Just Had To Post
Today has been easy going. I think this week will be the last for summer school, but it must just be second last. I have to start studying for the Provincial soon, so the posts up until mid-August might be just kind of filler or update posts.
My brother started reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower, so I've also taken it upon myself to read that book again. I'm only at part two, but the book is still as great as I remember it. I'm a 9 today.
"If you ever live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you." - A. A. Milne
July 26, 2013
A Lot Of Things
Swimming
Near the beginning of summer my parents bought a swimming pass for me, encouraging me into going swimming daily. Anyhow, after a few days swimming kind of grew on me and I didn't mind that. A week passed and I found that I actually enjoyed swimming. So that sets the stage.
Anyhow, a day or two ago my brother and I are playing "volleyball" in the water. We're playing beside these two girls who I've seen a bit over my time at the pool and everything is going fine. At some point in our game, this man walks up to the girls and asks nervously if he can play. The girls smile (or something like that) and splash away. Seeing this made me feel kind of bad for the guy, and before I knew it I had invited him to join us.
The whole time Raymond (my brother) was looking at me as if he was saying, "What the hell Kevin?" The guy seemed really thankful that he found somebody to play with and we started talking about his life. I didn't catch his name because of his chopped up English, but he said that he was from Quebec (which would explain the language barrier) and that he came to work in Vancouver. We started talking about sightseeing in Vancouver and I asked him what job he had. He said that he was a "roofer" and how it was a great job and I couldn't help but smile.
So in the end the story is that I kind of took a risk befriending a stranger, but in the end I guess I just experienced more of life.
What I Would Do
At the end of the school year I was wondering what I was going to do during the summer. Honestly I needed the break to just think and absorb everything that had happened to me during the school year. One of the biggest things on my mind was love. I was confused. I didn't know if I truly had feelings for somebody or if I was just so desperate for somebody to like me back.
I'm glad to say I've figured out a lot of things over this summer. At some point, I realized that if a girl (regardless of how much I "liked" her) asked me to be her "boyfriend", I would say no. I am completely sure I would say no. I wouldn't care if she liked me and I liked her. I'd keep it that way to save whatever friendship we had. I would rather have a close friend for a long amount of time than to have somebody more than a friend for a short amount of time.
Confession
Last post I forgot to put my number of the day. This was kindly pointed out to me by a reader and I had conflicting emotions about whether I should change it or not (let's set things straight here though, I did change it). If I changed it I'd feel like this blog was a fake, but there would be a sense of completeness. If I didn't change it, I'd feel like a failure for forgetting, but it's just another part of history. So I changed it. That's my confession. Sorry if you were looking for something bigger than that.
I am a 7 today. This morning I was feeling a lot worse (probably around a 2), but it goes to show what time and great people can do to you. Anyhow, thanks for reading through this block of text (must be pretty intimidating). I'll see you in the next post.
"Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers." - Voltaire
Near the beginning of summer my parents bought a swimming pass for me, encouraging me into going swimming daily. Anyhow, after a few days swimming kind of grew on me and I didn't mind that. A week passed and I found that I actually enjoyed swimming. So that sets the stage.
Anyhow, a day or two ago my brother and I are playing "volleyball" in the water. We're playing beside these two girls who I've seen a bit over my time at the pool and everything is going fine. At some point in our game, this man walks up to the girls and asks nervously if he can play. The girls smile (or something like that) and splash away. Seeing this made me feel kind of bad for the guy, and before I knew it I had invited him to join us.
The whole time Raymond (my brother) was looking at me as if he was saying, "What the hell Kevin?" The guy seemed really thankful that he found somebody to play with and we started talking about his life. I didn't catch his name because of his chopped up English, but he said that he was from Quebec (which would explain the language barrier) and that he came to work in Vancouver. We started talking about sightseeing in Vancouver and I asked him what job he had. He said that he was a "roofer" and how it was a great job and I couldn't help but smile.
So in the end the story is that I kind of took a risk befriending a stranger, but in the end I guess I just experienced more of life.
What I Would Do
At the end of the school year I was wondering what I was going to do during the summer. Honestly I needed the break to just think and absorb everything that had happened to me during the school year. One of the biggest things on my mind was love. I was confused. I didn't know if I truly had feelings for somebody or if I was just so desperate for somebody to like me back.
I'm glad to say I've figured out a lot of things over this summer. At some point, I realized that if a girl (regardless of how much I "liked" her) asked me to be her "boyfriend", I would say no. I am completely sure I would say no. I wouldn't care if she liked me and I liked her. I'd keep it that way to save whatever friendship we had. I would rather have a close friend for a long amount of time than to have somebody more than a friend for a short amount of time.
Confession
Last post I forgot to put my number of the day. This was kindly pointed out to me by a reader and I had conflicting emotions about whether I should change it or not (let's set things straight here though, I did change it). If I changed it I'd feel like this blog was a fake, but there would be a sense of completeness. If I didn't change it, I'd feel like a failure for forgetting, but it's just another part of history. So I changed it. That's my confession. Sorry if you were looking for something bigger than that.
I am a 7 today. This morning I was feeling a lot worse (probably around a 2), but it goes to show what time and great people can do to you. Anyhow, thanks for reading through this block of text (must be pretty intimidating). I'll see you in the next post.
"Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers." - Voltaire
July 24, 2013
17K Views
So I recently hit the 17K views mark and really, I'd just like to thank the people who take the time to read this blog. It's changed a lot (so have I) since I started and somehow it's made it here. I remember when I started this blog that I thought it'd be a personal thing, something for me to look back at when I'm experiencing my mid-life crisis. Truthfully, the blog still serves that purpose, but now I also blog for the people who are interested.
Anyhow, I know I've done this a lot, but reaching another thousand views is just something that I can't help but be amazed at.
Ah, here we go again, yet another game review. Thanks to some positive feedback and even some suggestions, I've decided to continue this little game review thing. I thought about making a separate blog for that (along with reviewing other things such as anime, movies, and novels), but that is still just an idea (I would need some help, so I'm looking for people to help). Anyhow, here we go with this review.
You Must Escape is a browser Flash game developed by Rac7. Using the arrow keys, space bar, and shift, you will have to navigate yourself through corridors, searching for exits. Here's the catch though, you can't see. All you can do is listen for the echoes of your footsteps and try to pinpoint where the exit is.
This game takes a fresh look at the puzzle game. I'm too used to stereotypical point and click puzzle games where I can essentially win the game by combining random items. You Must Escape is a game that is definitely worth a play. You get the grasp of the game quickly with useful instructions below and the game itself is something new.
Shout out to Tyler for suggesting this game. You can play the game for free right here.
Goodbye For Today
To summarize my life, well, I'm currently working with a development team to create a game, Science 10 Provincials are coming up, I want to write a novel, and I want to start a review blog. Really isn't much else to life. I've also figured out something. I cannot be content with a simple life. Life is just complicated.
I'm finally going to get a chance to relax today and I'm looking forward to that. There's a lot of stuff being crammed into the summer course so it'll be good to let go for a bit. Of course with the Provincial looming over I guess nobody can really relax. I'm feeling like an 8 today.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Winston Churchill
This game takes a fresh look at the puzzle game. I'm too used to stereotypical point and click puzzle games where I can essentially win the game by combining random items. You Must Escape is a game that is definitely worth a play. You get the grasp of the game quickly with useful instructions below and the game itself is something new.
Shout out to Tyler for suggesting this game. You can play the game for free right here.
Goodbye For Today
To summarize my life, well, I'm currently working with a development team to create a game, Science 10 Provincials are coming up, I want to write a novel, and I want to start a review blog. Really isn't much else to life. I've also figured out something. I cannot be content with a simple life. Life is just complicated.
I'm finally going to get a chance to relax today and I'm looking forward to that. There's a lot of stuff being crammed into the summer course so it'll be good to let go for a bit. Of course with the Provincial looming over I guess nobody can really relax. I'm feeling like an 8 today.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Winston Churchill
July 22, 2013
Icarus Needs
After doing my usual browse through IndieGames I found this short puzzle game called Icarus Needs. It follows the story of a man named Icarus who needs to complete certain objectives to reach his overall goal: to wake up.
The game itself is incredibly simple. You've got the objectives on the left, inventory on the right, and it even has the controls for forgetful people.
It's a really short and quick play for anybody who's worried about not having enough time. The puzzles are simple enough, and the design of the game looks great. If you don't want another game that has some incredibly deep meaning at the end of it (like 3lind), then you'll be glad to hear that the ending is simple.
The game is in browser (so no need for downloads) and you can play it for free at Kongregate right here.
Novel
Once again I've been thinking about writing a novel. This happens whenever something in life inspires me to write a short story about it (and then I end up wanting to write a novel). I remember a while ago I started writing The Benefits of Life (which unfortunately I have stopped work on). This possible novel will aim towards that general theme. Somebody also asked for excerpts of The Benefits of Life to be posted on this blog, so I might do that for this novel. Hopefully I won't have to add this to the list of failed novels (The Benefits of Life and Brighter Days).
Ever since getting into anime, I've watched a few really good ones. A few days ago I finished what was actually a movie (in the style of anime) called Summer Wars. The film itself was really good and I recommend it to anybody who's looking for a good movie to watch.
Anyhow, in one of the scenes, one of the characters is talking about the two things that hurt the most. Hunger and loneliness. Naturally you need to eat to survive, but the loneliness aspect was what really had me thinking.
I cannot remember thinking about loneliness. I come in contact with so many people everyday that it is difficult for me to believe that there is such thing as loneliness. However I'm sure everybody feels it once in a while.
It is true. Loneliness is much more painful than it sounds. You really start to see it when you start losing friends.
That's It For This Post
So what's got me worried is that I may have not registered for the Science 10 Provincial. I wasn't aware of it and my summer course teacher hadn't mentioned anything about it, so I'm not sure if I'm already registered or if I will have to take Science 10 in the next school year again (which I would absolutely hate). On a completely different note, I'm also out of lined paper.
Today I am a 8. There isn't anything special about today, but hey, I won't know that until tomorrow or some other day in the future. I just have to put on a smile and get through life until I reach that day.
"When you love someone all your saved up wishes start coming out." - Elizabeth Bowen
July 20, 2013
So Much For More Posts
Not Much Is Going On
The reason why I haven't blogged lately is because life really just isn't that interesting anymore. It's the same thing that happens everyday. I go to school, do my homework, come home, watch anime or television, eat, and go to sleep. I got tired of creating lyric videos (gave up on one just a few days ago) and the game development team that I'm working with is still planning.
However, I found inspiration for the bit below on a drive to summer school.
The "Equipment Lady"
On the way to Burnaby North (where my summer course is) there is this small elementary school called Aubrey. Aubrey also hosts summer school and there are people who volunteer (or get paid, how should I know?) to guard and watch the crosswalk. So I'm just driving to another day of school and I vaguely recognize one of the crosswalk guards.
The days after that I tried to catch a glimpse of the crosswalk guard. A few days pass and I realize that the crosswalk guard is one that I know.
At Alpha, there is this one lady who sits on a chair beside the equipment room in the gym at lunch. She sits there and monitors the withdraws and return of equipment. I don't hang around the gym that much, but the few times I've gone I've only seem a frown on her face. Apparently she gets teased a lot and I can't help but feel sad for her.
So this equipment lady. She was the crosswalk guard I recognized. One day my dad and I are waiting for Raymond (he attends summer school at Aubrey). The bell rings and Raymond hops into the car and we're off. When we reach the crosswalk, there she is. There's a small group of parents and children ready to cross and she holds up the stop side of her sign. One of the little girls stops right in the middle of the road and I hear her exclaim loudly, "Thanks miss!" The equipment/crosswalk lady smiles and that's that.
That's It.
I'm exhausted of anything else to talk about. You'll have to stick with this image-less post for now. In the future I'll try to get posts up more consistently. Guess it doesn't really matter.
My number for today is an 8. Reasons? I dunno. Do you really need any? Have a good rest of the summer.
"Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward." - Victor Kiam
The reason why I haven't blogged lately is because life really just isn't that interesting anymore. It's the same thing that happens everyday. I go to school, do my homework, come home, watch anime or television, eat, and go to sleep. I got tired of creating lyric videos (gave up on one just a few days ago) and the game development team that I'm working with is still planning.
However, I found inspiration for the bit below on a drive to summer school.
The "Equipment Lady"
On the way to Burnaby North (where my summer course is) there is this small elementary school called Aubrey. Aubrey also hosts summer school and there are people who volunteer (or get paid, how should I know?) to guard and watch the crosswalk. So I'm just driving to another day of school and I vaguely recognize one of the crosswalk guards.
The days after that I tried to catch a glimpse of the crosswalk guard. A few days pass and I realize that the crosswalk guard is one that I know.
At Alpha, there is this one lady who sits on a chair beside the equipment room in the gym at lunch. She sits there and monitors the withdraws and return of equipment. I don't hang around the gym that much, but the few times I've gone I've only seem a frown on her face. Apparently she gets teased a lot and I can't help but feel sad for her.
So this equipment lady. She was the crosswalk guard I recognized. One day my dad and I are waiting for Raymond (he attends summer school at Aubrey). The bell rings and Raymond hops into the car and we're off. When we reach the crosswalk, there she is. There's a small group of parents and children ready to cross and she holds up the stop side of her sign. One of the little girls stops right in the middle of the road and I hear her exclaim loudly, "Thanks miss!" The equipment/crosswalk lady smiles and that's that.
That's It.
I'm exhausted of anything else to talk about. You'll have to stick with this image-less post for now. In the future I'll try to get posts up more consistently. Guess it doesn't really matter.
My number for today is an 8. Reasons? I dunno. Do you really need any? Have a good rest of the summer.
"Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward." - Victor Kiam
July 13, 2013
Lyric Video And Game Review
Finally Finished
So I spent the last week (half an hour a day) working on this lyric video for the song Can't Hug Every Cat and for the first time ever I was able to finish a lyric video.
You see, the thing with kinetic typography lyrics is that you have to type out every single word, then find the first frame of every word that is sung, and then you have to animate the words. Along with straining to hear words along
with the music, you also get really sick of the song (I never want to hear Can't Hug Every Cat). It's a tedious process, but the outcome looks great. Anyhow, it's good that the video is finally done.
If you're wondering what a kinetic typography lyric video looks like, the video will be right below this paragraph. I was hoping to take requests, but I doubt anybody except for friends will ask for any.
Although the graphics aren't what we are used to in "modern" games, the voice acting and cut scenes satisfy and compliment the actual horror of the game. As I loaded up the game, I couldn't help but feel confident that I wouldn't be easily scared by this old game. I cannot tell you how wrong I was. After the beginning of the game, I was already scared as hell. I honestly felt like throwing my headset and computer out of the window and never seeing that game again.
Fortunately I came across a bug in the game (however it took me four more jump scares to find out that the bug didn't have a fix).
The game is really just unsettling and just hammers at you until you break and scream. It uses a lot of subtle gestures of horrors (I personally find that very "nice" in a horror game) and the warning at the beginning does not joke around (except for the suicide part, but hey, it's an old game): "This game contains violence and gore, and can cause fear, depression, heart failure and suicide." The warning also has the background of a guy with a shotgun pointed at where his head used to be and what I assumed was the remains of his brain splattered on the wall.
So I spent the last week (half an hour a day) working on this lyric video for the song Can't Hug Every Cat and for the first time ever I was able to finish a lyric video.
You see, the thing with kinetic typography lyrics is that you have to type out every single word, then find the first frame of every word that is sung, and then you have to animate the words. Along with straining to hear words along
with the music, you also get really sick of the song (I never want to hear Can't Hug Every Cat). It's a tedious process, but the outcome looks great. Anyhow, it's good that the video is finally done.
If you're wondering what a kinetic typography lyric video looks like, the video will be right below this paragraph. I was hoping to take requests, but I doubt anybody except for friends will ask for any.
Cry of Fear
The title speaks for itself. Cry of Fear is a horror game that has gone far since it was released. Developed by Team Psykskallar, it was a Half-Life (yes, the first Half-Life) mod. The thing about Cry of Fear was that it was completely original and only ran on the engine for Half-Life. The game has since then been developed into a stand alone, which means you don't need Half-Life anymore.
Fortunately I came across a bug in the game (however it took me four more jump scares to find out that the bug didn't have a fix).
The game is really just unsettling and just hammers at you until you break and scream. It uses a lot of subtle gestures of horrors (I personally find that very "nice" in a horror game) and the warning at the beginning does not joke around (except for the suicide part, but hey, it's an old game): "This game contains violence and gore, and can cause fear, depression, heart failure and suicide." The warning also has the background of a guy with a shotgun pointed at where his head used to be and what I assumed was the remains of his brain splattered on the wall.
Cry of Fear is completely free to play (I try to keep it this way so anybody can try out any games) and is available for download on Steam (the link on the official site isn't working as of now). Seriously though, if you were genuinely scared by Slender, you should not try out this game. But hey, I'm not responsible for any scarring.
I've Written A Lot
A lot of the posts that act as a game review as well are really long and it feels like I'd be killing anybody who is still reading after the review, so I'll end it here. It seems I just get carried away and try to jam every single aspect of the game into a few paragraphs. Whoopsies.
It's been a pretty relaxing weekend so far. I'd have to give today a 8. My hands smell like chlorine.
"In fair weather prepare for foul." - Thomas Fuller
I've Written A Lot
A lot of the posts that act as a game review as well are really long and it feels like I'd be killing anybody who is still reading after the review, so I'll end it here. It seems I just get carried away and try to jam every single aspect of the game into a few paragraphs. Whoopsies.
It's been a pretty relaxing weekend so far. I'd have to give today a 8. My hands smell like chlorine.
"In fair weather prepare for foul." - Thomas Fuller
July 12, 2013
A Lot Of Stuff Going On
First Off: Sorry
Last post I was just feeling really down and I wanted to channel it out somewhere, but I didn't really want to burden my friends with that, so I kind of just let myself go on the blog. Probably not the smartest thing I've done, but hey, what's done is done.
That post was not to everybody who reads this blog. I know there are some people out there that read this blog because they want to, and hey, thanks for that. For some reason, the final straw of putting up with ridicule aimed at this blog just broke. Anyhow, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for making such a waste of a post. Thank you to everybody who has cheered me up.
Science 10
Tomorrow I have to make a decision that might change my life. But then again, every decision that you make will change your life. Anyhow, tomorrow I have to choose whether I want to audit or continue my Science 10 course for credit.
Right now I don't know what to do. If I audit the course, I take it just as a preview and for the experience. If I take it for advanced credit, then I'll be able to take something like Pre-AP Biology 11. What really just bothers me is that I might make the wrong choice and regret it, but hey, what's life without risks?
Java Game
My friends have invited me to join them in creating a game that runs on Java. With Science 10 going on (not to mention the Provincial that comes with it) and a bunch of other stuff, I wonder if I can actually contribute enough to the game.
This seems like a really good idea because I can learn Java and also figure out what it takes to work in a group.
Novel?
For my English 8 class I wrote a short novel about two survivors in a zombie apocalypse. My teacher said that I did a good job on it, and it kind of just boosted my writing confidence. Back when I was actually writing the story, I was set on finishing the short novel and making it a full novel, but that dream has long died.
Recently there have been many things that have inspired me to write a novel though, so who knows? Maybe this time I'll actually get a good story.
Lyric Video
Along with all the stuff above, I've also been working on a lyric video for a song that is very near and dear to me. I'm about halfway through the song and hopefully I'll be able to finish it soon. This is actually the most work I have ever put into a lyric video, so I am pretty proud of it so far.
Late Post
I was planning to put up this post before midnight, but I forgot to keep an eye on the clock. Oh well. Here's a really early morning post.
I'm feeling a lot better now that I've got everything off my chest and out in the open. I'm a 9 today.
"The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up." - Paul Valéry
Last post I was just feeling really down and I wanted to channel it out somewhere, but I didn't really want to burden my friends with that, so I kind of just let myself go on the blog. Probably not the smartest thing I've done, but hey, what's done is done.
That post was not to everybody who reads this blog. I know there are some people out there that read this blog because they want to, and hey, thanks for that. For some reason, the final straw of putting up with ridicule aimed at this blog just broke. Anyhow, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for making such a waste of a post. Thank you to everybody who has cheered me up.
Science 10
Tomorrow I have to make a decision that might change my life. But then again, every decision that you make will change your life. Anyhow, tomorrow I have to choose whether I want to audit or continue my Science 10 course for credit.
Right now I don't know what to do. If I audit the course, I take it just as a preview and for the experience. If I take it for advanced credit, then I'll be able to take something like Pre-AP Biology 11. What really just bothers me is that I might make the wrong choice and regret it, but hey, what's life without risks?
Java Game
My friends have invited me to join them in creating a game that runs on Java. With Science 10 going on (not to mention the Provincial that comes with it) and a bunch of other stuff, I wonder if I can actually contribute enough to the game.
This seems like a really good idea because I can learn Java and also figure out what it takes to work in a group.
Novel?
For my English 8 class I wrote a short novel about two survivors in a zombie apocalypse. My teacher said that I did a good job on it, and it kind of just boosted my writing confidence. Back when I was actually writing the story, I was set on finishing the short novel and making it a full novel, but that dream has long died.
Recently there have been many things that have inspired me to write a novel though, so who knows? Maybe this time I'll actually get a good story.
Lyric Video
Along with all the stuff above, I've also been working on a lyric video for a song that is very near and dear to me. I'm about halfway through the song and hopefully I'll be able to finish it soon. This is actually the most work I have ever put into a lyric video, so I am pretty proud of it so far.
Late Post
I was planning to put up this post before midnight, but I forgot to keep an eye on the clock. Oh well. Here's a really early morning post.
I'm feeling a lot better now that I've got everything off my chest and out in the open. I'm a 9 today.
"The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up." - Paul Valéry
July 10, 2013
Ridicule
Thank You.
So this post is thanks to all the people who have really just pissed me off in the past. Thank you everybody who has mocked and ridiculed this blog. Thank you for mocking my post titles, my terrible taste in templates, my "quote of the day", and lastly, my stupid number of the day. Thank you for visiting my blog in the middle of class and reading it out in that ridiculously snooty voice. Everybody, really, just thank you.
My god, it doesn't just stop at blogging though. Nope. It doesn't stop there. It doesn't stop at all the grade six girls, or all the quotes, or all my efforts that are shattered by your actions and words.
Once upon a time, the people who read my blog read it because they thought it was decent. It was something to do when there was nothing else to do. I posted for myself back then. Then more people read, and I started posting for others, with an audience in mind. Now, I don't even know what for.
Fed Up
Goodbye.
5.
"The heart forgets its sorrow and ache." - James Russell Lowell
So this post is thanks to all the people who have really just pissed me off in the past. Thank you everybody who has mocked and ridiculed this blog. Thank you for mocking my post titles, my terrible taste in templates, my "quote of the day", and lastly, my stupid number of the day. Thank you for visiting my blog in the middle of class and reading it out in that ridiculously snooty voice. Everybody, really, just thank you.
My god, it doesn't just stop at blogging though. Nope. It doesn't stop there. It doesn't stop at all the grade six girls, or all the quotes, or all my efforts that are shattered by your actions and words.
Once upon a time, the people who read my blog read it because they thought it was decent. It was something to do when there was nothing else to do. I posted for myself back then. Then more people read, and I started posting for others, with an audience in mind. Now, I don't even know what for.
Fed Up
Goodbye.
5.
"The heart forgets its sorrow and ache." - James Russell Lowell
July 8, 2013
Over Thinking
Over Thinking
I over think a lot of things. Most of my actions and words are carefully planned out before I even being to say it. I run through all the possibilities that can happen, all that can go wrong, all that go right, and then I choose whatever has the least amount of risk. This "habit" has been reinforced by so many things. The seemingly endless amount of times I have hurt somebody's feelings just because of a few stray words. The mistakes and regrets that I have. So it brings me to this point, where I just simply "think too much".
But the thing is, I love what I do. I love planning out everything, I love it when everything falls into place, and the scenario that ran in my head plays out perfectly. It amazes me and I always want to learn more about the psychology of humans. So if you see me standing still or just sitting down randomly, then it's a safe bet that I'm thinking about what I just did or what I will do.
One Chance
Back in the school year I told my friend Philman about this game, called One Chance. I recommended that he try it out, being a really short yet thought provoking game. I'm not sure if he actually did try it out or if he has just forgotten it, but for the same reasons I recommended it to Philman, I will recommend it to you.
One Chance is a browser based game developed by AwkwardSilenceGames. It focuses on a scientist who has discovered was is seemingly the cure for all cancers in the world. However, it becomes apparent that the cure does not stop at killing cancer cells, but all cells. You follow the main character as you make choices as to what you will do in the last days of your life.
This game surprised me honestly. I came across it not too long ago when I was Googling (of course that's a word) something along the lines of "thought provoking games". I found this game on Newgrounds and I was a bit nervous as to what I was about to see. However, by the end of One Chance I was shocked. It had my mind swirling, thinking about whether I had made the right choice here or there.
Repetitive music is played throughout the whole game (killed my ears), but there is one scene where the music just tells you that something bad is going to happen (and that song was a relaxing break). One Chance combines the-choices-you-make-create-your-game along with something that I have never seen in a game before.
You literally have one chance. Once you've made all your decisions and time has run up, then you're done. There's no "New Game" button, no "Exit Button". If you refresh the page, there's nothing but a scene that reflects your choices in the game. When I finished the game, I was desperately trying to refresh the page so I could make what I thought were the right choices, but you know what? I couldn't. However, a few days later I did find a way past this "one chance" thing (although it really makes the game stand out and pay homage to its title). The hint is that I reached into the cookie jar. Try out One Chance on Newgrounds here. It's a short game that'll leave you hanging.
There's Another Review
It seems that I'll be posting up a lot of "gaming reviews" this summer. In total I believe I have written up a total of four, and I really don't know how they've been working out. So if you've actually paid attention to a review or actually gave the game a try, it'd be nice to have some feedback. Whether privately by email or just anonymously on the blog, I don't care. If you want more, then let there be more.
I've been writing up pretty long posts as of late. Maybe I'll make posts shorter and start focusing on the content and figure out some decent and worthwhile things to write about. By the way, I restarted my Cave Story and this time, I saved Curly (and also got Chaco's lipstick, so, you know, success). Today was spent mainly on just Cave Story (still haven't finished it) and Science 10 homework. I am a 9.
"The love that lasts the longest is the love that never returned." - W. Sormerset Maugham
I over think a lot of things. Most of my actions and words are carefully planned out before I even being to say it. I run through all the possibilities that can happen, all that can go wrong, all that go right, and then I choose whatever has the least amount of risk. This "habit" has been reinforced by so many things. The seemingly endless amount of times I have hurt somebody's feelings just because of a few stray words. The mistakes and regrets that I have. So it brings me to this point, where I just simply "think too much".
But the thing is, I love what I do. I love planning out everything, I love it when everything falls into place, and the scenario that ran in my head plays out perfectly. It amazes me and I always want to learn more about the psychology of humans. So if you see me standing still or just sitting down randomly, then it's a safe bet that I'm thinking about what I just did or what I will do.
Back in the school year I told my friend Philman about this game, called One Chance. I recommended that he try it out, being a really short yet thought provoking game. I'm not sure if he actually did try it out or if he has just forgotten it, but for the same reasons I recommended it to Philman, I will recommend it to you.
One Chance is a browser based game developed by AwkwardSilenceGames. It focuses on a scientist who has discovered was is seemingly the cure for all cancers in the world. However, it becomes apparent that the cure does not stop at killing cancer cells, but all cells. You follow the main character as you make choices as to what you will do in the last days of your life.
This game surprised me honestly. I came across it not too long ago when I was Googling (of course that's a word) something along the lines of "thought provoking games". I found this game on Newgrounds and I was a bit nervous as to what I was about to see. However, by the end of One Chance I was shocked. It had my mind swirling, thinking about whether I had made the right choice here or there.
Repetitive music is played throughout the whole game (killed my ears), but there is one scene where the music just tells you that something bad is going to happen (and that song was a relaxing break). One Chance combines the-choices-you-make-create-your-game along with something that I have never seen in a game before.
You literally have one chance. Once you've made all your decisions and time has run up, then you're done. There's no "New Game" button, no "Exit Button". If you refresh the page, there's nothing but a scene that reflects your choices in the game. When I finished the game, I was desperately trying to refresh the page so I could make what I thought were the right choices, but you know what? I couldn't. However, a few days later I did find a way past this "one chance" thing (although it really makes the game stand out and pay homage to its title). The hint is that I reached into the cookie jar. Try out One Chance on Newgrounds here. It's a short game that'll leave you hanging.
There's Another Review
It seems that I'll be posting up a lot of "gaming reviews" this summer. In total I believe I have written up a total of four, and I really don't know how they've been working out. So if you've actually paid attention to a review or actually gave the game a try, it'd be nice to have some feedback. Whether privately by email or just anonymously on the blog, I don't care. If you want more, then let there be more.
I've been writing up pretty long posts as of late. Maybe I'll make posts shorter and start focusing on the content and figure out some decent and worthwhile things to write about. By the way, I restarted my Cave Story and this time, I saved Curly (and also got Chaco's lipstick, so, you know, success). Today was spent mainly on just Cave Story (still haven't finished it) and Science 10 homework. I am a 9.
"The love that lasts the longest is the love that never returned." - W. Sormerset Maugham
July 6, 2013
More Posts
Summer brings along plenty of things, including sun, laughter, and fun, but it also gives me time.
So now that I have more time to do more things, I will be putting up more posts consistently over the summer until I either run out of content entirely or lose time to my summer course or the gaming group that my friends and I have been planning. Anyhow, just thought I'd explain why all of the sudden there will be something like a post per day.
After an hour and a half I managed to narrow down a list of indie games to two finalists. Hopefully I'll be able to write about the other finalist tomorrow, but the game that really was amazing in my opinion was Cave Story.
Cave Story (or Dōkutsu Monogatari) is a 2004 platform-adventure game that follows the adventures of a robot trying to save a floating island. The game was developed by just one guy, Daisuke Amaya. This is saying something since there is around 5 hours of game play (if you know what you're doing) with plenty of text from characters and maps.
I spent two hours (or more, I probably lost track of time) reaching the half point of the game (I have played this game before), where I was told by my brother that I could not save the other main protagonist, Curly Brace. Devastated. I was just completely lost. I felt like there was nothing else I could do. The only three objectives I had in the game was to get Chaco's Lipstick, defeat the boss, and save Curly. After the news I screwed around for five minutes before rage quitting and deleting my save file. It really is saying something if I quit a game I've invested two hours into just because I want to save another character (and I don't even need to save Curly). Somehow Daisuke Amaya was able to make me care and love the two characters with the smallest amount of text.
This game has never lost it's style for me. I'm always glad whenever I hit the "New" button. This game infuses many things, including different endings (gotta love it when your choices really make up your game), hours of gaming, and catchy original music (created by who else but the one man developing team Daisuke Amaya). The game and it's translation (the original is in Japanese for any Japanese reading/speaking people out there) is downloadable here. Cave Story is one of my favourite games of all time, because I have childhood memories tied to it and it was one of the first games I remember playing.
Over Optimistic?
A few days ago I felt just really optimistic. I "knew" that everything would turn out fine a few years from now, and that I would have my dream job, with my dream wife, with my dream house. I felt that anything I did right now or later would always lead up to one possibility. I didn't care about the girl that I liked, I didn't care about anything. I was, in a way, over optimistic.
Now that I'm out of this happy pit, I really wonder if that's a good thing. I was wandering oblivious in a world full of nothing but joy and glee, but does that render me stupid to the reality of the world? Maybe it's like when you become so drunk that you don't even care about anything.
I am depressed because now I want to start over Cave Story just so I can save Curly (I actually refuse to finish the game without her), but that means there goes another two hours of my life. Science homework needs to be finished (however little it is), and studying needs to be taking place. I'm still not sure if I want to do a Pre-AP course next year, but I am warming up to the idea of it.
So I'm off to either do homework, study, restart Cave Story (I mean it, there is a 0.01% chance of me continuing without Curly), or play another game. It's been an easy day for me, just swimming and being on the computer for the rest of the day. I am an 8 today. I'm starting to lose track of the time. I thought that I already posted today and was pretty pooped because that would have meant posting about Cave Story tomorrow.
"Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense." - Gertrude Stein
July 5, 2013
Another Game Review: 3lind
I said sometime back that there was a chance that I would write another game review on a game that I thought deserved some form of recognition (however small it may be). So I spent what seemed to be forever playing various indie games, searching for one that I thought would be good for this review. Near my breaking point I finally found this "deep" game, 3lind.
The beginning was enough to catch me. You could say that it started with the end. The main objective in 3lind is to puzzle your way to the boxes. Each level completed you are rewarded with a philosophy that had something to do with the level. Upon reaching the higher levels, puzzles get more difficult and you have to really think your way through them (or just Google the walk through like me).
3lind is a quick play that is definitely worth a look. It's an original game that is fully in browser, and although the repetitive music may kill your ears, you should give it a try here.
That's It
I had this whole paragraph on how I was deciding between making my Science 10 summer course a preview or an advanced credit class, but I scrapped it because that stuff just doesn't belong here (well, not anymore).
I am a 9 today. I still have about two days of work to catch up on, but now I have something to do over the summer.
"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." - Andy Warhol
July 1, 2013
Speed Art
Posted Speed Art
Recently I've been really interested in the pen tool. It's probably my favourite aspect of Fireworks, but I didn't start really using it until a few weeks ago. The pen tool is such a powerful tool in Fireworks, and it really does help for vector design and making careful selections.
Anyhow, I uploaded a speed art video of me vectoring a rainbow flower. Makes more sense if you give the video below a click.
So that was my first attempt at a speed art video. I made a few mistakes (forgot to maintain stable FPS throughout the video and forgot to hide the overlay), but overall I think it was a pretty good experience. The flower came out looking alright, although I probably could have done better with the pen tool.
In the past I used to be a strict coder (regardless of how bad I was), but now I'm more interested in film, animation, and design. However the gaming group has helped refresh my memory about web coding as I tried creating a website for the group not too long ago.
Happy Canada Day
I'm going to quickly wrap up this short post. Happy Canada Day to any Canadians out there (it's funny because a game I installed today was not playable in Canada). I don't really celebrate holidays, so today was a relatively normal day for me.
Summer has just been a real kick-back-and-relax type of summer for me. I have not done much over the summer, and there is nothing to do. The heat was unbearable today and I do not know how I will be able to survive the rest of summer if it gets any hotter. I'm an 8 today.
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." - Seneca
Recently I've been really interested in the pen tool. It's probably my favourite aspect of Fireworks, but I didn't start really using it until a few weeks ago. The pen tool is such a powerful tool in Fireworks, and it really does help for vector design and making careful selections.
Anyhow, I uploaded a speed art video of me vectoring a rainbow flower. Makes more sense if you give the video below a click.
So that was my first attempt at a speed art video. I made a few mistakes (forgot to maintain stable FPS throughout the video and forgot to hide the overlay), but overall I think it was a pretty good experience. The flower came out looking alright, although I probably could have done better with the pen tool.
In the past I used to be a strict coder (regardless of how bad I was), but now I'm more interested in film, animation, and design. However the gaming group has helped refresh my memory about web coding as I tried creating a website for the group not too long ago.
Happy Canada Day
I'm going to quickly wrap up this short post. Happy Canada Day to any Canadians out there (it's funny because a game I installed today was not playable in Canada). I don't really celebrate holidays, so today was a relatively normal day for me.
Summer has just been a real kick-back-and-relax type of summer for me. I have not done much over the summer, and there is nothing to do. The heat was unbearable today and I do not know how I will be able to survive the rest of summer if it gets any hotter. I'm an 8 today.
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." - Seneca
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