I don't know if anybody even reads these blogs, but for those who might, some updates on from the Chev.

Huge update on Skullboy (In-Dev page), meaning the engine is entirely re-programmed and all the graphics have been re-done. My pixelling has improved a lot, and Marius' work on the soundtrack was getting me super-pumped, so I finally gave in and attacked the whole thing. Everything feels pretty good, and I am nearly done the first -- of 10 very large -- stages of the game.

Haven't heard from the artist, MKG, in awhile :( but I know she's still kickin' around; she's young, and obviously has lots going on in her life, but hopefully she finds a source of motivation from the latest updates and we'll get some more of her cute artwork to push things along.

Other than that, I have absolutely no money, other than what's paying the rent. I'll have to get a job in the next two weeks, unfortunately, which is sad because I was getting so much development done without one. Other than that, I am doing some pixel work for CosMind right now, and also (though I haven't heard from him in a few weeks) YMM. We'll see where things go.

Peace out.

Chev

Aye, it is a good day, like the title says. A very good one, which will be a nice contrast to these past couple weeks. I've been an irksome twat, but no longer.

Today I travel to get my computer back, all repaired and improved, bigger hard-drive and all running clean again.
Today, I also get my PSP, to add to the household collection... PS3, Wii, two DS's, Super Nintendo, and a Gamecube. Hopefullly, in awhile, we will be able to add an XBox 360 to this, but that'll have to be later on, maybe the summer.

So Today, Today should be a good day. Other than that, I'm re-playing Cave Story now, hard-run this time, as I've never done it. And, for those of you I have not already given a sneak peak to, a bit more of what I'm currently working on...

I watched Cloverfield last night. I bring this up because I was very impressed with the stunningly clever marketing scheme Paramount approved of, which pretty much guaranteed huge box-office hits whether the movie was good, or just complete trash.

My synopsis is brief, on this one. It was the most unconventional film to hit the theaters in ages, and I was impressed with the whole presentation of the film. It was very discreet, albeit couldn't resist a few "cheesy" moments, and very suspenseful. The filming was convincing, very convincing with the cuts, shakes, and expected mishandling made by just about every human on this planet who has used a handicam for the first time. It was suspenseful, with some very nice occasional imagery. It was one of those films that can be described more as an "experience" than an actual American film, since most movies these days tend to present themselves too obviously, waving information clearly back and forth across the screen to make sure everybody gets it without strain. Which is why the word I specifically use, unconventional, seems to describe the film very well. Obviously, it was in mind when developing the film as well, and achieved exactly -- or mostly -- as was intended.

Did I mention I enjoyed it? Well, I did. I could think up a million ways to improve, of course, but we all could, due to human bias and preference. But, it was somebody else's piece of work, meant to draw in a large crowd and throw something unexpected at them, and it could have achieved that no more than it did.



This post will inevitably be followed by narrow-minded, unselfconscious insults at the movie, especially in respect to the ending. Hopefully, there will be some thoughtfulness in there as well, as I know there ARE people out there who exercise their brains when watching movies, as opposed to just making their decisions on complete bias and immediate, shallow impressions.

For those of you who just HATE the film and see no reason to enjoy it on any level, I don't blame you; I'd be irate too, if Paramount Pictures was laughing triumphantly at my displeasure, while my ticket money jingled around in their pockets. ;)

Just because I like to keep you all duly misinformed, meaning convinced that I'll actually EVER finish anything, I'll just post a clip of what I'm doing right now.



In other news, my laptop (which, if I haven't previously communicated, is in intensive care... meaning probably being repaired by underpaid sweat-shop Korean children :-[) should be on its way back next week. This, in turns, means I'll get some more done hopefully. I'm thinking of making some quick sort of technical game, simple-like, and releasing it just so everybody doesn't think I'm dead, or what.

Oh, and I'm stoked to get a PSP now. Carn was telling me about the Street Fighter, which got me stoked, and I remembered that I've been dying to play Jeanne d'Arc, Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core, Crush, Loco Roco, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Lion War (I love the original), Valhalla Knights, and so on.

Boring post, I know, but better than none. Have a good new year, y'all!

I recently suffered hard-drive damage on my laptop, and the files are in the process of being recovered. Whilst waiting for the source code for my winter competition game to return to me, I decided I'd just make another entry. That way, if I don't get my files back, I'll still have an entry. And if I do, then maybe I will have two entries. Either way, here's what you get.



Two night's work, and the game is now 1/3 finished. I should be done by the end of the new week.


ChevyRay