I started learning blender again, have some new exercises to post. Going to dump all my previous renders first though, some of these are from all the way back in 2011. All my previous blender renders before I started over:
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Monday, November 13, 2017
Books this year
I beat my personal record for books read in a year this year. I'm kind of proud of it and feel silly posting about a personal achievement, but hey, what are blogs for if not expressing a little positivity about yourself?
I still have a month and a half left so hopefully I'll squeeze 2-3 more books in. Oathbringer comes out tomorrow and I'm definitely putting that next on the reading list, so it depends on how big that one is.
My favorites I read this year:
Norse Mythology I called "Non Fiction-ish" because these are fictional tales, but they're the real tales people used to explain the world around them at the time, even though the content is clearly fiction, their source was more of real people telling a story.
I still have a month and a half left so hopefully I'll squeeze 2-3 more books in. Oathbringer comes out tomorrow and I'm definitely putting that next on the reading list, so it depends on how big that one is.
My favorites I read this year:
Norse Mythology I called "Non Fiction-ish" because these are fictional tales, but they're the real tales people used to explain the world around them at the time, even though the content is clearly fiction, their source was more of real people telling a story.
Another quick note, I can't believe I was neglecting Fantasy for so long. I was going nuts on Sci-Fi and it turns out I was missing a lot of great books.
Here's hoping 2018 has even more great books for me to read.
Here's hoping 2018 has even more great books for me to read.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Draw Something Every Day
Trying to get better, and I figure drawing every single day, even if it's something small and crappy will improve my art at least a little.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
I think I've located what's missing in my life
I've read a poem that I can't get out of my head.
You have to be always drunk. That’s all there is to it—it’s the only way. So as not to feel the horrible burden of time that breaks your back and bends you to the earth, you have to be continually drunk.
But on what? Wine, poetry or virtue, as you wish. But be drunk.
And if sometimes, on the steps of a palace or the green grass of a ditch, in the mournful solitude of your room, you wake again, drunkenness already diminishing or gone, ask the wind, the wave, the star, the bird, the clock, everything that is flying, everything that is groaning, everything that is rolling, everything that is singing, everything that is speaking. . .ask what time it is and wind, wave, star, bird, clock will answer you: “It is time to be drunk! So as not to be the martyred slaves of time, be drunk, be continually drunk! On wine, on poetry or on virtue as you wish.”
It's really sticking in my mind lately. I've found it describes a lot of what I've been feeling and a lot of what I feel has been missing. I lack purpose and passion, the kids are fantastic but no matter how much I try I cannot seem to do much besides what keeps us comfortable. Everyday I go to work, I come home, I cook and hang out with my family. It's what is supposed to make me happy right? Right?! I have no cause for complain, there isn't any outside pressure on my life, I've taken all the steps I needed to make sure my family is warm and never hungry, I've gotten more than my fair share of luck with friends and jobs.
But I just feel, empty. I feel like someone who's watching a movie of my life instead of actually experiencing it. I need to re-find my passion. I need to draw and create again. It's been far too long since I've danced, or learned something completely new, and I can't even remember the last time I was scared.
Maybe this is what life is in your 30's? I refuse to accept that though, it can't be this colorless life. I need to get drunk on life again.
But I just feel, empty. I feel like someone who's watching a movie of my life instead of actually experiencing it. I need to re-find my passion. I need to draw and create again. It's been far too long since I've danced, or learned something completely new, and I can't even remember the last time I was scared.
Maybe this is what life is in your 30's? I refuse to accept that though, it can't be this colorless life. I need to get drunk on life again.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Roguelites from the past
I've been a long time fan of the roguelike genre ever since I found nethack, a fantastic game built around exploring and risk assessment.
Played off and on for years before branching out to DCSS, umoria, and many others that I've forgotten. What makes a roguelike has always been a loose definition with quite a few passionate debates coming up when a game is presented as a "roguelike" with the inevitable "that's not a roguelike" comment added on in short order.
The basics of the argument is some people think certain features in a game make it a roguelike, while others say it has to have the "feel" of the original rogue game. Whichever camp you land on the rush of newer games like Rogue Legacy and FTL which fit most of the requirements started being called the grayer term "Roguelites" in order to quell the endless forum arguments of what should be called a roguelike or not.
While this seems to be a good descriptor going forward, it also got me thinking of games in the past, games that would have been called a "roguelite" had the term been around at the time. For my personal definition I need:
Randomly or procedurally generated gameworld
Permadeath
Customizable main character (or characters)
Player choice (optional risk)
Probably the first roguelite everyone in primary school during the 90 played. You create and customize your party, select your supplies and get moving. While it certainly didn't have the standard overhead movement aspect of roguelikes it had pretty much everything else. Procedurally generated "world" with hazards like wheels breaking or rivers and choices to go with those hazards. lots of risk assessment (do I bring extra wagon wheels or more ammo for hunting?). And permadeath is probably what most people remember about the game.
Played off and on for years before branching out to DCSS, umoria, and many others that I've forgotten. What makes a roguelike has always been a loose definition with quite a few passionate debates coming up when a game is presented as a "roguelike" with the inevitable "that's not a roguelike" comment added on in short order.
The basics of the argument is some people think certain features in a game make it a roguelike, while others say it has to have the "feel" of the original rogue game. Whichever camp you land on the rush of newer games like Rogue Legacy and FTL which fit most of the requirements started being called the grayer term "Roguelites" in order to quell the endless forum arguments of what should be called a roguelike or not.
While this seems to be a good descriptor going forward, it also got me thinking of games in the past, games that would have been called a "roguelite" had the term been around at the time. For my personal definition I need:
Randomly or procedurally generated gameworld
Permadeath
Customizable main character (or characters)
Player choice (optional risk)
The Oregon Trail
Probably the first roguelite everyone in primary school during the 90 played. You create and customize your party, select your supplies and get moving. While it certainly didn't have the standard overhead movement aspect of roguelikes it had pretty much everything else. Procedurally generated "world" with hazards like wheels breaking or rivers and choices to go with those hazards. lots of risk assessment (do I bring extra wagon wheels or more ammo for hunting?). And permadeath is probably what most people remember about the game.
Lufia II (gift mode)
I bet you're thinking "Lufia II the classic RPG? That clearly wasn't a roguelite CowFu." But there was a game within Lufia II called "gift mode" where you only played the Ancient Cave, a mode with randomly generated levels, permadeath, and a customizable party. With a ton of risk assessment for skipping enemies and going deeper or trying for some easier EXP. Lots of tactical thinking, and honestly comes close to a true Roguelike in my humble opinion.
I'm sure there are many others that I'm just not seeing, but if nothing else it's fun to think about how long these game mechanics have been around, and I'm excited to see what future developers can come up with.
I'm sure there are many others that I'm just not seeing, but if nothing else it's fun to think about how long these game mechanics have been around, and I'm excited to see what future developers can come up with.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Monday, November 23, 2015
Non-fiction and Classics for 2015
I've been trying to alternate my reading with one modern fiction (usually sci-fi) then one classic or non-fiction. I find it's the best way to keep me aggressively reading more and more. This year started off great with Snow Crash, which I considered a classic, even though it was only from the 80's, to me it was kind of the grandfather of alternate reality sci-fi books. Dracula was way better than I thought it was going to be, and another fantastic book overall, even if I didn't really care for the ending.
However, it kind of went downhill form there, the first non-ficiton of the year was Nick Offerman's "Paddle Your Own Canoe" a kind of memoir and advice book. The trouble was that it came of extremely preachy, and most of his success came from other people covering for him, or giving him a shot, all the time while saying things like working hard are how to get ahead. It just left a bad taste in my mouth when someone claims that their hard work got them to where they are while having lucky breaks like an entire group of actors and a manager covering for you while you were arrested for petty shoplifting for fun. The book would have been great if Nick would have written it with a bit more humility I think, something he pretends to have throughout the book, all the while spouting about his hard work and implying how great he is.
Count of Monte Cristo I was super excited about, and had such a great beginning, throughout the entire prison and escape I was so excited to keep going. But then the book turns into a serious of coincidences that are just hard to swallow. Things outside of the protagonist's control just keep happening in his favor, maybe it was supposed to highlight his "divine providence" he was supposed to personify, maybe it was just the style at the time to have incredible coincidences be a major plot device, but the book was just too long for so many of the major plot moments to seem to happen on their own.
And then I tried a book called "the willpower instinct". Which I downloaded as an audiobook. Which was promised to:
"explain the new science of self-control and how it can be harnessed to improve our health, happiness, and productivity. Informed by the latest research and combining cutting-edge insights from psychology, economics, neuroscience, and medicine, The Willpower Instinct explains exactly what willpower is, how it works, and why it matters."
The first twenty minutes are the author explaining how awesome her class is, and how many people it's helped. Then it turns into a self help seminar complete with "complete this stage of the worksheet now" type of learning. It marketed itself as a psychology book when it's completely a self-help seminar book you'd pick up after attending a one day conference. I only spent half a credit from Audible on it and still feel robbed. I understand that if you're looking for a self-help book it's probably great, but I just couldn't get over feeling like I was tricked into the book.
Other non-notable non-fictions I went through this year included the great "What If?" by Randall Munroe (creator of XKCD), and Super Freakonomics. Both were incredibly short, but some of the best audiobooks I've listened to while stuck in traffic. Nice and pallet cleansing between Sci-Fi books.
However, it kind of went downhill form there, the first non-ficiton of the year was Nick Offerman's "Paddle Your Own Canoe" a kind of memoir and advice book. The trouble was that it came of extremely preachy, and most of his success came from other people covering for him, or giving him a shot, all the time while saying things like working hard are how to get ahead. It just left a bad taste in my mouth when someone claims that their hard work got them to where they are while having lucky breaks like an entire group of actors and a manager covering for you while you were arrested for petty shoplifting for fun. The book would have been great if Nick would have written it with a bit more humility I think, something he pretends to have throughout the book, all the while spouting about his hard work and implying how great he is.
Count of Monte Cristo I was super excited about, and had such a great beginning, throughout the entire prison and escape I was so excited to keep going. But then the book turns into a serious of coincidences that are just hard to swallow. Things outside of the protagonist's control just keep happening in his favor, maybe it was supposed to highlight his "divine providence" he was supposed to personify, maybe it was just the style at the time to have incredible coincidences be a major plot device, but the book was just too long for so many of the major plot moments to seem to happen on their own.
And then I tried a book called "the willpower instinct". Which I downloaded as an audiobook. Which was promised to:
"explain the new science of self-control and how it can be harnessed to improve our health, happiness, and productivity. Informed by the latest research and combining cutting-edge insights from psychology, economics, neuroscience, and medicine, The Willpower Instinct explains exactly what willpower is, how it works, and why it matters."
The first twenty minutes are the author explaining how awesome her class is, and how many people it's helped. Then it turns into a self help seminar complete with "complete this stage of the worksheet now" type of learning. It marketed itself as a psychology book when it's completely a self-help seminar book you'd pick up after attending a one day conference. I only spent half a credit from Audible on it and still feel robbed. I understand that if you're looking for a self-help book it's probably great, but I just couldn't get over feeling like I was tricked into the book.
Other non-notable non-fictions I went through this year included the great "What If?" by Randall Munroe (creator of XKCD), and Super Freakonomics. Both were incredibly short, but some of the best audiobooks I've listened to while stuck in traffic. Nice and pallet cleansing between Sci-Fi books.
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