Moving away from my programming and gaming life, since neither of them particularly exist at the moment, let's focus on something I have been working on lately: writing. I thought what I'd do here was chronicle my writing process as I go. This way people can get an idea of how I'm going about my writing methods as well as get an idea as to my overall progress as I go.
One of the most helpful processes I find when it comes to writing is to create an outline of the chapters in a story idea. I simply break the idea I see in my head into chapters and create titles for those chapters, allowing me to see the chapter title and remember what is supposed to happen during it. Of course, I use the next chapter's title as an indication of how far along the chapter needs to go before moving on, too, but since my outline only encompasses the main storyline and no diversions or subplots, there's room for other chapters to take place in between.
I have been writing this one particular story which I started during the past week, and I was planning on posting chapters as I go, with Chapter I being planned to be posted today, but... Unfortunately, it's not quite finished yet. However, I will still make an update on here by revealing my chapter outline, though you'll just have the benefit of seeing chapter titles and not knowing what's going on within them.
Chapter I - A Familiar Face
Chapter II - Garrett Awakened
Chapter III - A Damaged Bond
Chapter IV - Rash Decisions
Chapter V - Shadows of the Past
Chapter VI - Subversion
Chapter VII - A Summoner's Decision
Chapter VIII - Unnecessary Distractions
Chapter IX - Never Again
Chapter X - Garrett's Guidance
Chapter XI - Reunion of the Fallen
Chapter XII - The Demon's Demon
Chapter XIII - Brotherly Love
Chapter XIV - A Sister's Shadow
Chapter XV - Walk on Water
Chapter XVI - A Contract Found
Chapter XVII - A New Strength
Chapter XVIII - Union of Thought
Chapter XIX - A Presence Expected
Chapter XX - The Light in the Darkness
Chapter XXI - The Summoner's Promise
So far 21 chapters to separate just the important main storyline ideas. And now we can get a better idea of how my progress is as I move forward. Expect more to come in the near future.
28 June 2009
18 June 2009
Medea and Creusa
Jakob Medlin, budding Game Designer who is currently in his last semester at UAT, must be thanked for the idea behind Medea and Creusa. While we were both in a Mythology, Folktales, and Fairy Tales class last semester, he pitched the idea for us to use for our creative, no-holds-bar final project. Certainly, making a game for an English class was perhaps overkill when we could have just written a paper, but you can't stand out in this world if you don't occassionally go out of your way to challenge yourself in such ways. Besides, I had to make it up to Medlin after pitching a game idea the beginning of the semester for him to tweak a bit with his much better Designer-based mind, of which I failed to program for. But I'm not making this to talk about my forthcomings...
Right, Medea and Creusa. It is meant to simulate an argument between -- who else? -- Medea and Creusa, from Jason and the Argonaut's fame. Or perhaps 'fame' would be an overstatement on my part, since I hadn't -- or should I say "still haven't" -- read Jason and the Argonauts. Or watched the Ray Harryhausen film of the same name.
Not really having the time required to perform AI for a computer opponent, we went with creating a solely 2-player game. It plays as a very casual-esque game. Both players control a cursor and move it around a playing field -- in this case, a thought bubble -- to collect both positive and negative thoughts. After collecting a thought, the player has the choice of distributing that thought to either player's current emotional state, making Medea or Creusa more angered or peaceful, or not using that thought at all. Also note that the thoughts within the playing field move about constantly.
At the bottom of the screen can be seen the player's current emotional state. For player 1, Medea, the goal of the game is to get either character to become fully enraged. For player 2, Creusa, the goal of the game is to get either character to become fully compassionate. This is where the ability to not have to use a thought that you collect comes into play...
While there are only two different colors for thoughts -- red for anger and blue for compassion -- there are three different sizes for each thought which change the extremity by which the player's emotional state will change when that thought is used on them. However, if the player is to collect three thoughts in a row of the same color and size, that player will have acquired the power to use an ability.
The abilities are as follows:
- Fluster: Increases the speed of your opponent's thoughts, making them harder to capture
- Compose: Decreases the speed of your own thoughts, making them easier to capture
- Confuse: Temporarily prevents your opponent's Mind's Eye (the cursor) from being able to move
- Turn of Phrase: Swaps both player's current emotional states
Together, me and Medlin had a whole lot of fun working on this project. I managed to learn a lot about XNA, and I really hope to work more with it in the future. Despite not being done, it is as good now as it will be with his and our capabilities, as neither of us are artists. However, we do give special thanks to Nick Johnson for his assistance with the images of Medea, Creusa, and Jason.
Right, Medea and Creusa. It is meant to simulate an argument between -- who else? -- Medea and Creusa, from Jason and the Argonaut's fame. Or perhaps 'fame' would be an overstatement on my part, since I hadn't -- or should I say "still haven't" -- read Jason and the Argonauts. Or watched the Ray Harryhausen film of the same name.
At the bottom of the screen can be seen the player's current emotional state. For player 1, Medea, the goal of the game is to get either character to become fully enraged. For player 2, Creusa, the goal of the game is to get either character to become fully compassionate. This is where the ability to not have to use a thought that you collect comes into play...
While there are only two different colors for thoughts -- red for anger and blue for compassion -- there are three different sizes for each thought which change the extremity by which the player's emotional state will change when that thought is used on them. However, if the player is to collect three thoughts in a row of the same color and size, that player will have acquired the power to use an ability.
The abilities are as follows:
- Fluster: Increases the speed of your opponent's thoughts, making them harder to capture
- Compose: Decreases the speed of your own thoughts, making them easier to capture
- Confuse: Temporarily prevents your opponent's Mind's Eye (the cursor) from being able to move
- Turn of Phrase: Swaps both player's current emotional states
Together, me and Medlin had a whole lot of fun working on this project. I managed to learn a lot about XNA, and I really hope to work more with it in the future. Despite not being done, it is as good now as it will be with his and our capabilities, as neither of us are artists. However, we do give special thanks to Nick Johnson for his assistance with the images of Medea, Creusa, and Jason.
05 June 2009
Job Hunting
"Is the economy really that bad?"
At least, this was my thought until this recent email:
Sure, I've received a vast amount of rejection emails, but none of them have used the economy as the reason before. They tend to have the same generic email, of which I currently have several located in my inbox. If you've ever applied to a job through email before, you probably know the one I'm talking about:
"After carefully reviewing your experiences, we have decided to choose another candidate who is better qualified for the position."
- The Trevor on the arm-flailing fright of the modern world
At least, this was my thought until this recent email:
Sure, I've received a vast amount of rejection emails, but none of them have used the economy as the reason before. They tend to have the same generic email, of which I currently have several located in my inbox. If you've ever applied to a job through email before, you probably know the one I'm talking about:
"After carefully reviewing your experiences, we have decided to choose another candidate who is better qualified for the position."
-[Enter Company Name Here]
Though after getting a sting from your first couple emails at this statement, the lines directly afterward seem to make you feel a bit better somehow:
"We will hold your resume on file and will contact you if any new positions become available matching your experiences."
Though after getting a sting from your first couple emails at this statement, the lines directly afterward seem to make you feel a bit better somehow:
"We will hold your resume on file and will contact you if any new positions become available matching your experiences."
-[Enter Same Company Name Here as Above]
There are some slight variations to the generic-edness, such as the "don't respond to this email" which I somewhat find rude, but they're all pretty much the same. I would say that these rejection letters are fine, though. Should a company put a lot of attention to someone who they're not going to hire? No, perhaps not.
In the beginning, I did feel emotionally attached to such emails. A part of me died inside, yes, but that moment has long passed. This goes with any job: expect failure ahead.
"You are guaranteed to be wasting the time of 95% of the employers you apply for."
There are some slight variations to the generic-edness, such as the "don't respond to this email" which I somewhat find rude, but they're all pretty much the same. I would say that these rejection letters are fine, though. Should a company put a lot of attention to someone who they're not going to hire? No, perhaps not.
In the beginning, I did feel emotionally attached to such emails. A part of me died inside, yes, but that moment has long passed. This goes with any job: expect failure ahead.
"You are guaranteed to be wasting the time of 95% of the employers you apply for."
-The Trevor on Job Hunting
"87.78% of statistics are made up on the spot."
"87.78% of statistics are made up on the spot."
-The Trevor on Comic Relief
With this in mind, it is better to apply to more jobs -- more than you have now, in case you are on a job hunt at the moment. You'll never know if a place will have the possibility of hiring you if you don't give them a chance at all. A 5% chance is better than 0, if we go from that statistic I made up.
Well, I'd better get back to it,
Trevor Johnson
With this in mind, it is better to apply to more jobs -- more than you have now, in case you are on a job hunt at the moment. You'll never know if a place will have the possibility of hiring you if you don't give them a chance at all. A 5% chance is better than 0, if we go from that statistic I made up.
Well, I'd better get back to it,
Trevor Johnson
03 June 2009
Hello World!
And that was a very original title, I know. The alternative (if we're going for Rocky and Bullwinkle references here) was my usual conversation starter: "Hey, how's it goin'?" That just didn't seem all that appropriate. This one certainly acts to satisfy an introduction from a programmer's standpoint, though. I am curious as to how many programmer blogs start in exactly the same fashion. Not to worry, I'm sure there will be several opportunities to stand out in the near future.
Programming (or "Software Engineering," if you'd like to catch me on a technicality) is just a part of my professional life. It's what I spent 8 semesters striving for attaining at the University of Advancing Technology, and that has to mean something positive. Or perhaps not, as far as the actual industry is concerned. But let's not get ahead of ourselves -- there can't be much of a story if all the information is enclosed from the beginning.
While programming is done as the main course, the mashed potatoes of the meal would have to be my gaming side. Video games, board games, logic puzzles, and anything else that is mentally rewarding. I consider some mathematics to fall under this category as well.
And writing, of course, but does that really desire too much clarification? This will be the medium used for this entire process, and it's just getting special mention in the blog's name due to my passion for it. Yes, I revel in the thought of publishing something someday. So yes, writing is most definitely all-around amazing and I look forward to doing much of it here in the future.
I shall use this place as a means to discuss all manner of thoughts and revelations I have. If you're a programmer and/or a gamer, I'm sure you'll enjoy most of what I post here.
Cheers,
Trevor Johnson
Programming (or "Software Engineering," if you'd like to catch me on a technicality) is just a part of my professional life. It's what I spent 8 semesters striving for attaining at the University of Advancing Technology, and that has to mean something positive. Or perhaps not, as far as the actual industry is concerned. But let's not get ahead of ourselves -- there can't be much of a story if all the information is enclosed from the beginning.
While programming is done as the main course, the mashed potatoes of the meal would have to be my gaming side. Video games, board games, logic puzzles, and anything else that is mentally rewarding. I consider some mathematics to fall under this category as well.
And writing, of course, but does that really desire too much clarification? This will be the medium used for this entire process, and it's just getting special mention in the blog's name due to my passion for it. Yes, I revel in the thought of publishing something someday. So yes, writing is most definitely all-around amazing and I look forward to doing much of it here in the future.
I shall use this place as a means to discuss all manner of thoughts and revelations I have. If you're a programmer and/or a gamer, I'm sure you'll enjoy most of what I post here.
Cheers,
Trevor Johnson
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