Christmas has been pretty good. I got a 40GB iPod. But I (rather unbelievably) gave it up today. The guy at John Lewis couldn't believe it and sold it while I was still waiting for the money back! They are pretty rare at the moment. I'm holding out for a video jukebox instead. Apparantly the video iPod is to be released in January, so I'll probably get that one, if not the RCA / Thomson offering.

I've been fiddling with Photoshop CS today and yesterday, with some simple, but nice results. I'll try and add some to the CreateUK portfolio during the next update. I might use some of them as inspiration for some webpages. Less stressed with my workload now. Only have the Advanced Scripting to do, which is pretty much in a submittable state already. I'm just gonna add more and more little bits, like health bars, sounds, win / lose images (which is why I was in Photoshop just now, but didn't actually do any now I think about it...) etc.
The presentation yesterday was so-so. I think I got most of it across, missing out much less of what I wanted to say than last time. Our lecturer for that module is my final project supervisor who I saw this morning and he basically said it was ok but the art was crap, which of course I knew. We also couldn't show the games since there is no Flash Player installed in the room we presented in. That could be a bit of a blessing however. For some reason, the mobile version of the game did open. Maybe Flash Lite is super compatible...? Anyway, its down to the essays now, and I'm pretty happy with mine, so I should be fine. I can see that first slipping away though...

Slight problem with the whole mobile game thing. Macromedia, in their infinite wisdom, provide a template to produce content for the Nokia 3650 as well as other devices, but there is no player available for some of them. Only PDA's that can handle Flash 5 and i-mode phones which work with Flash Lite have players so far. This is a pain since the presentation is on Monday. Macromedia have shown off demos of Flash working on the 3650 already though, most recently showing of FlashCast, a new way of getting news on your sometimes-connected-devices. It looks good, but doesn't help me right now. And most of the other stuff we were gonna show hasn't been completed either. So... how exactly are we going to divvy up these marks?

Hooray! I have made my first mobile phone game! Bit of a cheat being in Flash Lite rather than Java, but still, it wasn't the easiest thing in the world to do, so I'm happy. I might make a tutorial on how to do it later, as much for my own use as anyone else's. But first, I need to nab a Nokia 3650 to test the game on real hardware.

I've written an essay on the state of online console gaming which you can check out here at the PocketMoneyMedia website, part of the Entertainment Systems module. The final section is only relevant to the project we are developing and not so important in the real world, but would make a good idea as the basis of a real world project... if that makes sense. The link may be dead within a month since the hand-in date is Monday for the whole project, but I'll try and put up all the papers I have written at Uni during the next CreateUK update, whenever that occurs, (I never added what I am doing to the 'In Progress' section for this term and there needs to be more emphasis on the final project site too, so that gives you an indication of how long it has been and that it may be a while.)

Yo. Got absolutely NOTHING done yesterday due to a hangover, which is really useful when you are trying to get work done for deadlines! Actually, I managed to properly network my PC, laptop and broadband connection, where it was a bit ropey before. Had to do it in order to properly test my Advanced Scripting game. And surf the net from the sofa yesterday ;-) Made up for it well today though, getting a fair bit done. Things should come together nicely... I hope.

Time is getting tight now for some of the work. But, I have got a working ROM image for the GBA. It is only simple, (just moving a sprite around the screen with the joypad infront of a bitmap background in mode 4) but by getting that down, I think I can get some simple demo's done for the project.
First things that need to be finished, however, are the Entertainment Systems website (and possbly a mobile game,) and the Advanced Scripting helicopter game. The Culture Industry CD-ROM should also be pretty much done before Christmas and the Programming for Entertainment Systems DirectX game needs to be done over the break.
Busy, busy, busy.

I just had two blokes start on me in Bretonside Bus Station here in Plymouth. I was walking back from uni and these two were coming the opposite way, walked right up next to me and just shouted something stupid, (like "weeerr".) I turned round and said "prick" (first mistake.) I carried on walking and they must have turned round and followed me. One just watched while the other one pushed me in the back then punched me in the face a few times. I was just telling him to leave it. Then he had enough and started to go. The weedy f**k who was watching then said "You enjoy that?" to which I wittily replied "did you?" (stupid idiot that i am.) They then followed me shouting again, so i ducked into a pub at the last sec. I waited a min and then went home. Now my jaw hurts, c**ts. I'm just f**king stupid for thinking i'm a barry big bannana.

Just took an IQ test. Here are the results:

Your IQ score is 133

This number is the result of a formula based on how many questions you answered correctly on Emode's Ultimate IQ test. Your IQ score is scientifically accurate. During the test, you answered four different types of questions - mathematical, visual-spatial, linguistic and logical. We analyzed how you did on each of those questions which reveals how your brain uniquely works.

We also compared your answers with others who have taken the test. According to the sorts of questions you got correct, we can tell your Intellectual Type is a Visionary Philosopher.

This means you are highly intelligent and have a powerful mix of skills and insight that can be applied in a variety of different ways. Like Plato, your exceptional math and verbal skills make you very adept at explaining things to others - and at anticipating and predicting patterns. And that's just some of what we know about you from your IQ results.

Of course, I always knew that ;-)

Wow, long time no post on this thing. I was determined never to have to write that! But, I'm now back from my trip around the Caribbean on the Carnival Victory. A nice relaxing time, good food, nice beaches, good weather etc. etc. Now I'm back and a bit snowed under. I managed to get some work done, but not loads. Mostly reading and some work on the Advanced Scripting game I'm making (multiplayer helicopter battle using Director 3D.) Deadlines are fast approaching now (3 weeks) so I have to be getting on with it. Not sure when I'm going to find time for the GameBoy Advance project...

Hello again all. We were meant to do a presentation for our Multimedia Entertainment Systems module today, but ended up not, which means I'm fearful for how it will go, seeing as I won't be there next week. I'm worried about the module in general actually. Despite cutting back the workload for ourselves, I still expect the end product to be sub-standard. The graphics are pretty basic and not really stylised. Plus, although one person is doing the majority, there are assets from at least two other people, so the whole thing isn't going to gel, I think. Sound still hasn't really been considered, and I just worry about the project as a whole, as I said. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about it either, I can't keep moaning about it to them, and we need something to hand in at least. I can only concentrate on my contributions and make sure they are the best bits and well produced. But then should I try distancing myself from the rest of it? How do I highlight the bits that I've done as mine? I knew this would happen...

So, The Matrix: Revolutions has just finished. Bit of a head trip some of it. And it isn't all clearly explained either. It'll take me a little while to think about to get all of the meaning out. A second watch would be good. I get the majority though, and I like it ;-) Its just points like, why is Neo the one? How did Morpheus find him? That sort of thing. Its just detail, but I'm obsessing now :-) But if anything will draw the crowds, its the special effects, which I think are much better this time than in The Matrix: Reloaded. Anyway... I don't want to spoil it, so go see. Now.

Ashley Beanbag (The One...) says:
gonna go see matrix 3 tomorrow i hope
The Bear says:
;-) been reading all the spoilers on the net. hard to tell whos full of shit or what. got any theory on the ending?
Ashley Beanbag (The One...) says:
tried not to read any spoilers, but i reckon: that smith and neo are very much connected after the end of the first film when he destroys him by jumping inside. this overwrote some of smith's code, so now he has some sort of new powers, such as being able to copy himself. but at the same time, neo has the ability to communicate with the machines when outside the matrix, simce they are essentially, all the same. the evil guy who is a traitor in the real world is actually smith in a real body. as for how it ends, i'm not sure... it could either be fairy tale, everyone is saved, or it could just be another cycle, where everyone is killed, except a few in order to start again
The Bear says:
dont understand how neo can control the squidys when hes out of the matrix
Ashley Beanbag (The One...) says:
the controlling the squiddys i think is because smith gave neo the ability to communicate with the machinces. why shouldthe machines in the real world be any different from the computer that controls the matrix (which is obviously in the real world too) ?
The Bear says:
but hes human
Ashley Beanbag (The One...) says:
but he is connected to smith somehow
The Bear says:
I figured inside the matrix he could bend the rules, cos it was a program. outside he cant, hes just a bloke
Ashley Beanbag (The One...) says:
but all he did was stop the squiddy from killing him. he didn't jump over stuff or whatever
The Bear says:
true. reckon it might be a double bluff though. theres a double layer of matrix
Ashley Beanbag (The One...) says:
someone said that when we left the cinema afer the last one but it seems to obvious and would be a cop out ending. "it was all a dream." i'm wondering if the architect is just telling neo what he needs to hear, like the oracle does. but that may be going a bit far. neo just seems to accept that the prophecy etc is all false very quickly...
The Bear says:
hmmm
Ashley Beanbag (The One...) says:
either way, those big robots with guns that the humans ride about in are gonna be cool. they'll be good in the next game as well i hope!
The Bear says:
so what is the oracle then? a rogue control system, or is she part of the matrix still?
Ashley Beanbag (The One...) says:
she is a rogue program within the matrix. you can never be sure if she is just another liar, but you have to assume she is not. i have thought tho that the whole repeating loop of the humans and 'the one' may be more or less exactly the same each time. so the oracle knows what is going to happen sice she has seen it 5 times before. but the difference this time is smith... he isn't an agent anymore, he is rogue and multiplying. he doesn't want to be in the matrix anymore remember
The Bear says:
but he wants to kill the neo, because hes lost his purpose, hes in zion in the bald guys body. They called them the birth, the life and the death. somethings gotta die in this one, could be neo.
Ashley Beanbag (The One...) says:
yes, but smith is still on the side of the machines. of course he wants neo and the others to die. who is the birth life and death?
The Bear says:
the 3 films. was just a tag line they gave the trilogy.
Ashley Beanbag (The One...) says:
ahhh, didn't know that
The Bear says:
might just be a red herring
Ashley Beanbag (The One...) says:
could just be another time round the loop then. another anomoly will appear and they will follow the same prophecy
The Bear says:
Aw they cant end it like that!! Wanna see it now.
Ashley Beanbag (The One...) says:
haha. well, 2pm tomorrow... I'm gonna post this conversation on my website now and see if I'm right tomorrow ;)

Not sure how the GBA development is going really. I keep hitting brick walls, and not sure if I am getting over them before hitting the next. Since I don't know C well enough, I have just been searching round and round for code and tools and solutions to problems before I start. I think I have all I need now in order to carry on. I just need to dig through a load of source code in order to find out if I really do have solutions, then put them all together. The way I am thinking at the moment, however, is that this will end up being a self contained title, with instructions on how to create similar titles (i.e. this could be a title teaching the Rules of Sports again, but could explain the process so that a Learn Spanish title could be made for example.)
Going to visit Halls and the rest of the UEA crew next week, at last! Been saying I would for 2 years! Should be a good laugh. May as well do it now while the pressure isn't on so much. Got plenty of work to be getting on with though, so guess I should be getting back to it.

Hey hey, busy day! I've just watched Kill Bill vol.1 and have to say it was comical in the way it portrayed it's violence. At least that's what I thought. My brother said he was nearly sick... Nice little twist at the end. I hope there actually will be a second. After that I finished Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne on PC. I enjoyed playing that. It may have even restored some of my faith in games before I lost it again. It hasn't changed much from the original, which can be seen as a good thing. The only gripe I had was that max didn't seem as flexible as the first game, (unless I'm remembering through some rose-tints.) Just a quick-to-get-into, very stylish game that was FUN to play, (its only been out 3 or 4 days I think and I've finished it!) Bit shorter than I thought It would be, but that isn't too bad since I'm looking for quicker thrills now with my games. My interest is waning with Paper Mario, Splinter Cell and Eternal Darkness. I'm not sure which game to pick up after I've finished these (if I do indeed finish them.) Probably F-Zero GX and Soul Calibur 2. Two very different games that are quick action but should hold some interest.

I've been a little slack at times this week. Despite this, I have submitted a proposal for my final year project now (for a second time since I didn't read the brief the first time!) and have begun reading eBooks to teach myself things I need to know. I'm starting with C/C++ in 5 Days since I need that for a few modules and the project, then I'll go on to DirectX probably. The Multimedia Entertainment Systems module is coming along quite well. We have already set out a proposal. I just need to work on some visuals over the weekend. I also have an idea for either Advanced Scripting or Programming for Entertainment Systems which is a multiplayer helicopter battle game in 3D space. Hopefully I can use the same idea for both. I'll have to ask Nigel...

Going home for the weekend today. Just going to view some of last years final year projects before I go. Spoke to Dan Livingstone about my idea for a GameBoy Advance Media Player and he was positive about it, as long as there was a good critical context for it, giving some examples. He also said a working alpha may be enough in terms of GBA coding, which works to my advantage in many ways. I also tried to contact some authors of GBA video codecs which are floating around on the web. They couldn't help much since both are now in the process of selling / licensing their work, but it was worth a shot, and I did get a little bit of info.

Hello there. The first week back is over. Looks like I'm going to have lots of work to do. For my final year project I'm looking at making a media player for GameBoy Advance. I've been researching this for the past few days and I'm still not sure how do-able it is. I'm not sure of the computational power needed to decode an MP3 for example since the processor is only 17MHz... More later.

Phew. Busy busy week. Finished at Fifth Dimension on Tuesday. Packed up and got ready to go on Wednesday, and chose my modules. Thursday was spent in the car driving back down to Plymouth. Friday I had to enroll, before hitting the town for a few bevvies and to watch the football. Saturday I was back on the train to go home for Lauren's (Louise's sister) 18th birthday party. Sunday back on the train to Plymouth, and now I'm about to go to my first lesson of the year, Multimedia Entertainment Systems!
Like I said... phew!

Forgot to write earlier that the GMTV site is now live at gm.tv/sales which is pretty sweet. There is a link on the gm.tv home page too in the left sidebar.
Anyway... looks like today will be my last day at Fifth Dimension, unless they want me to help them moving their stuff into the new office down the road. I'll offer, but hope to get out of that one (it's raining now.) Pay seems to be coming in the form of a cheque to make things easier which is pretty good too. Everyone here now knows I'm going off. And why. Green eyed monster in some maybe? I can't wait to be making games for a living ;-)
I've been looking at the modules I'll be doing when I get back and it all seems pretty sweet. Entertainment systems (i.e. Playstation,) C++ and graphics being some notable ones. Just worried about the project now, but I need to finish reading the uni paper work to get more of an idea of what's involved / expected.