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LA Vacation - Day 3

2011-08-10T15:10:00.002-05:00

Nerve-wrecked would be the best way to describe how I felt as soon as I woke up. Yes, again, I'm opening my eyes at around 7am.

I'm WAAAAY too nervous to eat breakfast today as I'm gearing up to meet:
Mckenzie Westmore - Host of Syfy's FaceOff. Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian & Derek Atherton from the awesome Mission Control Media production company. Robyn Wilson & Jarrid Masse cast of Marcel's Quantum Kitchen.

Lunch was at 12:30p in Hollywood and I didn't want to be late! I take off like 2 hours before our meeting, and that gave me plenty of time to navigate traffic, enjoy a nice cruise on Sunset Blvd and find some parking.

I arrive at the restaurant at around 12:20p. The waitress invites me to sit down and offers me some water while I wait for the rest of my party. I guess she noticed I was nervous and said "Hey, don't worry - whatever it is, it'll be fine. Instead of water, would you like a stiff drink?" LOL - that broke the ice a little.

As I kind of figure, punctual and precise... McKenzie walks in the door! My heart raced and broken ice from earlier froze immediately! Such a sweetheart though! She sees me and I get up and immediately gives me a hug!

She welcomes me to LA, and asks how my trip is going so far. Right about this, Jarrid and Robyn make their way in. We all introduce ourselves, and the best thing? Mckenzie, Jarrid and Robyn had never met before. So, I was witness to new friendships! AWESOME!

As we're decided whether or not to wait in the lobby or at our table for Mission Control, they walk in. Understand, 7 months ago, I didn't know MCM, Dwight, Michael or Derek. Now, I can't imagine a day without some sort of interaction with them! Let's just say, these guys are complete gentlemen! Kind, genuine and clearly gave me the impression this wasn't "just another lunch!" Dwight didn't waste time to say they brought a MQK Tshirt and I was pleasantly shocked they would even think to offer it.

The lunch meeting was a BLAST! I spent quite a bit of time speaking with Michael as we struck up a conversation. Sitting next to Robyn proved a bit difficult - I mean, how can one eat when you're next to such a beautiful lady! I wish there was a way I could slow down time - the meeting was surreal and I wish it would not end! I could spend hours talking to these people. They were clearly inviting and approachable!

I exchanged some modest gifts with them, took some pictures, and they were nice to do some autographs. I said this day was going to be awesome - and it was!

BTW: During this lunch, Jack Black arrived and sat in the table/booth next to us. Any other day, I would of been gawk-eyed - but, today, I was with people I admire and Jack Black can wait. =)

As the lunch drew to a close, the awesome Robyn and Jarrid offered for me to meet Marcel as he was nearby. I'll skip the details about getting lost, but suffice to say, they were troopers for waiting for me while I made my way to where the taco truck was!

Yes, I said, TACO TRUCK. Sure enough, there was Marcel and he's exactly as you see him on the show. We were introduced, and immediately he offered some tacos. We talked a bit, discussed MQK and unfortunately, time was running out. We all shook hands, Robyn was nice to take a few pictures, and we all went on our way.

I can't begin to describe how awesome this day was! Everyone taking time out of their schedules to meet was wonderful. For those that know of Mission Control Media - they are exactly what you think they would be. No bullshit - down-to-earth, kind, and you feel the genius energy when you talk with them! Saying that being in their company is an inspiration is an understatement!

Thank you, Mission Control Media, Dwight, Michael, Derek, Mckenzie, Robyn, and Jarrid for making that day one I will never forget!

Day 4 and 5 will be posted later - some interesting things here and there, but nothing compared to what I just wrote - so, those entries can wait a bit. =)

LA Vacation - Day 2 - Part II

2011-08-10T14:59:00.002-05:00

Ok, here it was. Time to hit the 405, 105, 110, and whatever other FWYs needed to get to where America's Got Talent is taped. I was completely blown away by how courteous the drivers are in LA. Sure, you'll come across a few asshats, but, overall, it was a pleasant drive. I think I had more traffic trouble on the street to get to "The Grove" in Hollywood, than the freeways themselves.

I remember tweeting being lost at The Grove and loving it - and those words weren't a lie! What a beautiful open-air shopping area with awesome open-air restaurants which served anything your heart desires! I would of loved to have gotten even more lost, but, I needed to make my way to AGT.

Time passes, and I'm finally being lead into the studio. The nice crew from Mission Control Media set this up for me, and I was seated in Section A (from the stage looking out, right hand, lower side). What a beautiful studio, and it was exciting. Meanwhile, Cory, the guy that keeps the audience occupied before and during the show was trying to get us energized! He did a great job, and I guess I did as well. At one point, he's on the AGT stage and points at me, asking me to join him.

I'm a fairly reserved guy at first, and now staring at an audience with all their eyes on me - while doing "dance moves" was definitely overwhelming! Cory directs me to do some dance moves and I follow through. I kicked ass doing the "Cowboy" - hello? I'm from Texas, Cory. =)

Finally, he asks for me to shake my booty where I instantly stop and go "uhhh.. no." However, I forgot I was not in charge here. Cory, picked up the mic and asked the audience if they wanted me to shake it - and well you know what they said. Of course, I couldn't go against the audience, and I started doing it. Embarrassed as hell, the audience cheered, and applauded offering support. Those couple of minutes felt like an eternity - and frankly, looking back, what a HELL of a time I had!

As expected, the show taping was phenomenal. I was about 10 or feet from the AGT judges - my favorite being Howie Mandel.

The show taping ends, and it was time for us to leave. As I make my way to my vehicle, the "audience" recognizes me amongst the crowd and offer their compliments on my "performance."

So glad, I don't live in LA!

This was obviously an awesome day! But, it's about to get even better!

LA Vacation - Day 2 - Part I

2011-08-10T14:49:00.002-05:00

This was weird. I woke up at 6:55am! This is nearly unheard of for me considering I'm not a morning person. Obviously the time zone change was working in my favor, plus the excitement of being in a new city most probably contributed.

I got dressed, and arrived downstairs to eat breakfast. Now, Embassy Suites LAX South offers cook-to-order breakfast and it's quite popular. There were people everywhere enjoying their first meal of the day. So many people, I had to find an alternate location to eat - which in this case was a bench near the entrance to "breakfastland."

I'm about to start eating, and the hotel manager approaches. He immediately offered me a booth in the closed dining room area to enjoy my breakfast. I was in a semi-darken, quieter area - chomping down breakfast while catching up to the day's news, facebook and twitter feeds. I felt like a VIP but without the entourage.

Next up? Venice Beach! On my way there, my mouth drooled as I passed the "Electronic Arts" building. And when I finally arrived, I was taken back by the awesome air temperature! It was likely 70F and a bit foggy. Beautiful!

I was fully prepared for this impromptu trip. With jeans and tennis shoes, I stepped onto the sand. =) And, it wasn't long before my feet met the Pacific ocean - shoes removed of course.

Having a great time, I had to make my way back to the hotel to get ready as later in the day, I was going to be an audience member for America's Got Talent!

LA Vacation - Day 1

2011-08-10T14:40:00.002-05:00

I awoke, and was excited, nervous and anxious all rolled into one!

No problems when I arrived at airport security, and before long I was sitting on the plane making my way to DFW - my first stop before LAX.

Very nice, smooth flight and 1st class service was ... interesting.

DFW > LAX
Once at DFW, I couldn't wait to get on the plane. A bigger plane this time and more goodies awaited. During the flight, I was surprised to have the flight attendant not only ask for a drink order, but what I would like for dinner. I've heard people talking about how bad airline food can be, but I can't complaint. Cheese pasta with meat sauce, salad with grapes and pecans, a small dish of shrimp with a cup of marinara, warm sourdough (or wheat) rolls and your beverage of choice. For dessert? A nice, warn brownie with vanilla ice cream!

Finally at LAX, I proceeded to the baggage claim an saw that my luggage was first to appear. After getting directions on how to take the shuttle to my rental car location, I was on my way.

Once in my rental vehicle, I was a bit nervous - as I'm used to driving in a city of 100,000, not millions! My flight was delayed, so it was night now and I still had to drive to my hotel.

Before long, I was in 5 lane street, going through tunnels and a myriad of road signs. However, my trusty Google Navigation was keeping me on the right track. I breathed a sigh of relief when I arrived and checked in at the hotel.

I remember that night thinking to myself that I just drove in a foreign city - at night - my fear tossed aside. It was clear, there was nothing to it, and whatever FWY traveling I had to do was going to be easier from now on.

I settled in, and after a 7 hour trip - tiredness took its toll.

LA vacation - Preps

2011-08-10T14:22:00.003-05:00

Alas, had some time coming and at first decided I'd stick around home and relax. However, for the longest time, I had wanted to visit Los Angeles & things just starting meshing.

For one, being a big fan of #FaceOff & Marcel's Quantum Kitchen which is produced by Mission Control Media I thought I'd ask them if they offered a tour of their production facility. Now, I had been in frequent contact with MCM via twitter and facebook so we got to know each other well over time.

I was elated when they offered an opportunity for a lunch meeting! Texas meets LA! Couldn't turn this down.

Things couldn't have been scripted better
This being early July, and my trip not until early August, I started preparing, checking flights, hotels etc. Things were just falling into place as though in a carefully written script! Having had a work-related accident earlier in the year which could of easily have been life threatening, I decided that I needed to live life to the fullest! I was full-filling a childhood dream in visiting LA, and that you just never know what the future holds.

Alas, this trip was an event of "firsts." I had never flown 1st class, and with the airline offering a reasonable "upgrade", I went with it. I had also been pricing car rentals, and as soon as I made my flight reservation, I decided to check car rentals via the airline reservation page and found a great deal - better than what I had seen so far.

I waited on the hotel reservation, knowing that as time passed by, the rates would go up. Nope. When the time came, I found the rate had actually gone down - another win!

Finally, a few days before my flight, Tropical Storm Don wanted to make a visit. On the day of its arrival, it fizzled. This was obviously a trip that was meant to be.

Alas, excited, the day before my flight, I packed and got a good night's rest as I knew tomorrow was the beginning of an exciting trip!

2011: New Year / Old School

2011-01-03T21:49:00.006-06:00

So, I'm rummaging around my harddrive and I came across a mix I created way back. It's about 45 mins of continually mixed trance/progressive trance. The mix has survived at least 2-3 computer crashes, so I never got around to saving higher than 128K. =o/

Feel free to download! - No worries, no virus here; I don't roll that way. (Right-click the link - and select "Save As" or similar on the drop-down)

Enjoy!

My fascination with Split/Second - Explained

2010-11-22T20:39:00.010-06:00

So, here we are, over 6 months after release, and those that know me are probably asking - "What's up with this guy and his non-stop rant about a racing game?"

So, thought I'd provide a bit of insight.

Ever since I was a young tyke, I somehow grew attached to car racing. I remember, running around with my "red wagon"; making (and winning) my "Pinewood Derby" car in the Boy Scouts; and the awesome birthday cake my mom surprised me with showcasing a "track" and an actual race car on top.

Fast-forward a bit, and my career life intermixed with broadcast media. I've worked both the radio and television side of it performing a variety of responsibilities. One duty being "technical directing."

For those not knowing what this is - this is the individual that in most cases "switches" camera views during a TV (Live/Recorded) show. Fades to and from black, chroma/alpha keys, instructs VTR/DVR play, and so forth. In a sense, basically edits the show on-the-fly... No margin for error, especially during a live show as whatever mistake made is instantly seen.

You sit in a room, much like this:
Image courtesy of: WKYC - Channel 3

In this image, the technical director is sitting on the left side with that big monster of gadgetry (aka switcher) in front of him. (This is a more elaborate control room, but the switcher I used was similar.) For the duration of the show, you're in the "hot seat." Stress/pressure and occasional confusion is your constant companion.

This was fun, but luckily it wasn't my core responsibility - otherwise I'd be a resident of a white room with a unique jacket to wear.

So, what does this have to do with Split/Second? Given what I've said - the video below should help:

A few more S/S vids were released, much in the same fashion like this "TV/Director" feel... and well, that's all it took. It almost seems like I was destined to play S/S and it's a pretty damn good game to boot!

Disney / Black Rock - you never thought that one day, a while back, when brainstorming what is now "Split/Second" - would hit a positive nerve on an unsuspecting, but thankful fan - huh?

Split/Second: Eye (& Ear) Candy

2010-05-31T21:33:00.003-05:00

Alas, I've spent enough time with the game to get an overall feel. Definitely, one of the best arcade racers I've played (even with its flaws).

However, along with the visual awesomeness that comes with playing, one dominant aspect is the game's audio and music soundtrack. Clearly, Disney Interactive and Blackrock Studio put some thought and effort into this.

Except for the "Intro Sequence" video, the remaining are videos I created for kicks. -Enjoy!

The game's intro sequence

Split/Second: Elite Rate Mix

Split/Second: Soundtrack Mix

Split/Second: May 18th(US) / May 21(UK)

2010-05-16T07:29:00.009-05:00

Ever since I heard about Split/Second last year, I've been waiting with profound anticipation for its release. It was unfortunate, that my TV died before the S/S demo was released on XBL a few weeks ago. But, that problem has been resolved and I've been playin' ever since.

The demo lives up to the trailers Disney and Blackrock have been teaser throwing over the last couple of months and I'm quite satisfied.

Usually, demos are small glimpses of what the real game will offer and hope that will be the case here.

I pre-ordered Split/Second back in January. I have but a few days to wait... *drool*

Meanwhile, I dusted off my 3D program and created a Split Second wallpaper favoring the old style typeface. Click the desired image (it'll open in a new window) and right-click to save.

Enjoy!

Size: 1280 x 1024

Size: 1024 x 768

Size: 800 x 600

By the way, here's a vid of me playing the demo.

Teaser Preroll video

2010-03-28T21:05:00.004-05:00

One day last week, my coworkers informed me of a contest that starts on April 2010. The prize giveaway was the biggest ever in the history of the radio station. I felt I needed to at least create a "teaser video" for our radio streaming product in order to peak the interest of our audience and convey some hype.

The prize involves "water" so I created some water bubble effect video to serve as the background. Then, it was a matter of finding the right music, and creating the teaser text to accompany it.

A few edits here, some effects there, and below is the result.

For some reason the text display timing is off - it should appear with the music's downbeat. Must be some Blogger encoding artifact

The life of an Xbox Ambassador™

2010-03-13T19:56:00.002-06:00

I recently became fortunate enough to be granted Xbox Ambassador status on Xbox/Xbox Live. To start, this is an honor and I'm happy to participate in a program devoted to helping people.

Along the way, however, I've read and heard some misconceptions about what an Ambassador actually does, is supposed to do, and what their primary duties are.

As an XA, my primary goal is to help others. The fact that I inherently do this actually makes my role easier. I'm no different than any other gamer/subscriber. I yield no magical powers, I have no special privileges and most importantly, I am not a Mod(erator).

In return for my help, I'm granted a forum game card symbol (seen above) that serves as a signal to others that "I'm here to help, any way I can."

Contrary to any belief, XAs do not get discounts, prizes, games, Microsoft Points, LIVE subscriptions codes, swag (T-shirts, caps, mousepads etc.), nor do we expect any. Individuals interested in being Ambassadors have chosen to be in the program because of their willingness to help others.

I am not an employee of or contractor for Microsoft/Xbox, yet because I can be perceived as a "representative", I obviously do my best to showcase the positives on all fronts. However, I am an individual and am encouraged to be myself on XBL and the forums.

With that said, if I come across a healthy discussion with an opposing view, my role doesn't prevent me from disagreeing - but, common sense does prevail as it always has. I will engage a discussion in a tactful, constructive way that shows respect to both the parties involved and the company I represent. This is how it should be anyway, and does not necessarily reflect on my Ambassador status.

I am not a Mod, as stated before, but, should I come across an issue on the Live service or forum, I report it appropriately. But, I don't purposely "police" the service or forums.

As mentioned, no rewards, but there are some perks: Having people seek you out (and thank you) for your help and making new friends along the way.

Should you ever find yourself needing help, feel free to send me an Xbox message or forum PM (GT: JAriel) - or hit me up on Twitter - @jag731.

Enjoy Trance?

2010-03-12T21:12:00.007-06:00

While rummaging through my hard drive, I found this little gem.

A Trance mix I created way back in 2005. I had come across an awesome mix by Toby Doran, and got inspired. It's about 45 mins long.

Featuring music from Cass, Delerium, Peter Lazonby, Armin Van Buuren & others.

Right click here and "Save as" to download. (~41M)

Enjoy!

1vs100 on XBL - Another season in the can...

2010-02-15T01:33:00.005-06:00

It's official. Season 2 of 1vs100 is no more. Unfortunately, too many distractions (among them - a cold) kept me from obtaining the "Quick Draw" achievement and reaching Lvl 50. =o/

Alas, now that the season's over, the kid gloves come off. Yep, I'm a big fan of the game to the point of being labeled a rabid fan, and I have nothing but high respect for those involved, but, the game (and related features) still has issues - and here they are:...

1) Lack-luster prizing. It's the end of Season 2 and we're still dealing with Microsoft points and arcade games. I'm not trying to sound ungrateful, but, the game's novelty isn't exactly new anymore. We're nearing a year since its debut, and it's time to push those prize values up.

2) Game advertising. I found it interesting to see how many people posted on the forums after Season 2's last LIVE game about how they "just found out" about the game. Dashboard entries, Inside Xbox videos are fine and dandy, but if you really want to push this game out for people to take interest, get the marketing out there.

There's more to Twitter and Facebook - you're limiting exposure by sticking to certain areas of the advertising medium. Buy banner ads on popular sites (maybe grease some palms with game dev sites to post ads on their end?) - How about a big huge banner on the front page of the xbox.com site? I've seen plenty of promotion for other games and events. Don't forget texting and mobile media.

It's obvious a lot of time, effort and I'm sure money is being spent on this endeavor - and yet, some people don't even know about the game or what it's about. I volunteer to help promote the hell out of this.. just ask!

3) Trivia Texting support. Season 2 took us a bit further with texting interaction. However, many a times I came across what appeared to be technical problems. One of which being told "I had already participated this week" when the trivia text was sent on a Tuesday. Unsure where the system got the idea I had already participated, but, I feel some of my entries were automatically discarded through no fault of my own.

Problem is, I didn't know who to contact. @1vs100XboxLIVE yielded no replies. Texting questions in the 1vs100 forums also were met with a handful of answers that weren't "official." Not even an announcement was made on 1vs100's site, forums, Twitter (can't speak for Facebook - I'm hardly on there) about this texting feature and so, frankly, to me it felt like a half-ass promotion/feature with little or no support. If this appears in Season 3 - this little/no support part definitely needs to be fixed. You can't offer features to players and not offer some recourse or instructions should things go *boom*.

4) A 1vs100 Knowledge Base. I know this was briefly mentioned sometime during S2 - I hope it's ready for S3. A lot of the forum clutter could *hopefully* be directed to this KB system. By the way, the very first KB entry should detail.. A Patch of Blue does not cheat.

5) What happened to the play-by-play during LIVE games on Twitter/FB? Sure, there was some but it wasn't consistent. Back to "advertising" - the more buzz created, the more potential attention the game draws to itself.

6) Fix the Prizing fullfillment aspect of the game and unless I missed it - post on the 1vs100 site what one should do if your prize doesn't arrive after the 4-6 weeks timeframe.

7) Keep building on your question database - Season 3 should have little to no repeats.

8) What happened to the forum "Shoutout" threads for the LIVE shows? They all but disappeared in S2. New players come in and don't know what's going on. Plus, the in-game audio is not consistent enough for some. Post the email address in the opening game credits or in the game's help or on the lobby "Scoreboard" - Less forum clutter, and threadlocking.

I really would like to see this game take off. The team has laid out the groundwork. It's time to tweak, fine tune, and get this puppy ready for "Primetime!"

See ya'll in Season 3!

1vs100 Season Two winding down...

2010-02-08T02:29:00.001-06:00

As the latest season winds down, I thought I'd put in my two-cents on what I think was the best season yet.

First, the overall look and feel was improved. As discussed previously, in the debut, I was taken back by just how expansive the EP arena looked.

The LIVE games in general, were appealing, and offered a snazzier look as opposed to Season 1(Beta). Unfortunately, I (and apparently others) encountered Network/Connection errors. In my case, a simple "N" router and Xbox adapter upgrade was all it took. Yet, I felt like a jackazz putting some of the team through hoops, trying to figure out the issue as if it was a problem on their end. Sorry guys.

December 1st, 2009 will forever be imprinted in my mind as the night I knew what it felt like to be in the Mob! *TWICE*. The feeling was awesome to say the least, and the pressure was on. I so tweeted my experience and it drew-air big time that I was playing solo with no help. How I managed to win on my second chance is a big mystery. However, getting some playful flak from some about being probably the biggest fan of the game, yet not winning - finally got put to rest. =o)

During the Holidays, clearly the team listened to some feedback about holding special themed events - but they took it a step further and "decorated" the LIVE set. I recall the wonderment when I first entered the lobby filled with presents, giant candy canes and "holiday" trees through-out. Having a virtual "snowfall" was a great effect! It was the closest I got to snow this Winter.

The New Years theme offered the same, and recall the clock serving as Jen's and "The One"'s floor as a nice added touch. The shiny disco ball - well what can I say? Clearly, the team put forth a ton of effort during the Season and like during its last hiatus, I'll be missing the fun and figuring out what I'll do with the extra time.

Among other enhancements was clearly a bigger push for community involvement with the Avatar Dance Contest (Monkey Dance FTW!), Heavy Facebook/Twitter interaction - especially the big Twitter Big Game contest, and last but certainly not least - TEXTING -Which took on a deeper role of engaging the fan/gamer with useful reminders for LIVE games and ability to win prizes from the text-based trivia.

Some other memorable moments - my party finally had their wish and made it in the Mob as well. Congrats to @Callmepotato83 and @Sourapplesmiles - it was a pleasure being able to share the experience with you. On a sidenote: @Callme - you definitely earned your spot with the non-stop AMPing! That was friggin' hilarious!

Shoutout time:
Toncu, Bootronix, Trilobiting, Adam Danger, The5thAlchemist, Manuel Bronstein - Thanks for making the season even better and for being so passionate about the game. It clearly shows, and its strength reverberates far and wide that a number of us profoundly appreciate and understand the labor of love put forth.

To those of you behind the scenes that I didn't name above - you do what you do daily, and we're completely oblivious to it. Yet, deep inside we know that if it weren't for your efforts, the game just wouldn't be. Much thanks!

Alas, the season ends soon, and yet I still haven't obtained the "Quick Draw" achievement(!) and I'm still at Level 45.

Much work remains.

Operation Christmas Tree 2009

2009-12-06T01:01:00.004-06:00

So, here we go...

Found, purchased and loaded

A clean canvas

Showing signs of life?

Final Result

(o= USS Voyager - Proudly represented =o)

"JAG VS 100" also represented

(Don't sue, Microsoft.)

1 vs 100: What a night!

2009-12-02T00:33:00.002-06:00

Posted this on the 1vs100 Xbox forums, detailing how I ended up in the MOB twice!

As the round started, I saw that my group was in "The Crowd" and my score ticker hadn't appeared. I thought I was having comm problems again (like last time). Then, I see the blue background and "The Mob" on my screen, and I went from relaxed to "deer in headlights" mode.

I was holding my own, the first time .. and The One took the money. Figured that was it, but hey, I was psyched anyway! Side note: How I remembered "Baroque" being the correct answer is beyond me.

I'm back in the crowd, getting over the feeling and beginning to relax again... Then a few rounds later, I see my group is in the crowd, and *bamf*, I'm "blue" again. Deer in headlights be damned! I was overly freaked now. I have a small idea of how the One feels when playing. This second time, I was able to topple The One - got the arcade game and 400pts.

To all out there thinking the game is rigged, or that you don't have a chance, I'm a PRIME example of not being the best player in the game, and yet I got my chance.. twice.

I'm psyched beyond belief. =o)

1vs100 fiasco 11/27/09 - or was it?

2009-11-27T23:18:00.003-06:00

Those that know me, understand how much of a hardcore fan I am of 1vs100 on XBL. - Even surgery can't keep me away.

Alas, when trying to play the LIVE game this evening, I ran into quite a bit of network errors. I tweeted this to 1vs100 and another contact, and within minutes they're replying wanting to know more info as to the problem.

I begin a series of tweets explaining the errors and issues and I even get direct messages and requests to contact yet another individual for further help.

This person contacts Xbox Network Ops center to verify my fiber connection in S.TX/Texas et al. I heave a sigh of relief knowing the problem didn't appear to come from my end. Afterall, I would of felt quite the idiot tweeting the issues I was having if their origin was here. Alas, it appears the problem may be closer to XboxLand and they'll know more Monday.

I write this because I've heralded Xbox and especially those running 1vs100 previously on being nearly transparent with their players. It's a breath of fresh air to have near direct contact with the team - whether it be for game suggestions, comments, complaints and as the case was tonight, when *1* person out of what I would guess were thousands playing, is having a technical problem.

The game, and its premise is unique and quite entertaining, but, in the end, it's the people behind the scenes that really make that game shine! Tonight, I felt like "The One." - Individuals MADE THE TIME to try to figure out what's going on with some S. Texan's connection problems while a LIVE game was on? Mercy.

The game rocks, yes. But the people behind it, and their genuine display of concern for the players pushes the envelope of game company and players/fans.

Thanksgiving was yesterday, and many of my thanks were directed to the 1vs100 team. Their actions tonight further quantifies my loyalty and trust in them.

To those that tried helping me earlier this evening - A deep and heartfelt THANKS!

1vs100 - Season 2 (EP/LIVE)

2009-11-21T05:26:00.004-06:00

So, here we go. Approximately 1 month earlier than originally announced (ala Winter), 1vs100 Season 2 debuts.

Let's flashback to 11/19/09. I unfortunately, leave work later than usual. I hit almost every red traffic light and slowest driver on my way home.

Alas, I make it, turn on the Xbox and get ready to start 1vs100 EP. I'm joined by a good friend as I take a look at the new features, artwork, camera angles/swings and just overall feel for the game.

Clearly, lots of work was put into the presentation, execution and production of the game. It moves at a faster pace. It's much more fluid, and so much eye-candy going on, that frankly, I didn't really pay too much attention to the questions. Along side I'm chatting away with my buddy, that well, I'm surprised I was unlocking some achievements throughout.

Overall, EP conveyed a no sugar coating feel - that means business. One final note on EP - the game area is HUGE! Awesome work by the artists.

Now onto 11/20 - 1vs100 LIVE - What a trip! Again, the same re-designed eye-candy, camera angles and shots. The One being a bit more mobile adds to the realism of the game. Unfortunately, I played the game without friends, so it was a tad "quiet". But I must give accolades to the 3 other players I was paired with for being quick-witted, and for keeping me and my mind sharp!

The 2 hours went quickly, and for the first time ever since I've played the game, I was able to hear Chris Cashman (host), 100% throughout. Even though I noticed some of the advertisements being out of sync, I still call it a flawless display of ingenuity, presentation, and most importantly execution of what I know is a very complicated and technical process!

I "leveled up" quite a bit in the game, and saw some additional "badges" that was a nice touch.

On a sidenote: Whomever decided to select my favorite music track during the "round summary" gets a keg of beer (or favorite beverage) of their choice.

Alas, the intensity and suspense, along with rootin' for the One or feeling dismay when they lost - carried over from Season 1 BETA. That to me shows that no matter the cosmetic and asthetic changes, the overall feel of the game was retained.

The only 2 things I noticed or did miss was the jumbotron avatar crowd introductions from Season 1. I got used to AMPing as my avatar was displayed on the big screen. That, appears to be gone in Season 2.

The other thing I noticed was fewer avatar shots of me AMPing like a fool. Is this a deal breaker? Nah.

Much congratulations and back patting are in order for all involved. Is the game perfect and cleanly polished? No. But, just when you think the full potential of the game has been realized, MGS & Team 1vs100 have re-pioneered the experience - taking no prisoners along the way.

Oxygene 8 Remix

2009-10-28T11:18:00.002-05:00

Following-up from the last entry...

After a couple of weeks of production and tweakin', I present.

Jarre revisited...

2009-10-13T01:23:00.004-05:00

Many, many eons ago, I recall going into a record shop - back then, albums/LPs were in full display. I was hankerin' for some "space" music for some reason. Being a creature of music, enjoying all types, this seemed to be the norm.

On this day, the following caught my eye.

..and thus I was introduced to Jean-Michel Jarre.

A great... no, wait... GENIUS composer of electronic music. When I discovered these works, he was virtually unknown. Now, a quick search on YouTube - and he's no longer obscure. He's known for the electronic genre and city-wide concerts - though, it appears the concerts (at least to my knowledge) have become less frequent. (Would of loved to have attended "The 12 Dreams of The Sun" outdoor concert which herald in the year 2000. - sigh...)

This past weekend, I came across an old CD "Oxygene 8" which was a set of mixes showcasing a track for the then upcoming "Oxygene 7-13". Made some time and re-mixed the CD into one track.

Next step is to come up with appropriate visuals in terms of video so as to coincide with the mix. Soon, I shall share this with others hoping to add to the growing collection of Jarre related videos on YouTube.

Stay tuned!

The days after...

2009-10-01T00:03:00.001-05:00

Well, I'm back.

Surgery day was loooong. Arrived at the hospital around 8am (appointment was @ 8:30a) - but my name wasn't called until around 1pm. That puts it around 15 hours without eating food. Man, I was hungry!

It didn't help that the waiting room was footsteps away from the hospital cafeteria, though I heard from my nurse later in pre-op, that the food selection wasn't that great that day.

The hospital experience does have some flaws. First, registration desk guy should just stick to saying "good morning", verifying the surgical appointment and giving the patient their wrist tag. Leave the accounting, and any other billing questions for the appropriate department and not further stress patients on THE DAY OF THEIR SURGERY with payment questions. Plus, how am I to pay 20% of a procedure that hasn't been performed? Jeez. The hospital will get paid, and based on the statement I just received, a good chunk of that payment from my last surgery was covered by my insurance. So what's the problem?

Spending about 5 hours in the waiting room, leaves much to be desired. No real updates on when you'll be "next", and I must say, for me, being an adult and having to deal with this, I can only imagine the number of children there having to endure the same, but with shorter attention spans. The hospital should invest in having a "kids friendly" waiting room full of toys and other forms of entertainment for them while they wait.

Also, what's with the timid voices when calling patients? I spent half my time trying to hear the names called. Almost as if the nurse was scared of the room full of people? WTF?

Alas, once you're in, the "king" treatment begins. I can go on for hours on how everyone inside treats you well, and attends to your every question and need.

One way I deal with stressful situations is to just be humorous. By this time, I was in my gown (which I still wonder why they call it that when half your body is nearly exposed) and needed to pay a restroom visit. I walked by a nurse station saying "quick, runaway patient.. runaway patient" while attempting to keep my gown in place ... they all laughed. I then stopped to ask for directions to where I needed to go.

It took a while for my pre-op nurse to arrive, but, what a nice person. As soon as she walked in, I turned over to mom and said.. "Hey, it's time to order in food! -- I'll have a few hamburgers, fries, and a vanilla shake.." Whereby my nurse laughed and said.. "Yep, sure.. coming right up... let me see your arm."

She asked some pre-op questions, and through some question and answering found that I may indeed be allergic to morphine - based on what happened last month in my prior surgery. =o/

Alas, it came time to stick me with the IV which is always FUN (not), and get the drugs going.

About 20 mins later, the OR nurse arrived, verified who I was and off we went. I said "Laters" to mom, and my journey to the OR began.   Like last time, the OR was full of music, but this time 80's era. Last time it was rock and roll.

I found my OR nurse had a very nice voice and was singing away. I was moving my feet back and forth in rhythm. As more OR personnel arrived, I tried to convince them to exchange the surgical lights for a disco ball, and that we could just forego the surgery and have a little dance party. - didn't work.

My anesthesiologist arrived. What a sweetheart. She looked down, and said "How ya doing, honey?"   I told her she was my BFF (knowing my life would soon be in her hands) and she laughed and said... "Yep, sweetie, we are."

She then placed a mask over my face, telling me it was oxygen, and that she was about to put me to sleep. I remember her saying.. "You're going to go to sleep now, but, everything will be just fine, honey.. Don't worry about a thing."

{BLACKNESS}

I awake what turns out to be like an hour or so later to find myself in post-op recovery. To my pleasant surprise, the same nurse that attended me last time, was there. I slowly woke up, got my bearings and say.. "Hey, I know you." She replied.. "You're back? You must like it here." Mom shows up, and of course the worried look on her face.   I tried to hide the pain to ease her a bit, but you can't fool mothers. She knew things were different this time.

As the drugs wore off, the pain kicked in quick, and for a moment, there was a discussion of keeping me at the hospital overnight. Some more drugs were administered and when asked if I wanted the pill or shot variety, I quickly went for the injection. Odd, since I hate needles, but definitely a sure sign that the pain I was experiencing was worse.

Time passed, and eventually I was wheeled to my mom's vehicle and as always, don't remember how I arrived at home.

Overall, except for the stupidity of the registration clerk, and 5 hour wait, the ordeal I'm sure could of gone a hell of a lot worse. Right now, recovery is slow, I'm sleeping but 4 hours at a time due to pain and occasional bleeding, but, definitely making my way towards recovery. I'm not rushing it though... this was a doozy of a procedure and my body will say "when."

For now, I'm taking things slow. I'm glad it's over, and here's hoping this is the last of it.

The night before...

2009-09-28T23:58:00.001-05:00

You'd think after all the surgeries I've gone through, I'd be calm, cool and collected. Pre-Op jitters - too bad there's not some instant solution to get rid of them.

I'm feeling overall confident and positive that all will go just fine. Plus, it's not all bad. I get at least a week off, watch movies, play games, SLEEP, not to mention the prescribed drugs =oP -- as I make tracks down the recovery road.

As before, if I can, I'll post up on Twitter (jag731) that all is well when I get back. Sad part, no 1vs100 to play... but still something to look forward to and all the reason to get back in stride before it begins.

The clock is ticking, so this blog entry will be short.

1vs100 - Personal Trivia

2009-09-26T14:39:00.005-05:00

Here's a personal trivia post based on my 1vs100 game play. Some of them posted publically; the rest now known.

1) First played the game about 2 weeks after USA BETA was released. - [Played the Friday night LIVE game & was lost - but hooked after that.]

2) Did well overall on sports questions. - [Yet, I'm not a sports fan.]

3) Lifetime accuracy: 66% - [Took a dive after playing a couple of SuperHard episodes.]

4) Lifetime Streak: 22 questions. - [Could of been 23 or more, but I screwed up the "Ripley" question.]

5) Lifetime Score: Over 8 Million. - [Can I convert that to dollars?]

6) Favorite EP editions: In The News, Sci-Fi, General Trivia. - [Yet, got my 2nd highest score playing a SuperHard session. Go figure.]

7) Met @Callmepotato83 & @sourapplesmiles via twitter, yet inadvertently hooked them on the game. - [@Sourapplesmiles clearly the smartest of our group.]

8) "Team Spiffy" was born as our group would tend to "dress up" for LIVE game play. - [My avatar: Suit / tie, Sunglasses & Tennis Shoes - Nice combo, huh?]

9) Usually played w/o a mic, unless I was with my party. - [Surprised they didn't mute me.]

10) Probably the only individual that noticed (& enjoyed) the lobby/in-game music. - [Including Chris Cashman's "Age of Booty".]

11) Unofficially "jinxed" the LIVE game on Friday 8/14/09. - [I plead the 5th.]

12) @Callmepotato83 and I had the pleasure of playing with one of the game devs. - [Quite possibly my lowest game score ever that night - embarrassing.]

13) Did 2 hours of non-stop AMPing during the show's season finale. - [My "Y" thumb hasn't recovered.]

14) Answered "Centipede" for a question asking another name for "Centigrade." - [Canadian Flag colors and countless others questions fall into this category.]

15) Didn't make it in The Mob or as The One. - [Nothing I did. I blame the BETA code. =oP]

These last friday/saturday evenings of late have been a bit rough. It's like tasting and savoring a piece of dessert, but just as you reach for more - it's gone.

Surgery 2.0 - Expanded

2009-09-26T03:55:00.008-05:00

Alas, the long awaited day arrived. Preps for doctor visit and subsequent registration were somehow able to fit in one morning.

Some good news - according to doc, I've healed from the surgery performed about a month ago. This opened the door for the next one.

After getting the go-ahead from the doc, I made my way to the hospital to pre-register. Having gone through this process prior, I thought I knew what to expect: The obligatory blood work (which I detest), and yet some things new. An EKG, and a nurse consultation making absolutely sure where I stand on allergies, medication, prior medical problems, etc.

A sidebar: The twitpic I posted showing the needle was actually kind of interesting for the nurse. I explained I was on twitter and wanted to show some of what was going on to my followers (Ala, pics or it didn't happen). She heeded my request of "posing" without actually sticking me so I could take the snap-shot. Whereby afterwards, I told her to keep that way while I turned aside and that then she could proceed. By the way, the picture looked more menacing than the experience.

The EKG took longer to hook me up than the actual exam. In the end, both the nurse and I concluded I was alive. =o)

Next, was the nurse consultation which tested my patience a bit as it took a while for that to happen. As I waited in the lobby, it wasn't long before an older woman sitting next to me began a conversation. It was clearly evident she was apprehensive about her particular ordeal and a little jittery. Hell, I was (and still am a bit jittery) - who isn't? - but, in her case, you could see it in her eyes that she was looking for comfort and just someone to calm her and offer reassurance.

She told me that they were going to remove her gallbladder, and even went through the trouble of looking in her purse to show me the papers. Now, I'm no stranger to surgeries. This upcoming one will be my fourth. Years ago, I had my gallbladder removed, so I felt at ease in calming her down and explaining that in my case, all went well and that post-op pain was minimal. You could almost see this virtual weight lift from her, and a brightness fill her face. Moments before, she was sitting idly, dwelling on what I'm sure was a desperate and anxious moment in her life. And now, a complete stranger has given her hope and confirmation that as serious as the procedure may sound, one does recover and and life goes on.

A few moments later, her ride arrived, and she was preparing to leave. As she got up from her chair, she said "thank you", and we wished each other luck.

I'm glad I was able to give someone the help they were looking for. This surgery promises to be a bit more involved with more recovery time required - which is to say, it won't be a 4 day rest and then head to work kind, like my last one.

On Tuesday sometime, as I prepare - my heartbeat will be racing, my blood pressure will be high, and I'll be nervous, shaky and anxious. But, I'll remember this experience with this older lady, and put my words to use in hopes that the taste of my own verbal medicine will serve to calm me as well.

DiRT 2 / Colin McRae Tribute

2009-09-21T01:02:00.000-05:00

Before I begin, there may be a game spoiler or two in this entry. If you're playing the game you may wish to forego reading further.
_________________________

Alas, it's been a great run so far playing DiRT2! So much thought to game design, details and the late Colin McRae is clearly evident.

As I continue up the DiRT Tour, the Colin McRae event became available. Upon completing it, I unlocked the "For Colin" achievement - which I thought was a nice touch.

The screen quickly blackened and I could tell the usual game graphics and audio were on stand-still. A picture of Mr. McRae appeared followed by a nice tribute video of him and his racing. Truly a nice tribute showing the man that was synonymous with Rally racing.

I'll admit, before DiRT (the original), I had no idea who this man was. The day the news spread of his death, I was saddened. Years later, after DiRT2 is released, and after receiving said achievement and watching the video, a tear ran down my face. This marks the first time ever that playing a game would cause such an emotional response.

Codemasters did Dirt2 right. Not only in game design and execution, but, by tastefully heralding the man responsible for the franchise.

Much thought went into the game, and to have a gamer experience such emotion during gameplay, I believe the results expected were achieved.

Thanks Codemasters and Thank you, Colin!

What's so difficult to understand, Microsoft?

2009-09-18T13:25:00.000-05:00

One sends an Xbox console for repair for one issue, it's returned damaged and with even worse issues. One requests a replacement, just to avoid problems for everyone, and they decide to return the same console?

Are MS console support and service center masochists? Are they ensuring themselves a job? At what point do you give to what a company is obligated to do which is to provide customer satisfaction?

I bought the console to play and enjoy, not send off to repair weekly. Here's the thing, I know the console works (at least for a determinant time frame) as I have a backup console that is working flawlessly.

Wake up Microsoft - I can understand wanting to save costs, but is alienating your customers the best way to do it? I paid for the console initially. The repairs obviously aren't making any improvement.

But we'll see. Once this second repair arrives, I'll give it a whirl on a game I know will immediately tell me if the repair was successful or not.

If all is well, then, I offer my thanks in advance.

If not, prepare for hell.

1vs100 Blogs

2009-09-16T18:04:00.002-05:00

Have to love the 1vs100 blogs that provide so much insight on how the game was developed. What we as players take/took for granted, get's spilled out from "behind-the-scenes" and you get a new level of understanding.

During game play, a player doesn't think about the technical issues (aka miracles) that occur. We mostly just focus on the superficial things like turning on the Xbox at the appropriate time, making sure your friends are online, joining parties and cracking jokes.

It's simple to overlook a presentation such as 1vs100 on XBL and thinking it's all magically done; that one swing of a wand is all it took. Blog entries like this recent one by vboy, puts things in perspective.

With each entry, I gain just that more respect and admiration for the 1vs100 Team, and I'm glad to read they ate well. =o)

2009-09-16T00:47:00.005-05:00

Yay!

The blog gets some life. Aside from changing the original blog name, I figured even though I enjoy Twitter, the post limitations left me with no option but to spill my verbose diatribes into another medium. Alas, "TweetAnnex" is born. - Welcome.

So what occupies my thoughts right now?

1vs100 LIVE (XBL)
It's been a few weeks, and I do miss playing 1vs100 LIVE. The game was great, yes, but I miss the interaction I had with my party of friends. The 2 hours were fun to play solo, but, with friends - there's just no comparison. I miss those good times. The hours just flew.

One of my best moments was playing and chatting with one of the 1vs100 devs. Poor soul, I kept rambling on how great the game was, how the team did a great job, and so forth, and he probably felt extremely uncomfortable - we never played a session again! LOL.... Ah, but such is how it is.

This game really exposed how community and fans and developers can intermingle and I'm hoping this concept takes off. We're not just clients and cash cows. We're people that enjoy your game offerings.

By the same token, this game showed me that devs aren't usually people locked up in offices programming all day being non-social. Lots of things learned and misconceptions tossed aside.

What 1vs100 fan wouldn't want this?

1vs100 returns this winter. Time to brush up on trivia, and new jokes!

DiRT 2
What can I say? Codemasters hit it right on the nose. Enjoying this game immensely and it's simply surreal how realistic, fluid and engaging game play can be. For the first time in a while, I'm really taking my time absorbing all the game has to offer. No rushing needed or required. DiRT2 is a gem and deserves quality time spent to experience it all.

Frankly, I was surprised with this game, and I'm glad it's part of my gaming library.

So, what now?
Well, as the blog title says.. this blog serves as an extension of tweets. Frequent postings aren't guaranteed, but should a particular tweet tangent need embellishment - check here!

Thanks for reading, and hope you visit often.

Oh ya, to those that celebrate it. Happy 16 de Septiembre.

Split / Second E3 2009 Trailer

2009-06-09T23:07:00.002-05:00

Again - one word... Drroooool....

Happy Goat: The Internet catches up to you!

2009-04-05T05:35:00.006-05:00

So, it's around 1994-1995 or so, and the Atari Jaguar has been released. Arguably, the one game everyone remembers when someone mutters Atari Jaguar is Tempest 2000, aka T2K.

Along with the intense graphics (hey, for the time, they were incredible), and gameplay, was the screaming soundtrack compliments of Imagitec Design.

These tracks are MOD files. I then come across a DOS-based (remember DOS?) mod player... Add a mini-disc player/recorder because I couldn't record audio directly to wav/mp3 on my system via DOS. Mix the track in realtime! Playback the minidisc to record an audio file via line-in on my system. Email to a friend of mine running an Atari Jaguar related website ... and many, many years later -- it shows up on YouTube!

What's this? Good news for video games?

2009-03-30T00:47:00.003-05:00

Action Video Games Improve Vision

According to a Livescience study.

Players became up to 58 percent better at perceiving fine contrast differences in the tests.

"If you are driving at dusk with light fog it could make the difference between seeing the car in front of you or not seeing it," study leader Daphne Bavelier told LiveScience.

The ability to discern slight differences in shades of gray, or contrast sensitivity, is the primary limiting factor in how well one sees, said Bavelier, a professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester.

"Normally, improving contrast sensitivity means getting glasses or eye surgery-somehow changing the optics of the eye," she said. "But we've found that action video games train the brain to process the existing visual information more efficiently, and the improvements last for months after game play stopped."

Link to the entire article.

Oh yeah!! 'Nuff said!

2009-03-15T23:16:00.001-05:00

New Racer from Disney?

2009-02-12T22:34:00.004-06:00

I received a video response to my "Fuel" trailer post on Youtube.

Looks interesting...

If the idea was to tease, this video succeeds.

Happy Goat: Texting and gaming

2009-01-21T23:42:00.013-06:00

I work mostly in IT, graphics, internet, as well as new media, and it came to mind how phone texting could be a potential tool for gaming companies to continue to build product loyalty and broaden their community goals.

Gamers are plugged-in, whether in their games, online, or in some form of virtual connection. It would make sense then for a gaming company to capitalize on this, by offering a texting service which could provide say...

1) Text blasts of upcoming gaming titles
2) Information on updates/patches and their releases
3) Contests/Events specifically targeting texting members
4) Offer bonus codes/cheats

..and so forth.

Given my experience, the whole issue of "spam" text is covered by automatic opt-in texts that verify twice if a potential subscriber is interested in joining. At any time, a subscriber could opt-out. The end result? Those individuals have agreed to be members, and thereby, minimizing complaints.

Then, with a delicate balance of blasts (say one or two per week, or as necessary), the company could provide said info directly to their cell phones. Of course, this isn't something that you just "set and forget". There is planning, and effort required to make such a campaign work.

Television, especially TV shows are doing this; keeping the fans up-to-date on what goes on. Why not something similar for gaming companies? It would offer yet another avenue to reach customers, increase interest, offer information and opportunities that members wouldn't find elsewhere.

The question begs -- But what about our online presence? That's fine as well, but, realize that some people (myself excluded it seems) are not in front of their monitors 24/7. So by a company texting about a new game page at a given URL, some will either visit via their phone, or have that message available for when they're infront of their computer. The idea is to work with all tools in tandem, not foreshadow.

The next question - What about email? Email has received such a bad rap from those that have abused it with spam. So many steps are taken to keep this problem at hand, that now, we're asked to do an extra step of whitelisting domains, which can complicate the whole joining/communication process.

Texting marketing example:
Let's say a gaming company has a texting/marketing campaign and has worked a deal with gaming stores so that when their new game is released, those in their club get a text message that says something to the effect... "Present this message at the following stores (store list), and receive a X% discount." Or, "....get $X off the purchase of game X". The stores get traffic, the game gets interest, and the text recipient saves some green.

Or, what if in the manual or a game screen, people are invited to join or are told that if they're a member, to type a key code for the opportunity to win some game-related swag or some other prize?

Or, by typing in a code, they receive a text which includes a URL to register for prizes or unlocks or whatnot ... (Linking texting with online).

The possibilities are endless.

Food for thought:
The US average number of monthly texts for a 13- to 17-year-old teen is 1,742, according to a Nielsen study of cellphone usage.

Happy Goat: Randomness

2009-01-13T21:54:00.006-06:00

I'll attempt to keep these type of entries as infrequent as possible as they're "fillers" for when my mind draws a blank.

What I get for gloating

I had to go ahead and tempt fate, didn't I? I was braggin' to my mom last night about how I hadn't been ill in about a year. What happens? I wake up with signs of a cold coming on. I am feeling better though, so, either my immune system is kickin some butt, or fate just smirked and offered a small reminder.

Yearn to learn

Been caught up with getting our stations streaming. It's interesting, and yet another chapter of learning new stuff which is probably the smart thing to do with the economy going weird.

There were over 2.8 million people that lost their job in 2008 here in the US. The more one diversifies, educates and gains experience - the better.

I'm happy with work and my employer, but, you never know. Therefore I've set 2009 as the year to learn and enhance some skills. I love production editing, and motion graphics and that's where my sights are right now. Where this will lead? No idea, but, at the very least no one can take the experience and knowledge away from me.

My bank account may scream in agony for a little while, but I've always found that investing in yourself is well, a good investment.

Happy Goat, and "Fin"

Many ask, what's with the smiling goat and braces?

Just a pic that tends to personify me and my personality. Plus, it's a great item to look at when you're feeling down. I can't count how many times the silly goat pic has lifted my spirits.

Oh, and I'm back to doing my DDR'ing! Yep, time to get in some cardio exercise to burn off the holiday excess. Plus it's a great stress reliever!

By the way, for those that didn't know - "Fin" aside from being a part of some aquatic creature also means "End" in Spanish. This fancy tidbit of useless trivia was brought to you by the letters J, A and the number 6.

"I gotta get me one of these!!"

2009-01-12T09:07:00.003-06:00

...as quoted by our hero in Independence Day as he flies the alien spaceship -- his words were exactly what came to mind when I saw this article about a 'Car simulator' that promises to take racing games to a new level.

Discover Magazine also has their take on this.

Drooooooooool... =o)~~

Image courtesy of: Discover Magazine

Video games & real life

2009-01-08T22:28:00.006-06:00

Another news story makes the headlines... 6 yr old steals car and claims racing video games taught him how to drive.

When I was growing up, heavy metal music was believed to be the source of all evil regarding teenager behavior. Interestingly, I listened to that evil music, and I didn't become a psychotic killer.

Can it be that some kids are easily influenced and don't know what's wrong and right? Perhaps. But this headline begs the same question when stories like these make the press. Where were the parents? In this case, asleep.

Being a racing game fan, I'm bombarded with freedom and law-breaking abilities. I'm able to ram cops, speed, drift, and race all from the comfort of my own home. But, it's been eons since I've received any traffic citation for my driving habits. Could it be my parents did a great job bringing me up? Most likely.

Today, that seems to be an exception rather than the rule. Yes, times are different now, but that still doesn't negate parental responsibility. What's a 6 yr old kid doing near a car alone or better yet ... how did he manage to get the keys?

The press, lawyers and videogames-are-bad-for kids pundits have a field day with these kind of situations as the controversy of video games influencing individuals is inviting - and in the case of lawyers, a potential profit windfall.

But, one observation... If what the kid says is true, what's a 6yr old doing playing a M(ature) rated game? Game developers are rating their games fairly and ESRB ratings are hard to miss, so these two entities are doing their job.

It's time parents did theirs.

Unexpected holiday gifts

2009-01-02T03:42:00.007-06:00

Most that know me, realize I love racing games and to that end, I frequent the Codemasters forums, and their side-blog MayContainGamers.

Obviously, a fan of their racing games (DiRT/GRID), MayContainGamers had a series of "BlogVents". BlogVents was their unique way of describing contests where people could compete and garner some pretty nice prizes. Everything from the "Dirty Dancing" CD, to Lord of The Rings Online items were offered.

Alas, BlogVent 15 is close to my heart. We were asked to come up with a Christmas card using nothing but MS Paint! My entry was chosen from the lot -- and I must admit, for a while there I was not sure I'd win. There's some pretty slick MS Painters out there. So, where does this all lead?

Here's the entry I submitted:

And, below is what I received... Yes, even the Quaker Oats oatmeal packet! LOL!

Unfortunately, since Codemasters is located in the UK, it took a while for the goodies to arrive. But then again, considering the distance, I would say the package arrived quite quickly. One surprise was the holiday card (lower right). That was completely unexpected! =o)

A few entries ago, I mentioned how companies (gaming companies especially) need to look beyond the "tried and true" business models they've been running with for years and become more fluid and dynamic - especially with the economy as it stands.

Yes, I'm a Codemasters fan. But, this extra touch in reaching out to their fans and customers through their community involvement is a smart thing. It encourages loyalty. Plus, we get to communicate with the company in an informal setting.

Will I buy the next Codemasters racing game? Of course. But given the opportunity to win a GRID cap as a collectible (not to mention the oatmeal!) has made me a Codies fan for life. Bar-none!

All other gaming companies -- Take notice!

Now for some fun.

One of the blog entries on MCG discussed their voicemail system. It's nice in that when someone leaves a voicemail, it can be received via email as a wav file. Satine, (aka "Squirrel" named by the victim of the post) published these nuggets of audio.

I took that to the next level, adding some music, as heard here (right-click to download) and thus the "Jigglybean Voicemail Rap" was born.

Game developers + gamers + community = necessity

2008-12-30T08:02:00.004-06:00

It doesn't seem too long ago when game developers just sat down, created games and then sent them off to the stores. Gamers would just then browse the aisles, pick the game, and play.

If there were problems, or bugs, the gamer could just chalk it up to a bad choice, or if they really wanted, look for some sort of address or phone number and write the company directly. Sometimes this helped, but most often it didn't.

Then came the internet. The entire world now at our fingertips. As the network grew; as it progressed, so did the avenues of communication between developers and gamers. Now, you buy a game, and almost instantly, you can post your thoughts at almost any given developer's site. Is it buggy? Does it rock? Did it almost make the cut? Any of these and more diatribes can be directed at them.

Two sites come to mind at the moment. NeedForSpeed.com (EA) and Codemasters.com. I'm sure there are more, and someone no doubt will let me know. =o)

Alas, here's where the business model of game creation has taken a turn. Sometimes for the better, or for the worse. The avenues of communication are open, but it's up to the gaming company to make those avenues work. Who wants to visit a site or forum, where posts end up lost in the internet landscape? People expect answers to their questions, especially of a technical nature.

Then again, the companies are now faced with a deluge of people almost demanding service or in the case of a new game, their voice and opinions be heard and suggestions implemented. A daunting task for the developer who wants to please the majority of the gamers, but, has perhaps opened the flood gates a bit too much.

In the end, this type of community and communication should exist, but, both sides should consider the other.

Gamers: By all means, post your technical issues, offer suggestions, participate and be of help to others that may be experiencing problems that you either had or have the answer to. But don't trump on their forums, blasting away foulness and demanding the game company to stop what they're doing just to focus on YOU and YOUR issues, suggestions or comments. It's a community after all. You are NOT the center of their universe and tantrums are usually ignored.

Game Companies: Don't put up a board or community site, just because everyone out there has one and it's the "in" thing to do. If all you're going to do is put that site up there, and let the members have a free-for-all, then don't bother. People go to these sites for assistance, or to express their views, frustrations, suggestions, comments, or just co-exist with others with the same interest. Leaving them hanging to fend for themselves or just using the site as a promotional vehicle for your next project or DLC, just doesn't cut it.

Time's are changin', and with the economy not doing so well, companies can't be doing "business as usual". They need to be fluid and dynamic and most of all, be receptive to the customers who HAVE A CHOICE on how to spend their money.

Yes, the pretty eye candy game you developed will entice some people, but in the end, if that candy isn't up to snuff, or the overall perception of your company is taking the money and run, it won't be long before you realize all the candy in the world won't make your bottomline any sweeter.

So, it begins...

2008-12-30T05:21:00.001-06:00

..the trivia of blogging is my domain now.

Welcome to the initial post for Xbox 360 Racing +Happy Goats!

Feel free to peruse my thoughts on racing games; past, present, and future for the Xbox console. Comment to your heart's content.

Heard something about a pending release? New patch for a recent one? Holler!

Meanwhile, check out the "May Contain Gamers" blog... An off-beat, no-holds-barred little blog from the makers of DiRT, GRID, and coming in 2009: DiRT 2 and FUEL.

Who be they? Codemasters of course!