Greetings Assassins and Assassinettes!
So at the end of September I was sent to the Unite 2011 Conference in San Francisco. I was to scope the place out and look for any potential polygons that needed assassinating. Instead, I was assaulted with a level of awesome that I rarely experience. Below is my tale and a summary of the event. Hope you enjoy!
Day 1 - Sept 28th - Arrival
I had a specialist assigned to me for this mission, he goes by the name MajorFX but don't let that fool you, he can throw down against some polygons if need be. We flew into Oakland, snagging a rental car so it would be more difficult to track us, and drove to Frisco making it to the conference with just enough time to catch the Key Note and see what was coming for Unity3D 3.5. Let me tell you, this set the mood for the rest of the trip. The LOD Technology that is super intuitive, fully integrated AI tech (this really blew my mind!), the rewritten Occlusion Culling system, the directional lightmaps, crazy new particle system and so much more! Here is a link to the Key Note speech video. Watch it and come back... or I will find you!
http://unity3d.com/unite/keynote
After the keynote, MajorFX and I split up to cover more ground. I went to a lecture titled: Substance in Unity. Mind Blown. Substance is a stand alone application that has also been integrated into several 3d softwares and now Unity that deals with shaders and the creation of materials. The company responsible for Substance is Allegorithmic (http://www.allegorithmic.com/) a bunch of super intelligent guys that are revolutionizing how shaders work. Just to illustrate this, watch this video: http://youtu.be/wNrKjhO5tHg?t=4m26s
Is that not insanity? I thought some polygons were messing with me. Nope, just awesome techniques!
Their Bitmap2Material software is worth it alone to automatically generate intelligent Normal Maps, Specular Maps, Height Maps, and so many more!
The conference went a little off of schedule after this lecture, things got shifted around and lectures got pushed back. This was fine by me because I had found a polygon that needed dealing with. I just didn't want to disturb the guests there so I went stealth mode. I managed to catch the polygon slurping down the drinks that Unity3d provided for the attendees. A quick flash of my weld tool and that polygon vanished without a sound.
Drinks for everyone!
I attempted to go to an AI in Unity lecture... I don't think I have ever experienced something like this. I wrote a ton of notes, yet, as I read them now, they make no sense to me. I showed the notes to my programmer and he nodded thoughtfully and went back to programming. I still have no idea what I wrote. I must have channeled an inner spirit and wrote something I could never grasp in my conscious form...
OKAY!
Next was the last lecture of the night. I don't even want to say which lecture it was because it was horrible. Polygons were all over the place messing with cameras, changing the subject matter completely from the title. The presenter changed his mind about what he wanted to talk about 3 times while lecturing. It was just bad. The polygons definitely destroyed this one. I went on a cutting spree. I even detached polygons a few times just to outright delete them. I rarely pull that skill out.
This left a sour taste in my mouth. Ah well, dinner outta clear that up and then Day Two made up for it!
Day two coming soon with some other great info and also some very cool people. Keep your eyes out for it.
-POOF-
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Great Article on the Mobile Marketplace
Greetings assassins and assassinettes!
On www.indiedb.com there is a great article on the Mobile Marketplace and I wanted to share it with everyone if you hadn't seen it yet. Below is the direct link to the article but some amazing excerpts from it our:
'You may think the iPad is a mobile device, but you’d be wrong.
'Developers are flocking back to the iOS platform
According to a blog post by Flurry, in the first quarter of this year, about 65% of new projects were for iOS compared to a respectable 35% targeting Android. However, in the second quarter, iOS accounted for 75% of new projects, leaving just 25% for Android.'
This tasty quote is followed a pretty graph chart!
'iOS has served 15 Billion downloads compared to Androids 4.5 Billion
Given that the iOS App Store has been around for so much longer, this is not a bad showing from Android. However, the vast majority of the iOS downloads occurred in the face of competition from Android. The nail in the coffin: a greater proportion of those iOS downloads were paid.'
Wonder were the money is? Also check out this interesting article on iOS sensation Tiny Towers. It's a free to play tycoon-ish game close to breaking $3 million in it's first year of being available. http://tinyurl.com/3jhjrd5
So here is the article folks, take a look and enjoy it! http://www.indiedb.com/company/the-voxel-agents/news/the-mobile-market-place-how-does-it-look-today
-POOF-
On www.indiedb.com there is a great article on the Mobile Marketplace and I wanted to share it with everyone if you hadn't seen it yet. Below is the direct link to the article but some amazing excerpts from it our:
'You may think the iPad is a mobile device, but you’d be wrong.
- 43% of iPad owners use their iPad more than their desktop computer
- 28% say it’s their primary computer
- 34% use it more than their TV
- 83% use it primarily while at home. Only 11% use it on the go.'
'Developers are flocking back to the iOS platform
According to a blog post by Flurry, in the first quarter of this year, about 65% of new projects were for iOS compared to a respectable 35% targeting Android. However, in the second quarter, iOS accounted for 75% of new projects, leaving just 25% for Android.'
This tasty quote is followed a pretty graph chart!
'iOS has served 15 Billion downloads compared to Androids 4.5 Billion
Given that the iOS App Store has been around for so much longer, this is not a bad showing from Android. However, the vast majority of the iOS downloads occurred in the face of competition from Android. The nail in the coffin: a greater proportion of those iOS downloads were paid.'
Wonder were the money is? Also check out this interesting article on iOS sensation Tiny Towers. It's a free to play tycoon-ish game close to breaking $3 million in it's first year of being available. http://tinyurl.com/3jhjrd5
So here is the article folks, take a look and enjoy it! http://www.indiedb.com/company/the-voxel-agents/news/the-mobile-market-place-how-does-it-look-today
-POOF-
Monday, September 12, 2011
Moving Pixels
Hello again Assassins and Assassinettes!
Lately I have been doing more and more pixel art, mainly because they are easier to destroy then polygons which gives me a disgusting god-complex, and also, not as importantly, because my new game is a pixel art based game.
I have been enjoying the process of breaking something down to its tiniest form. It has been a real test to create images that our mind understands out of 32 small cubes. Because of how much fun I have been having, I would like to issue a small challenge to anyone that reads this:
Paint a pixel art robot on a 64x64 pixel image. It can be a front view, side view, or perspective but keep in mind, perspective will be more difficult! Have fun! Tweet your creations to me at: (at)Evilblah.
Good luck all!
-POOF-
Lately I have been doing more and more pixel art, mainly because they are easier to destroy then polygons which gives me a disgusting god-complex, and also, not as importantly, because my new game is a pixel art based game.
I have been enjoying the process of breaking something down to its tiniest form. It has been a real test to create images that our mind understands out of 32 small cubes. Because of how much fun I have been having, I would like to issue a small challenge to anyone that reads this:
Paint a pixel art robot on a 64x64 pixel image. It can be a front view, side view, or perspective but keep in mind, perspective will be more difficult! Have fun! Tweet your creations to me at: (at)Evilblah.
Good luck all!
-POOF-
Thursday, September 1, 2011
The Deus Ex moment
Greetings Assassins and Assassinettes!
When I take a break from creating new techniques to assassinate polygons, or training my pet Dragon Whale, I like to enjoy some games. Lately, I have been enjoying Deus Ex. It's a beautiful game full of atmosphere and stunning designs. I love the voice acting and animation and on top of that, the story is pretty good!
All that aside though, I wanted to tell you about my moment in Deus Ex. Generally every game has a moment for me. It's the moment when you either say, 'Holy S***! This game is amazing!' or 'F*** this game!' It can happen at anytime in the game and it can be something as simple as a secondary animation, or as complex as a beautiful environment that you just walked into.
In Deus Ex, it was close to the beginning of the game. Don't worry, no spoilers. It's the first time you go to your home. Walking in the front door, the music that played, what I saw, it all just made me sit back in my chair and say, 'Wow... This is amazing...' I knew, I knew from that moment on, my polygon assassinating life, would be better.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
-POOF-
When I take a break from creating new techniques to assassinate polygons, or training my pet Dragon Whale, I like to enjoy some games. Lately, I have been enjoying Deus Ex. It's a beautiful game full of atmosphere and stunning designs. I love the voice acting and animation and on top of that, the story is pretty good!
All that aside though, I wanted to tell you about my moment in Deus Ex. Generally every game has a moment for me. It's the moment when you either say, 'Holy S***! This game is amazing!' or 'F*** this game!' It can happen at anytime in the game and it can be something as simple as a secondary animation, or as complex as a beautiful environment that you just walked into.
In Deus Ex, it was close to the beginning of the game. Don't worry, no spoilers. It's the first time you go to your home. Walking in the front door, the music that played, what I saw, it all just made me sit back in my chair and say, 'Wow... This is amazing...' I knew, I knew from that moment on, my polygon assassinating life, would be better.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
-POOF-
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
A Stealth Attack
Cough... Cough...
Don't worry I will be fine... I just have some residual effects from a nasty blow I took in my last battle with polygons...
A week ago I had a mission to go into the mountains and deal with a particular nasty group of polygons that had started terrorizing the farmers living at the base of the mountain. Apparently the polygons had been there for sometime but the villagers swore that they would not be a burden and that they were fine in the mountains. How naive. It's as if the farmers were children that found a wild wolf cub. It may be cute at first, but when it ages, it will still be a wolf and will become dangerous.
They learned the error of their ways when the crops that sustain them suddenly went up in flames. Without mercy the polygons rode down the mountain on steeds made of too much geometry. Many farmers were slaughtered, deleted out right with no warning, others were taken away. Never to be seen of again.
This is when they called upon my services.
I easily found their camp as polygons tend to be messy and loud. I made short work of their guards with several quick cuts and easily made my way into their encampment. The polygons within were shocked by my presence and several more fell to my quick cut tool but then the shock wore off and they started to counter attack. I parried several strikes and countered with fast blows of my own. But then something happened, something I was not prepared for.
As I cut down the last poly standing in front of me a sharp pain exploded from my lower back. I fell forward to my knees while black and red spots swam through my vision. I tried to stand but a rough jagged hand gently touched my shoulder and forced me down. Looking up I saw what I had not seen in a very long time.
A double-sided polygon. Someone had been very sloppy when creating this guy and had, in a whirlwind of fury and misunderstanding, welded points together to create this monstrosity. It smirked... Or at least looked like it smirked... And then struck again. It's attack was lightning fast and accurate.
My vision exploded again and the taste of iron filled my mouth. My ears rang and my temples throbbed. I was on my back, it was chuckling as it circled me, like a cat circling its wounded prey. I watched it as it walked back in front of me and then stopped. A slight gesture, it wanted me to stand.
Big mistake.
I stood slowly, shakily, to my feet. My vision was still blurred but my training had taught me to fight without vision before. I closed my eyes and re-centered myself. It was a whisper of movement but I knew the monster was coming at me. I slowly reached into my hidden pocket and pulled a thin string from within. As the monster ran towards me I rocked back on my heels and then sprang into a front flip as high up into the air as I could. I could hear the monster scream out in anger but it was too late, my trap was already set. As I landed behind the monster I opened my eyes and saw my string gently land across the top of the polygon. It's eyes widened as it realized what I was doing.
-SPLIT-
The string slid through the center of the polygons and separated the double sided monster into two. It tried to force itself back together but I had detached the two sides. By doing so, I robbed it of its power. Two fast cuts from my blade and they fell to the ground.
My job was done here, but I was injured. My head hurt, my vision was blurred, and I was angry at the incompetence of the farmers. When will people learn... With a sigh I began the long trudge home...
-POOF-
P.s. I have tonsillitis so my posts may be delayed. That story was to make up for the last few days... Hope you liked it! <3
-mini poof-
Don't worry I will be fine... I just have some residual effects from a nasty blow I took in my last battle with polygons...
A week ago I had a mission to go into the mountains and deal with a particular nasty group of polygons that had started terrorizing the farmers living at the base of the mountain. Apparently the polygons had been there for sometime but the villagers swore that they would not be a burden and that they were fine in the mountains. How naive. It's as if the farmers were children that found a wild wolf cub. It may be cute at first, but when it ages, it will still be a wolf and will become dangerous.
They learned the error of their ways when the crops that sustain them suddenly went up in flames. Without mercy the polygons rode down the mountain on steeds made of too much geometry. Many farmers were slaughtered, deleted out right with no warning, others were taken away. Never to be seen of again.
This is when they called upon my services.
I easily found their camp as polygons tend to be messy and loud. I made short work of their guards with several quick cuts and easily made my way into their encampment. The polygons within were shocked by my presence and several more fell to my quick cut tool but then the shock wore off and they started to counter attack. I parried several strikes and countered with fast blows of my own. But then something happened, something I was not prepared for.
As I cut down the last poly standing in front of me a sharp pain exploded from my lower back. I fell forward to my knees while black and red spots swam through my vision. I tried to stand but a rough jagged hand gently touched my shoulder and forced me down. Looking up I saw what I had not seen in a very long time.
A double-sided polygon. Someone had been very sloppy when creating this guy and had, in a whirlwind of fury and misunderstanding, welded points together to create this monstrosity. It smirked... Or at least looked like it smirked... And then struck again. It's attack was lightning fast and accurate.
My vision exploded again and the taste of iron filled my mouth. My ears rang and my temples throbbed. I was on my back, it was chuckling as it circled me, like a cat circling its wounded prey. I watched it as it walked back in front of me and then stopped. A slight gesture, it wanted me to stand.
Big mistake.
I stood slowly, shakily, to my feet. My vision was still blurred but my training had taught me to fight without vision before. I closed my eyes and re-centered myself. It was a whisper of movement but I knew the monster was coming at me. I slowly reached into my hidden pocket and pulled a thin string from within. As the monster ran towards me I rocked back on my heels and then sprang into a front flip as high up into the air as I could. I could hear the monster scream out in anger but it was too late, my trap was already set. As I landed behind the monster I opened my eyes and saw my string gently land across the top of the polygon. It's eyes widened as it realized what I was doing.
-SPLIT-
The string slid through the center of the polygons and separated the double sided monster into two. It tried to force itself back together but I had detached the two sides. By doing so, I robbed it of its power. Two fast cuts from my blade and they fell to the ground.
My job was done here, but I was injured. My head hurt, my vision was blurred, and I was angry at the incompetence of the farmers. When will people learn... With a sigh I began the long trudge home...
-POOF-
P.s. I have tonsillitis so my posts may be delayed. That story was to make up for the last few days... Hope you liked it! <3
-mini poof-
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