Assessment #3 Blog Post

During this semester we have covered many things in MPI104 (Introduction to Multimedia). These things have included but are not limited to learning the ins and outs of social and sharing websites such as Flickr, Delicious and Blogger. We also learnt the basics of web editing through the use of HTML and CSS. All in all it was a relatively positive learning experience.

I primarily used Flickr as an easy repository for images of mine that were relating to my VFX101 (Introduction to Animation) Assignments. Each frame of my storyboard used in my second animation have been posted there, as well as concept art etc.

Delicious, the link organisation and sharing site, was for me used to keep track of many things games related, as I’m sure you know is quite an interest of mine. Although of late it becoming much less prevalent in my life, with university absorbing much of my free time. I also have quite the man-crush on the renowned actor Liam Neeson, to the end that I have also created a stack of links related entirely to the great man.

Blogger has been an outlet for some of my feelings over the last few months. Whilst it does take some integrity away with the fact that it is all assessable, the things I have said and topics I have written about are no less genuine than if I were not being held at gunpoint.

Having learnt some basic HTML coding last year I found it relatively easy to pick up the concepts being taught regarding our website creating. I did learn a useful thing or two about CSS though which I was fairly happy about.

All things being considered, this semester has been a good learning experience and I will probably continue to use Blogger personally after it is done.

The Wonder of Beards.

For as long as there have been men to populate this world, there have been beards. Resting on the chins of these men, beards warm the face of the beholder and promotes them to a status of respect and dignity. They come in many shapes and sizes but one thing is certain. Beards are awesome!

Throughout history there have been many successful and notable men who wielded beards. For example:

Abraham Lincoln

Qui-Gon Jinn

Jesus Christ

Lions

To reinforce my feelings on this matter, feel free to watch the YouTube video below. It is the perfect amalgamation of my thoughts into the form of a beautiful song.

(Above video: The Beards - "No Beard, No Good")
A link to The Beards' website here.


Although this has been a rather shorter blog post than usual, I feel that I don't need to say many words for my idea to come across. As a wise person (who probably had a beard) once stated, "Don't use many words when less will do." This resounds most with the topic of beards. Beards are amazing!

From a gentleman to you all: Have a nice day, and have a nice beard.

Me and my Beard, enjoying a moment.

The Halo Universe - Explained!

Today I'm going to say a thing or two about a topic I am quite passionate about. It is the Halo Universe!

Ok, so this is quite a large subject to cover so I'm going to give you the condensed version. Halo all began with Halo: Combat Evolved a game for the original Xbox, released in 2001. It blew people away with its innovative gameplay and paved the way for first-person shooters to come.

Combat Evolved is set in the twenty-sixth century, with the player assuming the role of the Master Chief, a cybernetically enhanced super-soldier. Master Chief lands on strange ring world called "Halo", which was created by an ancient race called the Forerunners. The Forerunners were a very advanced civilization, coming to power after the destruction of another race, known to them as the Precursors.

They eventually died out when they were forced to activate seven halo rings to save the universe from being taken over by "the Flood". (The Flood being a parasite that feeds on sentient life, and is a common enemy of all throughout the universe.)

The main pretext of the first three Halo games is that Master Chief and the rest of the human race are trying to stop "the Covenant" (a religious hegemony made up of many alien species that controlled a large portion of the Orion Arm in the Milky Way galaxy) who have waged a genocidal campaign against Humanity until they were defeated due to many factors, the most crucial of which was an internal conflict.

There have been six video games and nine books made about the universe of Halo. There was even a series of animated short films made by various companies.

For a more in depth explanation of the Halo universe, visit Halo Nation.

That's all for now folks.

Review - Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition

Well I boast being a games enthusiast but I haven't really talked much about them in my blogs. So I suppose I might as well tell you about a game I've been playing recently. Minecraft. More specifically, the version available on Xbox Live Arcade Marketplace for 1600 Microsoft Points, released on 9th of May.



Minecraft is an internet sensation, beginning on the PC as a free download on 17th May 2009. It was then in its alpha stage and was later rereleased in its beta. It was finally released as a full version on 11th November 2011 and has continued to receive updates periodically.
The Xbox 360 Edition of Minecraft is in sync with the 1.6 beta version of the PC but it does improve on many issues of Minecraft PC. This includes a tutorial section where you are taught how each element of the game is done. The PC version is devoid of a tutorial, forcing player to rely on trial and error or searching the internet for answers. Another great addition to the Xbox 360 version is local split-screen multiplayer. On PC, one would need a server and have friends log on at the same time on their individual computers. But now anyone can drop in and out of gameplay with up to four players on at the same time.
Besides this, most of the content is still the same, albeit the beta 1.6 content, but the developers have assured players that eventually it will be in sync with the current PC version. For a full review of the PC version of the game read Gamespot's review here. All in all, Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition is a game staying true to the PC version and with great use of the Xbox controller is easy and fun to play with or without friends to play with. It gives way to so many possibilities of creativity and exploration that it will have you hooked from the moment you step into the world.  Stay tuned.

Assessment #2 Blog Post - Website

Ok, so for my second assessment in MPI104 I have constructed a beautiful website with the power to impregnate women, cure cancer and regrow the limbs of young children with leprosy who were orphaned at the age of 5 when their parents were viciously murdered by rabid shotgun-wielding chicken-man hybrids. You’re welcome, world.

Down to bizzness! (See how trendy I am.) My website is themed around popular culture with regard to my personal tastes as a bearded gentleman. This consists mainly of video games and movies with individual web pages for a couple of my more preferred topics. From each website I have included plenty of links to external websites of interest that anyone can visit to read more on the subjects. This helps to broaden the mind and really backs up all of my ludicrous statements about how awesome everything is.

From a design standpoint, I went with a simplistic look so people don’t get too distracted by it all and instead are focused on the content. I let the content do the talking (don’t look into that statement too much).

I’m fairly happy with the graphics on my title page, that of all my favourite pop culture “thingy-mi-bobs”, as well as the beautiful and illustrious collage of Liam Neeson. If those don’t get you going, I don’t know what will. Other than that it was fairly straightforward. I had already learned the basics of HTML last year at work and I was able to expand on my knowledge using W3 Schools wonderful expertise. I guess if I had learnt anything else it would be that I shouldn’t leave things so last minute, but I’m sure you all know what that feels like.

Disclaimer: Website doesn’t actually have the power to impregnate women, cure cancer and regrow the limbs of young children with leprosy who were orphaned at the age of 5 when their parents were viciously murdered by rabid shotgun-wielding chicken-man hybrids.

Animation!

So it's been a while since I last posted and I thought what better way to bring it back than to talk about animation, which you may or may not know is what I am currently studying at university.

So the AIAF (or Australian International Animtaion Festival) for 2012 was on last weekend and it was quite impressive. Sure there was some films that I thought were rather boring, pointless or just plain wrong, but overall I think it was a success. A couple of my favourite films were during the Late Night Bizzare.

• Bear-Horse
• Dr Breakfast

And as for my course, well I do have an animatic of how I imagine my animation to eventually run like.

Hope you enjoy it. That's all for now.

MPI104 Assessment #1

So here ends week 6 of my university adventure (slightly early thanks to Easter being right around the corner). I find myself on the computer dishing out another blog post for all of you beautiful chipmunks out there who care enough to read this. Although I'm sure you are all aware that this post is an obligatory one, forced upon us by the lovely coordinators of this course, I will do as I must to liven the mood.

Receive mood enhancer in 3, 2, 1...

Feeling better? Good. Let us continue along the enchanting journey that I have taken so far:

My journey began when I created a Gmail account and the next week, a Blogger account. At this point in time I have succeeded in creating 6 darling little Blogger posts (if you include this one). Among my favoured posts are the one where I compare Facebook to an infection (“Facebook, that Cancerous Growth We Adore”) and my one about the amazing artist/human being, Chris Scalf (“Talent and Humility”). With these I added tags or "labels" to each post, to make them easier to find by people looking for things in particular.

Not only does Blogger let you vent you’re frustration and/or adoration of humanity to people who don’t really care, but you can also change the backgrounds of things! WOW! I went with the joyful black and grey checkered pattern. It symbolises how square shapes enjoy each other’s company and rally together as a team when something needs to get done. You’ll also notice the font and colour of my post titles represent my yearning to be loved. Speaking of Star Wars, something else that I did with my blog that was quite cool was adding an inviting little banner at the top of the page. Who doesn't love Star Wars? Seriously. If you haven't seen it, you can see it on my Blogger page, right here.

Lonely? Fret not. Blogger has you sorted with that too; You can comment on other people’s blogs to make them feel all fuzzy and warm inside. For example, I commented on Thalia Haynes' post, "A Favorite Past Time - Art". As well as Laura Wingrove's post, "Inspiring".


Don't worry kids, Blogger isn't the only thing we've been doing; We also signed up for Flickr and Delicious accounts.

Right now I have 12 links on Delicious. These are important or interesting sites that I visit frequently, like deviantART, The Escapist Magazine and YouTube, to name some of my favourites. These are the sites I go to to gain inspiration or procrastination. As for Flickr, I have been lucky enough to upload 6 neat little images, some of which are photos of myself, others being some of my own hand drawn illustrations. But Flickr also allows one to favourite images of interest. You can find 3 of my favourites right here.

My Flickr Photostream
My Delicious Links Page

So, in conclusion, I have enjoyed the subject of MPI104 so far and look forward to continuing my gallant quest for knowledge on the interwebs and beyond.

May the Force always be with you.

Talent and Humility

For this blog I wanted to pay some respect to someone I admire. He's an artist called Chris Scalf whom I first found on YouTube with his video "Painting Sarah: A Portrait of Autism...". If you want to watch a magnificent time-lapse speed painting (which you really should), click on the link below.

"Painting Sarah: A Portrait of Autism..." video

He also has an old blog that he made in 2009 which was, for me, truely inspiring. I suggest to anyone reading this to go and read it. Seriously, if you have the time, read it. I know I'm setting you a lot of homework but it is well worth it. Not to mention, this guy does cover art for some of Dark Horse Comics Star Wars collection and has a DeviantART profile showing off some of his awe inspiring work.
Chris Scalf's "Humility" Blog
Chris Scalf's DeviantART page

Honestly, this guy is so inspirational the story he tells about his life raising a daughter with autism, but also in his talent as an artist. Any aspiring artist should check out his work.

Hope you all check it out for yourselves. That's all for now!

Delicious, But Does It Taste Good Too?

Quite recently I started up a Delicious account. Delicious is a well designed little site that allows users to save and organise links to other websites that they enjoy and plan on going to in the future. It's a fairly simple concept and it can be very useful to the right people. For example, if you are the kind of person who is frequently accessing the internet and visit a multitude of sites in one sitting, this is the site that you should have set as your homepage. However, if you are the kind of person that I am, and only really visit a select few sites often it is slightly less useful. Seeing as though most browsers have a favourites/bookmarks section easily accessible to anyone, it feels like more hassle that help when needing to find a specific site.

Whilst it is an ingenious website which would certainly prove invaluable to the right kind of people, I'm just not one of those. With that in mind, I would rate Delicious, 13 baby monkeys out of 27.

That's all for now, but if any of you little baby monkeys want to check out my Delicious profile you can do so right here. Enjoy!

Facebook, that Cancerous Growth We Adore.

I would like to speak briefly on the subject of Facebook, to set the record straight. I don't like Facebook (cue gasps and fainting women). I think it is an infection on the human race. The initial idea of it is not so bad, but merely the thing it has mutated into, that is, a slimy, drooling, disease ridden beast. Allow me to substantiate my opinion: Facebook is a perfect time wasting device which encourages users to seek out and add other people as "friends", who in real life you would not even have the inclination to interact with at all given the choice.

There is a myriad of useless things to do on Facebook. From the rubbish games, to the liking and commenting of pointless groups and status updates. You can even post some bulls*** statuses of you're own. Whether that be some dumb lyrics to a song that relates to nothing or no one or talking about how depressing your life is, some people don't care how insignificant it is. This time could be put to so much better use but instead people zombify themselves, to a point that I wouldn't be surprised if in some hundred years time, the world eventuates into some WALL-E plot line, without the happy ending.

To further illustrate my point, here are some informative YouTube videos:

LtMkilla - I HATE Facebook

Smosh - ATTENTION: Facebook Users

I'm going to wrap this up otherwise I won't stop. In short, I feel like people need to stop relying on Facebook and other time wasting sites, or else the world will succumb to exhaustion via stupidity. I find it harder and harder to have faith in humanity when I see what we have become. And although Facebook is not entirely to blame, it has definitely played its part.

Screw you Mark Zuckerberg.

Thank you for reading.

Flickr

To those out there who trust Wikipedia's judgment, Flickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004.

So basically, Flickr allows us to view pictures and videos on it's site, save which ones we like and share them with countless others across the world. It's one of many social networking sites, but by being specific to sharing photos and videos, it avoids being a plague to productivity. Unlike some social networking sites (I'm looking at you Facebook), it doesn't become a complete waste of time and haven for the lazy.

It is really quite an interesting website to explore. So to all you wonderful tap-dancing peaches out there, here's my Flickr account.

That's it for now, but I will be posting another blog very soon concerning Facebook in all it's glory, so stay tuned!

To Blog, or Not To Blog...

I guess you're probably expecting me to have something interesting to say, aren't you. That's why you're reading this, right? Heck, every man and his dog can write a blog nowadays. So the challenge then comes in the form of a question: how does one make an engaging blog?

It's not enough to just tell people what you are doing and expect them to sing your praises from the rooftops, like some flamboyant choir boy. There needs to be a theme; something that will attract a target audience. It's pointless trying to appeal to everyone because hey, let's face it, most people searching the web have seen it all before. Back when the internet was still a youngling you could get away with being a little plain, it wouldn't matter. But now, search engines are becoming more proficient at filtering the irrelevant or uninteresting. And those people who are plugged in by the backs of their heads, with the attention span to rival a goldfish, need immediate gratification. So, for those interested, my blogs will be comprised of my ideas on video games, movies, the internet, media and society as a whole. It is my hope that some of you may continue to read future blogs of mine, for what is an artist without an audience.

Stay tuned. More content soon.