iPhoto: Things you may have always wanted to know ... or not ...

March 29th, 2008

If you know me, then you'll know I love Macs! I've been a huge fan for many years now. I'll be the first to tell you that it's the greatest operating system if your need for computers extends beyond email, surfing etc to Music, Video or Photo/Graphics editing/creation. Like any machine, system or individual, for that matter, no matter how great it may be it still has a few short comings or things I dislike. I'm not going to list all of my dislikes (don't worry it's not a long list) but instead pick two that have aggrevated me for some time and give you some solutions in the unlikely event that you encountered the same annoyances as I.

iPhoto's all encapsulating package of your photos. It's clear that once you get past the mass appeal of iTunes that iPhoto is one of Apple's key offerings. Part of the Mac's appeal to new and existing users is its ease of use and simplicity. Apple simply takes care of everything right? With iPhoto 2008 Apple may have taken things too far.

If you're like me and you still like to peer into the depths of the file system from time to time to know where your files are going, you'll be concerned when you go looking for your preasure photos. What you'll find is one single directory or iPhoto package that contains your photos. You wont be able to traverse directories or manipulate folders in the same way you could with precious versions of iPhoto. Now I know there are those among you that will tell me that I should simply trust and backup and not worry ... but back to reality. If you're like me and you'd like to know how it works, keep reading.

If you'd like to see your files, or essentially crack open the iPhoto package to see your files, you simply need to right click on the iPhoto package and select the option, "Show package contents". This will spawn a new finder window with your folders and files. If you'd like to understand better the directory structure then you'll need to do some further research, it appears somewhat cryptic when you first peak but after you understand it, it makes sense.

On to my second tip, if you have many duplicate photos in your iPhoto library, who doesn't?, then you can run a neat little shareware program called iPhoto Diet. This little application is coded in a very strange way but will do the job without the need to shell out any bucks ... Be sure to check your iPhoto trash to make sure your automation settings didn't do anything destructive.

That's it for my hints and tips. I'll be back shortly with an update about the game and news of the free demo of level 1 ...

It's all about textures

March 17th, 2008

The more and more I become absorbed by game creation the more I realize that graphics play such an enormous part in any game. I'm not sure to what degree yet. For example, I don't know if games are 50% game play and 50% graphics/imaginative worlds but I do know enough to say that they're a big part of any game. Just take a look at the back of any game box and look at the screen shots. What games are you drawn to and why? There's no game play on the box, just graphics and you're drawn to whichever game has the best graphics, in your opinion of course.

Recognizing that graphics are a huge part of any game I'm spending a great deal of time learning and re-learning how to create interesting and unique textures. Textures that look like they could be from another world. I truly want to create a world that the main character can walk through that's both dazzling and surprising and truly Art. A world that you want to stop and look around rather than shooting and blowing people up :). I'm torn, I want to remain true to computer games in general and don't want to create extravagant rich worlds that simply don't gel with the genre the game is designed to fit into but I also don't want to create another run of the mill pixel affair. I'd like to walk the line somewhere between both. Providing richness in color but true to video games.

In addition to creating an interesting world I realize that it's also about telling a story. Entertaining the player as they walk and conquer. So much about the graphics and the back drop need to be emotional. I want the player to feel fear, excitement, happiness, the graphics need to evoke the desired emotion.

The game and the design continue to go well. As I said earlier, I'm focusing on creating the various pieces and parts that will make up the eventual building blocks of the game. I'm having difficulty deciding exactly what perspective the game will take. Of course it's still 2D but I'm uncertain if it will be exactly 2D or will have a slight elevation. This probably doesn't make sense to you all so I'll give you examples for each; Robocop 1, a classic game that I've enjoyed playing is a straight up 2D game. There is almost no elevation, the player views his character side on. Contra 4 in contrast provides a slight elevation and allows the player to view more of the world. This is especially important if the player is going to jump from platform to platform and move around the screen a lot. Thankfully the game engine I'm using will give me freedom to incorporate both views if I so desire. I'm still deciding ...

To give you an example of textures players in the game will get to enjoy I've enclosed a stand alone section from one of the levels (not the first one) for you to enjoy.

I'm soldiering on and have even imported the first level into the game engine and am happy to report that all is bug free and working just as it should. In fact, it went too easy. Of course I'm not happy with the game level and would like to revisit and add some additional details before finalizing.

From here I'm continuing my split focus of texture creation and character creation. Animation and character/sprite creation is HARD! I'm still unable to draw and am doing my best to limp by. However, I realize that once the game levels are in place and ready to go I'll need some characers and some enemies to run around and shoot at. So I need to finalize some cool characters shortly. If anyone has some hints tips, wonderful ideas for a game story please let me know. I'll provide more updates shortly on how the development is going, until then, enjoy the latest Art.

Have we missed the boat?

March 17th, 2008

Here's a neat little image I created while I was inventing some backgrounds for the game.

Just one more ...

March 16th, 2008

I finally finished an image that's been sitting on my list of to dos for a very long time. Enjoy.

The Manga fun continues

March 16th, 2008

Here's one I think turned out extremely well. Not something that will be used in the game but something I created to get some practice in. Wouldn't want to use something in the game that wasn't my best work :)

And finally - here's the original Manga Chibi girl completed. Now she can see all the new realistic lighting around here.

I knew I couldn't draw but I didn't think it was this bad!

March 15th, 2008

It's been an interesting few weeks as I've plunged myself into a project that, had you asked me 3 years ago if I would be doing it, I would have said HELL NO! And the project is, a video game. I started the project just a short while ago and I anticipate it taking me quite some time to complete. Given the fact I'm going to be working on this for a while I'll leak details to you all slowly just to keep it interesting for us all.

I can give you a few details to start with; there's a lot to explain but in short it's a 2D adventure shoot 'em up type game. I'm not sure when it's going to be released nor do I know the title but I do know it will be available for purchase when it is finally released. In the interim, or until I can share more information you can enjoy what will likely be the main character. This is a Manga Chibi type character. Obviously she doesn't look like this in the game, she's reduced to a sprite and is animated but this is one of the many press images to come. Did you catch the part about the main character being a girl? That's how we role : )

Finally I'm going to leave you with one of the infrequently seen but main enemies in the game. Suprising how long it took to create one of the large characters in the game that probably wont be seen that often :)

Desktop images ...

March 9th, 2008

Sorry about the extra long loading time; I didn't think there was any point in providing two desktop backgrounds, shamelessly promoting my blog, in a format or size that looked too pixely when you set it as your desktop background. If you find however, that the images are too small for your desktop please let me know and I can provide you with a size that works.

Work that culminated out of experimentation

March 8th, 2008

Here's a piece that culminated from a great deal of texture experimentation. I've largely been exploring the creation and manipulation of textures in Photoshop in an optimistic attempt to create some other pieces intentionally as opposed to stumbling upon something that works and exploring it. The textures here, obviously variations of steel, were all intentional and really was an experiment to see how many different types of textures and variations on a theme I could create in one cohesive piece. I'm surprised how it turned out and at one point looked at it thinking it was horribly, horribly bad. Thankfully I saw something and managed to salvage it.

Damn! NOW I FEEL SICK!

March 4th, 2008

I'm not sure if you saw the news today but one news snippet featured two US soldiers throwing, YES THROWING, a little puppy off what seemed to be a pretty large cliff. It was disgusting!!! I've always supported our troops and will continue to do so, honoring them for the sacrifices and the risks they take to keep us safe and protect our freedom, they're truly amazing people and almost all of them are heroes in my eyes. These two ARE NOT! In my opinion if you commit an evil crime you should die EXACTLY the same way! Unfortunately that wont happen, instead we'll launch an investigation. Let's hope they're kicked out because they don't deserve to stand beside other heroes.

On a different note; I've been a bit quiet lately, apologies. Catching up on sleep and life. I'm sharing one of my latest creations. A sci-fi piece which looks a lot like game art. I'm not a big game player but I am fascinated by the art work and wondered if I could create stuff just like something you'd see in a game ... guess I know I can :)

Unfortunately the weekend is drawing to a close ...

March 2nd, 2008

CBS prime time is in full swing with Oprah joining Sunday programming. If you're a TV lover the only shows left are Brothers and Sisters and my favorite, Ebert and Roper and it's down hill to Monday from there. Enjoy my latest pieces.

Art: Most of February saw a consistent posting of my portfolio so it seems only fitting to continue the trend in March...

March 1st, 2008

Here are two more interesting little pieces for you all to enjoy. The first was an experiment which I ended up liking. It reminds me of Guinness commericals from when I was younger living in Ireland. The second is a cool little desktop background with a quote from a short story I wrote a very long time ago. Welcome to March!