i am noky these are my random musings…

The start of the decade is just another year: 2010 Resolutions

I don't like making resolutions because they're so often broken. However, I have a few things I really need to do so I went ahead and made a few. I ended up with a lot of resolutions (well to me at least, usually it's like no more than three). I'm going to go ahead and post them here, and help fulfill my final resolution.

1. Produce six games
2. Learn the top 1000 kanji
3. Read my Japanese textbooks (JSL/JWL series and Genki I)
4. Achieve Navy PRT standard
5. Cook and bake more
6. Manage a post every week

The first resolution is pretty obvious for me. I've been delaying Project Silver for the longest time (which will hopefully have some announcable progress soon). So I decided to set a deadline but it and some other game ideas I've had. Ideally, I'd like to get around to more than 6 games but as it stands, I only have about two to three ideas (including this mysterious Project Silver) that I see being done solo. I have some recruiting and brainstorming to do once those ideas are completed.

Learning kanji and finishing my textbooks are a continuation of my plans to pass JLPT 1 and spend some time living in Japan. There are a number of reasons for this that I'm not really going to get in to. Needless to say, if I get in to JET, the ability to speak and read Japanese will come in handy.

I managed to get down to about 187 pounds last summer and now I'm back to being over 200. I want to get in shape just so I can manage to live past 47. Active military personnel seem to be in pretty good shape (at least my friend Terrell does) so their requirements seem to be a good place to start.

It's easier to eat healthy, women like it, I'll save money, and House is good at it. There are a lot of reasons to get good at cooking. Baking is just added on for the extra savings. I buy a lot of Druid Circles so I'm going to try my hand at making my own cookies and what not. I've also wanted to make some bread ever since I saw Yakitake. I'm pretty sexist and I honestly think baking is a woman's thing but I guess, I'm going to go ahead and violate my owns rules until I find a woman willing to make me some cookies. I'm sure it'll be almost as much fun as cooking...maybe....

Finally, managing to post every week has proven to be difficult. The real goal is 52 posts within the year but ideally, I'd prefer to make 1 post a week. We'll see how it goes. I don't know where I'm going to find time for all of this, especially if I find a job. I guess this is one of those times where I must exceed what I think I'm capable of to achieve greatness...or something like that...

I thank whatever gods may be / For my unconquerable soul. / I am the master of my fate / I am the captain of my soul. - Nelson Mandela (Invictus)

Man I Hate Snow: Final Fantasy XIII Quip

I really do hate snow, winter pretty much sucks all around. More importantly, after watching the demo video I have to Snow is pretty cool right up until his first fight. Pretty much everyone has a firearm. If you're not so lucky you're either an animal or you have some ridiculous extending polearm/staff. I'm sorry, I forgot the third option you could be retarded and punch people. That's right people, Snow punches people. Don't get me wrong, I love Tifa and Zell is one of my favorite FF# characters ever my favorite Final Fantasy character with Vincent a close second.

In the far future, where everyone has guns and your constantly fighting people in mech suits and giant mecha airplanes, how do you end up not only fighting with your fists but single handedly doing the most damage out of ANY of the characters? REALLY, SQUARE?!

That aside, so far my FFXIII impression has been positive and hopefully  can chime in later with a full write-up on my opinions. I really wish I had a PS3 to play myself but eh, those are the breaks.

Anime Spotlight: Kara No Kyoukai

Earlier this month, I got caught up on a anime movie series. The episodes range in length from 45 minute affairs to feature film length events. The anime in question is Kara No Kyoukai. The best way to describe it is simply: disturbing.

There's blood...so much blood you'd think this was a vampire movie. Okay, maybe not that much but a lot. Then the subject matter deals with all sorts of fun, uncomfortable topics like suicide and rape. Did I mention there's blood? The great thing about films is you don't have to censor nearly as much as you would have to on television. Just take a minute to put everything together.

Now, it's not as bad as I'm probably making it sound but it caught me off guard. Behind all this is a interesting paranormal story. The central female lead holds interesting relationships and makes life choices that lead to plenty of action. In fact, the fifth film was suprisingly full of action. In fact, the fifth film is so unlike the rest of the series that it feels odd to like it. You end up liking the film for the quality scripted action instead of the wierd plot and funny character interactions.

Kara No Kyoukai is, IMO, by far the best anime you could treat yourself to right now. Heaven forbid you watch crap like Chrome Shelled Regios.

NOTE: I've only seen one episode of Regios and I'm pre-judging it. I apologize.

David Hayter Is Not Vin Diesel!

Image via Wikipedia

Isn't this a weird move to anyone else? Tigon Studios just released Wheelman and is about to release their follow-up to the ridiculously awesome Escape from Butcher's Bay. Now David Hayter is starting a production studio for various media including video games.

David Hayter has a crappy filmology. The last thing he did I actually bothered to see was Guyver: Dark Hero. That experience is solely because I grew up a bit of an anime nerd with a cousin heavily invested in all things to come out of Chinatown. Since then he's been heavily invested in crappy productions.

What's that? Something about Metal Gear Solid? I'm sorry, he's not acting -- he's doing voice overs. In fact, the thing me and my friends love about David Hayter is how over dramatic he is when doing those voice overs.

So now he gets to throw money at more crap. Lord knows X-Men was such a quality script with great lines like "Do you know what happens when a toad is struck by lightning? The same thing that happens to everything else." SUCH WIT! </sarcasm>

I really hate that Metal Gear Solid is in the hands of Konami and Kojima Studios, it's given a bad actor a lot of money to do whatever he wants. Then again, I hate Metal Gear Solid for other reasons as well, so maybe I'm biased.

I hope the IRS audits him and freezes his accounts so we can't be subjected to the filth that is bound to spew from anything he touches.

Source: The voice of Solid Snake forming production company - Ars Technica

The Rumor Mill Rants: Apple’s New Touch Netbook?

Image via CrunchBase

Man, it's crap like this that makes me hate Apple. Do you see that mock-up? What do you do with a netbook that doesn't have an actual keyboard. It's one thing to suffer while typing a text message; everyone is used to that. Now the idea of surfing the web, writing e-mails, and typing essays with a touch screen is getting people hyped? This is ridiculous. I want to move (but not really because the U.S. rocks [ even though it doesn't but everywhere else sucks]) to Africa where people don't have the time or money to care about stupid things designed to bleed money. </rant>

Source: Rumor: Apple Releasing a Touchscreen Netbook this Summer?

What’s Wrong With Steam? A Rant on Independent CDNs

Image via Wikipedia

Okay, I'll be honest. Steam isn't perfect. However, it's pretty well done. One account: purchase games, download your games from anywhere, achievements, cross-game voice/text chat, friends, communities, reminders, events, and the list goes on. Why then is everyone pushing their own system?

I understand Windows Live -- Microsoft already has the Xbox Live investment. What is Blizzard doing with having their own Blizzard Account system? What is Stardock doing with Impulse? I'm worried that Steam has some sort of unknown vice grip on its partners. Maybe their fee is too much or there is some undesirable compromise developers have to make.

The question proposed (What's Wrong With Steam?) is not rhetorical. I really want to know. Sound off if you have any ideas.


Source: MTV Multiplayer » Blizzard Plans To Track Gamer Achievements Across ‘WoW,’ ‘Starcraft’ And ‘Diablo’

There Are Jobs, We Just Don’t Want You (as you are).

Image via Wikipedia

Man, can we be done talking about how much the job market sucks? For that matter, can we stop complaining about how the economy sucks as a whole? Is everyone missing the silver-lining here?

Now is the time to start a cooperative and buy some real estate. Now is the time to dump money in to stocks (actually, you might've missed the window on that). And more than ever, now is the time for you to stop looking for another (or your first) crappy 9-5 and take steps to have your dream job.

The articles I like reading today are the ones where people are quitting their job or doing foolishness.

Maybe I'm just naive and don't understand the severity of everything. However, the way I see it. No one is looking to pay you right now so you might as well do something you want to do since you're not eating anyway. Scale back, flip some burgers or wait tables to pay rent, and do something you love in the mean time. Either your side project will take off or someone will hit you back with a job offer.

If you got an opinion: comment and let me know. I think my dad's entrepreneurial blood has me jaded.

Source: Job Forecast for College Seniors: Grimmer Than Ever - TIME

Did I Mention I Love Nokia? Skype and Nokia partner up

Image by Hector Milla via Flickr

So anyone who really knows me knows: I love Nokia. Three out of four of my phones have been Nokia devices. My first phone was this crappy Verizon candy bar phone. I switched to the original AT&T Wireless promptly after I realized the extras were cheaper. The handset? A "progressive" 3650. It was my introduction to the S60 world. I skipped a beat when switching to Cingular and got a Sony-Ericsson Z500A. It was then I realized that I made a mistake leaving the open world of S60. After a long contract, welcome to the present with a Nokia E62. I've had my current E-Series for quite some time and while I've been disappointed with the sluggish nature of my phone, I can't be more impressed with the wide array of features an S60 3rd phone provides. I think I've covered myself enough.

I've been considering a new phone for quite some time and I've also considered not having a phone for even longer. Reading this (relatively) recent press release from Skype gives me the urge to drop a serious wad of cash on what one could call: the mobile device. Apparently, the new N97 will sport full Skype integration to go along with the bevy of slick features. Thanks to an old Cingular contract, I pay very little for unlimited internet access on my mobile (which balances the paltry 300 minutes and 100 text messages). This would essentially mean I can talk to everyone and their mother for next to nothing. The drawback is a big one though: the phone weighs in at a cool $800. Some retailers are even asking $1200 for a chance to wield this impressive piece of technology. Chances are, the price won't drop too much either. The original front-runner, the N95, is still selling for $375.

The question is: Does Skype support make this impressive phone worth it?

The more important question: Is Skype support what we need to see more of?

With providers subsidizing phones and trying to make their dollar on plans. This sounds like bad news for all the major telcos. With the ever expanding plans for city-wide Wi-Fi/Broadband access, a market is emerging to phase out the old system and drive more profits to the handset providers.

Skype and Nokia partner to integrate Skype into Nokia devices - About Skype

The Living Ain’t Easy: Gentrification Failure?

So a friend of mine lives in this pretty nice place in College Park and it prompted me to re-evaluated the new complexes in the area. We're not here to talk about my friend's place.

Recently, Laurel has been going through a purging of sorts. It's valiantly trying to upscale itself and consequently push out the majority of it's lower class residents. Unfortunately, for the new people coming in, all the old citizens haven't been relocated yet. Which brought about a few minor complaints from the Westchester crew:

"Men beating their wives/girlfriends. A lady attacked behind one of the buildings. A drug bust early this year. Yes Folks!! You can get all this and more for the starting price of $1400.00!!"

It's seems like building shiny new buildings does little to change the neighborhood. I always wondered how things were progressing just over the line. Now I know: not as well as could be. Based on these comments, I'm confident living in Camden @ College Park is a lot better. I'm still not looking forward to finding my own place. I wonder if living in Baltimore for $1400/mo. gets you the same sort of color?

The Price of Gaming: Noky Tackles the Recent Chatter

There has recently been a lot of talk about pricing in the casual gaming market. I think it's a fair topic to discuss, however I think things are being blown out of proportion.

Lets tackle the first article from Make It Big In Games.

Jeff Tunnell makes a lot of good points throughout the article. The market seems to be more receptive toward games at lower price points. However, I think where he gets a bit "delusional" (and I use that word very loosely) is when he considers the idea of successful games emerging at ridiculously low prices of under $4. Quality innovation does not happen at that low of a price point. I believe you would have to move too many units to generate a profit. I can't even begin to generate hypothetical numbers but I would imagine you'd have to move near to 100,000 units just to pay yourself a reasonable salary. Of course the problem gets worse as the price point drops.

"In this market, the right price for a game is $0, and I believe that is where all game prices are heading."

Free games? Not profitable from a current distribution standpoint. The main way free games generate revenue is through advertising which usually happens by driving site traffic and getting banner impressions. In-game ads are an option but is that where we want to take gaming? A glorified billboard? I'll pass thank you. I'm not adamantly against any sort of advertising in-game but in order to pay for development it would have to a lot more significant that I'm willing to accept at this point in my life. Maybe my mind will change with age.

So the future of casual gaming is a bunch of competing ad-machine portals? Instead of buying seperate consoles we buy seperate portal subscriptions? Looking at the console situation now, I'm going to have to say I doubt it'll turn out that way.

I think in order to understand Mr. Tunnell he should propose how the industry could posssibly survive at these price points. Developers don't necessarily want to charge as much as possible, they really just want to eat a good meal at the end of the day. Supply and demand is a nice way to reason but there are too many assumptions made with that model in order for it to be the end all of an argument. This market is not perfectly competitive.

Next up: Maciej Biedrzyeki of Code Minion.

Now, this post is already a bit long but I'm going to try and be concise here.

Basically, he tackles the argument just like I do: questioning the survival of developers. However, he has a couple of troubling notes.

"Additionally the games could be shorter – who has the time and money to
create long games with 10+ hours of gameplay and sell them for less
than 10 USD?"

No one does. You create your game with 10+ hours of gameplay and then you sell it for 20 USD. How does that work? Because not all games are created equal. As long as the game is worth the investment, people will pay. It's when prices are hiked to that upper tier that they become a problem. Premium content will always exist and it should be priced with a premium.

In the same vein, Maceij calls for standards in pricing. In a way, I agree there needs to be some agreement of pricing levels but they need to have their disparity. Larger budget and scope games should be priced higher. Then again, that's why the distinction between AAA titles and casual games exist. So just between casual titles, there should be some sort of understood price points. That kind of gets in to price fixing so I'm not sure I'm completely convinced but right now it sounds like a good idea.