Smash IRL

Graphic Design is NOT Illustration

2011-08-26T22:29:00.001-07:00

Illustration:

Graphic Design:

Minecraft - Rainbow Rd

2011-03-12T17:17:00.001-08:00

"Sand Joe"

2010-09-11T07:58:00.001-07:00

Iron Man Cake idea

2010-08-18T09:16:00.001-07:00

for the side of the cake

Retouching my Retouching skills

2010-08-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

Birds are like Ants

2010-08-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

They can lift one hundred times their weight.

Video Games / Culture

2010-05-24T12:34:00.000-07:00

Throughout my life video games have been my most consistently preferred form of entertainment. So when someone (http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/04/video_games_can_never_be_art.html) starts trashing the medium as a whole it kinda irks me. This happened a few weeks ago and I'm sure it's been brought up already. Then today I came across a CRACKED.com article/list that brings up several reasons why the medium is not taken seriously by pretty large number of people and I have to agree.

http://www.cracked.com/article_18571_5-reasons-its-still-not-cool-to-admit-youre-gamer.html

It was point #3, "Video Game Storytelling is Still at the Level of B Movies," that ties in most with the previous reference and with what I wanted to discuss. I'm sure we've all played some video game at some point and said something like "man that game has a great story" but was it really? Just off the top of my head I can't think of any video game to movie adaptations that were really great or could be shown to someone that wasn't already a fan of the game and be appreciated because of the great story. Obviously they're not going to make every game into a movie due to monetary limitations, but what about just a book adaptation to tell the story from a video game, has this even been done? What video game story would make a great novel that stands on its own?

Is the cracked writer asking for too much, maybe? Would a game with equal parts story and action even be fun? The first thing that comes to mind is XenoSaga. I played most of part 1. It had the most extensive cut scenes I've ever seen and the story seemed pretty complex, but I had a hard time staying awake at points, and it took what seemed like forever (but maybe more like 30-45 mins) before actually getting into the game-play from the intro.( I did have some fun with it, but I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone that wasn't a super hardcore RPGer.)

Another game that comes to mind that was obviously trying to break out of the typical video game shell is Indigo Prophecy (aka Fahrenheit). I played through this not too long ago after reading about the new game by the same company, Heavy Rain. I don't think Indigo Prophecy worked well enough, the game play got hung up on simplistic and frustrating button combinations. Can anyone weigh in on the newer offering?

Bottom Line Hypothetical sort of thought/question thingy: I want to have a video game that I can give to a non-gamer to play and have it change their understanding of the medium. Can it be done? (has it already been done?) It needs tell an intriguing story. It needs to be fun and engaging. What would the game need to accomplish this? Could a game like this ALSO appeal to long-time gamers? (is this why it doesn't already exist?)

RROD Can't Stop Me

2010-04-16T06:59:00.001-07:00

Yay! ($0.00!!)

Looking for Creative Partner

2010-04-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

I want to be creative. I have enjoyed being creative all my life but don't have enough self-discipline or focus to accomplish much on my own. I have a BS in Fine Art, Illustration, I graduated 2 years ago but have been completely out of practice since. Recently work has been slow and I want to take advantage of the extra free time I have on my hands.

I'm looking for someone that would be interested in creating something cooperatively with me. Though, it is important for this other person to be more dedicated, focused, and self disciplined than I am. I have ideas, but it might be better to start off with someone else that already has a good idea of their own that I can help with.

I like painting and drawing but claim no great talent in either. I like music, mostly listening, but I'm interested in learning to create as well. I really want to develop my backyard/garden and interested in helping others with their own. I want to create/develop a fantasy world that could be used in some game or novel, I love maps. I'm not the greatest writer but enjoy coming up with plot ideas for stories. I'd like do create internet videos or video blogs, art and/or humor. I like board games and want to create one of my own. Also interested in Architecture, building things, and sculpture.

I like computers and have a knack for figuring out computer related problems. I'm a fast learner in just about anything that I've tried. I'm familiar with Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash. Also CAD software. I've used Premiere and AFter Effects to very limited degree but would like to have a reason to learn more.

Are you an artist and need some assistance in your studio?
Are you a writer and need someone to bounce ideas off of?
Need someone to hold a camera while you do crazy stuff to post on youtube?
Need a hand in your garden?
Need help with your computer or A/V system?

I'm willing to try just about anything for a day if there's something to be learned from it. I'm not looking for money, but looking to create and learn.

Adam - 28, married, no kids. Baltimore, MD. Parkville/Towson area. Tues/Thurs evenings are my most reliable free times but I tend to have plenty more time here and there. Email me at Adam@smashart.net

P.S. - Despite the date, this is not a joke.

It Feels Like Wednesday....

2010-02-19T11:25:00.000-08:00

I don't log into facebook every day so this is a few days later. Funniest part is that neither of these 3 people are friends with each other.

Celebrity Look Alike

2010-02-04T12:15:00.000-08:00

After hearing about the recent Facebook Doppelganger thing that was going around I stumbled upon this program that will find a celebrity look alike for you. So I had some fun.

Crest Ideas

2010-01-29T15:25:00.001-08:00

colosseum

2010-01-22T11:19:00.001-08:00

Travel Entertainment

2009-10-09T13:13:00.001-07:00

Pirate / Ninja ?

2009-09-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

Cataclysm Zones

2009-08-21T16:35:00.001-07:00

This map shows the new zones to be added in WoW: Cataclysm.

What I find interesting is how it also shows how much unused space there is. Once flying is enabled throughout Azeroth we'll be able to see what is actually there (I hope).

Unarmed Mexican Drywaller

2009-08-18T11:50:00.000-07:00

So I'm standing in the auction house scanning the current trends when I get this message.

WTF?

US Aerie Peak 8/18/09 11:51 ST

The Jellyfish Rebellion of '23

2009-08-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

It's coming.

http://www.pinktentacle.com/2009/07/japan-fears-massive-jellyfish-invasion-this-year/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jellyfish

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/19/japan.jellyfish/index.html

Social Trends : Kinetic Typography

2008-12-30T10:29:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of the term? It's pretty likely that you haven't, yet, but almost guaranteed that you've seen it, and possibly even noticed it's recent growth.

What I really wanted to find was the tipping point for this type of communication. Unfortunately after a bit of research I haven't been able to come to anything exact, though I have found some interesting facts and data.

This is meant to be a cursory glance at this trend. I am aware of several factors that are skewing this data a little more towards great recent growth but it should more accurately be called great recent popularity.

I looked at youtube, this is where I had previously been exposed to [new] kinetic typography about 2 years ago in a digital art class. I did a search for the term "kinetic typography" and sorted by the date the items were added to youtube. The graph below shows the data I came up with. I also have two points marked that indicate when the term first appeared on Google trends and when the title of the Wikipedia article for the term was changed from it's former "Kinematic Typography."

I noticed a lot of the items on youtube were student works for classes like the ones I had taken and I believe they are greatly responsible for the current popularity. I think closer analysis would show a connection between these works showing up and school semesters.

But this is all just youtube. What I'm really interested in is much bigger. A bunch of art students making coming up with the same type of stuff because a bunch of art teachers had the same interests doesn't explain why all of the sudden I'm seeing this type of work on network television and in the cut scenes of my video games. These are still students and are not responsible for such products (yet).

This is probably as far as I'll get with this. Maybe someone else who is interested can use it as a starting point to find out more about why this seems to be all over the place all of the sudden.

New Year's Resolution

2008-12-29T17:52:00.001-08:00

I guess this is sort of the typical thing, but my biggest motivation for trying to improve my diet and begin regular exercise this Thursday is because of the wedding I have coming up in a few months.

The plan is to start eating fewer carbs and more fruits and vegetables. As well as getting up earlier every day to do a bit of exercise. I'll be using the WiiFit, it is the reason I bought it a while ago anyhow. I'll spend at least 30 minutes doing exercises with that. I'll throw some curls in with free weights, maybe in the morning, maybe later in the evenings, every other day.

I don't exactly have a weight goal, I just want to feel a little more comfortable in some of my clothes that I have avoided wearing for the past few years, and especially lose the love handles.

I'm going to start a health blog for my own tracking of weight record and diet.

Well.... that's the plan, at least.

Black Widow

2008-09-12T11:07:00.000-07:00

My cousin, Eric, found a Black Widow nest in the woods just off the driveway at my dad's house. He's much braver than I and got one of the bigger ones on a stick and I got some pictures. There were also a ton of really tiny babies.

Wrong Joe

2008-07-25T10:45:00.001-07:00

I need a new hat

2008-07-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

I have flipped part inside-out to show what the color once was. Sad.

Kudzu Monster

2008-07-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

Sometimes this is the kind of crap I have to deal with.

Dibs on Potato Salad

2008-06-06T09:42:00.001-07:00

Kate's Addiction

2007-10-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

Well, at least it's not steel drums and cross-dressing.

Water

2007-10-11T19:02:00.001-07:00

When you don't have a roof the rain comes right into your house.

New Friends

2007-09-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

I seem to have been picking up random new "friends" around school lately, without actually trying to be social. It is somewhat strange/funny, one in particular. I was working on a drawing in a hallway at school and this random guy just walked up to me and started jabbering about how he does his drawings and this and that, I wasn't really paying much attention, I just tossed out a "yeah" and "mmhmm" here and there. Eventually he says something like "Well, have a good day" or something and walks off. Well now every time I pass by this guy in the hallway he smiles and waves and says "hey" and waves and I of course have to acknowledge him in return. I don't even know his freaking name! And I can tell by the limited interraction that this is not the type of person I would actually be friends with. Damnit that's annoying. Quit saying "hi" to me!

Time Management

2007-09-25T10:12:00.001-07:00

I can't stand hearing the same people complain day after day, week after week, about the same damn thing. (hypocrite?) DO SOMETHING! If you have a problem, fix it. It's really that simple.

Today I overheard some of the regulars bitching about not having enough time to read and answer questions assigned for homework. "The teacher doesn't understand! I have to work! I don't have time to read and do homework.... waaaah!"

week 168 hrs
sleep -56 hrs
-------
112 hrs
school -12 hrs (This could be as high as 18 hrs)
work -40 hrs (I doubt they actually work this much)
-------
time left 60 hrs (54 at worst)

SIXTY HOURS?! Wow! That's a ton of time. If you can manage to read a couple pages and answer a few questions somewhere in those 60 hours then you need to consider your (insert blog title here).

The real kicker to this story is that only 30 minutes later I heard these same complainers talking about how many different TV shows they loved and watched on a regular basis... sigh.

New Phone

2007-09-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

Last night I did a drawing for my life drawing and anatomy class. The assignment was to draw a hand holding something, so I just grabbed the closest thing, my cell phone, and drew my hand holding it. Today, while rushing around to get some spatula designs printed, I dropped my phone and it broke to hell. That drawing is now like a strange memorial portrait of my phone's "life." Just weird how it worked out that way.

Superiority

2007-09-20T11:33:00.000-07:00

Anne says that I make a face like this when I am surprised that she doesn't know something. She says it is the equivalent of me saying "You're stupid."

So if you see me make this face at you, it's probably because you just said something dumb.

Still G(r)o(w)ing

2007-09-17T16:22:00.000-07:00

I just discovered really weird/cool cousin(ish) that is in my digital art class. Kate sent me an email earlier and filled me in on our familial connection. She is my step-mother's brother-in-law's sister's daughter. Neat. Maybe I have a new friend now.

On other fronts, Papa John's Barbeque Chicken and Bacon Pizza is freaking awesome.

3's new album "The End is Begun" is great. Everyone should listen to it.

No Time

2007-09-12T14:12:00.000-07:00

Working full time and going to school full time is a terrible idea. You get horribly stressed out and have a hard time working on anything because you're too worried about all the other crap that you should be doing instead of whatever it is you're working on at the moment. Don't do it.

Alan Watts

2007-09-10T20:58:00.000-07:00

I heard of this guy, Alan Watts, recently from my Digital Art teacher. He showed us a couple of short flash videos animated by the South Park Guys that were clips from speeches of his. Anyway I thought some of the stuff he said was pretty funny/interesting and I might want to try reading one or two of his books. If anyone has any knowledge of them and can suggest one that would be great.

Check out the videos here.

New Car and Laptop

2007-09-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

2007 GMC Envoy

It's not really mine, it's a company vehicle, but it is pretty nice and I get to drive it. (Update : Flat tire on the first day, lame. Not sure what caused it, but I did notice the tire pressure indicator the first time I go in, but I didn't really give it any thought. Hopefully the dealership will take care of it for me.)

I also got my new laptop in the mail last night. It's pretty freakin' sweet. Having issues getting the wireless router working, though.

The Protomen

2007-09-05T22:30:00.000-07:00

Check out The Protomen, seriously. An indie rock band themed around a re-imagined Mega Man story set in a dystopian future. The lyrics tell an epic story with lots of references, both lyrically and musically, to the classic NES games. Not to mention an awesome website with fun and creative design.

Maybe this is offensive but...

2007-09-05T12:50:00.000-07:00

Maybe this is offensive but I thought it was freaking hilarious. Last night in my Digital Art class we were critiquing each student's homework from the past week. The assignment was to create an image that was in the style of an Old Master's oil painting. The image needed to be based on a biblical story or Greek or Norse mythology. As each student walked to the computer with the projector to show their work another student would volunteer to give the critique. As one guy began making his way over the next volunteer was this obviously homosexual guy. And, of course, by hilarious coincidence, the image that gets put up on the screen is that of Sodom and Gomorrah, in flames. Is that irony? (maybe not, most people use that label incorrectly) Am I the only one that thinks this is funny? I didn't see his face, but I could just imagine the gay guy's eyes going wide and losing track of what he was thinking. Nobody laughed. It took all my will to hold back myself, I didn't want to be the only one. Maybe other people are just completely ignorant to biblical stories.

Welcome to my new personal blog

2007-08-25T07:56:00.001-07:00

This isn't the first and probably isn't the last. Hopefully I'll be able to post with a slight hint of regularity to make it something worth checking in on once in a while (if you are at all interested).