Blizzard Cinematics

Blizzard has come a long way, much like Pixar. They both focus on the story first and foremost in order to produce a great game or film. The suits leave them alone to do what they do best: Entertain.

Tonight, two directors from the Blizzard Cinematics team did a talk at our local Siggraph chapter. The talk overall didn’t provide any new information really. They run things much like an effects or feature animation studio would be run. So a lot of the presentation would be similar to what you’d find in the extras of a DVD, but probably slightly more in depth. In the end though, you’d come out in utter awe and respect. I had the same feeling after watching The Pixar Story (if you can find it, it’s definitely worth a watch).

I’m not super happy at work these days. Not because of the people I work with, they’re awesome. But because I’m bored with what I’m doing, I need a change. Even if it was just for one year, to refresh and improve my skills. Unfortunately, my stint on a new project was cut short with some re-shuffling. I’m not permanently off the project, just out on loan. However, I don’t feel that I even want to return to that project anymore. They just brought on another animator, which, although I know the reasons are because I’m a better candidate to help the team I was moved to, it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. To be move off a team I was quite excited to be on, and then to see an outsider slowly move his way onto the team.

I wish I had the motivation that the people who work at studios like Pixar, Blizzard, Weta, and Blur all have. But wishing doesn’t get you anywhere.

Posted by tastethehappy Posted in: Random Life Tales, Video Games No Comments » November 2008

Everybody, Rock Band!

Rock Band Vancouver is a tournament that is happening on October 4th at the EA Canada studio to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Spread the word!

Posted by tastethehappy Posted in: Random Life Tales, Video Games No Comments » September 2008

Demo Out

Sometimes reading user comments can be rewarding.

“The Lock down D looks great. It’s fun guessing which way the A.I is gonna turn off your contatct. Actually the contact animations while dribbling in general are very well done. “

Posted by tastethehappy Posted in: Random Life Tales, Video Games 2 Comments » September 2008

Tiger Woods is Jesus

Sometimes EA’s marketing actually does know what they’re doing.

Posted by tastethehappy Posted in: Video Games No Comments » August 2008

RB2 Video

My favourite song by my favourite band on the best game ever.

http://www.gamespot.com/video/949926/6194201/videoplayerpop?rgroup=e32008_live&tag=video_main%3bwatch%3b4

Posted by tastethehappy Posted in: Video Games No Comments » July 2008

Leaked Rockband 2 Song List

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=174487

I do hope this list is for real!  EVERLONG!!!

Posted by tastethehappy Posted in: Video Games No Comments » July 2008

Lack of Updates

Unfortunately for the past month I’ve been pretty swamped at work so I haven’t had much time to do anything creative.  I did remember that I did a small Mario-based painting sometime last year.  Nothing fancy, but definitely geeky!

Posted by tastethehappy Posted in: Artsy Fartsy, Random Life Tales, Video Games 4 Comments » June 2008

Oh, Guitar Hero. How far you’ve fallen.

http://kotaku.com/5011292/rip-guitar-hero-2005+2008

http://www.destructoid.com/footage-of-guitar-hero-iv-someone-tells-activision-ceo-it-s-called-rock-band-88034.phtml

Posted by tastethehappy Posted in: Video Games No Comments » May 2008

The MVP Reunion

Last night was a large gathering at Steamworks for anyone who had worked on any of the MVP Baseball games years back.  It was surprising to see that so many people had showed up.  I hadn’t kept in contact with many of the folks who had left the studio, but I was able to chit chat with a number of them fairly easily (I’m horrible at social events).  It was just a good time to see everyone together again.

MVP was always a great team.  Although I didn’t think I always quite fit in, it still felt like a family.  It was a small enough team to be able to splurge on monthly birthday celebrations with beer and cake.  Also small enough to sometimes get the company American express to pay for a dinner or two.    Every monthly meeting had raffle prizes.  The wrap-up parties were always a blast.  People partied like friends rather than co-workers.  There were limbo contests, poker games, curling and karaoke.  It was good times.  I don’t think that sort of thing will ever exist again on another game team at the studio.  But I think we all try to pass it along wherever we work now.

One of the girls there was pointing out how the majority of them who started in the industry when they did are in such good positions now.  They are the senior people in Vancouver’s gaming industry now.  I feel quite lucky to be sort of a part of that group.

Posted by tastethehappy Posted in: Video Games, Worky Worky 1 Comment » March 2008

Rocking Out on the Interwebs

I finally figured out how to play Rockband online through the PS3, hahaha…  I would have liked to have seen an option to “Join Existing Group” rather than it randomly (or at least seemingly randomly) choose whether you get to be Leader or not.  Sometimes I want to pick the songs, but sometimes I want someone else to pick the songs.  Also, for the Score Duel mode, it’d be nice if you picked the difficulty level you wanted first, then it would search for other players also looking for that level.  Rather than pairing you up with someone, then the Leader choosing the level.  I got paired up with this one guy who decided to play all Expert drums.  I was lucky if I got half his score!  Haha.

I had tried out the Tug of War mode first, and didn’t stick around too long.  I was playing drums on Hard, but the person I was playing with was on Medium.  Now either I just suck at getting anything perfect (which I usually do), but it almost doesn’t seem fair that a Medium goes up against a Hard and wins the tug of war.  But I guess I should be equally as good at Hard as someone would be on Medium.  Oh well.

Score Duel I found probably the most because I could compare myself to others, especially those who are better than me.  Like snowboarding, I think I try harder when I’m surrounded by people who are retardedly good.  I’m forced to kick it up a notch.  But still, playing on Expert difficulty was insane for me.

I also tried playing just regular Quick Play with someone.  The first person that joined didn’t stick around very long as I was trying to wait another minute to see if anyone else would join for the remainder of the instruments.  So when that person left and another joined, I just started up the game.  Was an alright mode, but I guess it’d be more fun with people I actually knew, and maybe if there was a singer hahaha.

Anyway, I wish I had a 360, or that more people I knew had PS3s, so that I could play online with actual friends. 

Posted by tastethehappy Posted in: Video Games 3 Comments » March 2008

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