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Fri, May 18, 2007:
• My new Zendrum setup!
Sun, Jan 28, 2007:
• EverQuest II
Thu, Dec 7, 2006:
• New Job and Moving
Mon, Oct 2, 2006:
• EA Games/DICE Merger
Sat, Jul 29, 2006:
• Morabis 3D Website
Wed, Jul 5, 2006:
• Morabis 3D
Tue, Jun 20, 2006:
• City Life: Sim City Killer?
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|  | My new Zendrum setup!
Posted: May 18, 2007, at 08:50 PM
By: zerk | |
I know it's been quite some time since I last updated my blog. Frankly, I can't blog as easy as others may be able to as I can rarely think of anything worthy of blogging. I know I could just blog the ordinary. "Went to work, came home, ate, watched a movie!" but that is extrememely boring and a rather redundant subject. Jeezuss..... am I really that boring?
About a month ago I went on my vacation to Orlando with the family. I guess I could have blogged about that. :) When we went to EPCOT center, I saw this band at the Moroccan pavailian called Mo' Rockin'. They were very good. The drummer was playing this far out instrument that was very cool. I said to myself... "Self, you need to get one of those!" After the show I approached the drummer and asked him about his instrument. It was called a Zendrum. This was an enlighting part of my life needless to say. I've always wanted to play the drums but just don't have the coordination. As a bassist, I thought... I can play one of these!
After I got home, I went promptly to www.zendrum.com and checked it out... which led to a phone call and finally... an order. You can't get a Zendrum just anywhere. You may be able to find the occasional one for sell on eBay but they are in all actuallity... very rare. The one I ordered was custom built FOR ME and is one of a kind. The guy who makes them is Dave Haney. A good guy down in Georgia somewhere.
About a week ago, mine finally arrived! I went to the store and bought a Roland TD-6V Drum Module and just today went down and picked up a Roland KC-350 Amplifier. Wow what a rush! I was able to kick out the jams the instant I picked it up! I feel I have a real knack for playing the Zendrum!
Anyway... a pic of my one of a kind, beautiful Zendrum! The finish is called Tobacco Sun Burst.
A movie of me playing my Zendrum
|  | EverQuest II
Posted: Jan 28, 2007, at 02:37 AM
By: Zerk | |
After moving back to Salt Lake City and getting settled in, I've picked up (once again) the ol' sword and shield and have joined my good buddy Michael in EverQuest II. So much of the game has changed since I last played it over a year ago. I have to say that the changes are good... very good. I'm enjoying myself much more this time around. Herrix, my #1 character at this time, started out as an evil assassin in the city of Freeport (evil homeland). I decided I was going to undertake the betrayal quest and switch my alignment to good and become a citizen of Qeynos (good homeland). This was a VERY hard task, but after having been completed, it left me feeling a stronger bond with this character than I have ever felt for any other character I've played in the past. He actually has a history now. I took this screenie on a griffon flight across Antonica.
I call it "EQ2: Herrix over Antonica on Griffon back with shattered moon in the night sky."
And Michael, it has been a great joy being your friend as well over these years. I always look forward to those times when we can get together online and smash some skulls!
| | New Job and Moving
Posted: Dec 7, 2006, at 10:15 PM
By: Zerk | |
After a tedious amount of job hunting, I finally landed a new job. I applied and interviewed at a number of places like Bioware, Ubisoft, Propaganda, EA Canada, EA Blackbox, Volition, Red 5, Offset Project, Kush, Perpetual, Visual Concepts, Infinity Ward, Lucas Arts... the list goes on and on. I got a couple offers from some and a complete snowjob from EA. Let it be known that I now think that EA is an evil empire and must be crushed. Considering all I've done for EA and the good job I've done for them as a contractor and working for DICE and considering they stated that they have a lot of positions they need to be filled, they told me and I quote; "We don't have any positions available that fit your skill set." What a load of hogwash! It was basically a tactfull way of saying; "We're done using you, you can bug off now.".
My new job, as it turns out, is in my home town of Salt Lake City at a company called "Sensory Sweep Studios". I can't wait to get in there and get started with my new job! I'm so excited about it! So, I'm packing up my stuff, hired movers to move my junk and my car, and I'm flying back. Woo hoo!
So long London, Ontario! So long Canada! So long Canadians!
Although I will with all sincerity... miss the friends I have made here. :(
| | EA Games/DICE Merger
Posted: Oct 2, 2006, at 04:26 PM
By: Zerk | |
Today the merger between EA Games and Digital Illusions CE (DICE) became official. Unfortunatly for me, and supprisingly to all of us in the DICE Canada office, EA decided to shut down the DICE Canada office. We all expected it deep down inside but it makes sense really, the DICE Canada office was pretty small and was getting smaller over the past year from people leaving in fear of the merger.
To be honest, I'm actually relieved. Relieved in not having to wonder what's going to happen is the main thing. This does not mean that we are all out on our ears. EA has offered all of us placement in other EA studios around the globe of our choosing. Either that or take a severence package and move back to my home in Salt Lake City or perhaps take the severence and a position with another company. Since there is nothing going on in Salt Lake City, I'll be seeking placement at another EA studio. My choices are of course vast, but I'm thinking on staying here in Canada and going to work for EA Vancouver.
I'm not unhappy about it at all. I came to London to work on Battlefield2 and since no more work on BF2 will be taking place, I've completed my goal. I now have the opportunity to set and undertake new goals. Either with EA Games or with another game developer.
|  | Morabis 3D Website
Posted: Jul 29, 2006, at 04:02 AM
By: Zerk | |
Progress on Morabis 3D is coming along great! I only wish I had a good artist so I wouldnt have to buy royalty free content packs just to get working content in my game! Sure I can do simple stuff like make crates, keys, doors and textures and such, but I really can't model characters worth a crap... and forget animating them!
We have a website set up for Morabis 3D so meander on over to it, check it out and bookmark it!
Morabis 3D
| | Morabis 3D
Posted: Jul 5, 2006, at 06:22 PM
By: Zerk | |
I've been playing with DarkBASIC Pro which if you don't know, is a 3D Programming language based off the BASIC language. I've written many programs so far in it and have been enjoying myself IMMENSLY! It's so easy for an old salt BASIC programmer like myself to whip up some quick games. The ability to get something running quick is a very rewarding feeling. I've done some things like making a city traffic simulator, an artificial life simulator features little blob people that will mate, travel, build homes, raise offspring and such, a zombie shooter and a couple of other things.
Most recently, a good friend back home Infymus, gave me all the source and data files from an old text based game he wrote back in the 80's called Morabis. Well, I've been recreating the game using DarkBASIC Pro into 3D! I've gotten his old maps loading up into a world along with movement, collision, lighting and monsters!. Here are some screenies!
| | City Life: Sim City Killer?
Posted: Jun 20, 2006, at 09:41 PM
By: Zerk | |
I picked up a new game last night called City Life. It is a city sim builder game very much like the Maxis game Sim City and is being credited as the Sim City killer. I had a good chance to play quite a bit of it today and it's very fun. If you ever were or are a fan of the Sim City series, you have to play City Life.
What does City Life have above Sim City? Well, from what time I've had to play with it, it's very fun! You can zoom right down into the action and walk around on the streets of your city and watch the people walk around as well. Unlike Sim City, City Life has incorporated a social system. There are 6 different social classes from bums up to high class.
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