Final note on 2009

2009 is coming to an end and here I am at day 2 in pain recovering from a quad workout, over did a workout again. If I do end up going to a dance tonight, it's gonna be a little tricky, my legs are going to be stiff and I'll probably look like the tin man trying to bust a move.

For the past couple of days, while I've been browsing the web I've noticed a lot of best of 2009 or top 10s of 2009. I couldn't help but look back at my own year and I can't help but feel like I wasted a whole year. It went by way too fast, and a total blur. There's two thing this year I love the most and that's my family and friends. Getting together for birthdays and outings. Good times indeed. One of favorite Christmas movie I enjoy watching every year is "It's a Wonderful Life" and one of my favorite quotes from it, is where Clarence wrote a message in a book to George Baily, saying, "Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends" I do want to thank my peeps for being there with me through the year, but more importantly I hope I did my best to be there for them.

Another thing I need to remember to do this coming year is to SLOW down when driving. Thinking back I counted myself getting pulled over 5 times this year, but, only 3 was for speeding. Sometimes I don't realize how fast I am going, hopefully the radar detector I got will help prevent getting more speeding tickets...or I can just remember to drive slow.
After the layoff and the shut down of the Amaze studio this year, I am glad I still have a job with Griptonite. I do have a feeling 2010 will be better for the company, but on the personal side, as a treat for you all, I will attempt to at least post some new artwork each month. I did promise a friend that I would post AT LEAST once a month and hopefully this will help me live up to that promise.

Well, good riddance to 2009 and hello 2010. To whoever reads my blog, I will leave with you a quote from the famous daredevil, Evel Knievel, to carry onto the new year. "We are put on this earth to live and not exist."

A little project

Due to work, I had to cancel my trip to Utah on Friday, boooo! So stuck here for the weekend I decided to take on a little project.
For my job, I get sit in front of a computer every day, clicking, typing, and clicking and typing...it's really not that boring, it just sitting around all day, on a computer. So when I get a chance to do something active, it's pretty refreshing. I decided to restore a dresser for a friend who needed one, but it had to match the other furnitures, brown wood just wouldn't do.
This dresser was found sitting on the side of a road with a "free" sign taped to it. It was pretty beat up and there was a lot of water damage on the top.
I thought I would document this little project, and here are some pictures of the process. Why document and post about it? I guess I'm just easily amused ;)

The dresser before the work.

The sanding process.

Primer time

Paint is on

The outcome of my work

This project was a really fun, I think I'm gonna do this again, but with my coffee table. It needs to be black too.

Penny Arcade Expo 2009

It has been one heck of a weekend. I am surprise that I even lasted 3 days at PAX. The Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) is a convention dedicated to gaming, from board games to video games. One may say it's the nerdiest time of the year and this I agree. I will admit, I am a nerd and a geek, but there were people there that really out nerd me. These are peeps and I give them props. I've also said, as long as there are gamers, I have a job. This year was probably the biggest year yet, as far as people and sponsors from the industry.
A lot of big games are coming out this fall, like Assassins Creed 2, Splinter Cell, Borderlands, Left 4 Dead 2 and Modern Warfare 2 (even though this wasn't there) I think this is going to do a little damage to the social life...yikes!
I also had the chance to attend some panels.
"Enforcement on Xbox LIVE: Tales From The Din" They talked about the Xbox LIVE Policy and Enforcement. This was really entertaining but good to hear we have guys out there making sure casual gamers and hardcore gamers are getting the best experience they can when playing on Xbox Live.
Anyway, there were others, but why should I bore you with discussing them. Let's just post some pics and videos. Some of you have already seen these posted on facebook.

Where the Wild Things Are...the game

I can't recall any time in my career as a game developer that a publisher has actually put some time to market a game I helped developed. Until now, Warner Bro. actually created a decent trailer for the "Where the Wild Things Are" video game. So check it out and enjoy.

WTWTA trailer #2

I haven't had the best luck keeping some postings up, especially regarding Where the Wild Things are. The last post, a featurette of Maurice Sendak, I had to take down because the link to the video was no longer available, hope some of you had the chance to at least see it. If not, I will graciouly present you with another trailer of Where the Wild Things Are.



It should be a good movie, but I could just be bias. I was able to read the script to this movie because we made the video game version of it, which I'm hoping they will show off some screenshots soon. Seeing these characters come to life on screen will be visual amazing and entertaining, especially coming from the mind of Spike Jonze. I don't want to hype it up too much, you decide for yourself come October 16.

Assassins Creed PSP Update

Alright, more news has been released on the Assains Creed PSP. We have finally reached the Alpha point of the game, where I had to slave away all weekend and had to sell my ticket to miss the Coldplay concert for.
Finally, our publisher is releasing game footage. You can check the article out at the Kotaku's website and see what they have to say.
The video of the game is a link at the bottom of the article.
Kotaku Assassins Creed Article

Watch out open road

I finally did it. What has been all talk for years, has become a reality.

Last weekend has been pretty crazy. I went to take a motorcycle class and to be honest I had no desire to go, but since it was already paid for, why not just try it out. I have always been interested in riding motorcycles, but when it came close to taking the class I was nervous. I have never been on a motorcycle before and was afraid I would either break the bike or my leg.

For class we practiced on a Honda CB125. They were built in the 70's for the goverment with the purpose to teach people how to ride motorcycles. They were pretty fun. I am happy to tell you that I did pass the riding test with 90% and am now endorsed.

I felt like I was in a relationship that was moving way too fast. Before I knew, I was on a hunt for my own bike. So Tuesday, I went out and purchased my first motorcycle. I found a 1985 Honda Rebel 250. Yes, it may not be the fastest bike, but at this point, I don't need to be tempted in going faster then I should. This is a perfect starter bike. Isn't she pretty? It only had 5000 miles for a 1985 bike.

My Transformers 2 Review

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Power Words

We've all seen them before, those posters with words and pictures on them added with some cute little sayings. I came upon some online that I thought were pretty funny. So lets get real for moment and say this is how most of us would like to think what these words mean.