Something Awesome This Way Comes

So I've been bouncing this idea of a game around in my head for a while, so I made a game document and started doing a little bit of art for it. Who knows? Maybe I can put together a presentation and make a Kickstarter.

The piece is about half-way there, but I thought I'd just throw it at you anyways.

Sketch Models

Here's a few sketch models of robotic arms I quickly made in Maya.

The idea is for a little bumper animation I've been thinking up using. The idea is basically my "ili" logo being constructed by robot arms, like a car assembly line. These are just a few ideas for the design of the arm and I'll pick one and model it nicely. Which do you think is better?

Aside from that, I've made my first chunk of money tutoring in Maya. A student from a local college needed some extra help, and I have to say her professor is not doing a good job teaching an intro class to Maya. If only I could teach that class, everyone would rock at Maya by the end of the semester. But I cant say anything without an MFA or something that qualifies me, so tutoring will have to be the extent of my teachings.

I've been in an identity crisis for the past few months. I don't know if I want to focus on 3D Animation, Video Game Design, or Concept Art, because I've been modeling, learning programming and Unity3D, and practicing digital painting and I feel like I'm not improving fast enough in any of them.

On top of that, I can't put down my Stephen Hawking book. I've missed science so much while I was in Art School and all this information about our universe is blowing my mind every page.

Still unemployed though, that needs to change really soon. I've revised my resume and hitting the streets looking for work.

Until next time,

Lee

Screwing Around in Unity

Hey Guys

So after that whole Global Game Jam business, I've decided I want to learn Unity.

This is no easy task...

Since I'm already well versed in Maya, the interface and modeling side of Unity is pretty easy. Its the programming side that scares me.

Luckily, through the lessons of Javascript at Codecademy (www.codecademy.com),

A bunch of youtube tutorials (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV3sSM0gjQ8),

And a fountain of knowledge (http://walkerboystudio.com/html/unity_training___free__.html),

I have made my first interactive "game", which is not all that exciting of a game, but its a start. Still having trouble putting it somewhere where people can play it, but try clicking this link and downloading the files, you need both. Open the html. file and download the Unity Web Player when it opens in your browser.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6cpc92a0qu8190q/2LfZKoyc_K

Sorry about how complicated this it, I'm still getting used to it. If I get any good at this, you may see some pretty awesome games that have been bouncing around my head for the past few years.

Aside from that, nothing much to report on the job front. Still struggling to even find something to pay the bills. A few prospects loom in the distance though so all is not lost.

Global Game Jam 2013 in Portland!

Hello Everyone

Sorry I've been neglecting my blog, but I PROMISE I will try to keep it up to date with everything I'm doing.

Sadly, I dont have time right now to give you the low down of my past few months, but I do have something awesome for you!

My First Game!!!!

So the Portland Indie Game Squad (PIGSquad) hosted the Portland location of the Global Game Jam and I was lucky enough to get in on it and make a game with some awesome people. But enough about me, lets talk about the game.

So, being a 48 hour game, its a little rough around the edges, but what you have to do is make designated pairs of kids at a high-school dance by matching their heart rates up. To do this, you must put your mouse on a kid, which will stop them, and click the desired rate of heartbeat. It gets tricky because the faster their heart rate, the faster their movement, and the room slowly fills with more kids. These kids can also pair on their own, which is bad if it takes one of the kids needed to make a pair, where you fail the pair and lose one out of your five lives. You can also interrupt an unwanted pair by quickly changing one of their heartbeats, keeping them from failing your desired pair.

You may need a plugin, but try it out at this link:
http://johanneshoff.com/promnight/

So the awesome people are as follows:

Pat Kemp: Lead Game Designer; Art Direction

Johannes Hoff: Lead Programmer

Lee Alailima-Rose: Art Lead

Anne Paris: Art

Jonathan Minnamon: Art

Jason Paris: Sound and Original Music

So what do you think?

Go to the Global Game Jam description here: http://globalgamejam.org/2013/mfeo-meant-each-other

Talk to you soon...

Javascript and Unity3D

Hello Again,

Sorry I've been neglecting my blog, things are a little crazy since I've moved to Portland, OR. Never fear though, some new developments are brewing and it has to do with a video game.

Basically, I'm learning basic programming(Javascript and HTML to start) and Unity3D. Who knew Unity was just like Maya? Why did I not know this? I thought it was a completely different program which I would have no idea how to use, but its just Maya with some other game stuff added onto it, minus the rendering software.

Maybe I'll make a game soon.

Lee

Prepare to Drop

Some drop ship magic for you.

Just a fun design challenge for myself to keep me on my toes. It's an idea that I may turn into a 3D model depending on what I feel like modeling. I might make a few more things then decide which I want to model.

Lee

Super Computers, Aliens, and Audrey Hepburn

It's been too long, but I've finally built our computer! Complete with all the necessary software a growing digital artist and sustainable designer need to make cool stuff. Take a look.

Parts include:

Rosewill THOR Gaming Tower
ASROCK Z77 Extreme Intel Motherboard
Asus GTX 660 Ti 2GB 192-bit  Graphics Card
Intel Core 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor
2 x 8GB Ripjaws X Series Memory

And a bunch of other aftermarket parts from power to cooling and a flash SSD to keep a Windows 7 OS running fast.

To try out the new digs and make sure my drivers are working, I made a practice speedpaint of one of me and Nayan's favorite celebrity, Audrey Hepburn.

I also threw in a quick ZBrush sketch just to test out the program and make sure everything looks good. Maya's working too along with all the Autodesk programs.

Unfortunately... still unemployed, and this stuff wasn't cheap. Looks like I'm finding some part-time work. Maybe Best Buy's looking for someone.

Until next time,

Lee