Work: Cave II

We later had to do another project in which we were to create another cave, but actually texture the models.

Programs Used:

• AutoDesk 3DS Max
• Photoshop CS5

The textures are based of pictures provided by Carnegie Mellon University.

Work: Cave

One of the first 3D design projects we had was to design a 3D cave/basement telling a story. No outside sources, everything had to be created by us.

I am a programmer, so starting to make real-life things from boxes and circles was a new concept :) but I'm getting there.

These are some renders from my 3D cave, telling the story after a party.

All these models where made with the AutoDesk 3DS Max 2012.

CMU Update!

So, its been quite a while since my last update. My camp is pretty much half-way done, so it was a must to post an update!

Although I am a programmer and my focus for this camp is programming, every students still gets to take the 3 crucial classes for the game industry. Game Design, Programming, and Art.

Game Design: creating terrains, controlling the player's decisions, psychology (yep xD), as well as basic game creation

Art: 3D modeling (mainly using AutoDesk 3ds Max), and texturing (Photoshop CS5)

Programming: actual coding behind games, create finite state machines, game engines.

In programming (which I have Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) we use either Python together with the Panda3D engine (created by Disney, but currently maintained by Carnegie Mellon's ETC), or Javascript through Unity3D's engine.

Overall all the classes are great. They are fun (especially when programmers try to draw xD), interesting, and challenging.  The teachers and professors are great people, and are very helpful.

First Day @ Carnegie Mellon

Pictures property of: http://eics-conference.org

So yesterday was my first day here at Carnegie Mellon University. Although I didn't really do anything out of the ordinary or pertaining to the Game Academy I went to some meetings, and a speech from the director. As well as a campus tour. I have to say that CMU's campus is really beautiful. It has a lot of buildings which have a long history on campus. The residence halls are very spacious and comfortable, and are all fitted with high security. Overall the security of the campus is outstanding. And there is free WiFi within one mile radius of the campus! So even if you live outside campus you can get Carnegie's wifi!

My room

The room I was assigned is pretty cool. Since I got here after my roommate, who is cool by the way, I got the bunk bed. Although it might seem like the better choice, it's a pain when you've got to get something in the middle of the night.

And this is where the magic happens :)

So today I will go on a walking tour of Pittsburgh, hang out, maybe go visit some stores and restaurants; because, tomorrow we will start the hard work.

National High School Gaming Academy @ Carnegie Mellon University

It has been a while since I last blogged, so I am deciding to do something a little bit different. For the next 6 weeks I am going to be attending the NHSGA over at Carnegie Mellon University. It is a Pre-College summer camp in Pittsburgh where attendees get to explore the video game industry and the skills needed to be successful in it. They teach Game Art, Design, and Programming. I am attending the camp with a focus on video game programming, but all three will be taught.

Today I board a plane to Pittsburgh and stay overnight there, because tomorrow is the registration day. I have everything ready and packed. Well everything besides my laptop, given that I'm posting this. After this I will pack the laptop and get ready to head to the airport. Hopefully my next post will be from the campus at Carnegie Mellon.

I will try to keep up with my blog on what's going on @ Carnegie Mellon. My camp activities, as well as programming progress.

Facebook Chrome App!

As I blogged about earlier, Google Chrome 8 has now re-added support for applications, however I supplied links to the 3 basic Google-created apps. However after much scurrying around source codes and projects, I managed to recreate an app for the popular social network Facebook!

So if you successfully managed to install the basic extensions following my past blog post, then it is going to be a piece of cake to install the Facebook app!

Just download the .crx extension file and install the app!

Download File

All you have to do is download the zipped filed containing the extension, and load it through the extensions developer mode. (If you need help see my previous post)

Download zipped file

Remember that you must have the Chrome 8 Developer version, and the --enable-apps command line added to your Google Chrome shortcut for this to work!

Also if you want to truly enjoy the app environment, in your new tab page make sure you right click the Facebook app and select "Open as pinned tab".

Google Chrome Apps are Back!

Google has just recently updated the Google Chrome Developer Channel  to version: 8.0.552.0 dev and one of the new function in this update is the returning support for Google Chrome Apps!

I had already posted on Google Chrome support for apps here, but Google decided to remove support not much after I blogged about it. But now with Google's support, Apps can thrive again.

You must have the latest Google Chrome from the Developer Channel 


Since at the time of writing they are not enable by default you must enable Apps with the simple shortcut command : --enable-apps
In order to do this right-click your existing Google Chrome shortcut either on your desktop or start menu and click properties. In the target field append --enable-apps to the end of the address.

It should look like this:

Now that apps are enabled restart your browser.

For now apps can only be enable through the extensions pane. So in Chrome go to Tools->Developer->Extensions. Make sure you are in the developer mode.

Now download this zip file containing 3 Google created apps.

Unzip them to a directory that you are familiar with.
Now go back to the extensions page and click load unpacked extension. Go to the folder where you unpacked the Google Apps.zip and click on the app you want to install. Just click OK and done!

You installed the app!

Just go over to your new tab page to check out your new and sexy apps!

Please note that if you want the sleek looking app icons instead of the the favicon and website name, in the new tab page move your mouse over the app and click on the the wrench. Then select "Open as pinned tab". It will give you the result below.

Congratulations! You successfully (hopefully) installed Google Chrome Apps!