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!

Chrome Extension Review - LastPass

While chatting with a friend I decided to start writing about the great variety of Google Chrome extensions.
My first and most important extensions has got to be LastPass (http://goo.gl/qYvQ).

LastPass "is a free online password manager and Form Filler that makes your web browsing easier and more secure." And to be honest with you, it truly does just that! You see while you are browsing the web you come upon say a forum you want to join. So while you are creating the account LastPass can fill in your profile information (supports multiple profiles). Plus a great security addition, LastPass can optionally actually create a secure password for you. It can be a combination of digits, characters, special characters, you name it! (You can specifiy). And since LastPass stores all your passwords, you won't have to remember it!

And the greatest thing about LastPass is that it is multi-platform. And cross-browser! So in my case I have 3 different laptops that I use for different purposes. However I still use most of my same accounts across them. So I have LastPass installed on all of them, so whenever I create a new account in one of them, my other laptops will get the credentials as well. Since they are all stored on the server, with an offline backup of course!

LastPass even supports a USB portable version which you can download, so if you are constantly switching computers or visiting internet cafes you can take your passwords with you, without leaving any trace on the host computer!

Best of all... LastPass is completely FREE!
However there is a premium version which is only $1 a month.

LastPass is a definite must-have extension. And is probably my most used extension on all browsers!

Google's Own Image Format!

Google has just recently rolled out a new image compression format called WebP! Together with its cousin WebM they are trying to dominate the HTML5 media formats.
Google claims that WebP can compress images up to 40% more than JPEG and JPEG2000! This is definitely some Good news!
Google thinking behind this was that valuable bandwidth is wasted every minute, and by reducing image sizes to almost half will speed up the internet for end users, and make it easier for web masters to distribute media online. Win-Win and everyone is happy!

Except that there is a catch! Encoding an image in WebP takes approximately 8 times more than JPEG encoding. To be honest 8 times more than that tiny split fraction of a second it takes to encode JPEG, is still only 8 times the split fraction of second. Which humanely speaking is nothing!

Google claims that native WebP support will coming to Chrome in the coming weeks, and for now the world's first program to actually have any WebP support whatsoever is Pixelmator, a slick Mac image editing suite.

Mystery Guitar Man Secret Video Revealed!

Mystery Guitar Man just recently announced that he uploaded an unlisted video, and in order to get the URL of it you must go back to his older videos one by one getting the characters of the URL.

Well for those of you that are too lazy to go through all his video, or just want to see it right away... here's the link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMr9UA6DtqA

This is the link to Mystery Guitar Man's

"SEECRETTT VIDEO!!!! OMG! YOU FOUND IT!"

Hidden Gmail Adress Tricks!

If you are like me then you use Google's service Gmail as your service provider. Gmail is in my opinion the best email service provider out there. And now there are two features that make it stand out even more!

1. Gmail now ignores dots "." in your email adress! Since Gmail does not recognize dots/periods as characters you can add  dots in your email address and still receive it to your account. For example if your email was "gamerfan@gmail.com" you could tell people that it is "gamer.fan@gmail.com" or even "ga.me.r.fan@gmail.com". Since Gmail doesn't count dots, you would get all these to your normal account!
2. You can now add a plus sign "+" and any combination of words, letters, and/or numbers, and still get the email to your address! This can be especially useful for filtering emails. For example if your email was "robert@gmail.com" and you signed up for an online game with "robert+games@gmail.com" then you could easily create a filter for all mail going to "robert-games@gmail.com"

These two tips can help you in better organizing your inbox and for better use of your Gmail address.

-Patopop007

Google Chrome Dev Apps

 

The Google Chrome Dev update added a brand new feature to the already stacked up Google Chrome! With the latest update Google Chrome Dev now supports Applications (aka Apps).

Note: For this you need the Google Chrome Dev version.

They are not enabled by default, so to enable them you must add a command to your Google Chrome shortcut. To do this right-click your existing Google Chrome shortcut either on your desktop or start menu. In the target field append --enable-apps to the end of the address.

Your properties panel should now look similar to this:

After enabling apps restart Google Chrome and open it from your modified shortcut.

Congratulations Apps are now enabled on your Google Chrome!

Now let’s add some apps! You can download apps from here:

• Runescape by Patopop007
• Newgrounds by Patopop007
• Facebook by Lee
• Google Reader by Lee
• Twitter by Lee
• TeamViewer by Lee
• µTorrent Falcon (make sure you're running the desktop version as well - download here)
• Feedsquares by Qikon
• Grooveshark by Qikon
• Pandora by Dave
• Yahoo Mail by pat_boy2008
• Gmail by Google
• Google Calendar by Google
• Google Docs by Google

Because of security reasons you can’t just open the .crx file to install. You must drag the file inside the Google Chrome Window. You will then be prompted with two install dialogues.

Just accept both and there you go! You just installed an App!

Now go crazy and install all the apps you want!

iPhone Style Texting for Nokia N95!

I have a Nokia N95 and I text a lot. And as you probably know the iPhone has a very cool contact based message grouping system, making it easier to follow conversations. Well I have always wanted to have something similar for the Nokia N95.
Finally it's possible with a Nokia N95 app/dll called Conversation!

The installation is a little complicated, but not impossible!

Just follow these simple steps:
1) Reboot your N95

2) Download and install this*

3) Go to the "Application manager" to find and uninstall the "Nokia Contacts Service Support Package"

4) Download and install  this*

5) Finally download and install Conversation from here*

6) Done! Go to contacts, and the second tab is Conversation!

*note: install everything to phone memory

Windows 7 God Mode Hack

Lately I installed Windows 7 Ultimate on my tablet PC (Dell Latitude XT2) as well as my normal laptop (Dell Studio 15). I have been playing around with Windows 7 and always end up wondering where all the settings went?

Windows 7 comes with a little inside hack called God Mode, which is an administrative window which shows you settings for almost everything in Windows 7. Exactly what I was looking for!

Accessing God Mode is simple!

1. Create a new folder in your Desktop
2. Rename the folder to:

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

3. Double-click your newly created folder to access God Mode!

In God Mode you have nearly all of the settings for everything, conveniently placed all together!

WoW DNS UnBlock

If you are starting to have problems connecting to the servers of www.worldofwarcraft.com or www.blizzard.com then it might be because your ISP or the network is blocking those servers. A quick fix that works (at least worked for me!) is to change the servers to IP addresses.  To do this, go to your WoW program files folder. In there open realmlist.wtf with Notepad, writepad or Notepadd++ and find these lines:

set realmlist us.logon.worldofwarcraft.com
set patchlist us.version.worldofwarcraft.com

 Now change them to this:

set realmlist 12.129.232.112 
set patchlist 66.45.252.236

 If your ISP or network was blocking via DNS then this should fix your WoW and you should be able to connect! 


If you are still having problems because it is blocked I would recomment trying to re-route your connection through a VPN such as UltraVPN.

XDrive

XDrive

XDrive is the ultimate Windows organization tool!
XDrive will let create unlimited virtual hard drives that can direct to any folder which you choose!


For Example:
Say your School folder is located in:
L:\Documents and Settings\Username\My Documents\School09-2010
Instead of having to type all that, you could simple go to
S:\

With XDrive you can turn any long path into a simple and easy to access virtual hard drive
Have one for your games, school files, pictures, videos, the only limit is your imagination!

xdrive.exe

Download File

---

Slide Tweet!

Slide Tweet

Slide Tweet is the new way to tweet!
This handy application will make tweeting much easier!

With Slide Tweet you'll be able to tweet from any application!*

Just type in your login info and start
slide-tweetin!

install_slide_tweet.exe

Download File

---

*restrictions apply

Window Hider 2.0!

Window Hider 2.0!

This is the new and ultimate version of the Window Hider!


With the Window Hider you easily hide your currently active window just by pressing CTRL+SPACE!


Press it once to hide the window!
Press it again to re-show the window!

window_hider.exe

Download File

Edit Any Website LIVE!

Have you ever needed to edit a text of any website? With this script you can edit any website in the world, live right from your computer. Unfortunately the changes are not permanent, you are the only that can see them and when you refresh the page the page will revert back to normal. But hey! It's still fun to modify any page in the world and show your friends how you made $100,000,000 with adsense or how Google says it is copy written by you!

With these script you can have a lot of fun! But don't forget to turn editing mode off after so that people won't realize you edited it!

To edit a website just type this code in the URL of your browser while you are looking at the website:

javascript:document.body.contentEditable='true'; document.designMode='on'; void 0

To finish editing a website and turn the editing mode off just type in this code

javascript:document.body.contentEditable='false'; document.designMode='off'; void 1

Once you are in editing mode you can just change anything from the website as if you were in Microsoft Word! Simple as that!

Farmville Auto Harvester/Plower/Seeder Bot! 5.0!!

Farmville has become the most popular game in the history of Facebook and +20 million people play it everyday. As your farm gets bigger the work gets harder. Just to harvest, plow and seed everyday takes on average +1200 clicks! That can easily take more than a half an hour!

Now imagine how much easier it would be if you lower those clicks to just one click. Yep! Just one click! That is the power of the Farmville Auto Harvester/Plower/Seeder Bot! With this bot all you need is to set your starting position and click start! It will do 400 plots of land (20x20) in just 12 seconds!!! That's more than 65 faster than human clicks!

This bot will not only harvest, it also plows! and seeds! And it can even be used to gain crazy amounts of XP with haybales! For 100,000 farm coins you can get 5,000xp! (That's 5 times more than buildings' xp)


So what are you waiting for?

Features:
-Harvests 20x20 farms in 12 seconds
-Seeds 20x20 farm in 12 seconds
-Plows 20x20 farm in 12 seconds
-Places haybals at crazy speed ($100,000 = 5,000xp)
-Saves last used settings
-New Max Speed!
-New Look!