Huff

Puff

What, do you think?

It’s starting, to look more natural…

YEAH! That’s totally, how it feels.

No. You cut me off. I meat to say, “naturally crooked”. Straighten up your back.

Sigh, thanks.

Huff

Puff

It’s funny but I just assume all my friends know each other.  Then I’m surprised to realize they don’t know who I’m talking about.

Don’t worry Joe, I bet it happens to a lot of people.

I’m not Joe.

Oh…

Click image above to order

Robyn’s latest children’s book Philo & Sophy is available for sale. Written by Joseph Ulrich the book tells the story of Philo and Sophy. This two children don’t know one another but share a common yearning to answer life’s biggest questions.

As I mentioned in my lulu review: “This is a charming insightful story that is both fun and thought provoking. As a creator I keep coming back and finding different meaning depending on what mood I may be in. The art shares the same quality as I will often come back to spot details or objects hidden in plain sight.”

You owe it to your self to check it out.

I did a spotlight on Robyn’s work for this book back in April 1st and it is recently that  she finished the last color revision on the final version. It’s a lot of work to get this things to print right I tell you.

Pretty stuff huh?

This place, that place. Where should we go?

Go? We’re already there.

True that.

The elephant is not a snake or a tree or a rope.

There’s only one explanation then.

We don’t see the big picture?

No. Clearly the elephant is a ninja.

Clearly.

Ditto or is it Tritto?

..floating…

..walking through my neighborhood…

..so long as I don’t move I’ll float…

..walking through my neighborhood but in a different country…

..can’t control where the wind floats me…

..woah, who’s that guy floating up in the sky?…

..what is a neighborhood doing in the middle of a glacier?…

..i know that guy…

..i know that guy…

Amazing how a few little things make a big difference.

Again?

All I’m saying is “the devil is in the details”, “one persons trash is another’s treasure”, “to-may-to” does not equal “to-mah-to”.

Yes, I do think we’ve gone over this. I think we had come to the agreement this is often the case and I did not care to discuss it any further.

Do you see my point?

Yes, the difference is I don’t let the details overpower my ability to see the whole.

And so?

We don’t have to agree. That’s the natural way of things.

That’s precisely how I see it. See you after the movie.

I’m glad you called me home. I almost didn’t come.

I’m starting to regret I invited you. You’re game sucks today.

Freaking anxiety is what this is but I’m getting over it.

I know the feeling. Just so much stuff we’re cut out for and so much stuff we’re really not.

I just want to do so much. Play, build, learn, rest. Just thinking about it is just exhausting.

You’ll never be able to do everything. Cut yourself some slack.

This is what I chose to do and thats what I control.

Let’s hope that attitude results in more control of the ball.

I never said I was any good at b-ball.

It’s called hoops.

Whatever. It’s your serve.

Which one modern game system do you think is the coolest?

Isn’t it obvious the one that generates the least amount of surface heat.

Har har, Haven’t you been paying attention to the latest news? The console war has gotten serious.

Are we in any danger?

Sigh, You casual handheld crowd. So immature. You will never understand the Next-Gen Hardcore console market.

Yeah it’s too much for me. Did you ever finish that game where you had to pretend to stroll in the park?

Nah, I have a new game where you take care of this virtual war-rhinoceros calf. If I catch all the lava-ticks inside its skin folds I’ll get my online status upgraded to Groomatologist In Chief. The badge for that is visible in 3D.

Do you believe in commercial savants?

Did you just make that up?

Yes, yes I did.

What’s bothering you? Give it to me quick.

How is it that all the local commercials are incredibly good about being bad? I would think it would be hard to get so many things so wrong.

Be specific.

Okay it’s the kids. How do people hundreds of thousands of miles away manage to create the same commercial where the kids can’t act and can be hardly understood?

You hate kids.

No, I don’t I think they are brilliant. The way they look spooked and distracted. The way the mumble their lines with the wrong timing. It’s like the didn’t even try a second take.

So you love the kids?

It takes a genius to come up with that stuff.

It’s so bad it’s good?

Commercial savants.

Hello internets,

This is a home stretch call for donations. This Saturday I’m participating a Bowl For Art fundraising event to benefit the Upstate Artist Guild.

They are a not-for-profit volunteer organization, open to all, which promotes the appreciation, practice, and enjoyment of art. Those of you who visit often will know that I’ve been lucky enough to show work as their great locale.

The goal is to raise money to keep the doors open and the art rolling (no pun intended). I’ve made a less than fantastic 35 dollars so far but I think I can do better with your help.

Best of all, when you think your helping me you’re really helping the local arts community. The much better cause.

Visit http://upstateartistsguild.org/uag/pledge.php and select my name from the drop-down list of participating bowlers. Then click the “Donate” button to make your donation online.

Thank you and stay tuned for more comics.

As I get older there often not enough a lot of time to play games. Being a game designer this is a problem sometimes. I love casual games these days (since they are very creative and easy to pick up an play) but I set myself in these projects where I try to beat “renowned” games just to see what makes them tick. That brings us to Metroid Prime.

A friend of mine’s kid gave to me. I remember it being a big deal back when it came out in 2002 with a metacritic score of 87-97. I can honestly say it’s okay to play but borderline annoying. Why? I would sum it up in 3 parts.

* Difficult encounters rely heavily on the controls inability to strafe (unless locked on) and aim up easily.  Lots of monsters and flying aliens like to assault from just above were you can aim without jumping.

* Not enough safe points. For a game thats mainly a linear corridor walk you’d think the addition of a side door with a safe spot would not be hard to make. Save points are far and few between as the game progresses and re-playing those encounters does not get fresher. Which brings me to the next thing.

* Monster Closets. I use the term loosely but as I venture in the pirates phazon mine I am feeling a bit bored that what I have to look forward is monsters popping out of the ceiling(literally) and making a beeline at my character. Then it gets tedious as they will often spawn too high for me to aim etc. etc. etc.

They made 3 games out of this thing but if I ever finish the first I doubt I’ll pick up anymore. I already put down the DS version too for the lack of pick up and play ability(save points) which is important for handheld games. I guess in the end thats why the whole series it feels so unappealing and demanding at the same time.

What do I propose would you fix problems such as this? Simple, stop focusing so much on the stuff the character can’t do as a point for defining challenge. It feels cheap and forced. Find out what it does well and do more of that. Focus more on what it can do right.

In this case the best moments have been the open field fights at ground level with various AI since it forces me to dodge and jump. That and the rock boss monster that lacks a head but makes a point to roar when he comes together out of broken pieces.

Hot dog! Summer is almost here.

Word. Sunny days’ just what I need these days.

I heard that. I get up and it’s already bright, and stays bright until late a night.

Just seemed like it would never come.

And why is that?

I say is lack of faith. Faith in the sun’s rotation. Faith in the cycle of opposing forces. Faith in just thinking things can get better.

I wouldn’t go that far. I’m a realist.

What does your realist mind tell you right now?

It’s getting really, really hot right now. I have to get out of the sun.

Happy though?

Yes, sir.

Can you tell what I’m looking at?

Nope. How about me?

Your eyes are closed as far as I can tell.

Cool.

Sometimes blending in is the only way to stand out. You know? I got plans man. Big plans and I don’t need to be drawing in unwanted attention. Things will happen when they happen and that’s all anyone should care about. Will I look super cool all the while? Perhaps, but that’s just the convenient side effect. It just happens.

Zzzzzz…

Hey! Hey! What the heck?

No dude my eyes were open, really!

…

big plans?

That was a lucky guess.

Took a while but I finally got around to updating some of those old college animations that have been kicking around. This one is called The Hunt and it is the heart warming tale of a hunter and its prey and another hunter who also shows up. Bonus you get the original black and white original.

This was all animated by hand in paper mind you. I think the light table was improvised out of something but i’ll have to ask Jonny see if he remembers.

Here’s the other one.

That’s Beethoven’s Presto Agitato in the background. They use to play the hell out of it in the old smurf cartoons.

This is it?

Yep, This is what it’s all about.

It’s quite pretty but it’s not unusually pretty.

Look closer.

Okay. I see a few places where it’s starting to fall apart.

Closer…

There is a couple of places where the bugs  pooped.

closer still…

There’s nothing else.

and…

It’s not too shabby.

Not too shabby indeed. Want to see a the rock I found?

Don’t push it dude.

I don’t like my hair. I like your hair.

What? You have great hair. My hair sucks.

Your hair doesn’t suck. Your hair is pretty.

Mine’s a hassle. Yours is better.

No yours is.

No, no yours is.

No, no, no,  your is.

You’re too nice.

No, you’re too nice.

Well at least we can agree, you have the best lashes.

My lashes? I hate my lashes. I like your lashes.

Crazy as it may seem, I think this place is starting to become kind of nice.

I agree but I can’t put my finger on why that is. Nothings really changed since we started coming.

And yet somehow we haven’t gotten bored of it.

I used to see this as a temporary place to go to and never put much thought into the why.

When does a place become a hangout?

Perhaps when you find yourself being yourself among those who themselves are just that.

It’s a subtle balance that has been struck. How long do you think it can last?

I don’t know if it matters to tell you the truth?

All we’ve directed is the effort of just being ourselves in the present.

I do think that perhaps we should get one of those frequent buyer stamp cards.

You don’t have one? I’ve already filled out two.

Grrr…..

Grumble grumble…

GRRRR!!!!

GRUMBLE!!!

That’s it, I’ve had it!

Me too but after all this effort it’s stupid to just give it up.

On that we can agree. Let’s go.

Grrr…..

Grumble grumble…

GRRR…did I do it?…RRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

GRUM…not even a wet spot..BLE!!!

Phew, It must take a real man to cry.

A real tough hombre.

It’s a darn shame.

An irritating truth.

Why don’t we take a break and practice admitting our flaws?

It’s going to be tough, I can’t think of any.

Looking back now, I firmly believe  this state is not conducive to any endeavor.

Sadly, I knew what I was getting into.

Really?

Yeah,I had already learned this lesson. I took a chance, got overconfident and lost.

I can’t imagine being like this all the time.

Hungover?

No, helpless.

It sure is a strange way to appreciate how good you have it most of the time.

It’s funny how easily we forget.

That reminds me, thanks for sticking around.

Anytime. By the way I call dibs on the waste bucket.

That’s my hat.

Good to know.