I had a little scare today where I couldn't find my flash drive that stores most of my game files.  I eventually found it in a pile of papers, but I was beginning to get real nervous and frustrated.  I've gotta make some backups later tonight.  Anywho, it's all good now that I found it.  And here's a three dimensional take on Level 9 in Home Base.


This might become part of the intro movie.

I picked up a new game yesterday, another adventure game that has the player trying to solve a mystery. I've started to like the genre more than I thought I would. This particular game is completely different than any other commercial game I've purchased before. It was initially the game's packaging that caught my attention: a clear plastic case, wrapped in a clear plastic bag with a sticker on it reading "EVIDENCE" in bold letters, and a short description about the package inside.


I had been eyeing the game for quite some time on the store shelf, and a few days ago I finally forked over the cash. Seeing as how it was a murder mystery, crime solving puzzler, I figured I should set the proper mood the first time I loaded it up. So I turned all the lights off, put on my headphones for surround sound, and got in a cozy, yet strained, positioned in front of the glowing computer screen.

For the hour or so that I managed to put into it late last night, it was well worth it. A brief description: the police needs your help to capture a serial killer, who has sent the officials a "game" in CD format. This is the same game that you, the user is playing right now. Officials have released the game to the public in hopes of solving the killer's puzzles in his game, and ultimately capturing him.

The game, from what I've gathered so far (besides being extremely creepy), has you solving various puzzles that the serial killer created. He awards you with various videos (of his victims?) and websites for advancing in his game.

The one aspect of the game that is niftier than the rest is the fact that the game sends you emails to your email account (which you provide to the police at the beginning of the game) from either the serial killer, the officials, or other investigators tracking down the guy.

I plan to spend some more late nights playing this game in the future. It was a great thrill thus far.

For the third straight game, Kobe Bryant scores at least 50 points in a game by himself! The Lakers won all three games. He first scored 65 against Portland, then scored 50 against Minnesota, and tonight scored 60 points against Memphis. This truly is an amazing feat, accomplished only by 3 other NBA players in history, one of which happens to be Michael Jordan.

It seems I have the habit of making games that are not all that fun to play. First I made Elementary Kanji, a learning program rather than a game. Next, I worked on Learning the Kana, another learning tool, though this time it was better disguised as a game. Now, working on my puzzle game Home Base, I am starting to wonder what exactly I am trying to accomplish with Game Maker. The game seems to be extremely hard for most people who try it, and it seems that it is more of a chore for them rather than a challenge. Once Home Base is done, I am going to change my focus. I want to make a game that is more fun to play than it is to look at. Trouble is coming up with an original idea that would be just as fun for me to make as it would be to play.

Today is a good day. In fact, I'm glad it happened on the first day of the new year. I got my first car, a nearly new (2005), white Hyundai with low mileage. Sure, it's missing the radio and it doesn't have automatic windows or locks, but hey, the thing drives great, and it feels good when I'm sitting inside of it, because I know it's my own. I can finally drive to the basketball gym on my own (when the local one in walking distance is closed)!

I'm just excited about it. At 19 years old, it needed to finally happen, and I'm glad it did now. Never thought it would happen in the midst of a new year, though.

I've got another thing to be excited about, something which I forgot to mention in my previous blog, because I was overwhelmed by the point-and-click genre which I had up to now ignored. As a Christmas gift, my sister is getting tickets to a Lakers game. We live about 2 to 3 hours away from Los Angeles. I picked the Lakers-Nuggets game because Allen Iverson (my fav player next to Kobe) just got traded to the Nuggets (after over a decade with the Sixers). Though the game is in April, I am definatley excited. One of the best gifts that she could think of, considering I would have asked for just a video game if she had asked. Plus she's a Lakers fan, and I've got a few friends who would like to go along also. I'm rambling now, but it's good to write it all down, makes me realize how lucky I am for these two things.