hell week round 3 is.... OVER!!!! PWNAGE!!!!

Ed: i know this isn't a good way to start a post but what the hey...

KNN!!!!! Even though hell week round 3 just ended, i kenna struck down by Murphy's Law (curse you murphy! CURSE YOU!!! *shakes fist in anger*). Stupid week couldn't even end on a happy note. ok now that the ranting is over and done with, here's a little recap:

1. Cowboy X - the video

The video was finished by 11pm thursday night. gave me a bloody headache from staring at the screen the whole time. (didn't help matters that the headache lasted all the way till friday night).

the video was pretty cute (if i say so myself). got the message across nicely, and on hindsight looked like one of those cartoon things cos of the resolution.

2. Cowboy X - the "Sales pitch".

CY and Dang totally blow my mind with the final game they manage to rush out at 9am (i swear to God they left me totally stunned). but since life is fair (in some sense), though the game development was fantastic, other problems arose...

I tested the laptop (i really did). I tested ALL the stuff i wanted to run (i REALLY DID). and it ran fine for all of 5 minutes. THEN TECHNOLOGY DECIDES TO GO KAPUT ON ME.

I couldn't show the live demo because the projector didn't like my laptop for some reason. then it totally refused to show anything at all. and just when i decide to RESTART MY COMPUTER the screen comes back on *shakes fist in anger*.

so we give up on my laptop, switch to Dang's instead. the stuff is all wonky on his too, but we pull through (after much nerve-wracking moments experienced by yours truly). on the bright side, tech issues aside at least we weren't torn to shreds by Kevin and Alex during Q & A.

3. playtesting for Interactive Storytelling

I seriousy wonder if i should have gone for that playtest session, and whether it was just a waste of time for me. was totally zoned (thanks to the monster headache which got worse after the sales pitch full of tech mishaps). i guess it helped that i concussed for pretty much almost the whole 3 hour break between 1 and 4.

4. AC international Speech night - the video shoot

Decided to be the "good big brother" and help my sister videotape her performance (i volunteered for this without knowing i would be struck by the uber-headache from hell). So i pulled through the filming, headache and all. then i went home and concussed on my bed for almost a good 12 hours.

shoutouts:

1. Dang, CY and Huimin: You guys rock! i don't think GAS games and Cowboy X could've survived without you! *kowtows to Dang and CY* Like i said earlier - these 2 guys blew my mind. i never expected the final cowboy X product to look THAT good.

2. R: i know that if i say thank you for your being there for me, you'll insist that you didn't do anything. but that's the point of "being there" isn't it? you don't have to do anything. you just have to be there. and to me, that's enough. in your own special way you helped me pull through.

oh and before i go... a little picture for you guys.

In memory of GAS games:

The end is near....

ok... contrary to what you might think, this post is NOT about hellfire and brimstone. more accurately, its about the end of my hell week 'round 2'. and here's why:

Deadlines for the week ending 3 Nov

1. Interactive Storytelling assignment (monday)
2. Media writing Breaking News (tuesday)
3. Media writing press release (tuesday)
4. Media writing Public Service announcement (tuesday)
5. Media writing tutorial (tuesday)
6. Game Design prototype and document (friday)

so as you can see... what i've got left is the prototype and design document.

and after that... on to hell week round 3 which should include:
1. final demo for game design
2. game design term paper
3. interactive storytelling final assignment
4. media writing tutorials and assignments (not sure how many more)

effectively i think i only have this weekend to 're-charge'. then its on to round 3

surviving hell week round 2....

i thought hell week round 2 would be horrible (3 assignments due tomorrow and a comprehensive project documentation at the end of the week). but i think i can survive. not because i have to, but because i have motivation. thank you for being my motivation. thank you for being there for me. thank you for being who you are.

Operation Tiger (Debrief)

well. its finally over and done with. operation tiger is finally done. and now i can get back to normality (read: DEADLINES).

pretty successful i think. no screw-ups or anything, which is always a good thing. photos? maybe. maybe not.

Operation Tiger

well. today's my grandfather's 80th (80th? imagine that...)

which brings me to 'operation tiger' - his birthday party (and a huge one at that). who woulda thought that at 80 my grandfather would have a theme party. ok fine so the theme is rather old-school (its peranakan), but a theme none the less. i bet all of you would just totally love to see what i've been forced to wear (probably in the anticipation that you get to suan me after). there'll be pictures (i think). if i can be bothered to post them...

so anyway... one one hand its an exciting thing (considering all our preparations). and on the other, i can't wait for it to end (sometimes too exciting is not good).

so anyway, we're gearing up for it.... operation tiger begins in: T-5 hours.... sheesh.

Hell week... ROUND 2

believe it or not, i have more than 1 round of hell week (if my calculations are correct i should have 3). yes you heard me right.

so anyway... on to hell week round 2 (most of which has been covered in the previous post). deadline is friday 27th.... so based on posting time, deadline is in T-10 days. Check back then to see if chris is alive (and if he is, he's probably gearing up for hell week round 3).

Down Time...

With most of the assignments now out of the way... its sort of the 'calm before the storm' for me... like the period between assignments. 1 'wave' is over... now i'm anticipating the next one.

the thing is... i already know what i have to do, but am still too lazy to start on it. like... adrenaline's down after taking a 'hit' from the 1st wave. need to get up again and get ready for the next one. otherwise i'm surely going to 'drown'...

so here's a to-do list:

GEK1527 Term paper
NM4209 Research paper
NM4209 project
NM3222 Assignment
NM2220 Tutorials + various assignments (total number yet to be confirmed)

honestly speaking... doesn't look too promising. someone get me to start on it before i drown...

can't quite put my finger on it...

SCD just told me about my (apparent) explosion today. i didn't think i exploded / snapped at people (not at that point anyway). but on hindsight, i'm beginning to see a worrying trend...

It isn't the first time that someone has asked if i'm pissed cos i (apparently) snapped at someone else. its happened at least twice prior. and as the post title indicates, i can't quite figure out why. People have told me that i looked stressed (last week at least), but i said that i'm fine. so now i'm wondering... am i really? or am i just fooling myself that everything's ok?

i think there IS something bugging me. but i'm not sure what. and obviously it's bugging me enough (subconciously anyway) to make me snap at people. but i just can't quite put my finger on it...

My favourite song...

for regular and /or long-time readers of any of my blogs, by now you would know that this is my favourite song. every so often i feel like putting it down if only because it reflects what i'm thinking (and my life as i know it).

so i present to you (again), 'Wonderful' by Everclear - A song for anyone and everyone who's been in / going through this situation:

I close my eyes when I get too sad
I think thoughts that I know are bad
Close my eyes and I count to ten
Hope it's over when I open them

I want the things that I had before
Like a Star Wars poster on my bedroom door
I wish I could count to ten
And make everything be wonderful again

I hope my mom and I hope my dad
Will figure out why they get so mad
I hear them scream, I hear them fight
They say bad words that makes me want to cry

Close my eyes when I go to bed and I
Dream of angels who make me smile
I feel better when I hear them say that
Everything will be wonderful some day

Promises mean everything
When you're little and the world is so big
I just don't understand how
You can smile with all those tears in your eyes
When you tell me everything is wonderful now

Na na nana........Please don't tell me everthing is wonderful now

I go to school and I run and play
I tell the kids that it's all ok
I have to laugh so my friends wont know
When the bell rings I just don't want to go home

Go to my room and I close my eyes
I make believe that I have a new life
I don't believe you when you say that
Everything will be wonderful some day

Promises mean everything
When you're little and the world is so big (so big)
I just don't understand how
You can smile with all those tears in your eyes
When you tell me everything is wonderful now

Na na nana........No. No.

I don't want to hear you tell me everything is wonderful now.
No. No. I don't want to hear you tell me everything is wonderful now.
I don't want to hear you say that I will understand some day
No. No. No. No.
I don't want to hear you say that you both have grown in a different way
No. No. No.No I don't want to meet your friend
I don't want to start over again
I just want my life to be the same
Just like it used to be
Somedays, I hate everything
I hate everything
Everyone and everything
Please don't tell me everything is wonderful now.
Na na nana....

No. Please I don't want to hear you tell me everything is wonderful now...
No. Please don't tell me everything is wonderful now..
Na nana..
Everything is wonderful now...

[Ed: Wonderful? yeah right]

Shit hits the fan...

Ladies and gentlemen,

Chris' hell week has officially begun. in addition to my 'to-do' list, i now have:

1. Draft of 'Project Tiger' video up by 30th Sept
2. CMC event 30th Sept 4-9 pm

how on earth am i gonna cope....

Ed: with God's grace, enough of sleep, and more bullshit than you could possibly imagine

Double Whammy

its been a rather exciting few days i have to admit.

WED:

SCD's birthday. collect cake for delivery to school (at 10am). get message from SCD that she might pon. nearly get heart attack. convince SCD to go with me to canteen to buy food (hence creating a distraction for birthday cake setup.

try to start work on video. freak out cos can't get the concept out. get really agitated and mum gets worried. finally get 'insight' (as R calls it) at 12 midnight.

THURS:

rushing video for AGM, literally to the last minute. Memories on TV decides to screw up on me. have trouble converting to viewable format for editing. transition effects get screwed up. make 2 variations of video (2nd version in adobe premiere), holding the laptop while its rendering graphics, all the way from AS6 to LT12. play video made in memories on TV. nearly get a heart attack when video lags. end up using adobe premiere pro version of video (which i'm not too happy with cos of screw-ups there).

shout out to R for helping me keep calm today while doing my video. thanks loads. i was panicking like nobody's business (as you would have very obviously noticed). also thanks for putting up with the nonsense (note to self: don't think out loud if you can help it).

ASSignments, Tests and Notes to self

if you think that taking 4 mods is going to be easy, check this out

To-do list from now till just after mid-sem break

GEK1527 Essay (approx 1000 words)
GEK 1527 Midterm (on a saturday evening no less. note to self: ask SCD for tution)
NM 2220 Interview / profile (note to self: get hold of alex and ask for interview)
NM 2220 Breaking News assignment (note to self: drop by for CONTRAST)
NM 3222 Assignment (note to self: come up with ideas soon. then go see Sarah about them)
NM 4209 Wiki posting (note to self: do reading from newly acquired textbooks)
NM 4209 Presentation preparation (note to self: do slides / handouts or whatever)
NM 4209 Project updates (note to self: chase the rest of the group for stuff, update Wiki and regularly check / post on forum)

and you thought taking 4 mods was slack.

oh... more notes to self: chase other people to do their stuff too.

Collide...

The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah

But I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find, you and I collide

I'm quiet, you know
You make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know
I'm always on your mind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
You somehow find, you and I collide

Don't stop here
I've lost my place
I'm close behind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find, you and I collide

You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide

- Collide, by Howie Day

MSN is not working?!!!

MSN is not working. and its not just for me. apparently almost everyone i know has been 'afflicted'. which leaves me only 1 thing to say: CURSES BE UPON THE HORDES OF MICROSOFT PROGRAMMERS... then again, might not necessarily be them... oh well, let's reprhase: CURSES UPON THE HORDES OFHACKERS AND VIRUS MAKERS WHO DECIDED TO MESS WITH MSN (i can't think of anyone else who might do something like that).

argh argh argh... stupid assignments

I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT TO HAND IN A MEDIA WRITING ASSIGNMENT... $#%$#^

and to think here i was thinking that there's like nothing to do (thank God the lab assignments constitute only 10% of the total grade). and even though its like 10% per day per late assignment... which effectively makes it only 0.3% of the final grade ASSUMING i get everything right.

let's hope it doesn't happen again... haiz...

week 4... and things are moving really slowly...

Log entry: 8/9/06

school is in full swing (week 4 actually). things seemed to have settled down, but i haven't quite gotten down to work (which is something quite worrying considering my CA workload). module analysis as follows:

NM4209: Cowboys X (say it many times fast).... seems to be working out. the game is taking shape (hopefully). can't say the same for my presentation and paper though (the textbooks still haven't arrived from amazon.com)

NM3222: seems like an interesting module (with shades of NM2208 - the first assignment being a case in point). 100% CA... so the remaining assignments should be interesting).

NM2220: still wondering if i made the right choice taking this module. even though workload hasn't picked up yet... i'm anticipating A LOT of work coming in.

GEK1527: you know, i'm still wondering why i took this module. its been 4 weeks, and i'm still wondering. maybe i'll be wondering about it at the end of the sem (which is highly likely).

here we go (again)

another AY, another sem. another 13 weeks of hell. and if you're wondering why...

NM4209 (Game Design 2): 100% CA (1 presentation, 1 term paper and 1 group project involving minimal level of programming *ugh*)
NM3222 (Interactive Storytelling): 100% CA (multiple small assignments and a group project)
NM2220 (Media Writing): 70% CA (multiple small assignments that occur almost every week)
GEK1507 (Genes and Society): 40% CA

yes. i have 2 non-examinable modules this sem (believe it or not). and non-examinable modules mean high CA workload. and high CA workload means come term time (which starts now)... chris is DEAD.

but what the hey. i'll get through it (i hope). just that the grades won't be fantastic. but i like what i do, so that's enough isn't it?

stuck at home... when i should be at... THE LAKE HOUSE

damn damn damn damn damn. i hate this, i really do. end yo doing sai kang all day long. bad enough have to be the supermarket kaki, now also become the unofficial 'jaga'. damnit, the prospect of a 5-day week is getting more and more appealing (if only for the excuse that it keeps me out of the house as much as possible).

i'm supposed to be watching 'The Lake House' with the rest of them (don't ask why i'm going to watch some romantic show with a bunch of girls. just DON'T). on the brightside, thanks to cors they're coming over to my place to do the last-minute bidding (again). so at least it won't be so boring later in the day.

looks like its gonna be another boring day in the life of chris...

rare CORS experience

here's something you don't see everyday... 27 vacancies, 1 bid (which happens to be me by the way). where the heck is everyone?

bad weather

truly it can be said that when it rains, it pours. and that when it pours, it floods. damn i feel like i'm a mess - have to sort all the goddam thinking out.

doesn't help that mum keeps having a go at me everytime about her perrenial number1 issue. and i HATE it. absolutely positively HATE it. does she know what it really means when she starts saying all that (sometimes i think she damn welll does, but says it anyway). yeah sure she says we got the choice and all that (but it damn hell seems like we don't). doesn't she ever stop and wonder if she's trying to live her dream through us (and trust me this is not something easy to live through). aw f*#% even she got it wrong. more incentive for me to remain at my current status. cos she'll never let me live it down if i screw it up - she'll nag on and on and i'll never hear the end of it. when C said it was like a death sentence over my head, she got it spot on. i never looked at it that way, but effectively that's what it is.

it just goes on and on and on and on and f^$#%#$ on.... and she always thinks she's right. and perfect and god knows what else. bloody hell, it even drives my sis mad (you know its bad when your sis tells you she loves school for the sole fact that it means seeing less of mum). that's it, when school starts, either i get myself a 5-day or stay till 6 on the days i have class. anything to get out of the damn house. God it's disgusting to think like this, but that's how i really feel.

apparently i think too much about things. which is bad. cos then it gives me unnecessary worries and stress. aw dammit i really am a mess.