Fall 2008 marks my last semester at SDSU as well as my last chance to find out what I am capable of before I have to find my niche in the world. I can only hope that after all the changes that will inevitably happen to me afterward, I won't lose heart in the things I love and be able to find my way when the my path before me becomes unclear.

Got a lot of cover these last few weeks of being a student. Going to have to make them worth the time.

This time around I picked up some special studies classes that are allowing me to pick up on 3D Media again. Maya being the program of focus. I also have the luxury or possibly the incredible responsibility in helping out the class understand a program I myself am grasping for the first time for a unit of credit. That means that I will have to put in much more study time and online training for Maya and Max. Not that I'm complaining.

In another returning class I'm taking Emerging Tech a second time to pick up a few more tricks and designing interfaces and possibly games. Thanks to Micheal, a fellow returner, we are exploring how Adobe Flash can help us on our projects and possibly our portfolios. Just finished creating a map creator for Atlantis Laser Tag that functions as a program to help the owners design their mazes however they want before they would have to physically move the walls themselves. Still figuring out what to do for our next project but it is quite possible we'll be exploring who we can use 3D stuff for flash.

Composting is turning out to be the kind of class I need at the moment in terms of understanding the theory and mechanics of cutting video clips together using Adobe After effects. Currently working on a short 3D short called Baseball Bloopers (tentative title) with a fellow class mate. I'm handling the 3d animation while he takes care of the concept and story boarding. I'll put up a render or two soon. For the most part this is an incredibly simple animation meant to teach up the mechanics of Adobe After Effects.

My final class is a drawing class I probably should have taken several semesters ago but haven't taken until now because schedule conflicts. Life drawing focuses on the art of quickly and efficiently capturing the human figure in drawing. I am learning that some of the techniques I am picking up in gesture were techniques I have been using before to some extent. Some of the new things I am picking up in this class will hopefully enhance what I do in modeling figures and 3D.

\\\Think I'll log the other bits and pieces that make up my week later\\\

Amazingly enough it feels like I'm putting in more work this semester for 9 units than I have ever done compared to past semesters. My main focus this time around is to expand on Rebirth as a way to link all my classes together.

3D Media
Mostly the extra time in class I need to model, texture, animate, and learn new stuff about 3D max. I enjoy the fact that there are others who decided to stay with the class from last semester to try out some new things. I wouldn't have learned half as much if it weren't for them.

Emerging Tech
Taking the class for the first time means I have to spend time working on some smaller exercises involving getting to know Macromedia Director and basic interaction software. The plus side is the fact that a computer science class uses the same room we do which means I can learn a little more on how to expand my 3D modeling into game engines like Torque and Source. I found someone who can help me in my ambition to finally create a small 3D game using Director. I am leaving all the coding aspects to him, for now I am waiting on seeing if we can start with simple objects moving around in a 3D space before moving on to bringing in Tweeter.

Sequential Media
The first assignment I turned in for this class was a small flash animation for Rebirth's preview as seen in my gallery. This more than any class is whats keeping the pressure on me to model and animate as fast as I can because the deadlines are so close to each other. My goal for this class is to produce the opening scenes as well as cut scenes for Rebirth.

So there you have or at least as far as goals and ambitions go. Later one when I finally get a character moving around in a 3D space I'll explain what game mechanics I plan to put in the game.

In other news, I reapplied for Cybercamps @ UCSD so I hope to see some of last years campers there. It be awesome if they get a course in 3D media going on this summer that I can teach. Maya would be awesome also since it give me a chance to learn it in addition to 3D max. I'll most likely be the instructor for game design and 3D game design again if anything else.

One last thing, [link]
Emerald Coast Comics is up again with some new work along with a few new artist as well. I'll be around to help out with inking, colors, and lettering so maybe you'll see my stuff around there once in a while.