Photographic Evidence...
...I didn't really take any photos. But here are some of the super exciting highlight of my trip:
My San Jose hotel had super fast internet...
...but also the on ramp to the 101 right outside my window!!
This is my crap rental car. Didn't go in straight lines very well.
This is my San Fran hotel, right in middle of Hobo-Central.
This Mall made me dizzy.
And this is where I spent most of my time in San Fran.
San Frandango...
Haven’t blogged for a few days cos there was no internet access in my room in San Fran. I drove into San Fran. Won’t bother doing that again. For a first time visitor, the one way system was a nightmare.
So, what did I get up to in San Fran? Not much cos I knocked out by flu. I shopped, eat and went to the cinema (to spread a little bugs). Did meet up with Andrea Johnson (the voice of ‘andjuliet’), which was great. That girl can walk fast, I’ll tell ya. Ws actually the first time we’ve met even though we’ve been collaborating for quite a while now.
I did this little trip on a budget and it shows. The hotel in San Fran was – erm – interesting. Maybe I’ve just bee spoilt – but it was slap bang in the middle of Hobo-central and had some ‘interesting’ neighbours. But dodge the porno theatres and the homeless for a block and you hit some good shopping.
I don’t really know if I like San Fran or not. Maybe if I hadn’t been ill and had managed to get out and about a bit more I could give a more educated opinion on the place. Not a fan of San Jose though – I got say.
Anyways – my flight is in an hour so I better shimmy.
Nic.
GDC day 2...
It’s the start of day 3 of GDC and – I have a cold. Not going to well this trip on the health front. I checked out the Sony keynote. Very, very boring except for the Eye Toy demo by some American Idol failure. The PSP game that was demoed looked a lot like a ‘Croc Engine’ game to me and failed to impress in any way.
Went to a lecture on ‘Emergent Games Design’ by a couple of guys from Ion Storm. I had an interview recently where they asked me what I thought of emergent gameplay. I was like, emergent what? So I decided to go and see what it was all about. Turns out that this is how I’ve been thinking about design for a while, I just never knew it needed a funky tag like ‘emergent’. The lecture was great though and those guys really know there stuff.
Also checked out Will Spector’s talk about story in game. Interesting to see the guy who everyone says is the master of emergent gameplay singing the praises of linear games. That’s right Will, step into the dark side. Again – it was a really great lecture. These Ion Storm guys know their stuff. It’s a just a shame I can’t get into their games.
Also attended the Phil Tippet Keynote. I’m afraid to say this was very boring. It was about the history of animation. Very self indulgent and only picked up when it can to the Q&A session. Guys a genius – just not a great public speaker.
I’m heading off to San Fran tonight and I’m not sure what the internet situation is like in the hotel. Lovely connection here. 600K per second. Sweet!
Nic.
More GDC
So yesterday I attended a lecture on mocap by House of Moves, the Microsoft keynote, Neil Young’s keynote (EA), the Zelda evolution lecture, and 6 minutes of the final HL2 lecture before I had to duck out with mild food poisoning.
Needless to say I won’t be drinking any more GDC coffee, or eating anymore GDC sandwiches.
The best lecture was by Neil Young. Think what you like about EA – but they are giving the people what they want. I find them very hit and miss but you can’t doubt the production values and overall quality of product. Young gave a little bit of an insight into the thinking behind the concepts at EA. Basically defining and setting in stone the core concept of the project in one sentence.
He also showed a fantastic ‘Mario movie’. He was demonstrating the difference between a game and an entertainment product. If you can track this movie down – get it. It’s REALLY cool. Hopefully it’ll be on the GDC DVD.
The Zelda lecture was interesting and well translated. There was a lot of talk about the ‘reality’ of Zelda. Even though it is a fantasy world, they make sure there is a reality to it. Also some talk about how Zelda was a stew – or something.
Got to plan my lectures today. Want to see the ICO lecture today for sure.
More later,
Nic.
GDC Blog 1
What is XNA? Not sure anyone who was at the Microsoft keynote actually knows. There were three demos showing the kind of quality consumers will expect from the next-gen consoles. They were okay I guess. Some morphing creature, a smoking noir woman, and a smashing car. The car deformed very well, but I don't know. Didn't move me for some reason.
I'm going to hit the exhibits. I missed the Half-Life 2 lecture because I got my dates and times all screwed. Bummer.
Nic.
I called off the search...
Well – I haven’t really slept, which is the usual for my first night in the US. Very noise my hotel. Lots of traffic – even at 4AM. Decided to copy the ‘Katie Melua’ album off my smartphone and on to the MP3 player my girlfriend lent me – stuck my noise cancelling headphones on and it made me feel much more relaxed. Some people might find it weird that I’m a fan of her – but I love her album.
Didn’t make it to The Chaos Engine dinner. I tried – and got horribly lost. I’ll never use Yahoo maps again. Useless.
So far San Jose hasn’t won me over. It’s one step up from Atlanta in ‘my US cities that resemble hell’ list.
Since I haven’t slept I guess I’ll get to GDC pretty early :)
Nic.
"We can’t ever state ownership..."
So I was joking with my girlfriend this morning. See – I packed my electric toothbrush and never took the batteries out. Remember the scene from ‘Fight Club’ with the vibrating luggage? You get the picture.
Well – when I picked up suitcase IT WAS VIBRATING!!! And I just tried to brush my teeth and the batteries are dead.
I wonder if my house has blow up?
Nic.
Do you know the way etc...
So I’m in San Jose! The Games Developer Conference starts tomorrow and I hope to get some rest before that.
The flight was cool for a few reasons.
1: Virgin has this new video on demand thing. It’s like Tivo for aircraft. Makes the journey go smoother knowing you can watch what you want, when you want.
2:
Hector Elizondo was sat a few seats in front of me. I’ve met him once before in a bathroom in LA. That was at a preview screening of ‘Tortilla Soup’ featuring the girl Tamara. I didn’t reintroduce myself – cos I couldn’t remember his name.
3: And most importantly. DJ SHADOW WAS ON MY FLIGHT. I saw him a whole bunch of time cos he had a friend in the cheap seats just ahead of me. Wow – the one, the only – DJ Shadow. Again – I didn’t introduce myself for fear of coming off like a crazed fan.
I hate flying – but it wasn’t too bad this time. Maybe it was the little blue pills my Mum gave me.
I’m driving a Nissan rental thing. It’s very basic (and white). Driving down the 101 if felt like I had a flat it was that bumpy. I could have upgraded to a convertible for $10 more. What an idiot!! When I turned on the car radio they were playing ‘Return pf the Mack’ by Mark Morrison. Very surreal!!!
I’m also slumming it in a Best Western. Actually it’s not a bad place considering how cheap it is. Got free broadband in the room for a start, free parking, and BBC America on the TV. What more could you ask for. You don’t get that at The Mondrian.
I’m going to head off to ‘The Chaos Engine’ (if I can find it) in an hour. I’m sooooooo jet lagged I’ll probably only last a couple of hours. But I’ll give it a go. It’s either that or the Chucky Cheese across the road!
Nic.
Interesting...
Here's a couple of movies that look pretty interesting. CASSHERN. Click
HERE for the trailer. It's also got a website
HERE. Has a look of the new Shinobi to it don't you think?
And this also looks FANTASTIC!! I think it's called God Diva and the trailers
HERE. Also has a website
HERE.
We’re off to see the wizard...
It is so windy today that my digital satellite picture keeps breaking up! Bummer. I think the house is going to blow away!!!
Nic.
Jazz oddity...
I’m thinking about moving my music set-up over to Ableton Live (from Sonic Foundry – now Sony’s Acid). I’m hearing good thing about it. I’ve been using Acid since version 1 and know it inside and out – but I’m disappointed with the lack of innovation in the product.
Current thinking is to a use Cubase and Live together. I’m keen to get my hands on that
Korg MS-20 VSTi cos I spent my ‘yoof’ messing around with my high schools MS-20. Nearly stole it when I left!! Love that synth.
Nic.
Just not fair...
You know, some things in life just don’t work out. I’m having one of those moments. See – I’m off to GDC in San Jose next week, and then a couple of days in San Fran. Nice hu?!
Sure. Except had GDC been a couple of days latter in the month I could have gone to see:
“THURSDAY-APRIL 1st - “MOOG FEST” - TINO CORP. + MIX MASTER MIKE + MONEY MARK + THE ALBUM LEAF + 33 - At
BIMBO’S 365 CLUB
1025 Columbus Ave. San Francisco”
AND – ‘Hellboy’ opens on the 2nd of April too. It doesn’t open in the UK until September!!!
DAMN IT!! And they wonder why people download movies...
Tempted to extend my San Fran stay I must say.
Nic.
Colourful...
I love Channel Four. And this is the best station ident ever...
http://www.channel4.com/ads/index1.html
Nic.
Thank You Very Much...
Ahhh – I’m kind of upset. I watched ‘Bubba Ho-Tep’ last night, and while it wasn’t terrible or anything – it wasn’t as good as I’d hoped it would be. I’d still recommend people see it since Bruce Campbell is wonderful as Elvis. Maybe my expectations were set too high. It happens.
In other news – I CAN’T FIND MY COPY OF STREETFIGHTER EX3!! Arrrggghhh. Just as I fancied some 3D Hado-ken action as well. Must have left it at the old job. Bummer. Guess I’ll just have to be content with the unstoppable ‘Mai – Ken – Cammy’ combination on ‘Capcom VS SNK 2’.
I guess life could be worse.
Nic.
30 and Queer...
I’m watching ‘Logans Run’ – and it strikes me that Carson from ‘Queer Eye’ looks an awful lot like ‘Michael York’ in that movie.
BTW: “We better take our clothes off before they freeze to us” is possibly my fav line from a movie ever!
Nic.
Viva Retirement...
YAY! There’s a copy of Bubba Ho-tep floating around the internet. It will be mine. Been dieing to see this movie for ages but it hasn’t reached my little island yet. So until there’s a DVD release – this’ll have to do.
“Some kinda Bubba Ho-Tep”. Genius!!!
Nic.
Can’t we all just get along...
This is exactly what I’m talking about (see ‘Torque’ comments).
“Title: The Dinner Party
Log Line: A white man plans to marry a black woman whose father has a difficult time coming to terms with it.
Writer: Peter Tolan
Agent: CAA
Buyer: Columbia Pictures
Price: n/a
Genre: Comedy
Logged: 3/5/04
More: Based on script by Jay Scherick and David Ronn. Tall Trees Productions' Jenno Topping, 3 Arts Entertainment's Erwin Stoff, and Katalyst Films' Jason Goldberg will produce. Tall Trees Productions' Betty Thomas will executive produce. Kevin Rodney is in negotiations to direct. Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac will star in. Originally set up in June 2003.”
Why the fuck is America so obsessed with race? I know this is meant to be one of those ‘clever’, ‘turn it on its head’ ideas – but it’s not. This kind of thing drives me crazy.
Nic.
Tsk-tsk-tsk Ha-ha-ha...
I’m feeling really bored today. Just can’t seem to shake it – or decide what to do with myself. Might be something to do with that fact that I’m pretty tired. Had some very trippy dreams last night that kept waking me up. I woke up at one point and it looked like the bedroom walls moved in on me. Quite an unsettling feeling.
Ultimately the dreams ended up becoming a teen slasher flick with me driving off with a bunch of nubile corpses in body bags (I don’t think I killed them BTW – though I might have). After that I decided it wasn’t worth sleeping anymore so I watched the F1 qualifying instead.
I do tend to have pretty vivid dreams, and I can normally control them. Last night I don’t know what the hell was happening.
Nic.
So...
I went to see ‘Torque’. Don’t ask me why – I’ve no idea. I was just ‘there at the time’ and these things happen.
So was it any good?
Well – it made ‘The Fast and The Furious’ look like ‘La Dolce Vita’. Was it even a movie? I donno, I’m confused. Weird thing was – half an hour after seeing it, I’d completely forgotten that I’d seen it.
Some kind of story would have been nice. Some characters too would have been a bonus. Less ethnic slurring might have helped. Is it just me or is everybody else fed up with Ice Cube (for example) say stuff like ‘that be white people’s bizniz’ etc... Can’t we all just GET ALONG!!!! Not big, not clever, not funny anymore. Grow up – the rest of the world is.
And the last chase through downtown LA? Get rid of the camera shake and the blur and I’m sure it looked about as good as a PSOne game.
So yet another film I would have walked out of if I’d had anything better to do (like peel off large lengths of arm skin and shake on salt maybe). At least TFATF has Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez in it (and I’ll watch anything with those two peeps in it).
I give it 0 stars. Wait – 1 star for the bike wash bit that was about 30 seconds of the movie. It was like 80s soft core porn all over again. The boy’s a genius.
Nic.
You want me to file it where?
So I was Browsing the EA Jobs website and I came across this job title...
"Mgr Fin Plng & Anal II"
Sounds Painful.
Nic.
This old house with...
I must be bored. I just redesigned my kitchen in ‘SketchUp’.
Nic.
A quick mix 4 U...
I’m going to put together a new mix tape soon. But in the meantime – here’s a couple of tripped out tunes I quickly married.
Bjork Vs Fight Club
Portishead Vs DHS
Click
HERE to grab it.
Nic.
They’re Justified, and they live round the corner...
So apparently ‘Bill Drummond’ from the 'KLF' lives in the same little village as me. Shame he’s not my neighbour. Would have been cool moving in. “Hi! I’m your new neighbour. Don’t suppose I could borrow a 303?”
More evidence comes from the Ian Brown remix album. There’s a ‘the boy Bierton’ mix on it. Hmmmmm. I must have accidentally moved to hot spot for ‘out there’ electronica – somehow sensing the Sherman filter banks in the air. Maybe the Aphex Twin lives at the bottom of the road, and Squarepusher the next street round.
I should hold a coffee morning.
Nic.
Dates for your diary...
Fannypack are on tour in the US:
"2/26/2004 - HOBOKEN, NJ - Fannypack performance at Maxwell's
2/27/2004 - BOSTON, MA - Fannypack Performance @ Matrix 18 up
2/28/2004 - PHILADELPHIA, PA - Fannypack Performance @ The Trocadero
2/29/2004 - PITTSBURGH, PA - Fannypack show at Mr Small's Funhouse
3/27/2004 - LAS VEGAS, NV - Performance @ The Icehouse
3/30/2004 - LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - Performance @ The Knitting Factory
3/31/2004 - TUCSON, ARIZONA - Hotel Congress
4/1/2004 - SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - The Casbah
4/2/2004 - SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - Cafe Du Nord
4/3/2004 - PORTLAND, OREGON - Performance @ Dante's
4/4/2004 - SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - Matinee Performance @ Chop Suey
5/28/2004 - BARCELONA, SPAIN - Fannypack performance at Primavera Sound"
Go check them out!
Also Boom Boom Satellites are playing London this month (oopps tonight even):
"BBS will once again be in London to perform!!
On March 1st, they will perform at UNDERWORLD in Camden.
And on March 4th, Art Gallery ICA will have "APPLESEED"'s World Sneak Preview and a Boom Boom Satellites special LIVE!!
The movie preview is for invited guests only but the Boom Boom Live is welcome to all. During the BBS live, scenes from APPLESEED will be shown.
Leyline presents "APPLESEED "3D LIVE ANIMATION" WORLD SNEAK PREVIEW at ICA"
2004.3.4(Thu.)
Venue:ICA
TIME:21.00-
CHARGE:Free
ICA address:
The Mall, London, SW1Y 5AH [020 7930 0493]
Closest station: Charing Cross, Leicester Square & Piccadilly”
I’m temped to go to the ICA gig... we shall see.
Nic.
Buy another day...
Can I just go on record and say that I love the UK’s returns policy. I took the 007 game back to WH Smiths today with no hassle whatsoever. In fact – I got a better deal than what I walked in with. See – I had a £10 off any PS2 game voucher which was about to run out. On returning the game I now have £10 worth of generic WH Smiths vouchers to spend on anything. Might seem trivial – but when you’re counting the pennies (like I am at the mo), every little counts.
I picked up a copy of ‘Deus Ex’ for the PC. I played this only briefly when it came out and I was recently recommended to take another look at it. I’m rubbish at FPS games – but I’ve been reliably informed this is more than your usual ‘bang bang shoot shoot’ affair.
I’ve started plotting my new script (again). I had all these big ideas about writing 3-4 original scripts a year. Well – that just didn’t happen. Been an education in procrastination this sabbatical from the games industry. It’s not that I don’t have ay ideas, more that I find it difficult to self motivate.
Anyways – I do have a very nice idea for a new script (it’s the ‘Everybody’s Special’ script) and I’d like to at least finish a first draft before becoming gainfully employed again.
I’ve also started doing a bit more sampling so I can start putting together some more ‘andjuliet’ material.
Nic.
Live from the rug in the front room...
Well – I just fast forwarded through most of the Oscars ceremony. Very poor showing for ‘my movies’. Thank god Sofia Coppolla won the screenwriting award otherwise I would have had a complete wash out.
Anyway – at least one good thing came of it all. Lord of the Rings is FINALLY over. Never more will it show its face at these kind of things. God I hate those movies.
Nic.
