Monday, March 6, 2006

The road to Hungry Head. I now have daily access to dial-up, although in some ways it's still fairly limited. This is partly due to my generally busy life at the moment, but also because connecting to the dial-up essentially requires me to be in the kitchen. And it's not terribly comfortable. As I'm sitting here to update this page, I'm feeling both relieved and sad that the weekend is over. I can say that it is one of the strangest weekends I've ever had in my life. First of all, I went down to Sydney on Friday. It was a car trip, so it was probably about eight or nine hours' drive. Usually I start climbing the walls after five hours, but I did surprisingly well. We were due to pick up my sister and a friend who had flown up from Melbourne, so there was a bit of a mad rush to get to the airport on time. Saturday was the night of the Mardi Gras, so as you can imagine, the city was incredibly busy. We had been due to go to a party beforehand, then watch the parade and then go to an after party...but things really didn't work out that way. We were so late getting into Sydney that we missed most of the parade (though still saw a reasonable amount of it) and we never ended up getting into any clubs due to the fact that everyone became split-up once we arrived on Oxford Street. Somehow the various taxis that were transporting people had gone in different directions and the crowd was such that it was impossible to find anyone. But having said all of the above, it was still a fun night. I'd never been to Mardi Gras before, but I really enjoyed it. It wasn't as stereotypically gay as I had been expecting. It was, in fact, more like a giant carnival with a general theme of tolerance. What I liked most, I think, was that there were millions of people there who were all friendly and tolerant of each other - the atmosphere is incredibly positive and there isn't any sense of exclusion. It actually made me quite emotional to see so much goodwill in one place. I think that aspect was what I enjoyed the most. The train ride home was also a great deal of fun. It's about two hours to the Central Coast and we were sitting with various people who we'd never met, but who we ended up having lots of fun with. If it weren't for the fact that one of my friends hurt her back when she fell down some stairs on the train (and simultaneously left her licence and keycard on the train), the night would have been a complete success. I still feel bad for her, so next time we go down I think I'm going to buy her a little present or something. In addition, one of our rear tyres exploded on the trip back to Brisbane. It was four in the morning and we were on the side of the road with a crying two-year-old, while we waited for assistance. In the end, we had to wait at a motel for four hours and then embark on the remaining five hours of the journey home. Phew. So I can safely say that I was feeling very exhausted today. But all in all, I had a good time and I'll have some fun memories. It was also wonderful to see my sister again. RaR: I am not yet certain if I'm going, but I'd like to try and get there this year. If I go, I am most likely to visit Washington D.C. and New York City. But it's really too early to say anything beyond that. CosmicSailor: Unfortunately looking for jobs is very tough anyway. I really hate it. I'm lucky to be starting a new job soon, but I really got that job partly because the first contact came through a friend. Sure, I had to actually get the job on my own merit...but I wouldn't even have had a look-in without that first contact. Often it does come down to who you know, rather than what you know. Alexus: Oh, really? Cool. I will have to remember that. ~_^ Kei-chan: If only I had the money to organize a sexy OB party! Oh well. You never know, one day it might happen, heheh. And thanks for the message. My grandmother is doing well now, she should make a strong recovery. Annie-kun: Well, the east coast is the most likely place at the moment. But it's still up in the air, because I have a lot of things that my money has to go toward this year. For example, I'm needing to buy a new car and to save up for a house full of new furniture when I move back to Melbourne. So it's something I may do if I can, but some other things have to be done first. Arcadia: Wow, I haven't heard from you in such a long time! I really hope you are doing well. I miss your RPGs...it was a lot of fun participating in one of them. And yes, you're probably right about those members! Who'd have thought it would ever really come in handy? Hehe. I have some comfort that my aunt died in her sleep without pain, but I definitely regret not spending more time with her. Chabichou: It can be very difficult on children when they don't understand, for sure. I think that one of the saddest things about my aunt is that she was still relatively young. And she was definitely one of the most influential members of the family, so it has hit some people very hard, particularly my grandmother. In terms of not crying, well...I don't always cry with things like that. Sometimes grief just makes me feel physically and emotionally exhausted, to the point where I become an emotionless shell for a little while. Everyone handles it differently I guess. indifference: The east coast is the number one contender at the moment, but it depends what is most viable as far as money goes. In terms of design, I am still quite happy with OtakuBoards. When compared to other anime forums, I believe it still stands up as a very strong design. And it has had the benefit of being updated by me now and then with small visual improvements. As a result, it's maintained a pretty fresh look over the last couple of years. theOtaku is different, partly because its implementation wasn't quite what it might have been. That's just the way things work out though. I mean, if you saw my finalized conceptual design for theOtaku's current version, you'd notice a number of differences - so the site was never entirely implemented as intended. But once again, changes often happen during production and these things cannot always be avoided. Unfortunately I suspect that if we'd used the development process that we use now (creation of a skeleton and so on), we wouldn't have had to make those compromises. But in any case, I don't believe that the design has aged well and I feel that the flawed implementation has had a negative impact on the overall design. This is something that isn't so noticeable if you haven't seen the conceptuals, though. But it does give me a desire to redesign the site once more, with a new process in mind. Thank you for the compliments though, I really am pleased that you are happy with the design work. ^_^ Aaryanna: Thanks for the hug. ~_^ The problem with going to the US is that there are so many places I want to see! To see everything I'm interested in, I would really need to be there for a couple of months. Unfortunately even going there for a short time will be tough to afford, given all the pressures on my income this year. That detail is pretty interesting although I don't think it relates to problems we've been having. I think I can safely tell you that any issues we've had on the server have had no relationship with any need to delete old accounts. We have the capacity, but we've had some technical/performance issues. I am not very qualified to go into more detail on that though, as it's something Adam or Justin could more accurately explain. Plus, I've had such little sleep that I would find it difficult to remember everything I've been told about it anyway. ^_^; Liam: Well we'll see. Maybe at some stage I can make a t-shirt especially for you, haha. I'm kind of amazed that I'm even still alive after this weekend though; going for so many days with so little sleep can't be good. I am amazed that I'm not feeling burnt out. And yes, Noosa is absolutely gorgeous. Parking wasn't too bad on the weekend and generally it wasn't too crowded, but I can imagine it getting packed at certain times of the year. It is, afterall, probably the most gorgeous place I've seen in this state. And in terms of natural beauty, it's possibly one of the most beautiful sights I've seen on the entire east coast so far...which is saying a great deal. The city cat is great, although I've not yet had much need to use it. Frankly, it's been more a touristy thing for me. Going on it at night (especially under the Storey Bridge) is quite nice. It's a great way to unwind. My grandmother's humor is a little black, yeah, although she hasn't had much of a sense of humor in the last few years. She is a funny person to be around, but this is mostly because she's become that stereotypical cranky old woman with a touch of senility, lol. But really, she still has moments where she is incredibly alert and lucid, for lack of a better word.

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Sunday, February 19, 2006

Ride the rollercoaster. The past week or so has been a very strange one indeed. Although I have to say, the end result isn't so bad, as I've had a very good weekend. Last Friday my mum called me to deliver some bad news. First of all, my aunt Alice had died. And secondly, my great grandmother had suffered a fall and broken her hip in several places. Alice is someone who I wish I'd known better, as she was really an incredibly sweet woman. I have met her quite a few times in my life - and always thoroughly enjoyed going to her house - but in the last few years we haven't really seen her as much as I'd have liked. It's a shame. Not only was she always pleasant and cheerful, but she had a wicked sense of humor and was generally very witty. They still aren't certain how she died (other than that she died in her sleep). It's one of those events in life that makes you reflect not only on the person, but on how you may do things differently if you had another chance. I suppose it's a strong reminder that if you are thinking you should be talking to someone that you haven't seen in a while...you probably should just do it. You never know what might happen. My great grandmother's story is a big mixture of things really. She is 97 years old and her hip is so badly damaged that there's little chance she will walk again. The doctor suggested that if we went ahead with an operation, there's a good chance she'd die under anesthetic. My family agreed to operate, as they would have rathered she die peacefully in those conditions than be left bedridden and in terrible pain for the rest of her time on Earth (however long that may be). In the end, she not only survived the operation but she's healing quite well. She's certainly well enough to get cranky with the nurses if they make too much noise or annoy her in other ways (in other words, she's already getting back to her old self). She's a remarkably strong woman and I often get the feeling that she'll never let anything beat her. The week ended quite well though. I'd never been north of Brisbane and this weekend I took a little road trip an hour north to Noosa and Coolum. I can say, without reservation, that Noosa and Coolum (which are both on the Sunshine Coast) are the most beautiful places I have ever seen with my own two eyes. I had thought that the Currumbin beach was gorgeous, but Noosa and Coolum completely blow it away. I was left with my lower jaw on the ground during most of the trip. Unfortunately I do not have a camera here right now, but if I get one I will be taking some pictures and I will share them with you. Words cannot describe how absolutely flawless these areas are; they're certainly the most beautiful placse I've yet seen in Queensland and probably Australia as a whole (except perhaps for Flinders in my home state of Victoria; NSW's Central Coast would also come a close second). In other news, I've been continuing to work on various web projects, despite my general lack of Internet access. In some ways, it's good that I can just lock myself away and work on things without the general disturbances of the 'net. On the other hand, it isn't so good that I can't speak to people on here as often as I'd like. Oh well. In general though, things are going well. As a matter of fact, there is even the possibility that I may be visiting the United States sometime this year. I'll let you know how those plans go. SugarCone: In terms of moving back, I had never really planned to live in Queensland forever. My intention was to remain on the Gold Coast for a few months and then to move home. Although, things have changed since then. For one thing, I'm now living in Brisbane...and for another, I'm now no longer single (I've been in a relationship now for the past two months or so). As a result, that's changed my plans. I still do not intend to remain here for the long term, but I may very well end up living in this state for the next year or two. As for the online stuff, it's all good. I thought I'd throw the offer out there. I can understand being tired of web stuff, really. It also sounds like your study will turn out well; the mural idea sounds great. I wish you the very best of luck with it! Rapture: It was a little of B and a little of the fact that your name itself reminded me of you. Who else would choose "Rapture Ruckus"? ~_^ Annie-chan: I am thinking that we can probably have a new OtakuBoards released during 2006, at least. The big question is about programming support, I guess. Design is something I can always handle to some degree, but I do not know if Justin will always be available. Either way, OB will continue to progress, one way or another. Cash-chan: That's an interesting name. And thanks for the comment. Alan-kun: Absolutely! I can't even begin to tell you how many times my plans have changed ever since I moved. I guess the very general longterm goals are still there...but even those have changed a bit. I can imagine that your situation would be in flux all the time, but I've seen your determination...and I am sure that you can make it all work, even if it means adapting to new situations. I think you have the ability to make it work. And thanks for the support, too. I guess the good thing is that prices in south east Queensland are not as high as Sydney or Melbourne, which means that it's generally a bit of a relief. But I think moving is always a headache anyway...and it certainly hasn't been fun recently. Still, getting settled (even if just for a few months) will be nice. ^_^ indifference: Unfortunately I don't think I still have the flower design. It was certainly unique. I'd like to go back to something slightly more feminine in future design work for theOtaku. I suspect that as things progress, we'll probably end up with more female visitors than male visitors. I think we can have a pretty unisex design, but clearly we can probably inject a more feminine edge and still keep things very modern and stylish. theOtaku is not aging well at all, so it's in desperate need of a re-design. CosmicSailor: With OB's current version, we actually did a period of beta-testing using different browsers and several versions of Windows. We only had one user testing with Apple and unfortunately we couldn't make the site as Apple-friendly as we'd wanted. Even so, Windows users still sometimes have problems with vB. With the new OB, my hope is to be even more thorough. It will hopefully be compatible with several Windows browsers, as many Windows versions as possible and hopefully it will also be fully compatible with Apple browsers. So we'll see. At the very least, I can promise that we'll do more intensive testing this time around. I really agree with the statement "anything worth having is worth working for". All relationships usually require some kind of work and/or compromise. If you're willing to make the effort, you are usually rewarded. SunfallE: Oh yes, so tired of moving! This'll be the third and final move for some time - at the very least, for a few months. As for how I come across, I guess it really does depend on so many things. Different people on the Internet perceive me in different ways. In person, most people find me to be pretty warm and approachable. I am a very, very calm and gentle person, so I am therefore not terribly intimidating. Although as I'd mentioned, my choice of clothing can cause various impressons...but even my clothing style varies a lot, so I don't particularly tend to stick to just one thing. Tofu! What a good idea! Haha. I'd never have thought of that. I will have to remember it, just in case we ever go with the flavours route. I don't have any pictures of the other flavours, unfortunately. Although I keep some things, I also delete the vast bulk of test work that I do. Once it's been shown and discussed and a decision has been made, it's rarely kept. Usually I will only keep several "master" copies of key designs. Although I will say, with N-Sider's previous version, I had some 40 entirely different conceptual drawings by the end. I have never done more intensive work on one site before. But this was not the result of being very thorough or anything; it was actually because I had a large team of people making suggestions. Too many cooks were in the kitchen for that one, as it became too unfocused and watered-down. The most recent version was far quicker to develop and had less concept designs, as we only really had two staff working on it full-time. You may only be a new programmer in some areas, but your skills will be very valuable to you as you progress and become more advanced. At the very least, you will have the power to create your own new projects on the web. Having that ability definitely leads to a lot of fun and creative freedom. Thanks for visiting! ^_^ Aaryanna: Thanks for dropping by, m'dear. I hope you are doing well! Liam: I like the piratey analogy. It has a certain appeal to it. As for where I'm living, well, I'll be near Stradbroke Island I believe (at least that's how I think it's spelled). It's quite nice and the weather is good, although I'd rather a proper sandy beach as opposed to mangroves. But hey, I can always drive up to Noosa if I'm dying for a perfect beach setting! And I quite like the Brisbane river, as I'm certain that it's cleaner than the Yarra and Sydney Harbour, lol. Riverfront cities are always nice. I think it's very cool that Australia's state capitals are pretty much all situated around water. In Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, I think the water is a really positive element. The ferry ride in Brisbane is also quite nice (although probably boring for regulars). Broadway ON the mall, eh? You know, I haven't actually been there yet! I keep walking past it and never going in. But I suppose that's because whenever I go to Queen St. Mall, I am always looking for a specific store or something. I may just pay a visit; I'll walk in and give you a custom t-shirt that says "I <3 OtakuBoards". I'm sure that'll make you extra popular with the ladies, heheh. Chabi: Thank you for your concern, but really I am doing fairly well. Yeah, there are things that aren't so good...and I don't enjoy feeling like I'm in limbo right now. However, life isn't so bad. And I've had some really fun experiences while I've been here. Hope you are doing well. ^_^

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Friday, February 10, 2006

Third and (almost) final move. I've got Internet access this weekend, so I thought I'd take a little time out before bed and update myOtaku here. Moving plans are going well. A truck full of furniture will arrive on Sunday and I shall be in a brand new house (so new that it doesn't even have a street number yet) possibly as early as Saturday. After that, I'm going to see what I can do about setting up broadband. The apartment idea has kind of been left in the dust for now, although I suspect that I will be renting this new house for only a few months. Depending on how work goes up here, it is very possible that I may move back to Melbourne (and into a new house down there) sometime next year. We'll see how it goes; so much has changed recently that I'm finding it almost pointless to even think about longterm planning at the moment. As there were so many comments to my last post, I'll just respond to those for now and leave a more meaningful update for the future. Thanks to everyone who commented! Annie: I've actually done a bit more on that red skin than what I showed in my previous post, but the banner is probably the most complete part. I just wish that time were not such a problem, because I think that skin would have really given OB a very fresh new look. Not to worry though, OB isn't going anywhere...and I am certain that I will be back to do big things with it during the year. Although that red skin may never make an appearance in any finished site. Oh well. Liam: Thank you for the kind words, Liam. How is your latest RPG going? I literally haven't had time to catch a breath lately so I haven't really visited OB for more than a matter of seconds. At some point this year, when I have more time for OB again, I'd definitely like to participate in an RPG with you. I think that'd be very cool. As for Sunnybank, I haven't been to the movies here at all since I've lived here...in fact, I have hardly gone out since I moved from the Gold Coast. The only exceptions have been a couple of trips to Surfers Paradise and a few day trips into Brisbane for some shopping (I was actually in Queen Street Mall about a week ago with an enormous Myer bag and the Manson t-shirt that Annie gave me - I looked like some kind of frightening Santa, lol). My new place is in the eastern suburbs, so that'll be interesting. It's a bit closer to water, which is nice and the general area seems to be a whole lot nicer than Sunnybank. I don't mind it here, I just don't like the house I'm in right now. Mimmi-kun: Thanks, m'dear Mimmi. Although people to see the end results of things, I sometimes find it a bit disappointing that a good 90% of the work is never visible to people. I mean, I have designs and concept drawings related to theOtaku.com and other sites that stretch back several years, which nobody (other than Adam) has ever seen. At one point, theOtaku.com almost had a flower-petal layout, if you can believe it. I think it's interesting to look back at those things and to consider what might have been...and sometimes, to think about why we end up with what we end up with. Deb: Yeah, it's all good. I think it's best to learn through error...but I don't think it's right for someone to say "it's cool to learn through error" and then yell at you for learning through error. You know? That's all I really objected to. But it's not a big deal, it's just something that reminded me of online experiences in general. I am very pleased that Guild Wars is nothing like Counter-Strike; despite the occasional amazing squad, I can see how a lot of people would be totally discouraged from playing that game as a result of the online experience. SugarCone: I'm afraid that the only semi-detailed information you'll find about Premium is back in my own archives here, where I've rambled aloud about it. At the moment we are just taking a breather. I'm mostly out of action and so is Justin. Adam is in the process of developing a new programming team and working on a new side-project of his own. Once the new programmers are in place and once I'm back to the 'net more regularly, we will begin working on new things one at a time. But 'till then, I think it'll mostly be incremental updates for myOtaku and such. And thanks for the compliment, too. I also really enjoyed the works that you showed me - if you ever want someone to collaborate with on a project, you should consider discussing it with me! Although I do recall that you said you'd lost some interest in web design recently. Anyway, it's something to think about at least. Alexus: Yeah, of course. I had thought it was obvious that this is what was being referred to, lol. I thought we'd established that, anyway. The member in question was definitely saying that the experience of fighting overwhelming enemies and making the mistake was a good way to learn, he defintely wasn't referring to any group response. My point didn't relate to that. Refer to what I said to Deb for clarification. ~_^ Deb: Yep, yep. Again, I never mentioned that he meant anything else by it. I just thought it was silly to say that after getting angry in-game when someone does the very thing that he was saying was a good thing to do. I hope that made sense. lol John: Ah yes, I do remember that theme. I liked that colour combination quite a lot and I don't think I ever used it more than once. Somehow it reminded me of Coca-Cola (that's probably why I liked it, lol). You never know. It's certainly something I'd like to explore again in the future. CosmicSailor: Wow, you really do a big service to my comment box! Haha. I'll do my best to respond. First of all, thanks for your comment on the designs. No detailed analysis needed; it's just nice that you like what you saw. ^_^ In regard to OtakuBoards, I think that it's worth holding onto a promise...but at some point you have to know when something just isn't paying off for you anymore. I think that you do yourself a big favour when you make a change for the better, even if it means changing your original plans. But that's up to you to decide. I can only tell you that we will do our best to make the new OtakuBoards as widely compatible and as easily-useable as possible. At the very least, I want to completely remove a lot of the redundant aspects of Virtual Bulletin that still hang around OB today. There are so many things that people don't use, or that cause confusion...and that stuff is unnecessary. Sure, some forums may use them, but I think it's really time to design something that caters specifically to our audience and the kind of users we want to attract. We do that with our events and rules and stuff anyway...there's no reason why the physical site can't do the same. It is funny how people's reactions change based on things like clothing. I know that people react to me very differently depending on what I wear. The reaction when I'm wearing the Manson t-shirt and the studded armbands and stuff is very different from when I'm wearing trousers and an expensive shirt. Yet, I'm the same person and all of my mannerisms do not change or anything. I guess it comes back to that idea of judging a book by its cover. Usually I think you are rewarded if you take the time to get to know someone a little better. I think that you and I are a bit similar when it comes to friendship. In person, I am a very courteous and warm guy...people tend to find it easy to talk to me and I'm told that I have a "kind look" about me. But having said that, it takes a long time for me to truly consider someone a good friend - even if I seem very open and friendly initially, it usually takes me a while to truly feel comfortable being very open with people, or "letting them in". I think that's just because I tend to take friendship very seriously and usually a friend is there for life, rather than for a short time (at least, that's always my intention). But again, people are usually rewarded if they put in the effort and the time, on both sides. Even friendships can take work, but it's worth it. Blackjack: I agree with you about the portfolio bit. Don't worry about it coming off the wrong way - you are 100% correct and I think that's the kind of criticism that we really need here. One of the really basic things I've been pushing for with future versions of myOtaku is far, far better link organization. Some of this simply means re-wording things. Right now we have a bunch of links that sound similar and relate to different things, or sound different and relate to very similar things...it's just too confusing and annoying. I'm not happy with it, that's for sure. The sample you saw was my first attempt to re-work the links in the backroom to make them more understandable. You can bet that whatever we end up with, it will be far nicer to use than what we're running on today. SunfallE: Having a Site Skeleton is almost a necessity now. Ever since we began doing things that way, we've really never stopped and it's made my job a whole lot easier. I think it also results in a better outcome too. Anyway, I'm glad to read that you liked the designs. I was always a fan of the flavors idea. I think I was going to have a handful of flavors, including Cherry (Red), Apple (Green), Grape (Purple), Blueberry (Blue) and Colorblind (Greyscale). The latter is obviously not a flavor, but I kind of liked the idea of calling it "colorblind". I'm not sure what kind of food we'd use to describe grey...any ideas? Perhaps "Vegetarian Sausage", as they have always tasted pretty damn bland to me. Er...that was a slightly weird tangent. *whistles* My trip was great, by the way. Sydney was as beautiful as ever and this time I got to see more of it. I also got to see the entire Central Coast of New South Wales...gorgeous, gorgeous area. hEvN: Well, ideally, I would love to have a small team of them - maybe even two or three programmers. But as you can imagine, it's incredibly difficut to find people with the right qualities. Not only do we need programmers who are capable of doing slightly higher-level work, but they need to be trustworthy, dedicated and willing to work on a site for free. Such people are few and far between, which is why we have been so lucky to have Justin for so many years now. I hope that Adam will be lucky on his search for a new programmer. I pretty much agree with you on the designs, too. This is largely why the new myOtaku will probably be far more conservative in design, although that isn't to say that it will be devoid of colour (quite the contrary). I just feel that older people are not going to be as interested to visit a site with a crazy design. And I don't want to be limiting the audience simply because of colours or something. Rapture Ruckus: How did I know this would be Shinji before I even saw your name at the bottom? Haha. But yes...OtakuBot. No, he will never die. He is a part of OB legend forever (largely thanks to Solo's fan fiction). One day he may make a proper appearance in public, you just never know. indifference: To be honest, even though these will not be used...I am just happy I could display them. I will be displaying all of this work (and more) on my own actual site. At least, I'll be doing that when the new site is ready...and it's one of those things where it'll be ready whenever it's ready. I'd really hate to do a rush-job on something like that. But it will happen...eventually. Haha I like the OB one a lot actually, I wish I could have had that implemented into OB. But we needed to do some programming stuff as well as just design, so it wasn't going to happen. >_>; Aaryanna: Thank you much! I'm very happy to hear that you like what you saw. It makes me feel that, had I actually used that design on OB, it probably would have been more popular with people than what we're using now. Hopefully you're doing well too. Thanks for stopping by.

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Wednesday, January 25, 2006

New developments. I was looking through my folders today and as you can imagine, I have a lot of work in there that has simply never been used. Whenever I am involved in doing design for one of our sites, it's very rare for me to just go away, make a design and then come back with a 100% finalized site. Generally speaking the preliminary work will revolve around the specific needs of the site. Those needs are usually given some kind of heirarchy, which is factored into the design. Initially, all of the work relates to the actual layout (this includes what elements are viewed on the page and how they are positioned and accessed). Obviously that's the most important part of any design and that's the thing we focus on first. In the past, I would make some kind of raw layout and we'd discuss it or we'd begin building it and make changes as we work through the project. But in more recent times, Adam has taken the time to build what I call a "Site Skeleton", which makes my work significantly more effective. Adam's Site Skeleton will be nothing but a blank page full of text, plain HTML boxes and links. That's it. The idea there is simply for Adam to show me visually what kind of data the site needs to display and generally how it should be arranged. Using that as a basis for any design work means that we're all on the same page from day one. It's usually after that process (and sometimes during it) that an actual aesthetic or art design emerges. In some ways that is the toughest part for me; I am generally very good at developing a functional layout, but finalizing the art aspects is always tough for me, because those things can be so subjective. Although there are certain rules involving the use of colour and imagery, the fact remains that everyone has different tastes and we have to try to be aware of what our visitors may like. Generally speaking, I will actually design several entire concept sites before we ever zero in on a final design. The development of one concept design might take me a week or two of solid work - hours of experimentation are involved in each concept (including drawing/re-drawing, shifting elements around and in many cases, deleting the entire thing after five hours and starting again). Usually we may go through two or three very different concepts before we really decide on something that we'll use in the end. Quite often, Adam and Justin are happy with the first concept and if they aren't, it's usually only minimal changes that they require. In most cases I am the one who isn't happy and wants to develop multiple concepts before actual development begins. In one way I'm sure that can sometimes be frustrating for them, but I like to think that it helps us formulate something better for the end result. I thought I'd take a little time to show you the work that has already gone into the new myOtaku site, before full development has even commenced. myOtaku ReDefined It should be noted that this is a static image and normally, it would reach the top of the page and be centered (that is, if it were a functioning web site). This is the very earliest work that was done on myOtaku by me. I was not involved with the development of v1 and my involvement with v2 primarily related to testing and consultation/supervision. So my heaviest work will probably be on the third version, where I have been working on design and features from the beginning. Adam, Justin and I actually worked very closely on sorting out features/upgrades and so on for the new site and it'll be fun for that to continue. Anyway, as I said, this design is my first first attempt to develop a conceptual design for myOtaku. As you can see, in terms of layout and general details, this design is quite similar to theOtaku.com. Originally we had planned to launch myOtaku ReDefined at the same time as theOtaku, but we felt that it would be better to focus on one thing at a time, so as not to hurt the quality of either site. theOtaku.com's current design is far more conservative than what you can see here, which is very deliberate. With myOtaku, I was actually given more free reign to introduce elements that made it a little more exciting and fun to work on. Apart from the colour scheme that you can see here, you may also notice how the links on the left menu have been significantly changed and re-worded. I was (and am) unhappy with the overly-confusing nature of the links we currently use and so this was my first attempt to divide things up and group things in a more easy-to-understand way. As you can see here, we were also planning to introduce different colour schemes for the backroom. I had planned to do about five of them, each named after a different fruit. None of that would impact the front end design (ie: your own public page), but it would allow you to choose what scheme you like most for your own backroom. Of course, as a conceptual design this is still incomplete. There are large gaps underneath the flavour selector and there's a lot of white space there - we had several ideas about what would be included there, but I can't tell you about that right now. I can only say that, yes, we did have plans for all of that space. myOtaku 3.0 (incl. Premium) This design is far more recent. We were developing this design up until the last couple of months of 2004. With this design, we had gone beyond raw conceptual work and had actually begun construction. As you can see, this design is noteably different from anything we have done before. Not only is it more bold than any site we have online at the moment, but the actual layout is completely unrelated to theOtaku.com or any other site in the network. This is primarily because we wanted myOtaku to become the new center of the network; the access point through which all other aspects of the network would be found. We also recognized that myOtaku is currently completely devoid of any imagery, other than the logo in the top-left corner. The idea here was to dramatically enhance the site through the use of imagery, while simultaneously eliminating our own imagery from members' public pages (and this is something we still plan to do - our new myOtaku will not carry an image-based logo anywhere on your own page, so all of the images will be your own). Once again, the plan here was to introduce different backroom flavours. This one is obviously Lime and at least for a while, we were going to go with this as the default scheme. But I was simultaneously working on a red version and a greyscale version as well. This design would also have been more elaborate in the sense that it'd have featured rollover buttons and would rely more heavily on the use of imagery, though obviously we were careful to keep the imagery fairly subtle (rather than have a billion pictures and giant icons, we wanted to focus on imagery used for small details, like buttons and soft gradients and so on). This design also shows the very first introduction of the Premium service, by way of a large introductory link at the top. Clicking that link would take you to a page with details on the service. Clearly, we wanted to make Premium the most important feature of the page, though we'd obviously still allow free membership. In addition, I was trying to go with a visual theme that would suit a very large community. The "anonymous user" on the front page is male and we were going to have an anonymous female image for the backroom. By hiding the characters' eyes and melding their colours with the rest of the design, I was hoping to only hint at the idea that they were anonymous members, rather than try to actually put a real human face on the site (which would obviously be difficult with such a big community). One of the things that tends to hold me back from updating everything more regularly is not only my own lack of time, but also the lack of programming assistance. Justin is currently our sole programmer (other than the rare times when we outsource work), but obviously Justin is only one guy and he also has commitments outside the network. As a result - and considering the large projects that he has to primarily work on - it's very difficult to get large amounts of his time for certain things (OB for example). However, I am constantly involved in design and planning work for OB, even in the absence of my star programmer. Here is an example of a new design that I was working on for OtakuBoards a little while ago. I'm really quite happy with this design (sans the little logo experiment). You can see a bit of the upper-left navigation area in that image. My plan was to put a little icon of OtakuBot just above the speech bubble. The combination of the new banner and the updated welcome area would give the site a significantly cleaner look, I feel. The current format we have for the top-left area does its job, but it isn't my ideal choice. But again, as a designer and not a programmer, I often have to settle for the closest I can get to my actual vision. Of course, it would be easy enough for me to simply replace the banner and then go and redo all the images (though it would certainly be time-consuming), but there are certain changes that I just can't do. The speech bubble with the Private Message text is just one small example of a visual update that requires more than mere images. Due to the fact that a lot of my design work relies on core code changes, it is very difficult for me to always add or change what I want. But as you can see by what I've shown you here today, I am always thinking about the future and I am always playing with new ideas for existing sites. I am comfortable showing you these things because none of them (with the possible exception of the OB image) will ever be used. I currently have an early conceptual design for myOtaku 3.0 which is very different to anything I've shown you here. It is far more user-friendly and the visual design is far more appealing to a wide variety of ages (so it isn't nearly as polarizing in terms of colour and so on). I don't think I will have the chance to update again before I leave, so I thought I'd give you something a little meatier in this update. ~_^ Deb: I posted a response in my own comment box but you may not have seen it. So I will just paste it here: The problem is that I was only told not to talk to ghosts and no reason was given. Once we'd passed that quest, how am I to know that I can't take another one myself? None of that was explained and it could have been done pretty easily. All someone had to do was say "if you accept any quests here, enemies will spawn, so only take quests that the group agrees to". Pretty easy. ^_^ Alexus: Same as with Deb: As I pointed out on AIM, I am aware that the comments from the other player were not condescending. I didn't make any reference to them being such in my blog. What I said was that the best way to deal with that situation would have been to forewarn me, rather than to overreact afterwards as if I should have known (even though I'd made it clear that I'd never been there before). I am pretty capable of understanding how it all works, so all I needed was a one-sentence warning at the start. lol Moreover, I tend to agree with what you're saying in general about "the best way to learn it is to do it". But again, I'm not arguing against that at all. That's just logical. I'm simply pointing out that the reaction in this situation was inappropriate and frustrating, given the lack of reasonable forewarning. That's all. Of course, you never really get it 'till you do it. But at the same time, I don't think anyone has the right to be frustrated or annoyed at me taking a quest if I've had no real warning about it. It wouldn't even be an issue at all if that hadn't happened. It wasn't the way I learned that was the problem; it was the reaction that was inappropriate. In regard to the last part of your comment, as I said, none of that really relates to the guild. There are more hardcore players and there are more casual players. I have nothing against the more serious Guild Wars players - they have the time and energy to devote to the game and they enjoy the finer details. And that's 100% fine. The only time I object is when that is used to drive a wedge between the hardcore and the casual. As I stressed, this is not something which happens in QKT and I am glad about that. But I do see it happening in other circumstances and my most recent experience was a very slight example of it. It was simply a matter of that event triggering a general thought about the game (and some relief that QKT is an exception to what is often a rule in many online games). CosmicSailor: Unfortunately my little brother has no such moral standards, lol. Actually, no, I have to say...he's a very good kid usually. But he's incredibly selfish. He's already claimed several thousand dollars worth of my audio equipment, simply because he knows I probably won't be moving it up to Brisbane anytime soon. So, by default, he assumes it becomes his. As for being lighthearted...well, I think in person, I'm pretty disarming. But sometimes things don't come across in text on the 'net as you are thinking them in your head (or as you'd say them in person). That can sometimes make things difficult. In regard to OB, I'm afraid that sometimes technical issues like that crop up. I don't think it's any deliberate oversight by us, it's a problem either with the software or with how your computer/browser handles the software. I'm somewhat surprised that you promised never to return though...that does seem overly serious for what is basically just an Internet message board. I'd hate to think that technical errors were forcing people away forever, lol. But having said that, if you can't access it, then that point kind of becomes moot anyway. I hope that the new version will fix some of these problems, but I really have no control over the fundamentals of Virtual Bulletin. I suppose that if you are being paid to do a hobby, it then becomes more of a job than a hobby. That does not necessarily make it any less rewarding though; enjoying your work is key to success in most cases. I'd be interested to hear about your sense of friendship. Usually I will treat people as they treat me, although even when I've been abused beyond belief on the 'net, I've never really responded the same way in return. It's really not in my nature to get down to that level and really aggressively abuse someone. I might complain about it or point out why I'm annoyed with their behavior, but that's about it really.

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Tuesday, January 24, 2006

You say you wanted evolution... I have been enjoying my time at home and now it's drawing to a close. I've got today and most of tomorrow here, but there's still a lot to do. For one thing, I have to take a lot of things out of my bedroom here and sort through them. When I came home this time, I was horrified to find that my room had been completely trashed by my brother and his friends. Needless to say, I made it very clear to him that I was unimpressed, lol. At the same time, there's now an added urgency to sort through everything in there; when I'm gone again, I have no doubt that something will get broken or lost or totally destroyed. It frustrates me that I'm forced to find a new home for everything simply because my brother can't be trusted to take care of things. I was pretty disappointed by all of that. Apart from simply catching up with people, I've had a bit of time to jump into Guild Wars again recently. Of course, it has been fantastic to play the game with some friends once more, but I have to say...the experience has been a little mixed for me. I'm not entirely sure what the reason is, except perhaps for the obvious fact that I simply haven't had the time to play very much recently - there are certain areas of the game that I hadn't visited before, which I spent time in during the last few days. One example of that would be the Underworld area. In that area, you can take multiple quests and each time you take a quest, new enemies seem to spawn all around the environment. So it's as if one quest is activated over the top of another one. In general, that is the exception to the rule in Guild Wars. Usually, everything will relate to whatever quest you actually have selected at the time. Needless to say, I wasn't aware of this when I was in the Underworld and I activated several quests. I got quite a negative reaction from that, too, which surprised me. My first thought was obviously "it's just a game, what is the problem?" It would hardly have been difficult for us to simply re-enter the Underworld and begin fresh. But at the same time I thought, why did nobody warn me about that beforehand? I am intelligent enough to be told about an exception to the rule and to be careful enough to avoid taking more than one quest (or any at all). One of the players we were exploring with later told me that it was "a good way to learn". I really can't agree. It's just unnecessary to go in there and make a mistake, receive a collective sigh from everyone else - as if you should have known better - and then later be told that it was the best way to learn. No, the best way to learn would be a forewarning to avoid it in the first place. At the very least, it'd have made the experience more fun. But it certainly wasn't as fun as it could have been. This brings me back to a central idea that relates to Guild Wars specifically, but also I guess to many other games too. In our OB-based guild, I always wanted to ensure that we didn't include or exclude people based on their skill level or activity level. Of course, we shouldn't necessarily just avoid being competitive with other guilds; obviously some of our members want to engage in Guild Battles and so on and that's totally fine. And I encourage that, because it's a fun part of the game. However, at the same time, I don't think that the more hardcore players should be commanding the agenda of the entire guild. I don't like the idea that newer or less active players feel left out because they aren't up on the latest character builds or they don't want to debate the finer points of things that are often relatively superfluous anyway. To be clear, I don't actually think that this problem is occurring in our guild. And that's one reason why I'm really happy with the guild. But I do see this kind of thing popping up now and then and it makes me wonder what the point is. I can understand that the more hardcore players take the game very seriously, but some of us are simply unable to play frequently and when we do play, we just want to enjoy ourselves. If I were to be continually looked down upon as a casual player, or treated like someone who knows nothing about the game, I would simply stop playing it or I'd only play it with very specific people. Just because I do not constantly debate the ins-and-outs of tiny game details does not mean that I am incapable of understanding the game's basic rules or structure, which is something that some people in the game do seem to assume. It would be a shame to be literally forced out of a game because it starts to lack fun; not because the game itself isn't fun, but because the players themselves suck the fun out of it. I think that this experience also relates back to my increasing desire to design and build things on the web that don't have some ridiculously high barrier to entry. As a gamer, there are some games where very few people would be as dedicated as I am, while there are other games where the opposite is true. And I guess that relates to the Internet as well, as both someone involved in design as well as someone who doesn't want to have to deal with complexity. Due to these experiences, I really sympathize with the people who just want a simple and seamless experience, especially if they do not really understand the mechanics of it. Speaking of mechanics (got to love that segway), I definitely won't have to deal with the day-to-day mechanics of OB for a good while. Obviously, Dagger and Desbreko are our two Administrators there...but now I've put Desbeko in charge of staff as well. So he will be dealing with hiring and all of that stuff. It may seem like a small thing, but it's a big weight off my shoulders. I feel that he has a really good understanding of what the site needs and how I'd like it to be operated. So I am relieved about that. It means I can focus my time on new site developments, rather than being worried about the fine details of operating OB. It also means that when I'm away I don't really feel as though I'm letting anyone down, because I can't be there to oversee everything. As soon as I go back to Brisbane, I will be diving back into work on the new OB. Regardless of my Internet situation, I'll be spending more time on that than I have been thusfar. Annie: Thank you. ~_^ And yes...I hate those things. I hope I never meet one! John: Thanks. The speaker is still something I am experimenting with; it would be a link to a contact page (thus the idea of sound going into one of my ears). But right now the size of the actual speaker is too big and it's not quite working as I want. Still, I would say that the design there is roughly 5% complete or something; my intention is really to experiment with colour and positioning in that one. You can see how that is reflected in the myO intro as well. I suspect that the final design will retain that basic positioning, but will see a variety of patterns and colours applied. indifference: Thanks much! I hope the final design ends up coming together well. I've heard some stories about the Funnel Web and I'm just hoping I never come across one. If I ever lived in Sydney it would have to be in an apartment or somewhere where the chances of meeting one of those things is pretty much nil. lol CosmicSailor: Don't worry about overstepping any bounds, lol. I have a pretty lighthearted attitude and I think it helps. It makes for less stress. ~_^ I can understand not going back to the site after that. Afterall, what's the point of going back if nothing will really get better? It may just end up as an argument anyway. I think it's always preferable to be in an environment that you enjoy with people you are happy to work with. That is especially true on the 'net, if you're doing something as a hobby. If it's a hobby, it is probably particularly important that you ensure you're happy with everything. It's just not worth the stress otherwise, if you aren't getting paid. I've obviously had good and bad experiences in Melbourne, but I am aware that Melbourne is one of the world's most liveable cities (apparently THE most liveable according to various publications), and as a result, I've had little to compare it with. So I have always expected a certain kind of environment. The Gold Coast was quite different in some ways, but I think the general attitude of Australians is relatively similar wherever you go. You get some differences here and there, but Australians are all generally very friendly and approachable people. On the Gold Coast in particular, everyone treats you as though you are family (well, 99.9% of people anyway). So it's been very nice from that perspective. Aaryanna: Ah cool, I just added you on AIM. Hopefully we get the chance to talk, although I don't know how long it'll be 'till I'm using AIM again. My thought is possibly even to have a different texture and colour on each page, where the black and white would remain constants. But I guess we'll see, as it largely depends on what is logical to build and stuff. Even without the Internet at home, I will be able to update at the office from time to time. It's just that I won't be able to use AIM. But hopefully I'll have access at home soon (probably dial-up for a little while, before I move into the city). As for the Skyline, I will have to find a picture for you to show you. Maybe in my next update before I leave for Sydney, I will post a picture so you can see what I'm talking about. ^_^ Solo: I was very happy with your reaction to the design, lol. When people start relating it to tangible things and tastes and stuff, I feel very satisfied. Not that I deliberately set out with that goal in mind, but I know that when I experience that with someone else's design...it's usually something that sticks in my memory.

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Sunday, January 22, 2006

Northern exposure. So, I've been working on my portfolio site again recently and I thought I'd share a little tidbit with you. I've had this general kind of shape in my mind for a while. I was also experimenting with the idea of "implanting" my logo into the head and playing around with some symbolism related to that. For example, I was thinking of giving it a stylized halo look, to imply some kind of inspiration or something along those lines. It's all still quite early, because I really don't want to rest until I'm very satisfied with what I've come up with. Right now I am thinking that each page will have a unique colour, but the entire site will be comprised of black, white and one other vivid colour. So the colours will be quite simple and everything will be part of the same general composition, but there will be individuality to each section of the site. The other issue is still naming. I feel like I've been stuck on this point forever and it's very frustrating. But I suppose that being busy with other things lately has meant that I haven't had the ability to really sit down and work on things. At the same time, I'm happy that I am finally starting to come to some conclusions about a general theme and stuff. Thankfully there's no real urgency to get anything done, even though I'd like to have everything going soon. As far as style goes, I think the intro image I have here on myOtaku right now is probably a bit more indicative of where I'm going with the final design. I'm really experimenting with different textures and lines at the moment. Shinji: Oh no, I could never ban Shy...he's like a part of the foundations of OB. We'll never get rid of him! CosmicSailor: Oh, did my sarcasm (and Shy's sarcasm) not come through? Heheh. Don't worry, both of us were joking. Besides, I own the community in question, so it doesn't matter if I tantrum about banning him (and do nothing about it). ~_^ I don't think I will ever really see Brisbane as "home", even if I stay for a while. But it does feel like a second home; when I'm away from it, I do find myself missing it. Deb: I think that having the new classes in PvE will actually encourage me to play through the game again with new characters. It's a good way of adding replay value and that's just with the original campaign. The idea of using these fresh new classes in a new campaign is very cool. RaR: *bows down to RaR's bowing down to my bowing down to John's bowing down to R@R's incredible image prowess* ...wow. Glad you like the theme. ~_^ indifference: Actually I went back to using Alan's code for this, although I made changes to all the imagery and stuff. No need to apologize about the conversation. I was pretty out of it too. But it was nice to say hello! I'm sure Sydney will be great, I am really looking forward to it. Hopefully we get the chance to have a longer chat sometime soon. SugarCone: I will post a link, yep. I don't think the portfolio site will contain any interactivity, so any comments about it would have to be made here or something anyway. I just hope it turns out well. I tend to be a bit iffy about blood as well, but it kind of depends on the context. Blood itself doesn't bother me, but there are certain things that really freak me out (for example, getting things attached to my veins at the wrist - I have a major fear of anything scratching/puncturing/cutting my wrists). Ouch. Congratulations on your new job, by the way! An office manager job sounds good, hopefully the staff are great to work with. I wish you the best of luck with that. As for Sydney, I can probably tell you more once I've been there again. Last time I only really spent a day and a night there. My impression of it was very positive though. The suburbs are pretty ordinary (nothing like Melbourne), but the city itself is quite nice. Although the general architecture of Sydney isn't as nice as Melbourne, Sydney does have the harbour and it obviously has some highly distinctive landmarks. The Opera House is absolutely breathtaking in person...I cannot possibly overstate that. When you approach it at dusk and see it lit up in a different colour each day, it almost brings a tear to your eye. It's just an incredibly beautiful building and it's really like a precious piece of artwork - although it's just a building it somehow has so much personality. I don't quite know how to put it into words, but I am really in love with that building. The same goes for the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which is quite breathtaking. The harbour in general is very nice and it's probably one of the most beautiful locations in the world, in terms of a city environment. Aaryanna: That line comes from the Mechanical Animals album. I sometimes use Marilyn Manson quotes, especially if they relate to what I might be thinking at the time. As for my page, thank you. The design is very simple, but I tend to prefer simplicity in the stuff I do anyway. I am definitely hoping to zero in on a more defined style for the portfolio site. My occupation is about to change again, too! I'm looking at a new job with substantially higher pay and it seems like it's very promising right now. I am currently working for Warner-Village (which is a joint-venture company between Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow). I would have liked to work for Village Roadshow, which has its world headquarters in Melbourne...but I've heard that the company's internal politics are a bit questionable (especially if you move into management). So that kind of turned me off a bit. I won't have Internet for a while after this week, because my living situation will still be up in the air for a little while. But that's okay, especially if I manage to get this new job. It's mostly just about having some security and being settled somewhere. The spider you are referring to is called the Funnel Web and it only lives in Sydney. Here is a picture of one. I'm not sure if that one is male or female, but the female can reach the size of an adult man's fist. They are enormous. And they are one of the world's most venomous spiders; they're also very aggressive (so rather than running away from you if disturbed, they will actually rear up and try to defend themselves). That spider is not the world's most venomous (I think that title goes to the Brazilian Wandering Spider - yes, I actually know that useless tidbit), but it would have to be right up there. If you are bitten, you only have about half an hour to reach a hospital. Thankfully bites are very rare and they only live in a fairly limited area of Australia. PvP and PvE are related to Guild Wars. PvE is basically a cooperative option where human players will engage in missions against the computer. PvP is "Player versus Player", which is basically where human teams compete against one another. I tend to prefer the former, because I really like cooperative gameplay. I do enjoy PvP, as there's an element of cooperative gameplay there...but it's not quite the same. I'll have to think about that recording and try to work out what to say. We'll see how that goes. As for car...I'm thinking of buying an older model Nissan Skyline, because I adore those cars. Thankfully there are still plenty around in Australia, as Nissan used to manufacture them here (Skylines were only ever manufactured in Japan and Australia - they used to participate in races here as local vehicles). A Beetle would be nice, somehow I think it would suit your personality...it's a bright and bubbly little car, hehe. Take care. ^_^ SunfallE: I'm glad you like the greenness. It's a colour I tend to rarely work with, so I thought I'd try it again. I also like green/black/white in the right shades, I think they make a pleasant combination. This colour scheme closely resembles one of the original designs I was working on for the new myOtaku, as well. I have no camera, but hopefully I can take my dad's or something. He never uses it, but hates when it isn't there in the house. So it's difficult to borrow it, as I don't know when I could give it back. Oh well, maybe I'll work something else out.

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Saturday, January 21, 2006

Even machines can see that we are dead. I've slightly remodeled my page a little here. The image that you see above kind of hints at what I'm planning for my portfolio site. I'm getting closer on that, but it's still a ways off. There's some extra pressure to have that done now though, despite the fact that it's difficult to work on those things with such low Internet access. But this week will give me an opportunity to get a few things ready for when I go for another period without the 'net. There'll be a little staff shuffling at OtakuBoards and I'm going to finish off a few things for N-Sider as well. Nothing much of interest has been happening lately, other than a few small things. I played Guild Wars today and enjoyed the updates, although I haven't actually dived into the PvP with the new classes yet. I'm actually a bit disappointed that they aren't available for PvE at the moment, as I definitely prefer that kind of cooperative play. Oh well. Hopefully they're planning something like that. Also, I've been religiously following MansonUSA, as the build-up for the new album begins. I really find the sheer depth of everything very fascinating. For example, if you go here, you'll find a log of all of the information that has been released thusfar. If you actually read through it you'll notice how incredibly detailed it is already (apart from that, you may actually get a slightly interesting history lesson). Very cool. Although I missed the little musical sample on the site and that kind of disappoints me, as I'm pretty eager to get a taste of how the band's sound will evolve in the new album. Other than that, it's going to be a relatively quiet week. I'll be spending as much time with family as I can and I will be leaving here next week for Sydney. Last time I went to Sydney, I was really only there for the night - we spent most of the next day there, but obviously we had to try to cram in a lot of activities and it was very difficult. But I will be there from the 26th until the 30th, so I'll actually have some time to see the sights a lot more. I really can't wait, as I enjoyed my first trip there very much. SugarCone: The apartment is found, though I don't know when we're moving in. It may be right after Sydney or we might wait a little bit longer. Still, it's nice to have found a place. Thanks for the encouragement. ^_^ snow fox: Yeah, I am already missing my new home in Brisbane quite a lot, even though it's only been a measley two days! Haha. Oh well. It's nice to be able to come back and forth now and then. Annsie: I'm really settling in...I already miss the whole vibe and atmosphere a lot! It's great. I'm thinking of either hanging that OB banner out my window or hanging an "Annie is cool beans" banner instead. ~_^ ShyGuy: Will someone ban this guy already? He's been pissing me off with his spammy posts for AGES! God, the crap I have to deal with!! *tantrums* Aaryanna: I should really get a cheap microphone and record a special message for everyone or something. That might be an easier way to update...or I could do a podcast. Wouldn't that be funny? I think I could make the lamest podcast ever. ~_^ I can't wait to get back into things once I return, especially in terms of work. I'm very eager to start putting more money into the apartment and stuff. And I need a new car. Agh! Thanks again for your comments, you are always so cheerful and friendly, Miss Aaryanna! I always admire that. ^_^ CosmicSailor: It's difficult, but I am surprised at how well I've handled things. I expected to be more homesick...but really, I've found it all very easy. I think sometimes we can surprise ourselves a lot, especially when we're thrown into very unique situations. Sennethy: Thank you! I hope your new year's eve was fun (despite the guns, anyway). When are you moving? That should be very cool. Glad to hear from you. ^_^ RaR: Outstanding! I'm definitely going to do something like that...even if it makes me a prime target for stalkers! Heheh. indifference: I'm glad that you had a nice new year's eve. We don't have Thanksgiving here, but I can understand that it must be hard not to be with family on such an occasion. I really really tried hard to be with family for Christmas; I'd have hated being away from them on that day. SunfallE: It's probably good that you have an almost-guaranteed job in an industry though, especially if you are happy enough with the work and know it well. I think that's a really valuable asset. Unfortunately my sister couldn't come to Sydney with me, which is really disappointing. However, I'm sure I can get her up to Brisbane soon enough so that I can show her around. Nothing like travelling with family, for sure. ^_^ You take care too! I hope everything is going well. ^_^ Mimmi-kun: Ahh, so you don't mind making buns, then? Excellent. I'm sure we can spend the really hot nights out on the balcony playing Literati with some cool drinks. I think that'd be a good way to spend time in summer (even though I am awful at Literati). ~_^ Shinji: The main thing it taught me is that nobody can ever really use the excuse that they were too drunk. Even when you are ridiculously drunk, you still basically know what's going on around you. I think that was a good lesson. lol John: *bows down to John's bowing down to R@R's incredible image prowess*

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Friday, January 13, 2006

Sing the theme tune... Amazingly enough, I'm back again. I seem to be able to get an hour here or there to update this page, so I figure I might as well. Tomorrow is apartment hunting and I've been spending the last week looking around for more work. There are a couple of possibilities on the horizon, but really, I feel that Brisbane is just full of opportunities. It seems as though Brisbane is really in need of designers and IT people and so on, largely because the economy here seems to have been focused on trades and stuff over the years. Where there's too many IT and web design specialists in Melbourne, there seem to be too few here in Queensland. The government is pushing this whole "smart state" initiative, which seems to mean that there are more courses and jobs that relate to this area. Queensland now has one of the few tertiary courses in the country that relates specifically to game design, for example. Clearly, the government is trying hard to support this area. The end result is that someone like me (having worked and studied in Melbourne) is in a good position to find more work up here. In terms of web and graphic design (or both together), it definitely seems as though there are more jobs than qualified people. So it's a good environment and it allows me to be a bit more choosey about the kind of work I take. I've already seen a few examples of what companies up here have been doing in terms of web design and, in general, it's just not on the same level as what you get in Sydney and Melbourne. A lot of the fundamental rules that you learn about in school don't seem to apply at times here - certain basic things, like not filling a screen with pointless flashing animations, or ignoring the resolution of your users...those types of things are fundamental to web design but the approach up here (from what I've seen) is fairly lax when it comes to that stuff. Of course, I am sure I've only seen a small fraction of what's on offer, but even some of the larger businesses here are making those mistakes. In Melbourne and Sydney though, there really isn't anymore work. The companies are all full and there are still too many people who are studying in these areas. So in a way I'm sure it's probably forcing a lot of people to actually move to Queensland or other states in order to get this kind of work. I guess that's probably a good thing, especially if local people here aren't picking up these subjects on the scale that they're hoping for. Although it does seem as though that will soon change if the government keeps its focus on IT this strong. Anyway, I think I was going to talk about new year's eve or something wasn't I? *shrug* I have to say, I was kind of dreading it, because I thought that we'd all be going into Surfers Paradise to some bar or club or something. That's really not my thing, if only because Surfers is crowded most of the time anyway...I can't imagine what it'd have been like on new year's eve. But it actually ended up being very pleasant. My then roommate's family were having a party on their front lawn, which itself sits right on the beach. All of the people from the different apartments in the buildings were out there too, so it had a very strong community feeling to it. Up until that point, I hadn't really been able to spend much time getting to know my roommoate's family or anything, so it was great to actually sit down and chat with them for a while. All in all, it was a very relaxed night. When the clock struck twelve, we all went out onto the beach and watched the fireworks at both Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta. It's great being in a spot where you can see two cities in two states at the same time. It was a truly beautiful sight. And the neighbours were setting off illegal fireworks of their own, which was interesting. It was also the only time that I've ever truly been very drunk. Not only do I rarely drink alcohol, but when I do, I am very responsible with it. I've never been completely drunk or sick from it or anything like that. But this new year's was very different...I know know what the term "blind drunk" means. lol But still, it was a good night and it was also very bittersweet. Although it was so exciting to be celebrating in a new location with new friends, I had so many memories of home and all the people I love who couldn't be there with me to share it. So I felt very emotional and it was the first time that I really missed home. That night also put a thought into my head: travelling means nothing without someone to share it with. Although I have really enjoyed travelling and living in new places recently, I sometimes feel that seeing new sights has far less appeal if I can't share those experiences with my family. It really drove home how close I am to all of them and how much they mean to me. But still, I will be going home for a week soon and that'll be great. And they'll be coming up here to visit me as well. So I'm very happy about that. I'll quit rambling now, as I have kind of lost track of time at the moment, lol. SugarCone: Most of my new year's eves have been pretty quiet family affairs. So it was nice to have the change. I enjoyed the craziness, but it's not something I'd want to do regularly. lol I am not sure how clothes shopping will go, if only because I'll need to buy totally different stuff up here. It's just too warm to wear that I normally wear in Melbourne. But I'm sure I'll find something I like...I will probably get around to that when I've moved. You gotta love job hunting. I really hate it, but I've got a few possibilities coming up that are promising. So I feel just a bit more relaxed than I usually would about that stuff. I hope that you are successful in finding what you want, anyway. Thanks again for your comment! John: Oh I'm a professional commuter...that was all I did in Melbourne. ~_^ Soon I won't need to, though. Yay. SunfallE: Yeah, a few more weeks of craziness and then I'm settled. My working hours will be more than ever before, but I may end up having more time for the web because I probably won't be working freelance. Thank you again for your card! snow fox: Thank you, m'dear. ~_^ It's nice to hear from you again! I hope you are doing well. ^_^ indifference: Yeah, I have only just been getting regular sleep again recently, lol. But not much longer to go! You take care too. ^_^ CosmicSailor: Don't worry, I am a very careful person in general. I keep my bases covered. ~_^ Although I do enjoy throwing myself into strange new situations at times... RaR: Nuh-uh, no golden anything yet. But I'm workin' on it. ~_^ Maybe I should just spend the money on a big "OtakuBoards" banner and hang that from my apartment balcony. Heheh. Hope to see you on AIM too! molletta: Yeah, I actually like looking at houses and apartments and stuff...it's the one type of window-shopping that I don't actually mind, lol. I think I just make mental notes like "Yeah I want something like that in ten years". ~_^ Girls do a lot of crazy stuff. It just boggles the mind! But gifts are always good and girls usually seem to know exactly what gifts to give. ~_^ I hope you're doing well, I haven't spoken to you in a long time! ^_^ Mimmi-chan: Oh not at all, my dear Mimmi. They were all very sweet gifts and I appreciate every last thing you've sent. I will soon be bringing a lot of those items up here to live with me, so that'll be great. The two apartments we are looking at tomorrow are definitely large enough for another roommate or two, so you wouldn't have to say in the closet. The only rule is that you have to make buns for us once in a while, since they are so delicious. ~_^

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Thursday, January 12, 2006

Write the theme tune... Wow, within a matter of days I'm actually updating again. This time I'm updating from the office at almost 9pm. Isn't that fantastic? Yes? No? Oh well, I figured I'd stop by and update while I'm here. Rather than writing out a full post though, I think I will just respond to your comments. Thanks again for visiting, especially considering the sheer boringness of my page lately. The next few weeks are going to continue the busyness, as I will be down in Melbourne for a week, then I'll be in Sydney for a week...and then back up here at the end of the month. And then I'll be moving into the city. Phew. The next week will involve apartment shopping though, so that'll be fun. Other than that, I'm still very eager to get back into the swing of things. There are so many things to do on here and I am frustrated that I can't be here to handle everything! But I'm very fortunate to have a brilliant staff at OtakuBoards who are holding the fort while I'm gone and I know that I can always rely on Adam and Justin to do what must be done. So I never feel too stressed about not being able to attend to things at times. I'm also possibly changing jobs sometime this month (at the very least, I may be going to a job that pays significantly more than what I earn with Warner now). So that'll be pretty funky. I'll be able to buy that gold toilet seat that I've been hankerin' for! ...but no, seriously, it may actually allow me to return a few favours. For example, I'll be able to send presents to all the people who have mailed me over the years. I've received some wonderful gifts from so many people. Annie sent me a shirt that I still wear frequently - it's so cool that it even gets comments on the street, lol. I love it to death. And Mimmi has sent me a billion things that I adore (including my favourite chocolates and some incredibly cool Nintendo merchandise). And then there's Juu, who sent me a beautiful package quite a while ago...I still have her address and I'm going to send some interesting Australian-themed stuff to her. I hope she'll like what I have planned. Anyhoo, on to the comments. Mimmi: Ahuh. I will have changed addresses three times in a month-and-a-half. So uh...it just kills my brain, haha. But the third and final move can't come soon enough! I'm sure you'd like the apartments I'm looking at, too. If I can get a picture I shall show you. ^_^ CosmicSailor: Oh don't worry, everything has been planned out (as best as is possible anyway). It's mostly just a matter of getting through that time where things aren't so sure...when you're in the middle of things. I just feel like I am in constant flux right now and that can be difficult at times. Annie: I hope you're doing well, my dear Annie. I can't wait to be back for real. ~_^ Aaryanna: Heheh, that title was kind of a reference to the suburb I'm in now. It's a nice place, although Queensland suburbs are very odd compared to Melbourne suburbs. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's strange. We're getting calls from real estate agents tomorrow to organize times for inspections. So...with any luck that will mean we can knock over something within the next week. I'd certainly like to have a place organized before I head back down to Melbourne anyway. And thanks, I hope you take care too! ^_^ Alexus: I'm really looking forward to being back. I can't wait to get back into Guild Wars. How's it been going anyway? Bio: Fun changes aplenty, you bet! When time permits I'm going to be getting knee-deep in OB and myOtaku...it's going to be great. John: Hah! Yes, Brisbane could do with another citizen who speaks English well and who isn't too fond of thongs. Heheh, only joking. Actually I very much enjoy the atmosphere up here and I love Brisbane itself. Reminds me of Melbourne quite a bit. Anyway, I think Brisbane is cool enough anyway. It's just totally funky. ~_^ I still haven't seen King Kong...blah. I'll get there before it stops playing! ...I hope. ~_^ Liam: Well, it's nice because the apartments in Brisbane - even the most expensive - are around half the cost of what you'll pay in Melbourne or Sydney. I mean, say you pay $500 a week for something in Melbourne or Sydney...you're likely to get a tiny little room in a not-so-good area. It costs a lot more than that for something truly nice. Whereas in Brisbane - in South Bank and West End anyway - you can go from say $400 to $500 per week and get a spacious two or three bedroom place in an ideal location and with all the latest features. So the difference is massive and it's a very pleasant surprise for me, as I was expecting the prices to be significantly higher. As far as music goes, I haven't yet really been to any clubs or anything here yet. I've been to a few cafes in the city but I haven't really had the time to explore further. Once I've settled in though, you can bet that I'll be finding out what the city has to offer. So that'll be fun. Anyhoo, I'm currently in Sunnybank. So at a guess I'm something like 15-20 minutes drive from the city. It's a relatively good location in terms of convenience, however, as I've said a lot on this blog...I won't really feel calm until I'm in a truly final location. Those last few weeks are the hardest to wait! ^_^ indifference: Thank you much. I replied to your PM, by the way. Hopefully I can get something to you shortly. Take care. ^_^ SugarCone: Right now I have very little on me, so in a way I'm still kind of living out of a suitcase. I've unpacked but I didn't bring a lot with me. But that was expected, because the weather here is significantly more humid than what I'm used to. As a result, I haven't had a need for any long-sleeved clothing or trousers or anything. So considering a good 90% of my wardrobe consists of that stuff...that means a good 90% of it is useless to me here, lol. So I shall need to buy all-new clothing soon. Yay. You need some mature reading? Hm, I can probably give you a longer post soon that involves something a bit more meaty...but for now I can only tell you that my new year's eve was unexpectedly uh...wild. I've never been that drunk in my entire life. In fact, I hardly ever drink alcohol, so it was very rare. But it was a good night, I will tell you more about that soon perhaps. ~_^ SunfallE: Thank you, I really appreciate it. I hope you are doing well too! And yes...changes! When I get back to the business of web design, it should be very interesting. This last month has influenced me quite a bit. Sesshomarufan: Thank you very much, I am really hoping that things settle down as well. Once they do, I'm sure I will settle in nicely to my new home. Hope you had a fun new year's. ^_^ dream wings: Haha, somehow that's very appropriate for my current situation though. But not long to wait now. I hope that you're enjoying your puppy. ^_^

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Monday, January 9, 2006

Sunny side up. Whew, back again for another quick update. As you can imagine, the last few weeks have been pretty hectic. Last week I moved yet again - I'm temporarily staying just outside the city while I look for an apartment in the inner city itself. With any luck, the entire moving process will be complete within the next few weeks. I am definitely hoping to get settled so that I can be back here more regularly. Other than that, not a whole lot has been happening except to say that I've been kept very busy dealing with all of the legalities up here. I've had to have so many things changed over for Queensland (such as driver's license and so on) and changing addresses so much has been a bit annoying in terms of constantly informing people of where I'm living from week to week. This time I will not respond to all of your comments as I don't really have time at the moment, but hopefully I will be able to write a longer post soon. I do want to say, though, that I miss all of you and I want to thank people for sending kind messages to me recently (including cards and PMs). I really, really appreciate it. As soon as I'm back, you can bet that we'll all be in for some fun changes. ~_^

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