The Mind of Kevin Otoshi |
Life through the eyes of Kevin Otoshi =] |
03/18/2012 - Sunday
03/17/2012 - Saturday
03/16/2012 - Friday
The final push, cookies, and a finished game with 2 minutes to spare. How we pulled it off so magically I don’t know, but it was a lot of fun. I got the hang of programming today and I helped set up a good amount of the levels so they would work properly.
The game came out ok. A little under the time constraints (so not much testing), but there aren’t any crashes. I especially like the humor we put into it (even if we are the only ones who understand), and the celebratory cookies we bought hit the spot.
I’m so glad I was able to pull through in the end and help the team complete the project. I was afraid I might be a little useless, but I feel redeemed. I can’t wait to make another game, this experience was uplifting =]
Now for finals. Hmm…
03/15/2012 - Thursday
Pizza was ordered to fill our stomachs as we crowded together to finish the game AI game. Time ticked and we slowly managed to pull together a few levels. We are slowly making progress, but still not as serious as we might need to be to finish this. There are four or five rooms outlined but we need a few more to fully show off our narrator. I feel we can do it, but it’s going to be a long day tomorrow~
03/14/2012 - Wednesday
Today I caught my blog up instead of doing work. I had my last essay due and I alternated between finishing it and typing up notes here so I could have a concise Winter quarter 2012 log to look at when it is all done and through.
My essay came out well and I feel like it’s going to be another successful one. 99% last week, I’m hoping for another A!
For the rest of the evening, I worked on the Game AI project at Nicole’s place. It seems to be going well and we’re getting some stuff accomplished. Hopefully we can pull this off in the two days we have left.
03/13/2012 - Tuesday
Classes are getting tough to pay attention to, but N-Gram AI looked interesting today. I feel like I’m so close to finishing, but I just need to sprint for a bit more.
Today, RLC was productive. We figured out a good chunk of SlugRAPs schedule and also laid out some good foundations for where to go next with other aspects of the SlugRAP itinerary.
After the meeting, I had a talk with Joann. It was nice to catch up again as we did last quarter, sharing our experiences and rants, and just being good friends. I feel like I didn’t listen to her and support her with what she was going through as much as I should have. I played the: I think this, I know this card instead of playing the listening and it’s ok, I believe you card. I feel like our friendship is strong enough that honesty is ok, but I should also be careful about being too honest when she might not be looking for that answer.
It was a good chat, but short. I should talk to her again soon.
03/12/2012 - Monday
Another fateful day after my fated one yesterday. Today I decided to start being myself and showing “my feelings”. It never has seemed to work in my past, and maybe it is flawed, but I’m going to do it anyways. I want her to know that I care about her, even if that messes up my chances with her. She is worth it, this special friend of mine, and I want her to know. May you see my effort, or at least feel calm and relaxed in my attempt to show you~
03/11/2012 Sunday
My mom visited today and she brought my sister and I to eat lunch. It was great seeing her since it has been about a month and I realized a lot of me has changed. I have different career goals than I use to have, and my mom seems to be a little concerned with how I’m going to make money. I’ve been thinking that money doesn’t matter to me, but it’s a little true, I do need some source of income to survive while I make my games. What will I do?
I learned today that I need to update my mom more often about life. We’re drifting apart slowly, even if I don’t intend. During break. That will be my chance.
Today I finished my map outlines for CS 146 with just a bit of time to spare before Salsita. They’re looking good with some complex puzzles! =]
Salsita! It’s becoming one of my favorite things to do. Dancing is a great stress relief and the people there are awesome! I’ve already promised someone I’m going to go for the rest of the year, so time to get dancing!
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Today was a fateful/faithful day. I got to cook for the wonderful Moni, one of my best friends I’ve gotten to know this year at UCSC. We made curry and it came out most amazing. We chatted in my room while we ate, talkign of everything from our grandparents, to appreciating each day we live, to cooking, to faith versus fate and how similar they are in concept, to having “no expectations” and being happy with what life gives us, to karma points and how karma might work, to guardian angels, and even to my interest and how it might turn out. It was one of the best nights of my winter 2012 quarter and I’m so glad I got to know her better. She is definitely a keeper in my friend book - insightful, loving, and amazing =]
03/10/2012 - Saturday
Today I attended/helped set up a NSBE/SASE Game Tournament and I won. It wasn’t the greatest competition, but I won. I completed one of my life goals. I won a video game tournament! =]
I’m excited that I won, but this also marks an interesting dilemma in my gaming career. Do I want to continue trying to compete in these little game tournaments and try to get better, potentially the best or top of my school? Hmm, and what games would I play? What games do I have time for?
Or do I just want to make games and make something competitive? I feel like I could make something really great with my knowledge of competitive games, but it might also take a lot of time to get the game done. Year long+ projects always scare me. I guess I’m going to have to face them sooner or later.
Later, I went to the dining hall with Jaine and Joann for a quick meeting. It was nice to see them and I noticed I was actively increasing my listening skills. I could tell that they were or weren’t listening to what I was saying based on how they reacted to me. Keep it up and I’ll be a pro at listening soon =]
So I keep hearing about girls night out (3 times in the last week), and I’m wondering why girls are suddenly having their get togethers now. Even stranger, I know quite a bit about what a girls night out should have, even when I’ve never been to one or experienced any aspects of one. I don’t get it, but maybe I might actually fit in at a girls night out if I were invited to one.
03/09/2012 - Friday
Back to my career, I went to the career center today to fix my cover letter and resume. The lady was very helpful, and told me to connect my personal w/ my cover letter. Writing these kinds of documents are difficult for me, but they are important. Practicing should only get me further in the future and I can improve a decent cover letter/resume into a better one in the future.
Today I went to office hours from 1:00 pm to 3:45 pm to get help on the assignment for CS 146. Office hours are so useful and I almost finished it all in the ~ 3 hours I was there. Next quarter I MUST go to office hours. They will be invaluable and keep my focused. Also, be honest with professors, tell him you aren’t up to the readings, but you want to get there. Don’t fear them unless they give you a reason to.
After office hours, I went off campus to work on the CS 146 game and I did some level designing. It doesn’t seem to be fitting exactly what we’re looking for and I’m starting to wonder if I’m helping enough as a teammate. I don’t want to be the black sheep holding the group back, I want to help and allow us to succeed.
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Best night in a long time! I was a Blackjack Dealer that the Bellagioakes Casino Dance. My table was rocking and I had a full table at multiple phases of the night. The house kept winning for some reason, but two lucky girls won it all with their savings. It showed me how dangerous gambling really is, even when it isn’t real. They saved up the whole night and played it safe, then went all in to try doubling up. It was risky, but thrilling.
I really enjoyed my experience being a part of the night and I felt like I gave the casino members a thrilling player experience.
After the dance, we (Oakes staff) gathered together and drove off to Jeffry’s, a 24/7 diner at 1:00 am. It was so much fun and the food was great for breakfast (maybe I was just hungry). I sat with Sean, Moni, and Kim, and we had a great time being the “mature” table, while other tables erupted in laughter for the littlest things.
All in all a super fun night to end an eventful day.
