BlogGlue

Greetings!

Here are a few of my favorite things: Nintendo, Penny Arcade, The Legend of Zelda, Mario, Pokemon, Harvest Moon, Fallout, Dungeons and Dragons, books, dice, Professor Layton, Shadow of the Colossus, Minecraft, and so much more. I'm going to talk a lot about video games, I sincerely hope you don't mind.

Newest paper sculpt project!

Sonic Screwdriver trio for my friend's birthday.

An interview with Adam Harum of Transolar Galactica.

They achieved their Kickstarter goal, and now the world gets more of their award winning sci-fi comedy!

Doctor Who themed lip balm!

Brought to you from Earthtastic! and A Bit of Geek.

Minecraft paper sculpt!

My submission to the Mojang community art contest. Watch the video!

A TARDIS desk lamp!

Instructions and babbling on how to make a TARDIS lamp from foam core!

Friday, March 25, 2011

Apparently this is about tablets and Minecraft.

Everyday that I walk to work I pass these really great wrought iron fences. They're thin and black (of course) and at the tops they have gold painted fleur des lis type ornaments. They're nice to look at, but more importantly they remind me of my 40K army. I painted a few little gold fleur des lis for my vehicles. I miss them. I have a feeling that my future holds a place for me to paint again though, so that's really exciting!

The 3DS launched today. In Europe, anyway. The US has another two days to wait. This doesn't make a bit of difference to me because my system is sitting in Washington AND I won't have it until June. Ugh.

I'm currently at work and doing some photo editing for a family shoot. I'm lucky in that, when at work, I get to use a giant tablet PC. I am unlucky in the fact that this computer is effed up and slow. Apparently, whoever used this machine before me was just download happy. And stupid. I'm hoping I can convince my boss to let me wipe it and start fresh. It needs it very badly. [I'm continuing this entry from home and I'm happy to update that I've been given the OK to wipe and restore the computer. Awesome!]

I remember the first time I used a tablet at all; my friend Leneah had one in high school. She really loved to draw and one time during Junior year she let me use it. I remember how horrible I was at it and wondered how she managed to control the pen well enough to make the drawings that she was so proficient at. Turns out it gets a lot easier with practice. I asked for one for Christmas that year, 2003, and received one. A tiny 5x7 tablet. I clumsily drew Neopets and mushroom scenery in Photoshop 7. Ah, memories. The next one I ever saw was the monstrous one that Andrew received as a birthday/graduation gift that following June. He's the kind of person that actually needs a tablet. I was very impressed.

After starting at OC for my Associates, I took some Photoshop classes. Once I was in the advanced class I had access to a tablet again. I had kind of fallen out of use on mine (already) and the work space was so tiny that it was frustrating to use. The ones at OC were sizable, but not nearly as large as Andrew's. Haha.

I didn't really mean for this to turn into a blog about tablets, but here it is I guess. I really enjoy using one. I don't need one, but I'll absolutely use one whenever the opportunity presents itself. Plus, Andrew gets jealous when I talk about it (which is fun and cute). Here is me using it:

Don't I look thrilled? My face may have not gotten the 
memo regarding how awesome tablet PCs are.

For lunch today I set out to find something new to eat (didn't happen) and while on my walk I passed a store called Game. I saw it last summer but had apparently forgotten about it. I most certainly didn't forget that there's a GameStop in Eyre Square Centre, but I like to avoid going in. It was so disorganized that I felt stressed when I went in last! Anyway, I popped into Game because they had crap-tons of signage for the 3DS. I wanted to look around and see game cases for Pokemon White and Okamiden. I easily found the boxes for Pokemon, but I didn't spot Okamiden. I don't even remember its release date though, so it's entirely possible that it's not out here yet. I looked around at their displays and the strategy guides and the empty box ads for the 3DS and felt... sad. Then I went, ''Do I miss GameStop?!'' and I turned and ran out of the store, almost knocking into an unsuspecting patron attempting to enter the door.

I suppose it wouldn't be entirely out of the question for me to miss it. I was there for over six years. Weird.

When we find the time in the day, Andrew and I go ahead and play Minecraft. It works best when he's on his lunch break, and that only works for me if I have nothing going on immediately after work. So far this week we haven't been able to play very often, but when he have played I've managed to grab some really fun screen shots! Allow me to share.

Andrew expanded our castle wall out quite a ways and
found some lovely new islands off the coast.

To the right of our castle's front wall he built a long low wall
that extends into a dock. Look at that beautiful ship! <3

While assisting with the construction of our ship's sails I 
spotted not one, but TWO squids off to the right of the dock!
Now I can make more black wool without finding those
ever elusive black sheep. Score!

We explored the Nether for the first time last week. It was
really freaky at first, and so very dark. I am not a fan of the
Pigmen. At all. The Ghasts make me so sad, then I shoot
them with my bow until they cry and explode.

Sometimes when I leave the Nether the Nether takes a
while to leave me.

I don't condone book burning, don't worry.

Andrew built us a fabulous library that is completely covered in lava. I painstakingly built tons of bookshelves in order to properly stock our intellectual alcove. I also made some classy as shit couches. One day I popped in to relax and all of the shelves and wool were gone. We were both very perplexed. We kind of assumed it was a server or game error, so I decided to wait until the anger wore off and then I'd build new ones. I had just placed about 20 bookshelves and was stopping to admire my handiwork, then I noticed that they were in flames. Apparently there is some sort of issue with flammable items being against a wall that has lava on the other side. So that was fun.

 Da da da daaaaaaa!

This is my latest contribution to the castle. Generally Andrew assigns me a task and I get to it, or I just hunt for sheep, but in this case I had a clear vision! Seems like a good welcome mat to me :]


Sunday, March 13, 2011

Minecraft! And some sad news.

OK, it has been way too long since I've posted here.

In the past 6 months I have, sadly, not played very many games. There were other things going on and I just didn't make any time for them. This is a decision that I regret! At home I no longer had access to a TV all to myself, so if I wanted to play my Wii I had to take everything downstairs and hook it up to the TV there. I'm a touch lazy, so I ruled out this option many times. I really need to work on that.

The few times that I did manage the arduous process I found myself playing Kirby's Epic Yarn. A couple of ventures saw New Super Mario Bros. and some virtual console titles. For Christmas I received Epic Mickey, but didn't play it. I also acquired Donkey Kong Country Returns, Mario All Stars Wii and Lost in Shadow. My sister and I had a few rousing evenings with DKC Returns, but I didn't play Mario All Stars or Lost in Shadow. My free time was dedicated to working full time at good ol' GameStop, preparing to leave for Ireland and seeing my friends as much as possible in anticipation of being out of the country.

My reasoning for not playing very many Wii games was that I planned on bringing my Wii with me and playing games in Ireland. Well, I'm in Ireland now and I haven't played any games. You know why? Because I think I broke my Wii. Now, I'm going to try very hard to not dwell on this fact because I am pretty effing distraught over it, as I'm sure one can imagine. There's an ever so slight chance that the AC cable is just fried, but there is also a chance that the Wii itself is toast. I won't know for sure until I get back home and can test it with someone else's cable. I hate not knowing. If I lose all of my VC downloads I am going to be so angry. Then I'm going to riot to Nintendo and let them know that they are unfair for not having a login system so that customers can re-download their purchases in the event of a broken system, like PSN and XBLA do. I know they're worried about protecting people and children's identities but man, I don't want to lose my money.

Alternatively, I may be able to have them fix whatever is broken and retain all of my downloads and save files. I wonder how much they charge to fix Wiis? And what the turn-around time is? Hmm..

In slightly more positive news, I at least have my DSi. And, if all goes well, I'll have my 3DS along with Pokemon White and Okamiden next month. Just in time for my birthday too! I have a very generous mother :3

Looks awesome, right? Hopefully I'm better at it than I was with Okami -_-

For my DSi I have a nice selection of games that I could be playing, but I haven't dedicated any time yet. I bought Ghost Trick just before I left the States at the recommendation of my co-worker and some reviews that I read online. I'm anxious to play it but have been very befuddled with my computer and Skype so that I can talk to my boyfriend. I love technology. I remember when I was about 11 or 12 I was on the phone with my dad who I only saw once a year for the summers. We were talking about how great it would be if video phones existed, that way we could see each other everyday even though we were on opposite sides of the country. Well, dad, the future is upon us and you don't have the internet. Way to embrace it! Sheesh.

Anyway. My DS. I love it dearly. I could play on my lunch breaks but I've been busy reading awesome and punny fantasy novels! I'm happy to be reading more, so I don't begrudge the book. It's call Night Mare, and it's by Piers Anthony. Andrew picked out a bunch of books to send to Ireland with me. We're reading them in chunks together, sort of like a book club. My days are filled with awesome <3

I had every intention of reactivating my WoW account upon my arrival here, but I've found that that's very difficult to do with no money. I'd have a bit more money if it weren't for the dollar being so horrible right now. Add the $$$ lost during conversion on top of the fee charged to me for pulling out money from a non-affiliate ATM and I am running out of money right fast. Doesn't really leave much room for a subscription fee. That is OK though because I have been playing MINECRAFT.

This was definitely me, although I didn't make it so far as to creating torches or glass before I started to have help from someone else.

Last fall Andrew told me that I should play it with him and his co-workers. I was busy being antisocial, so I told him maybe. Then in December I had a chance to play on a friend's computer and I got super excited. It definitely helped that Penny Arcade made a mini arc about it. I trust everything that they say whole-heartedly. They're the reason that I bought Katamari Damacy. <3 those guys.

So since early-to-mid January I've been playing on a multiplayer server with Andrew and his co-workers. He and I have been traversing and building and exploring and slaying and spelunking. It has been nothing short of awesome. I've been taking screenshots when I remember to because there's so much fun stuff happening. Currently we live in a monster castle that is complete with waterfall, dining hall, garden, gothic tower, floating house, living quarters, supply room, subterranean cave system, library and mob catcher. He's always thinking of new things to add, so who knows what else it'll turn into! We also have a lighthouse on the shore and we built a mine track to our old house via skybridge.

This here (from left to right) demonstrates the mob catcher, the floating house, cathedral, other tower and library. Note that the library is covered in lava for awesome's sake.

The internet at my mom's house in Washington is DSL (yuck) so I regularly encountered some issues when logging in. They were mostly funny but occasionally did cause some irritation. The most common problem was a severe chunk error.

Just monster chunks of terrain missing all the way to the bottom of the world.

He let onto the fact that we could use these errors to our advantage. That hadn't even occurred to me! Sometimes they filled in and loaded as normal, but sometimes they'd just flat out refuse to load in. In the instance captured above I happened to see some large reservoirs of iron, something that were were lacking in. So, I directed him on where to dig and where to find the reserves! After that I built a bridge to cross the chasm and went down with him to look for diamonds. I've never loved diamonds so much before!

-MJ

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