Last class... ever

Today I had the last class I'll ever have at College... really sort of strange. It hasn't quite hit me yet, but this time that I've been looking forward to is finally here and it's like I'm not sure how to feel about it. As I sit here, after class and after work, with no homework ahead of me... it's an odd feeling. To have worked so hard, for so long, and then for these projects to end... almost leaves a bit of a void. Transcendence, our Senior Production game, is finished... minus a few things that may need tweaking but really it's done. My demo reel is done... I've already begun conversations with companies about my next steps and this all feels just... I don't know maybe a little too grown up. It was pretty appropriate to have our Senior Production class be my last class, and seeing a year's worth of work in action. It shouldn't feel this strange being done, with school and our game, having always known that it was coming eventually. It's been a long time coming... and now it seems a bit melodramatic.

I think life is sort of funny... We keep going through these cycles of starting new to becoming a veteran, only to go back to being a noob. It’s sort of like playing an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game), you begin in the starting area, level your character to the highest level, and then it’s sort of like putting that down and starting a new character all over again with the experiences from the first time around. We go through this in elementary school, high school, and as I’m graduating college now as a Senior I’m back down at the bottom of the totem pole about to enter the workforce… so I can gain enough experience and level up again. Each time it’s all new and extremely exciting, and scary at times as well… I look forward to playing my next character… I wonder who I’ll be…

Website Update!

If your reading this, it's because you still haven't made the move to my website. That's ok! But be sure to check it out! I've just updated the layout considerably and like I've said my demo reel is finally up! So if you haven't checked it out yet, get to it!

Demo Reel!

My Demo Reel is complete!

Please check it out!

Oh and you should check this out too! Completely unrelated but awesome!

The Righteous

So there’s been a topic that’s been on my mind a little bit lately, I’ve been debating on blogging about it, but really was inspired to talk a little bit after reading Heather Conover’s latest blog post. I’ve been taking a class in World Religions and this has really got me thinking a lot about belief, and different belief systems… where many are the same just in different contexts. It seems as though the basis of a lot of different faiths is to make it somewhere special in the end, whether it’s Nirvana, becoming one with the Brahmin, or just going to Heaven. Each have their own set of standards on life, and how one should live it.

Maybe I should just pre-empt this with saying that these are just my opinions, and I have nothing against any of the faith based religions, or even atheists. Just been trying to think broadly about some of these things…

In any case I find it strange to have a sort of guideline on how to live your life, and on what you think. I suppose the appealing part would be lay in the promise of great things in the afterlife. I’m not one to doubt that there is a God, Brahmin, or some state of enlightenment even though I don’t necessarily follow any Religion. What I do believe that if there is a God in some form, that someone who doesn’t go to church could have his or her life judged just as equally as someone who goes to church regularly. I believe it’s in living a good life, doing the “right things,” and really Karma is all that matters.

Recently a guest speaker came to our Religions class to speak, who had been affiliated with the “Church of the twelve tribes.” Essentially a cult, or alternative religious movement, located in Northern Vermont and other places across the globe. What I found interesting is that they have the view that there are not only two places or categories for people when they die. The believed that those who follow their religious practices are called the “Holy” and have their special place in Heaven, of course there are also the “Unjust” or “Filthy” who have obviously made bad life choices and end up in hell. Yet there is a third category they consider, and these people are those who do not necessarily follow their religious practices but live a good life and have a good conscience. These people are called “The Righteous,” and they also have their own place in Heaven. Now I thought this was really interesting, the part I didn’t find too interesting was that the “Holy” rule over the “Righteous” in Heaven, but for them to consider others to be on their own path to god I think was neat.

Well I guess that’s sort of the end of this rant, just some interesting thoughts I’ve been having.

Hopefully my Demo Reel will be online tomorrow! So keep an eye out, as I’ll post a notification when it’s up. =)

Remembering Africa

Last night I dreamed of Africa... I find this to be pretty curious as it has been nearly eight months since returning from South Africa. I dreamed that I was in one of the townships that we visited, and even was living there for a while. I think I remember even having conversations with people that I had met in Africa, about the UN project. Perhaps I've been thinking about work too much... but in reality I still can't get over the enormity of the project, it's goals, and the people... as well as how much progress we've been able to make thus far. It's a pretty amazing project and opportunity, which sometimes I think gets lost behind deadlines, scheduling, and milestones. Maybe I'm the only one who may have forgotten a little just how amazing all this is. To think we've traveled to South Africa, spoke at the United Nations in New York, and had our prototype shown to hundreds or maybe thousands (the exact number of people I'm not really sure) attending a conference about the issue in Brazil... It's a little out of this world.

Sometimes we get stuck in a rut, we establish our routine and we go through our "daily grind." I don't know about you but for me sometimes it's like I'm getting stuck behind technology a bit, constantly working and having a sort of disconnect from the world. It's easy to forget people sometimes, and I'm ashamed to say that maybe I forgot the people behind this project for a while... being a little too focused on the here and now... seeing work on the UN project in terms of hours and time management. Saying something like "Oh I can only give you this much time this week," sounds a bit silly and even selfish thinking about who the project might touch. Yet these things we have to do, in order to do such things as graduate college. I guess I'm sort of talking in circles a little... I guess part of the point I'm trying to make is that I hope others on the project can take a moment and remember the people too, and not just the design, the art, and the programming.

While this hasn't always been the forefront of my consciousness, I don't think Africa will really ever leave me. Someday I hope to go back... or perhaps visit someplace else and make some more friends. Experiences like these help us determine who we are and who we chose to be. I know that I'll never really forget Africa.

Updating Art!

Hey all! I just thought I'd direct your attention to the gallery section of my web site, I'd just put some images up there of things that I've been working on lately and will soon be featured in my demo reel. These things are still being refined but yea... Check it out!

Be sure to check out both Traditional and Digital work! wesknee.com

Beta

Today we had our Beta deliverable for Senior Production, and I'm happy to say that I think it went really well. Transcendence is really looking good, as frustrating as this project has been at times, it takes it to a whole new level actually seeing your art in action. I think it's so funny how the art sometimes can take on a whole new life when you see it finally implemented, putting so much time into every screen sometimes makes me feel like I never want to see it again, but then seeing it in action can't help but make you proud. Today was an interesting day seeing what everyone has been working on, and with all of them being pretty promising is really awesome. Sure there have been extreme ups and downs, but I think our class has done a good job tackling these and creating some quality work.

All this aside, today felt like sort of a somber day seeing every one's projects so close to the end, and then in class we were asked if we'd write a post mortem that didn't have to include just this project but could also be our career at Champlain. Beta is a good title to put on this point of the semester, we're so close to the end... so close to delivering what should be a product of our time here, and ending this production cycle we call college.

I know I've run the gambit of emotions as far as graduation is concerned, but at this point I can't help but be so excited. It's sort of like looking bright eyed into the future, wondering what you'll do and how things will end up, but knowing that there are infinite possibilities. I'm confident that I'll find my place, wherever it may be...

On another level I've been thinking a lot of things I may want to work on in the near future, I know it's ridiculous... I'm finally getting to a point where I may actually have some free time soon, and already I'm filling it up with projects in my head. Yet I'm really inspired right now, I want to explore my skill set and the possibilities of what sorts of things I might be able to create. Right now I've been talking with another artist whose art is... well pretty much the polar opposite of mine and I'm really interested in finding ways we may be able to combine our styles into an interesting juxtaposition. I think that's the biggest thing I want to do now... explore. Explore my craft, my possibilities, and myself.

Ugh I kind of want to start ranting about some of my concepts but will be keeping these to myself for a little while longer at least. Anyways I suppose that's all for now... I've reached Beta, looking forward to GoldMaster.