One of those journal entry thingies...
Ok, I have returned to my journal, to post once more. It's been ages since the last one and it's already April of this not-so-new-year, 2008. Seems like just yesturday it was Christmas... but now it's already mid April and I'm wearing shorts again cuz it's 90+ degrees out. Stupid global warming.
Here's a rundown of what's been going on in my life:
I'm still quite dissatisfied with my job - STILL a temp and I'm STILL being their bitch (basically). No benefits, no raises, no upward progression. Colin and I have discussed this over and over a bunch of times and it's sad because we feel like we've both lost motivation while working there because we know there's no need to work harder if we're never gonna be respected or fully appreciated. We're not gonna get hired on officially any time soon, and probably won't ever, so there's no need to bust our butts after having done so for over a full year with nothing to show for it. I'm looking (not as much as I should be) for something else, hopefully in the game design or media industry, and of course, it's not easy, but I understand that. I just have to somehow find something, ANYTHING REALLY that pays me what I should be worth - no, what I AM worth. Something that puts my degree to work, something that I enjoy, and that I will be able to learn from doing while working there.
I've found some potential possibilities but they require odd things... for example, I'm interested in some local game design companies because they are here in southern California, but the open job positions I've seen that I think I could be the best fit for, are writing and testing and analyzing for games. So this would obviously require that I write something, a small screenplay (which I've been meaning to do for fun anyways, just haven't really been motivated enough to start on), or at least a bunch of brief ideas or something. More knowledge of or a background in gamer to computer interaction, usability, etc. would help too (but I think that's something that would come with experience working at a game design company). And as for the game testing/quality assurance stuff, I need to really and seriously devote much more of an effort to seeing if I can find time to become one if at least for just a few weeks on and off here and there or something like that. Because I've heard that's a great way to start out at least. And yes, I'm well aware that it's not all about playing the newest games before others get to... I'm completely aware of the concept behind testing the same stuff over and over and over and over and over again for the purpose of finding and detecting bugs and glitches and things like that. I just think it'd be something that most game studios are looking for, people to guinea-pig their works in progress on, and it'd be cool to maybe meet some names that would potentially be great connections later on if something were to work out more permanently.
I can see myself having fun and enjoying a job where I'm communicating with different staffs to develop and put together a game, but not being the actual one who helps program it. I'm not a programmer or animator or coder, however, I do like to think of myself as a pretty creative individual, and I'm able to communicate fairly well... so I think either a design or conceptual background would be neat and fun.
Something interactive like a video game would be so amazing to be a part of. I used to think film was what I wanted to do, and I don't regret my decision to pick it as my major while at my University. Hell, if nothing else, my film background should help me with any job that requires me to be visual, expressive, communicative, and detailed, as I've been trained to look for things with an artistic and creative eye - to be unique and stylistic while analyzing the ways people interpret things they're seeing. Something that obviously relates to interactive entertainment and gaming media.
So every little step I take I know that I'll be happy eventually and hopefully also NOT POOR or broke. That's always a good thing too, you know?
As far as life in general, I've been pretty happy lately. Busy with friends and family, birthdays and holidays and such... best friend just turned 23 on the 11th. Crazy, but then again, just another year. Pssh.... I'll be 25 this October! TWENTY FREAKIN' FIVE!! Quarter century of Steve.
My dad has been having some unfortunate job difficulties lately, my cousin just got accepted to and has decided upon picking USC for his undergrad school (Congrats to you Isaac, I'm so proud of you, that's awesome, GO TROJANS!), my sister is happy but bored up in Monterey and apparently misses me, I've not seen many of my other cousins or relatives on my dad's side in far too long so I'm trying to work on that and hopefully find time this summer for a visit or two, my friend from Michigan might just be coming to UCLA to do a summer study/intern type thing next month (which might mean I might get to see her again which would be awesome), living at Kristin's house is still cool and fine and all... I've now discovered and met "Myrtle," my mom is seriously considering getting wood flooring for the house that our dog has already destroyed by peeing all over, and I'm finding more and more things to save up my money for.
I really really want... and pretty much have decided I can't live without a $500 item that if I were to mention on here would only reinforce my geekiness and nerd-dom. But damnit, if it isn't the coolest thing I've seen in forever... and the sheer joy it'd bring, it's hard to put money on that kind of happiness.
I also want expand my DVD collection, get a new XBOX that'll push my TV to it's limits with 1080p/HDMI, more hard drive space and memory for my laptop, a new PC that'll let me run "The Movies" on it cuz I miss playing that game, and a new warddrobe cuz I've noticed my shirts are all faded, wrinkly, old, and too tight. I want and want and want. It's lame but I only have society to blame! Mwahahahahaaaa! F*CK you society for warping my mind.
Bamboozle last weekend was FREAKING AMAZING! I loved it and got to finally see a lot of bands I've always been wanting to see. Paramore, Streetlight Manifesto, The Starting Line, Story of the Year, Reel Big Fish, RX Bandits, I was really impressed by all of those guys. New Found Glory needs to improve their vocals live, Alkaline Trio was a bit too boring and All American Rejects I think were on drugs. I'm addicted to SouthParkZone.com and have been starting at the first episode, I'm gonna make it all the way through, someday, to the present episodes. I need to work out and have been thinking I might begin taking up a night walking routine. Once it's dark and cool out it might not be so bad. Maybe walk to Farmiloe's house and back? Or maybe the Pulliam's? We'll see. Summer's only about 10 weeks away now, and I want to try and lose my gut. Oh well, if I don't, it's not like anybody else will care.... and I still have nobody to impress, heh.
This update's been refreshing, I seriously need to do this more often. Well, until then...
-Steve
Song of the Day:
"Party Down" by Reel Big Fish
Here's a rundown of what's been going on in my life:
I'm still quite dissatisfied with my job - STILL a temp and I'm STILL being their bitch (basically). No benefits, no raises, no upward progression. Colin and I have discussed this over and over a bunch of times and it's sad because we feel like we've both lost motivation while working there because we know there's no need to work harder if we're never gonna be respected or fully appreciated. We're not gonna get hired on officially any time soon, and probably won't ever, so there's no need to bust our butts after having done so for over a full year with nothing to show for it. I'm looking (not as much as I should be) for something else, hopefully in the game design or media industry, and of course, it's not easy, but I understand that. I just have to somehow find something, ANYTHING REALLY that pays me what I should be worth - no, what I AM worth. Something that puts my degree to work, something that I enjoy, and that I will be able to learn from doing while working there.
I've found some potential possibilities but they require odd things... for example, I'm interested in some local game design companies because they are here in southern California, but the open job positions I've seen that I think I could be the best fit for, are writing and testing and analyzing for games. So this would obviously require that I write something, a small screenplay (which I've been meaning to do for fun anyways, just haven't really been motivated enough to start on), or at least a bunch of brief ideas or something. More knowledge of or a background in gamer to computer interaction, usability, etc. would help too (but I think that's something that would come with experience working at a game design company). And as for the game testing/quality assurance stuff, I need to really and seriously devote much more of an effort to seeing if I can find time to become one if at least for just a few weeks on and off here and there or something like that. Because I've heard that's a great way to start out at least. And yes, I'm well aware that it's not all about playing the newest games before others get to... I'm completely aware of the concept behind testing the same stuff over and over and over and over and over again for the purpose of finding and detecting bugs and glitches and things like that. I just think it'd be something that most game studios are looking for, people to guinea-pig their works in progress on, and it'd be cool to maybe meet some names that would potentially be great connections later on if something were to work out more permanently.
I can see myself having fun and enjoying a job where I'm communicating with different staffs to develop and put together a game, but not being the actual one who helps program it. I'm not a programmer or animator or coder, however, I do like to think of myself as a pretty creative individual, and I'm able to communicate fairly well... so I think either a design or conceptual background would be neat and fun.
Something interactive like a video game would be so amazing to be a part of. I used to think film was what I wanted to do, and I don't regret my decision to pick it as my major while at my University. Hell, if nothing else, my film background should help me with any job that requires me to be visual, expressive, communicative, and detailed, as I've been trained to look for things with an artistic and creative eye - to be unique and stylistic while analyzing the ways people interpret things they're seeing. Something that obviously relates to interactive entertainment and gaming media.
So every little step I take I know that I'll be happy eventually and hopefully also NOT POOR or broke. That's always a good thing too, you know?
As far as life in general, I've been pretty happy lately. Busy with friends and family, birthdays and holidays and such... best friend just turned 23 on the 11th. Crazy, but then again, just another year. Pssh.... I'll be 25 this October! TWENTY FREAKIN' FIVE!! Quarter century of Steve.
My dad has been having some unfortunate job difficulties lately, my cousin just got accepted to and has decided upon picking USC for his undergrad school (Congrats to you Isaac, I'm so proud of you, that's awesome, GO TROJANS!), my sister is happy but bored up in Monterey and apparently misses me, I've not seen many of my other cousins or relatives on my dad's side in far too long so I'm trying to work on that and hopefully find time this summer for a visit or two, my friend from Michigan might just be coming to UCLA to do a summer study/intern type thing next month (which might mean I might get to see her again which would be awesome), living at Kristin's house is still cool and fine and all... I've now discovered and met "Myrtle," my mom is seriously considering getting wood flooring for the house that our dog has already destroyed by peeing all over, and I'm finding more and more things to save up my money for.
I really really want... and pretty much have decided I can't live without a $500 item that if I were to mention on here would only reinforce my geekiness and nerd-dom. But damnit, if it isn't the coolest thing I've seen in forever... and the sheer joy it'd bring, it's hard to put money on that kind of happiness.
I also want expand my DVD collection, get a new XBOX that'll push my TV to it's limits with 1080p/HDMI, more hard drive space and memory for my laptop, a new PC that'll let me run "The Movies" on it cuz I miss playing that game, and a new warddrobe cuz I've noticed my shirts are all faded, wrinkly, old, and too tight. I want and want and want. It's lame but I only have society to blame! Mwahahahahaaaa! F*CK you society for warping my mind.
Bamboozle last weekend was FREAKING AMAZING! I loved it and got to finally see a lot of bands I've always been wanting to see. Paramore, Streetlight Manifesto, The Starting Line, Story of the Year, Reel Big Fish, RX Bandits, I was really impressed by all of those guys. New Found Glory needs to improve their vocals live, Alkaline Trio was a bit too boring and All American Rejects I think were on drugs. I'm addicted to SouthParkZone.com and have been starting at the first episode, I'm gonna make it all the way through, someday, to the present episodes. I need to work out and have been thinking I might begin taking up a night walking routine. Once it's dark and cool out it might not be so bad. Maybe walk to Farmiloe's house and back? Or maybe the Pulliam's? We'll see. Summer's only about 10 weeks away now, and I want to try and lose my gut. Oh well, if I don't, it's not like anybody else will care.... and I still have nobody to impress, heh.
This update's been refreshing, I seriously need to do this more often. Well, until then...
-Steve
Song of the Day:
"Party Down" by Reel Big Fish