What is going on...
• What is going on...
Where to start? Well, my plane did not catch on fire in the sky -this- time. We had an hour layover from LA. to San Fran, and I had a Captain and a Giant Mushroom Burger (yes its a proper noun).
In San Fran, after waiting for our luggage, we hopped on a series of underground railways (in rail-cars, not on foot), and traveled, mostly, to our hotel. It was still about 7 blocks till we got there.
Our hotel looks nice from the outside. It's not really a dive, but lacks all amenities. Travelocity told us they had WiFi, they do not. What they do have is a device that transmits packets of information to your wireless device that conning it into believing there is internet to be had; this is a lie. They charge $10 for 20min to $12 for an hour of connection time on their computers in the lobby. Their -non-internet service is $5 per hour or $10 for 24. I got enough connection to be directed to their WebPortal, and dropped $10 on their 24 hour connection. Curiously, afterwards I was never able to connect again. After about hour of constantly calling their 3rd Party service provider, I was refunded the $10.
The Tuesday night party was a blast. I imbibed the drink of pirates yet again, and met with various land-lubbers who have similar ambitions to myself. The music was great, and I collected and gave many-a-business-card. The inebriation was beneficial because I did not feel the pain of walking back the 12 blocks to the hotel.
Wednesday morning. Wake, Shower, Mc Donalds, Check-in, Expo Floor. I saw a hobo dressed in a pile of black rags, pushing a shopping cart full of black bags, the torn ones dripping black fluid. Shortly behind, I saw the smallest and fattest pigeon ever. It's feathers were ruffled and it was covered in soot and oil. I said, "Shawn, even the pigeons are homeless here". It was funny at the time.
The Expo floor was inspiring, and I was able to meet with folks showing off tech that will not be implemented for the next year or so. I soon found this was a waste of my time however. The 2nd floor was the Career Floor, and this is where I benefited the most. As I write this I have found an outlet behind a booth and am sitting, nearly hidden, leaching their intermittent wireless.
The Career Floor is flooded with reps and recruiters from the industry. They are more than willing to talk to you if you approach them with confidence and are not a douche-bag (I have seen so many here). I start with asking what they do, and what games they have made if I do not know, admitting my ignorance. I then tell them what I am about, and what I am interested. I then move on to asking if they are an Artist (shudder) or if they have any on staff nearby; and if they do not mind looking at some of my work and giving me some advice.
This formula works very well, and I have had folks from THQ, Cryptic, and Sega, take kindly to my work. The nice man from THQ, will send me the link to their art test if I e-mail him when I get back.
The Day ended with me talking to the folks from CCP/White-Wolf, and getting an invite to their exclusive party. If you want to know more check out the White Wolf LJ, from their site. The CCP folks were great. Jovial Norse gods; they were both entertaining, and informative. They became happier, and satiated, when it hit 4pm and a torrent of beer began to flow across the show-room floor.
Wednesday night. The Game Developer Awards. Props to Castle Crashers. Miamoto, the god of Nintendo, received a live time achievement award. And we heard a parable from "The Fat Man", an awesome Texas cowboy, who wrote music for, "The 7th Guest".
We trolled for a party, Up hill. "I hate this city, even when you are walking -down- hill, you are walking -up- hill. We took the longest most grueling path to the club, and as a result I have lost most of the feeling on the outside of my left leg. It's odd, there is nothing I can do about it, and I do not worry. It's probably a pinched nerve.
We got to the club, it was lame, we wandered all around looking for food. We finally found a Dennys in the most out-of-the-way place possible.
After Denny's I marched (yes I have to give myself a cadence to keep my fat frame moving), back to the hotel, and collapsed.
Today, I am blogging this. I have not found any affordable breakfast. I am packing up and heading back to the Career Floor.
Tonight is the Polycount meet, and then the White-Wolf party.
BOOSH. More to come.
Where to start? Well, my plane did not catch on fire in the sky -this- time. We had an hour layover from LA. to San Fran, and I had a Captain and a Giant Mushroom Burger (yes its a proper noun).
In San Fran, after waiting for our luggage, we hopped on a series of underground railways (in rail-cars, not on foot), and traveled, mostly, to our hotel. It was still about 7 blocks till we got there.
Our hotel looks nice from the outside. It's not really a dive, but lacks all amenities. Travelocity told us they had WiFi, they do not. What they do have is a device that transmits packets of information to your wireless device that conning it into believing there is internet to be had; this is a lie. They charge $10 for 20min to $12 for an hour of connection time on their computers in the lobby. Their -non-internet service is $5 per hour or $10 for 24. I got enough connection to be directed to their WebPortal, and dropped $10 on their 24 hour connection. Curiously, afterwards I was never able to connect again. After about hour of constantly calling their 3rd Party service provider, I was refunded the $10.
The Tuesday night party was a blast. I imbibed the drink of pirates yet again, and met with various land-lubbers who have similar ambitions to myself. The music was great, and I collected and gave many-a-business-card. The inebriation was beneficial because I did not feel the pain of walking back the 12 blocks to the hotel.
Wednesday morning. Wake, Shower, Mc Donalds, Check-in, Expo Floor. I saw a hobo dressed in a pile of black rags, pushing a shopping cart full of black bags, the torn ones dripping black fluid. Shortly behind, I saw the smallest and fattest pigeon ever. It's feathers were ruffled and it was covered in soot and oil. I said, "Shawn, even the pigeons are homeless here". It was funny at the time.
The Expo floor was inspiring, and I was able to meet with folks showing off tech that will not be implemented for the next year or so. I soon found this was a waste of my time however. The 2nd floor was the Career Floor, and this is where I benefited the most. As I write this I have found an outlet behind a booth and am sitting, nearly hidden, leaching their intermittent wireless.
The Career Floor is flooded with reps and recruiters from the industry. They are more than willing to talk to you if you approach them with confidence and are not a douche-bag (I have seen so many here). I start with asking what they do, and what games they have made if I do not know, admitting my ignorance. I then tell them what I am about, and what I am interested. I then move on to asking if they are an Artist (shudder) or if they have any on staff nearby; and if they do not mind looking at some of my work and giving me some advice.
This formula works very well, and I have had folks from THQ, Cryptic, and Sega, take kindly to my work. The nice man from THQ, will send me the link to their art test if I e-mail him when I get back.
The Day ended with me talking to the folks from CCP/White-Wolf, and getting an invite to their exclusive party. If you want to know more check out the White Wolf LJ, from their site. The CCP folks were great. Jovial Norse gods; they were both entertaining, and informative. They became happier, and satiated, when it hit 4pm and a torrent of beer began to flow across the show-room floor.
Wednesday night. The Game Developer Awards. Props to Castle Crashers. Miamoto, the god of Nintendo, received a live time achievement award. And we heard a parable from "The Fat Man", an awesome Texas cowboy, who wrote music for, "The 7th Guest".
We trolled for a party, Up hill. "I hate this city, even when you are walking -down- hill, you are walking -up- hill. We took the longest most grueling path to the club, and as a result I have lost most of the feeling on the outside of my left leg. It's odd, there is nothing I can do about it, and I do not worry. It's probably a pinched nerve.
We got to the club, it was lame, we wandered all around looking for food. We finally found a Dennys in the most out-of-the-way place possible.
After Denny's I marched (yes I have to give myself a cadence to keep my fat frame moving), back to the hotel, and collapsed.
Today, I am blogging this. I have not found any affordable breakfast. I am packing up and heading back to the Career Floor.
Tonight is the Polycount meet, and then the White-Wolf party.
BOOSH. More to come.