The Blog of CCJAD

- Ally

Well, after CCJAD kept freezing Firefox, I've not posted for a bit. However, I return to find out that a magic duck as arrived and blessed our webpage. It doesn't freeze anymore. Good job, little duck! Try not to shoot him too much, visitors.

What's the banter, peeps? I feel awful about life.

Catchya around,

- Ally.

Hello. My name is Alistair. I am the "A" in "CCJAD". I started this blog with 5 friends in Oct 2006. Here is 2009, and this poor blog is neglected and dying. Who's fault is it? To be honest, it's no-ones. The mentality of "If he doesn't update, why should I?" got the better of some of us, it seems. The rest don't know how to even extract .rar files so that's fair enough.

So yeah, instead of giving my usual bi-annual update of "Nothing is new", I'm actually going to discuss things. Make sure your seat is comfy, kids. Oh and by the we way, since my internet connect fails so hard, I can't actually upload files/pictures that are larger that 15KB to show you, so you are gonna have to make do.

Let's go back to August, 2008. Here, I started my "future career" by leaving College and attending University. In University, I'm taking Computer Games Design. Sounds like a piece of piss, right? Ah hah haha. No. If you want to design and make games, you better be damn ready for it. My class is made up for around 99% people who have the mentality of "I LIKE VIDYA GAMES, SO IF I LIKE DA VIDYA, I CAN MAKE THE GAMES". This results in people coming in once a semester, skipping classes to buy the newest releases, going home, finishing them and then totally disregarding any course work what so ever. This is a no-no.

In my first semester, I had to make a board game. Now, to be honest, I thought this was a pretty smart move. Think about it, your average Halo-tard isn't going to jizz his pants at the prospect of making a BOARD GAME.

"HOW DO I SHOT MAH GUN" "IT'S A BOARD GAME YOU BUM-PILOT" "WHAT? I CAN'T FIND THE CONTROLLER"

Okay so the convo above never actually happened, but I digress - a board game. Not just a board game, but a board game suitable for a German family. Through the use of personae, "research" and me raging and smacking my group around for the whole semester, we managed to make our board game "Hunters and Wolves".

I can't be arsed to go into massive detail on the game play, but basically the game is for 3-5 players. 1 of these players will be the Wolf, the rest will be a Hunter. The main objective of the game is the collect the most "meat" overall. However, the sub objective is for the Wolf to escape, and the Hunters to prevent this. It's a pretty fun prospect cause eventually the Hunters give up working in a team and begin screwing each other over. I basically made all the imagery in the board game. These delightful works of art can be seen here.



This is the box top. It was bloody difficult to actually glue this onto the box. (We basically bought a copy of Cludeo, and harvested elements such as the dice, board, box, etc)


This is the box bottom. You can't see it in these bad resolution pictures, but at the bottom it actually says "(c) 2008 To LAT Graffix. This is small print to make the board game appear authentic and actually adds no value what so ever." Who says you need to be serious all the time at Uni? Also, that weird square thing on the right is actually the game board. Delightful fun fun.

So yeah, that was pretty much semester 1. Learning that everyone in my course is a pretty much a PC gamer and a 4channer. I detest it when people are like "LULZ I GO ON 4CHAN THAT MAKES ME INSTANTLY AWESOME FEAR MY INTERNET WANG SIZE". Congrats, you like a site. I quite like Google you know? But I don't fucking go on and on about it.

Semester 2 was more of less the same shit, but we had to take our game from its Board game roots and make it into a PC application version, and all I can say is that it sucked HARD. I basically gave up because my team were bickering kids who wanted to do it in PowerPoint. YOU CAN'T PROGRAM A BOARD GAME IN POWERPOINT GOD DAMMIT. I basically had to do the whole project in GameMaker, but I probably killed off my inner child in the processes. I mean, I'm doing Computer Games Design, no Computer Games Programming. My course is fail at times.

At least in semester 2 I got to do some 3D modelling. That was probably the highlight. After using XSI in College, I grew to hate it. Using it at Uni, I grew to love it. I don't know how or why, but I did. My task for 3D modelling was to make a scene with a table, vase, PC monitor and chess board. We were allowed to add our own objects for extra marks, so I really took the piss with this one. I added wires to EVERYTHING and made an N64, tissue box, hell, I'll just show you the pictures.


This is the scene! Looks lovely, huh? Notice the VGcats drawing of CCJA in the frame? Yeah, I'm that awesome.


FIRE HAZARD EGADS MAN


Hell, we had to make a chess board, why not make chess pieces too?


N64 with my most favourite game evarrr in it.

So yeah, that was fun considering I went slightly Over the top with it.

Lets see now...

Way back in November 2008, CCJAC (Last C being Chan, cause David has screwed us over) went to the 2nd Anime convention in Scotland, Auchinawa. After the enjoyment of Auchinawa 2006, we looked forward to this one cause we were actually going to be staying for more than 1 day. 3 days at the con, with our own hotel rooms, that was probably the highlight. Compared to 06, I felt it was rather rushed, not much to do, unorganized as all hell and just as generally not as enjoyable. The venue was smaller too, and the games room really lacked compared to the previous. Masquerade was a joke. It in general was just not as good.

Here is the only group photo I managed to get, and I'm not even in it.


Us doing the "Imran". By us, I mean CCJC, I was the camera man.


Here is me putting my rape face on, to an unexpecting James' fortune.

So yeah, Auchi 08 didn't feel as great as 06.

Back in March, I had quite a surprise. What was that surprise? Well, let's recap a bit. Back in 2003, my family was blessed with a kitten. We called this kitten "Felix" (Original, huh?) and he was the best pet ever. As he grew, he started slaughtering every little animal that crossed his path, and also chewed the hands off anyone trying the pet him. One fateful day in October 2007, he went missing without a trace. We were quite gutted when he never re-appeared. Obviously, we sent out "Lost cat" posters and told the neighbours. For a week or so, there was no news. While people had assumed he had been ran over or whatever, I didn't actually feel like he was dead. Of course, I didn't have any idea on his true fate, but the idea of him being dead didn't fit.

So, around November 2007 we finally got a tip about a black cat that had been found wandering around, eating at some person's garage. We had our hopes high, but it turned out this homeless cat was not ours. However, we decided to adopt her until her rightful owners came forward. This cat was called "Meg". Actually, she still is called Meg, cause her owners never claimed her. She lives with us happily, leaving hairs everywhere and purring at the sight of you. She is a nice kitty cat, probably around 9 years old now.

Anyway, in March 2009, around 2 years after Felix vanished, we got a phone call about 9/10am in the morning. Not expecting anything important, my parents answered. The phone call was from a Vet in Perth (About 40 miles north), and some family had brought in a cat. This cat had a microchip, which gave the vet the contact details for us. While slightly confused, it turned out that Felix was still alive. He had been living in Perth for a few months now. I can't tell you how much of a random surprise this was. It was totally out of the blue.

So yeah, we went to Perth, thanked the family and brought him home. Felix - who had been going under the name Wilson for several months - was finally returned, and was about twice the size of when he left. Big fat blob. Below is a picture comparing the cats. Meg is the top cat, Felix is the blob on the bottom.


Meg refuses to look at the camera, Felix has fallen and can't get up.

Felix had only been living with the Perth family for a few months, so that means before-hand he was freelance, so who knows how many people he met and how many names he had? One thing for certain is that he learned the value of food and how to eat his fill when given the opportunity. Sadly, him and Meg don't get on. When they first met, it was hissy-meow fits. Now it's just evil stares, wishing for the other cat to die.

I had so much more to talk about, but I've been writing this post for about 2 hours now, and I've got other stuff to do. So, in a nutshell:

-Buy Punch-out Wii
-I'm replaying Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. Fantastic game.
-I became a staff member of Goemon International
-My last.fm account is here if you are interested

That's all I can write for now. I leave you with this smexy image of me Hotel Duskified:



Catch you!

P.S - There are probably typos, but this post is too long to check XD.

Woah, it's been a while. I come back and the blog is GREEN.

Not really a big post, just stopping by to say hello and to post this video.

I've seriously not laughed so much in ages. Kudos, N64 - bringing entertainment even after your time.

Update on my life: Uni sucks.

See you guys whenever I can be bothered to be forced to login!

~ Ally.

PS. Lost the game.

PSS. I have no idea why the blogspot is green. Anyone care to explain?

PSSS. Lawl, the video breaks the horizontal scroll.

Behold, the miracle of my art.



But wait, it gets better.



Some kind dear actually coloured it for me! Thank you!

Hello my dear blog readers! How goes life? Haven't heard from me for a while, but not to say you've haven't heard me for the longest time. *Looks at other blog users, more so CJD*

This blog is now called CA until another person posts. :P

What have I been up to the past few months? Well, in all honesty, not much. I can list a few things, such as Halo 3, College, eating and sleeping, but nothing fantastically amazing. Life just goes on, yet each day I feel like I am waiting for something. Waiting for what? I dunno. I just get the feeling.

Currently at my college, me and 3 other dudes are making a Team Project game. (Our Group is called L.A.T Graffix, guess who suggested that one. ;) ) We are making good progress on said game which will be the FIGHTAN-type, and we aren't even supposed to work on it yet. We are basically doing the whole thing backwards. Program first, then paperwork. For more info on our game named "Sprite Fight", check out the game's dev blog here.

Recently I have also been reworking on my Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon script. Don't know what that is? Basically, it is a code which allows you to use Nintendo Wii controls for my Favorite N64 game. What you need to run it is:

*Wiimote (Nunchuk is optional or Classic controller)
*A PC with Bluetooth. (I used a USB dongle)
*Project 64 with Mystical Ninja Starring: Goemon ROM
*GlovePIE 0.29 (I'll provide link here.)
*And of course, the script I made here. (ZOMG RAR FILES!11)

Read the text file included, and that's that. It works really well with all modes, and it also contains a Wii Boxing-type mode called "Impact Mode" which can be used in-game to enhance certain boss fights.

Too lazy to try? Here is a vidya:



With that, I leave to do something else. Probably just sit around on msn, being lonely. :P

See ya around peeps,

~Ally.

P.S CCJAD plus extra C are going to Auchinawa this year. We will post more details when it comes closer to the time. If you are going though, feel free to leave us a comment! (And a wave)

Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat. Please put a penny in the old man's hat.



12 days. Hope you've got yer presents ready kiddies!

~Ally.

P.s Just as planned.

"I HAVE BREAKED MY SKIN DEADLY!!1" ~ Ccjad Blog

Ally here, just to stop by and announce that Ccjad is pretty dead. No updates since August, skin buggered up, etc. I feel guilty that it go so under maintained.

Since there is no IT man at Ccjad, I will try to take the role at the minute to fix the skin. Fun stuff. (Hope it's a piece of cake)

Ccjad seems to be broken up at the min, each either being at Uni, college, work or being a lazy bum. (Like me this week) Wouldn't hurt to just post yer status though. =P

Hope to fix soon,

~ Ally.

PS. Yes, the blog speaks now.

Hey all, Ally here. I made a little something, and thought I'd share. :D

Here is the before image:


And here is the after image:


Meet Pimpguin!

Part from that, nothing else interestingly fun to tell. I'm just watching old episodes of South Park, but that's all.

See you guys around.

Indeed, I now make a record with 5 blog posts in a row. How delightful.

Exams are all wrapped now anyway. The last 3 weeks have been well earned/wanted rest time. Mainly composed of sleeping, playing vidya games and surfing the net. I've decided to try and finish all my out standing games, though taking a break from RPGs as I've played enough for the time being. =P Still no posts from the other 4 of Ccjad either... ah well. Maybe one day.

I haven't really got much else to say really, we've got an end of Highschool prom on Thursday but that's about it.

See you guys around!

~Ally.

Ps. Word just in, Manhunt 2 has been banned everywhere in the UK. Oh noes.



Funny how I was thinking about this the other day.

I discovered this picture and found it rather touching. I felt the need to share it.

Credits go to Adonis Werther; for this beautiful piece.

In other news, last exam tomorrow! ...Er today even. =P I best be getting some sleep, though it's chemistry and I'll most likely fail it anyway.

Sorry for the lack of updates aswell to any readers of our blog, if you exist. When the exams are over, hopefully more things will be put up by the other 4 memebers.

Also looks like it's time to cut down on RPGs, and I currently have Skies of Arcadia, Baten Kaitos: Origins, Magical Starsign, Pokémon Pearl (hopefully) and Dragon Quest 8 to finish. As well as normal games like Eledees, DKR:DS etc.

I plan to watch a lot more anime in the holidays as well, main problem is locating them. I also wanna meet up and do loads of weird and wonderful things with the rest of the Ccjad crew. (Other than Ragnarok. =P)

Ah well, hope you see you guys around. I really need to leave now.

~ Ally.

Ps. Flumpmart.

NEVER EVER under ANY circumstance let Cass fly Thunderbird 2, because he sucks at it. I have proof:




Fortunally we both lived, however Cass lost a lot of his hair as a result of this, and I lost a toenail.

Yeah.

~ Ally.

You know you've been playing too many RPGs when you fear you'll get into a random battle when scrolling down webpages.

True story.

~Ally

Yer, tis that time again! :D

Nothing new to report, so onto the funnies.




Ok, now time for the cool things!


http://mrdoob.com/lab/PV3D/vis/effect01/

http://mrdoob.com/lab/PV3D/vis/effect02/

http://mrdoob.com/lab/PV3D/vis/effect03/

Those are some awesome visualtions. View with headphones for max effect.

www.scarymonkey.net/movies/shoetietrick.php

For the banter.

Ah well, see ya later!

~Ally.

Ps. Delicious raep.

Omfg! (Pronounced Om-fff-ig)








This is fake, april fool's joke by the way. :P It was posted in some magazine somewhere. Still, I think it's a nice concept/mockup.

~ Ally.

Well, might as well have some educational fun.

Basically, I'm going to list CCJAD's names and their meanings/origins. :P

Alistair Hathaway - 1st name: Gaelic/Celtic form of Alexander. 2nd name: English. "Defender on mankind"

Christopher Brown - 1st name: Greek. 2nd name: English. "Christ-bearer" & "Let Majesty Flourish"

James Cassidy - 1st name: Hebrew. 2nd name: Gaelic/Celtic. "Supplanter" (Which means one who wrongfully or illegally seizes and holds the place of another) & "Curly Haired"

Calum Beck - 1st name: Gaelic/Celtic 2nd name: English. "Dove" & "From the brook"

David Fergusson - 1st name: Hebrew. 2nd name: Gaelic/Celtic. "Beloved" & "Son of Fergus".

And there you have it. I can't find a meaning for my second name, so I suck. :(

Yeah, with the holidays ending today and the exams coming closer, it's getting harder to relax - which sucks. When everyone was just getting used to being free, the two weeks go by - BOOM - and then slap-bang, you are going back to school. Right now teachers will only bother about NABs and Prelims. So roll on the 12th!

In other news, the pope died. So, another one 'poped' up.

Seriously, I have nothing important to type, and I have nothing much to talk about.

However, recently I've taken accustom to just sitting on my arse all day playin' some good ol' N64 which celebrates its 10th year being hooked up (Unlike its brother 'Cube, who sleeps under the bed after 4 years) with an Expantion Pak and a copy of Perfect Dark. I Must say, great game. Hell of a lot like good ol' GoldenEye with mainly improvements, though I do miss the whole James Bond theme. I completed the game in about 7 hours, which is a shame, as that means it's done and dusted already. Yet, I go back just to shoot bows and launch knifes into the two poor firearm helpers. Great fun. There are those other difficultly settings, but I can't be bothered with them at the minute.



My poor Wii is getting some neglect, as I have nothing to play on it really. I mean, I have some Virtual Console titles, but I want some proper 3D action. Or in general, new fun. Ah well.

Before I go, I'll leave you all with this random image, enjoy.

See you whenever.

y halo ther!1

~ Ally

Edit: Zomg

Would you pay that much for a $600 console?

Yo, how goes things?

Nothing much to report, except new console releases etc.

On the 18th, Ccjad (Maybe minus the D. =P) went to play the brand-spanking new Nintendo Wii! This was a one in a life time opportunity (Not really) as we managed to play it the day after the PS3 launch, but before the US Wii launch. So we are special, go us.

Anyway, we left for Glasgow at 9:30am (9:32 am to be exact =P) then wandered all hyped up to Buchanan galleries until we saw the crowd of people around a white stall. Our first thoughts were "Ah, bugger."

Hurrying on, we slipped into the line, which wasn't too big, but hardly moved. He waited for about 30 minutes, talking about the Wii and the other people in the queue, waiting to play the Wii it's self (The game was Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess) which incidently, 3 of us have played. Then guy from the stall goes "The time you get to play the Wii has been reduced to 2 minutes due to the queue". That sucked. After another hour, we finally got to the top of the line.

The game had been changed to Wii Play. Kinda sucky as it didn't use the Nunchuk, or use the Wiimote to amazing extent, but still, better than nothing. The fun had been granted, as me and Calum wielded our Wiimotes. It was suprisingly shiny, and really comfy. I would have spend longer looking at it, but the 2 minutes were dwindiling and we needed to hurry.

Wii Play is composed of a few mini games which will rock only for mutliplayer. By yourself, it is pretty dry. The mini games I remember consist of Table Tennis, Laser Hockey, Target shooting, Fishing, something looking like Cow riding, something to do with a rocket and Pool. We were not really spoiled for choice, so Laser Hockey it was.

Laser Hockey was basically Air Hockey, but with funky 1980's neon lights. I went Razzle Dazzle Red, where as Calum was Burnin' Blue.

Either my hand were shaking pretty bad, or the sensitivity was WAY to high, but my red neon paddle was zooming all over the place with the slightest movements. The game started after a count down, and then we started flicking the Wiimotes. I must say, it was fun. I scored first, then a second time but then the tables turned and the final score was 5-4 to Calum. (One of his goal scored by me. >_>) It was still fun though. Most impressive bit was twisting my arm and watching the paddle twist as well. The sensor bar which collects the Wiimote movement was in a rather awkward position and I feel it wasn't calibrated right, but it does a pretty good job.

Next up was Chris and James. They choose the Target Shooting game, which I avoided since it would be too much like a Light Gun game for my liking. The game starts off after another count down, and Chris was owning James' ass, until James got his bearings and turned the tables, which resulted in him winning.

Target Shooting was similar to the classic Duck hunt, but evolved with the rounds. It started by shooting targets of Red, gold (For extra points) and your opponents Mii's face (If you shot your own Mii's face, you lost points, which James found out). The stage then went onto balloon shooting, which the occasional Duck, then to shooting a can, then to shooting UFOs which was abducting Mii's. At this point, the guys were kicked off.

The Mii's we played as were called Andy and Sparky. Random line breaker. =P

We came back after a while to see the queue and crowd had grown bigger. We timed it right thankfully. =P The new guys were playing Wii sports, which I wanted to play. The tennis match they played looked so inviting and fun. The guy got his ass handed to him by his sister, which goes to show that the Wii will attract girls. We did contemplate having another shot, but decided against it.

The Wii truly is a small console, but it packs a great experience. It had most the folk around us turning their heads to look at the awesomeness.

In the same trip we went to a kick ass import shop with the latest from America and Japan and a "Zomg ogle" PS3 in a glass cabnit, which was probably bullet proof. We also stopped off at really good GameStation with all the retro consoles and rare games.

..And there you have it, our wii experience. We will have to wait til the 8th of December to get our hands on one in the UK, but we look forward to it with bated breath.

- Ally out.

P.s. Reggie Fils-aime is awesome.

Edit:

"ZOMG! GUYS ITS ME! ITS ME!"

"Looks like he is saying kiss me... kiss me."

"SMART ASS MOTHERF*CKER!"

*BOOM*

~ Ally.