James Wynn

So, I attended the Game Developer’s Conference 2007 in San Fransisco. Was a rather good time. Hanging out with tons of people who love making games, playing games, and drinking. It hadn’t occurred to me that game developers would be notorious binge drinkers, but it really makes since after some thinking. After all the sessions ended, if everyone didn’t go to an after-party to get smashed on free booze, we just wandered around the expo center and pillaged the free beer from the studios/vendors.  A good time was had by all.

I shook the hand of the man who invented Tetris, saw Shigeru Miyamoto talk about Mario, and Eiji Aonuma talk about Zelda (both of these talks were nothing less than spectacular), and met the directors/developers of many studios who make some of my favorite games.  Most of the vendors/studios were giving out tons of swag; picked up numerous t-shirts, mugs, stickers, etc.  One of the things I got was a free copy of Madden 2007, which I will rant about later.

After talking to many recruiters and other developers I’m feeling much more marketable now.  Not necessarily in comparison to them, but in comparison to what they are looking for.  It really puts the industry in to a slightly more friendly and tractable perspective.

In short, the conference was an absolute blast. Will definitely have to make it a habit.

I just had the greatest dream ever.  A simple dream.  The dream of the worker.  I threw all responsibility to the wind, ditched everything and without a word to anyone flew half-way across the world to live in a tiny little apartment in the middle of Japan.  I hadn’t given this much thought until now, but its looking increasingly attractive.  Damn responsibility. Damn obligations. Damn The Man. Risky? Sure, but whats life without risk?

I just returned from an expedition to the concrete jungles of New York and New Jersey and I must say they are terribly misrepresented by many movies and television shows. I encountered quite a number of people very helpful and polite people while traveling about the area and must say New York really is a friendly city. People aside, I enjoyed many other entertainments during my stay.

Monday, Nov 6th:
Arrived at Newerk Airport around noon and met up with some friends from my latest stay in Japan, namely Erin, Sofie, and Ashley. We ran around Rutgars University’s campus for a bit, met up with one of Ashley’s friends and then watched Borat at the theater. For dinner we hit up this Jersey-style deli called Harold’s, apparently famous for huge cheesecakes and huge sandwiches. We endulged in some of the best pastrami I’ve ever had, and I tried a knish (some sort of fried potatoe-onion thing). We had a rather amusing waiter with a heavy brooklyn accent who antagonized us most entertainingly.

Tuesday, Nov 7th:
We awoke early and enjoyed real Jersey-style Bagels. Fresh. Delicious. Then we headed up for our first day in New York. We met up with our English friend Vanessa and toured around the World Trade Center area and then headed on to Chinatown, where we had a Dim Sum lunch) and then through Little Italy. We then met up with Vanessa’s friend Injy, who lives in the area, and did some shopping, saw Union Square, Time Square, and various other centers. We eventually met up with my friend Colin, who also lives in the area, and watched Evil Dead the Musical. Absolutely fantastic. If you like B Horror movies, or musicals, or really anything that Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell have done you will enjoy this show emensely.

Wednesday, Nov 8th:
I took a break this day and chilled at Ashley’s parents house in New Jersey. Everyone else went to a sold out Basketball game. By the way, do NOT watch a movie called “The Watcher.” It’s terrible.

Thursday, Nov 9th:
We spent another day in the city. We ate lunch at The Empire State building, and then ascended it, partaking in both their virtual city tour and looking out from atop. We checked out a fantastic chocolate shop (I am at this point still running around with just girls). We then went walking and ice skating in Central Park.  We then headed back to Jersey to meet up with Ashley and go partying at Rutgars.  Rutgars won their football game and rioted.  And I do mean riot, there were torches and more police than I had ever seen after a football game.  OU loves football, but this was just craziness.

Friday, Nov 10th:
Friday we got up and headed back for the city.  We had intended to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis island, but there were some problems with the tickets.  Instead we went on a tour of the United Nations; this was quite a sight and I do recommend it.  After the U.N. was the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to see some excellent art displays.

Saturday, Nov 11th:
We finally see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis island.  I wish there had been more time for Ellis island, but I had a flight to catch.  After spending far too long in airports and trains, I arrived back in Oklahoma.  Tired.  Quite tired.

It seems recent times are abound with interesting turns.  I’ve just been hired by my university to work on a educational games, and they said that if I stay for graduate school it will count as a graduate assistanceship and thus provide a tuition waiver.  I had all but decided to put graduate school off for a couple of years, or at least until I found a program that suited my interests, but now if they are going to pay me to do it the prospect seems much more tractable.  I don’t officially start until next week, but the project sounds quite intriguing; its something about mobile educational online games.

As I recall there is also a program in its infancy for combining fine arts and the sciences, with one obvious application being video game studies.  If this program gets off the ground I may bind myself to Oklahoma for another few semesters to get an extra piece of paper.  I’m rather curious if a graduate degree will really help me find employment, or whether it will instead just provide a higher cap to move up to later.
In other news I finally bought my plane ticket to D.C.!!!  I’ve never been to the capitol before, and I haven’t seen the gorgeous girl who lives there in far too long.  Only six days now…