Through pixels and perspectives (3D Graphics)

Over the past few hours, I have wrestled my consciences to regain control of my thoughts. Okay that was just joking, but what it figuratively meant that I won’t be writing about Slade but writing as Slade, which incase you did not know is myself.

For the past two nights I stayed awake till dusk to catch the Champion’s League semi-final games. And in between those days I was being a geek journeying (well on a low gear on a go-cart) through pixels and perspectives; or journeying through equations, symbols and code if you like. What I mean is I am learning 3D Graphics programming.

I have done some 3D programming with OpenGL in the past and understood a little bit the theory of 3D engines. That was back in the days - I followed the excellent NEHE OpenGL tutorials. The venerable tutorial site is still up and as good as ever. Any programmer interested in 3D programming should definitely check out that site.

3D graphics programming is really challenging especially if you are using the DirectX API like I am now. I remember Tim Sweeney (the lead programmer of Unreal) saying that this is the area where the ‘fun’ in games programming comes in the flavor of math, algorithms and optimizing. Believe me, if you really want to understand 3D graphics, you better be good at your math, especially linear algebra (vectors and matrices). It took me hours of concentration during the past two nights to barely grasp some 3D concepts and the mathematics – even with some experiences with 2D graphics and a strong (but lack of practice) mathematics background.

Oh yeah bare in mind that my intention is to build a 3D engine or to REALLY understand what goes beneath a good one. I am really going relatively low level with all the complex math, assembly optimization, floating-point manipulation, etc. On a practical side I am currently building a wire-frame software-based 3D engine on Win32 GDI. I am using DirectX’s helper functions (D3DX) to perform the mathematics given that it will take me a while to optimize my own math engine. However I am not really shying away from the math engine – just taking it step-by-step. All the headache – but it is still really darn fun.

Hopefully the post has not been too technical for my faithful non-technical readers here. As the description of this blog says, I just want to share the experiences of my journey perusing my ambition.

  ¶ 6:31 AM 2 comments

  Adventures at MMU Games Showcase Part 3

Check out the other post in this series:

Adventures at MMU Games Showcase Part 1
Adventures at MMU Games Showcase Part 2

(Note: Part 2 of the series has been deleted by Slade because he didn’t find it interesting. But hey guys, I will tell you a secret; he just wants to hide some details I wrote in there.)

After lunch at Punchong, Slade and Leon head straight to their destination – the MDC Flagship Center. Leon was driving when he suddenly asked, “Why are you so quiet? Usually you would not stop talking.” Slade paused and twitched his jaw then struggled to reply with a quick question-answer, “Ya Meh?” The truth is, Slade has an ulcer on the right side of his mouth.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the MDC building at Cyberjaya. They entered the cozy and hi-tech looking hall. The hall was already filled with quite a lot of people. However most of them are inside separate room, also known as the presentation room. All the presenting students dressed formally (including Slade who dressed black).

Slade had the opportunity to meet many game industry professionals that were present. The first one he approached was the Off-World Spice-Station Commander, Tharone (Terrence Tan). Too bad Slade didn’t bring his camera. I told him to, he just didn’t (one of the exciting things we missed in the missing part 2). Tharone was awesome, but time didn’t permit them to discuss anything that meaningful. Slade wants to be someone like Tharone, you know journeying into the unknown regions with his spice freighter and all. I have a feeling that they were meet again one day. I know that Slade has so much to learn from this guy. I advised Slade to sit down with Tharone one day with some booze. I heard Tharone is into booze.

The showcase had five groups presenting, and lasted about two hours. There were five judges from the games industry - all of them leads of some respective discipline. Tharone (Terrence) - former Studio Head/Producer/Consultant, Mike - Lead Game Designer, May Ling - ex-MMU SEGD student/game writer/game designer, Kevin - Art Director, Hafiz - Lead Technologist. I felt that it was a pleasure for the students to be judged by such a stellar cast of talent and experience. The final verdict for most of the games were not that positive. However the criticism were constructive.

Some practical advices for Slade and his batch of SEGD students:

1) Innovate in Game Design - An Innovative and Interesting game design makes an Incredible playing experience.

2) Form the development team early.

3) Some sort of software engineering must creep into development to ensure the game can be FINISHED in time

4) Use tools/development platform/library that are most suitable for the game you want to make.

5) The bottom line is - do your real BEST. Don't show slip-shortness in your work.

Special Thanks to: the judges, bouya, mistaman, sherman, leon, leon, vincent, exiang, ferocious_bunny, etc...

  ¶ 2:00 PM 5 comments

  Off to Penang Dear Penang,

Slade is coming over. In fact he is departing very soon, probably in about half and hours time (11PM). It will be at 5 hours drive in one of the broken cars (broken mirror or broken air-cond). Due to respect for him, I will not continue the "Adventures in MMU Showcase" posts until he returns. He should be there for about a day or two.

I will pray for his safety and sanity on this emergency trip. I hope to have some rest while he is away.

Yours Truly,  ¶ 10:18 PM 0 comments

  Adventures at MMU Games Showcase: Part 1

It is Friday morning, 9AM and I am thinking that Slade should really be awake now. Key or Vincent will be calling him anytime soon and he better be ready – you know, you don’t want them to wait. And he did ask me to wake him up around 8:30. Oh just in case you didn’t know, today is THE day for games design student of MMU. It is the annual MMU games showcase. Students of the gamma (sophomore/junior) batch are going to present their game projects to judges from the games industry. Oh boy, I am excited – and I know Slade is to, so I HAVE to get him up.

“Get up Slade! Get up! I know you don’t have to present but then you promised Key that you are gonna join them help set up the showcase computers. And don’t forget you also promised Vincent that you are going to lend him Flub’s laptop.”

“Oh true! I totally forgot about it. I am still feeling so sleepy can’t you let me sleep till one of them call?”

“Okay lazy Slade. Don’t say I didn’t wake you up.”

So he returned to sleep and continued his dream. Half-and-hour later, the imminent phone call came. Slade got up and walked to the phone. It was Key. He said he is on his way to pick him up. Slade took a bath and just when he came out; Vincent called and said he was outside Slade’s house. Anyhow he passed the laptop to Vincent and wished him good luck for the presentation later this afternoon.

The games presentation is to start at 3PM. Slade is going there early (along with some other students from his batch) to help out in setting up the showcase demo. He didn’t have to wait long before Key came and all. On the way to Key’s car, Slade met Blanko and Keith. They looked prepared for the showcase. They (and the rest of the Gamma game design students) are to do some pre-presentation presentation. Well that is what me and Slade thought.

After greetings and all (with Key), Slade entered Key’s car and obviously I followed. Key thought Slade looked sleepy and lethargic. I advice Slade to wash up before he meets anybody later today – Slade, you must try to stay awake and energetic! “Just stay awake for today – you can sleep as long as you want to tonight”, I was reminding him that.

In any case, we departed Cyberia to campus to pick up two other guys – namely Ewa and Notapro.

To be continued… in the Adventures of Slade at MMU Games Showcase Part 2!

  ¶ 5:49 PM 3 comments

  Slade is on holiday

You know, it has been a long time since Slade last updated his blog. The prime reason for the lack of updates is the awfully slow at Cyberia. You see, most of the time Slade can’t even get online. Even when he could, it takes up to a minute to load a local (.my) page – and that assumes it doesn’t timeout prematurely. I really pity Slade and Flubs.

Now that the exams at MMU are over, the trimester break has just begun! Celebrations are due! Well, since the students have such a long break Slade can probably delay it (the celebrations) for a while. Many students from out of town are going back to their homes. This includes Slade who will be returning to nearby Petaling Jaya. He is looking forward to being with his family for the next two months. Yet his friends, he will miss. But oh well, most of his graduating friends are staying back at Cyberjaya to finish up their games (development) projects. And since he is going to be with his other non-graduating friends after the break anyway, he can wait.

Well on Slade, I don’t really know what is going on his mind sometimes. He has so much random thoughts about so many things, At times I feel like I can’t understand him. I advice him, to just be patient concerning his many dreams and ideals, and to live one day at a time. I can see that he has been improving in that virtue (of patience and tolerance). no longer do I see him frustrated over things that he cannot change. As a substitute for his being frustrated and miserable, I foresee that he will joyfully (in his own way) do what he can, with or without his friends, in or out of cyberspace - to help himself and others to reach their dreams (in a detached manner).

Slade, I wish you all the best in your life(s) and games, to endure all suffering and to be remain steadfast in faith and love.

  ¶ 1:35 PM 2 comments