I haven’t really updated this blog for a while because of the amount of work I have to do. Fed up of staring at my Java code for my android game, I thought I would finally update my blog.
Its coming up to that time of year, assignment deadlines and I have a shit load of them! But lets start with a positive, the placement hunt is finally over and done with. After my trip to GDC in San Francisco I had an interview. Personally I thought I could have done a little better however the company decided to offer me one of their placement opportunities. Looks like I am moving to Bradford in July.
I haven’t let the excitement suck in yet as I still got a massive hurdle to get over, ASSIGNMENTS! I thought I would just give a small update to what work I have got to do. I can’t paste a lot of screenshots as I have recently re-installed Windows on my desktop and haven’t got round to installing XNA and DirectX11. As some of you know, I got 5 modules this semester meaning a lot more work than last semester.
Mobile Devices
Oh… Java, how much I hate you but I got to live with you as I am sure we will meet again in the future. I think my twitter feed is spammed with my pure hate rage of Java and the IDE Eclipse doesn’t help. Having all sorts of issues but I am soldiering on in my own moany way. The game is getting there, couple of ‘lost data’ issues that resulted in me spending the last couple of days re-doing months worth of work but I am finally at a stage where I can start putting it all together. Here is a picture of some of the development I am making but in the next few weeks I will be posting a proper in-depth post about the game and how you can get it.
Interactive 3D Programming
DirectX 11, with all the issues I had at the start I am actually starting to like this module and programming using the Direct3D API. I still got a lot of work to do but the final outcome is to demonstrate a simple game engine that I have developed in DirectX 11. So far I have camera controls, terrain and completed my Framework. Now I got to start adding some collision. Haven’t worked on this for a while but here is a picture of the terrain I have generated. This isn’t MY terrain, its my housemates but terrain is terrain.
Console Development
This is one module I think I may struggle with but I am slowly getting there. We have two mini assignments for this which are both PSP Applications. The first is a benchmarking program, sounds complicated but it’s really easy and I think I will get this sorted soon. However the next part seems like a killer, billboard particle system that runs on the PSP. I haven’t started this or got any idea on what I will display, was thinking something fire/smoke related. Any ideas????
Team Software Development
We have been working on a XNA game, it is a platformer with a twist. We are going with the concept of gravity and how we can use it within a level. It is still a working development and we don’t have much to look at but the core programming for it is nearly complete. Aspects I have been working on is a level builder for us but I am also researching into a visual level builder that a user could use. Let other gamers design the levels. There has been mainly three of us working on this, not with all our attention but its slowly getting closer to its completion. Once its finished we are hoping to put it on the Xbox Indie Market.
Operating Systems
This module is simple but I have learnt a huge amount, I have been taking it further as my placement will involve programming in a lot of C which is what this module is all about. The assignment is relatively simple. Making three programs that use different processes and threads. I have all ready finished these programs. First program just demonstrates how long it takes for an event signal to be received by another thread. The other two are similar but instead of threads, I have created an event in one program (process) and called it in another program. Timing how long it takes and comparing the results to my first program.
Thanks for reading, if you made it this far. As I type this, it seems kinda pointless but I needed a break, if you watch this space I will be doing in-depth posts about projects and work I have been working on. I will also be updating my website to make these projects available.

