A quick PDF of some work completed recently.

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Well its 10:29pm on October 1st and aside from a few notes, sketchbooks, and some printed materials, I would appear to have just ‘finished’ my MA. A strange empty feeling as overcome me. Is it caused by the fact that I am about to be kicked ruthelessly out of the incubating, warm space of education, or is it the fact I’ve not eaten since lunchtime?

Rhetoric aside,  I’m exhausted, and glad its all over. Of course it isn’t quite over just yet, as I am sure there will be assessments and other various things that “need” to be done. Lets hope the process is swift, and the result yields the successful completion of my course.

Final project bits and bobs. Go here for more info.

Dissertation

HEX Player Guide

8 Weeks to Go.

Last week went pretty well. Every box ticked aside from Thesis structure.

Major thorn in the side this week is the fact I will need to redo Adaptive Games Systems module for the 28th August, adding extra pressure. So without further ado:

1: Plan out improvements for AGS module and begin production.
2: Thesis Chapter 1 - The Play Concept written up.
3: Project - make final decision and begin production (this is a MUST DO)
4: Contact Ray Hanks to confirm early September meet.
5: Chase freelance clients.
6: Produce requested page for BOOM! Music Ltd.

Go go go.

Now 9 weeks to go and its time to get even more serious.

1 - Abstract written and Thesis structure fleshed out thoroughly.

2 - Seek further guidance from Geoff & Mike

3 - Continued Freelance work on “Web-Expert” and incoming business.

4 - Begin “Project” element of final unit. You might want to actual figure out what they hell you are doing here Mike!!

5 - Follow up Adaptive Games “40″ and resolve.

6 - Meeting with Eleanor Friday 11am. Initial business planning sessions.

Last week review:

1 - Proposal Forms for Eleanor
2 - Come up with ABSTRACT for Thesis, and medium/media for Project.
3 - Ammend initial Thesis/Project proposal as necessary.
4 - Chase FREELANCE work with Mike W.
5 - Turn-down part-time job (not needed any more, thank god)
6 - Continue work on Folio materials (on and offline)
7 - Organise Second Life Premium account + learn to construct areas.
8 - Apply for “serious jobs”.
9 - Perhaps learn more about part-time PHD route from Tanya Krzywinska.

Time to start really work hard now, last week was too slack. 9 weeks left and no messing around.

Week Commencing Monday 21st July 2008:

1 - Proposal Forms for Eleanor
2 - Come up with ABSTRACT for Thesis, and medium/media for Project.
3 - Ammend initial Thesis/Project proposal as necessary.
4 - Chase FREELANCE work with Mike W.
5 - Turn-down part-time job (not needed any more, thank god)
6 - Continue work on Folio materials (on and offline)
7 - Organise Second Life Premium account + learn to construct areas.
8 - Apply for “serious jobs”.
9 - Perhaps learn more about part-time PHD route from Tanya Krzywinska.

Go go go. 10 weeks and counting.

Last week: 

Week Commencing Monday 14th July 2008:

1 - One hour per day minimum reading and updating thesis materials (2-3hours if time allows). FAIL - Do More This week!!!
2 - Sort out “proposal” with Eleanor at Formation Zone.
3 - GET PART TIME JOB!!!
4 - Get basic folio online this week and continue to work on Flash folio. FAIL
5 - Sharpen focus on Thesis title and project goals. SEMI-FAIL - Almost there.
6 - Tutorial with Geoff at 10am Wednesday.
7 - Send ideas to Karel Dudesek (he did ask after all). FAIL - Not ready yet.
8 - More hunting for freelance work.
9 - More work on BOOM site ideas ready for when feedback arrives. FAIL (No Feedback Received)

Not the best week last week, although some valuable time spent working on the direction of my Project and Thesis. Really need to step-up the hours I spend reading and writing thesis materials.

Monday is here and I now have 11 weeks until my Thesis and Major project is due in. First up, a quick run down of last weeks list.

Week Commencing Monday July 7th:

1 - One hour per day reading on thesis materials. -  Fail
2 - Send Artwork CD’s to Samera Ltd. - Pass
3 - Continue to work on BOOM website ideas until client is happy. - Pass
4 - Re-do CV + Begin putting together 2008 Showreel. - Pass
5 - Update Business Card + Other Stationary. - Pass
5 - Visit NEW DESIGNERS Exhibition with business cards if time allows (Possibly Friday?). -  Fail (money and time issue)
6 - Apply for part-time “for the cash” job.  - Pass
7 - Scout for more freelance work. - Pass
8 - Make final decision regarding Formation Zone and act on decision. - Pass

So to summarize I missed two points. I didn’t do as much reading/writing as I would have liked and through several small circumstances I missed the ND Exhibition. A good opportunity missed, but only should you actually have been ready to exhibit, which I wasn’t in the end. So List Item 5 can be disregarded this week buy List Item one goes back to the top. Here we go:

Week Commencing Monday 14th July 2008:

1 - One hour per day minimum reading and updating thesis materials (2-3hours if time allows).
2 - Sort out “proposal” with Eleanor at Formation Zone.
3 - GET PART TIME JOB!!!
4 - Get basic folio online this week and continue to work on Flash folio.
5 - Sharpen focus on Thesis title and project goals.
6 - Tutorial with Geoff at 10am Wednesday.
7 - Send ideas to Karel Dudesek (he did ask after all).
8 - More hunting for freelance work.
9 - More work on BOOM site ideas ready for when feedback arrives.

Back again next week.

With 12 weeks to go until my Thesis and MA Project are due in, I find myself moving in to a period of intense hard work and change. I have 2-3 months left in my current letting, and its time to start sorting out “what happens next!”. Job? More Study? Travel? Drop everything and learn to play the drums? Perhaps not the last one.

Anyway, figured I’d start blogging my weekly to-do list. I will aim to do this every Monday, offering a quick review of the previous week. Hopefully this will help me to better keep on top of everything I need to think about at the moment.

Week Commencing Monday July 7th:

1 - One hour per day reading on thesis materials.
2 - Send Artwork CD’s to Samera Ltd.
3 - Continue to work on BOOM website ideas until client is happy.
4 - Re-do CV + Begin putting together 2008 Showreel.
5 - Update Business Card + Other Stationary.
5 - Visit NEW DESIGNERS Exhibition with business cards if time allows (Possibly Friday?).
6 - Apply for part-time “for the cash” job.
7 - Scout for more freelance work.
8 - Make final decision regarding Formation Zone and act on decision.

End.

Just something I threw together for fun. Base artwork was a screenshot of one of my “World of Warcraft” characters. Simple photoshoppery gives this result.

Starting a Limited company soon to act as a front and (hopefully) funding mechanism for future academic work, or just life in general! Anyway here is the logo I am currently thinking of going with, changes pending of course.

Adaptive Games System module project idea.

DRAW DS Design Doc

Click the above link to view/download the PDF.