Are Games Art?

I give my opinion on what I think about when people ask: Are games art?

Well, to me games are really not art. True, games are composed of art (graphics), writing, music, tools, software, movies, interactivity, code, AI and etc. However, as all these things put together are usually considered games. To understand where I’m coming from, take these questions into consideration: is movies in the theater consider art?, Is writing considered art?, Is software considered art?, Is code considered art?. Well if you can answer yes to most of these (answer >2) then games probably could be considered art. Otherwise, games are what they are called “Games!”

What I’m trying to say is that games may have artistic elements, but a lot of the elements in them that players don’t pay attention to are not. Some of the elements are just technical and mathematical. Besides games have been around for a long time, so if they were considered art, they would have been listed in the art history books by now. So, I will consider games art when they are officially put in an art history book. But you know what? they might already be in an art history book. However, for now the last art history books I have read did not mention nor have any subjects about games or game art.

Scientist vs. Engineers

This article explains the difference between scientist and engineers.

Scientist:

Start with a puzzle that is unclear, that probably already have clear pieces put together, yet plenty of unclear pieces missing, which is what causes the entire puzzle which is the picture to be unclear. They then put in different pieces using trial and error to figure out which piece makes a particular area of the puzzle or picture more clearly. Then they run experiments on this new clear piece inserted to figure out how the piece made the particular area more clearly! The results from these experiments are what ultimately the scientist look at the unclear pieces in the beginning or the card to why the scientist had to research and experiment with the clear piece. So equation: puzzle = uncleanness = missing = piece + clearness + experiment = complete clearness for one missing piece which helps brings complete clearness the whole puzzle (picture)!

Engineer:

Starts with clear pieces that were experimented on by scientist and design an entire new puzzle with them that is more clear the previous clear puzzle that became less useful!

Rap Flow Tips

This is some tips for improving your rap flow.

• Just keep flowing now matter what when your freestyling because it will enable you to rhyme off words you would have never thought of if you just gave up after you seem to not be to think up anything else.
• Another good tip is to pretend like that you are not rhyming in sentences, that way you can rhyme off any word(s) in your flow not matter how long it takes you to find something to rhyme next with the previous flow.
• Rapping smoothly and calmly but still loud and strong makes you sound like a better freestyler too. When you are freestyling you should rely on the energy of your audience if you have one or your own tight sick flows or punch line in order to keep yourself and your competition or audience hyped up. More than likely though your massive unlimited energy from you flow and punch lines will make your competition seem to be less intimidating and they probably will feel more intimidation from you.
• You can always use DJ phrases like “pause,” “take that back,” rewind,” “take two or three,” and etc. in order to buy some more time, so you can think up some more killer phrases, punch lines, or rhymes to complement your rhymes and continue flowing smoothly.
• Just keeping practicing over different beats (even ones that are not in the rap/Hip-Hop genre) in order to become a better freestyler. Eventually you will get comfortable with it and it will seem like killer punch lines and rhymes just come to you without you having to put much thought process input into it.
• Before you know it you will be able to compete with some known rappers and still keep your cool without looking like an amateur in the game.

How to Create a Transparent Plane in Autodesk 3Ds Max 2011

This is a mini tutorial that explains how to map a bitmap with an alpha channel to a plane that allow you to only see the bitmap and not the alpha channel. In other words the bitmap alpha channel makes the plane transparent where its alpha channel is visible. (Enables alpha channel in view-port)

• To create a transparent plane, create a plane, and then apply a standard material to the plane.
  
• Second, add a composite node then connect it to the diffuse and opacity channels (connecting it to the opacity channel is what enables the transparency).
  
• Third, add a bitmap node and connect it to the composite layer 1 channel (the bitmap must have a alpha channel in order for it to be transparent which means you need to import a “PNG” or “TGA” image file format to see it’s transparency in the view-port).
  
• Last, open composite node settings by double clicking it at the top and duplicate layer 1, then for the finish touches, change layer 2 (duplicated layer) filters setting to addition or whatever you like to enhance image visibility in the view-port.
  
• After you do that you should be able to see nothing but the non-transparent part of your image in the view-port.

Elements of Writing

Just some elements of writing.

Writing=

1. Writing from different point of views or what I call “perspectives” allows you to tell a story that you wrote without allowing the readers to know you were the one who wrote it. For ex: using “I” gives away yourself so you could use “he” or a fake name (or even nickname) to refer to yourself but make it seem if it is not you by not using first person “I” more info on wiki here.
2. First person = I or we
3. Second person = You
4. Third person = He, she, it, or they
5. Types of narrations:
   • All-Knowing:
   • Limited Omniscience:
   • Objective:
6. When narrator participates in events in story he or she uses first person “I.” Similar, when narrator remains a non participator of the events in the story he or she uses third person “he,” “she,” or “they.”

What Rappers Should Do in Thier Rapping

These are some elements of what I think rappers should have in their music and lyrics in order to enhance it, make it more interesting, and educating.

Rapping =

• Creative or funny entertaining Quotes made by you or known by common
• Indirect Drama by people
• Exaggeration (hyperbole)
• People’s Contradictions
• Your Opinions
• Boasting
• Your Life
• Experiences
• Summarized Stories told with left out information leaving only information you want the audience to know or think about or you want to emphasize on
• Words said with emotion
• Lines ended with bangs
• Special effects such as sounds, rhymes, repetitions, clever phrases that don’t reveal themselves at first beginning, addictive punch lines, etc.
• Direct Comparisons (metaphors)
• Ending lines with addictive and interesting words that cause an effect or emotion (arousal or excitement)
• Slant rhymes
• Symbolic phrases and words
• Slang or creative formed words (spelled or said in a way to mean the exact same thing or match the context of the rhyming scheme
• My rhyme for ex: house and mouth, juice and tooth.
• Make words rhyme easy by using suffixes for ex. -ed, -ing, -s, ies, -es, -ness, -ly, -less, etc.
• Good unique voice (for ex: Ja Rule, Nelly, Guru, etc.)
• Use multisyllabic rhymes which are rhymes that contain two or more syllables to enhance overall effect and impact of rhymes = powerful rhymes and more info here.

What Poetry Should Do

These are some of the elements I think all poetry should contain in order to make it more interesting, unforgettable, and elegant.

Poetry =

1. Without imagery my poetry is weak and sound cheap
2. Should express your feelings of emotion and state your opinions
3. It’s good to add setting (place, time, and weather) and location description to your poetry because it makes it feel more real as if you were actually there with the person describing it
4. Listening to specific music that compliments the mood of the poetry also helps with writing it
5. Having a reference or watching a video that relates to your poetry or what is about also makes it easier to write it
6. In poetry you can say whatever you want out of your mind, think of it as having the freedom to write whatever you want in a creative way
7. Metonymy is a figure of speech in which an attribute or trait (characteristic) of something is used to stand for the thing itself such as “crown” for “royalty”
8. Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which the word for the “part” (attached to it) is used to mean the whole such as “hands” for “people” or vice versa
9. Thus, “The White House said” would be a metonymy for the president and his staff, because the White House (A) is not part of the president or his staff (B) but is closely associated with them. On the other hand, “20,000 hungry mouths to feed” is a synecdoche because mouths (A) are a part of the people (B) actually referred to. More info here.
10. Use big and fancy words to enhance it’s elegance

Review & Rating of Eminem's Recovery Album

Review:

Eminem brings his second album since his time away from the game and with it he brings his sick flow and lyrics. This album is filled with different emotions including hate, love, and change. In addition, this album features hot celebrity stars such as Rihanna, Pink, and Lil Wayne. Moreover, Eminem is releasing this album as a sequel to his previous album the Relapse and it is suppose to be the resolution to him being a new Eminem with a more better flow and lyrics. Furthermore, this shows how Eminem has changed since he made the last album and gives a foreshadow of what is to come next (hopefully something a lot more better). Overall, this album is not nearly the best Eminem can do (some tracks on this album sound unprofessional) but it is not one of his worst ones either.

Rating:

6 liked songs out of 16 (17)

• On Fire


• Not Afraid


• No Love


• Space Bound


• 25 for Life


• Love the Way You Live

Final score is 7 out of 10 = C

Review & Rating of Drake's Thank Me Later Album

Review:

Drake as always uses his lyrical prose to massacre almost every track on the Thank Me Later album (especially the 7 down below). In addition, this album features big musical stars, such as Lil Wayne (Lil nasty), Jay-Z (down-to-earth), T.I. (Real G), Swizz Beatz (great hip-hop music producer), Alicia keys (the beautiful songstress), Young Jezzy (Thug for life), Nicki Minaj (Baby Cakes), and The-Dream (R & B Lover). Moreover, Drake uses his professional vocal skills in order to make beautiful and addictive hooks for most of his songs. Furthermore, this album shows how Drake felt about himself after he became successful in his music. Overall, this is a pretty good hip-hip album that is full of emotion and seduction!

Rating:

7 liked songs out of 14 (17)

• Find Your Love


• Resistance


• Fancy


• Show Me A Good Time


• Over


• Light It Up


• Miss Me

Final Score 8 out of 10 = B!

Cool Companies

Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. is a good company looking for graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Mechatronics Engineering . They have jobs in computer software/hardware, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, etc. This company gave Southern Polytechnic State University a 225K grant towards Bachelor of Science in Mechatronics Engineering program they created. (Sounds like good business to me & they said they are in critical need of mechatronics engineers.) Their nearest company to LaGrange, GA is in Atlanta, GA. They also have an internship in NY that is IT related that only requires basic knowledge of computer software/hardware and applications (entry level position)! ~May 9, 2010.

Dating Advice for Christians

Here is some good information and insight for young christians especially those in the teenage range!

Pornography is Art? Huh! Oh well...

Art is everything including pornography. Pornography is just a sub-category of art that is considered to be morally offensive by explicit sexual or lustful content. Art and pornography can be considered different things because people want to separate pornography from art not because pornography is not art. (Double negative could mean maybe simply because pornography is art! lol) It's offensive and people don't want something that is bad under something that is good. However, just because it's bad does not mean it has to be classified as something less good. Personally what is good depends on the individual mind set and their belief in their own code of morals. Not trying to be funny but pornography could be considered good by some individuals out there. To end this debate I will say a creatively made quote that everybody can agree with: "nudity will never go away until the end of the world, after all we all have bodies!" (at least I hope so!) By the way I think pornography is morally wrong but I still think it should and can be considered art by definition of art anyway... ( don't even ask me how I got on this debate because that's another long story.)

Personality Analysis/Survey

What would you rank your amount of each of these below from 0 to 100?

• Confidence: 60
• Happiness: 70
• Shyness: 60
• Hatred: 0
• Jealousy: 0
• Popularity: 20
• Significance: 60
• Humor: 100
• Attraction: 20
• Sex Appeal: 35
• Experience (with life): 30
• Knowledge (how much you know about anything inside your mind): 100
• Intelligence: 90
• Sneakiness: 100
• Creativity: 90
• Goodness: 100
• Courage: 90
• Bravery: 70
• Imagination: 100
• Open Mindedness: 70
• Energy: 99

My Funny Quotes and Sayings

Old Man: "Now let me tell you young people how you know when someone really loves you." "When someone tells you I loovve YOU!"

Teenage Girl: Did you know that if you are good and decided to turn evil you would be... A MONSTER!

Butcher: (Sees baby chickens in a box at neighbors house) Now look at that immature meat sitting inside that box. (Says to neighbor) Let me know when they MaTURE!

Interesting Careers

I think I could be an good photographer or an artist if I took it seriously. I actually believe anybody could be one of these. In addition, you could also start your own business (freelancing).

Notable Quotes for True Artists

Robert Irwin: "Seeing is forgetting the name of the thing one sees."

Albert Einstein: "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

Ten Commandments to Follow for God!

The 10 commandments come from Exodus 20:1-17. Here is the verse:

And God spoke all these words, saying: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

1. You shall have no other gods before me.

2. You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

5. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s."

Lust

Lust is fulfilling any sexual desire with anyone or anything besides your spouse.

One of My Favorite Game Franchise

I love all of Final Fantasy Games! Yes one of the best in the RPG league!

Big Daddy Kane - Aint No Half Steppin

One of my favorite rappers from the 80's, that I discovered from my autie!

King Thinker

By the way I think creatively 24/7, so just know that if I was to write everything I thought of on this blog, I probably could write over ten Harry Potter books worth of information on here, in like a halve a year! (laughs)

Art & Painting

I have always wanted to be able to draw and paint. I learned how to draw, but I still need to learn some more and improve. I also wanted to always learn how to paint, which I still haven't yet. But that's because I have always wanted to be able to show my creativity in many different forms or through many different mediums (if you know what I mean...). I would love to show it through: writing, sports, art, entertainment, myself (style), and other people (helping them understand and accomplish). But I'm getting off subject here so let me return... um yes I think I will try to learn how to paint and new ways to express my creativity. Now a days there all kind of ways to express it, but you still have to know how to use those things to express with well to get what you really want to show... sigh. I'm pretty smart so I believe I can learn how to do these things and more, then show other people how to do it as well (smiles).

Elementary, Middle, & High School

I get tired of schools always halve teaching things, instead of telling kids exactly how things really work. For instance, I notice as I get older (I'm 19 years old presently now) and learn more about things that some stuff I could have learned earlier if the schools I was going to would have offered it or made it more interesting. Anyway I don't completely blame the teachers, but instead the board of education because they always trying to compete for good looks. All they care about is your grades (over exaggerated), showing respect to them (understandable), and test scores (stupid because it can't really measure how successful any person can be in a field! It just tells how much you can retain based on what they think you should know, which is bull!). Anyway I think people lose focus of important things, like religion, creativity, love, and all that you can do without any money. People try to push away from these things in this day in time to me, however I pray that what they think is the best for these kids are really going help them after they graduate and prepare them for real life (because it is really hard...).