18 November 2007

A Long Time Coming

It has almost been an entire MONTH since my last update, and for that I apologize. I've had good intention on updating readily, but for me, there just hasn't been things that seem that noteworthy. I'm going to try and change my approach since everyone probably doesn't need a huge long post to know that I'm doing fine. But today, however, I've actually got some stuff to talk about. So let's get started.

Well, for many of you, this part probably won't make much sense, but for a handful of you, it will probably come as a sigh of relief. About 8 days ago, or so, I was sent on a special mission. The location of this place that I was going to is a place where soldiers go to 'get away' from 'stresses' of war, like an IED attack, death of a fellow soldier, etc. What exactly my mission entailed, I had no idea. Through the grapevine, however, there was word that I might have been sent on this detail because I had gone through one of those things and was dealing with the 'stress' of war.

This is by no means an attack on anyone, or pointing any fingers at anyone, but I would just like to relieve any built up tensions over these possibilities. Any information that I give out to anyone, in regards to what I do over here, is not false information to preserve OPSEC (OPeration SECurity). Everything I share with anyone is the truth, whether it is good or bad news. If there are things that I do not tell, it is because of OPSEC, but I will never say something false, I'll just say that I can't say anything about it. With that said, I was sent on this detail strictly to perform a security task for this area that other soldiers go to to de-stress. So have no fear, Anderson is... (what rhymes with fear that is good)... SUPER DUPER FANTASTIC! (ok, so that doesn't rhyme, but it conveys my intent!)

I've been basically sitting behind a desk, checking people in, checking people out (of their rooms! so John, don't get any ideas!), overeating on junk food, and getting way too much sleep. I have, however, been able to get some personal work done! Many of you know that I was going to college for 'Interactive Multimedia' (ok, so that isn't the 'real' name, but OPSEC wins this one). Anyways, I've had, for quite a while, many different ideas for games. One of which I was forced into creating by one of my teachers (a teacher who I really respect, and game idea that turned out to not be half bad). We had to create a huge paper, called a 'Design Document'! Actually, it wasn't a real design document because mine was only 10 pages. Real design docs are sometimes hundreds of pages!

Well, through my time sitting behind this boring desk, I figured it was as good a time as ever to do some work on these 'ideas' that I've had floating around up there. I've begun re-writing my previous design doc, the one for that class at college, and I am proud to say that I am currently up to around 34 pages! So, this is probably annoying boring for some of you, but for me, it is exciting! I love working through all the different scenarios that it takes to create a game. Like how will the player accomplish this task, what makes this game better than the others, how will this gameplay aspect be executed effectively to convince the player of realism, etc.

This will probably be news to everybody, but I have resumed working with SourceForts; a game MOD (modification) of a very popular computer game that a group of people across the globe are working together to create. Members everywhere from Germany to England to the US are all bringing their skills together to make a game; and I'm a concept artist for them! I'm one of the guys who's main purpose on the team is to come up with different ideas for things needed in the game like characters, weapons, landscapes, architecture, etc., and then draw them so that people can use them as references while 'building' them in different software programs. So, while sitting behind this boring desk, I have been thinking and drawing up multiple character sketches, building templates of human poses to build numerous character outfits off of, researching different artistically expressive techniques to help create the aesthetics that will define our MOD and catch the attention of gamers as a game to play!

So, needless to say, I am busy working while I'm 'working'! I hope that everyone is doing good, and people are staying healthy and as stress free as life will allow!

Brandon

3 comments:

Military Mom said...

woo-hoo...You go Bran!
I thank the Lord for this opportunity to do something creative while manning an otherwise not so exciting, but necessary post. Using the creative mind is amazingly thereputic...plus helps time FLY by!
I know this time won't last forever, so take advantage of every minute you have there.

I am glad this finds you Super-Duper! Your constantly on my heart and thus in my prayers. That whole pray without ceasing thing has always been one of those things I couldn't easily grasp...until you went off to war, Jordan joined the Marines and Sarah was doing life with her soulmate in a war zone.....deep sigh.

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I want you to know that I AM THANKFUL YOU ARE MY SON!
I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!

Love,
Mom

Bob Puffer said...

Really good to hear from you Brandon. Sure enjoy your dialog so any messages you want to send off are really welcome here. Must say I understand all you had to say about the gaming but sure can't grasp the interest -- guess that's what makes people different. It seems to fit you like a glove, though. Hope you're getting ample time to talk to Sarah (in one fashion or another) and to talk to God (in English).
Love,
Bob

Anonymous said...

Hey, it's good to hear you're doing well, it's cool that you've been doing some work on you dev. doc., I think it was the best of the class. When you come back, if you'd let me, I would love to look at the stuff you came up with.
From school,
Jon Bowers