Progress on Paper

So, I've started doing a little bit of research on both the arcade front and the game development front, and I've got a bit of info on both.

-Arcade Games:
Arcade games are expensive. No shit. I knew that. What I did NOT know was that it'd be relatively cheaper to buy the game in parts (PCB, CRT, d.i.y. cabinet, etc) and assemble it yourself. I'm not exactly the most proficient person when it comes to building things, but I'm no total slob, either. Plus, if I was to start making my own cabinets for other games, that'd certainly give me the experience I'd need to start designing my own for my own games.

-Game Development:
There's a set of bindings to Python I've been reading up on called "pygame". Python, for those of you who don't know, is a straightforward scripting/programming language that runs on multiple platforms. So, to a broke guy like me that's scraping for every penny on the bottom of the barrel, that reads "You can develop games on a Linux platform with a free toolkit and use it in your own arcade games." This is a thought that makes me grin like a little kid all over again.

So that's what's going on there. If anybody out there has any info they'd like to correct me on, or has some knowledge of owning an arcade, arcade games, or developing games, I'd love to hear from you.

UPDATE: Just found this sick web page/wiki - http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade.htm

B-Lo Arcade-a-Mania from a Tron Fan

Mmmmm, what an exciting week. I'm a huge Tron fan. And I mean, HUGE. So seeing all the new stuff from ComiCon about the new sequel Tron Legacy was making me nerdgasm for a better part of the week. Seriously, you should check this shit out.

Flynn Lives
Some secret stuff on the Flynn Lives page including the trailer/test footage in HD
Home of Tron
Official Tron Legacy Page

So yeah, geek-a-mania. If you haven't seen the original, I highly recommend it.

So I saw all this stuff. And videos from the Flynn's Arcade they opened up for people at ComiCon to check out, and it made me think: Why aren't there any cool arcades anymore? I mean, I understand the whole home console and computer gaming scene. But seriously, what's more fun than hanging out with a bunch of friends, having some cheap eats, listening to loud music, and playing ridiculously addicting video games? So, I now have a dream for when I finish college. I want to start an arcade in Buffalo. Classic games, locally published games, local, retro, and obscure tunes, and have it close to someplace that sells pizza or something like that. I mean, how cool would that be? Quarter-to-play games, friends, neon, just a good time. I'm going to do some serious research into it, and start figuring things out, how they'll go from here. And I'll be sure to post info about it here.

FLYNN LIVES!!!!

Flynn Lives!
Home of Tron

CHECK IT OUT RIGHT NOW!!!!

So I thought I'd take a moment to introduce myself, since I haven't done so yet.

My name is Chris Langford and I was born on December 23rd, 1987. I'm currently a student of the Digital Media Arts program at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY, and I'm working in a multitude of realms, though my focus is design and real-time interactive multimedia. I'm also a Linux user, which makes some things more difficult for me than other DMA students, though in the long run I save money and gain more experience with the technology I'm using. I'm also an avid reader of graphic novels and comic compilations, I like to write on occasion though I have yet to finish any sort of story or piece. I also like to illustrate and doodle, and I'm currently working on the first issue of a small comic that's to be included in an artzine a friend of mine is compiling entitled "Bored". I've also got a strong interest in film and music, currently my favorite film being Blade Runner and the first album off the top of my head is Secret Diary by College (from the Valerie Collective). I've got a thing for neon, 80's style, and abstract CGI, and I can be an incredibly cynical and sarcastic person at times.

Blah.

Blurbs for The Day

(1:00pm) So, I'm sitting on my porch. We've got this massive green couch on it, with big wooden armrests that have these engravings on them that are all vines and leafs, and every time I look at this thing I feel like it belongs in some sort of waiting room. Except the waiting room is in a big Scottish castle and you're waiting because you've scheduled an appointment with the head Leprechaun because you feel you've been unfairly sentenced to the wearing of the green shoes. For those of you who know what I'm talking about, you understand what sort of a scene this would make.

(8:30pm) I don't want to hear about your politics, I don't care about your politics, I want to slap every one of you in the face. I'll actually give a crap once you people start doing something and stop just talking about things. And another thing: You really think those pricks in office actually pay attention to your vote? How would you even know if it went through? I think the government stopped listening to us long ago, and the only time they do now is when the people are bashing down the door with a ram and threatening to burn the building down. Fuck politics.

Errata and a First Post

So I set up a blog. Whoo hoo. Right now my brain feels fried from all the Silent Hill I was just playing, and today doesn't look like it's going to get much more exciting. Dishes later, maybe a bike ride, who knows. Hellraiser, too. That and ...something else from the library. Don't know why I can't think of it. Also, having no food really sucks.

I've got some sketches I did up yesterday, not sure if I'll upload them today or not. They'll be up at some point, though. Little facial caricatures of some people in my day-to-day.