New Website! woot!

I've been feeling like my website/blog was a bit stale, so I did some research. I found some nice online templates, played around with code a bit, and found something I liked. I cannot believe this is my fourth version on my website. I am normally would be on version 12 by now!

Check it out over at Ihyokin.com

Samsung Glyde - Verizon Review

After owning a Samsung Glyde for almost a year now, I am replacing it with a Google Droid. I have decided to write a small review regarding the cell phone and let you know the pros and cons of this lil' bastard.

Pros
I usually do not like having a touch-screen on my cell phone or ipod, but I did find the touch menu to be easy to use after I became accustomed to the functions. It is smooth to use and will take less than a minute to pound out a quick text with the touch screen and the easy-to-use keyboard.

The cell phone's battery life is pretty sufficent, especially for a touch-screen. It can last for about 30 hours without recharging depending on level of activity. I found I could charge it from 11:30pm to 8am and I would have a full battery until the following evening.

The other benefit is the ability to customize a mini-menu by tapping the arrow on the right-side of the "desktop" of the screen. However, there are some issues with it such as the Glyde trying to move the icons instead of opening the function.

Cons
Where to begin...

The Glyde has a number of issues which I found extremely frustration.

One of the problems is that when you send a text message, if you flip it open and use the keypad, then hit send, you close the phone and lock it while it sends, it can turn itself off and restart itself. So instead of sending a text and being able to resume working or whatever, I have to wait for the phone to turn back on(which takes forever) and then I have to go to my Sent box, find my message, and resend it. I have had it reset itself four times in a row before it would send a message...

Another con is the picture and video quality. Most cell phones have a low quality for their camera functions, but the Glyde has so many pixels on its photographs, its sad. I am someone who enjoys taking photographs and it would literally have to take the same photo several times before I could get one that was useable The photo and video menu also has small buttons and is extremely difficult to use, especially if you are trying to use a Black and White filter or change other settings.

Occasionally, the Glyde's screen will turn completely white and become hot. I have no idea why, but it is impossible to fix without opening the back and removing the battery.

Removing the battery cover is also frustrating, and once off cannot be placed back on easily.

Last, but not least, the final con for the Samsung Glyde is that occasionally when using the cell phone, your screen will become distorted and mixed up, though it appears to be the display as you still can tap the screen or move it to fix the distortion.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, I would not recommend the Sansung Glyde. I mean, its a nice phone and it works pretty well, but the cons became so frustrating from their frequency that I wanted to replace the phone within a year, when my previous cell phone I used for almost two years before I had lost the charger. Otherwise, I would not have changed phones at all.

Level 1 Public Beta Test

I finished level one of my game. Well, sort of.

Here is the link to the download.

Just click the Application file(should have a yellow triangle on a black background for an icon) to launch the game.

Download Link

Leave me some feedback via email: here.

Workin' on mai gaem!!!1!!

Okay, I've been working on my FPS for the last few days. Its coming along pretty well, for a game I am making on my own. I uploaded what I thought was my game, but it was actually a sample game that comes with the engine, so you can still play it and see what the game is going to be like...

I have been working on the first(second?) level and have nearly "completed" it, meaning I have the basic layout and geometry done. I placed a few enemy AI and stuff, painting in some fun, etc. Its not near "Finished product" yet, but its getting along.

The level is three parts, the first is where the player head up through several elevators to get out of the underground military base, fighting off robots and thugs who are working for some nefarious character. The second part the player continues his/her way up and reaches the final elevator to the surface. Finally, the third portion is the player reaching the surface and fighting their way towards a new location where the AI Guide is coordinating a rendezvous with a group of soldiers who can help you.

I am considering this as the second level, making a short first level to introduce the control scheme and such. I am looking for testers, voice actors and animators(Flash, 3D, etc) to help out. Shoot me an e-mail if you're interested: dellaro.webs@gmail.com

Animators: I need someone who can either animate my 3D character models for cutscenes or who can draw their own and animate them in Flash or something.

I'll post some screenshots later, guys.

Peace out!

Thirty Seconds of Fun

I am working on a First - Person Shooter.

I don't have a name for the project, a very basic story, but I have an engine and all the stuff I need to make it. It starts out in an underground mine where the player is hiding in a military base. You head for the surface with help from a military AI and find the world has is being overrun by an alien species.

Anyone who wants to help out, leave a comment or send me an e-mail at Dellaro.webs@gmail.com. I am not looking to make the next Halo or Modern Warefare, but a fun shooter for you to play when you are bored or if you are waiting for a download or something.

I will be setting up a development blog for it once I have more content and a title.

Update: Here is the first version of the first level. Let me know what you guys think.

Download Link

Its a planet!

Fall of Reach - The Flash

Over on HBO, a user by the name of Cody Brigan has started working on a Flash version of the Halo: Fall of Reach novel. He was looking for some help with voice actors, and I send him s demo reel.

I got the part of Captain Keyes.

Here is my first attempt at a demo reel. It was painful to listen too, but he just needed to hear my voice so I guess it worked. I'll put up a link to the project once it gets more complete.

-Hyokin

Fun and Games

Okay, first off.

I am making a video game.

I want to make one. I want to make an FPS and a short RPG.

Anyone who has any suggestions or ideas, let me know. I can always use the help. :)

Next, I found an app on Facebook that counts your most frequently used words.

I screencapt it for your pleasure:

Notice that Halo is above Mash?

Mash is my girlfriend.

I love it. haha

Okay, last but not least. I wanted to just comment on driving.

Have you seen those cars with one headlight that doesn't turn on or that cannot turn into a highbeam because its broken? Well, they seem to be quite frequent in my area(and the cops do so well to enforce it). My car is a 2010 Suzuki SX4, its brand new and top of the line. The lights on it never turn off(except when the car is off) however, this only is for the front "day" lights. If its raining or something and I need my lights "on" I can switch them on.

However, I still have highbeams as well. So my car has three light settings: Day lights, On, High Beams.

Because its a brand new car, its lights are much brighter than older vehicles.

Driving around at night with my lights ON, not day lights, people constantly believe me to have my high beams on. Then will flash me with their high beams to try to tell me this, like I am some moron who drives around with my high beams on constantly to be an asshole.

I, in return, flash them back showing them that I am not using my high beams.

I simply love it when people with one light try to flash me. I just think its hilarious.

Look at you with your feeble little light trying to tell me I have my high beams on when I do not! How cute!

Point of the matter is:

My high beams are not on.

Stop flashing me, it blinds me and pisses me off.

I will stop flashing you with my high beams which are 10x more bright and thus stop blinding you.

Fix your fucking lights before you get pulled over.

That's all, folks!

I am off to supper!

-Hyokin

Triple Kill - Episode 1.(UPDATE)

Because my certain primate friend has issues with the Youtube website, I have offered a copy embeded into this post. Now he can rip his eyes and ears out over my video just like everyone else. =3

Enjoy, buddy.

Triple Kill - Episode 1.

I have a bad rep over at HBO for making less-than-perfect machinima. But I don't really care, I want to make a new series and I want to do it because I enjoy it. I could care less about the quality, if I like it, its good enough.

I present, without furthur ado, Triple Kill episode 1.

Click here to watch.

And enjoy.

ENJOY IT....

New Machinima

I am currently working with some of my friends to make a new Halo 3 machinima series. I know I've been criticised in the past for my low quality of machinima productions, but I am taking alot of time to perfect this new series and I am working with some friends as opposed to all by myself.

I will upload the series to Machinima.com and Youtube. I will make a news post when I upload a new episode with a link to the episode. I look forward to sharing my new series with you guys. I hope its not too bad.

-Hyokin

Spring Break 2010

W00t!

I am officially on Spring Break!

Technically, I haven't had class since Friday, but since its Sunday and the start of the new week, I think that is now offically Spring Break! I have an entire week off from school, and WORK!

What a sweet coincidence!

I took the opportunity to sleep in until 11am, then spent the majority of my day cleaning my room. I finished up a few moments ago and I feel like playing some Halo 3: ODST. . .

I will be writing a series of short stories while I am on vacation, as well as working on a short FPS and may even dabble into machinima a bit.

I would also like to point out that the "contest" between my girlfriend and I has kicked off. She is reading the book Halo: The Flood and I am reading Twilight. I still maintain a high level of disdain for the book, but she has become obsessed with Halo. I have offically turned my girlfriend into a Halo nerd. As well as our mutual friend, Megan. The entire Halo fandom can thank me for increasing the female population in the Haloverse. No thanks are necessary, but are always welcome. ;)

Have a good weekend, everyone!

-Hyokin

HBO Customs - Thoughts and Feelings(3/19/10)

Morning everyone!

I am surprised I am up at 7 am! I didn't go to bed until 1am...

Last night was the longest Customs night to date! Well, the longest one that I was on for. Most Saturday mornings I have to work, but this weekend I am off so I could stay up as long as I wanted.

Every week we have the same group of people with about three or four who pop in and out every other week or so. This week we had a group where I recognized just about all the players from previous weeks.

And everytime there was a team game, I ended up being on the Blue team with Monkey and Loftus. Even if it was randomized.

Its a sign...

Not that we won or anything. Just a funny coincidence.

I've been discussing with Hawty McBloggy about her popping in for one of our game nights and she is currently reviewing her schedule for April to find a day where she could break away from her McBloggyness to join our games.

No promises yet though, guys! Sorry!

We're also looking to have Louis Wu play some games with us, but he's got some stuff going on right now in his life so he doesn't get alot of free time. I am sure that when he has the time, we'll see him playing and hiding in the Monkey Hole with the rest of us.

Someone last night, and I am pretty sure its Lazerblade, confessed to reading my blog. So I know someone, somewhere is reading this.

And this.

And this too.

So leave a comment or I'll set Roland loose on Sandbox!

Then again, we might end up with something like this:

See what you made me do?

This is why we can't have nice things, guys!

Well, I am off to get some groceries, hang out at the mall and then Walmart. Oh joy.

See you guys on the forums!

...comment.

........comment.

...................COMMENT!

Hyoky McBloggy

After some playing around with websites, I've finally got it.

I will use my Blog as my primary website, while I still continue to use my Domain, Ihyokin.com, it will instead link directly to this blog which will act as a "homepage." Before, this blog was just kinda free floating isolated. Now I've got it so that when you enter my domain(sounds so sinsiter, doesn't it?) you go to the Ihyokin "warning" page, which warns you wimps that I post swearies and nakie pictures here. Then you can click to "enter" my page, which then plops you in my Blog where you can read interesting posts such as this one.

And Blogger supports other webpages, so I don't have to have just a blog. I can have a machinima page, etc. And if I ever need to, I can always use the Webs program to make a new page in HTML code and throw up a link.

Awesomesauce.

-Hyokin

Happy St. Patriack's Day!

Top of the morning afternoon to ya!

Hows everyone's St. Patty's day going? I attempted to get some kisses to celebrate by writing in green sharpie "Kiss me, I'm Irish" on my left hand and a clover on my right. Turns out, no one cares that I am Irish or simply did not feel like kissing me. :P

I've been working on the blog's layout a bit, adding some fancy new buttons and such. I also removed the picture of my character, Jackal, and added one of me. Yes, the real me. I literally took that photo an hour ago and loved how it came out.

I tried to let my cat, Zoey, outside today. It was nice out, so I put her on a leash(she can't run free until she's fixed) and ended up carrying her more than walking her(she kinda sat and smelled stuff and listened, I got bored and wanted to go somewhere else). My stepdad thought it would be a good idea to show her the dogs and let them get familiar(she kinda likes Buddy, since he's always getting in the house when we let him in for supper. As for Duke...

He knows how to open doors and got in a few nights ago. Zoey and Duke did not lay on the couch and snuggle. He chased her all over.

So my stepdad chains Duke to a wall and has me hold Zoey.

She flips out, jumps on the ground and rolls and dodged like crazy trying to escape while Duke stared at her confused. Buddy walked over to her to see if she was okay and she started hissing and swatting at him.

What a bitch.

So now she's hiding somewhere and Duke is trying to figure out what happened. He's not very clever. And that was my day...

Oh, and I found this on facebook. I think everyone should join it. I'll rant later about why I shouldn't have to learn spanish(ironically, I speak some already)

NAT

Every so often, I find that I cannot link up with people on Xbox Live.

I get a message reading "Your NAT type is Open, which is the most flexible" meaning that I can't link with people because their NAT is not open and thus somehow is blocking me. I think it has something to do with my internet wire coming from a router through a router.

The point of this post is that if you can't link with me because your NAT is set to Medium or something, don't bitch and whine about it being my fault. Its not like I can lift my HDTV up three flights of stairs along with my Xbox and play on the floor of my attic. Just switch your NAT type, which would take like five seconds.

Thank you and goodnight. Even if it is 1pm. :P

Twilight and Halo.

So, my girlfriend and I made a deal.

I can't say I am proud of it, but I have to read the Twilight novel. She insists that I cannot honestly ridicule it until I have sat down and read the entire thing, which I must agree on. I predict that the day following my completion of said book there will be a large rant posted on this blog...

But its not all bad news!

In return for my reading Twilight, she has agreed to read a book of my own choosing! I selected Halo: The Flood.

Why?

Because I love Halo.

She doesn't dislike Halo, but she doesn't really enjoy playing video games. So I decided this way she could get into the story of the first Halo game, perhaps fall in love with it and play it. If she doesn't, I wouldn't mind. But it would be really fucking cool to be sitting in my room with my girl at 2 am as we both race for the flag. I would be covering her with my trusty AR(which has a good spread, unlike the BR) and she would dash across the capture point and we would dance wildly like the psychopaths we are.

So stay tuned and I will post the details of our competition/reading thing.

Leaving Deviantart

I will no longer be signing into Deviantart.

The website and community have been amazing for the past few years, but the last five times I have had to factory reset my computer, it was because DA infected me with a virus.

It is with a heavy heart that I sign out of my account and leave the webpage floating in the nexus of cyber space. Until they can fix their virus issue, I will not return.

You may all visit me on here, my main website, or any of the others listed in the link section.

Smoooooke...

I have been randomly slipping into my brother's rooms lately and whispering "Smooooke" in their ears. Yes, I am a weird creepy guy, but I don't think they get it.

I am imitating the guy from this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=F_4pXusde8s

Smoooooke.

I am not actually trying to make them smoke, nor do I like smoking. I don't smoke myself either, but I think this is a funny clip and I love the character. So...shut up!

That Guy Is NOT Hot.

Okay, I was just watching television and a commercial came on for some movie with that guy who was the vampire in Twilight. No, I did not watch it. I just recognize him from every fucking store I've walked into in the last year.

Anyway, the movie being advertised was some romance thing about a girl and guy in college who fall in love or something. I am so sick of this guy, Robert somethingrather. AHA! WIKIPEDIA SAYS: Robert Pattinson!

First off, I fucking hate Twilight. Its a story about a mary-sue psycho who can't choose between necrophilia and beastiality.

Secondly, Pattinson is not hot.

Seriously.

I have alot of female friends, only two find him attractive. I think the guy is fucking ugly as shit. He looks like a pothead with his vacant gaze and hobo hair. Just had to vent this... I really can't stand seeing attractive actors with talent being pushed aside so that insecure teenage women can satisfy their grungy tastes.

Okay, I am done.

My First Machinima...EVER!

Okay, I just found this on my old Youtube account. Its from August 30, 2006. Yeah. Its really old. I don't even think I had hit puberty...

Listen to my epic failure and poor machinima skills. Then compare to my new stuff. Doesn't look so bad now, does it?

Enjoy.

March 9, 2010 - New Blog Online!

Yeah. I made a new blog.

I had an old one. Two, I think. Forgot the URL, too lazy to look it up via e-mail. I have too many sites and e-mail addresses. :\

This will probably become more of a website than my actual website, since I don't have to code it all or deal with a crappy template. :3