Yes, one that the person did in about 6 hours of effort, if I remember correctly.
It took Cryptic almost two years.
Yeah. That goes to show that modding the game is possible although I don't know or understand what it takes to get a mod working with an MMO. The changes to Sector Space pre-F2P, was a big step up on one Cryptic felt they had to have once the players got a hold of it.
I don't feel like modding is a aspect to a game, as long as those mods bring improvement and content people want. The Sector Space mod brought something to the game without impact anything for anyone that didn't have it.
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Yeah, I have had that feeling by my attempts to provide feedback on any thread on these forums. It seems like any attempts to provide feedback and design that 'do not align with the fight fight fight mentality' is dealt with by an attack.
I spent about 20 years in Corporate America development where design and development was a collaborative / kaizen like experience - leveraging something called SCRUM/Agile methodologies, and iterative design working in teams.
I suppose game development, particularly for combat oriented games, adopts a different and - for me at least - more toxic mindset.
It's a pity. With STO's user base and design thus far, it has such amazing concepts I wish I could contribute my experience to mature it for 'us' old geezers who ain't as keen with a fight, ya know?
I know a bit about Agile.
Hm. You seem like a very bright guy and all I can guess is that you must have a dream keeping you there if you're in a tent in North Hollywood.
The job application test is timed so make sure you have a spot to plug in when you do it because there are some timed challenges if you make it to the second step.
My heart goes out to your situation and whatever pursuit of a dream has led you to where you are.
Happy holidays, man. Try to stay safe out there. I'm pulling for you.
I'm not honestly sure this guy's for real. Story's sad, but the solution was offered almost literally on a silvered platter with an invite.
and he didn't take it.
Honestly, I think he's legit. Reading his other thread, he seems to indicate he has some (mental?) issues that only seem to have aggravated over time. Maybe that is why he's homeless (or maybe being homeless does that to you). Point is, we know nothing about his personal circumstances beyond what he was willing to share. And it's for me to respect that boundary.
If I were him, I'd probably write PWE after all, as getting a job doing the things he loves seems like the best way to get back on his feet. And I'm pretty certain PWE won't hire off the forums. But who knows.
So it seems he can't. And since Cryptic (just like any other, mind you) won't accept someone working for free for them....
I know I would have taken Taco offer. If only for the donuts. Unfortunately, I can't code anything.
Which is why I'm calling BS on his sob story. I've been unemployed for extended periods repeatedly and if there's one thing I've learned it's that you don't have time to waste modding games because your new full-time job is FINDING A NEW JOB SO YOU CAN EAT. It's not about quantum mechanics or whatever metaphysical TRIBBLE he's spouting, it's about food and not freezing to death outside. So since the OP has what amounts to a job offer from a senior dev and hasn't taken it, he's either lying or needs to get his damn priorities straight. He gets no sympathy from me.
"Great War! / And I cannot take more! / Great tour! / I keep on marching on / I play the great score / There will be no encore / Great War! / The War to End All Wars"
— Sabaton, "Great War"
N.B. I do recall the sector space mod thingy, btw. And yeah, LOL, the guy did it in like 6 hours. Cryptic was not amused.
would you be, if you tried hard to make everyone believe something you don't feel like doing is way too hard, expensive and takes way too much time to do to save face, just to have someone prove you're just lazy?
Now clowns, that's another story. They scare the crap out of me.
We fight them too. Entire armies spilling out of Volkswagens.
We do our best to fight them off, but they keep sending them in.
would you be, if you tried hard to make everyone believe something you don't feel like doing is way too hard, expensive and takes way too much time to do to save face, just to have someone prove you're just lazy?
I would just have hired him! If you can't beat em, hire em!
If I recall correctly, the guy had like 3 successful other mods too.
I'd also like to point out that even if they WANTED to use this clown as an unpaid worker, they're not allowed to. It violates California state labor regulations. (Reason I know that, there was a suggestion on deviantART a few years back to get volunteer moderators, and that was the reason the admins gave against.)
"Great War! / And I cannot take more! / Great tour! / I keep on marching on / I play the great score / There will be no encore / Great War! / The War to End All Wars"
— Sabaton, "Great War"
well, OP if you are homeless, then joining the team sounds like the way to go.. that way you are helping guide the game than to modding it.. AND you get paid
WAIT WHAT? so the current sector map we have someone made one similar to that in 6 hours? and what we have has taken 2 years?
and a certain dev was on a podcast boasting it takes 6 months to design a ONE room bridge?
hmmmm 2 years for a map, 6 months for a bridge O.o pretty sure the map would be the quicker option
not exactly. the mod was to DISable certain parts of the game engine. Namely the part that does the starlanes and sector borders. It didn't actually ADD anything.
Cryptic's version gave players the ability to toggle the astrometrics display at will. Truthfully, I suspect the only reason it took Cryptic as long as it did to implement is that it was a low priority and added to the to-do list.
There's a lot more going on here besides homelessness.
I would suggest that everybody take a deep breath and think about the situation for a moment.
The OP obviously has 'issues' that have led to his current predicament beyond what he is telling us.
That is his private affair, but should still be taken heavily into account when making snap judgments about his comments.
I had a brother-in-law who ended up in similar circumstances...
He was a NASA engineer/designer on the shuttle program for 27 years until one day, he simply up and disappeared from his apartment in FL.
Took his family two years to find him (was also homeless in CA) and another year to get him to come home.
He finally only relinquished and came back to upstate NY, because his 68 year old, widowed father begged him to come stay in his old bedroom and help with the care and up-keep of the house.
He ended up getting disability benefits and pretty much spending all his time helping to care for his aging father and in front of his computer in his bedroom till he passed on to a better place for him, this past July.
lingg I truly hope you find a way to improve your circumstances.
Please..., if there is someone from your past who might be looking for you, find a way to let them know you are ok, they deserve that if nothing else.
Thanks, Dave. Yes, former government employee here too. And after three years of homelessness and seeing a lot of very intelligent people and highly creative people on the streets who have fallen through the cracks (yes, there are legit crazies), my focus isn't to go back to what i was doing working as a corporate/government cog. I believe in the idealized concept of the quasi utopia that Star Trek presents, and love the idea of developing tools and testing concepts on a virtual population that may one day not just lift people like me off the street, but may actually act as a sandbox to reshape society itself.
Yes, there's much I have not gotten into - I did a tad with the one person who made some form of accusation about what I should be doing, that annoys me to no end when I hear self righteous children think their world functions the same mine does.
But truth be told. With this. I'm merely looking to 'play a different game' and contribute to creative content for a game I enjoy. No hacking, I am asking for permission, and respect country and philosophical differences and am fine with a 'no'.
If extenuating circumstances and intention don't make a difference, then so be it.
But you're right. There's a bunch of people who are attempting to represent the company who I am realizing quite frankly don't necessitate further response. The fact is they don't know what the company wants, they merely know the rules stated thus far and that's it.
You're right. Probably a good time to bow out for me.
My initial comment was really just a rather polite expression of being suprised at someone wanting to mod a game, when his personal life is in such dire condition. All I know is, that if I were homeless (which I can't even fathom), STO would probably be last on my list of things to think about, is all.
AS you said. You can't fathom it. And I would appreciate a little consideration from people 'like you' who not only do not know my history and circumstance, and think you know what's best for me when that's precisely what i am attempting to do.
Thus far. I have 'tried' everything to change my situation. And I do mean everything. I even hitchhiked through all of Central America looking for work there too. I have HAD to think differently, because things just don't seem to make much 'traditional/rational' sense. I have had to come to a bizarre conclusion that I have fallen through the cracks of a Matrix - a far more plausible explanation given the odd responses I keep on getting - which seems so much more rational and plausible an explanation than any other i have come across.
The funny thing is - the response to this will be typical and extraordinarily predictable - 'You are high, smoking crack, you havent tried anything' - complete and total dismissal and an accusation there's something wrong with me. It's such a bizarre 'peer pressure' that without seeing it from this vantage point, it defies logical and rational explanation.
Accordingly, I am embracing this 'perspective' and not wiggin out about it, and instead saying "Ok, if I am pushed out of the collective and predictable machination of reality, then what can I do HERE to salvage my life and create an income and get off the street?"
Hollywood's all but shut down and you have to go through a mile high defensive perimeter to get anything seen, and with the sh*t they are producing it's clear they have no desire to listen to new ideas. Software development and web sites are a dime a dozen and impossible to receive revenue from.
The 'knee jerk' reaction are insults, similar to what I receive here, no matter my path.
So I change my tactics. How can I create a revenue stream that's leveraging a path that has not been blazed and torn down?
Non traditional methods, right? STO is one of a few creatively underrepresented games out there, in my opinion, and with it - and space and time and alternate realities - having been something I have not just watched fictionally, but encountered in real life - I figure applying my sincere and honest to goodness passion and creativity MIGHT just pan out to established a revenue stream - not just to benefit me, but benefit the community at large.
And if not. At least it keeps the homeless dude entertained and a little less down on himself?
Win/win, right?
if not. Then I continue staying on the streets and push push push until SOMETHING sticks. I can't believe that I am encountering so many closed doors and real jerks who tell me how screwed up I am who assume they know what I am going through because there's not something else going on I am not fully aware of.
Logically. People's highly predictable responses filled with animosity and disdain just don't make sense. And to some degree. Does not feel like the world I came from sometimes.
America's about opportunity. For me. It's not though. So I am attempting to make my own with the things I enjoy the most. Funky, wild, sci fi and fantasy entertainment.
I think Cryptic is kinda missing an opportunity here to be honest.
how many people would actually be willing to pay zen for a slot that allows you to use custom UI's, maps etc etc.
i most certainly would!
granted other games have it as a free option cough WoW cough, yes i know we always reference WoW but its true, i would certainly pay for the option to unlock and option to use custom elements of this game.
The UI is a laggy piece of junk with some insane click delays with it that realldy do need to be looked at.
as for the rest of this subject, i take my hat off to the OP for at the very least asking if he can mod our beloved game to IMPROVE it and i would welcome mods that improve this game, lord knows it could eventually become bigger than WoW (yes i know hoping a bit )
i guess my point is that it only takes small thing like mod-able UI to improve the Quality of Life of this game and players would be happy, granted not all but the little things do matter here.
WAIT WHAT? so the current sector map we have someone made one similar to that in 6 hours? and what we have has taken 2 years?
and a certain dev was on a podcast boasting it takes 6 months to design a ONE room bridge?
hmmmm 2 years for a map, 6 months for a bridge O.o pretty sure the map would be the quicker option
Thank you for understanding!
And look. Give the dev'ers a break. There's much more to what they do than meets the eye. Which is why I think someone like me - with a multicultural development background - is a better fit with 'creative content' than in development tasks, I can 'add my two cents' on development issues, but stay out of it mostly and let them TCB on the stuff they be a doin.
I am updating my resume, thought I had applied before, but I was wrong and will be submitting it tonight.
Provided my Microsoft Office Keys are still valid! UGH
There are so many fascinating characters in the world about us. I attribute it to God's creative genius. I'm glad you exist and have a story to share.
I wish you well, that you find employment that satisfies you.
I pray you stay clean and keep dreaming and that somebody takes a chance
on your vision.
God bless everyone this Christmas season, and grant us wisdom, mercy, and
abundant life.
Thank you fourxgamer. Keep in mind your stereotype of the typical homeless person is erroneous. Most are free from drugs and alcohol. Many, like myself, are veterans (about 50%) who have no desire to stay in drug and alcohol infested shelters. The fact is - we quite simply can't afford vices, nor do we really want to. Many of us are trying to cope, to make due with this TRIBBLE reality we've been dealt it as we're referred to openly by police and security as 'you people'.
Drugs and alcohol are more products sold to those who actually have money.
Not homeless people who can barely afford a meal. 99% of those you might see 'smoking out or cracked out ' on the streets quite literally have a home to go back to and a bed they sleep in at night.
The real homeless dont touch the stuff.
This is my reality. A reality I am not trying to escape. I am merely trying to shape it into something which makes more logical and rational sense and makes the best of my situation.
Accordingly, I am embracing this 'perspective' and not wiggin out about it, and instead saying "Ok, if I am pushed out of the collective and predictable machination of reality, then what can I do HERE to salvage my life and create an income and get off the street?"
Well, you could start by realizing you're 'not pushed out of the collective and predictable machination of reality.' At least not permanently, is the point. Because of your current circumstances, you may well have come to believe that, I get that, though.
So I change my tactics. How can I create a revenue stream that's leveraging a path that has not been blazed and torn down?
Non traditional methods, right?
You now seem to have embraced a glorified notion that only being different from everyone else will create an exit for you. That's a very human thing to do, btw. People often try and give meaning to their own miserable circumstances (like "God gave me this illness for a reason."). Or, in your case, the idea that only living 'outside the Matrix' is your lot in life, and that you must now continue on that path. To wit:
This is my reality. A reality I am not trying to escape. I am merely trying to shape it into something which makes more logical and rational sense and makes the best of my situation.
^^ This I find truly sad.
I figure applying my sincere and honest to goodness passion and creativity MIGHT just pan out to established a revenue stream - not just to benefit me, but benefit the community at large.
And I'd love to see you do it! You're obviously talented, and were able to hold jobs in the field. But you are not Gabe Newell (yet?): he made his money the traditional way, and only afterward could afford to become this independent person, unbeholden to anyone but himself, free to do as he pleases.
T;dr: next time Taco offers you a job, just take it. Seriously, I feel bad for you that you didn't. You say you couldn't. Okay; then work on fixing that. Job would have given you an income, probably a home again, and, you know, a more dignified life.
And if not. At least it keeps the homeless dude entertained and a little less down on himself?
Win/win, right?
Why are you downscaling your dreams like this? Like bluegeek said, they're never gonna accept code from strangers, however altruistic their motives may be, unless they're on their payroll. Good for Cryptic, and good for you. THAT would be truly win/win!
How can I create a revenue stream that's leveraging a path that has not been blazed and torn down?
Non traditional methods, right? STO is one of a few creatively underrepresented games out there, in my opinion, and with it - and space and time and alternate realities - having been something I have not just watched fictionally, but encountered in real life - I figure applying my sincere and honest to goodness passion and creativity MIGHT just pan out to established a revenue stream - not just to benefit me, but benefit the community at large.
And there it is.
No game developer anywhere will tolerate 3rd party modifications made to their products for profit. The only way you get to make money working on STO is as a Cryptic employee, so if you can get the job, take it.
Now, why the hell does this thread seem so damn familiar??
If something is not broken, don't fix it, if it is broken, don't leave it broken.
The thread seems familiar because it is. The OP has posted a similar proposal before.
My first thought is, paraphrased: "Except for circumstances, that could be me."
I have a bunch of other thoughts I probably can't say without getting into trouble. So I'll try to avoid that.
To the OP, I have some sympathy for your situation. I wish you luck and blessings, even as I have my doubts that you will manage to bend reality to your will and remake your situation into the one that accommodates you.
I fear that this thread will end up as unproductive as the last, but I will keep it open IF it is on-topic and free from any hint of flaming or trolling on the part of the OP or anyone else. There is a slight tone of condescension flowing through this thread that annoys me and probably a few others. It would be best if that disappeared.
I'll repeat and expand on the advice I gave in the last thread, and hope that it might be of use.
1. There are lots of indie developers out there who could probably use a hand, might be able to accommodate your desired role, and could be willing to overlook your past and current circumstances.
2. Cryptic has said in the past that creating Foundry missions with the Foundry tools would be one way of demonstrating ability that they would be especially receptive to. Other Community members have managed to snag jobs with Cryptic, too. Thomas the Cat is one notable example. Suricata is another. And Borticus was on the STOked podcast team before he got in. Demonstrate your abilities through an avenue that Cryptic will find acceptable.
Finally, it makes me sad that you don't have a home to call your own on this eve before Christmas. I hope that you find a way.
My views may not represent those of Cryptic Studios or Perfect World Entertainment. You can file a "forums and website" support ticket here Link: How to PM - Twitter @STOMod_Bluegeek
I think I know what your trouble is, bub. You're effing looney toons and think we're the crazy ones. My suggestion to you is, toss a brick through a store front window, then smoke a cig while you wait for the cops. Once in jail, you just start your speech to them like you give us here about us being the borg and you're out to save us all. You'll be in the mad house before dinner is served and then we can all get on with our lives, in the safety of knowing you are now locked up and straight jacketed.
...aaand this is exactly what Bluegeek indicated that he didn't want to see.
Nice, you couldn't even wait for a few posts between, to put your foot directly in your mouth.
STO Member since February 2009. I Was A Trekkie Before It Was Cool ... Sept. 8th, 1966 ... Not To Mention Before Most Folks Around Here Were Born! Forever a STO Veteran-Minion
I'm not honestly sure this guy's for real. Story's sad, but the solution was offered almost literally on a silvered platter with an invite.
and he didn't take it.
Looking over Cryptic's 'want ads', they're looking for mission builders, mechanics builders, artists...
you know, the type of work that qualifies as a 'dream job' for guys who want to make games.
to wit:
Content Designer
Careers
Cryptic Studios is currently seeking a full-time Content Designer. This design position is responsible for creating fun and balanced missions and diverse zones for massively multiplayer online games. The content designer duties will include whiteboxing level layouts, populating areas with critters and scripting behaviors and events.
At Cryptic we actively balance our work with the personal lives of our employees. We only hire the best and most talented people who love the work, the genre, and the game.
Every day you could be:
Using proprietary tool set to implement story based missions and game content.
Planning maps, zones, event and puzzles for a MMO game world.
Contributing to the design of the story and events to realize the vision of the creative director and lead designer on the project.
Working with other team members and departments while overseeing the overall execution of your assignments
Balancing and tuning game play in each mission or area.
Providing an example of professionalism and excellence to the rest of the team.
Things we'd like to see:
Cryptic is looking for self-starters with a good sense of accountability and ownership
Experience designing and implementing mission content.
Experience with video game story implementation.
Experience in MMOs and RPG games as a player or designer.
Two or more years of industry experience.
Shipped at least one previous game title.
4-year degree required (or equivalent experience in relevant field)
If you have made a UGC Foundry mission in Star Trek Online or Neverwinter, let us know so we can check it out! Include the name of the mission and your author name in your cover letter and or resume and we will take a look.
For those not familiar with the Foundry, its a User Generated Content tool in both Star Trek Online and Neverwinter that allows players to create robust missions for the community to play. The Foundry tool is based on Cryptic mission tools so it will give you an idea of how missions are created. Your submission will help us evaluate your mission authoring skills required for this position. Please note this is not a requirement to apply.
Patrick, It's Christmas, and I am here in Starbuck's sitting in my corner. Come on down to Studio City right next to North Hollywood and we can shake hands and I can show you my suitcase and backpack which come with me everywhere I go. I'm here pretty much every day of the week. Is that real enough for you? Are you ready to talk to a real life homeless guy in person? Does that scare you?
It's hard to explain the lack of hope a man can have after seeing everything in his life disappear. Three years ago, when this first started, I was on top of the world, 6+ figure jobs, I could usually turn a job around in weeks. So when resume after resume was sent out - dismay went to depression went to several suicide attempts. Four altogether. Not my proudest of moments, so I have learned to 'spin' my perception of reality - for my own mental health's sake.
Life's different now. My eyes are open to the 'reality' of this world around me. I try applying offline or on, and it's the same thing over and over. It's like groundhog day in fact, the movie. Sometimes I can't help but think I am on a real life movie set that's quit filming. After all, the world's a stage, right?
So when I receive a barrage of insults on forums followed by 'simply apply, what an outstanding opportunity', can you remotely fathom how many times I have heard this as I contribute to random discussions and forums in the last few years - where I discuss temporal mechanics as applied to theoretical physics and promptly see myself 'banned' for .. what did they call it... 'crackpot theorist' on a theoretical physics site.
NOW I know my ideas and concepts and attempts to contribute to this society are funky, not mainstream even, but what you're all not remotely comprehending is - after three years, I have - with now as an exception - quit explaining myself and am just trying to make due with this hand I have been dealt. Hopefully this explains why I don't just hop on the *bullsh*t* hope bandwagon that ya all seem to think has been masterfully laid out in front of me. Because, let's face it, the typical and ordinary approach has flat out failed for me. I have HAD to think and approach my living situation differently.
The same thing's happening in real life. A homeless man who claims he's a billionaire - who actually somewhat checks out online (Pete Solis of Solis Biofuels) - has liked my 3d holodeck design ideas and has been claiming to - when the time is right - on getting a mansion in Arizona to help fund 'research projects' as an augment to his company. I laugh. And show him pictures of pigs flying lately when he brings up this TRIBBLE.
I swear I am in a collided world where the holographic universe collided with an analog reality sometimes in a funky mashup that only makes sense from my whacky perspective. To me, the internet. and many services, are acting like someone with multiple personality disorder would.
Just to demonstrate how weird things are, I asked a question on Yahoo Answers "Is reality in a recursive loop", and I see several responses from numerous different people that are exact copies of other responses. grammar and everything. It's downright weird. Check it out here: https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20141214112048AA82mRH
SO. YES, I did apply to this job, content designer, I had thought I'd done it before but being sincere, I'm tired of struggling and fighting this 'system' - and have accepted homelessness as a way of life. YEP. Everyone thinks they know what's best and what I should be doing, and not a one does anything to understand my position let alone consider that I have tried everything - and it seems like society's been programmed to attack people like me and tell me how wrong I am. Then you'll back eachother up, much like a 'race' condition in a computer program - by a broken scientific method process which attempts to 'sell' a certain perspective and then supports itself by demonizing those who are different much like peer pressure, or like a cackling squad.
In any case. Merry Christmas. From the homeless guy who - yes - is a tad cynical and has lost almost all faith in humanity actually being humane.
Animals get better treatment than homeless people. Offline and on.
THIS is why I want to create content. Regardless of whether the stuff I am imagining is or is not reality. Which at this point I sincerely think anything is possible. The Borg and other races/species in the Star Trek world in my opinion deserve a hell of a 'deviant' storyline - and I feel like I have quite literally lived it.
SO for me. I'd like to tell stories for them. and then - for other 'demonized entities' in the future.
Particularly for those that don't or haven't had their stories told or believed.
For instance, another homeless man I know - his name (we do have names) is 'Richie', a spitting image of Michelangelo's God, who I swear can see into adjacent/alternate realities.
With that said - a final note: To the child who said "AHA" about me explaining an attempt to monetize my work.
There's mod communities outside of STO which hire and pay for mod work. STO would be a showcase for me doing something I love, to contribute to with passion, and from there I simply apply my efforts financially in other areas.
And to thetanine. I bet you must feel pretty good about yourself for kickin the man while he's down the day before Christmas. Karma's going to be your friend.
All I can say is jee-sus, pipe down, script kiddies, with these accusations and flames.
My goal is to make the game more fun for you.
If you don't want that, then that's all you have to say.
And if you do.
Then what's the point of spouting off about the TOS and EULA rules if it's something you want? I would think you'd actually mentally find a way to support me and others like me if you did want this....
The thread seems familiar because it is. The OP has posted a similar proposal before.
My first thought is, paraphrased: "Except for circumstances, that could be me."
I have a bunch of other thoughts I probably can't say without getting into trouble. So I'll try to avoid that.
To the OP, I have some sympathy for your situation. I wish you luck and blessings, even as I have my doubts that you will manage to bend reality to your will and remake your situation into the one that accommodates you.
I fear that this thread will end up as unproductive as the last, but I will keep it open IF it is on-topic and free from any hint of flaming or trolling on the part of the OP or anyone else. There is a slight tone of condescension flowing through this thread that annoys me and probably a few others. It would be best if that disappeared.
I'll repeat and expand on the advice I gave in the last thread, and hope that it might be of use.
1. There are lots of indie developers out there who could probably use a hand, might be able to accommodate your desired role, and could be willing to overlook your past and current circumstances.
2. Cryptic has said in the past that creating Foundry missions with the Foundry tools would be one way of demonstrating ability that they would be especially receptive to. Other Community members have managed to snag jobs with Cryptic, too. Thomas the Cat is one notable example. Suricata is another. And Borticus was on the STOked podcast team before he got in. Demonstrate your abilities through an avenue that Cryptic will find acceptable.
Finally, it makes me sad that you don't have a home to call your own on this eve before Christmas. I hope that you find a way.
Bluegeek, thank you for the well wishes and advice.
Sorry I didn't respond earlier about Foundry
I've tried using Foundry on my previous machine - I have a 4gig laptop that works fairly decently with STO but it has a broken screen (I closed my headset in it one evening in my tent - life on the road, right). So right now I treat my netbook as if she's gold. A netbook with 1gig of ram and 150gig of hard drive space. Fast she aint. But I love this machine!
With that being the case. I tried Foundry. I'd been toying with 3d engines like Blender, Unreal Engine, and GTA Vice City modding before. In contrast to designing with Foundry - which is quite frankly a b*tch - I spent a day calculating every point but had problems all over - objects wouldn't stay in place or kept moving if I moved them on the z axis. I admire the patience the others have had leveraging this tool. Sometimes I get the distinct feeling I am missing something with content design!
Now what I was doing - I was building a time travel mission leveraging present day apartments in modern day Arizona - with some complexity and attention to detail involved that even the existing mods don't have. In trying to create stairs, rotating objects for walkable platforms or handicap ramps, multiple level facilities and doorways - ie: constructing 3 story building designs from scratch for instance, or reducing the sizes of premade objects to fit the scenery better - is all an exercise in frustration. At times, it felt like the tools were created to impair or impede this process.
That would be my focus - is building complex mutlilevel scenes in alternate realities and timelines - from scratch - something I have yet to see too much diversity with. With no mouse selection and movement of objects - it just made me want to fuggedaboutit.
This actually put the thought in my head - wouldn't it be fantastic to leverage Oculus VR or a real life holodeck to construct these scenes? but I digress.....
Now there's some FANTASTIC stories out there with Foundry. But with all objects preloaded, and no capability to dynamically size or reshape an object, let alone add in new objects, NPCs, and/or scenery, Foundry's limitations for design are extremely limited, and I think the current content has stretched it's current limits without some UI revision that 'plays nicer' with content designers..
Not to say it doesn't have some decent dialog scripting capabilities, which it does, but the limitations of structural design and difficulty in maneuvering and selecting an object 'in design mode', let alone figure out the correct coordinate offsets in x/y/z axis is an exercise in - as the Borg would say - futility.
I mean - I can't even wireframe things to select objects behind objects.
Unless I missed or can't remember that feature. It's been a while since I tried all that.
Now with Foundry being EXTREMELY slow to load on that 4gig machine. On this ATOM based 1gig machine. I can play with GTA Vice City mods and Blender seemingly fine, but with STO, i run my missions daily, which is VERY slow, but that's about it. Foundry is just too darn slow on this machine.
Truth be told. Design and creative 3d content is new to me. I write. A LOT (http://universalbri.wordpress.com). So my hope is, that someone or something like PWE might give this 45 year old former developer a new playground to exercise and explore his creative side. Coming from a homeless place, clearly I am not going to be in this for pay. But with my technical and cultural background (40 countries and counting), I am convinced I could benefit PWE 'while i learn' content development.
On that note. I like to keep it light and playful. I've been through hell in my life. Three divorces oughtta give ya a hint. So yeah, a little non combat oriented content focus seems like oh so much more fun than focusing on the combat oriented aspect of things within the game. Since I am cheap. i figure beggars can be choosers ;-)
TMI, right?
Anyways. Thanks again, blue. And I am workin on improving the attitude.
It is tough sometimes, given my circumstances. Forigive me for that.
Bluegeek, thank you for the well wishes and advice.
Sorry I didn't respond earlier about Foundry
I've tried using Foundry on my previous machine - I have a 4gig laptop that works fairly decently with STO but it has a broken screen (I closed my headset in it one evening in my tent - life on the road, right). So right now I treat my netbook as if she's gold. A netbook with 1gig of ram and 150gig of hard drive space. Fast she aint. But I love this machine!
With that being the case. I tried Foundry. I'd been toying with 3d engines like Blender, Unreal Engine, and GTA Vice City modding before. In contrast to designing with Foundry - which is quite frankly a b*tch - I spent a day calculating every point but had problems all over - objects wouldn't stay in place or kept moving if I moved them on the z axis. I admire the patience the others have had leveraging this tool. Sometimes I get the distinct feeling I am missing something with content design!
Now what I was doing - I was building a time travel mission leveraging present day apartments in modern day Arizona - with some complexity and attention to detail involved that even the existing mods don't have. In trying to create stairs, rotating objects for walkable platforms or handicap ramps, multiple level facilities and doorways - ie: constructing 3 story building designs from scratch for instance, or reducing the sizes of premade objects to fit the scenery better - is all an exercise in frustration. At times, it felt like the tools were created to impair or impede this process.
That would be my focus - is building complex mutlilevel scenes in alternate realities and timelines - from scratch - something I have yet to see too much diversity with. With no mouse selection and movement of objects - it just made me want to fuggedaboutit.
This actually put the thought in my head - wouldn't it be fantastic to leverage Oculus VR or a real life holodeck to construct these scenes? but I digress.....
Now there's some FANTASTIC stories out there with Foundry. But with all objects preloaded, and no capability to dynamically size or reshape an object, let alone add in new objects, NPCs, and/or scenery, Foundry's limitations for design are extremely limited, and I think the current content has stretched it's current limits without some UI revision that 'plays nicer' with content designers..
Not to say it doesn't have some decent dialog scripting capabilities, which it does, but the limitations of structural design and difficulty in maneuvering and selecting an object 'in design mode', let alone figure out the correct coordinate offsets in x/y/z axis is an exercise in - as the Borg would say - futility.
I mean - I can't even wireframe things to select objects behind objects.
Unless I missed or can't remember that feature. It's been a while since I tried all that.
Now with Foundry being EXTREMELY slow to load on that 4gig machine. On this ATOM based 1gig machine. I can play with GTA Vice City mods and Blender seemingly fine, but with STO, i run my missions daily, which is VERY slow, but that's about it. Foundry is just too darn slow on this machine.
Truth be told. Design and creative 3d content is new to me. I write. A LOT (http://universalbri.wordpress.com). So my hope is, that someone or something like PWE might give this 45 year old former developer a new playground to exercise and explore his creative side. Coming from a homeless place, clearly I am not going to be in this for pay. But with my technical and cultural background (40 countries and counting), I am convinced I could benefit PWE 'while i learn' content development.
On that note. I like to keep it light and playful. I've been through hell in my life. Three divorces oughtta give ya a hint. So yeah, a little non combat oriented content focus seems like oh so much more fun than focusing on the combat oriented aspect of things within the game. Since I am cheap. i figure beggars can be choosers ;-)
TMI, right?
Anyways. Thanks again, blue. And I am workin on improving the attitude.
It is tough sometimes, given my circumstances. Forigive me for that.
Thank you again!
Very sorry for your situation, I hope your life has a u-turn for the better soon! I happen to be a Foundry author, and I totally understand your frustration. I love the Foundry, but designing maps is a pain in the rear without a 3D view, and sometimes there just aren't the right tools for what I need.
However, glad you discovered Blender! A surprisingly powerful program that I have been using for about 5 years. While I never published any games, I did make some working, albeit rough, games. I hope I'm not breaking any forum rules, but just to let you know, Desura may be a good bet for selling a Blender game if you do decide to take that route. There are plenty of resources out there to help you get a good start in blender.
All the best wishes!
If you're homeless and in a tent how in the hell are you using a computer, with working electricity, wasting your time on a video game and video game forum? That... does not compute.
Perhaps there is progress to be made right here?
If the Cryptic devs see that you're interested in a position within their company, and you show off your resume here (sans personal information), they might be inclined to hire you.
Just a thought, hope it helps.
stardestroyer001, Admiral, Explorers Fury PvE/PvP Fleet | Retired PvP Player
Missing the good ol' days of PvP: Legacy of Romulus to Season 9 My List of Useful Links, Recently Updated November 25 2017!
If you're homeless and in a tent how in the hell are you using a computer, with working electricity, wasting your time on a video game and video game forum? That... does not compute.
I don't want to sound cruel but..... How?
Wasting my time? The video game industry is the most lucrative in the world right now, surpassing even Hollywood's revenue almost five years ago.
After paying taxes on $100k+ to $250k a year for nearly 20 years, the compensation I get for my 'years in service' is a paltry 'state aid' for being homeless. A grand total of $400 a month to live (not much considering I had paid nearly $2 million in taxes over my life). This buys me a coffee at Starbucks where I get free refills all day long, a few bites to eat, but certainly not a place to live anywhere in (or outside) of the United States.
I've 'learned' to make due and make the best of the situation. How some homeless people let themselves go and get so dirty and grungy is beyond me - I feel like they are 'programmed' entities in a poorly constructed Matrix with no tangible basis for what it really feels like to be homeless. I take baths daily in public restrooms (the waters 'fin cold this time of year), I splurged $10 on a Tommy Bahama shirt and Docker's pants at Goodwill last week, Starbuck's - believe it or not - is actually friendly and seems to understand us 'transitionary' types 'hoping' for more and supports not just me - but a couple other of us homeless dudes.
Now unfortunately, there's never any cute homeless women. And if there is. They're likely poorly programmed matrix constructs with the same preprogrammed dirty/grungy/crazy personality. The 'REAL' homeless people all take care of themselves and tend to be highly creative and observant - much more so than those 'working in the grind'.
Observant albeit from a nontraditional and 'does not fit in the box' kinda way.
It's funny you say 'does not compute'.
Ever think there's more to you saying something like that than meets the eye?
Homelessness is the choice I made to shift careers from the corporate world to the entertainment world. There's quite literally no way back for me. i know, I have tried.
This is forward only at this point until I 'break in'.
Perhaps there is progress to be made right here?
If the Cryptic devs see that you're interested in a position within their company, and you show off your resume here (sans personal information), they might be inclined to hire you.
Just a thought, hope it helps.
Ya know. I'm a bit desperate. So why not?
MODERATORS = PLEASE JUST DELETE this post if it's against the rules! I dont have every EULA and/or TOS for every game I play and software package I click on memorized!
BRIAN SCOTT GREGORY aka Q aka Loki, God of Mischief
UNIVERSALBRI at GMAIL.COM
UNIVERSALBRI.WORDPRESS.COM
OBJECTIVE
Well now. You know, I like working like anyone else. Not really. I work just enough to learn. Learn just enough to not want to work. And from there, figure its my duty, my obligation, to enjoy life, and see if I cant make this more fun not just for me, but for anyone else who wants to smile and laugh a bit more in life. I am after all the God of Mischief for a reason.
EDUCATION
Vrilliant Academy of Time Sciences
2010-2012
DOCTORATE
IN
TEMPORAL MECHANICS
Thunderbird Graduate School
2008-2009
GMBA
IN
GLOBAL BUSINESS University of Phoenix
2005-2007
Bachelors of Science
IN
MARKETING
EXPERIENCE
Wells Fargo - Charlotte, North Carolina
Senior Enterprise Engineer 2011
- Created a botnet computer virus while working from home, modelled after Stuxnet.
- Tested it out on the corporate network when I had it good and ready. Boy was that ever a doozy. The IT security guys didnt believe the virus was a virus I had hid the thing so well, and then when they wiped the hard drive, and it stayed there, they were all scratching their heads. The botnets still there, My little going away present.
UTI - Phoenix, Arizona
Private Consultant 2010
- Worked from home a lot, claiming I had too much work to do, but was really playing Xbox games until wee hours and overcoming an addiction to Alcohol and Adderall , a lethal combination I would recommend to anyone. That addiction didnt help with the late night hours.
Prudential Financial - Phoenix, Arizona
Director of International IT 2007-2010
- At first, I was just interested in dating this hot Indian girl, so I actually did appear productive, which jacked up the blood pressure a bit.
- After then I quit working as hard, went home for long lunches, played games, got laid, and was promoted.
- After the promotion, I got to do the same thing abroad in Singapore, Hong Kong, London, and Paris.
- This worked out well, got to see the world, on the companys dime.
- Got to tour the red light district in Singapore where I got in a brawl with a guy who punched his wife in the nose giving her a bloody nose. That was weird.
Computer Wholesalers - Phoenix, Arizona
IT Manager 2005-2007
- Did absolutely nothing but talk to people and play games in the office for about two years.
- Claimed I was too busy, and outsourced the web site to a friend who needed work.
- Redid web site, you know to make it look like I was doing work, updating my bio to say Master of Smoke and Mirrors. Owner caught it, and I was fired. Not before I hired my successor, a man I chose for his unique last name Santa Maria and his fake credentials, thus ensuring my legacy would continue..
Intel - Chandler, Arizona
Private Consultant 1997 - 2005
- Created programs Chug and Slug. Chug makes the hard drive on a computer spin up with tons of disk activity doing absolutely nothing typically driving an engineer bonkers. Slug slows down a machines performance to a crawl. For my re-creation of those programs, go here: http://www.zdnet.com/search/?o=1&q=qzantics&t=5
- Created program vhold which makes your computer screen act like an old TV monitor having lost its vhold, and the entire screen would periodically scroll up.
- TRIBBLE my bosss machine, and sent text messages to his employees from his machine asking for them to stop by his desk. They got me back by flipping everything in my cube upside down and putting tin foil on everything. I was amused!
Touchscape
Owner 1999 - 2001
- I had been in several hacking groups which put me in the crosshairs of the NSA and the FBI. The NSA TRIBBLE our connection to keep an eye on me. I figured this out the day they did it, and for fun, traced down their connections physical address, and turned them into the FBI, my cable provider, and the local police all at the same time. Apparently a couple of them were arrested. They offered me a job (which I took after a years worth of them pestering me and started as a private contractor in 2003
- Made my first Botnet based on heuristic design. I've kinda taken over the world with that. Shhh. Don't tell anyone!
Microsoft/Mirage Hotels - Las Vegas, Nevada
Private Consultant 1996
- Created remotely manageable program which would do a random event on the target computer taking from a list of random events that I could update with new events remotely. One event shoved the mouse pointer into a random corner of the screen, another would insert randomly typed characters into a Word Document you were typing making you think you were just that bad at typing, another event would flicker the monitor off then on at random intervals, another would open up the CD-Rom drive randomly - particularly useful when someone loved playing music CDs), and so on
- Drove the security parking guard crazy by getting an 8 cylinder rental car and taking it up the parking garage ramps at the Treasure Island hotel at 50 miles per hour to see how much air I could get then running inside once I parked so they couldnt catch me.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield - Phoenix, Arizona
Private Consultant 1995 - 1996
- Actually worked. Didnt know better at the time. It was my first real contract. I forgive myself for that, I wanted to learn C++ and Visual Basic and insurance systems. Was still fun.
Orbital Sciences Corp - Chandler, Arizona
Rocket Scientist 1988 - 1993
- TRIBBLE the entire corporate network while working for receiving. Was offered jail or job in software engineering. Seemed too similar to eachother, I was confused, and took the job.
- TRIBBLE other computers to send laughing noises or random animal noises to come out other co-workers computers internal speakers and locked the sound volume at high volume..
- On the mainframe I would deprioritize simulations being run by engineers who I thought were jerks and make a job they ran take all night instead of the hour it should have.
- Wrote a fake disk format program which made computers appear like their hard drive was in the middle of being reformatted particularly useful when the software engineer ducked out early for lunch, nearly giving them heart attacks.
- Would frequently sneak in to my bosss office by crawling in, where he couldnt see me, and would bang on the cabinet next to his desk loudly nearly giving him a heart attack.
- TRIBBLE the Vice President David Brackneys machine and made every other activity on his machine say the phrase from the 2001 movie I am sorry Dave, I am afraid I cant do that. I think I laughed for days after that one!
NSA National Security Agency -
Fort George G Meade, Maryland
Temporary slave to myself 2003 - 2011
- TRIBBLE the NSAs entire network. Sending out all the source code for all their projects to Open Source web sites such as Github and Sourceforge You're welcome.
- Created the hacking group Anonymous to send out misinformation to everyone, everywhere. Using the NSAs artificial intelligence technology.
- TRIBBLE all the top brass in the CIA and NSA, including the President and sent messages from their email accounts, voice messages using their voice from cell phones, video messages using their image, and private line and secured messages that said things like I love you and Lets do a time war, again! (played with the song in the Rocky Horror Picture show, of course) to random people all around the world, especially foreign country leaders.
- Leaked all the technology to Youtube, and randomly created web sites using NSA and CIA shell companies for the hosting..
- Single handedly brought the banking industry down, world-wide.
- Created a new version of the NSAs Artificial Intelligence to make the world more fun for all. Worked with people from around the world on that unsanctioned project to make sure everyone had a say.
- Generally created mayhem everywhere I went. Inspiring Geico to make those mayhem advertisements. Thank you, Geico, I love you too!
High School - Glendale, Arizona
- Found 1001 uses for Superglue. Favorites included supergluing locks on combination lockers to make them unspinnable, and supergluing quarters on the ground in front of the lunch room doors where people would get hit in the head as the door opened. Another favorite was the teachers desk when his or her back was to the us.
- Gathered a bunch of students to move my choir teachers car onto a walkway in between two walls making it impossible for her to drive out.
- Ordered pizza to be delivered to my Economics class. The teacher then taught me the economics of sharing. Clever.
- We had to make our own hall passes to go the bathroom. So I typically wrote on mine pass to wander the halls aimlessly all day, since the teacher never paid attention to it and got in trouble for that.
- Supplied alcohol for a school choir trip, getting the entire class drunk. I was suspended for 3 days for that.
- Stood on the hood of a friends parents car delivering newspapers while we took turns driving while his parents were away on vacation. We were 13 years old.
- Typed in profane 2 line basic programs at the new computer section of Sears and ran away like the dickens.
<13 years old - Arizona, California
- Jumped out from behind doors to scare unsuspecting family members and friends. Still a favorite to this day.
- Ordered pizzas from every pizza place within a 5 mile radius to be delivered to a neighbors place. Kicked back and watched through the window all these pizza drivers driving up and not having a customer.
- Called taxis from every taxi cab company to come to the same neighbors house. Was way funny seeing 15 taxi cabs show up in front of someones house.
- Started streaking at about 11. Still a favorite. Little more difficult getting away with it legally now. Stupid laws in my opinion.
- Pretended to see different worlds when breathing in and out very fast, instigating friends to try it, then watching them pass out trying.
- Knocked on doors or rang the doorbell, and ran. Always a favorite.
- Called up random businesses, and asked for people like Ben Dover and Ima Peein.
SKILLS (Yep, I got em. You know what theyll be used for!)
COMPUTING .Net Programming, , C#, SOA, Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Basic, VPNs, TCP/IP, Object Oriented Analysis, Object Oriented Design, SOA,
APPLIED COMPUTING & SOFTWARE Ethical Hacker, Hardware Software Hacking, Statistical Programming, White Hat hacking, , Evolutionary Computation, Payroll, ABRA, Quickbooks, Microsoft CRM And Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft Office, Computer Security, Networks, Virtual Reality, Wordpress, Enterprise Architecture, Paintshop Pro, VLC, Infranview, PC Construction
THEORETICAL Artificial Intelligence, Theoretical Physics, Neuroscience, Evolutionary Biology, Robotics, Neural Networks, Quantum Theory, Chaos theory, Time Theory, Futurism, Alternative Energy.
GAMING Game Theory, Alternate Reality Games, Probabilistic models, Science Fiction and Fantasy author and writer and lover, Applied Theoretical Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Lover of all things gaming particularly Social RPGs, Adult oriented Fantasy, and Time Travel.
BUSINESS Global Business, International Management, Risk Analysis, Supply chain management, Business Intelligence, Finance, Accounting, Expert Systems, Business Intelligence, CSR, Sustainability, Current Private Contractor for the US Government and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
PSYCHOLOGY Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Customer Behavior, Marketing,
HOLISTIC Certified life Coach, Neuro-Linguistic Programming Master Practitioner
FLIGHT Private Pilot since 1995, 15 hours of IFR Training, Wouldnt mind sitting copilot or working for a company who wants to trade hours for work. (Yep, serious with this one- I love flying - scares the TRIBBLE outta me!)
COUNTRY EXPERIENCE
(WORK & TRAVEL) Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico., Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE, United States, Vatican City
PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS
MAGAZINES Published in PC Magazine, PC Gamer, Visual Basic Advisor, and Playboy (duh).
SOFTWARE Created shareware titles such as Graffiti - A screensaver that remembers your drawings as you draw and Bitware - An alternate reality themed ascii-based future concepts intermixed with medieval times dungeons and dragons game
ONLINE Have been published on Slate Magazine Online (www.slate.com) , Gamasutra (www.gamasutra.com), Slashdot (www.slashdot.org), Craigslist (www.craigslist.org)
BOOKS Time Travel for Dummies currently in process. Based on my thesis material, open offers to teach at Clark Community College in Vancouver Washington and Portland State University in Portland, Oregon
REFERENCES
All experience activity 100% verifiable, specific references available upon request
Comments
Yeah. That goes to show that modding the game is possible although I don't know or understand what it takes to get a mod working with an MMO. The changes to Sector Space pre-F2P, was a big step up on one Cryptic felt they had to have once the players got a hold of it.
I don't feel like modding is a aspect to a game, as long as those mods bring improvement and content people want. The Sector Space mod brought something to the game without impact anything for anyone that didn't have it.
> <
> <
>
I know a bit about Agile.
Hm. You seem like a very bright guy and all I can guess is that you must have a dream keeping you there if you're in a tent in North Hollywood.
http://crypticstudios.com/node/129
Give it a whirl. I don't think you'd be the first homeless person they hired if you got the job, actually.
My advice would be to follow-up with Jamie (in HR) or Jack (the CEO) on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
Jamie's Twitter is @TheHRGamer
The job application test is timed so make sure you have a spot to plug in when you do it because there are some timed challenges if you make it to the second step.
My heart goes out to your situation and whatever pursuit of a dream has led you to where you are.
Happy holidays, man. Try to stay safe out there. I'm pulling for you.
http://crypticstudios.com/node/99
Honestly, I think he's legit. Reading his other thread, he seems to indicate he has some (mental?) issues that only seem to have aggravated over time. Maybe that is why he's homeless (or maybe being homeless does that to you). Point is, we know nothing about his personal circumstances beyond what he was willing to share. And it's for me to respect that boundary.
If I were him, I'd probably write PWE after all, as getting a job doing the things he loves seems like the best way to get back on his feet. And I'm pretty certain PWE won't hire off the forums. But who knows.
Which is why I'm calling BS on his sob story. I've been unemployed for extended periods repeatedly and if there's one thing I've learned it's that you don't have time to waste modding games because your new full-time job is FINDING A NEW JOB SO YOU CAN EAT. It's not about quantum mechanics or whatever metaphysical TRIBBLE he's spouting, it's about food and not freezing to death outside. So since the OP has what amounts to a job offer from a senior dev and hasn't taken it, he's either lying or needs to get his damn priorities straight. He gets no sympathy from me.
— Sabaton, "Great War"
Check out https://unitedfederationofpla.net/s/
We fight them too. Entire armies spilling out of Volkswagens.
We do our best to fight them off, but they keep sending them in.
I would just have hired him!
If I recall correctly, the guy had like 3 successful other mods too.
— Sabaton, "Great War"
Check out https://unitedfederationofpla.net/s/
Cryptic's version gave players the ability to toggle the astrometrics display at will. Truthfully, I suspect the only reason it took Cryptic as long as it did to implement is that it was a low priority and added to the to-do list.
My character Tsin'xing
Thanks, Dave. Yes, former government employee here too. And after three years of homelessness and seeing a lot of very intelligent people and highly creative people on the streets who have fallen through the cracks (yes, there are legit crazies), my focus isn't to go back to what i was doing working as a corporate/government cog. I believe in the idealized concept of the quasi utopia that Star Trek presents, and love the idea of developing tools and testing concepts on a virtual population that may one day not just lift people like me off the street, but may actually act as a sandbox to reshape society itself.
Yes, there's much I have not gotten into - I did a tad with the one person who made some form of accusation about what I should be doing, that annoys me to no end when I hear self righteous children think their world functions the same mine does.
But truth be told. With this. I'm merely looking to 'play a different game' and contribute to creative content for a game I enjoy. No hacking, I am asking for permission, and respect country and philosophical differences and am fine with a 'no'.
If extenuating circumstances and intention don't make a difference, then so be it.
But you're right. There's a bunch of people who are attempting to represent the company who I am realizing quite frankly don't necessitate further response. The fact is they don't know what the company wants, they merely know the rules stated thus far and that's it.
..... And check out my Open Source Work, here: https://sourceforge.net/u/universalbri/profile/
AS you said. You can't fathom it. And I would appreciate a little consideration from people 'like you' who not only do not know my history and circumstance, and think you know what's best for me when that's precisely what i am attempting to do.
Thus far. I have 'tried' everything to change my situation. And I do mean everything. I even hitchhiked through all of Central America looking for work there too. I have HAD to think differently, because things just don't seem to make much 'traditional/rational' sense. I have had to come to a bizarre conclusion that I have fallen through the cracks of a Matrix - a far more plausible explanation given the odd responses I keep on getting - which seems so much more rational and plausible an explanation than any other i have come across.
The funny thing is - the response to this will be typical and extraordinarily predictable - 'You are high, smoking crack, you havent tried anything' - complete and total dismissal and an accusation there's something wrong with me. It's such a bizarre 'peer pressure' that without seeing it from this vantage point, it defies logical and rational explanation.
Accordingly, I am embracing this 'perspective' and not wiggin out about it, and instead saying "Ok, if I am pushed out of the collective and predictable machination of reality, then what can I do HERE to salvage my life and create an income and get off the street?"
Hollywood's all but shut down and you have to go through a mile high defensive perimeter to get anything seen, and with the sh*t they are producing it's clear they have no desire to listen to new ideas. Software development and web sites are a dime a dozen and impossible to receive revenue from.
The 'knee jerk' reaction are insults, similar to what I receive here, no matter my path.
So I change my tactics. How can I create a revenue stream that's leveraging a path that has not been blazed and torn down?
Non traditional methods, right? STO is one of a few creatively underrepresented games out there, in my opinion, and with it - and space and time and alternate realities - having been something I have not just watched fictionally, but encountered in real life - I figure applying my sincere and honest to goodness passion and creativity MIGHT just pan out to established a revenue stream - not just to benefit me, but benefit the community at large.
And if not. At least it keeps the homeless dude entertained and a little less down on himself?
Win/win, right?
if not. Then I continue staying on the streets and push push push until SOMETHING sticks. I can't believe that I am encountering so many closed doors and real jerks who tell me how screwed up I am who assume they know what I am going through because there's not something else going on I am not fully aware of.
Logically. People's highly predictable responses filled with animosity and disdain just don't make sense. And to some degree. Does not feel like the world I came from sometimes.
America's about opportunity. For me. It's not though. So I am attempting to make my own with the things I enjoy the most. Funky, wild, sci fi and fantasy entertainment.
..... And check out my Open Source Work, here: https://sourceforge.net/u/universalbri/profile/
Thank you for understanding!
And look. Give the dev'ers a break. There's much more to what they do than meets the eye. Which is why I think someone like me - with a multicultural development background - is a better fit with 'creative content' than in development tasks, I can 'add my two cents' on development issues, but stay out of it mostly and let them TCB on the stuff they be a doin.
I am updating my resume, thought I had applied before, but I was wrong and will be submitting it tonight.
Provided my Microsoft Office Keys are still valid! UGH
..... And check out my Open Source Work, here: https://sourceforge.net/u/universalbri/profile/
Thank you fourxgamer. Keep in mind your stereotype of the typical homeless person is erroneous. Most are free from drugs and alcohol. Many, like myself, are veterans (about 50%) who have no desire to stay in drug and alcohol infested shelters. The fact is - we quite simply can't afford vices, nor do we really want to. Many of us are trying to cope, to make due with this TRIBBLE reality we've been dealt it as we're referred to openly by police and security as 'you people'.
Drugs and alcohol are more products sold to those who actually have money.
Not homeless people who can barely afford a meal. 99% of those you might see 'smoking out or cracked out ' on the streets quite literally have a home to go back to and a bed they sleep in at night.
The real homeless dont touch the stuff.
This is my reality. A reality I am not trying to escape. I am merely trying to shape it into something which makes more logical and rational sense and makes the best of my situation.
..... And check out my Open Source Work, here: https://sourceforge.net/u/universalbri/profile/
I thought I had applied... Damn homeless memory ain't worth a TRIBBLE sometimes!
I'm doin it now.
..... And check out my Open Source Work, here: https://sourceforge.net/u/universalbri/profile/
Well, you could start by realizing you're 'not pushed out of the collective and predictable machination of reality.' At least not permanently, is the point. Because of your current circumstances, you may well have come to believe that, I get that, though.
You now seem to have embraced a glorified notion that only being different from everyone else will create an exit for you. That's a very human thing to do, btw. People often try and give meaning to their own miserable circumstances (like "God gave me this illness for a reason."). Or, in your case, the idea that only living 'outside the Matrix' is your lot in life, and that you must now continue on that path. To wit:
^^ This I find truly sad.
And I'd love to see you do it!
T;dr: next time Taco offers you a job, just take it. Seriously, I feel bad for you that you didn't. You say you couldn't. Okay; then work on fixing that. Job would have given you an income, probably a home again, and, you know, a more dignified life.
Why are you downscaling your dreams like this? Like bluegeek said, they're never gonna accept code from strangers, however altruistic their motives may be, unless they're on their payroll. Good for Cryptic, and good for you. THAT would be truly win/win!
Now *that's* the spirit!
No game developer anywhere will tolerate 3rd party modifications made to their products for profit. The only way you get to make money working on STO is as a Cryptic employee, so if you can get the job, take it.
Now, why the hell does this thread seem so damn familiar??
My first thought is, paraphrased: "Except for circumstances, that could be me."
I have a bunch of other thoughts I probably can't say without getting into trouble. So I'll try to avoid that.
To the OP, I have some sympathy for your situation. I wish you luck and blessings, even as I have my doubts that you will manage to bend reality to your will and remake your situation into the one that accommodates you.
I fear that this thread will end up as unproductive as the last, but I will keep it open IF it is on-topic and free from any hint of flaming or trolling on the part of the OP or anyone else. There is a slight tone of condescension flowing through this thread that annoys me and probably a few others. It would be best if that disappeared.
I'll repeat and expand on the advice I gave in the last thread, and hope that it might be of use.
1. There are lots of indie developers out there who could probably use a hand, might be able to accommodate your desired role, and could be willing to overlook your past and current circumstances.
2. Cryptic has said in the past that creating Foundry missions with the Foundry tools would be one way of demonstrating ability that they would be especially receptive to. Other Community members have managed to snag jobs with Cryptic, too. Thomas the Cat is one notable example. Suricata is another. And Borticus was on the STOked podcast team before he got in. Demonstrate your abilities through an avenue that Cryptic will find acceptable.
Finally, it makes me sad that you don't have a home to call your own on this eve before Christmas. I hope that you find a way.
Link: How to PM - Twitter @STOMod_Bluegeek
...aaand this is exactly what Bluegeek indicated that he didn't want to see.
Nice, you couldn't even wait for a few posts between, to put your foot directly in your mouth.
I Was A Trekkie Before It Was Cool ... Sept. 8th, 1966 ... Not To Mention Before Most Folks Around Here Were Born!
Forever a STO Veteran-Minion
Patrick, It's Christmas, and I am here in Starbuck's sitting in my corner. Come on down to Studio City right next to North Hollywood and we can shake hands and I can show you my suitcase and backpack which come with me everywhere I go. I'm here pretty much every day of the week. Is that real enough for you? Are you ready to talk to a real life homeless guy in person? Does that scare you?
It's hard to explain the lack of hope a man can have after seeing everything in his life disappear. Three years ago, when this first started, I was on top of the world, 6+ figure jobs, I could usually turn a job around in weeks. So when resume after resume was sent out - dismay went to depression went to several suicide attempts. Four altogether. Not my proudest of moments, so I have learned to 'spin' my perception of reality - for my own mental health's sake.
Life's different now. My eyes are open to the 'reality' of this world around me. I try applying offline or on, and it's the same thing over and over. It's like groundhog day in fact, the movie. Sometimes I can't help but think I am on a real life movie set that's quit filming. After all, the world's a stage, right?
So when I receive a barrage of insults on forums followed by 'simply apply, what an outstanding opportunity', can you remotely fathom how many times I have heard this as I contribute to random discussions and forums in the last few years - where I discuss temporal mechanics as applied to theoretical physics and promptly see myself 'banned' for .. what did they call it... 'crackpot theorist' on a theoretical physics site.
NOW I know my ideas and concepts and attempts to contribute to this society are funky, not mainstream even, but what you're all not remotely comprehending is - after three years, I have - with now as an exception - quit explaining myself and am just trying to make due with this hand I have been dealt. Hopefully this explains why I don't just hop on the *bullsh*t* hope bandwagon that ya all seem to think has been masterfully laid out in front of me. Because, let's face it, the typical and ordinary approach has flat out failed for me. I have HAD to think and approach my living situation differently.
The same thing's happening in real life. A homeless man who claims he's a billionaire - who actually somewhat checks out online (Pete Solis of Solis Biofuels) - has liked my 3d holodeck design ideas and has been claiming to - when the time is right - on getting a mansion in Arizona to help fund 'research projects' as an augment to his company. I laugh. And show him pictures of pigs flying lately when he brings up this TRIBBLE.
I swear I am in a collided world where the holographic universe collided with an analog reality sometimes in a funky mashup that only makes sense from my whacky perspective. To me, the internet. and many services, are acting like someone with multiple personality disorder would.
Just to demonstrate how weird things are, I asked a question on Yahoo Answers "Is reality in a recursive loop", and I see several responses from numerous different people that are exact copies of other responses. grammar and everything. It's downright weird. Check it out here:
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20141214112048AA82mRH
SO. YES, I did apply to this job, content designer, I had thought I'd done it before but being sincere, I'm tired of struggling and fighting this 'system' - and have accepted homelessness as a way of life. YEP. Everyone thinks they know what's best and what I should be doing, and not a one does anything to understand my position let alone consider that I have tried everything - and it seems like society's been programmed to attack people like me and tell me how wrong I am. Then you'll back eachother up, much like a 'race' condition in a computer program - by a broken scientific method process which attempts to 'sell' a certain perspective and then supports itself by demonizing those who are different much like peer pressure, or like a cackling squad.
In any case. Merry Christmas. From the homeless guy who - yes - is a tad cynical and has lost almost all faith in humanity actually being humane.
Animals get better treatment than homeless people. Offline and on.
THIS is why I want to create content. Regardless of whether the stuff I am imagining is or is not reality. Which at this point I sincerely think anything is possible. The Borg and other races/species in the Star Trek world in my opinion deserve a hell of a 'deviant' storyline - and I feel like I have quite literally lived it.
SO for me. I'd like to tell stories for them. and then - for other 'demonized entities' in the future.
Particularly for those that don't or haven't had their stories told or believed.
For instance, another homeless man I know - his name (we do have names) is 'Richie', a spitting image of Michelangelo's God, who I swear can see into adjacent/alternate realities.
With that said - a final note: To the child who said "AHA" about me explaining an attempt to monetize my work.
There's mod communities outside of STO which hire and pay for mod work. STO would be a showcase for me doing something I love, to contribute to with passion, and from there I simply apply my efforts financially in other areas.
And to thetanine. I bet you must feel pretty good about yourself for kickin the man while he's down the day before Christmas. Karma's going to be your friend.
All I can say is jee-sus, pipe down, script kiddies, with these accusations and flames.
My goal is to make the game more fun for you.
If you don't want that, then that's all you have to say.
And if you do.
Then what's the point of spouting off about the TOS and EULA rules if it's something you want? I would think you'd actually mentally find a way to support me and others like me if you did want this....
..... And check out my Open Source Work, here: https://sourceforge.net/u/universalbri/profile/
Bluegeek, thank you for the well wishes and advice.
Sorry I didn't respond earlier about Foundry
I've tried using Foundry on my previous machine - I have a 4gig laptop that works fairly decently with STO but it has a broken screen (I closed my headset in it one evening in my tent - life on the road, right). So right now I treat my netbook as if she's gold. A netbook with 1gig of ram and 150gig of hard drive space. Fast she aint. But I love this machine!
With that being the case. I tried Foundry. I'd been toying with 3d engines like Blender, Unreal Engine, and GTA Vice City modding before. In contrast to designing with Foundry - which is quite frankly a b*tch - I spent a day calculating every point but had problems all over - objects wouldn't stay in place or kept moving if I moved them on the z axis. I admire the patience the others have had leveraging this tool. Sometimes I get the distinct feeling I am missing something with content design!
Now what I was doing - I was building a time travel mission leveraging present day apartments in modern day Arizona - with some complexity and attention to detail involved that even the existing mods don't have. In trying to create stairs, rotating objects for walkable platforms or handicap ramps, multiple level facilities and doorways - ie: constructing 3 story building designs from scratch for instance, or reducing the sizes of premade objects to fit the scenery better - is all an exercise in frustration. At times, it felt like the tools were created to impair or impede this process.
That would be my focus - is building complex mutlilevel scenes in alternate realities and timelines - from scratch - something I have yet to see too much diversity with. With no mouse selection and movement of objects - it just made me want to fuggedaboutit.
This actually put the thought in my head - wouldn't it be fantastic to leverage Oculus VR or a real life holodeck to construct these scenes? but I digress.....
Now there's some FANTASTIC stories out there with Foundry. But with all objects preloaded, and no capability to dynamically size or reshape an object, let alone add in new objects, NPCs, and/or scenery, Foundry's limitations for design are extremely limited, and I think the current content has stretched it's current limits without some UI revision that 'plays nicer' with content designers..
Not to say it doesn't have some decent dialog scripting capabilities, which it does, but the limitations of structural design and difficulty in maneuvering and selecting an object 'in design mode', let alone figure out the correct coordinate offsets in x/y/z axis is an exercise in - as the Borg would say - futility.
I mean - I can't even wireframe things to select objects behind objects.
Unless I missed or can't remember that feature. It's been a while since I tried all that.
Now with Foundry being EXTREMELY slow to load on that 4gig machine. On this ATOM based 1gig machine. I can play with GTA Vice City mods and Blender seemingly fine, but with STO, i run my missions daily, which is VERY slow, but that's about it. Foundry is just too darn slow on this machine.
Truth be told. Design and creative 3d content is new to me. I write. A LOT (http://universalbri.wordpress.com). So my hope is, that someone or something like PWE might give this 45 year old former developer a new playground to exercise and explore his creative side. Coming from a homeless place, clearly I am not going to be in this for pay. But with my technical and cultural background (40 countries and counting), I am convinced I could benefit PWE 'while i learn' content development.
On that note. I like to keep it light and playful. I've been through hell in my life. Three divorces oughtta give ya a hint. So yeah, a little non combat oriented content focus seems like oh so much more fun than focusing on the combat oriented aspect of things within the game. Since I am cheap. i figure beggars can be choosers ;-)
TMI, right?
Anyways. Thanks again, blue. And I am workin on improving the attitude.
It is tough sometimes, given my circumstances. Forigive me for that.
Thank you again!
..... And check out my Open Source Work, here: https://sourceforge.net/u/universalbri/profile/
However, glad you discovered Blender! A surprisingly powerful program that I have been using for about 5 years. While I never published any games, I did make some working, albeit rough, games. I hope I'm not breaking any forum rules, but just to let you know, Desura may be a good bet for selling a Blender game if you do decide to take that route. There are plenty of resources out there to help you get a good start in blender.
All the best wishes!
I don't want to sound cruel but..... How?
If the Cryptic devs see that you're interested in a position within their company, and you show off your resume here (sans personal information), they might be inclined to hire you.
Just a thought, hope it helps.
Missing the good ol' days of PvP: Legacy of Romulus to Season 9
My List of Useful Links, Recently Updated November 25 2017!
USS WARRIOR NCC 1720 Commanding Officer
Star Trek Gamers
Wasting my time? The video game industry is the most lucrative in the world right now, surpassing even Hollywood's revenue almost five years ago.
After paying taxes on $100k+ to $250k a year for nearly 20 years, the compensation I get for my 'years in service' is a paltry 'state aid' for being homeless. A grand total of $400 a month to live (not much considering I had paid nearly $2 million in taxes over my life). This buys me a coffee at Starbucks where I get free refills all day long, a few bites to eat, but certainly not a place to live anywhere in (or outside) of the United States.
I've 'learned' to make due and make the best of the situation. How some homeless people let themselves go and get so dirty and grungy is beyond me - I feel like they are 'programmed' entities in a poorly constructed Matrix with no tangible basis for what it really feels like to be homeless. I take baths daily in public restrooms (the waters 'fin cold this time of year), I splurged $10 on a Tommy Bahama shirt and Docker's pants at Goodwill last week, Starbuck's - believe it or not - is actually friendly and seems to understand us 'transitionary' types 'hoping' for more and supports not just me - but a couple other of us homeless dudes.
Now unfortunately, there's never any cute homeless women. And if there is. They're likely poorly programmed matrix constructs with the same preprogrammed dirty/grungy/crazy personality. The 'REAL' homeless people all take care of themselves and tend to be highly creative and observant - much more so than those 'working in the grind'.
Observant albeit from a nontraditional and 'does not fit in the box' kinda way.
It's funny you say 'does not compute'.
Ever think there's more to you saying something like that than meets the eye?
Homelessness is the choice I made to shift careers from the corporate world to the entertainment world. There's quite literally no way back for me. i know, I have tried.
This is forward only at this point until I 'break in'.
..... And check out my Open Source Work, here: https://sourceforge.net/u/universalbri/profile/
Ya know. I'm a bit desperate. So why not?
MODERATORS = PLEASE JUST DELETE this post if it's against the rules! I dont have every EULA and/or TOS for every game I play and software package I click on memorized!
BRIAN SCOTT GREGORY aka Q aka Loki, God of Mischief
UNIVERSALBRI at GMAIL.COM
UNIVERSALBRI.WORDPRESS.COM
OBJECTIVE
Well now. You know, I like working like anyone else. Not really. I work just enough to learn. Learn just enough to not want to work. And from there, figure its my duty, my obligation, to enjoy life, and see if I cant make this more fun not just for me, but for anyone else who wants to smile and laugh a bit more in life. I am after all the God of Mischief for a reason.
EDUCATION
Vrilliant Academy of Time Sciences
2010-2012
DOCTORATE
IN
TEMPORAL MECHANICS
Thunderbird Graduate School
2008-2009
GMBA
IN
GLOBAL BUSINESS University of Phoenix
2005-2007
Bachelors of Science
IN
MARKETING
EXPERIENCE
Wells Fargo - Charlotte, North Carolina
Senior Enterprise Engineer 2011
- Created a botnet computer virus while working from home, modelled after Stuxnet.
- Tested it out on the corporate network when I had it good and ready. Boy was that ever a doozy. The IT security guys didnt believe the virus was a virus I had hid the thing so well, and then when they wiped the hard drive, and it stayed there, they were all scratching their heads. The botnets still there, My little going away present.
UTI - Phoenix, Arizona
Private Consultant 2010
- Worked from home a lot, claiming I had too much work to do, but was really playing Xbox games until wee hours and overcoming an addiction to Alcohol and Adderall , a lethal combination I would recommend to anyone. That addiction didnt help with the late night hours.
Prudential Financial - Phoenix, Arizona
Director of International IT 2007-2010
- At first, I was just interested in dating this hot Indian girl, so I actually did appear productive, which jacked up the blood pressure a bit.
- After then I quit working as hard, went home for long lunches, played games, got laid, and was promoted.
- After the promotion, I got to do the same thing abroad in Singapore, Hong Kong, London, and Paris.
- This worked out well, got to see the world, on the companys dime.
- Got to tour the red light district in Singapore where I got in a brawl with a guy who punched his wife in the nose giving her a bloody nose. That was weird.
Computer Wholesalers - Phoenix, Arizona
IT Manager 2005-2007
- Did absolutely nothing but talk to people and play games in the office for about two years.
- Claimed I was too busy, and outsourced the web site to a friend who needed work.
- Redid web site, you know to make it look like I was doing work, updating my bio to say Master of Smoke and Mirrors. Owner caught it, and I was fired. Not before I hired my successor, a man I chose for his unique last name Santa Maria and his fake credentials, thus ensuring my legacy would continue..
Intel - Chandler, Arizona
Private Consultant 1997 - 2005
- Created programs Chug and Slug. Chug makes the hard drive on a computer spin up with tons of disk activity doing absolutely nothing typically driving an engineer bonkers. Slug slows down a machines performance to a crawl. For my re-creation of those programs, go here: http://www.zdnet.com/search/?o=1&q=qzantics&t=5
- Created program vhold which makes your computer screen act like an old TV monitor having lost its vhold, and the entire screen would periodically scroll up.
- TRIBBLE my bosss machine, and sent text messages to his employees from his machine asking for them to stop by his desk. They got me back by flipping everything in my cube upside down and putting tin foil on everything. I was amused!
Touchscape
Owner 1999 - 2001
- I had been in several hacking groups which put me in the crosshairs of the NSA and the FBI. The NSA TRIBBLE our connection to keep an eye on me. I figured this out the day they did it, and for fun, traced down their connections physical address, and turned them into the FBI, my cable provider, and the local police all at the same time. Apparently a couple of them were arrested. They offered me a job (which I took after a years worth of them pestering me and started as a private contractor in 2003
- Made my first Botnet based on heuristic design. I've kinda taken over the world with that. Shhh. Don't tell anyone!
Microsoft/Mirage Hotels - Las Vegas, Nevada
Private Consultant 1996
- Created remotely manageable program which would do a random event on the target computer taking from a list of random events that I could update with new events remotely. One event shoved the mouse pointer into a random corner of the screen, another would insert randomly typed characters into a Word Document you were typing making you think you were just that bad at typing, another event would flicker the monitor off then on at random intervals, another would open up the CD-Rom drive randomly - particularly useful when someone loved playing music CDs), and so on
- Drove the security parking guard crazy by getting an 8 cylinder rental car and taking it up the parking garage ramps at the Treasure Island hotel at 50 miles per hour to see how much air I could get then running inside once I parked so they couldnt catch me.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield - Phoenix, Arizona
Private Consultant 1995 - 1996
- Actually worked. Didnt know better at the time. It was my first real contract. I forgive myself for that, I wanted to learn C++ and Visual Basic and insurance systems. Was still fun.
Orbital Sciences Corp - Chandler, Arizona
Rocket Scientist 1988 - 1993
- TRIBBLE the entire corporate network while working for receiving. Was offered jail or job in software engineering. Seemed too similar to eachother, I was confused, and took the job.
- TRIBBLE other computers to send laughing noises or random animal noises to come out other co-workers computers internal speakers and locked the sound volume at high volume..
- On the mainframe I would deprioritize simulations being run by engineers who I thought were jerks and make a job they ran take all night instead of the hour it should have.
- Wrote a fake disk format program which made computers appear like their hard drive was in the middle of being reformatted particularly useful when the software engineer ducked out early for lunch, nearly giving them heart attacks.
- Would frequently sneak in to my bosss office by crawling in, where he couldnt see me, and would bang on the cabinet next to his desk loudly nearly giving him a heart attack.
- TRIBBLE the Vice President David Brackneys machine and made every other activity on his machine say the phrase from the 2001 movie I am sorry Dave, I am afraid I cant do that. I think I laughed for days after that one!
NSA National Security Agency -
Fort George G Meade, Maryland
Temporary slave to myself 2003 - 2011
- TRIBBLE the NSAs entire network. Sending out all the source code for all their projects to Open Source web sites such as Github and Sourceforge You're welcome.
- Created the hacking group Anonymous to send out misinformation to everyone, everywhere. Using the NSAs artificial intelligence technology.
- TRIBBLE all the top brass in the CIA and NSA, including the President and sent messages from their email accounts, voice messages using their voice from cell phones, video messages using their image, and private line and secured messages that said things like I love you and Lets do a time war, again! (played with the song in the Rocky Horror Picture show, of course) to random people all around the world, especially foreign country leaders.
- Leaked all the technology to Youtube, and randomly created web sites using NSA and CIA shell companies for the hosting..
- Single handedly brought the banking industry down, world-wide.
- Created a new version of the NSAs Artificial Intelligence to make the world more fun for all. Worked with people from around the world on that unsanctioned project to make sure everyone had a say.
- Generally created mayhem everywhere I went. Inspiring Geico to make those mayhem advertisements. Thank you, Geico, I love you too!
High School - Glendale, Arizona
- Found 1001 uses for Superglue. Favorites included supergluing locks on combination lockers to make them unspinnable, and supergluing quarters on the ground in front of the lunch room doors where people would get hit in the head as the door opened. Another favorite was the teachers desk when his or her back was to the us.
- Gathered a bunch of students to move my choir teachers car onto a walkway in between two walls making it impossible for her to drive out.
- Ordered pizza to be delivered to my Economics class. The teacher then taught me the economics of sharing. Clever.
- We had to make our own hall passes to go the bathroom. So I typically wrote on mine pass to wander the halls aimlessly all day, since the teacher never paid attention to it and got in trouble for that.
- Supplied alcohol for a school choir trip, getting the entire class drunk. I was suspended for 3 days for that.
- Stood on the hood of a friends parents car delivering newspapers while we took turns driving while his parents were away on vacation. We were 13 years old.
- Typed in profane 2 line basic programs at the new computer section of Sears and ran away like the dickens.
<13 years old - Arizona, California
- Jumped out from behind doors to scare unsuspecting family members and friends. Still a favorite to this day.
- Ordered pizzas from every pizza place within a 5 mile radius to be delivered to a neighbors place. Kicked back and watched through the window all these pizza drivers driving up and not having a customer.
- Called taxis from every taxi cab company to come to the same neighbors house. Was way funny seeing 15 taxi cabs show up in front of someones house.
- Started streaking at about 11. Still a favorite. Little more difficult getting away with it legally now. Stupid laws in my opinion.
- Pretended to see different worlds when breathing in and out very fast, instigating friends to try it, then watching them pass out trying.
- Knocked on doors or rang the doorbell, and ran. Always a favorite.
- Called up random businesses, and asked for people like Ben Dover and Ima Peein.
SKILLS (Yep, I got em. You know what theyll be used for!)
COMPUTING .Net Programming, , C#, SOA, Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Basic, VPNs, TCP/IP, Object Oriented Analysis, Object Oriented Design, SOA,
APPLIED COMPUTING & SOFTWARE Ethical Hacker, Hardware Software Hacking, Statistical Programming, White Hat hacking, , Evolutionary Computation, Payroll, ABRA, Quickbooks, Microsoft CRM And Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft Office, Computer Security, Networks, Virtual Reality, Wordpress, Enterprise Architecture, Paintshop Pro, VLC, Infranview, PC Construction
THEORETICAL Artificial Intelligence, Theoretical Physics, Neuroscience, Evolutionary Biology, Robotics, Neural Networks, Quantum Theory, Chaos theory, Time Theory, Futurism, Alternative Energy.
GAMING Game Theory, Alternate Reality Games, Probabilistic models, Science Fiction and Fantasy author and writer and lover, Applied Theoretical Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Lover of all things gaming particularly Social RPGs, Adult oriented Fantasy, and Time Travel.
BUSINESS Global Business, International Management, Risk Analysis, Supply chain management, Business Intelligence, Finance, Accounting, Expert Systems, Business Intelligence, CSR, Sustainability, Current Private Contractor for the US Government and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
PSYCHOLOGY Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Customer Behavior, Marketing,
HOLISTIC Certified life Coach, Neuro-Linguistic Programming Master Practitioner
FLIGHT Private Pilot since 1995, 15 hours of IFR Training, Wouldnt mind sitting copilot or working for a company who wants to trade hours for work. (Yep, serious with this one- I love flying - scares the TRIBBLE outta me!)
COUNTRY EXPERIENCE
(WORK & TRAVEL) Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico., Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE, United States, Vatican City
PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS
MAGAZINES Published in PC Magazine, PC Gamer, Visual Basic Advisor, and Playboy (duh).
SOFTWARE Created shareware titles such as Graffiti - A screensaver that remembers your drawings as you draw and Bitware - An alternate reality themed ascii-based future concepts intermixed with medieval times dungeons and dragons game
ONLINE Have been published on Slate Magazine Online (www.slate.com) , Gamasutra (www.gamasutra.com), Slashdot (www.slashdot.org), Craigslist (www.craigslist.org)
BOOKS Time Travel for Dummies currently in process. Based on my thesis material, open offers to teach at Clark Community College in Vancouver Washington and Portland State University in Portland, Oregon
REFERENCES
All experience activity 100% verifiable, specific references available upon request
..... And check out my Open Source Work, here: https://sourceforge.net/u/universalbri/profile/