Finished Ocarina of Time.The Water Temple Was Fine.

I HAVE FINISHED OCARINA OF TIME!!!! I LOVED IT!!!
(OKAY I ACTUALLY FINISHED IT 10 DAYS AGO...AND AM PLAYING THE 3DS REMAKE RIGHT NOW!)

     Now to elaborate...

    I finished the game 10 days ago and I am now playing Majora's Mask. I loved Ocarina of Time. I loved it more than Link to the Past, which I also loved playing. Now my ass was kicked about 100 times when I played Link to the Past, but in Ocarina of Time I think I only died 20 something times.

     Anyways, aside from a few times were I believe the game was not terribly clear, this truly was an awesome game, Beautiful music by Koji Kondo, great graphics for the time, and it was great to experience how Link to the Past's mechanics were brought into the 3D world. This game is inevitably overrated, as is everything that is popular, but this game deserved all the praise it received back in the day. It's not the greatest game ever made, no single game is, but this is certainly ONE of the best games ever made.

     The Z-Targeting system and the context sensitive buttons, among also the overall feel of the game was a huge influence on future adventure games. The dungeons were really fun, if a bit bothersome at times. My least favorite had to be the Fire Temple...at least I used to think so. I remember having a tough time...well...no just a few things bugged me. I'll elaborate later.

     Oh, and the Water Temple? It was not that bad. At all. I've heard before that most fans hate it and Miyamoto has actually outright apologized for designing it....but it was fine! I liked the encounter with Dark Link, and the Morpha boss even though it frustrated me a bit.

     The two biggest issues were only a few cramped spaces and the fact that you have to constantly pause and unpause to game to switch between your iron boots and regular boots. Also it is pretty BS that you could only fight underwater using the hookshot. If nothing else, Majora's Mask made up for that with the Zora Mask.

     Well...you could argue the rising and lowering of water levels, but trust me it's not that bad at all! I rose the water to one level, searched the rooms, and then rose or lowered it further. It was totally manageable and I enjoyed my time in that Temple. I suppose it is still a problem that it MIGHT be easy to get lost in that temple, because I'll be fair it took a bit of time for me on my first time to find the room where Ruto was.

     I appreciate that the 3DS remake mitigated these issues at the very least, but I still enjoyed the original Water Temple. (Well also there was the fact that I felt like leaving and coming back with the Zora Tunic.) I suppose people will hate me now for defending it.

     Anyways, I actually almost immediately moved onto the 3DS remake after finishing Ocarina of Time. It was actually a very smooth transition, because I started getting through the game in no time flat. I am now on the Shadow Temple and I think I even figured out some hidden detail about the fishing mini-game (my least favorite part of the game by far, Dark Chronicle is the only RPG like game I've played that actually has a fun fishing mini-game).

     When it comes to the Fire Temple, I suppose it was a combination of me not paying close enough attention and it being my first playthrough. When I played the Fire Temple on the 3DS remake, I cleared it with no troubles. That's not the entire reasoning behind my first thoughts on the Temple as a whole, but I'd say those were the biggest factors.

     So yeah, there isn't much more to say, I loved the game. I hope that I can say the same for Majora's Mask but I have yet to complete that one (and I haven't been playing it for a few days). Here's hoping that I love the other Zelda games too!

Also my favorite Temple was the Spirit Temple.

I HAVE A TABLET AND ZBRUSH!

I am just so happy right now!

I now have a tablet! The Wacom Intros Medium with the 3D bundle!

That's a very big deal for me. My fellow GameDev Knights members told me that I would need  a tablet so I could do 2d art and sculpting. As a Game Design major, and someone who's going to the Art track at FIEA eventually, these were a must. 

They also said that the sooner I can learn Zbrush, the better. I couldn't pay for the $150 license, and unfortunately to my knowledge I couldn't get a student license. When I was told to get a tablet, I decided on the Wacom Intuos 3D. As luck would have it, what does the 3D bundle include?

Oh yeah! Killing two birds with one stone! Also Zbrush has ZClassroom for teaching the software. It'll be time soon to start dabbling into that.

Now here's a practice drawing with the tablet: The Master Sword. It's all free-hand, no tracing. I don't ever trace. I really want to find out how to do what is done in pointillism where there are 2-3 colors for one area...you know to add vibrance. I swear that there is a way to add vibrant colors besides pointillism however. I know that I've seen that in Salvador Dali's paintings...



But yeah, very happy and I can't wait to get better! Now I can offer digital art commissions!

For the longest time I had a stigma against digital art because the people that go out of their way to learn traditional techniques make phenomenal work...

The more I think about it, the more I realize that you still need skill to make genuinely good art. It's never about your tools, but your skills!

JD Talks-What Games I'm Playing and What I Want To Play

I've been a hardcore "gamer" ever since I was 5 years old and I got my PlayStation 2. I don't technically play games as addictively as I used to, but I still love them. I'm going to school for Game Design for a reason.

Anyways, here are the games that I am currently playing and the games I'm looking forward to:

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Yup, what many would call the "greatest game ever made". I don't think that when I play this, but I still immensely respect this game for what it accomplished. And I am having a ton of fun with it even though I might suck at Zelda...or it could be because it's my first play through.

I've gotten back to playing this in the past few days...it had been about a week. It is very fun. You see, I've owned all the main series games for quite some time, but I've only recently gotten into the franchise. I feel like a fool for not doing that sooner, because I fell in love with A Link to the Past (even though I wasn't the best at it...).

I won't lie, I have been using a guide on and off with these games...but I wouldn't classify these games as ones were you need a walkthrough...I probably have a hard time noticing stuff. Also, it's my first play through and i don't want to spend a terrible amount of time on a single game right now.

Regardless, I am loving this game. I've made it a bit of a goal to play every major Zelda game over the summer. The only main series game I don't own is Wind Waker, so...I'll get myself a copy soon. I'll see how things are after I finish Majora's Mask.

The Rest of the Main Series Zelda Games and Link Between Worlds

Pretty much already explained this...and I just remembered that I have to buy a Wii Motion Plus thing for Skyward Sword...Either way I'm having so much fun with Zelda right now!

The first Zelda game I've properly played is Twilight Princess. I got it for Christmas along with my Wii...but that was so long ago and I barely got through it...and yes I'm keeping the Wii version.

Now the only handheld game I will play for right now is Link Between Worlds. The reasons are that my sister bought the game for me, along with Super Mario Bros Wii 2 years ago as a birthday present, and that it's directly connected to Link to the Past. Furthermore, after I play Skyward Sword, I'll be all set for Breath of the Wild.

I am so excited to finally play that. I already love how it looks and Somecallmejohnny's review of it got me even more interested! But first....

Nintendo Switch and Super Mario Odyssey

...I'm gonna need a Switch! To put it simply, consoles at launch tend to be riddled with problems so it's always best to wait. The Switch is everything the Wii U should have been (but I don't outright hate the Wii U) and it looks so awesome!

So far the only other Switch game that I really want to play besides Breath of the Wild is Super Mario Odyssey. Not only does it look crazy with that new hat power up, and Mario going to the real world, but the course design will be like Mario 64, where you enter a level, and you can tackle the objectives however you want. Don't get me wrong, I love Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 to death, but it's great to see Nintendo going back to a more open design. It helps with replay value, you know?

I'm certain that there are other Switch titles that will be more than worth playing...but for right now these two are the only ones I really want...well that and 1,2 Switch. It's interesting that the Switch games are cards of some sort....


Dishonored and Sims 2

These are the two PC games that I have the most time invested in. Sims 2 is one of those games where the satisfaction comes from successful planning...I mean it's technically a strategy game.

Don't get me wrong, it's charming, humorous, looks great for a cartoony game, but it can be a little tough for a newbie like me...I mean the first sim I sent to University flunked....but I do really want to play more of it... (also this is the best Sims games...kind of because it was the last one to involve Will Wright.) I actually played this on and off years ago on my parents' computer...

Also Dishonored was a game that I bought to test out my desktop's gaming capabilities...and I had more fun with it than I thought i would. I'm sure eventually I'll get myself to play both of these games more...because I know I won't regret it!



Sonic Mania and Sonic Forces

I'm not exactly a die hard Sonic fan but I did grow up with a number of the games. Colors and Generations were pretty good...but they still don't even compare to anything Nintendo makes...

Now I am always cautiously optimistic, but Sonic Mania was a huge surprise that I initially didn't know how to feel about, but after I realized that it was a completely new classic style Sonic game, made by the same team that handled the Sonic CD iOS port?! I was pretty hyped. The game looks beautiful, and that animated trailer directed and animated by Tyson Hesse, who did the Sonic Mega Drive comics, and who is possibly the best Classic Sonic artist I've ever seen? Amazing.

Yeah, some of the levels are repeats, but the overall product has got to be good! The fact that Sega is allowing a 2D game to be made is pretty special....

As for Sonic Team's next game...it just keeps looking better and better. The more that's revealed of the this game, the more I care. The Park Avenue theme recently released? A really addicting track. I also love the colors of the screenshots, and especially that awesome logo.

I'm hoping this game is better than Generations, because with both this and Mania (and the fact that SEGA was willing to push these games to 2017 instead of rushing them for the 25th Anniversary) ...Sonic JUST might have a chance to revitalize itself as a franchise...maybe...because we've felt this way about Sonic before...I'm getting the PS4 version, not the Switch version. I'm not confident about that port....

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon

Here's an easy one to explain. Sun and Moon is my 2nd favorite Pokémon game, topped only by Generation 5 (Black/White and Black 2/White 2). The logo is cool, the new forms of the mascot legendaries look cool, and...hey this looks like a Black and White 2 situation, a new game in the same region, not just a third version.

Oh, boy am I gonna most likely get this day one...and I know people are upset about Game Freak not doing a Generation 4 remake...but come on, I'm sure they'll do it eventually.

Pokken and the VC Classic Pokémon games I have no interest in. For one thing, I already own the original games.

Kingdom Hearts III

Oh boy! I don't know when we will get this game, but I am playing it! I grew up with Kingdom Hearts, ever since the series started. The story can get really problematic, but the art design, music (Yoko Shimomura is SUCH a great composer), especially climatic gameplay make this perhaps my favorite RPG of all time!

I have so many memories with this series, my favorites being II and Birth by Sleep. The HD remixes are the only HD remakes that I've ever cared for because they were the final mixes of the original games, never before released outside the US. Whatever we get, I hope that the wait was worth it!

All the Other Games in My Collection that I Haven't Played and the Games I Eventually Want to Play that are on my Collection List

This one would take forever to explain, but I have an ever expanding collection of games as far back as Atari 2600...a lot of games I haven't properly played, while others I don't own yet.

I really should wait to worry about this sort of thing until I either have a job or am out of college...but hey I am a collector so...this one will happen naturally on it's own I'm sure.

So yeah, I am a serious gamer, I have been one all my life, and I plan on playing more and more, especially because they can serve as great inspiration to me as a future game creator. I'm sure this list will eventually expand when I get around to reading up on other games. What games have you played and/or plan on playing?

My Canvas So Far....

Alright, so here is all of the art that I've done in May (and also some of this month). I've also got some 3D models I've been working on. I really have to catch up on stuff...\

Most of these were done with Prismacolor Pencils.

1.) SomecallmeJohnny Amiibo

There is a meme of sorts among this YouTube reviewer's fanbase. He posted a photo on Twitter with the caption "Amiibo Hunt Successful" and made a deliberately stupid face.

Amiibo Hunt successful! pic.twitter.com/EZndD4ld1D

— SomecallmeJohnny (@Somecallmejon) March 8, 2015

It has now become a meme amongst the fanbase to not only make edits of that photo, but also of other photos that he would post on Twitter later on. I decided to make his actual face an amiibo. I thought it was funny. I exaggerated the original face for added humor.

2.) Dr.Finitevus for Fini

One of the people I follow on Tumblr goes by the user name of Fini-Mun. Yeah, he's kind of a fan of Dr.Finitevus from the Sonic the Hedgehog Pre-Reboot Archie Comics. He's an artist who does amazing Sonic work as well as amazing work period.

He offered his assistance so that I might start commissions online, and this was a thank you gift to him. I don't know...I feel the pose is stiff.....

3.) For Robotnik-Mun

Robotnik-Mun is another person I follow on Tumblr. He's most famous for the hastag Ken Penders is a Douche, where he rightfully riffs on the antics of the infamous Sonic Archie writer/artist Ken Penders.

He has a personal history with Penders' work so the man affects him quite a bit...either way it was fun to read RM for so long, do I drew his favorite Sonic character, SatAM Robotnik. I even put in a caption. "Sir, Ken Penders is at it again!"

4.) For RobotnikHolmes

RobotnikHolmes is another user in my circle of Tumblr blogs that I follow. His blog, RobotnikHolmesComicBlog, saw him reviewing all of the major Sonic Archie comics all the way from the first issue.

After finishing up the dreaded Penders era, he reviewed the first few issues of the Flynn era. He's on break now, but his reviews were very entertaining for me so I felt he deserved something nice. Penders is a slice of pizza here because comedy.

Fun Fact: I actually reference a photo of the Angry Video Game Nerd to draw RH's face.

In the artwork for this OC of his, he delivers pizza so....yeah. I feel like I drew his left eye too low...

5.) Skyline Sonic for DrawLoverLala

DrawloverLaLa is a Chilean artist on Tumblr who primarily draws Sonic art. She draws Sonic style stuff perfectly and her work has a lot of energy and color to it.

Her re-designs of the Archie comic characters and others from Sonic spin-off media are amazing. I just love how she draws.

This is her version of Sonic from what she calls the Skyline Alternate Universe. I tried to put more energy into this...but I don't really feel it.

6.) Classic Bunnie

Now this is part of a series I did where I drew the Freedom Fighters from the Sonic Archie comics "classic" style. I had been wanting to do it for a long time before this, so these were fun.

The first one was Bunnie. Pretty much all of my Classic redesigns are combinations of the SatAM designs, the pre reboot comics, and the reboot comics.

Bunnie has short hair like her SatAM design, but I kept the reboot design in tact. The shoes are simplified and I made sure the leotard looked like a leotard and not part of her body.

7.) Classic Antoine

It seemed appropriate to draw Bunnie's lover boy Antoine next.

I combined the pre-reboot design with the reboot design. I wanted to keep the coat because I felt like that was an important part of the character, but I simplified it and put the band and belt that he wears on top of it.

Plus I gave him the sword. In this picture it's a little crooked...and it sure is big compared to his body.

8.) Classic Rotor

Meh...Rotor's probably my least favorite of the Freedom Fighters, but he's good in his own ways. I love how they gave him a dad in the reboot and made his dad an Egg Boss (One of Eggman's right hand men).

So since he's an inventor or something I gave him a screwdriver. This is primarily his reboot design but I gave him the Classic hat. Also some hair.

9.) Bob's Burgers' Revolver

I love Bob's Burgers (but I haven't seen Seasons 6 or 7...why did Netflix remove this show?) and in recent years I've become a huge fan of the Beatles.

Revolver is one of my favorite albums ever, so just because I wanted to do a humorous parody, which there are plenty of, I drew this.

Since the album cover is black and white, I didn't have to color this. I did however add shading where it existed in the original album cover.

Fans of the show will recognize the little things I put in there. Also I'm sorry about that bottom of the picture...I don't really know what happened there.

10.) Classic Nicole

Oh boy! I've always been a fan of AI characters like Nicole. She's so cute and so cool. Y'know Ian Flynn has said that if he could make her and Sally a couple, he'd do it, and I would totally love to see that.

For this one she has all the accessories of her reboot design, but I gave her the pre-reboot dress. I also decided to add the pixel effects for this one, similar to how she's projected in the comics.

I guess it is a little weird that I went with this face...but I know the original face I did where she had one eye half-closed looked pretty dumb.

This is my favorite out of all of the Classic drawings I did.

11.) Classic Sally

Sally has always been pretty cool when she's written right now that I think about it....

So this design actually has minor alterations since she already has a kid look from the flashbacks in the reboot comics. I wanted to give her a sort of battle-ready, confident pose. I think this pose got a little wonky...mostly because of the limbs...I don't think I stretched them well enough, but I don't hate this. I do think I did well with that simple ethereal effect on the blade.

12.) Zelda 1 Link

Now...THIS. This is the one piece out of all of these that I have sunk the most time into. I gave it a background and shading and everything!

So I've finally properly gotten into the Zelda franchise, and I feel like a fool for not doing it sooner, because I loved Link to the Past and I'm loving Ocarina of Time. I kind of suck at the games, but they're still really fun. So I made a decision to do a series of illustrations of the Links from the multiple games that I am playing as I play them.

I initially played Zelda 1 and 2, but I could not beat either. Still, I decided to include those two in this series. This is the Legend of Zelda 1 Link.

I make sure to reference official art as closely as possible. I like how the magical sword and logo turned out. I'm keeping the first few simple to reflect the simple nature of 8 bit games....I'd better get used to picking a color palette for each piece, because that's the effect that I wish to achieve. I also need to practice texture stuff with Prismacolor pencils... I'm moderately proud of this piece.

I can't wait to get better and do the others!!


So yeah, those are the highlights of my 2d art from this past month.

I have to do much more drawing to do better pieces, especially because I eventually want to do graphic novels.

Once I open up commissions, I hope that helps me improve.