http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:Gazza-N&section=today deviantART RSS for by:Gazza-N en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:04:48 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/13455525/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/13455525/ Sat, 23 Jun 2007 04:32:20 PDT
Firstly, Charybdis - I wrote myself into a corner. Not because I didn't know what to do next, but because I gave too much info too soon and destroyed the pacing of the entire sequence. It's to be expected. After all, this is the first project that I've attempted with this sort of scale, but sadly it appears to have failed dismally. So I'm not writing any more, unless my muse gives me the energy to start from scratch. Besides, nobody was really reading it anyway

Secondly, game development - Yes! I've been making games over the past year. Not particularly good games, but as a member of a small but vibrant community I've found that it's something that I enjoy immensely. As such, I've been diverting the majority of my time in that direction. I enjoy it because game design is a perfect fusion of engineering and art - it allows me exercise both my inclinations at once! Not many hobbies can claim that! Either way, that is one of the main reasons that I've been so quiet lately.

If my muse permits, I'll probably start writing some of the short stories in the manner of my earlier work. I have ideas rattling around in my head, as always, but I need to take the time to write them down and avoid the misery that is the Great Charybdis Experiment. Fear not, those who I watch who still read my journals, I'll be getting around to your work as soon as I can. Unlike me, you guys actually have a little talent, and it's good to read/see the work of talented people .

Enough angst. I have Deviations to check.

]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/9689860/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/9689860/ Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:06:09 PDT
*My Stories to Date (from most recent to the depths of history ). ANY AND ALL COMMENTS APPRECIATED. Underlined titles are hyperlinks!*

> Charybdis – Sci-fi / Action
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 (Undergoing gradual assembly)

In the years following the catastrophic Corporation Wars, human civilization has built itself back up again, thanks in no small part to the mighty Morbex Corporation and their interstellar Jumpstation technology. When a mysterious hacker breaks into the supposedly unbreakable Morbex central mainframe, and then proceeds to effortlessly elude an entire city full of Morbex Corporation Security Force operatives, the company goes on high alert. But this is just the first (and most insignificant) of many incidents that find MCSF soldier Yvonne Delacroix slowly being drawn into a conflict that threatens to break apart the very core of civilization in the known – and unknown - galaxy.

> Music– Sci-fi / Philosophical

Cultured Mr. Hewson is shocked when his son comes up with the most far-fetched and outrageous idea ever – starting a band.

> The Stargazer – Sci-fi

Rebellious teenager Dana Rae is sick of the tired, monotonous life on board the Worldship, Humanity’s interstellar Noah’s Ark. With their entire lives and social structures ruled and prescribed by the Worldscheme of the ships designers, she alone seems to feel that their lives are worthless. Only the Stargazer, a seemingly useless robot, brings her any comfort. But when the Worldship encounters a wormhole that could shorten their journey by several hundred years, Dana’s rebellion is turned on its head.

> Quantum Leap – Sci-fi / Racing

In the high-speed, high-tech, and even higher-stakes world of Steed racing, three-time champion “Lightning” Leon Lassader is the best of the best. Only one problem – the revolutionary (and expensive) new Quantum Core reactor that he and Team Lassader R&D man Moses Makwane have developed isn’t winning races, and his sponsor isn’t impressed with the lack of victories. With Team Lassader in danger of being shut down, Leon has two days to get the unpredictable and unstable Quantum Core up and running before his next race. Hope seems remote, until they find help in the least likely person imaginable.

> Scavenger Hunt – Sci-Fi / Comedy / Mystery
Part 1 | Part 2

Life as a Scavenger Hunter requires a sharp mind, brilliant deductive abilities, a competent grasp of technology, and a good dollop of suicidal insanity. Gaz Nuclear has all of these (to compliment his stupid name). What he doesn’t have is money, which is why he finds himself on a client-sponsored luxury cruise on interstellar starliner “Elysian Fields”. He’s been contracted to do his job, i.e. to find and covertly procure a particularly rare and expensive item. Did we mention that the item in question already belongs to someone else? No? Well, it does. And this is just the beginning Gaz’s many, many problems.

> Infested Traveller – Sci-fi / Philosophical

A member of a race ancient beyond imagination is struck with a rare and mysterious disease. A disease that may require drastic action to cure…

> Human – Sci-fi / Philosophical

Zye is the perfect pilot, having spent his entire life alone on board an experimental starship, following instructions provided via radio by the enigmatic Ground. But on the eve of the ship’s groundbreaking test, a surprising event changes Zye’s perception forever, and places the entire Project in peril.

> Fall– Descriptive Prose.

My first submitted Deviation. Was popular amongst the poets though. .


And now...

Lamentations

Just some quick bloggage for those who kindly take the time to read it. First: Cha... ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/9613031/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/9613031/ Sat, 05 Aug 2006 23:48:43 PDT
Charybdis Part III now consists of one glorious paragraph. And some cover art, which I've uploaded for your viewing pleasure until I finish the latest instalment.

I just hope that my cover art is actually giving people pleasure and not being detrimental to the story. By posting cover art, I show you EXACTLY how I envision this stuff, and it could be that it takes away from your enjoyment of the peice. After all, we read to exercise our imaginations, and here I am spoonfeeding you mental images. To those who read Charybdis, I'd like to know. That way I don't waste time on cover art and spend more time writing .

Speaking of which, back to writing! Writing is fun!

I shall write on! And so should you. ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/9613030/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/9613030/ Sat, 05 Aug 2006 23:48:41 PDT
Charybdis Part III now consists of one glorious paragraph. And some cover art, which I've uploaded for your viewing pleasure until I finish the latest instalment.

I just hope that my cover art is actually giving people pleasure and not being detrimental to the story. By posting cover art, I show you EXACTLY how I envision this stuff, and it could be that it takes away from your enjoyment of the peice. After all, we read to exercise our imaginations, and here I am spoonfeeding you mental images. To those who read Charybdis, I'd like to know. That way I don't waste time on cover art and spend more time writing .

Speaking of which, back to writing! Writing is fun!

I shall write on! And so should you. ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/9374911/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/9374911/ Fri, 14 Jul 2006 11:38:53 PDT
I have bloods in my germstream...

Sinuses hurt......


Just wanted to share the misery. You may now continue with your regular lives. But first.....

*AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOO*

There. Through the miracles of computer technology, I have just infected the bunch of you. And sprayed my computer in various fluids.



*sighs and wipes computer* ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/9230988/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/9230988/ Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:01:33 PDT
Gazza_N's super duper answered gaming quiz (TM, patent pending, batteries not included)


1. What was the first video game you have ever played?

Pac man and Paratrooper on the XT PC.

2. What was your first console?

I've never owned a console, although the Sega Mega Drive held a special place on my Xmas wish list for many a year when I was younger.

3. Have you ever visited a video game arcade?

Several, but they're too expensive, and the games aren't really worth it (with the exception of tactile games like Dance Dance Revolution)

4. What was your first handheld?

Never owned a handlheld, but the first one I ever played on was the almighty GameBoy.

5. What was the first game you've beaten/cleared completely? (Got to the last level/got 100%/beat high score, etc.)

Terminal Velocity, I think. I'm not entirely sure. It's been so long since I started gaming that I've lost track.

6. Games based off of real sports: Yay or Nay?

To quote one of my favourite game journalists: Dull, boring, yawn. Rather play the real thing. The interface is better.

7. Online games: Yay or nay?

I suppose, but how do you put any kind of story into an MMORPG?

8. Do you play any Massively Multiplayer Online RPG games? (MMORPGs?)

No. Too expensive, and not worth my time gameplay-wise.

9. Do you play any virtual pet games? (Neopets, Teripets, Aftermathzone, etc.)

The Tamagotchi put me off of virtual pets for life.

10. Puzzle games and Strategy games: Yay or Nay?

Yay!!! Although strategy games all play the same nowadays, only with different units.

11. Do you play any RPGs?

Not especially, although I do watch my sister playing them in order to enjoy the plot without the repetitive gameplay.

12. Do you play any Platformer games?

No. Besides, many FPS games could be considered platformers.

13. What was the first game/console/handheld of yours that stopped working?

My XT computer. The hard drive crashed TT~TT


Characters/Plot


14. Do you actually care if a game has a plot or do you just play games for the gameplay?

PLOT!PLOT!PLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!! A RESOUNDING YES TO PLOT! If the game has no plot, the play dynamic is negated to a simple, pointless repetition of actions. Of course, that all depends on the nature of the game. Half-Life for instance keeps the gameplay continually fresh, so the lack of plot isn't as detrimental.

15. Name a few video game characters that are your favorites.

J.C. Denton from Deus Ex, The entire cast of Anachronox, HK-47 from Knights of the Old Republic, the G-Man from the Half-Life games, Dog from Half-Life 2, Dante from Devil May Cry. There are more, but I can't really think of them right now.

16. Name a few series that are your favorites

Far Cry, the Unreal Tournament games (excluding 2003), the Homeworld RTS series, the Half-Life games, Myst games, and (last but DEFINITELY not least) the Deus Ex series.

17. Has a video game ever made you cry?

Not really. Anachronox came close, but I haven't yet come across a PC game whose characters were deep enough to touch me emotionally. I daresay that a PlayStation RPG may just do it, though.

18. Has a video game character annoyed you so much that you wanted him removed from the game?

Shinitama from Oni. GAAAAH!!!

19. Do you "pair" or "ship" characters up with one another? (make/create/write romance involving them)

-_- Um... No.

20. Do you write video game fanfiction?

No. My own stories are better . I have seen some rather good fanfiction, such as 's Homeworld stories.

21. Do you draw video game fanart?

Well, I can't really draw, but if I could I don't think so. I prefer designing my own characters.

22. Do you come up with theories on how a character came to be/what he or she would do in a situation/why he or she is moody/etc.

Of course. That's part of enjoying any story, regardless of medium.

23.... ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/9076148/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/9076148/ Thu, 15 Jun 2006 11:07:30 PDT this ancient journal entry.

*Ahem*

"The Gun Katas."

"Through analysis of hundreds of recorded gun battles the Cleric has determined that the geometric distibution of antagonists in any armed confrontation is a statistically predictable factor."

"The Gun Kata treats the gun as a total weapon, with each fluid motion representing a maximum kill zone, allowing the user to inflict the maximum amount of damage to the maximum number of enemies while remaining clear of the statistically traditional trajectories of incoming fire"

The net result? The main character,with nothing but two stylish machine-pistols, can wipe out an entire room of heavily-armed enemies while pulling of fancy martial-arts style poses, and not get hit by a single bullet. Impossible? Absolutely. Implausible? Not with the kind of explanation they provide. I consider my point made once again. ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/8891706/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/8891706/ Sat, 27 May 2006 10:15:06 PDT

< Insert ranting about Charybdis here. Lament over how long it took to write and how glad I am that it’s finally up. Mention that Part 2 is in the works, and insert regular complaints about how useless a writer I am, etc, blah, yammer, moan. . Insert interesting snippet about including cover art for the first time. >

< Insert short piece about how, in creating aforementioned cover art, I rediscovered my high-school love for (and surprising ability to create) pre-rendered 3D models here. Reveal how each subsequent part of Charybdis will have fresh cover art IN 3D with occasional contributions from the Squid. (Remember to hyperlink to the Squid’s site)>

< Um…. I’m not quite sure what to put here… Perhaps insert links to good webcomics here. Perhaps Megatokyo and Applegeeks . Yes. That seems a good way to both fill up the ol’ journal and impart joy to readers at the same time! Wow, this is going well! >

< Note upcoming 21st birthday but tactfully neglect to mention anything else other than it hasn’t happened yet. Demand hefty contributions and a new computer under threat of death. (NB: don’t forget to give deposit and/or delivery details!!!!). Insert brave statement about planning to act like a complete idiot while still sober, simultaneously confusing and thwarting everybody who plans to secretly pour vodka into my Mountain Dew. (Laugh evilly at this point. Perhaps insert a emoticon for effect ) >

*Laughs evilly* .


< Close off journal. Insert some arbitrary closing comment or observation here, perhaps about that game you’re playing or that book you’re reading. Anything that winds things down.>

< Skip a couple of lines for effect. >




<Write on! goes here. >




> ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/8404693/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/8404693/ Sat, 08 Apr 2006 04:43:13 PDT * Welcome to Gazza’s essay-in-a-journal-entry emporium. At this point I invite all who frown upon or don’t necessarily care about video games to point their browsers to another page. No hard feelings, and consider yourselves properly warned… *

Now that the rabble are taken care of, to business! This is a letter that I sent to the Editor of my favourite video games magazine, and I think I owe it to those who (should it ever be published) can’t read it to post it here as well.


Dear Ed,

Amazingly, over the past few months I have managed to complete several (well, two ) of what are considered top gaming titles. The culprits in question are F.E.A.R and Half-life 2, with the Source Engine version of Half-life following hot on their heels. Now remember, these games are supposed to be the cream of the crop, the highest of the high in terms of gaming goodness, and for all intents and purposes I thoroughly enjoyed playing them, while I was playing them. “While I was playing them”? Yes, I enjoyed the gameplay, but with both games I was left with a strange, empty feeling once the final credits had rolled. A feeling that I’d been short-changed somehow, even though gameplay-wise both were unlike anything I had played before. I’ve been thinking (miracles never cease) and I think that I’ve discovered why I feel so disappointed.

I’ve found that Half-life, its sequel, and F.E.A.R all have a common factor – they are all based on a superb, original premise, but never really do justice to it plot-wise. Take Half-Life 2, for instance. Valve creates a vibrant, detailed, and frighteningly realistic representation of a world under an all-powerful alien race, but never once builds on it beyond “you have to save everyone”. It introduces gorgeously detailed and realistic characters, but you never get to know them beyond the level of “Alex doesn’t like Judith and has a thing for machines”, or “Barney was at Black Mesa with you”. Net result – you have an intricately detailed game world and potentially interesting characters with personality and charm, but these never do anything but give you an excuse to move from one location to another in order to shoot things. It’s shallow, and a waste of a good concept.
This isn’t limited to first-person-shooters either (and remember, these are shooters that were praised by many for their storylines). My sister recently finished the popular RPG Neverwinter Nights. Same thing – while the plot was certainly deeper than many other games, it still existed solely to send you carving through endless hordes of monsters (although the henchman subplots were excellent). And CRPG’s are supposed to be the cream of gaming experience? I spit on them! *spit*

“Now hold on Gaz,” you may be saying. “These are video games here. Can you really expect them to have the same intricate storylines that one would find in a good book or movie?” I’ll answer that for you. You are absolutely right. Why? Because in these games the story is limited by the play dynamic.

Huh?

I believe that most developers look at games as follows. If your game involves running around and shooting things, your setting and plot have to be conductive to the player running around and shooting things. If your game involves hacking at endless swarms of creatures to gain experience in order to hack at endless swarms of even more powerful creatures, then your storyline has to put the player in a position to do that. In essence, if you base your story on your intended game mechanics, your story is limited to supporting them. It doesn’t matter how detailed your setting is, or how much concept art, dialog scripting or kick-butt character modelling you have – all of these become subordinate to the play dynamic, and therefore become as shallow and limited as that dynamic. Essentially, it would be better if the story weren’t there at all.

But what about games like Fahrenheit or Deus Ex? The difference is obvious: these are games that are story-based. The better adventure games of old were prime examples of this story-based approach, and I personally consider some of these to be on par with the cream of books and movies.
These games have strong play dynamics of course, (otherwise you might as well watch a movie) but they are mainly guided and supported by the game’s plot. In Deus Ex, for example, you are where you are, running around and shooting things because THE STORY dictates you are , not because shooting things is the point of the game (and a... ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/8260555/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/8260555/ Fri, 24 Mar 2006 23:21:54 PST .

I really wanted to post another philosophical and thought-inspiring journal about how the complexity of stories in video games seems to be limited by the basic play dynamics of the game in question (based on my experiences with Half-Life 2, F.E.A.R., and pretty much every game I’ve played lately), but sadly I’m not really up to it right now . If you have any idea what I might have been talking about in that previous sentence, feel free to start up a discussion thread in the journal comments, and we can duke it out that way.


For those who care, Charybdis is going…. Well, it’s going . While I have written considerably more than the measly intro sequence that I recently posted, the first part is still seemingly six eternities from completion. It’s weird: I have the main plot flow all mapped out in my head, but for some reason it isn’t flowing onto the keyboard with the ease I expected. I guess that solid planning alone does not an easily-written story make after all! Meh, I’ll keep slogging at it, and I’ll finish it eventually (maybe when my engineer’s brain finally takes a break and lets the artist in again)



Well, that’s it! An uninspiring end to my most uninspiring journal to date Applaud if you must.

Write On!


( :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: )






What? Are you STILL reading? I can’t imagine why. I just said that I had nothing more to write about! To quote Rise of the Triad: Are you lazy or illiterate? ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/7728048/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/7728048/ Fri, 27 Jan 2006 23:20:56 PST
Well, it’s a month into the New Year, and by now everyone will have recovered from the overeating, overdrinking (although some would argue that you can never “overdrink”) and overspending that is the mainstay of the Festive Season. I’m quite glad to say that none of these things occurred to me. Three simple reasons– 1: My just-past-teenage metabolism is so fast that it converts food to energy before I have a chance to swallow it, 2: I don’t drink (See [link] to learn the possible downfalls of this) and, finally, 3: Because I’m quite the scrooge when it comes to my limited fundage. Anyhow, by now people will have finished readjusting to their miserable everyday lives at work/school/college/university/prison/wherever.

Ah yes… Work… With a new job comes new responsibilities, and that has left very little time for my writing lately as I adjust to corporate life. Don’t get the wrong idea - I’m enjoying my new job. It’s nice to actually apply what I’ve learned over the past two years to real-life problems instead of doing carefully crafted academic case studies where the only real answer is the one the lecturer is looking for. It’s fulfilling, but it leaves little room for writing anything but reports for the boss.

<> Yes, writing… *sigh*. I’m starting to wonder whether I actually can write fiction, or if my past work was just some mystical fluke triggered by signing up to DevArt. Those who have read the preamble will know that I’m far from happy with my latest work, The Stargazer. I wonder if anyone else gets a horrible, sinking feeling when posting something that is obviously substandard, but I certainly do. I realize that a writer can’t be expected to write good stuff ALL the time (the law of averages holds for everything), but I can’t help but feel disappointed at how the story came out. I’m beginning to wonder if perhaps deletion from DevArt is in order, but I’ll give it another couple of months to get everyone’s opinions on it. After all, I’m often (if not always) surprised at the positive reactions to work that I find worthless, and since I write because I want people to enjoy my work, it’s the reader’s opinion that finally counts. >

But I can’t mope forever, so regardless of this miserable failure I’ve chosen to attempt (note: attempt) redemption through yet another story. Charybdis (working title) is currently in early planning, and will hopefully turn out semi-decent. I’m aiming to plan this one VERY elaborately. No hacking, no barely adequate planning, no fuzzy plot flows that I make up mostly as I write. I want to have a clean, clear story plan fully established before I begin. What I already know, though, is that this one will definitely be a multi-parter, spanning from three to four posts, if not five. I’m trying to construct a very elaborate and detailed world (a-la the Fifth Element) and a butt-kicking plot full of the characteristic Gazza-N twists, turns, intrigue and kick-awesome technology. I’m trying to go for an epic action movie feel in this story. We’ll see if I manage to pull it off. Either way, this one will take some time, that’s for sure. Hopefully I can hack out Part One by the end of February and you can tell me whether I succeeded or not.

That’s enough ranting for now. I have to finish Deus Ex: Invisible War for the second time, and I’m three out of four multiple endings down. Now, where did I put my rocket launcher?

Oh, and if you’ve made it this far into this journal, congratulations for not hemorrhaging yet .

*sinister silence*

<_<

>_>

Uh… Hello?


Writest thou on! ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/7397281/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/7397281/ Fri, 23 Dec 2005 22:55:11 PST

The past few weeks have been, in a word, hectic. My writing has fallen to the wayside with many other distractions occupying my attention. That, and I have a tragic case of writer’s block. I have been working pretty sporadically over the past couple of weeks on my latest short, The Stargazer (thanks to for the title! ) but although I’m happy with the premise that I’ve come up with, I just can’t seem to coalesce that blobby concept in my head into a good, gripping piece of prose. I am now two pages or so down (10 point font) in my story and have decided to scrap the whole thing and rewrite it from scratch.
I won't rant on about it any further - everyone knows about the dreaded BLOCK. So on the off chance you masochists actually want a new story from me, my apologies for not having a new piece up for Christmas – perfectionism sux0rz . I’m hoping that the rewrite comes out better than my pathetic first attempt, provided that Santa doesn’t spoil me with more video games and anime to sap my time away. Then you’ll have to wait a good couple of months! No, seriously, I’m off work for the next week or so, so I’ll be able to pour a little more time into Stargazer and hopefully have it up for New Year’s. Stay tuned.

Otherwise, a Merry Christmas to all who dare to read my work. It’s because of your attention and comments that I’ve churned out more writing in the past three months then I have in my entire life. As an act of gratitude, if Santa happens to be a miser this year and doesn’t get you what you ask for, I promise to send a tac-nuke his way on the 26th…

A Very Merry Write On! HO HO HOOOOOOOO!!! ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/7140152/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/7140152/ Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:14:19 PST ), and my favourite: thunderstorms. As the warm moist air from the East Coast is blown over the Drakensburg mountain range, it rises and cools over the central plateau (or “highveld”) where I live, causing thunderstorms that wouldn’t be out of place in the Apocalypse. In my household, when we hear one of these rumbling monsters steadily approaching our city from the East, there’s a wild rush to unplug all volatile electronic equipment, especially the two computers. Sure, we have anti-surge equipment, but better safe than sorry, right?

So imagine my utter horror when at about 3am last Saturday morning I was shocked awake by the unmistakable crack of a nearby lightning strike. I reached for my bedside lamp, flicked the switch and… nothing. Immediately I attempted to unplug my computer in the dark, with success. Then I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep, this time without success.
The next morning it turned out that the strike had tripped our earth leakage, saving our electronics from a grisly fate, but also (obviously) knocking out the lights and causing undue panic. I sighed in relief when my PC booted up fine.
I thought the worst was over, until on Sunday afternoon the leakage switch tripped again for no apparent reason. I flicked it up, and walked back into my bedroom to return to my studying, except my room was now filled with the unmistakable smell of burning insulation…

A panicked search for the source of the smell followed, and needless to say it was coming from my beloved PC. Nothing cataclysmic, fortunately. My computer’s power supply had popped (while the computer was off!), thankfully without any damage to the other components. All the plugging in and out, as well as the overheating when it was in the old case, had pretty much taken its toll. I find this ironic because the very reason that I bought my new case was to prevent the power supply from self-destructing on me, and that the very preventative measures I was taking were in fact what led to its final demise. Just shows that the Universe is laughing at us all the time…
Anywho, here I sit with a R230 hole in my wallet (about US$35) and a new, bigger, power supply. I’m also considering a UPS, or one of those awesome-yet-expensive surge-resistant multiplugs. *Sigh* A computer geek’s work is never done, and his bank account is never full.

On a happier note, my exams are nearing their completion, which means more time to waste playing video games! Oh, and writing… Whoops…

On a related note, as I approach my 100th pageview (I have no idea who these people are or what they do when they’re here) my dear sister (and DevArt veteran) has informed me that I’m required to do something called a “kiriban” to celebrate.
So here’s what I’ll do. I would appreciate it if those of you who care would submit a workable title for a short story to me, and I’ll see what I can whip up from the title alone. This isn’t compulsory, but I’d like to test my creative skills. And if nobody submits anything, no offense taken. You’ll just have to suffer through more of my writing anyway! I have a new story that should be up, if not by the time you read this, then very soon afterwards.

Finally, I’d like to welcome to my list of watchers and “watchees” (poor man… ). He’s relatively new to DevArt and his work (like that of all my watchers) is superb, though sadly overlooked. Give him your support. He has an excellent imagination, and it’s worth it, I can promise you that!

Now let’s just hope that this new power supply holds up be... ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/7017195/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/7017195/ Fri, 11 Nov 2005 09:59:19 PST

Anyway, to turn my thoughts from foul affairs such as the exams (*shudder*), I thought I’d write something semi-intelligent for my private rant-box here on DevArt. Now it may be a long entry, but enjoy it while it lasts! It’ll be a long time until I write a new one!

I’ve been reading a little book that I picked up late last year for R15 (that’s two or three American dollars, for you non-South Africans). It’s called Dear Writer and was written sometime in the late 80’s / early 90’s by Carmel Bird, some Australian writer that I’ve never heard of before . In the book she writes several letters to critique an imaginary writer who sends their work to her for consideration, covering such things as plot, overwriting, style, and all those little things that writers really should know when writing their prose. I generally agree with what she says, with the possible exception of her aversion to - horror of digital horrors - “computer word processors” (She believes that a writer cannot put their soul into their first draft unless their “hand, mind and pen are engaged in it”. Heaven only knows how I and countless others manage.)

A very good point that she makes, however, is that writers should attempt to write from their own experiences and knowledge. It gives soul to the prose, and allows you to create a story with depth and (most importantly) credibility. For example, you only need to have seen the Matrix movies to know that the Wachowski brothers have never had girlfriends – the Trinity/Neo thing was so plastic and contrived that it was embarrassing. But I digress…

Now for the interesting part. From what I’ve read, her advice seems predominantly concerned with what I call “realist prose”, i.e. romance novels, war stories and mystery stories. Now where does this leave science fiction and fantasy writers? To my knowledge, I’ve never been a planet, or a Scavenger Hunter on a starliner, nor was I brought up by remote control for a mysterious experiment. Robert A. Heinlein was never involved in an interstellar war against massive insects, and somehow I doubt that Tolkien went traipsing around chucking rings into volcanoes in his spare time. What fantastical experiences do we have to base our work on? How, on Carmel Bird’s terms, do we get credibility into our stories?

It’s simple. We use the writer’s (and Barney the Dinosaur’s ) number one tool – our imaginations. It is my belief that the most creative, imaginative, dedicated and talented writers happen to be those who write sci-fi and fantasy (although this isn’t always the case). Why? Well, in sci-fi and fantasy, every little detail has to be well thought out before it can be introduced to a story. If I have a starship travelling faster than light or an interstellar war, then I’d better have a really good reason why it can happen, or else the entire concept falls apart at the seams. I appreciate that this holds true for “realist prose” as well, but remember that the folks who write that sort of thing are both limited and supported by certain aspects of reality. Sci-fi/fantasy folks create realities and the rules that govern them.
Of course with great power comes great responsibility, and it’s up to the writers to clearly and effectively communicate their ideas to the reader. This, IMHO, requires more skill and imagination than Wilbur Smith, Tom Clancy, or Madame Bird could ever muster. Conversely, this also demands a lot more from the readers, and perhaps that’s why many people seem to dismiss fantasy and sci-fi as childish and/or overcomplicated.

Hey, whatever. To each his own, and if they chose to miss out on The Matrix or Lord of the Rings that’s their own loss. Nobody’s perfect

Now that I’ve insulted every Tom Clancy and Wilbur Smith fan on the planet, I think that I’d better move on. My sincere and eternal thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read and comment on my work (you know who you are), and giving me a little confidence in my abilities. Now you only have yourselves to blame when the nuclear warheads fall in protest!

In... ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/6931630/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/6931630/ Wed, 02 Nov 2005 01:08:02 PST
Tragic, yes, but why am I making such a big deal about an otherwise simple task? Well, it seems that computer case manufacturers still haven't bothered to design a case that (a) doesn't have sharp internal framework that shreds your hands into confetti, (b) allows you to get at the more difficult components without ripping half the case apart in the process and (c) actually fits together properly once you've taken it apart to achieve (b), thereby subjecting your hands to the rigours of (a). I hate computers as much as I love them. The PC freaks out there will know exactly what I mean.

Oh yes! I'm supposed to be writing, aren't I? Well, with exams coming up, the only writing I'm going to be doing is in an exam hall, which doesn't necessarily mean that I won't be writing pure fiction . Part I of the now two-part Scavenger Hunt is almost complete, so if through some quirk of the cosmos you're actually holding your collective breaths for it, try not to asphyxiate just yet. I'm aiming to finish it just before the exam rush, so it may even be up by the time you read this, depending on the amount of sleepless nights I put in.

You have lives too, so I'll stop now. I've actually had someone comment on my work! (Thanks, ). For the rest of you, don't be a stranger, even if the stuff sucks, I'd still like to know.

Now I'll really stop. Stay alive and WRITE ON! ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/6827001/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/6827001/ Fri, 21 Oct 2005 10:52:58 PDT
Well, I'm happy to see that people are reading my sad attempts at prose, and even happier that I've met some other writers (DECENT writers!) at this end of the 'net. Hopefully the numbers will grow, and I can have my own virtual fan club. Or hate club...

Writing is tough right now because of exams, assignments and generally sucky stuff, but I'm currently working on a "long short", Scavenger Hunt. Still deciding whether I should post it bit by bit or in its entirety. The problem isn't the story - I have that mapped out to the end - but actually writing the blasted thing is taking forever, even longer because I end up editing it every time I write a new paragraph. *Sigh* Such is the price of perfection...

Expect Scavenger Hunt up soon. Until then, keep the peace and WRITE ON! ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/6641711/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/6641711/ Sun, 16 Oct 2005 00:07:01 PDT
Two Sci Fi deviations have now been posted: Human and Infested Traveller. So now I can submit myself to the firing squad that is DeviantArt, and hope that I come out unscathed


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Behold! My first Deviation is complete! Shudder, worms, before 73h M4574 0F PR053!
Well, not really... It just sounds impressive XD

My site ID thingy says I'm a Sci- Fi writer and I am, sort of. The problem is that a really good piece of Sci-fi is quite challenging to write, for me at least. What can I say, I'm a perfectionist ... Stay tuned, I'll have my first proper prose up soon. Until then, enjoy this first deviation.

My first deviation isn't Sci fi at all, but an attempt at the kind of arty, high-flown prose that poets and overly abstract people love. This is for personal reasons - the first time one of my high school teachers ever praised my prose was for a piece just like this one.

When I wrote that piece I was convinced that it was the purest of cheese (just like I consider this one cheese, to be honest), but imagine my surprise when I got a great score for it, and the comment "ever considered writing a novel?". More surprise when my next creative essay also got a good score, and got read to the other teachers...

My point - if you hate my work, blame my tenth grade English teacher. I'd send you her address if I knew it, but even if I did I'd like to save her the orbital laser and ICBM attacks.

Me, I think I have a lot of work to do before I can be considered even a halfway decent writer. That's where you lot come in. My sister is an anime artist, and watching the way her work has improved since joining DevArt leads me to believe that it can do the same for my writing. Actually, S1s (she's my S1s-ter. :ROFL: ) is the one who suggested I join in the first place.

My point - if you hate my work, direct your flames and hate mail here, for great justice ---->

That's if anyone actually reads it . ]]> ~Gazza-N http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/6633233/ http://Gazza-N.deviantart.com/journal/6633233/ Thu, 29 Sep 2005 10:53:47 PDT
No deviations for now, but I'm working on some stuff that'll hopefully impress (Or annoy) you. Stay tuned for good things... ]]> ~Gazza-N