http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:Smaz&section=today deviantART RSS for by:Smaz en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:03:12 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/28566808/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/28566808/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:31:47 PST
A Bit of Winter, A Bit of Work

So, December has hit and so has the icy storm weather from the sea. Falmouth has been engulfed with torrential wind that somehow hasn't become crystalised snow in the chilling gales. With this, essay questions have been plopped upon us like pouring Rice Krispies into a bowl with refridgerated milk. No sugar. So, I probably should get started on some of those, given I've finally seen the porn lecture I wanted to see for my topic of discussion. That's right, we endured a porn lecture. Enough on that, though. Also, I received my results back for my first assessed piece, today (of the academic year, that is), which was a review. It was pretty shocking. Hooray for ticks in the A- realm and ticks in the F realm. It was extremely mixed (it was still okay, though - a 2:2, but would have been a 2:1 had it not been for the F ticks - mostly because the text reviewed was but a mere few years out of the date they wanted, without me realising). So that's sort of depressed me, a bit.

Biorhythm

I started writing my new book towards the end of summer and didn't get a whole lot done, then. Well, I still haven't written a whole lot, but it's definitely a much more refined process than Sea of Seals was. I look back on that book with fondness, but also with the mind that I've progressed so much since writing it. I hope to publish Biorhythm when it's done. It will take a while, since I have to juggle it in between all of my other pieces of work as well as particular other commitments, but at the same time not skimping out on it or rushing anything. I won't say much about it, yet, since it's only a few chapters complete, but I will say it's an adventure story with a few twists - just how I like to write my novels.

Crash Mania TV (CMTV)

Bandicootmask, from the Crash Bandicoot website Crash Mania, has built his own claymation show in which depicts members of the forum in a sort of variety-show format. We all voice our own voices, minus a few members in the show, as well as host our own small segments, such as News with Kyle, Art of the Polyrhythm and History Mask. It laps up current events of the Crash world and the forum, placing them into a show which has a very 'fun' vibe to it. It's only had two episodes, thus far, but I've voiced for the third episode and Christmas Special and they're increasing in quality every time. You'll notice that when you watch episode 2, though, in comparison to the first. Each episode is of proper length and split into three parts because YouTube is annoying like that. I advise you guys check it out at the CMTV channel:

[link]

Gomu Gomu no End

Right. Nothing much else to say. I'll be heading home for Christmas on, most likely, the 12th of December. Failing that, it will be the 14th (Monday), which is unusual, but we'll have to see. In the meantime, the Black Wolf Pirates have plans to show up at the May MCM expo of next year - a way off, but something I'm really looking forward to.

If I had a Devil's Fruit, it would be the Inu Inu no Mi: Model Oukami.

Ta-Ta, for now!

~ Smaz/Edgar.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/27775231/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/27775231/ Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:10:26 PDT
House of Feck

I've moved into my new house for the next two years, whilst on my course, and I have to say I've been enjoying it a heck of a lot. There's just something that feels so family-driven between all five of us, which I never had in my house at home for the past 18 years or so. I guess friends really are the family we make for ourselves. We even have family meals and sit around a table, which is really nice. I can't say our land lady has been particularly great, though; the want to charge us for just about everything is getting irritable, let alone having to wait three additional weeks for the internet thanks to her meddling. So yes, I've had a lot of trouble getting online, for those who read my journals. I apologise, now. It also means I haven't been at Crash Mania, which saddens me. The times I can get online has been subjected to my course and checking my E-Mails (or Facebook, but again that's more for course-related situations and communication from other important things).

Kung-Fu Writing

FECCLES (Feck) the name of our Drama Society has also been keeping me busy with writings for an additional pantomime prequel, Valentine's Day scripts and Monologue scripting. That's proved to be a lot when added to my actual Uni class work that must be read/written. Still, Love, Actually eat your heart out... and then bleed to death, our Valentine's Day stuff is shaping up quite nicely. All we need, now, are some actual happy scripts from other people. xD

I've also been writing a lot for a particular comedy animation series that Izzy and I have planned. College Days is the random stories of various students in their days at College, evidently. They really are random. The teachers are characters in themselves and it's been a lot of fun to write, thus far. There are only a few main characters, but the secondary characters are in nice supply, too. Look out for that one.

END GAME

That's it, from me. Nothing else has happened. Maybe a bit of Dissidia and... that's about it. So I'll see you all around, soon, with any luck. This is Smaz, signing out.

-Edgar/Smaz.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/27295261/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/27295261/ Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:03:30 PDT
Crash Mania competition winners

So, Crash Mania had a contest, recently. The prize? An actual Crash Bandicoot crate, Wiimote with customisable Crash stickers, Crash: Mind Over Mutant for the 360 and other shizzle. Second place and third place prizes were available, too. I just wish to congratulate the winners of the competition with their awesome pictures which can be found here: [link]

ALcon

I won't linger too much on this, but I went to the Anime League Convention a couple of weeks back. It was pretty fun and many activities were held all about. Some of the talk panels were absolutely awesome, though, ranging from Little Kuriboh (sp?) of Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged, fursuit making, video game concept artwork (from an artist who worked on Sudeki) and much more. Anime was being shown throughout the day and besides seeing 'The Girl Who Lept Through Time', which I rate you see, 'Dead Leaves' is worth a mention for its hilarity and unique artistic style. Both are anime movies.

I think, overall, ALcon was fun but underwhelming in comparison to something like the MCM Expo, for whatever reason. I did like how ALcon had a lot of events going on all around, which is something the MCM Expo just doesn't have (like the Video Gaming room in which I was able to have a lot of fun on 'One Piece: Unlimited Cruise' for the Wii in VS. mode... Gear Second Luffy is pretty fun to play as), though. It was also quite costly with accommodation costs and a lot of additional charges here and there, so I don't think I'll go next year. I still rate it if you want a smaller and more intimate anime experience, however! Leceister was one of the Unis I wanted to go to (second choice to Falmouth, in actual fact), as well, which was were Alcon was held.

I managed to obtain a little Zidane figure from Final Fantasy IX (in his Dissidia form), which made me happy, too. ^w^

Dissidia

Speaking of Dissidia: Final Fantasy, I finally obtained it, thanks to Itami/Lewis! I have been waiting for that game for a good 9 months since hearing about its release in Japan, last December. Every Final Fantasy's protagonist and antagonist all unite to fight in a DBZ: Budokai Tenkaichi-esque fighter of fanboy proportions. Sometimes the main villain from a particular Final Fantasy is replaced by a different main one from the same game, depending on the hero character... such as Jecht being Final Fantasy X's representative, despite you could argue the case the Maester Seymore is the real villain (and likewise with FFIV, Golbez was chosen over Zemus).

I only just completed the story mode, last night, and I must say thia game is amazing for a PSP game. Chaos was a tough final boss, too. I've found myself strangely addicted to it whilst waiting for trains at the station or when I want to keep my mind off of the financial trouble I'm in, right now (when I have money, I will pay my friend back, but right now I don't have that). Zidane is definitely my favourite character in the game, despite thinking it would be Kefka. Also, Emperor Mateus surprised me. Despite not knowing much about Final Fantasy II, he ended up being quite a main villain in the game's story and he's one of my more regular characters to play as, so I'm thinking that I really should try out Final Fantasy II at some point. You can also play against a friend... my best match was defintely Exdeath vs. Exdeath, which involved a lot of hilarity. I think Lewis has recorded a... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/26293433/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/26293433/ Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:47:33 PDT
First thing's first, I'm skint. That's the say, the Uni has taken everything I have (and more) to pay for the expensive accommodation fees from last term. There goes my overdraft and money to buy Uni books with... and food... and money to even get back to Uni, in September (not to mention the first week's payment of the new house I'll be living in). So, I am calling on some help. *Points at you all* Uncle Edgar needs YOU! But what do I mean?

Commissions

I'm talking commissions, sheeple. It's the only thing I can do, right now, whilst waiting on information about particular jobs (which, by the way, I'm also in a bit of a pickle with, since most want ID and my passport is expired... AND in my old name, so that's bad. It costs £75 to get a new one and oh look - I don't have the money)! I'm primarily a writer, as you all may know from my Uni course, but I can do traditional work, too. So please, please, please let me know if there is anything you want me to do for moneys. I could really do with it, right now.

What I will do for what price

Poetry: £5
Short prose: £5
Long prose: £8
A flippin' short book: £10

Traditional medium character (specify pose): £5
Traiditonal medium landscape (chalk pastel/watercolour/graphite): £10
Traiditonal medium something else £7

Any questions? Please let me know. If you want said things actually sent to you in ze mail, it will cost ze extraz. Probably £2 or something.

ALcon

Now that the important is out of the way, it's time to divulge in ALcon stuff. I paid for this a while back, before this situation happened, so I can't back away from it, now. I'll be accompanying a friend to the Anime League Convention. Whilst we're in the pirate clan, he's gone for a more... ninja based attire. Me, with not enough money to do anything else, costume-wise and not wanting to go as Lucci, again, am forced to go as a generic pirate. Yay. That being said, I do have my beloved pirate jacket and many additional pirate accessories from past Uni events to make use of, so at least I already have something.

One thing I'd love to do, but don't have said equipment, is to film stuff from the ALcon event. My friend Izzy (Dark Koel), was going to do said things, but due to an extraordinary amount of luck on his part, he's won a Paramount Pictures trip to America during the ALcon date, so he won't be attending with us. It seems like a darn shame to have any filming opportunties go to waste, so I would like to try and get something.

Final Fantasy

Guess what comes out next month? At long last, Final Fantasy Dissidia will hit us with voices and menus we can understand! It's been out since December in Japan and it's my most anticipated game of the year, thanks to there being no Crash Bandicoot game until at least 2010. Basically, Final Fantasy Dissidia celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Final Fantasy series by pitting the main heroes and villains of the numbered titles up to FFXII against each other in a Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi style. That means open, destructable areanas from the Final Fantasy games and special attacks and transformations from lots of characters. I'm getting a bit sick of Squall vs. Cloud YouTube videos, though. I'm eager to try out Kefka.

Speaking of Final Fantasy, the monopoly game Final Fantopoly is finally complete! Give or take a few aesthetic touches, anyway. With some Trading Arts mini figures (Rosa, Tifa, Ashe, Auron, Zidane and Squall), lots of coloured Gil and some nasty cards, it's actually pretty fun. Moogle Village (FFV) has definitely become the one place everyone tries to get first, since somehow we always land on the bugger (it's the square just before the jail one, on our board... only our jail is KO'd!). I'll try and get some pictures, somehow, and upload them.

That's It

Yup. That's about it for my update. Please help me out, guys! Other things, right now, are secret. There's a film project called 'Eternal' which I'll show you all when its complete, where three guys are out for a crystal which grants eternal life, as well as another project which will take a long time to get going, so it's not worth mentioning, yet.

Let me know how you're all doing! Smaz over and out.

- Edgar/Smaz.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/25810174/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/25810174/ Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:55:10 PDT
MCM EXPO

The May MCM Expo went very well, despite busting an incredible amount just getting down there and spending the weekend there... not forgetting what I did actually purchase. I did spot the Portrait of Pirates Lucci figure there, which I've been wanting, but it was too expensive for my funds due to how much I spent beforehand. Still, it was an awesome expo full of actual One Piece cosplayers of fun (previous expos seemed to have little to none, in comparison) and less Naruto cosplayers than usual (although just as many Bleach). Besides purchasing a mini Mr. Popo, thanks to DBZ: Abridged, I managed to find myself on the new One Piece Wii game: Unlimited Cruise (1) for a nice amount of time, beating up enemies with the Gum Gum Gattling and in particular Bartholomew Kuma with a bit of irritation. I love how you can play as any of the Strawhat pirates up to the end of the Thriller Bark arc and level them up to learn new skills. Just makes me want a Wii even more, really. I also saw some really awesome Final Fantasy IX cosplays, there, in particular a couple of Kujas. I think a Trance Kuja ended up winning one of the cosplay masquerades, too.

University

I've finished University for the year, now... so that's one year down! I passed, of course, with a high 2:1, which everyone seemed to have also obtained (a B grade, really). I'm kind of annoyed, since my first semester (half of the year) work was mediocre despite my toughest efforts, yet my second semester work was pretty good, even though the effort was about the same. I think it honestly depends on who's marking, just like what happened with my A2 Level English papers. The comparison of grade I received on one paper after paying to have it remarked was pretty phenominal. I'm going to miss the gals I'll be living with for this Sepetember coming and next year, though. Sure, I felt a little left out of their activities towards the end of the year, but it doesn't mean I'll miss them. The house goes by the title 'House of Feck' after our FECCLES drama group and almost all of us being in that group. I have a nice list of books to buy for this term, coming, but I can't do so until I actually obtain a job for the summer. Easier said than done, as always. I'm also far behind on my last term accommodation payment, since it was too expensive for my loan in the first place. I don't know how that will play out, right now...

End and Final Fantopoly

That's about it from me. I'm back for the summer, now, and I've been bouncing back and fourth between my friends, planning on finishing our film project 'Eternal' and a Monopoly set with Final Fantasy attributes in. 'Final Fantopoly' has been coming along well... we managed to print out GIL notes, the deed cards which include Baron, Midgar, Luca and more, and right now we are sorting out the stuff for the board. At least we managed to purchase a cheap but mint condition Monopoly set to customise from a good ol' British Car Boot Sale. See you guys in the near future! Maybe then I'll actually upload something else. xD

- Edgar/Smaz.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/25068658/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/25068658/ Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:58:52 PDT
I Say, Essays

May was a time of epic essaying. I apologise for having not been on the forums and such, in particular Crash Mania, recently. I literally was swarming around the work I had to complete. One was based on public law and private desire in Hamlet, which gave me more than enough trouble and torment in locating sources and trying to foundate my points with said evidence. Another essay was on the dull book 'Light' by Eva Figes. There were many other pieces, including one large creative piece that I have already uploaded on here, but they've really kept me busy.

MCM London Edexcel Anime Expo!

Then, on Wednesday, the essays were handed in and I had a more than satisfactory shlumph sleep-over with many other people on my course. I think it's safe to say that on that Wednesday evening and on the weekend following, I'd been the happiest I had been in a long time. That weekend, of course, was the MCM London convention for anime and media alike. I did decide to go, in the end, after a lot of worries in the September one (being the only one off of Uni time) not going through, anymore. My University is in Falmouth. It is a lengthy journal and not exactly a cheap one, either, meaning I made a lot of financial sacrifice for that one... but it was worth it! Not having enough time to gather the Crocodile outfit I wanted, I simply donned what I wore at the last convention - Rob Lucci from One Piece, only this time slightly better (my eyebrows were done, a white rim around the top hat added and my pigeon secured better). I did think about wearing my hair down, this time, but when you actually look at Lucci from the series and manga, the only time he seems to wear his hair down is before he is revealed to be in CP9 and in one promotional picture of him. Every other time his hair is tied back (in which I studied and got the knot right).

The expo was excellent. This time we stayed for both days, rather than one. It was just awesome. We met some great people and this time there was a bit more variety in all anime cosplaying and items, rather than just Naruto and Bleach at every turn (I often think One Piece is forgotten about... it's the third most popular, right now, behind those two). I also became a bit too hooked on the One Piece game being demo'd there for the Wii. I had some great fun beating up Kuma. Everyone else was crowding arount the latest Narutimate Hero game, of which would have interested me... had I not had played Narutimate Hero 3 a good 3-4 years ago when it was released in Japan. We also managed to participate in the Super Smash Brothers Brawl tournament in which I was slaughtered. We had a few hotel scuffles, but nothing too major. One photo I would really love to get a hold of is from the professional guy who was there. That and a group one with the mass One Piece group and boat.

Other quirks included Monkey's costume falling apart by the second day, meaning he was no longer in costume.

Eternal and Reality Rift

In movie terms, Izzy, Lloyd and I are still filming the half an hour epic 'Eternal'... slowly. That's mostly thanks to me and only being able to return at the end of terms. We'll have it completed when I come back for the summer, but it's something I'm eager to work more on. I just love playing a crazy steampunk man with eternal life.

One major project of note, which we'll be focusing on even more after 'Eternal' is ye olde 'Cyber Master' film. Very old project of embarrassing improvisation. Terrible. Yet, the base story was okay and we all want to, well, work on a very old complete project again and make it something to be proud of. Thus, these last few days have seen me rewriting the whole thing, working closely with my friends Izzy and Lloyd, in order to make sure this new version of it is actually good and presentable. We're opting for filming the scenes of the new script and then animating based on those, in order for realistic movement and yet locations and other said things which are otherwise impossible. With our combined talents and strengths, it is very much possible. We have changed many things, one of which includes the title, itself - 'Reality Rift' which makes far more sense, as far as the story is concerned, as well not sounding like some kind of terrible cyber pr0n.

The Scouter Says It's... Time To Go.

That's it from me! Join me next time in Smaz's blog where I'll find One Piece... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/24269535/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/24269535/ Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:11:50 PDT
Sea of Seals published:

First thing's first, Sea of Seals has been published onto Lulu.com! So yes, you may have been wondering about the mass amounts of take-downs of the chapters on here, but not only are all of these chapters spruced up and edited for the final book, but also I can't have you reading it on here if it's up for purchase and been published properly! I'm only keeping the first chapter of every part up here, as a kind of preview. For the full thing, with title pages for each part, small pictures here and there and the final covers, click here:

[link]

Lulu isn't great with keeping cheap on the printing prices with any book on the site, it seems (since I only set the price to £5.00 a book) but downloading it seems to be much cheaper and at the price I intended it to be. It took flipping ages to format it to the right standards and actually find out what was wrong in every instance it went wrong.

EDIT: Sea of Seals has had some minor mistakes and some large mistakes corrected. I ordered the book and was so proud of seeing it in glossy covered full form. Good stuff. The preview really does fuzz the covers immensely. Also, on another note, I had the best evening I've ever had, at Uni, on Saturday night. I thank the House of Feck, I really do. Those are the girls I'll be living with next academic year. We have secured a house, whoop whoop!

May MCM Expo:
Second thing, with me unable to attend the cancelled September MCM convention, I'm trying to come to the May one. This all depends on what's going on with my course, though. With any luck, I will be able to come and spend a weekend of fun and anime dressing up with my friends. I'm trying as Crocodile from One Piece, but I have a feeling that I won't be able to gather everything in such a short amount of time, thanks to the shift. I'll try and get photos if I go, though, since I seriously lack those (as well as a camera).

If I don't obtain a costume in time, then it's back to going as Lucci, once more.

Dragonball and One Piece:

I haven't much else to update on. I should do a bit more Crash art or something, though, for uploading on here. I'm still plodding along with the Tenkaichi 3 version of my own Dragonball Z Saga, but heyo. Speaking of Dragonball, I went to see the movie Dragonball: Evolution, during the Easter break. It was nothing like I expected it to be, but I don't think it was terrible. Some of the action scenes were very good, even if they were far and few in terms of the fighting and some of the comedy was pretty entertaining. Gel slick! The problems with the movie arise in how it followed Hollywood cliches, seeming to overload it with almost every single one it could. Whilst one could look past this, I simply couldn't when Chi-Chi had severe amounts of unnecessary screentime and characters like Yamcha didn't, at all. So yes, Chi-Chi's romance is focused on a bit too much. I think if some of that was removed and had more Dragonball style fighting action, it would have levelled out, better. Still, the final scenes are the best in the film. It's worth a look if you want something a bit different from conventional Dragonabll. Evidently, second generation fans expecting a Dragonball Z film would have been utterly disappointed (which I know a lot of people expected).

Also, Dragonball Kai has started its release - Dragonball Z retold, with new intros, audio and filler material cut for the most part. It's pretty much a great way to start DBZ if you've never seen it, before. It seems to air, in Japan, right next to One Piece, too. One Piece has also gained a new intro, which has quickly become one of my favourite ones, if not just that. It's conventionally long, but I'd rather that to dragged out time during episodes like DBZ did, with stare-downs and long times of powering up. It's good! It even goes as far as showing scenes from the current point of the manga, which makes me wonder how far ahead the anime will get in such a short amount of time.

[link]

Signing out:

The final thing of note is the short movie my friends and I are filming called 'Eternal'. I won't say much on that, for now, but the filming over Easter went well. We won't be able to finish it until Summer comes along.

That's it from me! Smaz signing o... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/23845421/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/23845421/ Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:40:17 PDT
Home

Anyhow, I'm back home now! Easter end-of-term is here and I'm away from Uni. The journey back was full of inconveniences, like early-morning travel, changes and my actual train line being closed through the stations I needed to pass by (so I had to go on a different line and hop on a bus), but I'm back, now. The first thing I did was have a nice big ol' fun stay-over with some of my friends. One thing we discussed was drawing out some comic of fun, where one person draws a page, then one of us others draws out a page. We're allowed to make it serious, fun, whatever, since our page is our own, just as long as it continues whatever story forms. I thought it was a fun idea and would be interesting, stylistic-wise. So look out for that one, on here (it's about time I drew stuff properly, again).

Game Maker

With the finishing of Sea of Seals has also come my urge to work on Game Maker stuff, again. It will fall flat, since it always does, but I've had urges. A Smaz has his needs. So maybe I'll do stuff on Crash Mania Brawl, again, but don't hold your breath.

Crashies

On another note, I've been concerned for the Crash Bandicoot stuffs, recently. The information on a new game and such is delayed, it seems, this year. I've still got my eyes peeled for anything on the next game, though. I have a hunch Radical will be developing one for next year and we'll get another spin-off by another company in the meantime. We'll see what happens, I guess. Anyhow, I'm also worried a bit about the community people. Once upon a time there were lots of your guys on Deviant Art and cool members around, but now there's... well... next to none. You've all left me! Well, except JenL (whom I wish a good move to, by the way) and a few others.

YouTube

I've not been doing much else. I've been creating a Dragonball Z saga out of Tenkaichi 3 clips I've recorded, if that's of interest to anyone. There's not much else for me to do, now, and the first episode is complete (just have to upload it), so that will be up on YouTube shortly. I have a lot to upload to YouTube, actually, since I can't whilst I'm at Uni; Crash speedruns with Smaz narration and some other bits and bobs. With any luck, that Winter movie we never completed, too... Anyhow, The Demon Saga takes place between the Majin Buu Saga and GT, really. Following that is the West Galaxy Saga.

I hope to see more from you all, soon, nyu~! Smaz over and out.

- Smaz/Edgar.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/23232849/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/23232849/ Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:40:08 PST
February time in the world of Smaz. Beyond house-hunting failures and worries of a sudden large amount of reading for the restart of my Creative Writing course, I've written a lot of Sea of Seals, as you may have noticed, recently. My course had a nice little break as it restructured at the end of the semester, so I was able to focus on writing a lot of Sea of Seals, as with the start of the Christmas break, in order to attempt to complete it. Well, it worked! After such a very long time of writing, I have finally completed the story that is Sea of Seals. Never again will I write anything that long, I reckon. Well, I say that, but it might happen again at some point far into the future. I have a great sense of achievement about it. Next up (although not straight away): Steambeans!

Grades

I submitted Western Perspective, a short story version of Steambeans around a particular point in the story, on Deviant Art and as my Creative Writing piece for the University. My teacher liked its originality, but I guess he didn't like it, overall, since the story didn't score very high (about 58% out of 100). Oh well. Speaking of that, the rest of my grades were pretty shameful, but then a lot of people's were pretty bad. I guess University likes to mark things very harshly, right down to the point of telling me that the humourous pictures on my presentation slides were sickening to the subject and downright out of order. Urk! I was just trying to interject a little humour...

Crash Mania

There hasn't been much else going on with me. I miss everyone back at home, but what are you to do about that? Sorry for a little bit of absence on Crash Mania. The main reasons for that involve a bit of Sea of Seals work and other things related to life off of the computer. Still, I'll be back to moderate, soon. Venusy received moderator status, recently, which was great. He was definitely the best candidate for the choice and has been there in the times I haven't. Good on him. He deserves a cookied encrusted with smarties. I miss Polyrhythm on Crash Mania, too. It feels as though more and more of the better members are leaving. Please stay!

Birthday

It'll be my birthday, soon. Some day I'll obtain Crash WARPED original... someday... *hinthint* I wish I could spend it with everyone back home, though, since I know my flat won't be doing anything about it (Vera's and Callum's birthday went by, unnoticed and I only found out about them right at the end of both birth evenings). Pah! Enough of this sentimental nonsense! *spends it with his Nyuu* I wish Final Fantasy Dissidia was released, already. Watching those videos just makes me want it, more, but alas it's out in Japan and nowhere else, yet. I could import it, of course, being a PSP game, but I kind of want to understand everything.

Costumes

I've been trying to grab more and more Steampunk attire as I traverse University, ha. It's coming along well, really. Other costume-related stuff includes looking for Sir Crocodile stuff for the upcoming expos in September, since they're the only ones I can make given how far Uni is away from everything else. Crocodile is a character from One Piece. So far I found an exact replica of his coat going for dirt cheap in a vintage costume shop in Falmouth, and a nice large cigar for kicks. I'll need to create his hook from scratch, though. Papier Mache abilities will need to be taught to moi, since I haven't done so in a very, very long time. Any help on that is appreciated!

Valentine's Lee
I think that's about it. Valentine's Day went by pretty quick, watching everyone on campus squeeze up to their loved ones and all. *Squeezes up this his loved one* Nothing much else to say apart from the fact that an old friend, Lee, came down to Falmouth and surprised me. That was very random, but very cool. He even gave me the entire DBZ series on DVDS. How cool is that? Thanks for the birthday gift, Lee!

- Smaz.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/22708911/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/22708911/ Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:46:49 PST
Current Stuff

I met up with most of my friends over the Christmas break (to put it in perspective, I was out almost every day), which made up for what was actually the bad Christmas at home, really. My friends made the break worth-while. :3 Now I'm back at University and I feel a little downtrodden about that, since my friends aren't exactly here and I was greeted with a lot of nasty essay stuff to write, giving me many unslept nights. I'm still trying to fix my sleeping pattern, whilst weaving in and out of presentation preparation, which I need to give to the class on the Friday after I write this. So, my current life is a bit dull, to be fair. I enjoy coming online, in the evening, when my internet stick ACTUALLY lets me (seriously - that thing is a pain in the backside and seems to be getting worse), but without a proper timetable, at current, due to the semester change and presentation stuff, my days have been severely dull.

Future

My future sees me needing to locate a house, somewhere in Falmouth. THAT is something I am NOT looking forward to, since I tend to fail at all kind of things that involve searching (like jobs... and cooking). It would be better if I could obtain a place with some others. Initially, some from my drama group, and I, were going to obtain a place, together, but I'm not sure that's still happening, to be honest.

I'll write some more Sea of Seals and upload them when I can... I should have finished this ages ago, nyuu~! I guess these things just take time, what with everything else that constantly keeps happening.

Dissidia

I also really want Dissidia: Final Fantasy, since that fighting game looks epic. It reminds me of DBZ: Tenkaichi only with Final Fantasy characters (and some obvious differences). With all of the antogonists and main protagonists of all of the current games, it looks amazing! I'd import it from Japan, but then I wouldn't be able to understand the text, so I'm waiting for the American release in Summer (bloody Square Enix and their half-a-year waits to America, then a whole year wait for Europe) and then importing it, then, what with PSPs being region-free and all. I'm not waiting until December just for a European release.

Not much else to say. There's not even a proper structure, this time! Smazzy out.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/21499525/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/21499525/ Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:58:38 PST
Consoles and Crash: Mind Over Mutant

I thought I decided on the current generation console I wanted, too (360) and then the PS3 comes up with Little Big Planet, MGS4 and Ratchet. I curse thee who gave this harsh decision to me! Still, with the PS2 I've had some good fun with Crash: Mind Over Mutant, recently. I finally obtained it second-hand at a local game store. It's been VERY difficult finding a copy when nowhere sells brand new PS2 games anymore. The only version I found around for ages was the Wii version, actually (the 360 version was NTSC and on the shelves, for whatever reason). So yes, second-hand yet pristine condition. I bought it and adored it. It's actually way more fun that Crash of the Titans was purely because the platforming balances out over the combat and suddenly doesn't become as repetitive, anymore. The mutants are much more fun to play as, now, and all have at least some kind of ability which adds to their unique platforming styles. My favorite is the TK - Telekinetic penguin in a fishbowl. Second would be the Grimly, which is not only fast, but can slow down time, too. I've completed it and enjoyed every second of it. Good work, Radical. It may not have as great atmospheric levels as Titans did in their detail (Life's a Beach comes to mind), but the gameplay is much better. The other recent PS2 of my interest is out in America at current and Europe next month - DBZ: Infinite World... which is pretty much a Budokai 4, really. Then there's Ghostbusters, next year...

University Work

Sea of Seals has come to a bit of a halt as I try and catch up with my University written work. Two essays that need extensive research (none of which Wikipedia-related, of course and most from books, not the internet) have hit me at once as well as a Hypertext project that is more long-winded than difficult, due to the nature of what I'm trying to achieve, which is mess around with some DVD scenes and my text. I still need some movie, though. Any suggestions on a good British/American romantic movie (I need one of each) and another genre which has a Japanese movie in that genre and another culture movie in that genre would be great.

Pantomime - Dr. Merlin Hood

FECCLES is the Drama society at University College Falmouth. I write for this group alongside another guy who is also on my course called Mak. Currently we're writing a Pantomime for the Christmas period and it looks like we're wrapping it all up, now, after a long while of work. The thing is, we need one final song... as in the song to end the production. It has to be lively, something that is well known and wraps it up. We're at a stump in what song to choose, though, since all in the production are real songs, after all. Any suggestions on that would be GREATLY appreciated.

Sea of Seals

I actually really want to finish Sea of Seals before Christmas, but I don't see it happening unless I really do just blitz through the story. I plan on reorganising a bit of The First Seal Piece and putting it in some of the Fourth Seal Piece (which I plan to move back to become the Third Seal Piece and the current third to become the fourth... confusing, I know) but that won't happen, yet, so don't worry. With every other written thing I have going on right now, it's difficult to write more until I've completed my current projects.

Virtual Realms

Rob3DG has also enlisted me on to Virtual Realms, which is a great little home-based game company that does great quality work. I act as a writer for that, now, too, as well as a 'sprite sprucer' in that I make sprites look more detailed, I guess, whilst Rob attends to more important aspects (he actually sprites, mind). Mechanix Gaming doesn't seem to exist, anymore, what with Mecha going off and doing his own thing, so I have nothing to lose from this and only something to gain.

Rounding Off.

That's all I have left to say in what my current world is like. I'm a little lonely at University and sometimes it's unbearable. Now that I finally have my capture card to play some PS2 games, I like taking breaks on the PS2 when I can, as opposed to... lying down and looking at the ceiling, or taking another bus journey to Falmouth to pass some time and relax me. I don't have much of an opinion on the people, here, but... still early days, I guess. So yes, I look forward to coming back and seeing my friends offline, once again, at Christmas. I start heading home on the 20th of December. It would have been 13th, but I had to move it back (it has to be on a Saturday to avoid even more costs in travel). So I hope to see some of you, then!

- Smaz

PS: Oh, and I've also gotten into the Steampunk style of wears, whic... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/20788089/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/20788089/ Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:09:28 PDT
I've had a bumpy road for the past two weeks, but in all it's been a lot of fun. The Midlands Expo was the last chance to see a chunk of my friends before leaving for University and then I had a nice final two days with Izzy, Lloyd and Jen before finally leaving. So yes - I am now in University College Falmouth!


~UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FALMOUTH!~

I actually had terrible luck with my travels over here, but then that was to be expected since I virtually ALWAYS have such dire luck! XD My baggage wheel broke, for instance, meaning my heavy bag of stuff was dragged around (literally) for a bit before I realised there was absolutely no hope of me getting to the Uni campus when I looked up the steep hill to come from the train station at Penryn. XD So I called a Taxi up there. I arrived late, too, so my flat mates were all out when I got in, meaning I couldn't meet any of them until the next day. When I did, I was a little down-trodden; they aren't exactly my kind of people at all, but I am trying with them. I can't participate in a lot of their conversations (like sex or rugby) since I haven't done the first and the latter is about the only sport I won't play. Blargh. Not drinking hinders me in some ways, but alcohol tastes so ghastly - the taste is like liquid vomit with lager and beer, whilst wine dries my mouth out (followed by more vomit taste) and vodka is like pure vomit. xD That's what it tastes like, to me, anyway.

I've tried making some friends, but a lot of the time it keeps going wrong in some way... like they end up being from the other University (that is joint on to Falmouth) so it means me seeing them again is very thin to none, or someone else comes along and jacks the friendship process by being an arse, to be blunt. Which has happened. I won't go into detail. Still, I've yet to truly meet everyone on my course, yet, since Week 1 starts next week, after this Fresher's Week stuff (although I do already have my first assignment), so I should make friends there, I hope. There's a lot of stuff going on all week. Every night there is some kind of event. I've already been to a pirate night, dressed as a pirate and all, as well as the Foam Party, which was just insane. Foam everywhere! I'm avoiding porn night, though. O-O So yes, anyway, I'm having some ups and downs, but I'll keep you updated. I'm thinking of joining a martial arts group, too, for something extra to do.


~THE LAST DAY~

Izzy wasted no time in making sure my final two days with those guys were awesome, and it dang well was. He went all out, so I really am thankful for him for doing so much for me just for those two days. We played lots of multiplayer games, ate lots of multiplayer food and did lots of multiplayer activities (wink wink, nudge nudge, kicked kintama). Crash Team Racing really pulled through for us, in the end, as well as (don't laugh) Pokemon Card Battles. We haven't had those in ages and it was a lot of fun trying a three-way fight which usually ended up with Lloyd and I at each other's Pokemon throats. The final day had the evening with us at the China Express Restaurant, too, for a final meal together to end it all, with us dressed up. It was so great (and free, there, for us... ahahaha)! The entire two days were recorded on an uber video camera, too, which Izzy obtained. I can't wait to see some of that played back! ^^


~ONLINE FRUSTRATION~

I have to say, though - I'm having severe issues with places like Deviant Art and I'm not sure if I can scan anything for a while, anyway, unless I send something to someone else and they do it for me... I have no idea. Internet is expensive, here (and not that great) so I am still using my laptop's really pants internet stick from T-Mobile. It's like dial up, really, but sometimes worse. So I do apologise for any lack of updates. In particular Sea of Seals, which now has about 4 new chapters finished. So bear that in mind! Okay...


~CRASH: MIND OVER MUTANT~

Crash: Mind Over Mutant is to be released very soon! If you haven't heard about it and are a Crash fan, where have you been? Crash Mania are currently holding "Monster Weeks" which is literally a month of exclusive information, maps and renders from the new game which no other site is getting, so look out for that: [link]


~LE ENDE~

Alrighty, that's all from me for now! And dang it, Itami, pleaaaaaaaaaaase upload those MCM expo photos or something! D= Especially the group picture...

- Smaz (Edgar).

PS: A Level Results = Communicatons: A, Film: B, English Language and Literature: (regraded) C.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/20470546/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/20470546/ Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:10:33 PDT
It's true - today I attended the MCM expo in the Midlands, England, for all of the anime needs of someone like myself and also if anyone likes Dr. Who and that kinda stuff. Which, of course, I ignored. Anime and manga is where it's at. Stevo drove our group of 5 to the event, taking a cool 2 hours or so, in his car, along with an super CD we all contributed tracks for. It was pretty fun listening to what would pop up! Pi piru!

~COSPLAYGROUND~

Our group, in question, was Monkey (dressed as Ryu from Street Fighter), Itami/Lewis (dressed as Penny Giggles from Candy Spooky Theatre... was that the Japanese band's name?), Stevo (Rubicant from Final Fantasy IV), myself (Rob Lucci from One Piece) and Erin (as herself, from the series 'Canada'. In fact, as far as costumes went, it was a much better selection than the previous one, in London - there was less Akatsuki (Naruto) and Organization XIII (Kingdom Hearts) and more... well... everyone. In particular Bleach characters with white coats. I don't understand why there were so many of those. As usual, there was very few One Piece characters - two Luffy's and one Franky. In fact, the Franky was at the last convention and was glad to see him again, since his cosplay really is so awesome. I managed to get some cool pictures with him and his Luffy partner, too! I hope I can find those and Lewis can upload them. 8D

I really liked how all of our costumes turned out, really, and was really impressed by some of the ones that turned up, there, too. Itami/Lewis had looooots of pictures taken of him, but then his face paint really was that good. I had quite a few, too!

~DDR!~

We had a lot of fun, there. We split up a lot, and then reassembled a lot, too, but it gave some great chances for group fun and separate 'arty' fun. For example - Stevo and I managed to go on the Dance Dance Revolution machine. Being beginners and with the machine packed with Anime tunes, we figured we'd start with the Love Hina theme, thinking it would be easy.

WRONG!

It was insane. XD We ended up not being able to keep up with the uber hardness, at all, so we got lots of other random anime people in on the act, just so we could have 2-3 people per dance matt so we could actually keep up. It was hilarious! xD

~GOODIES~

I spent a good chunk of money, as did the other guys and we came home with some awesome stuff... plushies... manga... DVD's... I even managed to snag the One Piece Strawhat flag as well as the first Season on DVD. It would have been cooler if we stayed for the stage cosplays and masquerade, but we were all pretty tired by that point and we'd had our fun, really. Oh, and no one returned with a sword, this time *looks at Oli Broad*. Although Monkey did return with suspcious weapons in the form of Gundam Mechs.

~FINAL (FANTASY) WORDS~

I had fun! The real kick in the crotch, though, was how the top hat, I initially ordered, ended up arriving at 9:15am this morning. At the time of writing this, I left for the convention on this day at 7:00am or so, so... I guess it's just bad timing, really. It did take over a month to get, here, though, so I ended up using another (and not as replica-looking) top hat. Ah well. Hattori, my pigeon, got a lot of attention!

This is Smaz, signing out. Next time on Smaz's DA journal... University... D= *is scared*

-Smaz

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/20005276/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/20005276/ Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:35:51 PDT
------------------------------

I haven't updated in a while, but then again nothing eventful has happened until this week, which I must say has been so chock-a-block with events, I've been constantly busy. So here is my August entry!

~ RESULTS DAY ~

I finally received my results for my A-Levels from College on Thursday, which I had been nervous about for a long time, now, although I felt that I did better in the exams than any other exam year in the past, this year. So, I received an A in Communication Studies (with an incredible 90 out of 90 for one paper and 113 out of 120 for my coursework), a B for Film Studies and somehow a terrible D for English Language and Literature. The final grade I seriously don't understand, especially given my predictions and constant high grades throughout the year. Whatever the case, I feel cheated and am paying to have the English papers remarked (by a different marker). It could have been my small handwriting... I don't know - I felt I did extremely well in the exam, so I don't understand it. What's worse is that I was but 1 mark from an E in one paper - the one I thought I did best in. I'm sure I did well in it, that's just the thing. We'll see what happens, anyway.

~ CAMPING ~

The very same Thursday saw many friends and old school aquaintences and I camping out. 8D Including Sakuralita, Stevo, Itami, Monkey... everyone! It was fun, despite a few minor issues involving illness from Monkey and such... I hope Connie had a great birthday (and Chris, no less)! The next day I went to see Don't Mess with the Zohan with some of the group, too. A hilarious movie, no doubt; if you're looking for laughs, do see that movie. I was also interested in Wall-E, but I went with the former and didn't regret it. If another person orders me to see The Dark Knight, by the way, or talks about it to me, will receive severe inflatable mallet squeaks to the head. by the way. I'm so sick of hearing about that movie.

~ CRASH MANIA MEETING ~

On the day I write this, I managed to have a somewhat awesome day with someone from the Crash Mania forums, at which I moderate. B-Mask came down to my tillage of a home-town and we had fun. 8D Well... actually, we didn't stay here for long - we ended up in Bedford, but hey; it was great! We talked a lot about Crash, Final Fantasy, B-Mask and Smazzy stuff and a lot on Crash Galaxies conceptial work. It was fantastic, really. I also thank his mother for offering me a meal, really. o-o And pudding, no less. AMAZING. I just wish it wasn't a Sunday, so that the stores would have remained open a bit longer. Ah well. I plan to visit him at his place at some time, too, which should be great fun. It makes me realise how I really should meet some more Crash Mania members - it's well worth it. Or a general mass Crash Mania member meeting. That would be so awesome.

~ HORTICULTURAL SHOW ~

Ah yes. The show that I tend to visit annualy. This year I didn't go or even enter anything. Especially now that a gay paedophile runs the event.

~ ZE END ~

Alright, that's enough from me! I'll be updating my stuff on Deviant Art, regularly, still. In particular, Sea of Seals, which I'm rounding off the end of the second Seal Piece part of the story, so far, and am about to move on to the third piece, which shall be fun. I still need to give Eris her birthday game and a gift-art with her, too. Just hold on, Eris-chwan! With these grades, I have been accepted into Universtiy College Falmouth (or rather unconditionally, in the end) so I'll be starting there in September.

For now... I must locate a white plushy pigeon... seriously - if anyone can help me in locating one, or even a plushy maker, please do let me know. Thankee much!

- Smaz / Edgar.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/18928126/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/18928126/ Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:02:08 PDT
It's June! It's almost the end of College! I just have one more exam to do at the time or writing this, which is my last Film/Media exam. Censorship, Feminism and Shocking Cinema are going to be the topics, so wish me luck! I feel that I have performed well this year, in my exams. I just hope my results reflect that when I receive them in August (14th) - I've had times in the past when I've thought to have done well, only to receive a terrible grade. As well as vice-versa when I thought I did terrible (Music GCSE - I received an A, yet I thought I bombed the paper and then one of the Film exams last year in which I thought I did well, then received a D, whilst receiving an A in the other). When exams are over, I can finally focus on other things.

~SUMMER BALL~

These things, you ask? Or rather don't, since I'm sure not many of you are interested... XD Well, there's the Summer Ball (prom) coming up, which I'm excited for. That's on the Wednesday coming up. I have everything ready, I hope...

~GAME MAKER~

Then there's Game Maker. I really feel I have made progress with that thing thanks to The Game Maker's Apprentice book. That's helped me understand so much! I'm currently creating a secret project for the Crash Mania E3 topic that we're holding on Crash Mania. People submit what they have on their games so far, on the topic, just like the real Gaming E3 that happens every year. So that will be screenshots, demos, and/or videos on each game. They'll only be up for July, but I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone has! In particular, JB's work. I hope people will be happy with the results of my new creation. It's my first programmed game, so I'm trying my best, here. I'll let you know the details at a later date and will post a link to the demo when it's released at the E3.

~CYBER MASTER 1.5~

Other projects for the Summer include the Cyber Master 1.5 movie. That will be SO much fun if we can get that up and running. We've thrown around some ideas and decided to have it so that it continues where the first movie left off (I'm not sure you guys even want to see the original; it was so dire xD) and continue on to the second, which we have planned. It's not a necessity to watch in order to understand the story of the second movie, however. The twist is that we're planning it to be a musical. Whether this lifts off the ground or not is another matter, though.

~DUBBING~

Then the dubbing. Ages back Izzy, Matt and I dubbed the first episode of DragonBall Z through improvisation. It ended up as... a random cheese-fest. It's a good watch, but is rather embarrassing. We then attempted to dub a whole movie, but only ended up doing the first 10 minutes or so, due to Matt discontinuing. It's on YouTube, along with the first (under Dark Koel's account, aka: Izzy's). That one was rehersed... and now we want to attempt another movie. We'll see how that turns out. This time we won't have Matt, however, unless he contacts us and such, to get involved.

~COLLEGE DAYS~

Ahhh... College days. Although I'm nearing the end of them, it marks the beginning of Izzy's flash animation series that he hopes to do. It's a simple flash cartoon but with some seriously funny plot lines and events. 905 of them are based on REAL events that have happened to Izzy at his College and myself here, in a different College (except in the Flash it will be all in one College to make it easier). Geoff is a character, who takes... almost all of my lessons, mind, with pretty much everything that made him funny in the animation. So is Jason. That's all I will say for now, but I'm pleased with my parts of the script that I have written thus far. It will be a nice combined effort and I can't wait to see what Izzy writes for his classes and the likes.

I guess I wrote more than I thought. Okay, watch out world - here comes ME! Maybe. And you, Falmouth University. Look out! Before I hide behind the couch in fear from... not knowing anyone when I start in September...

----------------------------------------------

CRASH QUIZ
*as nabbed from Eris, Tani, Jen L... and such*

1: Who is your favorite character?
My favorite character has always been Dr. N. Gin, regardless of his look or appearance. In fact, his appearance from CTTR onwards just grew on me even more than his original appearance, in the end. Crunch would come a valiant second, but I do feel that he’s gone waaaay downhill in the more recent games.

2: Why?
N.Gin is not only evil, he’s cool, intelligent and also HILARIOUS. I always adored his super mech boss fights in the games and still love his WARPED fight as one of my top favorites. But lest us not forget how incredibly funny and random he is since CTTR, in which gives him... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/18525259/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/18525259/ Tue, 27 May 2008 10:44:10 PDT
Sunday was a day of pure awesome fun. Why? Well, it was the London Expo! 8D The Expo is an organisation which mainly holds ground to many anime/manga/fantasy-type objects. So, naturally, everyone was there in cosplay, pretty much, of their favorite anime (mostly), video game or random fantasy-type creature. My group and I went as Death Note characters, with me being Mikami Teru, which I was pretty in-character for and happy about, despite what the pictures say about my face. I was in character, guys! The only thing missing was a pen... I really had this urge to write everyone's name in the Death Note, you know? I wanted to initially go as Rob Lucci from One Piece but we went as a group character bunch, instead. In terms of costumes, I think there were more L's, Akatsuki members, Kingdom Hearts characters and surprisingly Bleach guys than anyone else. There was barely any One Piece, but the ones that were there were all good (The Sanji and Franky especially)! I also missed my chance to buy that One Piece flag, but ah well. Instead I managed to nab the uncut Garlic Junior and Android Sagas from DragonBall Z - something you can't get in this country, as well as a nice manga-styled picture of the group (minus Connie) amongst other things.

Asides the costumes, there were also a few gaming things going on around the stalls of the event, itself. For example - Guitar Hero being played to absolute uberness as well as Dance Dance Revolution (or Dancing Stage as it technically is in the UK) with people moving so fast that they needed to hold onto a pole to keep their balance. It was amazing! Now if only there was some Guitaroo Man there, eh, on Master mode? That game can really get you moving. I also managed to play an AWESOME demo of DBZ: Burst Limit (not the same one as the current 360 demo available on the Live network right now). I had fun bashing around people as Tien. Of course, the text was Japanese, so I couldn't understand it, but hey ho. It felt slow, if anything, and more like Shin Budokai than Budokai 3 (which is good in some ways and bad in others), but it was alright in the end.

At the end, of course, was the cosplayer event with people on stage, doing their own thing. I think the Sailer Moon dances scared me more than anything, but whatever - the costumes were all awesome. Especially Gloomy Bear and the Princess Monoke ones, I thought! The Dot Hack costumes were really accurate, too. I don't have many pictures of the event, since Stevo took them with his camera and Itami (Lewis) has some of them up from our group here:

[link]

~Game Maker~

I've also started to finally learn Game Maker properly, now, with the help of a guide called the Game Maker's Apprentice - a very handy guide which has none of the confusing aspects that the tutorials have that come with Game Maker. I'm slowly learning, what with weaving in and out of activities with friends, work, and the exams coming up. I'm currently spriting and attempting to program a Crash Bandicoot level for a Crash Mania Forum style level game, which should be interesting. After that I'm going to try and go back to Crash Mania Brawl and pick up where I left off. I have a good idea in how to go about what I must do. It's just applying it that will be difficult. So, with any luck, Crash Mania Brawl should start up again after the exams in June! Oh, and Prom. Heads up for that, since I finally have my cloak and clothing for that...

-----------------------------------------------------

I was tagged by Shelby to do this, so.. here it is:

Here's how it's done:

1. Post These Rules!
2. Each person Tagged must post 10 fun facts about themselves.
3. You must choose 8 other people to Tag. (LOL Not gonna happen!)
4. Then go to their pages and tell them they're Tagged.

So, it's time to learn more about the Smazmeister:

1: Despite being 18, I still love Crash Bandicoot as much as I did when I was 6 years old. It is more than a simple phase, for me.

2: I wish to change my name to Edgar Duncan to get rid of my simple name that everyone seems to have.

3: I used to be with two marching bands - Encore (Drum and Bugle Corps) and Distant Thunder until I gave up the latter so I could go into work and support myself.

4: I can't swim. D=

5: When it comes to getting work done, I try to help others as much as I can if I know what they must do to get it all done.

6: I call myself a writer, yet I don't read very often due to how dull I find a lot of other books. In this manner, I find my vocabulary fairly bad for someone my age and sometimes my spelling falters, too.

7: I'm a sucker for fruits, night time scenes and hugs/nuzzles.

8: A lot of the time I put on a tough exterior, but inside I'm... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/18164322/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/18164322/ Sun, 04 May 2008 12:19:42 PDT
~Mechanix Gaming Reviews~

Mechanix Gaming has certainly got under way. The first episode was pretty successful and we had people suggesting pointers to improve the show. Episode 2 is now currently out, which reviews Bomberman for the Playstation. I have already completed a fair amount of work on the intros and outros of episodes 3, 4 and 5, right now, and even have recorded and edited all audio clips for them, too, including gameplay clips for episode 4. Right now I'm waiting for Mecha to record the gameplay for episodes 3 and 5, since only he owns the game for those. As soon as those are done, episode 3 and 4 should be uploaded fairly quickly... with 5 shortly proceeding. We have a good first series planned, so stay tuned for more. Here are the links for episode 2:

Part 1: [link]
Part 2: [link]

~Offline life~

You know, just when I think all of my coursework is out of the way, I keep having to go back and correct a minor error, or the teacher wants it at a later date or goodness knows what else. Still, I HAVE finally completed everything, I hope, as from today onwards. That should leave me time to revise for exams, as well as keep moderating Crash Mania in free times, especially since HP will be a bit absent for the next few weeks. The reason is tragic, you should agree, so it's understandable. I shall be putting together some kind of poem or picture for him, soon. Anyhow, I've been trying to think in what to revise for in the upcoming exams. Constantly I keep finding myself coming back to Communications the most. Now it feels as though I'm the strongest in that one, so I should move back to a bit of Film Studies again. Darn theorists. English will be a bit of a nasty one, I think, mainly because of the closed book exam on the Hamlet paper, but enough on exams. Anyhow, if you didn't see my Film Studies Coursework VIDEO the first time around, here it is again:

[link]

~Sea of Seals~

I've been trying to keep up with Sea of Seals. Klom (Flamento) recently complained about how far in-between the chapters were upladed, now. It used to be once a week, but recently I've been so caught up in other work, I keep missing my chances to write more. However, I DO want to get to the more decent parts, so have been trying to write as much as I can in recent times, and just uploading them when I finish them instead of waiting until the next week. The third Seal Piece is the most epic part in the story, so far, and I really want to show it off, really. Right now, though, settle for Captain Klom. Yes. You heard. Klom. I turned him into a character, because I needed more pirates in the story. It turns out I liked the character so much, though, that I will be bringing him back later on, making me rewrite part of the story for the better, in fact.

~Prom~

Asides everything online, I've been recently getting ready for my first prom. I've never been to one, before... so I've been suiting myself up and spending a lot to make sure I look good for the occasion. I think I'm missing something, however. Something more. If there are any suggestions on an additional accessory to have asides the suit and usual stuff, do let me know. I need something good that is unique. I'll be going with a college friend of mine called Tamsyn, so hopefully the evening will be cool and all.

~PSP~

One final thing for the journal - PSP. I finally caved in and obtained one, recently, since I couldn't save up enough for a trip to DDL's place in America (my unofficial sister) without her being in education by the time I save up enough. So asides the bit I have saved up for Falmouth University, I spent some on a white PSP and set about Crash Bandicooterizing it. I also had the incredible luck to find a Guitaroo Man Lives game, which is not only incredibly rare, but also incredibly good. If you ever find Gitaroo Man for the PS2 or PSP, nab it straight off - it is well worth the purchase. It's a wonderful rhythm game that game before the era of Guitar Hero and the such... in fact, it's probably more inventive with the tunes, to be honest. I also obtained Shin Budokai 2, of course, which I have played a lot on the train journeys to College.

~Crash: Mind Over Mutant~

SOOOO... if you are a Crash fan and have not heard, yet... WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? Under that rock, again? Those rocks are bad for you. Crash: Mind Over Mutant is shaping up to be a very interesting game and sequel to Crash of the Titans.... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/17621448/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/17621448/ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:19:59 PDT
Still, I'm enjoying myself, I guess. College has started back up after the early Easter (in which my lone egg was from Lloyd) and I'm tired. Why? Well, I've been working diligently on the first episode of Mechanix Gaming for the past week, now. So very much, since my mother has been out and about a lot. When she's not around, I can use the computer for long periods of time for uploading clips and recording with the GameBridge, which is now working again. And would you believe it? The first episode is now compelete!

~MECHANIX GAMING~

The review is on Sly 3: Honor (Honour) Among Thieves for the PS2. I scripted the episode, recorded all game clips you see in it and recorded all of my lines and webcam footage, of course. I even cut up Mecha's voice clips. Mecha, my partner, recorded his voice, enhanced it to be mechanical, created that machine superbly, located music and fitted it all together. Both efforts took AGES. So here it is, in three parts, in it's glory. There are some mistakes in it, but I guess nothing's perfect, and these will be rectified in future episodes. The main one being that the title is missing and replaced with a glitch in which the screen shrinks for a couple of seconds. Please do leave comments on the YouTube page! 8D

Part 1: [link]
Part 2: [link]
Part 3: [link]

~SEA OF SEALS~

As always I've been on a bit of a break - this time because of the Easter Break. I have a tendancy to stop writing when I'm on breaks from college, for some reason. I guess the college atmosphere really helps me write. So I'm a little behind, again. Although, on the up, the start of a new Saga begins with the next chapter, or Part 3 of the story as it were... which is obtaining the Second Seal Piece. No worries - the second Seal Piece is a much stronger story than the first, I feel, and introduces two new main characters. One is a new crew member and the other is just hilarious. So look out for them! I can't wait to get underway with the chapters, though. Now I'm back at College, I should have time. Especially since my Coursework is complete.

Also, Smaz dies.

Actually, no he doesn't. April Fools.

I still want to draw up a Sea of Seals group picture, though. Maybe when the new crew member is introduced, so that I can do a full shot, rather than have one member missing, eh? Now to decide on the medium... I might just goe for a graphite background and colored characters, like I did for the original Smaz I had up on my main page for so long.

~OUTCAST BANDICOOT~

Other art is pretty minimal, but hey ho, I've been more involved with writing and media work as of late. I've yet to hear back on the writing competitions, but I hope I did well, anyway. In terms of media work, I've also completed the N.Gin lines I was taking over from Izzy, for Outcast Bandicoot, for those who didn't know, so expect to hear my voice in them soon. I also had to redub some of his past lines that were incomplete in terms of vocal enhancement, too. I've been credited as Sam Osborn, though! XD Gah! I'm okay with it - I just hate my name. XD With any luck I can change it, soon to the one I want. No more common Sam. No more common Osborn to relate me to my father. Just good ol' Edgar Duncan.

~ONE PIECE. TWO PIECE. THREE PIECE SWEET.~

I can't really say anything else. I've been hanging around with friends a lot, too, recently, as well as watching One Piece every so now and again. Currently Luffy has just defeated God Enel - someone with intense electrical powers. That was pretty neat, so I should be on the next saga, soon. I also prefer One Piece much more than Naruto, now, for several reasons:

1) One Piece has great character back stories which are emotional and make you connect with the character so very much. Naruto does this well, too, but One Piece's are more dramatic.

2) Naruto Shippuden is slow. Too slow. One Piece is just about right, and sometimes a bit fast, too. I prefer this to severe lagging of fights that last 5 episodes just because everything is slowed down and characters speak for ages on explaining one thing. Which the viewers already figured out a long time before it is said.

3) Luffy is stupid. Which makes me LOL quite a lot, to be honest, but he'... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/17160674/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/17160674/ Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:35:05 PST
So now I'm 18. A man! Wooooo! That makes me able to... err... not do much, I guess, but be taxed, maybe? xD Ah well.

~SEA OF SEALS~

First off, Sea of Seals. I apologise for such a long hiatus on the writing, but I was caught up in so much over the past month and a half or so. Still, I've written a lot of chapters, now, to keep me going. I've been writing in bulk, and completing a chapter almost every day after college, before travelling home - it's the best time to write... and takes quite a few hours to do just one, ranging from about two hours to four, depending on how much is in there and how much I have to think if it involves a fight. The story may all be planned out, but the fight actions are not. So I started off with two new chapters to pick up again, for you. I hope you do still care about the story, folks; if I need feedback in anything, it is the written work I do, so don't just glance at it and disregard it! I couldn't help notice how minimal my comments are, these days. The next chapter, for this week coming, is a cool fight, so catch up and watch out for that one. One more chapter and it ends the first seal piece of the book, which is the second part. The story is divided as so:

First Part: Inland
Second Part: First Seal Piece
Third Part: Second Seal Piece
Forth Part: Third Seal Piece
Fifth Part: Forth Seal Piece
Sixth Part: Another World.

~MECHANIX GAMING REVIEWS~

Mechanix Gaming suffered after a heavy blow - both Mecha and I reformatted our computers without either one of us knowing. So when we both next spoke to each other, we discovered we lost the entire first episode, just before it was completed and ready to be uploaded. Both of us. The chances of that was ridiculously slim, but it happened. Right now we're redoing the first episode, but on a different game. The Wrath of Cortex, the initial review, is now moved to much later on since neither of us want to think about it, right now. Instead, we're reviewing Sly 3, right now. I finished my video clips and audio a while back, so now we're waiting on Mecha to rebuild that machine of his for the videos, and then piece the clips together. I would record some footage, but my GameBridge is irritatingly playing up again. Luckily, I recorded the uber fight at the start, before that happened. Look out for that. The advert for it is HERE: [link]

~FALMOUTH~

Ahhh yes, Universities. Falmouth, my first choice, has accepted me on condition of three C's on the Creative Writing and English course. Which I'm delighted about! They sent me one of those funky postcards and I was so chuffed. The trip down there, on the 19th of February (Izzy's birthday) was long, but cool. Falmouth is such a beautiful place and I didn't realise it until I was there. I was impressed. Not even a single chav in sight! Except maybe my mother, who did go to three pubs, got mildly drunk and almost had us locked out of the hotel we were staying in because she came back so late, with me forced to be with her. Asides that, the trip was good, and I now love Cornish Pasties even more. So the interview went well and I should be starting later on this year providing Ican obtain an accomodation. You know, it's funny how they tell you everything about the Universities, but almost shun out the accomodation side of things, and how you even pay the Universities those massive fees that scare the heck out of me.

I won't go into detail on the trip as a whole, since I know it will bore you, but let's say I look forward to going back, providing... all of this America thing... doesn't go ahead for a while.

~LAST CALL~

That's all from me for now. Little progress has been made on Crash Mania Brawl in favour of the Sea of Seals work, Mechanix Gaming script work and all of that coursework catch up for College. There are also the mock exams this week. I am Smaz, hear me roar!

Rar.

- Smaz/Edgar/Sa... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/16624196/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/16624196/ Tue, 29 Jan 2008 07:14:09 PST
---DBZEF---

So I recorded a lot of Tenkaichi 3 footage and did some heavy editing, along with a script I wrote and voice clips from people, to create a DBZ fan-fiction based on the old Role-playing forum I used to go on - DBZEF, which follows the story of the Changeling Fuwsai in his quest to get revenge on his race for outcasting him long ago. With him joins my character Android #12 - a reject from the Red Ribbon army who deigns to break his programming and finally feel the emotions lifeforms feel. He also wishes to become 'complete' and not a failure.

So that's the first project I've been heavily working upon. I've completed the first three episodes without voice audio so far, and I think they've come out well so far. Each episode takes an extremely long amount of time to do, though. We're looking at 4 hours to record in-game to get everything right, then a further 2-3 hours recording from the GameBridge to computer and then about 3 more hours to edit everything together and save it all. So it's a long process, but I love it. I shall provide links when the episodes are completed and uploaded to YouTube to see what you guys think.

---Mechanix Gaming Reviews---

This second project is one I'm working on with Mecha. It's a review video series for games, much in the same vein of Sashanein's videos, or AngryVideoGameNerd, but... better, in my personal opinion. I won't give away too much details, but a lot of GameBridge was involved from both of us and a lot of webcam and mic work was involved, too. From what I've seen of it all compiled together so far, it is shaping up to be better than I imagined, and it's all thanks to Mecha. This will be a series of videos - the first review is on Crash: The Wrath of Cortex, since it was a game we both owned and knew well. In future, we'll take it in turns to choose a game. The Wrath of Cortex was scripted by me, with Mecha changing a few lines of what he says. Seriously, though, I'll post a link to that episode, too, when it's out. A lot of work has been put into it, and a lot of humour.

---Crash Mania Brawl---

The third major project is on-going, and is one I'm working on right now. That is Crash Mania Melee - the Super Smash Brothers styled GameMaker game with characters from the Crash Mania forum and beyond. Only, I came to a decision recently. A lot of the members involved have left and I feel the sprites are too large and have basic animations now. I also dislike the story. So I took the music from the title that I worked on, and some audio files, and went back to the drawing board... Now it's back, bigger, better and with more recent members. The game title is now Crash Mania Brawl, to bring it up to date. The sprites are smaller, the animations smoother and best of all, the story is actually GOOD.

I spent ages working on the story and writing it out to involve twists and such. It involves HP having to go back in time due to the Crash Mania forum being deleted from a terrible evil villain. Powerless to stop him on his own, he uses the Time Panel to travel back in time to gather an elite group of people across the internet and recruit them as forum members... to take down this evil for when he comes, and his malicious organisation called BIG O (a reference to an old anime, and even the tune is their theme). Everyone has back stories which relate to the story well, with CBFan being 'the law' of the internet and chasing the crew around constantly for their crimes, JB having a Dark Virus which will enevitably kill him unless he can locate two people (I'm also holding back that information on who they are) and Dr. Kupix being a crazy evil scientist who crates Mecha to destroy the crew. Everything is cause-and-effect, and I like how it's going so far. It's also good that everyone designed their own characters this time, and home arenas for me to sprite up - this time people will truly get what they want. I'm currently working on a teaser trailer, which will be up this week.

---Outcast Bandicoot---

Finally, I finished off the base voices for Tani/Tara, in case I do take over for N.Gin. I spent ages getting the frequency and voice effects right, but I think it's good now. I just have to add them on every clip I did... which is a lot. Izzy, the guy who originally did N.Gin, no longer has sufficient time to keep doing the voices, so he's had to step down. Hopefully I can pull this off well...

---Ro... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/16208562/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/16208562/ Tue, 01 Jan 2008 14:30:38 PST
So 2008 is upon us! *Rubs hands together* This year should be... well, interesting. 2007 was, over all, a pretty good year, in my opinion. I wouldn't say much exciting things happened for me, but it was a nice year, anyway. Better than the blood-fest that was 2006. My word, that year was full of nasty surprises, transitions and people who loved to pull me back, in life. Still, 2008 should be good. What with moving (oh whhhhhhhhhy did you take so long?) and having money this time around to do things... yeah, it should be good.

With the GameBridge device in toe, and an attempt to incread the RAM on this computer... I think there will be a nice selection of video projects coming up in the next few months. The main two I have planned (and even scripted and most audio work done to date) are the Crash Bandicoot Retrospect series and DBZEF. The first is rather like the Final Fantasy Restrospect series, but on the Crash games and from myself. I figured that with the equipment, I can pull of something similar, especially with the knowledge on the series and the games at hand. The second is on a Role Play forum I used to visit, based on Dragon Ball Z. DBZEF is a story focused on entirely made up characters in the universe of DragonBall Z, but mainly focuses on Fuwsai and Android #12. I get sick of those I see on YouTube with text there all the time, so my plan is to actually voice my character and some others, since you just can't explore the emotions of the characters in text form. I've planned out how this can be done, and with some editing... a lot of it (which is what I love), it should look slick by the end of it. It will be episodic, too, much like the show.

I don't know what's planned in terms of artwork... but Sea of Seals has slowed production down a bit, mainly for work and ideas on the video department, which I wish I could post here, but doubtless it will breach violations and will be removed. Still, I shall continue writing, since Sea of Seals isn't over 'till it's over!

I'm currently ready to hear on further developments on me moving, but it should be soon, since the people I'm moving in with have moved to their new location, too, and I was always planned to come not long after that. So fingers crossed! 2008 should hold a new life for me... I shall miss some friends, including Izzy, and will be thinking about some others I knew during my time here, but I should stay in contact with those I care about, anyway (...yes, you, Tamsyn, to name one)! Hopefully over there I shall find the neckerchief I so desired at Christmas time but never obtained. It was a nice Christmas. The best part was dinner over Izzy's, since at home it was dull. Mince PIES!

Hope to hear from you all, soon! Bye from now, people! Oh, and JB, keep Crash Mania warm for me when I move... I may not have internet access straight from the word 'go'.

- Smaz.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/15797343/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/15797343/ Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:45:26 PST

Okay, so my Christmas shopping is almost over - I spent a lot of November spending here and there, building up things slowly in the weeks rather than doing everything in one go. I have Smokey, Kath and a few others to do, now. OwO If Klom tells me what he desires, I shall obtain him something to, as with Inu, and then I'm done, I think. Tani's gifts are completed, as are Izzy's, Lloyd's, Matt's and HPZr's. Woooooooo! 8D

Speaking of Christmas, if ANYONE knows where to obtain a neckerchief, please, oh geez, PLEASE let me know! I have looked for ages and not found any, to my dismay. You know, a neckerchief? Like what Rayman or Android #17 wears. I've always wanted one, ya see. Speaking of which, Okami seems to be hard to find these days (although I did find one the other day), which is something I'm looking for, and more so Rogue Galaxy. That 'un interests me, greatly, being developed by Level 5, who developed Dark Chronicle (a class game) and feeling very Star Wars in attempt. Rather like Final Fantasy XII, actually, with that, which I managed to obtain recently, too. I have mixed opinions on that game so far since it feels so very different from a normal Final Fantasy game.

I knew I wouldn't be obtaining a DVD writer drive for Christmas, and that was like the top thing on my list, so I went out and bought one after seeing their price drop, too. So very handy, I must say. Dragon Ball is being written smoothly as are several other things (Cyber Master for one).

So yup, Christmas is a time of... spending, it seems. I still have a chunk stashed away for the America thing, too, although that one is saving up slowly. What with all of the extra work coming, however, on Friday evenings as well as for most of Saturday and Sunday mornings, I think it's safe to say that will build up again in no time now that most things are out of the way, for Christmas. I've just got to send them. *Down goes £70* Oh snap. D= Also, a note on the America thing - I really don't know when I'm moving, anymore. Ahahaa, it always seems to get pushed back, but that's beyond my control - it's to do with events at Kath's place and the US laws. So... woooooo!

Anyhow, that's enough banter from me. Smaz over and out! And man, do I wish it would be colder so it would actually snow.

- Smaz.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/15091530/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/15091530/ Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:37:27 PDT
Alrighty, an update from moi! First off, Distant Thunder - the marching band I'm with, did fairly well at Holland, if you can say that, in the European finals. Mind you, that trip altogether was pretty fun in itself. The beach was probably the best part, I thought, in which we all ended up playing some sports on the beach as the sun set. Classic stuff. The British Finals saw us come third, which is okay, I guess, considering we were behind our rivals by about 3 points out of 100. Yup, I'm rushing this out of the way, since it's band stuff. Only this evening did we all go to London, as a group, to view the show 'Wicked', which was what we performed this year at competition, on stage in the West End. A wonderful theatrical production, that was, telling the untold story of the Witches of Oz and all. It was fantastic! I hope the presentation evening on November the 3rd is just as exciting - my last time at band and all before I scoot to America.

Next up, I'd like to announce that my probably move is certainly in November, at some point. Things kinda got irritating when DDL's Mom was relocated for her job, and thus must search for a new house in a new area to move to in order to keep up with her job location... which means I have to wait a bit longer. A bit of a downer, but hey. That could take as long as it takes, really, until they find a house, but they said November is the probably date. Just an update on that. Still, it gave me time to obtain Crash of the Titans, Monster Edition.

***CRASH OF THE TITANS***

Now let me get this straight, here - I'm no Radical Entertainment worshipper, which many of the fans who seem to dislike Radical seem to think those at Crash Mania are, but I do respect them for trying so hard to reinvigorate the series. I must also stress that none of us try to shove our opinions down other peoples' throats. I don't know quite where that connotation derrived from, but one thing's for sure - those who dislike Titans will probably stay disliking it. I, however, am loving the game. I bought it on Friday - it's release date here, and was impressed. I started on Hard mode for the story, because I'm a hardcore Crash player and all that jazz... to find the game is actually very Hard on that mode. Seriously hard. Never before have I had so many Game Overs in one game. But the important thing is still there, though - despite this, it's still immensely fun.

Crash of the Titans impressed me a lot, from what I have played so far. Some of the levels are truly beautiful in graphical design, making this possibly the best looking Crash game to date; in particular, "Life's a Beach" really sets the standard with the moonlit beach water slowly washing in on the detailed sands and the illuminous plants giving off wonderful purple lighting - it's just so atmospherically beautiful. The most intriguing level thus far has been "Family Tree" which not only looks lushous in design (a big sandy tree with a setting Sun, rather like Cleyra's Trunk from FFIX to some degree), but has also been the hardest level to date. It took many tries to beat that on Hard mode. I blame the Battler Titans - they are fast, and deadly. One combo kills Crash, and when 4 gang up on you at once, it's a nightmare. In terms of sound, this game excels the most; the dialogue is witty, and N.Gin's lines hilarious - he steals every scene he is in. The music is jiggy, and changes upon the situations Crash finds himself in, always changing from clam oriental pieces to fast paced chase tunes for sliding sections and such. It's a nice touch. The sound effects here are also cartoony, and feel in place. I could blabber on all day, but my point is that the game is good once you look over some of the unique character redesigns Radical risked with, which so many dislike.

The story is pretty alright. Not the best, but not the worst - it's still good for a Crash story, however. Nina's the big cheese this time after a bit of failure from Cortex, and she does well in working on the Doominator - a robot designed for destruction and global domination. There seems little boss fights, however. I've only beaten the first boss, so far, and am on Chapter 17, with Uka being the current boss I'm stuck on. N.Gin and Tiny were sub-bosses, really. For those interested in N.Gin's hilarity, please come here: [link]

***ROUND OFF***

Alrighty, that's enough from me on Titans. In terms of work for DA, expect to see some more Sea of Seals, soon, some Crash Mania cards and of course some sprite action from Crash Mania Melee, which I shall put up every so now and again on each character and such to keep others updated. Ta-ta for now! Muahahahaa!

Oh yeah. I also did a 5 mi... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/14695965/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/14695965/ Wed, 19 Sep 2007 02:40:46 PDT
College has started up in grand fashion and my new timetable sees I have Mondays off - which is always a good thing. 8D I'd rather have Friday's off, what with my mother's new job in working late at nights and all. It's cool that, since it means I get to come on for longer periods of time, and it's always in peak time when everyone is around online, too. That's the only update I have there, really. Everything else at College feels so much more whimsical than last year. I mean, for a start, my Media/Film Class has been reduced to a grand total of 5 people for my class. 5 PEOPLE. O.O English Language/Literature is now 9 people per class and Communications is 6. It just goes to show how few students seem motivated to carry on... in... well, anything, I guess. Just for comparison, my English class was 25 peopls or so last (College) year. Smaller classes are better, I guess - you have more focus put on you as an individual more often rather than the class as a whole, which is a good thing. It looks like my teachers have been reduced in number to... just 2. XD Looks like I get the old man Geoff-meister for every lesson at least at some point. Let me put that in terms you understand - that's 10 and a half hours of the same guy every week.

I have also slacked a bit in terms of work, recently. But from last week or so I've put a crackdown on myself on all sorts of things that need doing. College has given me a nice amount of time to finally do some more Sea of Seals, which is always good. Some may have noticed this, but hey - what can I say? Come along and play with the Tweenies, or something? Anyhow, I've recently recrafted some ideas for that story, which occur later on - for this reason, I've swapped a few events around, and one sentence in an early chapter you guys will have already read, to make it make sense. I'm behind in that work, but I mainly write the chapters out in college, rather than at my house, which I prefer doing more... 'online' things at, or sprite when that isn't available. I'm always spriting in some form or another. I'm still working on Crash Mania Melee (Once named Crash Vs. Forums), and Mecha and I have introduced three more characters to the mix, to up the numbers on the actual Crash Mania team, thanks to the members of that original team having left the forum since. These new characters are Kobb, EvilCrash and possibly Robert3DG.

Okay. So I lied - there is quite a lot to write. XD The main thing being... I now know the date of my departure for America. That took some time, but when DDL (Kath) told me just two days back, I was as happy as a giant turnip. Or the Stay Pufft marshmallow man. "It can't be!" Oh, but it's true. The date of me leaving is October 13th. Originally it was going to be October 1st, but I wanted a bit more time over here for a few things, such as finishing the band year - which means the European Finals (27th-30th September) in Holland and the British Finals (7th October) in Birmingham. That also includes obtaining the Monster Edition (collector's edition) of Crash of the Titans - the next Crash Bandicoot game to hit the shelves. The collector's edition is only available in Europe, so I must obtain this before leaving. Finally, the last reason is to sort out college things. I honestly didn't know when I'd leave, so I've been thinking about a possible life over here, still, until then, and even thought about University - Falmouth, to be exact. Now I'm leaving for there, I'm gonna have to rethink a few things. I do want to continue this last year of college, but me being over there won't aid in it, really, and I don't desire in staying here for another year. So, the plan is to continue my coursework over in the US, so that I still obtain my final grades when July-August hits. Apparently I will still need to sit the exams, at the end, but something will be sorted out, since it's being discussed, currently. Film and Communications has a nice 50-60% coursework ratio to the exam grade ratio, which is good, so I can easily continue that over there. I think it will be a good, and interesting move. We'll see what else I'll do over there in the meantime. I could very well be working with DDL's Mother (whom I call my Mom) in a job that will aid in my VISA obtainment when I'm over there. It's a job that requires 'skills in short supply', but I'm not telling you guys and gals what it is. ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/14430856/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/14430856/ Fri, 31 Aug 2007 19:11:54 PDT
And I must list 8 facts about myself. I ate rule number 4 for good reason.

The rules are:
1-post these rules
2-each person tagged must post 8 random facts about themselves
3-tags should write a journal/ blog of these facts
5-go to their page and leave a comment telling them they’ve been ‘tagged’

1: I adore several puddings, in reverse order of my top 3; Ice Cream, Blueberry Pie and ultimately Trifle.
2: I enjoy going to college and obtaining work from it. :0
3: I like the Dragon Ball series a lot, and am not afraid to admit that online, although it pales in comparison to my Crash Bandicoot series admiration.
4: Every night, when I go to bed, I hug a large stuffed dog and think of DDL - my best friend out in America.
5: When I eventually move to America, and turn 18, I shall change my name to Edgar Duncan - first name baring from a character in Final Fantasy VI and the surname being DDL's surname.
6: I love to hug, but oh so rarely receive hugs. One of my fondest memories was hugging Jo - someone I had a liking to in school.
7: Although band takes up a lot of my weekend time, I secretly enjoy marching around the field in preparation for a competition, no matter how sweaty I get.
8: I always have so much to do when I'm online, being involved with two main forums (one Crash and one DBZ related), making 2D games, writing sea of seals, coming on DA and watching One Piece, but have so little to do offline. To the extent where I just play games.

So there you have it. A bit more on me. 8D I tag Inu (HA) and Nicole, for laughs.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/13717112/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/13717112/ Fri, 13 Jul 2007 06:34:42 PDT
You know, it's times like these I feel proud to be a member of Crash Mania. That site and forum really perks up my day with the topics, and actually gives me something to do when the rogue n00b comes on. In particular, I'm happy with the place because I honestly think it is the best Crash fansite around, and so does, it seems, the developers Radical Entertainment (Crash of the Titans) and Amaze Studios (the DS version), who apparently visit the site and are willing enough to offer interviews with Jump Button, my good ol' co-moderator. It's nice to know they care for us as much as we care for them. So I'm feeling joyous with the site, and really am proud to call it home. Unlike the VU site when it went downhill. It also offers video and information much sooner than anywhere else. Crash Mania really is teh rox.

When I'm not moderating, I'm at band, working hard for the competitions, or am working stuff with Koel/Izzy. The last competition of this half of the year is tomorrow, which means a nice break after that for the Summer. Sweet. Hopefully we shall do well. The first competition we won, but the second competition we ranked 2nd place, with the irritation of our 'under-time' penalty points having done that. Had we not had them, we would have won, according to the score. So hopefully that mistake won't be made again, I tells ya. There is a practise tonight (that's right - practise, not practice, since the latter term is that of a Dental Practice and the such), which is.... bah, since I like to use my evening time, when my mother is out, to go on the computer and sprite some, or work on Crash Mania a bit. I wouldn't have a problem if it was in the day. At least I'd have something to do rather than play my DS or something.

Oh yeah - I obtained a DS. Not the most exciting news, but at least I played Crash Boom Bang, finally. Not the greatest game, but at least some of the minigames are fun. I find 'em generally more entertaining than Crash Purple (FUSION) but I can see why the game lacked so much and scored such a low ranking. Short, irritating, limpid story and didn't feel very Crash-esque, really. That's my view on it, anyway. It's fun to play if you get bored, though.

I've been spriting a bit for Crash Mania Melee. Man is that game taking ages. It just is feeling a bit one-sided right now... in that there are a tonne of sprites that I have created - character, items and arenas (I even have obtained half of the voices, now, but I don't know what I'll do when it comes to Lars. I guess I'll ask, same as Jen L, but we'll see... and hopefully Tani will voice herself, since I wanna stay true to the voicing as much as possible), but the programming side has lacked from Mecha and Jump Button right now. I guess JB is a bit busy and what-not, but he did promise. Mecha is currently in Colombia, and thus can't do a thing, but his ideas are still as strong as ever. I really want the first demo up, though. There is just so much done. I'm not guessing the first demo will now contain 7 complete characters, 5 arenas and a tonne of items. Good arenas too, mind.

Anything else I have done has been filming stuff for Film Studies over the Summer Vacation. Which is dead fun, mind. I forgot how fun filming can be since Cyber Master so many years back. Editing is a blast, too, and is something I enjoy doing so much. It's only a small movie-esque picture, but you know, there is a lot of shots and some funny moments to please. So far, Koel and Lloyd have done well, and I'm really proud of how everything has turned out. We'll finish up, soon, and then I'll edit the footage and piece it all together. I'll try and post it up on YouTube and see what others think, although knowing that place, I'll get some horrid comment on how 'gay' I look.

That's about all from me, for now! I should really work on that group picture of the crew from Sea of Seals soon, though. Most of my other drawings have been limited to band, since the guys wanted me to design stuff for their truck. I should upload those at some point, if I get 'em back - they loved the designs. I'll continue to upload a chapter a week of Sea of Seals. That is one story I'm loving how such things have turned out for it. Hey ho, it will be completed in a long time from now, but there is a lot planned for the whole crew, so keep checking regularly if you're reading it. Or care about it. Sometimes I do get caught up with other things like some tactical espionage sneaking around the Sand Hill woods with Matt, Lloyd and Koel, but hey, awesome times sometimes side-track me from the st... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/13165643/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/13165643/ Thu, 31 May 2007 15:23:03 PDT
EXAMS

Indeed, I've been around and about in Stevenage taking my exams... with last Tuesday being a vast 6 hours of exams, with English and the whole Media taking prority, in particular. I only have my Communications exams to go next Wednesday. Woo! At least that will give me something to do. Seriously, I have revised a bit, but there isn't that much to study for. Just some of the theorists and their theories. Everything else becomes stuck up there easily. I'm pretty much guaranteed a nice flush of A's, by the way things have gone so far. No lower than one B, methinks.

DISTANT THUNDER

Other than that, most weekends have been spent at Band Camps. Distant Thunder, the band, have been really working me hard for the upcoming competition this Sunday. My lips always come away numb from being used so much... and with the vast amounts of rain that we have been receiving recently, last weekend was seriously cold. So I have a cold. XD Go me! Still, I'm hoping we do well in the competition on the weekend. Seriously, you haven't experienced marching band competitions until you've seen them... not those tacky street things. As usual, allow me to show you BEATRIX, from 2005's final, since I think they show a nice presentation of what we do. All I have to do is remember the visuals, and I should have things nailed...

[link]

FIGHT

I have also been trying my hand out with M.U.G.E.N. It seems complicated at times, but I think both Klom and I are getting the hang of it slowly but surely. If we can do this right, we should have a nice project up our sleeves involving ye olde DBZEF (online Role Playing DBZ forum). I'm into the whole fighting game thing right now, with Crash Mania Melee n a slight hiatus thanks to Mecha going to Columbia for a month or so... so no work can be done by him. I'm just trying to keep myself occupied as much as I can when online. The internet gives access to Crash of the Titans stuff as soon as possible (something I desperately look forward to) and Tenkaichi 3, which has now been confirmed. With day and night arenas AND King Vegeta to boot. Don't forget Nail.

FINAL SAY

You may think it sounds a bit much? Not at all. I've been seriously BORED, amongst other things. No stress around at all... there never is until the last moment, for me. I'd like to hear from some friends offline more often, since they all seem to just be busy with thier own lives right now, so I've been generally more bored. Where is teh Izzy? O-O I really look forward to coming online in the evenings, since my life is so dull right now. Still, I have not been accepted into any of the now 30 rejected jobs, but I'm still trying. I may try for waitressing, next. It seems the only thing I HAVEN'T applied for. XD Should give me something to do asides other things.

Also, a slight belated Happy Birthday to Inu! I must apologize, since I wasn't informed of your birthday until today. I'll have to draw you something. =/ Sorry for not knowing! At least it will give me something to do, too. XD

Also, the next person to mope about Tiny's new look in Titans and saying how rubbish the game will be based from a character's simple look (and not from the actual gameplay) will receive a fish slap. That's right. By a floppy karp. Anyhow, ta-ta from Smaz for now! We will speak again after you collect 25 Crystals. Good luck.

- Smaz.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/12654807/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/12654807/ Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:53:36 PDT
I'd just like to say I don't feel emo. I don't wish to cut my arms open for pointless reasons. I just feel that there isn't anyone to rely on anymore or particularly wants me. Back in February, I expressed my lonliness, and it's creeping up on me again. Sure I see my... uh... friends every so now and again (which seemingly only consist of two people offline), but I do turn around and ask myself why they never see me? It's true - I go to see them, but for them to come and see me is something of extreme rarity. I'm I just so unlikeable that I turn people away? I really do wonder.

Then comes to online business. I try to come online in the evenings GMT, when my mother is out because she dislikes me being on here. During those times I have been spriting a fair bit for Crash Mania Melee (Crash Vs. Forums), and I do mean fair bit mind (coming up to approximately 300 sprites now - the reason I'm so behind with chapter submittance for Sea of Seals)... all this time with MSN running. It's funny. You'd normally expect your best friends to speak to you rather than you starting the conversation with them all of the time. It just seems friendship is feeling one-sided in more recent times. Am I really a horrible burden that no one really wants to talk to? Heck, DDL never talks to me anymore. I always have to start talking to her, and it does somewhat get me down when I hear her talking that she wants to visit one of her male friends in Scotland. So... what happened to everything involving us two meeting? Man. It's a real drag. Tara never talks at all to me. Perhaps I'm just a meaningless piece of turd to everyone?

Left to its own devices, I'm pretty sure these friendships would be forgotten. Much to my dismay, might I add - there's nothing worse than feeling unwanted. I still must thank HPZr, however, who always seems to start a convo with me, and we always have a great time talking. It may be rare that he's online, but that's because of other issues, but when we do talk, I feel like I'm talking to a true friend. It just always seems the lesser friends or aquaintences would rather talk with me than my true friends. I'm glad Mecha talks some, too, but to be honest, he is more onto 'playing games' than talking properly these days. So I just do what I can with the sprites for him to program. If I ever get to see the results of his programming.

Call me depressed or call me paranoid - I don't care what you think anymore. This is how I feel. So I have come to the conclusion - why bother depending on friends at all? Depending on people only make you weak. Shove them. They hurt feelings. A lot. I guess it's just as well I don't have a girlfriend in 'real life' since, after all, I'd only get hurt by them, too. Or most probably not even cared about BY them when I care so much FOR them. Hmph. So I guess I'll look into the future with just work on my mind and doing what I can without anyone else (asides maybe my brother, HPZr)? We'll see. The only dependable thing about the future is uncertainty.

Also, as a side-note, I've been off of college this week. Why? Oh, let's just say I don't have the money to travel there, this week. Thanks to my mother taking the money, needed, after a particular phone incident after trying to obtain a new one after chavs mugged me for my previous one. 24 jobs have turned me down, now. I don't know what to do. I guess all I can do is just find any job nd get on with life. Alone if need be. Bastards.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/12358320/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/12358320/ Wed, 28 Mar 2007 03:59:54 PDT
So yup, Communications coursework submitted, and Film Studies for tomorrow. That's pretty much complete, too. Not bad for a mad rush in two days. I have nothing else to do, so I sit here, writing this, as we speak. Then again, I always think the teachers run out of things to do or teach in most lessons.

Some may be wondering when I shall be going to America. To clarify, I can not until a particular person can obtain a job, and after this college year is over, AT LEAST. I'm actually worried about when I will have to return to American Embassy matters, since that is just so much work, and so very annoying. Costs a bundle just to get in there, too. Don't forget the six hour wait and such. Evidentally, I won't be going for a while, and I can not say exactly when I am going, either, since it really depends on certain situations out of my control. I will be going at somepoint, though. Probably this year, if not... then I guess another year of college to do some A2 levels. Regardless, my mother is a major factor in this situation, since she continuously wants to move away to London - the city I despise so, which I refuse to move with her to. So if she moves before I do, I guess all I can do is... um... well, my best bet is with my paedophillic father.

It should be noted, that I do miss my friends greatly when I do not see them or hear from them in a while, in particular my close friends, who stand as Kath, Izzy and HPZr. There is Mecha, too. XD So if I don't hear from you in a while, do let me know how things are, since I miss you guys and gals! I missed Izzy when he went to Japan, for instance. :/ Just to let you know, I think of you guys, too, and all.

Onto different matters, you may have noticed I have been submitting more literature stuff than usual. Mainly Sea of Seals. I'm actually glad with that progression, and I'm trying all I can to get the story into a good plot. With the plans I have for it, I think it may succeed, but it depends on the readers. If you like it, please let me know, if you think some things are not entirely correct, tell me. I enjoy feedback more so with my writing than art. I do want to be a novelist, after all, always have done since I was... before band. So about 7 years old. LOL, I should show you guys some of my old comic series from way back then. XD It's hilariously stupid, and embarrassing, but amusing due to how bad it is. XD I may upload some of that in time. I will also possibly be drawing some artwork to go with Sea of Seals, mainly characters, so you know what they look like in my eyes. Of course, Smaz is already up, and probably won't be moved for a long time.

Now with the bad. Beware of evil, evil YouTube - it seems to be taking down YouTube videos left and right. They are trying to stomp down on videos that go against their policy and rights since they were sued for a heck of a lot of money for it. This has been leading them to take down Naruto everywhere, which annoys me since the new Shippuden series has started up, and also random other things such as the entire Dragon Ball series I adore so much, and One Piece. I wanted to watch more of One Piece, but I couldn't find any episodes that WERE NOT taken down. :/ Be warned. They've gone to such an extent to be stupid and remove some of Tara's work for little reason.

Also, for those who wish to know... chavs have been on the lose everywhere. Whilst I was waiting for a bus back from a place, on Friday, where I met some of my old school friends and such, some chavs attacked me from behind. They demanded money and my phone, and my watch... which I didn't have, really. When I refused to their face, they... um... well, to cut a long story short, I no longer have a phone. So those who normally contact me via phone, do remember I don't have one anymore. Funny, really - it was short-lived; my previous cell-phone was also stolen a few months before. I'll need to obtain a new one before going to America, anyway... my mother demands me to get one that works overseas. So beware of chavs and YouTube! Or chavvy YouTube. Or YouTube chavs. Or MySpace, since that is full of chavs and is pointless, anyway.

That's all from me, so bai for now... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/12088993/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/12088993/ Wed, 07 Mar 2007 02:59:14 PST
[ ] You have had a boyfriend/ girlfriend/ fiance/ husband/ wife.
[X] You have your own room.
[X] You own a cellphone.
[ ] You have an ipod/ mp3 player.
[ ] Your parents are still married.
[X] You have more than 2 best friends.
[ ] There is a swimming pool in your backyard.

Total: 3

[X] You dress how you want to.
[X] You hang out with friends more than once a week.
[ ] There is a computer/ laptop in your room.
[ ] You have never been beaten up (Playing around when I was a kid )
[ ] You never cry more than twice a month.
[ ] You are allowed to listen to the music you want to.
[X] Your room is big enough for you.
[ ] People don't use you for something you have.
[ ] You have been to a concert.

Total: 3

[ ] You have over 50 friends on myspace
[ ]You have pictures on myspace.
[ ] Your parents let you have a myspace
[ ] You get allowance
[ ] You collect something normal.
[ ] You look forward to going to school.
[X] You don't wish you were someone else.
[X] You play a sport.
[X] You do something after school.

Total: 3

[ ] You own a car.
[ ] You usually don't fight with your parent(s).
[X] You are happy with your appearance
[ ] You aren't self-consious at all
[ ] You have never got a failing grade in your life
[X] You have friends

Total: 2

[X] you know what is going on in the world.
[X] You care about so many people.
[Y] You are happy with your life
[ ] You usually aren't sick.
[X]You know more than one language
[X] You have a screen name.
[Y] You own a pet.
[ ] You know the words to more than 5 songs.
[ ] You dont have any enemies
[X] You are happy you're living.

Total: 6
Overall Total: 17
Grand Total: 51%

These are then added up and then multiplied by three. Apparently.

My life is 51% happy, apparently. This thing is so inaccurate. XD I may not have everything in the world, but I am generally happy. Although I'd be much happier if Smokey wasn't around me... and I was with Kath in America. :/ Still.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/11977095/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/11977095/ Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:37:54 PST
Here's be the rules: People who get tagged MUST write a journal about their 6 weird habits/things/hates as well as state this rule clearly. The first person, the lucky puppy dog, managed to get awat with bullet pointing their six strange habits rather than journalizing them.

After of which, you must choose a further five or six more people to tag in which they do the same thing with the journal habits. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their Deviant Art page! If they don't read yours, they are fools. Or busy. Or perhaps are too busy being hugged.

1: Okay, okay, so I get jealous of how lucky other people are. It's stupid, I know, but it does annoy me when I try hard at something and fall flat about a billion times, and then someone else does it without effort or skill, get lucky and do well or pass what I wanted to achieve. It's silly, I know. XD But I do get annoyed when that happens.

2: I love to love people. ^^ I always have urges to hug people or nuzzle them, although I can't, really, at the expense of being looked at as if I'm a nutcase. I do love to E-hug people online, though. :3 More-so females, not because they are girls, but because their personalities generally are more understanding in the nuzzly department.

3: I probably see Izzy/Koel more online than I do offline. XD

4: I become an emotional wreck when I feel shunned by my friends, even though they may not be shunning me at all. To such an extent I am teary-eyed and begin to hate myself for who I am incase it's all my fault. O.o This has happene several times. Whenever I do feel like my friends just don't want to see me, I turn very emo, when I really shouldn't. I even once attempted suicide because of this, several years back when I became so depressed over them that I felt it would be better off not being around at all. Those were bad times. Recently, I have only just discovered some of my older school friends didn't even want me to discover I could go to the Esquire gatherings with my school's 6th form, just at the expense that they didn't want to see me. This generally causes my vast insomnia.

5: I call myself a vivid Crash Bandicoot fan even though I find myself playing Tenkaichi 2 more than Twinsanity at times. Not that I'm not a Crash Fan, I'm an avid one, but I find multiplayers and such things more fun, even when I am on my own.

6: I hold my nose and suck in when my ears pop to suck the pressure out. XD It works, okay! And my ears pop often. Like when I yawn or turn my head too quickly.

I tag Izzy/Koel, Inu, Mecha... um... XD HPZr and Shelby again. XD

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/11771115/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/11771115/ Sun, 11 Feb 2007 09:54:58 PST
I don't really know where to start, to be honest. Well, okay, I haven't been near the Crash Mania forums in a small while now. I don't really have much of a reason, except that I feel the community is slightly falling apart. HPZr really motivated me to go there, but he hasn't been around in ages. No one has. So I haven't felt the need to go on there.

I do mean that I haven't really seen much of anyone recently. It's degrading. Matt has been the only true person who has kept me company. I'm glad for the chats with Kath online when I can get to talk to her. The impression I'm getting is that perhaps no one wants to talk to me? What am I, then? A sad, lonely emo freak with no life? Pft. Seems the impression people are giving me. Izzy/Koel once said to me that he admired the fact that I don't have problems and if I do, I don't express them. Here's news: a problem is when suddenly no one is around to even want to talk with you. You feel unloved by even your friends. Perhaps because I'm a selfish bastard? Who knows what others truly think of me. Hmph. Just wanted to put that one across, since it's on my mind a lot.

So, onto other matters, it looks like February is upon us in another year. So Valentine's day is the main thing of note this month. Well, I'm curious as to what people's plans are this year, to be honest. Most people say they won't plan anything, but secretly, I bet they will. I'm not being nosey, but curious - what is everyone up to on DA for Valentine's Day? I'm interested. :3 As for I, nope... I can't say I do have a valentine. I do have people I love, but let's face it, no one would ever like me back in the same way. I'll be sending Kath something as appreciation for being there for me online, though.

- CREATIVITY -

I've been trying to get away from spriting and stuff on Crash Vs Forums, the game. Mainly getting back into the swing of college work, and spefically focusing on Film Studies. I forgot my love for filiming and editing so much. I only rediscovered it when the DBZEF forums (an online Role Playing Dragon Ball forum) requested that I make a promo video for them. So, I have been doing a lot on the old Movie editing programs and such. Not a bad thing, since it has recently given me a new lease of life in creativity. This includes a new written work story I've been working on, and also getting to learn Flash. I'll post up some of that story soon, actually. I'm typing it, rather than my typical hand-written methods.

The Flash project I'm starting off with is the saga of Darren Shan. Sure, those books, right? Indeed, a series I am fond with, too. It shall be interesting to turn the series into flash episodes based on the books. It should also be fun to see people's reactions to writing in visula cartoony form. Also, as you may have noticed, I have uploaded some character face designs. See if you can guess who is who if you have read the book series! XD So yeah, I'm going to enjoy working on this. I have a script up and everything, adapting things from the books... cutting things out... all sorts. I've also been hyping up on the Darren Shan movie, but that's to be release next year and is far off. I wish, in all my might, I could cast as Evra Von, a snake-human character.

- OVER AND OUT -

Well, I cannot really say much else from me. I am trying not to be so self-analytical, but recently it's just been too hard not to. I see myself as a selfish cheesecake, to be honest. I also think others see me like that, which I do hope they don't. Then again, why else would everyone avoid me? I'm even a loner in college. In anycase, I'm spending every shred of money I have on people this month, when I can, to show my appreciation for them. I do spend what money is left on food, for myself, but I just don't wanna be shunned to the side. So yes, this is it from me, this month. Well. There will be one other journal on a questionnaire thingy... thanks to Inuberry, but that will be at the end of this month, probably.

So goodbye to all for now! - A lonely Smaz.

]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/11374907/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/11374907/ Tue, 09 Jan 2007 13:17:11 PST
Aaaaaaaanyway. After the very crestfallen Christmas and tear-jerking decisions on other life-changing matters, I have come back to work on Crash Vs. Forums after a small break in December after Mecha accidentally lost all of the program files... more than once. XD He's busy with other things now, but in the meantime, I might as well continue the spriting scheme and complete Slick.

Speaking of which - an update. The character roster HAS changed for Crash Vs. Forums, since the initial desicion, since some members have... simply gone off, tuned n00bish, or aren't as important as others to the story. So remember the game IS based on the story of the comic series I submit every so now and again, and the fights that occur in those will be in the game's story-mode. Anyway, here is the current roster:

Original Crew: Newer Crew: Evil Characters:

HPZr Rooreeloo Matt Cortex (The Doc)
Jump Button Bonkywop RaZeR
Slick Mecha Jen L
Smaz Holy Sock CBFan
CHS Insane Star Stephen
GoldSparx Vegg Austin
DDL Lars
Tani

That's right, 21 characters. At the start, there will be around 5 characters you can start off with to fight each other, with their initial costume, since each character has two costumes. It has yet to be decided which characters you can start with, but most probably 3 original characters, 1 newer character and 1 evil character. Other characters and costumes can be unlocked after completing specific things in story mode, such as reenacting an attack from the comic fight version of a fight, or doing other things in the game. Some obviously harder to obtain than others.

The fighting style hasn't changed, but is to be a combination still of the DragonBall Z: Budokai series crossed with Super Smash Brothers Melee, and finalized features to be online, although the online thing will be the most hardest thing to sort out. Tests were done, so it is possible, but that will come later. Of course, the elements are the same, also, with every character having their own Long Range Attack, Melee Attack, Random Attack and Ultimate Move to fire off against the opponent, with the ultimate move only being able to be used when the player has gained 5 Wumpa Gauges. These are small, circular dots under each character's percentage health bar that fill up during the course of the match, and some items will cause them to fill up to max quickly, enabling the character to cause maximum damage earlier on and the such. Once the Ultimate is used, the Wumpa Gauge resets and slowly charges up again during the match.

I did want people to know what characters there were, but as far as arenas go, I don't want to entirely spoil that, so here are just three of them. There are planned to be as many arenas as playable characters, one belonging to each character in particular except for two arenas. I shall reveal:

Crash Mania Forum - Many topics litter the area and act as flooring.
Lemon Tree - A large tree, snow and an underground bunker for fun.
Volcano - Many hiding places and large ledge above a volcano.

Again, I'm collecting voices for when I do work on each character. Currently HPZr's, Jump Button's, CHS's, Smaz's, Austin's and some of RaZerR's voicing has been collected, each by their actual character in the offline world. Except RaZeR. Which means I play Smaz. XD I'm planning to try and stick to the character-person-voice motive closely, in which the actual person is more free to make up lines for thier character which will be used during combat, so that it really does feel like they are playing THEMSELVES. It is a nice idea I still stick to; if I wrote lines for each character, they'd all have a small essence, somewhat, of my personality.. which isn't natural to them. Some characters, like RaZeR, obviously cannot have their real voices collected, so there are other stand-in's that do the voices instead. Koel/Izzy is playing RaZeR, and did a dang good job of it.

Anyhow. I have ranted enough. If you wanna know more, just let me know! I have recorded t... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/10294333/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/10294333/ Thu, 05 Oct 2006 14:46:45 PDT
Still, not much has happened since college has started, to be honest - everything has been seriously quiet in comparison to the horror that was the Summer Vacation. College hasn't been particularly demanding, since starting... infact, a little easy compared to my expectations. Upper School consisted of essay homeworks that caused me to spend hours upon hours on them, and work pretty constantly, with classes working... but since college doesn't have top sets and bottom sets for ability groups, it all seems standard. So in that sense, college hasn't done much to me at all. I've just had one irritation of homework from English, and that is it. If anything, the cost of me getting there at £26 a week ticks me off, with the rest going on books and lunch.

--------------
CRASH VS.
--------------

Luckily, this has given me a large amount of free time, now. This is all being spent on my new creation. I'm letting the cat out of the bag for now, on DA, that's right little kitty.. *meow* and shall update my forums with it later. My days have been spent on creating the Crash Vs. Forums - a game created via Game Maker based on the Crash VU series comics I did, and the Crash Mania comics, that I have yet to upload.

The Crash Vs. Forums is a fighting game, that was original based around the DBZ: Budokai series style of fighting, although recently that has evolved to be somewhat like that, but Super Smash Brothers-esque at the same time. A hard feat, yesh? And yet, is well on it's way. Mecha really wanted to provide programming for it, due to him creating a similar idea and all, so we ended up joining forces. It was because of him that the game has adopted a Super Smash Brothers feel. Although, we are trying to get a maximum of four characters on screen at once, we have yet to see how this works out. If not, then two will be the target.

There are SO MANY sprites being drawn, currently, but luckily it is a character-driven game, so any additional sprites won't be too major, just level platforms and a few goodies here and there. Every character has the typical punch (or physical attack, in some cases) and block defense, to reduce damage done to them. The special attack list is, as follows:

Long-Range - Something that can hit afar. Usually a beam.
Melee Attack - A strong mutlitude of physical attack/s.
Random - Anything can happen to damage or defend the character.
Ultimate - A powerful move special for each character!

There will be a small health bar, with the character's portrait next to it, the plan is. Of course, you can damage the opponent, and reduce their health bar, depending on how strong the attack is to them. Once the health bar is whittled to nothing, I believe the plan is that the character can be knocked out of the arena. It has yet to be decided how many times they can be knocked out, but that is the plan.

For those interested, here is the character roster:

HPZr,
Smaz,
CHS,
Jump Button,
GoldSparx,
DDL,
Slick Boy,
Matt Cortex (The Doc),
RaZeR,
Jen L,
Mecha,
Rooreeloo,
Bonkywop,
CBFan,
Austin,
Florez.

Yup. That's them. I'm also debating on whether or not to put in Insane Star in and Tani Tiger, but I guess it depends on sprite development. I may just take out Bonkywop, in actual fact, but we shall see. Everyone else is definite. Also, I did my homework for each character available, so Rooreeloo is a floating N.Trance-creation, complete with those Rooreeloo-style eyes, CBFan can transform into a lizard to gain more attack power, and Jump Button is a Super Hamster with super powers. There is one alternate costume for each character, too, with HPZr bearing his human form, and Neal-like form complete with jacket, too, for example.

Some characters have been redesigned slightly from the VU comic, such as Slick, who now looks more like Scrooge McDuck, and claiming his alternate costume as this duck form wearing a Nazi uniform. Everyone's specials back some force, too, and some attacks are designed especially for the game.

I hope I haven't dragged this out for too long, and shall upload the group picture for the game, on the Friday. I am also trying to gain voices out of the each respected character's real alias, so CHS actually has CHS's voice, and Smaz has... well, my voice. XD Some I can't do, obviously, but hey. I have also created a fully-fledged main theme for the game via Music 2000, that I hope to upload somewhere on the computer soon. I'll let you know when a demo is ready. Hopefully, the demo will have three fully-working characters in it to fight as. Probably only... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/10112078/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/10112078/ Mon, 18 Sep 2006 13:53:02 PDT
So here we are again. The Summer Vacation is over and we all are back at school and education. Except HPZr, poor bandicoot. Well, after hearing that I was rejected from the American Embassy to move to America in the conditions, and travel to the other side of the country and back, as well as almost being kicked out, I find myself in college - which was part of the comprimise my mother set to staying in the house. Oh how I was riddled with bad luck for the Summer.

Actually, as it turns out, college was rather fun. I've been there a good, solid week now, and things are pretty dang cool. Okay, okay, so the first few days were... kinda nerve-racking... I mean, I ended up in the North Hertfordshire College, different to Izzy's, alone. It didn't take long to actually recognize someone I used to talk to in GCSE Science, however. There we both sat, in the meeting hall... being moved around into form classes... hmph. I ended up in a small class in which I am one of four males out of the whole class of 16. The thing that struck me there, immediately, is that the ratio of females to males is pretty devastating; a good 70-75% are females out of the 100%. Still, I do dislike my form class - WAY too quiet, and that still hasn't changed from the first day.

Regardless, the lessons are very cool. I participate in AS levels, currently... that's above GCSE levels... so... I guess further education, for those other countries with different education systems. That includes English Language/Literature, Communications and Film. All have been pretty fun, with Film (Media) being the one I look forward to, most. I have seen what all of the courses offer throughout the year or two, and am prepared for that. I have also made a few nice friends at college, too... well, picking the two out, would be Scott and Maria - two very nice divers, if you will. XD They're both very cool, and I must say that Scott has some real shining DA artwork to check out... he has very good taste in a lot, really.

Well, I don't have much to do at lunch and break times, when alone at college. I can put up with being alone when the others aren't there, since I'm used to being alone at school/education, anyway. I generally like to work on the new Crash Mania comic series I have in the works. Indeed, I have gone fill swing on that work, which I must say, is turning out pretty cooly. Although, I did say that there would be full color in this new comic series... man... I'm scrapping that when I start the first page of comic 3 for good reason - I HATE IT! XD It looks nice, yes (to some degree), but in some cases it ruins the detail I put into the panels, and takes twice as long to produce a page... in most cases three times the amount. So, yup - the third Crash Mania forum comic will have no color, once more. The first comic, and second are a complete three pages long, each, with some new characters and new humorous moments. I shall upload them after completing the third comic.

So all in consideration, any other artwork I have in the works are my large Red Ribbon Battle Jacket Mech, which N.Gin is riding his heart out, crushing Crash, and a large group picture I am planning of the Crash VU / Crash Mania forum comic series crew. You'll recognize a lot of faces there, since it features every member to have appeared in the series, and some that have yet to appear. Jen L, Tani, Florez, CBFan, Rooreeloo... you name it - they're there.

Games I'm awaiting should be put on hold for now, I guess. Tenkaichi 2, I seriously am looking forward to, just to team up with Izzy or someone and pwn the computer stupid. Kingdom Hearts II seems to be a big hype, although that died down for me when Europe had to wait a 6-7 month wait later than American's release. Then there is Crash Bang Boom, which I have no hope in playing due to it being on a DS system, which I do not own. Although, I seriously would love to play against other people from around the world on it's online capability. I can't concentrate on any of these right now, since everything I have money-wise is going towards simply travelling to college, and eating lunch at college. And even when the EMA (Education Maintanance Allowance) comes through, a part will go to my mother and the rest can go bye-bye. It's not like a decent-part time job is going to appear to help out without my mother, Smokey, taking most money for her to do nothing, anyway. Blurgh. I guess I'll sort something out. It would be awesome if I could work with Izzy, though. College suggests only a 12-hour working job a week, since it will interrupt with our work, otherwise.

My last note would be something of... maybe a down one. I... kinda am feeling pretty lonely right about now. Well, not just now. But over the last few weeks or so, really. Suddenly being zoomed off the an alien college without any previous... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/9839420/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/9839420/ Thu, 24 Aug 2006 13:19:03 PDT
THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME:

The second tale started when an unexpected guest arrived on my doorstep last Monday... Lee Janes, an old aquaintance of mine and original director of our old home movie: Cyber Master, appeared to ask if I would accompany him back to his place way in a town called Clacton. Okay, feeling I had nothing to lose, and told it wasn't that far away, I decided to travel with Lee and his two friends who just so happened to be there at the time. These consisted of two girls, one named Patsy and one called Nat, for Natasha. Patsy turned out to be Lee's new girlfriend of the month. So I travelled with them via train.

Mistake one. The train journey, to Lee's place was a whopping £45. Turns out that approximately 4 train relocations and changings were involved with ticket inspectors galore. So, obviously, unable to pay for such a largely priced ticket, we bunked the trains. We went down the line just fine, unhindered by inspectors until we reacher a place called Hitchen, in which we were bombarded by ticket inspectors thinking we were chavs at the station, since we had to change train to reach a different line there. There was only one way to escape this fate - to lie. I didn't like that one bit. So, eventually changing lines, we were discovered by another inspector who threw us off at a small station called March, which was where things kicked off. Patsy, this girl of Lee's, started to show her true self - the emo self. Becoming paranoid from being thrown off, she decided to call her parents.

Mistake two. By doing so, she alerted her parents to the situation, who ended up hating Lee, calling up everyone and resulting us to have to jump onto another train to reach a totally different station that wasn't on the agenda, in which her parents were waiting for a crying emo Patsy. No offence to her, but hey, she over-reacted. Natasha also started to... *ahem* start showing signs of interest towards me. I learnt a great deal about her, who apparently was a writer, and fairly intelligent. She showed feelings for me which I couldn't really give back, since there is only one person for me. Ah well... I guess it was my first kiss...

Still, after some evil vending machine stole my money on a packet of Minstrels (I'll get that vending machine for taking my money and ripping me off!), Lee and I reached Clacton, in which we met a local homeless guy called Ernest, making wise-crack jokes. Still, we left him to it at the station whilst Lee and I headed to Natasha's place, as it were. Turns out that I wouldn't be back that evening to my home town after all.. since it took 8 hours to get there... well, we hauled up there after Nat came back an updated us with emo Patsy news about her mother manipulating her to try and break up with Lee. We get all the breaks, eh?

Well, I spent a good day in Clacton, this little SEASIDE town. The very next day, after such a short visit and some Cyber Master 3 ideas, since I rediscovered my writing spark, we we forced to swiftly leave. Lee was on the run from some chavs and thugs who were going to hunt Lee down, since they chased him for a bit. Knowing they'd discover where we were hiding out, Lee, Natasha and I were forced to leave immediately for Sandy - my hometown. The fun began. There, whilst waiting for the train, we were reunited with Ernest, who turned out to be Nat's old boyfriend. He ended up tagging along with us, due to loving her, whilst she despised him to no end. You can imagine the strange quaduplet group we formed.

Jumping on the train and narrowly escaping these other thugs, the four of us set out down to the end of the line without inspection, luckily. Not so luckily was that it was the last train of the night, which left us stranded at this station all evening. I ended up pulling an all-nighter, whilst Lee and Nat tried sleeping on the platform. Ernest kept looking at Nat... pervert he was. Meh. So, being out in the cold that night, the first train eventually pulled up in the morning. Straight on we went, and straight off at the next station we came off, due to a ticket inspector of high irritation. 7:00am in the morning led us to be kicked off at a place called Elmswell, which really was in the middle of nowhere. The train made a specific stop here to throw us off, since it normally doesn't stop there. And the ticket guy alerted every other person down the whole line about us... causing us... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/9521594/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/9521594/ Fri, 28 Jul 2006 10:31:04 PDT
Rejected.

Apparently there were many assests that resulted in this. First off, as I was informed, there was something fishy about me going over there for over three months for what I was doing. Secondly, they wanted to know a precise date of my return - that was something I couldn't by far do, considering the polan was to go over on a temporary VISA and then have me do something over there enabling to get me a permanent one to live over there... so I couldn't give a date of return... since I needed documented proof on it too. Part of this reason included written proof of me returning, such as going to a college or something, but since I have finished school and am in no educational system right now.. well, that worked against me. Thirdly, and I so wish that I hadn't had said this now, was the working stuff. As I was told by the people who I was going to live with, I was to work for a bit. Now mentioning this was my biggest mistake - I needed another VISA for this. There was also the fact, thanks to mentioning this, that they wanted more documented proof on the place I was to work over there - which obviously hadn't been sorted because that was to be decided when I was over there. Go me.

Still, I guess I need to sort some other stuff out now. This isn't really good considering my mother wants to get rid of me... ah, there's another thing. As announced today, she has found a place to move away to in my worst City of all places - London. Either I move with her, or am kicked out. I'd rather not move - since it will mean I have to pay her for living there. So... well, I was hoping to go to the US before she moved, but... geez...

As far as art goes, I've been a bit busy with this all, really, so again, not much art. Although I'm still thinking of some Naruto work, Android 13 work and also the Crash Mania forum series. I've ben hyping up for Tenkaichi 2, recently, which has led to my gain in Android-hyperism after seeing a lot on Android 13 from it. XD Well, I even drew myself as an android... maybe I can add that one up sooner or later. As far as the Crash Mania series is coming along, well, there is one idea involving Darth Jesse, Tawna and Jen L as a trio of silly gals, off tangent from everyone else, mimicking the idea of Team Rocket. Jen L can be Meowth. XD

Well, I guess there really isn't much to bring you all up to date on now. Izzy/Koel, Matt and I have been getting together much more often to have a bit off fun, really, but that is it - not expecting you to know who Matt is, though. XD See ya around for now! And man, I really do know that feeling of failure or rejection now... feel as though I'm in the same boat as HPZr and Tani.

Goodbye for now! Take care! here is your prize monnay!

- Smaz ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/9404751/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/9404751/ Mon, 17 Jul 2006 11:28:01 PDT
Still, such stuff has been slowing me down from much drawings and pictures, hence why I have been recently uploading my oldish Crash VU forum comic series to keep those, who actually do watch me, interested. The next series, the Crash Mania forum series, will start in approximately two weeks time, or three even, in full color and glory, introducing new characters, new threats and new laughs. Is that Crashtastic enough for you? Any other pictures I have in the midst to draw are a few few Cyber Master sketches for the second Cyber Master movie - in full flash animation. I've been thinking of a few humorous and series ideas for it, and I've been wanting to draw a few things, besides some storyboards, to see how they'll look. Of course, Izzy/Koel will be the director, but as part of the main crew, my job is to organize the story and ideas, more than anything else, and I've had.. ideas. Any other things in mind are Naruto drawings, but they'll come into their own form much later. Mainly Haku stuff.

It's a good thing this computer hasn't smashed itself up yet and made me lose the internet again, really - I really did miss talking to everyone on the Crash forums and the such... and meeting old aquaintences has been... fufilling. Still, I look forward to many things - such as the upcoming Crash game for the DS, Outcast Bandicoot stuff, by Tani Tiger, and any additional Cyber Master work from Izzy. The main thing to look forward to, is the move and transitioning to America. If there has been anything more important to me in my life, asides my final exams (GCSE's), then this would surely be it! Unless it's some sort of marriage day to top that, but I sincerely doubt so, since I don't think I'd ever get married... *ahem* Anyhow...

It's been an enjoyable week or so, with uploading the comic series and stuff on YouTube (a site that uploads and hosts interesting videos and the such. Just type Smaz for the majority of my work), such as Crash boss videos, DragonBall Z music videos of mine, and even the odd random Energon DIE-O-RAMA with classic Benny Hill music! Compliments to Jump Button for that one. I guess all I have to do is clear up these last few American issues... go for my appointment... and then wait as the end of part 1 of my life comes nearer. I'll really miss Izzy and Matt. At leats I'll be able to talk to most people over here when I'm gone, via messengers... although Yahoo recently has been on the fritz, at least MSN has been semi-reliable. ICQ is up and running, once more, too!

Well, look out in the future for any work from me! But don't expect anything too soon. I might do some Cyber Master II work, but we'll see what my mood is, to be honest. Of course... there are also some... *ahem* Pokemon Card issues to deal with.. but hey. XD I long for an official tournament...

See ya all soon! Don the Pop Tarts - it's gonna be an interesting ride.

- Smaz. ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/9064226/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/9064226/ Wed, 14 Jun 2006 08:00:59 PDT
Howdy all! A strange opener, but then I really haven't written a journal since Easter. This may be long, it may be short. We'll see as it unravels. To date, it is the Summer Vacation for America right now, but right here in England, school still goes on, as it does until the near the end of July. I'm currently in my GCSE's, with only one left to go (GCSE's are the equivalent to the Finals exams right at the end of the last school year), which stands as Maths Higer Tier. Technically, I have finished school, just going back to school for these exams... with the worst for last... bloody Maths. So, revision and studying are aplenty.

I haven't been up to much, really. But with school over and exams coming to an end, life really is going to change from now on. Seriously. Izzy/Koel, my good buddy, is going to be leaving for America for a few weeks starting from next Tuesday. Originally, I would have left with him, had not have been for my mother as well as many many inconveniences (I count 9, darn it - NINE) and slow downs... as if an evil force is upholding my plans. So, I'm leaving at a later date. Unfortunately. This will be the last time I'll be able to see Izzy before he goes... I might be leaving to move over there during his absense. As soon as I obtain that BLASTED INFERNAL VISA! GWAH! Who knew becoming an America Citizen was harder than it sounded? And even then, there's no guarentee I'll obtain one. The Embassy might say no. All I need is an appointment with the American Embassy, obtain that blasted VISA that has failed 9 times now, and I'll be on my way...

There are many things going on right now, but I'm not getting stressed over everything like the typical emo. Nope - I'm getting worried and really ticked off at the VISA thing, due to how every time something happens (like last time, when I needed my passport to call, went home to look for about 40 minutes... went back to the phone... lines had closed. By one minute). I'm gonna miss Izzy when I leave this country... if I ever can sodding leave... but at least I'll be with my best friend, Kath, and Mom over there. :3

Pictures have been pretty minimal recently... I've only been slowly uploading my artwork on the Vivendi Universal Crash forum comics - but they were all drawn a long time ago, apart from 'The Ultimate Showdown' which was only completed fairly recently. I've mainly been uploading my Crash videos on YouTube bigger fish to fry now that I'm FINALLY BACK ONLINE. Yup - this computer finally has the internet connection back - a revelation, really... a miracle. Still, it isn't stopping my mother for having fits of shouts at me everytime she catches me typing, since apparently the sound of typing annoys her. ¬.¬ Still, now that I'm back and have lots of time, thanks to no school, I'm on here often when my mother is out, meaning I can catch up with the Crash forums. Before anyone asks, I've migrated to the Crash Mania forum, since that's where most of the decent original members went (mainly featured in the comic), with only a few absent. VU is n00binated, so there's little point of returning unless I want information on Crash Boom Bang; the next Crash Bandicoot game.

I'm looking forward to a variety of things. Moving, for one. The only games I'm looking forward to are Crash Bang Boom, DBZ: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 and the ever so delayed Kingdom Hearts II in this country. Still, at least it's out in America... Muahaha! Artwork on Cyber Master isn't minimal, just scattered - I mainly give my pieces to Izzy/Koel since he is doing the animation for the movie, and is the director for the Flash movie sequel. I've been trying to hang around with Izzy more often before he leaves... but now he is extremely busy this week... with his college work before travelling out. Lucky bandicoot. At least he doesn't need a VISA. Still, I'll try and draw what I can, but to be honest, now that the 'net is back, I wanna catch up with all of the Crashies and work... so- oh, there's my mother now! See ya next time! ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/8559987/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/8559987/ Sun, 23 Apr 2006 10:56:00 PDT
Moving away...

Still, it's not only my school days that are coming to an end - it's my life over here as a whole. For, in just under two months, I shall moving to anohter country.... and away from the United Kingdom and England... and to the United States of America. So, it's goodbye to my friends... including Izzy, or known as Koel to some, and some others such as Lloyd. Sure, I'll miss everyone, but believe me when I say that there is more going for me over there... and I'll be moving in with my friend, Dingodilelover. Well, I know her as Kath - my best friend in the world. ^^ Still, at least school will be over - whether that will be a good thing or not is another matter. I will be having my results sent over... and yes - that is the only reason in why I have waited to travel over there - because I wanted to finish my Finals (GCSE) exams over here - the consistancey in the course and topics would be easier that way, other than transferring to a school over there. Still, I'm SOOO looking forward to it! All that is needed now is a Visa... and before you ask such idle questions to do with America, July the 4th IS Independance Day. XD

Artwork:

As far as art goes, my art is still with the tradition work and graphite... the only problem is that I still cannot upload them all or scan them in, due to computer still being on the internet fritz. Still, I can tell you that most of my recent work has been on the Crash Bandicoot 4 project, which I desperately still want to complete, and Cyber Master II. More so on the latter due to Koel and I working on such an immense project. I have been drafting storyboards a plenty for the animated movie, for Koel to see how the scenes will be laid out and will look like, with their own added quirks here and there, such as the Matt Palmer discovery scene, and the scenes in which Lee and I fight. Heh heh - I don't expect you to understand just yet what these scenes mean, but you'll see in due time. My current progress is this whilst Izzy (Koel) designs some more characters. I'm keeping to the parts in which I know what the characters look like, and then when Izzy designs a new character, I start work on that storyboard involving them. Lloyd has been the most recently designed, so I need to start something with him in. The most recent two pieces I have is the full color Greg one, which is one of my oh so rare colored pencil pieces, and my A3 Cyber Master II film poster, involving all of the main crew and characters in a line, with each one of us with as weapon to the other's head to the right of them. XD The poster states - "In A War, Everyone Is After Someone Else"

Written Work:

Of course, I have some other work too, but you know - I really do have to focus on revision and studying for these GCSE exams, so I have no other time for pictures and the likes! Other than Art coursework. There may be a piece that I'll submit at some point called 'A Stolen Union', which was an English GCSE coursework submitted piece, to see what people think of that - it's a short and unique story. I didn't obtain an A for it, but I'll see what you all think rather than the teacher. Other English-related pieces involve two poems - one about Nicoley and one about Kath. Hey - they both mean a lot to me! ^^ And the Kath one is mainly about moving on and emotions that have been with me recently...

Voice Acting:

This journal must be drawing to a close by now. I really miss Crash at home! Darn it - why does everything electronical of mine fall apart at the same time! ARGH! No PS2 means no Crash. Still, atl least I have finished all of the voicing that was needed for Tani Tiger's Outcast Bandicoot movie - which was way overdue, might I add. Just you wait... Jaseo, here I come!

The End:

The only other thing to note is that I've been watching a lot of Naruto recently - an anime, and many may already know that I like Haku, due to my avatar and all. So, it wouldn't surprise me at all if any future work involves Naruto-based characters.

I must say, though, this... ]]> ~Smaz http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/8429663/ http://Smaz.deviantart.com/journal/8429663/ Mon, 10 Apr 2006 16:20:16 PDT
The Art:

In the average life of Smaz, you'll find me. And guess what? I'll be doing some art. In recent times, however, my internet has been disconnected at home - a major downfall when coming to forums and Deviant Art. I still draw artwork, mainly graphite, but they are stuck at home, failed to be scanned and placed onto DA... such as the whole 11 comic series of the Crash VU forums, involving such characters as myself, HPZr, Tani and even Razer and Jen L, as well as work on Koel's upcoming Cyber Master II animated movie. Thankfully, the very same Koel lets me online from time to time, but that is my only time to update DA.

The change:

Speaking of updating my account, many may have noticed the change. I've been putting it off for a long time now... but my account now has INFORMATION. XD I finally have an avatar - Haku, from the Anime series Naruto, that I've been recently just getting into. He's reasoning and personality is all too similar to mine. ^^ My ID card is there, too, with all my personal info, including age and the likes, also other avatars you'll see around of me.

And the sweet, sweet love:

Also... indeed... I must thank Koel, or Izzy, for much of my tough times recently. Heh heh... little sleep and food can go a long way, but then Koel's always there to back me up, and even was supportive on the who Nicole thing. I also like a certain girl recently too... Nicole, infact. She's the best! Even if she is over-seas. ^^ But then, perhaps she is inspiration enough to keep working, despite all the odds? Well, usually I don't like people in this way, but there is a first time for everything, right?

And that will be all for now. I'll have some work up when I can - some graphite and even the odd change or two in my style, including a few colored pencil pieces. Remember to wrap up warm... and... uh... love thy night. ^^ ]]> ~Smaz