http://browse.deviantart.com/journals/?order=5&q=by%3AValdrin deviantART RSS for in:journals sort:time by:Valdrin en-us Copyright 2013, deviantART.com Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:50:52 PDT deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://st.deviantart.net/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Respect-Your-Gamer-Audience-342187487 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Respect-Your-Gamer-Audience-342187487 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 10:50:25 PST Respect Your (Gamer) Audience nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2012-2013 ~Valdrin
"As a storyteller, I feel a responsibility to treat topics that are painful to people thoughtfully and tell a story that isn't exploitative of those topics, but I don't think we should feel restricted because we make games. It's an M-rated game and people who buy the game should have their intelligence respected, just like any other media."--Ken Levine, creative director & lead writer for "BioShock Infinite"; what follows is only tangentially connected

The Walking Dead game is seriously one of the most harrowing fucking experiences I've ever had ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Passing-Time-334011177 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Passing-Time-334011177 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 18:17:50 PDT Passing Time nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2012-2013 ~Valdrin
In the meantime I picked up Doom 3 BFG Edition and am quite enjoying shooting demons in the face again.  Never actually owned any of the Doom games before, so it's nice to have all three of them in one set.  Also picked up a couple of games off the PSN for heavily discounted prices thanks to a free month trial of Playstation Plus. (Monster Land IV and Costume Quest, the latter of which I've wanted to pick up for a while and at $3.75 I couldn't resist!)

And next week... well... next week is LEGO The ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/New-Update-331643313 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/New-Update-331643313 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 21:32:00 PDT New Update! nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2012-2013 ~Valdrin
http://fav.me/d5hg6g2

Because I had the link copied already.  There we go.

I'd say more, but I don't have anything more to say.  So there.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna play me some Borderlands 2 before I go to bed. ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Third-Party-Proofreading-Has-Begun-320605477 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Third-Party-Proofreading-Has-Begun-320605477 Sat, 11 Aug 2012 19:37:57 PDT Third Party Proofreading Has Begun nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2012-2013 ~Valdrin
While I'm waiting on that, I'll be working again on "Steel Souls".  I'll be honest, I'v ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/The-Joys-of-Editing-so-to-speak-310604746 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/The-Joys-of-Editing-so-to-speak-310604746 Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:40:27 PDT The Joys of Editing (so to speak) nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2012-2013 ~Valdrin
And then you realize that the reasons for certain events don't make sense, but because you like the events so much you find yourself re-thinking the motivations so the events can still happen and make sense to the overall plot.

And then you realize that the opening may not be as catchy as you want it to be and, as much as you might like it, you f ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Editing-Misadventures-Now-Takes-Priority-304726776 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Editing-Misadventures-Now-Takes-Priority-304726776 Sun, 27 May 2012 13:36:48 PDT Editing Misadventures Now Takes Priority nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2012-2013 ~Valdrin
I've been procrastinating.  Misadventures of a Space Captain has been sitting there, staring me in the face, waiting to be edited and proofread and worked on, but it hasn't.  Instead I've been working on Steel Souls, and while it's been great, Misadventures has always been in the back of my mind.  But here I am, working on a new idea, puttering away with it, getting it out of my head, while the old one sits there, calling me to

Well... it's time, I think.

Now, I'm not abandoning Steel Souls, not at all.  It's still important to me, something I think deserves to be written, ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/A-Few-Articles-Worth-Perusing-300185813 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/A-Few-Articles-Worth-Perusing-300185813 Sat, 05 May 2012 11:04:09 PDT A Few Articles Worth Perusing nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2012-2013 ~Valdrin
Holy hell there's a lot to consider.  It's also utterly fascinating.  I've only scratched the surface the the SFWA article (linkie: SFWA Writer's Beware: Self Publishing) but it's some excellent stuff there.  If there are any authors here who are looking into self-publishing, whether it's Print-on-Demand or via the various e-books out there (Kindle, Nook, kobo, etc) then give it a read.  It's honestly some excellent stuff.  Just be prepared to be there a while: there's a lot of info there, and more link ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Small-Revelations-297236513 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Small-Revelations-297236513 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:49:05 PDT Small Revelations nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2012-2013 ~Valdrin
But then, I enjoyed Dragon Age 2, so maybe I'm not the best to talk.

My gaming time, right now, is being devoured by some older titles.  While cleaning out the den I came across a few that I'd been meaning to replay, just for the sake of "holy crap, this game was awesome!" so I pulled them aside for current devouring.

Xenogears.
Vagrant Story.
Jade Empire.

I have finished all of ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Why-is-it-summer-right-now-Where-s-spring-man-291801664 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Why-is-it-summer-right-now-Where-s-spring-man-291801664 Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:41:17 PDT Why is it summer right now? Where's spring, man? nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2012-2013 ~Valdrin
I really have nothing that's actually important to sa ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/The-More-You-Know-288129211 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/The-More-You-Know-288129211 Thu, 01 Mar 2012 23:46:16 PST The More You Know... nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2012-2013 ~Valdrin
Nice little cat nap.  Now I'm quite awake at 2:45am, but still, learning is fun! ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Laptop-s-Back-let-the-Writing-Recommence-282313195 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Laptop-s-Back-let-the-Writing-Recommence-282313195 Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:09:07 PST Laptop's Back... let the Writing Recommence! nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2012-2013 ~Valdrin
Hooray!

Now I can get to the following:

1) Hard boiled detective story set on a planet in the universe established by Misadventures of a Space Captain.

2) Get to editing aforementioned Misadventures of a Space Captain.

3) Work, on and off, on making progress on Revisited.

Lots to do, lots to do, lots to do.  I'm afraid that number 1 on that list will take precedence over number 2, but I guess we'll see what happens. ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Delays-Inspiration-New-Projects-et-al-281619250 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Delays-Inspiration-New-Projects-et-al-281619250 Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:28:51 PST Delays, Inspiration, New Projects, et al. nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2012-2013 ~Valdrin
Thing is, it's my writing computer.  I'd rather not have to transfer crap from one computer to another, considering both are running different versions of Windows AND Word.  So yeah.  I'm waiting until I get that old bugger back, because I' ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Bum-ba-dum-bum-bum-ba-dum-278920730 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Bum-ba-dum-bum-bum-ba-dum-278920730 Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:10:29 PST Bum ba-dum bum, bum ba-dum... nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2012-2013 ~Valdrin
No, seriously.  Made of goddamn win.

Also, I think I'm almost over my writer's block.  I'd like to post at least one new thing in Revisited before I get to my first round of editing Misadventures of a Space Captain.

Also: Terry Pratchett's novel "Snuff" is absolutely delightful.  Thought I'd mention. ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/RANT-277534018 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/RANT-277534018 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:43:43 PST RANT nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2012-2013 ~Valdrin
Yeah, I'm kinda in that spot right now with Revisited and it sucks!  Staring at the screen, wondering "where was I going with this again?" and realizing that I have no idea where I want to go from this point.  I mean, yeah, I still know the main story beats, but from this specific point?  Clueless.

Talk about disheartening, eh? ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Endings-and-Beginnings-276397668 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Endings-and-Beginnings-276397668 Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:44:59 PST Endings and Beginnings nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
On December 24th, I officially finished the first draft to "Misadventures of a Space Captain".  It feels good to get that done, finished, and out there.  I'll be leaving it be for a couple of weeks then coming back to it in order to do some much needed editing, changing, etc.  Then I'll let it sit again, then go over it yet again.  Maybe do that once more, we'll see how I'm feeling.  In the meantime, I'll be looking to get some cover art done (I know someone with the skills required) and, once all the pieces are in place, it gets posted on whatever d ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-270964716 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-270964716 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:07:52 PST Devious Journal Entry nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
So, yeah.  I just wanted to say that I'm going to finally finish writing a book.  I haven't done that in almost ten bloody years.  Still... almost done.  I'm both excited and sad at the same time.  An odd sensation.  I'll have a more thorough examination of my mindset when I'm actually finished and the last part's been posted.

Also: I've tried to slow down with the gaming RSS feeds at work.  They're great, but they really dig into my book reading during lunch.  So I'm trying to slow down on them and actually get a book read here ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Procrastination-and-Writer-s-Block-270283576 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Procrastination-and-Writer-s-Block-270283576 Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:48:34 PST Procrastination and Writer's Block nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
Asking myself that right now.  "Where do I go from here?"  I'm at a break in the story, I know where I need it to go, I'm just not sure exactly how to start the next bit.

Isn't that aggravating?  You know the scenes that are supposed to come next, but you're not at all sure exactly how to get there.  You don't know how to start the next section, or chapter, or whatever you want to call it.

I'm there RIGHT NOW.  Thing is that I'm sooooooooo close to being finished this one, minions!  So close!  I've got a few parts left, of course, sixty to one hundred pages, but still... so close!

And, yes, this is serving as pr ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-267425068 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-267425068 Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:43:41 PDT Devious Journal Entry nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
Writing's been slow lately.  I apologize.  Hopefully, despite the busy week this coming week's gonna be, I can get back up to snuff.  Gonna try tonight.  We'll see.  It's been a busy day (visit to the vet, mall, grocery store... out for almost six hours) and I'm properly wiped, but I'm going to try to not let that stop me.  Key word there, one I've repeated a couple of times: try.

That's pretty much it.  I'm gonna go have a tea now, see if maybe it helps me stay awake for a few hours more until it's somewha ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Wow-really-266960479 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Wow-really-266960479 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:23:25 PDT Wow... really? nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
Worked an 11 hour shift yesterday.

Lost my phone near the beginning of said shift (it was an iphone, too, damn it, with music and pictures and stuff).  Yes, I'm a dumbass.

Woke up today with a headache that the usual pills have barely done anything to.

Hmm... so far so crummy.  At least Arkham City has a ton of post-game content to do to keep me busy. (campaign-wise... not so interested in the challenge rooms).

Writing's stalled.  Poor excuse, but when my mood plummets so does my writing.  I'll try to get back on top of it in the next day or so.  Apologies to anyone who's waiting the next instal ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Landmark-265881064 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Landmark-265881064 Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:31:07 PDT Landmark nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
Misadventures of a Space Captain just hit the 300-page mark.

I find this oddly invigorating.

(as a bit of a contrasting point: Revisited is currently sitting at around 350 pages, as unfinished as it is)

That's it.  Bit of a pointless journal, but I wanted to share. ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Ruminations-Batman-265551599 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Ruminations-Batman-265551599 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:22:55 PDT Ruminations: Batman nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
Part of it is in his origins, and in this way he's much like Spider-Man.  Both are driven to do what they do because of the loss of a loved one.  Spidey has Uncle Ben, Batman has his parents.  The difference between the two is motivation other than grief.  Spidey's is guilt (if only he'd stopped that thief...) while with Batman it's vengeance of a sort.  There's something real, something human to those emotions.

Human.  It's a good word, and it's another part of Batman's appeal that stands out: he's human.  He doesn't ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Questions-Answered-I-took-a-survey-265335628 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Questions-Answered-I-took-a-survey-265335628 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 20:26:53 PDT Questions Answered! (I took a survey) nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
1. Besides DA, what's your favorite Internet site?

One with monkeys.

2. Aliens - gentle peaceful beings or planning to eat you?

Peaceful, if for no other reason than it's better than the clichée.

3. What's your favorite holiday?

If I didn't work retail it'd be Christmas.  I do, however, work retail, so let's say Hallowe'en.  Except I'm too lazy and apathetic to dress up so... umm... Thanksgiving!  Because I get to have my mom's stuffing, and it's bloody aweso ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-264759195 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-264759195 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 15:00:05 PDT Devious Journal Entry nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
First: Batman Arkham City is made of win.  Seriously.  If you're a gamer and a Batman fan, go out right bloody now and get this game.  It's fantastic.  I could go on, but just about every review out there will say what I can say.  The only sad thing about it is needing a code to unlock the Catwoman content.  I like that both Batman and Catwoman play in a similar fashion, but also have touches to how they traverse the environment and how they fight that they still feel like unique, individual characters.  This game is seriously sucking up my free time.  I apologize to anyone who reads my stuff if the frequency of my posts suffer ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Titles-are-For-Chumps-and-Others-Who-Aren-t-Me-264295948 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Titles-are-For-Chumps-and-Others-Who-Aren-t-Me-264295948 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:07:36 PDT Titles are For Chumps and Others Who Aren't Me nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
That said, work on Misadventures of a Space Captain is still going strong.  Be honest, I'd be far more worried if work on that one stalled.

I'll have more to say about the new Batman game later.  I loved "Arkham Asylum" enough that I played through it three damn times, so if this one's annywhere near as good then it'll be amazing.  That said, the Collector's Edition is bl ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Random-Ramblings-263463929 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Random-Ramblings-263463929 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:23:14 PDT Random Ramblings nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
You'll note that the Featured Deviation changed.  Wanted something seasonal, so there you go.  Some explicit violence, terror, and gore, so some fair warning to you there.

(oh, look, cleaned up some hard drive space, may as well give this game a shot, after a little bit more ICO that is) ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Daily-Literature-Deviation-262840279 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Daily-Literature-Deviation-262840279 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:58:45 PDT Daily Literature Deviation nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
There's a publication here on Devart called "Daily Literature Deviations" that I've suddenly found myself featured in. (my story "The Great Francus" if you want specifics)

You can find the publication here: DLD

A very special thanks to *safia3 who nominated it.  And if you're not reading her stuff yet, then you should.  Click on the link and read her stuff!  Go, my minions!

...i can call you guys minions, right?  Please?  Just this once?  No?  Fine.

Go, my followers!

...what?  Still too megalomaniacal?  Okay, okay.  Here, try this one:

Go, my friends!

Better?  Beauty. ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Ruminating-on-Writing-262701730 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Ruminating-on-Writing-262701730 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:19:13 PDT Ruminating on Writing nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
When I write, I do something that most creative writing classes will hit you for: I do not write an outline of any sort.  Normally I have certain story beats I want to hit, but other than that I don't plan ahead. (one or two exceptions that aren't on here and never will be do exist, and I think should The Great Francus find itself turned into a full-fledged novel then I may have to do a bit of planning)

Am I the only person who does this?  Am I in the minority here?  I figure that I am.  I get the feeling that most aut ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-261605002 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-261605002 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:16:17 PDT Devious Journal Entry nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
I don't know what to think of this.  Do I change Kylie's name?  Do I change Kyle's?  Do I just keep it?  I'm considering keeping it, it's just an oddity that I'd use what's essentially the same damn name for two different characters in two different works.

Just an oddity?  Subconscious naming?  Do I just like the name Kyle in all its forms?  Was I just thinking of Kyle from Revisited when I named Kylie?  Am I creatively bankrupt?  Am I ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Distractions-261048997 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Distractions-261048997 Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:44:53 PDT Distractions nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
I tried last year, but everything I tried fell flat.  I've got two horrors up here (one of which was the first thing here that I ever posted) and I'm not willing to post anything unless it's at least as good as those two.

That said, don't think for a second that I'm abandoning any current projects just so I can write a horror story.  Oh, hell, no.  The horror story's just a side thing, the only way it'll take first priority is if something actually grabs me ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Born-on-a-Monday-258453646 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Born-on-a-Monday-258453646 Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:32:33 PDT Born on a Monday... nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
What do I get?  I get a main page that's a nursery rhyme which goes on to mention Solomon Grundy in pop culture, which is ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Habitualness-258156713 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Habitualness-258156713 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:21:03 PDT Habitualness nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
Which means today was as productive as a cat in the sun.

Weird how writing habits work, no?  I think it comes from being in school, when the only time I could write was at night/early morning.  Even now I find that if I glance at the Word document in the early hours of the morning (we're talking around 2am or 3am) I tend to be up another half-hour or hour because I get a sudden burst ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-252626093 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-252626093 Sat, 13 Aug 2011 10:09:05 PDT Devious Journal Entry nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
That said, the new couch the girl and I just got? Hot damn, is it comfy and awesome! (as is the chair and ottoman)  Lo-ving it something fierce.  Now we just need a new coffee table, considering this one's a bit too low to type comfortably (don't care, doesn't stop me, I just readjust on the couch and do it up anyway, it's not that bad, but it's p ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-249110656 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-249110656 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:17:45 PDT Devious Journal Entry nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
;LASDKJFHO IGUBVJHADSIFGYUOWERYGTIWDFHGIUQH3W IDFUGH IQUG QEFJGIQUTYPQI3R GTWLG ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Insert-Appropriate-Witty-Title-Here-245186251 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Insert-Appropriate-Witty-Title-Here-245186251 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:35:31 PDT Insert Appropriate Witty Title Here. nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
You've probably noticed a lot of work being done on a little work tentatively called "Misadventures of a Space Captain."  I want people to keep in mind that this story will NOT always be on devart.  (I'll say the same of Revisited, also a working title, for the same following reason)  I'm working on these to publish them.  Not bookstore publish, I've probably got little chance of getting published in a bookstore, that's bloody hard to do and I'm well aware of it.  No, I'm looking to indy e-publish these ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-219006779 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-219006779 Sun, 01 May 2011 20:21:04 PDT Devious Journal Entry nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Conundrums-Well-not-really-219134669 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Conundrums-Well-not-really-219134669 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:21:01 PDT Conundrums! Well... not really. nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
...I'm leaning towards making almost all of it up, as it's considerably easier to make crap up on the fly than to use real systems and then have to research them all ad-nauseam to get the facts right.  It's quite tiring, especially when researching a star-system that was just discovered that the facts aren't all in on quite yet.

Fortunately being "realistic" was never really a goal in this one. ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-219612607 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-219612607 Sun, 03 Apr 2011 21:22:34 PDT Devious Journal Entry nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
Quite happy with this one, too, overall, I must say.

Not much else to go on about right now, all things said and done.  Enjoying Dragon Age 2 quite a bit.  So is the girlfriend.  Hell, she's finished it and started her second run-through.  It's a bit slower-going for me (less time for me to play).

Have to start going to a physiotherapist soon.  Seems like I have a tear in my shoulder from an old work injury from back in 2006.  Joy.  Now to go and get it fixed!  If physio doesn't help, then we'll see where we go from there, but we'll cro ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Berzerker-Barrage-220498741 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Berzerker-Barrage-220498741 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:17:14 PST Berzerker Barrage! nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2011-2013 ~Valdrin
ANYway, new entry into Revisited has been posted.  We're up to 19 parts now.  Who'd've thunk it, eh?

I finally finished Dragon Age: Origins a few days ago.  Took me a while, but I did it!  In the end, the last boss wasn't nearly as hard as I'd been afraid of.  As it stands, my money's sitting in the wings for Dragon Age 2.  I've still ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Laptop-s-Back-222426857 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Laptop-s-Back-222426857 Sat, 04 Dec 2010 21:53:22 PST Laptop's Back! nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
Also, I downloaded a screenwriting program, does all the pain in the ass formatting for you.  Been toying with that and an idea for a screenplay I've had in my head (okay, fine, it's for Street Fighter, screw off).  VERY useful program, lemme tell ya.

That's it.  Just wanted to say. ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/No-Laptop-Still-Writing-222520704 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/No-Laptop-Still-Writing-222520704 Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:18:04 PST No Laptop, Still Writing! nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
Ummm... that's pretty much all there is to say.  It's late-ish, and I'm tired, so I'm stopping here.  Enjoy!

Edit: Just cleaned up my gallery, organized the larger, on-going works into folders.  And, in doing so, I just realized that Chapter 12 of The Seven Seals is empty!  Hot damn!  I'll get to that soon, promise!  But, hey, at l ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/VENT-223152315 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/VENT-223152315 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 19:54:05 PDT VENT! nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
...i'm done now.  Thank you. ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Finally-A-New-Entry-223241415 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Finally-A-New-Entry-223241415 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:57:10 PDT Finally A New Entry nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
Finally finished the next part!  Woohoo!

It took me far too long to finish this off, but it's finally done.  Now I can get to thinking about maybe writing a horror story, just for the season.  We'll see what I can come up with, if anything.

That said, I'll be playing me some Fallout 3 soon, and getting further in my "evil" playthrough of Fable 2.  I've already finished it, of course, but that was as a totally good guy.  I wanted to play through as a bad guy at least once, especially considering Fable 3 comes out on Tuesday.  As for Fallout 3... well, I haven't finished that one yet, and I've been meaning to.  That and Dragon ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Gaming-Kills-Productivity-223308447 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Gaming-Kills-Productivity-223308447 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 23:44:58 PDT Gaming Kills Productivity nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
I shall admit, I have been remiss in my updates.  It's quite sad and true.  I'm still writing, of course, but my gaming habits have been killing my productivity recently.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.

Been playing that non-stop since I picked it up a couple of weeks ago.  Just finished it an hour or so ago.  Damn fine game, I gotta say.  I really enjoyed it.  Great gothic adventure, with some of the best, most detailed graphics that I've seen this generation of consoles.

I'll try to get some more work on Revisited done in the next few days, get the next part finished up and posted before we send the laptop in for servicing (which w ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Small-Update-224100029 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Small-Update-224100029 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:00:43 PDT Small Update nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
It's taken longer than I thought to getting around to getting the laptop fixed.  I'd stopped writing in anticipation of this, but then realized the girl wanted the desktop up and running prior to sending the laptop out, so that took a while, then I procrastinated, yadda yadda yadda, laptop oughta get sent back sometime after next week.  I say after next week because we'll be going up to North Bay to visit her family next week (yaaaay vacation!).  Before we go I'll post what I've just recently finished up. ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Laptop-Woes-224917661 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Laptop-Woes-224917661 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:39:04 PDT Laptop Woes nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
But it has to be done.  Some internal battery's been acting up, so that needs looking into once we properly back this thing up.  Just two days ago it refused to boot up.  Yeah.  Took five or six tries.  Colour me panicked, I almost lost a good chunk from Revisited (no worries, it's properly backed up now, t'was the first thing I did ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Musings-225056620 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Musings-225056620 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:20:58 PDT Musings nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
Been doing a bit of research on some folklore for something I want to include in the next part to my Revisited book and... damn... I didn't realize all the different variations there were on this particular... monster, I suppose.  It's a popular one, everyone knows it, but because I'm a secretive bastard I'm still not gonna say until I've posted the new part.

The writing for which has slowed down thanks in large part to the whole "need to research this" kick.  And while the internet may not be the best source of info, it's a great ol' starting point.

Also: PS3 and 360 games in 1080p are freakin' glorious.  Except Dragon Age: Origins. ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/New-Post-New-Journal-225369214 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/New-Post-New-Journal-225369214 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:14:41 PDT New Post, New Journal nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
I'm finding it very hard to write these days.  My time is filled with... distractions.  Like having been newly moved.  Or the TV that we just got.  That lovely, 46" HD LCD TV with full 1080p glorious goodness.  Gaming has NEVER looked this good.  Hot damn, man.  I haven't even looked at all my old games, but I plan on putting in Burnout Paradise on the PS3, as well as Ratchet & Clank (the first PS3 entry) and both Uncharted games, and Batman: Arkham Asylum, and Demons Souls, of course.

Kyeheheheheh!

Yes, I am enjoying this new piece of home entertainment very much.  It's big, and it's pretty, and ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Writing-Was-Done-And-Stuff-226187748 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Writing-Was-Done-And-Stuff-226187748 Fri, 14 May 2010 20:50:22 PDT Writing Was Done And Stuff nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
Didja hear that the main Law & Order series got canned?  This makes me sad.  I was really enjoying the current cast.  Nothing I can do about it, I realize, but it's still a bummer.

I'm less bummed about Heroes getting kicked.  Sure, I would've liked one more half-season to tie things up, but whatever.  It's been lacklustre, and even though the season that just ended this year was better than the past two, it still wasn't stellar.

Y'know what happens next week?  Alan Wake and Red Dead R ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Big-Change-Can-Be-Good-226361878 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Big-Change-Can-Be-Good-226361878 Mon, 03 May 2010 19:57:38 PDT Big Change Can Be Good nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
That's right, I am no longer in my parents' basement, but rather in my new apartment with my girlfriend.

Since Saturday.

AND IT IS AWESOME! ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-226673273 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-226673273 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:28:50 PDT Devious Journal Entry nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
Regardless.

I've paused work on Revisited, briefly, whether that's much to your chagrin or not isn't for me to say.

Buddy of mine at work, see, gave me a challenge: write a story, long or short, based on a phrase/title that he gave me.  So, I'm doing just that, and absolutely enjoying it in the process.  It's a bit closer to what I used to write quite a few years ago, the high fantasy, though there aren't any elves or orcs or anything like that.  I'll be sure to post it when it's done.

That said... we move May 1!  EEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Apartment-Hunting-2-226972710 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Apartment-Hunting-2-226972710 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:07:14 PDT Apartment Hunting 2 nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
Just so people know, WE ARE MOVING!  Okay, yes, it's a condo that we're renting, it's not a house that we're owning, but that's no big deal to us.  We're getting out of my parents' basement and into a real, honest, private space of our own.

FREEDOM!

May 1st is when it happens.  While I'm not exactly uber-active on here as it stands, we may not have internet set up when we first move in (it's on the list of shit we need to get, don't worry), so I'm going to try to have the next section of Revisited up and running before we move.

Also: Ghostbusters The Video Game is awesome.  FFXIII is great, too. ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Apartment-Hunting-227214022 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Apartment-Hunting-227214022 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:42:40 PDT Apartment Hunting nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
I'll know on Monday if we have the place or not.  They may want us to take it earlier than we can, and if that's the case, then we'll have to continue our search.  This option is the most likely one.  I'm hoping we can get it, but chances are we won't.

Still... we'll see, eh? ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Writing-and-Videogames-Seldom-Mix-227290714 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Writing-and-Videogames-Seldom-Mix-227290714 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:44:49 PDT Writing and Videogames Seldom Mix nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
No, seriously, yay me.  It's a miracle that I'm getting any writing done at all, what with Mass Effect 2 and, now, Final Fantasy XIII and then, in a couple of months, Red Dead Redemption. (trust me, no one's more surprised than me that I'm interested in a Western)

And, trust me, FFXIII has been one hell of a timesink.  I'm at odds with the reviews, it seems, because I'm really enjoying the linearity of the first chunk of the game (level layout reminds me a lot of FFX), the characters, and even how the game slowly introduces different gameplay ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/A-Real-Update-227937388 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/A-Real-Update-227937388 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:34:10 PST A Real Update! nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
Which is to say, before Feb 11.  Most triumphant!

Well, that's all for now.  Everything else I had to say was said in my journal post earlier this morning... much much earlier this morning.  Early enough in the morning that it may as well have been night.

Regardless.

Hope you all enjoy Revisited Part 11!  Until next time!

Also: in case I haven't said it yet, The Venture Brothers is made of win.  I know, I know, I'm late to the party, that's par for the course with me, but at least I've arrived, yes?

Regardless.

See ya! ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/An-Almost-Update-227953656 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/An-Almost-Update-227953656 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:45:34 PST An Almost Update nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
Finally.  After... hmm... two months of no updates?  I'd say so.  Yes.  After approximately two months (well over a month, at least, that's for damn sure) of no updates, I present you with... well... sort of a non-update.

Fact remains that I'm almost ready to post something new in ye olde Revisited storyline.  Yup!  It's all written, I just have to format it properly and then post it up.  Give it... umm... two days.  I'm hoping to get it done tomorrow, but I'm realistic and I know it probably won't get done until Thursday.  That's fine.  I'm just not going to stay up any later tonight (I have to open tomorrow) in order to finish it ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Video-Games-A-Procrastinator-s-Worst-Enemy-228145042 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Video-Games-A-Procrastinator-s-Worst-Enemy-228145042 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:05:21 PST Video Games: A Procrastinator's Worst Enemy nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
Finished Mass Effect (360 version) today.  I've had the damn game since April, took me long enough.  Either way, it's done, and while I plan on running through it a couple more times, for now I'll let it lie as is (with a character I can import into the second one when I pick that up) and focus on other games to finish.   ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Random-Stuff-228555560 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Random-Stuff-228555560 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:53:30 PST Random Stuff nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2010-2013 ~Valdrin
Well... some changes.  Not many, really.  By this time next year I'll probably still be stuck in retail hell, though you never know.  Hopefully by next year I'll have finished Revisited, but considering how easily distracted I can be, you never can tell.

At the very least, it seems that one thing is guaranteed: Sometime this year I'll have finally moved out of my parents' basement.  Yeah, it's kinda depressing to be almost 30 and still living at home.  But, the girlfriend's on the cusp of paying off her debts (got a few months, tops) and after that we save up so we've got a bit ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Merry-Christmas-228811603 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Merry-Christmas-228811603 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:58:41 PST Merry Christmas! nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2009-2013 ~Valdrin http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-228993516 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Devious-Journal-Entry-228993516 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:38:38 PST Devious Journal Entry nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2009-2013 ~Valdrin
1) I finally updated the gallery a few days ago.  Took forever and a lot of deleting of pages, but the latest is finally up and running.

2) New video games are the bane of productivity (damn you Assassin's Creed 2, Rabbids Go Home, and Dragon Age: Origins!).

3) I just got an i-phone!  Up until now I've been able to avoid everything i-related, but I decided to cave and pick up one of these when I had some credit on my account with Bell (no freakin' way was I going to pay full price for one of these... that's damn expensive for the 3GS).  I'm quite liking it.  It's a new and shiny toy.

4) Working retail during the ]]> http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Stupid-Writer-s-Block-Type-Stuff-229361938 http://valdrin.deviantart.com/journal/Stupid-Writer-s-Block-Type-Stuff-229361938 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:35:35 PST Stupid Writer's Block-Type Stuff... nonadult journals/personal Valdrin http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/default.gif Copyright 2009-2013 ~Valdrin
I'll try to have something new up in a few days.  Sorry for how long this is taking. ]]>