Alice!

Hello everyone and a tip of the hat to you all!  It is I the TopHatMan here for another blog post.
Today, I will be talking about the program Alice, more specifically the Alice 3.1 version.  Alice is a program used to create storyboards using a very pixelated graphic style.  Alice is primarily used to create a storyboard that can later be used for an animation or story line.  Alice is very simplistic in nature and utilizes block coding in order to create different scenes.  The interface is a bit clunky, primarily because it is a free program, but it gets the job done.  You can choose from a variety of backgrounds that are really just a coat of paint on the same foundation.  You can also incorporate characters from its limited character scene selection sheet to add to the animation, as well as create your own person with limited customization.  Alice is not something to use for advertisements or animations, it is to be used as a storyboard to make something on another program.  It is a digital version of the stereotypical cartoon boardroom with pieces of paper with different scenes stapled up on a wall.  However, this is a lot more eco friendly.
      The animation that I created using Alice was a TopHatMan World tour, in which my virtual self travels to England to teach the audience about the culture of England, however this is all a scene for a documentary which contains a director who calls the shots, and a man in a yak suit that serves as my trusty yak I use to travel around the globe.  In this animation, the yak is being a bit of a jerk, and refusing to say his lines (all according to script of course!).  My character starts freaking out at the yak and telling it to say it's lines instead of repeating moo.  The whole animation is a bout a minute and 45 seconds long, and features a castle (cause England),, a yak, me, and the director.  Alice was a really useful tool in order to get the lines as well as how the animation would flow.  However, I would not advise using it to create a commercial or animation due ot how clunky the animations are and how rough and rigid the animations feel.  It is a good basis to be transferred to another program, say GOanimation, to create something great.  Alice should be used primarily for storyboard purposes.
Click this link to download Alice

Juuso Heitalahti game blog

Hello Everyone and a tip of the hat to you all!  It is I the TopHatMan here for another blog post!

So I will be informing you all today about an incredible blog for those interested in the developing process of video games.  Juuso Hietalahti is a solo indie game developer with a blog with each post short, sweet, and to the point.  Each post is only a couple of sentences long with a picture illustrating his point.  He gives us a quick update on the current status of the game he is currently developing whether it be a pirate game where you are managing your own pirate ship in the style of FTL, or a game about building a viking settlement called Midgord Vikings.  This blog is not meant for a long read, this blog is meant for you to pull out your phone and read a quick post about the current status, or complications with his newest game.
The indie scene is a vast and growing scene in gaming.  Creativity is allowed to flourish without the restrictions of major publishers.  Really cool and interesting concepts and ideas are able to be seen when otherwise they would not be able to.  The problem with the Triple A environment is that each game costs a fortune to create.  Because of that, the companies involved must rely on something already founded and that they know is going to sell.  Taking risks in the Triple A scene can cost you millions if that risk is not interesting to the consumer.  The benefit of having a flourishing indie scene, is that these new innovative ideas are allowed to prosper with little reprocutions.  Most of these developers have other jobs, and create games as a hobby.  They are able to take risks and innovate because it is not financially significant.  However, because these indie developers are smaller, they often do not have the funding for bigger projects like Juuso Hietalahti ran into with a multiplayer game that he wanted to create but was unable to spend the time or money in order to properly support the game.
That is why blogs like Juuso Hietalahti's are so fascinating, they give the consumer a perspective on the industry that is otherwise ignored.  Indie game developers can blow up overnight, or they can stay in obscurity forever, however either way those developers, those individuals are able take those risks I talked about earlier.  It is developers like Juuso that innovate the scene by breathing new life into the industry.  Otherwise the industry can very well stagnate and possibly die like what was seen in the crash of the 80s.  That is all for this week, remember the indie scene while many titles remain obscure and others may prosper, is critical to the success of the industry.
Click this link to view Juuso's blog.
 from his blog

To be a Man

Hello everyone and a tip of the hat to you all!  It is I the TopHatMan here for another blog post.

I am here today to tell you about the most manly website ever... literally.  Theartofmanliness.com is a website devoted to turn you into the  best man you can possibly be.  By visiting the website you also get a free ebook about how to plan out the next thirty days to transform yourself into a true man.  Whether it be how to conduct finance, what to wear, how to shine your shoes, or how to behave in a relationship, this website has everything.  You can even find out what the difference between a suit jacket, a sports jacket and a blazer is.  The difference may surprise you.
Of course, the website also has a shop where you can buy books, journals, clothing, shaving components among other things.  The shop has its iconic image of a 1800's boxer with a handlebar mustache on most of its products.  The handlebar mustache actually is the icon of the website.
The website also has a podcast dedicated to what make men tick, and how to become a better man.  The theme of becoming a better man is common throughout this website with a whole page dedicated to skills you need to be a man such as how to protect your house form burglars, how to survive a dog attack, and the most manly activity, how to fend off a bear.  Not only does the website teach you manly activities like fending off bears, but also teaches you how to dress the part.  The website teaches you how to properly shave, what to use, how to shine your shoes and what to use, as well as what to wear on formal occasions and how to match clothing accordingly.
This website hosts a large variety of content on how to be a man and doesn't focus on one way, it teaches you how to be a man both physically, spiritually, and morally.  Go to this website and at least give it a browse.
Click this link to go to the website.

Hearthstone on Phones, Is it warranted?

Hello everyone and a tip of the hat to you all!  It is I the TopHatMan here for another blog post!
Hearthstone, otherwise known as Magic the Gathering with half the rules and an actually good electronic version.  Hearthstone as exploded in popularity in the last couple of years, and has also been released on multiple other platforms such as the IPad, android tablets and more recently for smartphone devices.  Now, if you have not played hearthstone, you may not know what it is.  Hearthstone is a card game with mechanics similar to Magic the Gathering, but simplified, set in the Warcraft universe.  There are 9 different classes also from World of Warcraft, the warrior, the paladin, the hunter, the mage, the warlock, the druid, the shaman, the priest, and the rogue.  Each class has its own unique set of cards as well as a class specific ability.
Now onto the topic of the blog.  The phone version is functional.  You can play just fine with the mobile version, the game runs smoothly with minimal interruptions.  However it is harder to play with the multiple interactive game boards that merely serve to kill time while the other player is taking their turn.  They offer no actual in game advantage, which is why I personally feel that limiting that specific mechanic is worth it, because otherwise you would have to shrink the board to fit in the whole thing.  Instead we now have a more zoomed in board, making it easier for phone users to view the cards.  This is only for phone users, PC users still have full access to the game board.
There is one problem with the dawn of the phone versions however that directly affects game play.  When you are on your phone, you are likely to be away from your computer, you are likely to be doing something else or are on a short break.  If you had access to the PC version, you would play it because it functions better, and constructing decks is less clumsy because you can simply click on a card to add it to your deck instead of swiping across the screen like your playing fruit ninja.  Because it is more likely for people to be doing something else while playing the phone version, it is more likely that they would be interrupted, having them just sit there wasting their turn while the time starts to tick down.  When a player is AFK it is not fun or enjoyable for either player.  Sure, the other person can pick up an easy win or at least a free turn, but it still is not fun to wait while the other person is not even there.
That said, that is the only real main complaint I have with the phone version of Hearthstone.  If the person is playing (which most of the time they are, it is rare for them to be completely AFK) the game functions perfectly fine.  The only downsides come into deck construction because of the annoying habit phones and touchscreens have, you have to swipe everything.  But, you can still build your deck, your deck is not limited if you are on the mobile version of the game.  The actual problem I have with the mobile version comes into the UI.  The UI is fine except for mana, sure it shows how much mana you have that turn, however, unless I missed the option, it does not display the amount of overload a player has.  This only comes into play if you are facing or are a shaman that utilizes this mechanic.  What overload is, is that some shaman cards are way too powerful for their mana cost, the way this is compensated is by restricting the amount of mana you can use the following turn.  This comes into play if you are trying to determine the types of cards that the opponent can use so you can play accordingly.  However, this can be avoided by simply remembering and using a bit of math.  However we should not be forced to do this, it would be much easier if they simply added a 6/8 instead of putting a 6.  If Blizzard implemented (which they do on PC) a 6/8 mana pool, in which 6 means you have 6 mana out of 8 total mana, this problem would be null and void.  And while this is not a problem in case someone is a shaman, this is still a problem and a flaw of the port.
However, if you do not have access to the PC port, the phone version is perfectly fine and acceptable.  Alright everyone, that is it for now.  Have  a good day.
Click this link to go to the official Hearthstone Heroes of Warcraft Website.

So you want a job at intel...

Hello everyone and a tip of the hat to you all.  It is I the TopHatMan here for another blog post!
So you want a job at Intel.  You were inspired by the Out of the Hat premier and you said to yourself.  "Hey, I want a job at Intel."  Well have you come to the right...ish place!  I will be covering three different jobs that you can take at Intel, or another technology company.  Welcome to the realm of the Software, Electronics, and Process Engineering careers.  The starting salaries for these three professions on average is $106,050, $97285,and $111,946 respectively.
Now what are some of the benefits of working at a specific facility of Intel.  Let's pick a random location say Hudson Massachusetts.  Some of the benefits at working at the Hudson branch is the state of the art fitness center, along with an indoor recreation center that includes refreshments and video games.  Some of the actual benefits are, "generous and personalized,".  There are different programs and insurances such as the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and the Life and Accident Insurance, and the Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.  These insurances and programs are there to help pay off medical bills and overall are there for your well being and financial aid.  Speaking of financial aid the Intel 401(k) Savings Plan with Roth 401(k) feature will help set aside a large sum of money, with the help of Intel themselves, into your 401(k).
What is the point of Intel.  Intel is a company based on the idea of inventing new and innovative technologies.  You probably have seen their logo on almost every computer in existence due to their Intel Core processors that are literally everywhere.  Tablets even have Intel processors as seen in the Windows Surface Pro 3.  Processors are parts of your computers that help you do more stuff, the more cores in your processor, the more your computer can do all at once, or how well optimized your computer will be at completing a task.
This is the breakdown on the 3 jobs I talked about earlier.

Software engineer = develop functions and feautres for smartphones, computers and various operating systems, write, edit and debug new software

Electronics engineer= help develop new technology and hardware

Process engineer = focus on design and optimization of technologies

Click this link to go to the Intel website.

Hudson branch

CEO of Intel, Brian Krzanich

Out of the Hat: Intel

Hello everyone and a tip of the hat to you all!  It is I the TopHatMan here for another Out of the Hat blog post.
Out of the Hat is a new series that I am starting that is basically I cover and talk about a random topic.  This is the pilot blog of Out of the Hat and for this one I will be covering a company that is very powerful in PC gaming in terms of performance and computer cores, Intel.
Many people always see the Intel I3 or I5 or I7 on their computers.  Many may just see it and not give it a second thought, or if they do may not know what it means.  Well that is telling you the quality of the computer's processor.  Intel is the most popular provider of computer processors.  Each Intel processor has separate cores which can perform tasks for your computer.  Simplistically, more cores means your computer can do more stuff.  An I3 means your computer has 3 additional cores on top of the basic one, so with an I3 you have 4 cores,  an I5 means 6 cores, and you guessed it I7 means 8 cores.  The way to think of it is that the number after the I is how many additional cores the processor has.
Intel is a face of PC gaming, and has done various promotions in support of pc gaming and for brand recognition.  The video at the end of the blog will be a vid about one of them.  Intel however, also makes other bits and bobs for computers, that if you buy a prebuilt PC you probably would not know much about.  Intel produces a line of SSD (Solid State Drives).  Intel themselves don't really make their own line of computers or Operating System.  However many of the components of most computers and products are powered by Intel hardware.
Alright when I said Intel doesn't really make PC's, I said really because there is one exception.  The Intel NUC is a small portable 4 x 4 inch computer that can be used to fulfill the functions of a PC.  However there is not much use for it at all really,  If I need a portable computer I will get either a laptop or a tablet.  If I want a home computer I will get a desktop that is way more powerful than a 4x4 piece of tech.  While some people may find some use for it, there is not much functionality or utility to a 4x4 computer that still requires a separate monitor.  You lose your mobility if I have to lug around a fragile, large piece of equipment like a monitor.  It is only really good for space issues for a home computer environment.
Let's tackle the last big thing Intel does which is servers.  Servers allow you to host your own content, like a minecraft server or a website.  While most people do not need their own private server, servers are generally used for people trying to start a business or host their own website.  Intel powered servers will help speed up performance making the viewing and consumption of content much easier.
Click this link to go to the Intel website.

What makes a good Story in a Video Game?

Hello everyone and a tip of the hat to you all!  It is I the TopHatMan here for another blog post.

The campaign, the story, the single player, whichever way you want to call it, the story line of a video game has a large impact on the enjoyment of the game for many.  While books and movies illustrate a story through a handheld adventure with no interaction, games are different.  In a game you are the person progressing the story line, you are the main character, and you are the one that determines how and when the story advances.  A video game story must be fundamentally different from that of a movie or book.  The interactive nature of the video game medium opens a whole new realm of possibilities.  Can you have an overarching story line, yes and it should be encouraged, however in a video game, I, the player, should feel pivotal to the overall progression of the story.  I should not feel as if I am merely looking through the eyes of a character, I should be the character.  

The main problem plagued by game developers, is interweaving game play and the story in a cohesive narrative.  A game should not feel as if I am being blocked from a good story from game play segments, or that the story is blocking me from good game play.  The story and game play need to be merged.  If a game feels like it is segmented, then it has failed to do deliver the quality of campaign that only a video game can offer.  BioShock Infinite had a wonderful story.  I loved every minute of playing the game and constantly wanted to progress and find out what would happen.  However the game play was lackluster and did nothing to advance the story.  A game like Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, on the other hand, merges its story with its game play through the Nemesis system.  You build your own story line and grow to hate certain characters that defeat you.  SO you spend a lot of time, building your power and gaining followers to eventually defeat your nemesis.  Every game does not have to do this, but the Nemesis system stands as a shining testament to what happens when you merge game play and story in a way only video games can.

Click this link to learn about the best story's in video games.

spoiler warning for end of bioshock infinite.