This week has been a mixture of failures, with some limited successes.
My initial internship contact fell through. It turns out that this man, who works for Apple, works with too many classified products for me to intern/volunteer/shadow his work.. So... that isn't going to happen.
That being said, I have at least two more contacts! (I don't have their consent to use their names... so I'll just use letters).
V works Hitachi Data Systems (a company that deals with massive data storage for companies and enterprises). Although I asked her about volunteering, she felt that my time would be better spent with someone else. Luckily for me, she is checking in with other contacts of hers. While her contacts at Facebook and LinkedIn only allow college-level interns, she still has three other people she is contacting. She is going to get back to me as soon as possible and we are still communicating via email (primarily regarding volunteer/internship details).
B works for a company that makes products for "the IT [Information Technology] business space." Although she seems a bit too tied up to be able to support a volunteer/intern, she is checking in with other people throughout the office space. However, everyone she has connected with so far seems to have trouble supporting 15 hours a week... Thankfully, she volunteered to keep checking in with her coworkers and I have thanked her for that. Even though she has my phone number, she's communicating with me via text.
On a separate note, I have managed to install Unity on all my devices which means I can get started familiarizing myself with the software. I also have software that lets Tom and I collaborate on a single project from two different locations. This will let us be able to work from our own homes during Senior Project and communicate using programs like Skype (it's kind of like a free internet phone service).
This is where I am right now. Please comment if anything is unclear and/or requires clarification.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Post #3 - March 15
Here's my Essential Question: How can video games fulfill a public purpose, beyond that of entertainment and enjoyment? Furthermore, what does it take to actually program a video game? [Spoiler Alert: a lot of work]
Here's what's happened in the last week:
Tom and I met with both Ms. Ferrara and Amy to go over the feasibility of our project. While it was initially assumed that there would not be enough work for two people and, by extension, no reason for us to work on the same project, that assumption has been since dissuaded. Instead, the concern is that the project will be too much for both Tom and I. Although Tom and I agree that it is unlikely that we complete a final draft, we do believe that we can make a working prototype by the time Senior Project is due. Now that our project has been finally approved, we can really get started with the good stuff.
For me that means installing the necessary software/programs and to begin giving myself exposure to the programming languages themselves (Unity, C#) so that I can be familiar with the languages before the Project weeks actually start. While I plan to do the software installation tonight, making time to actually start programming will be quite difficult with homework, badminton, and scholarships... We'll see what happens.
I do have a person with whom I could possibly have an internship. The gentlemen is in the game design industry and, hopefully, I'll be able to shadow him at his work. In terms of next steps, it's time to change a casual acknowledgement of my project and get him to formally certify the internship.
Here's what's happened in the last week:
Tom and I met with both Ms. Ferrara and Amy to go over the feasibility of our project. While it was initially assumed that there would not be enough work for two people and, by extension, no reason for us to work on the same project, that assumption has been since dissuaded. Instead, the concern is that the project will be too much for both Tom and I. Although Tom and I agree that it is unlikely that we complete a final draft, we do believe that we can make a working prototype by the time Senior Project is due. Now that our project has been finally approved, we can really get started with the good stuff.
For me that means installing the necessary software/programs and to begin giving myself exposure to the programming languages themselves (Unity, C#) so that I can be familiar with the languages before the Project weeks actually start. While I plan to do the software installation tonight, making time to actually start programming will be quite difficult with homework, badminton, and scholarships... We'll see what happens.
I do have a person with whom I could possibly have an internship. The gentlemen is in the game design industry and, hopefully, I'll be able to shadow him at his work. In terms of next steps, it's time to change a casual acknowledgement of my project and get him to formally certify the internship.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Post #2 - March 1
Sick and tired (midnight scholarship deadlines) but I'm doing it anyways!
I have zero progress on internship contacts. It really is time for me to start sorting that out before it is too late. I mean, I did a quick read through (emphasis on quick) of the list on the Senior Project site but I didn't find a particularly attractive or relevant contact- yet. This will require some more diligence on my end.
I have made some progress regarding programming fundamentals. Mr. Green lent me one of his books on the language Processing, the one we have had limited experience with in Intro to Engineering. While I originally borrowed it to help me re-make the classic game Pong, I think I want to work through as much as the book as I can. After all, I never really got to learn about Object Oriented Programming (an essential topic) yet, so I have decided to continue with this programming done in Mr. Green's Intro to Engineering class so I could understand the essentials with a language I am somewhat comfortable with already (specifically Processing). However, it is essential that I complete this quickly so I have time to to familiarize myself with lathe languages I will actually use for the PRE-FaB game Tom and I plan to produce. Tom and I have a great track record of working on projects together, but I can't be bringing anything less than my "a-game" to this project since the programming (that I am responsible for) and the physical design an research (that he is responsible for) will require lots of time during Senior Project.
By the way, everything I try to do this week will be further complicated by scholarships I am trying to complete (and I guess being sick too).
List all possible conflicts during the weeks of Senior Project. How do you plan to work around them?
I got to juggle Badminton, AP Physics, and AP Calculus over the weeks of Senior Project. I already had the foresight of quitting my job at the Exploratorium since I knew I wouldn't be able to handle that too. In terms of working around "possible conflicts," I literally plan on working around them. I mean, I will still go into school for the AP classes and I show up for Badminton practices but Tom and I have the tendency to stay up late- really late. I think we'll probably just end up working late into the night instead of doing homework or, er, playing video games late into the night. This isn't entirely unfeasible. For an A-Block Entrepreneurship project, him and I once spent a week working on a different game app. Specifically, we worked til midnights on app development and collaborated over VoIP (voice over IP) utilities, such as Skype. Back then, he was doing the programming and I was doing the front-end design elements (pictures, graphics, icons, and more icons) but based off the dynamic we had, I think it can work (even if I'm the one doing the programming this time). If worst comes to worst, I'll drop out from some Badminton practices to make time for the project.
I realize now that I haven't taken my internship into consideration yet... That is something I'll have to do.
I have zero progress on internship contacts. It really is time for me to start sorting that out before it is too late. I mean, I did a quick read through (emphasis on quick) of the list on the Senior Project site but I didn't find a particularly attractive or relevant contact- yet. This will require some more diligence on my end.
I have made some progress regarding programming fundamentals. Mr. Green lent me one of his books on the language Processing, the one we have had limited experience with in Intro to Engineering. While I originally borrowed it to help me re-make the classic game Pong, I think I want to work through as much as the book as I can. After all, I never really got to learn about Object Oriented Programming (an essential topic) yet, so I have decided to continue with this programming done in Mr. Green's Intro to Engineering class so I could understand the essentials with a language I am somewhat comfortable with already (specifically Processing). However, it is essential that I complete this quickly so I have time to to familiarize myself with lathe languages I will actually use for the PRE-FaB game Tom and I plan to produce. Tom and I have a great track record of working on projects together, but I can't be bringing anything less than my "a-game" to this project since the programming (that I am responsible for) and the physical design an research (that he is responsible for) will require lots of time during Senior Project.
By the way, everything I try to do this week will be further complicated by scholarships I am trying to complete (and I guess being sick too).
List all possible conflicts during the weeks of Senior Project. How do you plan to work around them?
I got to juggle Badminton, AP Physics, and AP Calculus over the weeks of Senior Project. I already had the foresight of quitting my job at the Exploratorium since I knew I wouldn't be able to handle that too. In terms of working around "possible conflicts," I literally plan on working around them. I mean, I will still go into school for the AP classes and I show up for Badminton practices but Tom and I have the tendency to stay up late- really late. I think we'll probably just end up working late into the night instead of doing homework or, er, playing video games late into the night. This isn't entirely unfeasible. For an A-Block Entrepreneurship project, him and I once spent a week working on a different game app. Specifically, we worked til midnights on app development and collaborated over VoIP (voice over IP) utilities, such as Skype. Back then, he was doing the programming and I was doing the front-end design elements (pictures, graphics, icons, and more icons) but based off the dynamic we had, I think it can work (even if I'm the one doing the programming this time). If worst comes to worst, I'll drop out from some Badminton practices to make time for the project.
I realize now that I haven't taken my internship into consideration yet... That is something I'll have to do.
Post #1 - March 1
I'm fairly behind. Despite having had a three day weekend to work on this, I managed to get bogged down by scholarships, family, usual homework, and some bronchitis-feeling illness... Hooray! That being said, I'm forcing myself to sit down and work on this so... I'll get to it.
Where are you currently in the Senior Project planning process?
Pending approval from the appropriate senior project persons, I plan to do a senior project with Tom L (blog) on video games that can actually make a difference. Both Tom and I are pretty avid video gamers and have an idea for a game that provides more than just entertainment, but a public purpose as well. So in that respect, I have an idea in mind. We also have an idea for how we want to divide the work. While Tom is fascinated by the aspects of sustainability and game design, I plan on embarking on the programming and back-end development for the physical application. While some people know my affinity for computers and interest in computer science, I actually have a pretty poor background in programming. Outside of Mr. Green's Intro to Engineering class, I have no real experience to fall back on. This is what will make it a challenge for me- I'll have to learn the premise of two programming languages (C# and the Unity language) in order to program a stable and functioning application. I have some ideas for where I'll learn this from. For example, there is a site called TeamTreehouse I want to use to aid my learning. In regards to an internship, I got nothing though. I had a contact who ended up being completely unavailable so I'm kind of on my own at this point.
As of now, I need to find internship contacts (hopefully in software engineering or game development) and I need to start learning programming fundamentals so I'm not absolutely clueless for the first week of senior project. Also, refining an essential question would be helpful. And getting rid of this ridiculous bronchial illness going on.
Pending approval from the appropriate senior project persons, I plan to do a senior project with Tom L (blog) on video games that can actually make a difference. Both Tom and I are pretty avid video gamers and have an idea for a game that provides more than just entertainment, but a public purpose as well. So in that respect, I have an idea in mind. We also have an idea for how we want to divide the work. While Tom is fascinated by the aspects of sustainability and game design, I plan on embarking on the programming and back-end development for the physical application. While some people know my affinity for computers and interest in computer science, I actually have a pretty poor background in programming. Outside of Mr. Green's Intro to Engineering class, I have no real experience to fall back on. This is what will make it a challenge for me- I'll have to learn the premise of two programming languages (C# and the Unity language) in order to program a stable and functioning application. I have some ideas for where I'll learn this from. For example, there is a site called TeamTreehouse I want to use to aid my learning. In regards to an internship, I got nothing though. I had a contact who ended up being completely unavailable so I'm kind of on my own at this point.
As of now, I need to find internship contacts (hopefully in software engineering or game development) and I need to start learning programming fundamentals so I'm not absolutely clueless for the first week of senior project. Also, refining an essential question would be helpful. And getting rid of this ridiculous bronchial illness going on.
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