Mernin: Machines, Music, and Multimedia

This week, I was learning how to make basic animation for a player walking in a top-down map. I wanted to include a button that, when held down, would make the player walk faster. This was to be mapped to the left Shift key. I tried to use the Unity methods GetButton to allow the player to move faster and the GetButtonUp function to return him to his default speed, but the key was not registering when pressed. I then proceeded over the course of the next couple of days to do some research to determine the problem, and finally found out I had to use an "else if" conditional between the two methods instead of an "if" conditional. This finally allowed the Shift key to trigger correctly, thereby resolving the issue. The moral is this. If you are having trouble getting a method to work correctly, find examples of its proper usage to make sure you are writing the code correctly. This coming week I will start to learn about camera control and then move on from there....

This week, I attempted to learn a few things about trying to develop a 2D RPG. I tried a few programs, and I have attempted some tutorials as well to understand the basics. In particular, I looked at how to use spritesheets to add characters and scenery to the game map. I started with RPG Maker VX Ace Lite because I had heard of RPG Maker being a useful tool for developing 2D RPG's in an intuitive and comprehensive way. I was pleased with the potential I saw, but found that the free version of the tool had limited functionality (for example, only allowing for 20 maps for any one particular project). The full version of this tool runs at $69.99, a cost that I found too inhibitive to continue, especially regarding the fact that there is another program that I know can be used for free. Another software, that one might not expect to be the first choice to handle 2D RPG's, is Unity . In addition to being less restrictive in the amount of content allowed, there is also more roo...

Coming from a small state like New Hampshire, going to one of the most highly regarded universities in the world was a challenging experience. As a graduate from Tufts University, I was able to find a job as a technical support specialist at an insurance company with an office across the street from what was my elementary school. Being my first office job, there was a lot to learn about the systems used in the company; how to handle calls from insurance agents, employees, and customers; and I have also had the opportunity to take on some side projects. This includes requesting for and taking a class in C#, editing macros in Visual Basic for Microsoft Excel, and developing testing plans for upgrades to some of the company's technologies. My greatest personal challenge at work came when we went from three specialists down to just myself in the course of one weekend. I had been expecting one to leave, as he had given his two weeks notice, but when both were gone the following Mond...