PAX East 2013 and events so far!

Yesterday early in the evening I arrived at PAX East 2013! This is one of the biggest gaming conventions you can attend this year - with the biggest focus on video games and the convention experience.  I figured I would lay out some details for those interested.

First - IT'S SNOWING
Second - IT'S 2AM!
Third - now for some actual thoughts -

The day actually started with a train ride into the city to catch the bus from NY to Boston with the cool addition of running into one of the fine gentleman from Project Triforce.  I've run into him a couple times and told me to stay tuned to their upcoming news for some truly exciting reveals! 

Then the as expected bus ride from NY to Boston complete with killing the 3DS battery while pouring all the time into Fire Emblem Awakening ( side note - if you have a 3DS you need to pick this up asap, I'll definitely explain more in a future post).  Tragedy struck as we arrived at Boston as I lost my 3DS somewhere on the bus while departing.... not a highlight.  After talking to several of the buses drivers it seems like they have my 3DS at their station and i just need to take a cab ride to get it tomorrow. ~whew~

As we then got to the hotel we set up our bags and generally were relieved not to be on the bus anymore, we then made our way to Fire and Ice. Which is better explain by their website - We left stuffed and amazed and content and very glad to have the short walk back to our hotel.

Then it was time to clean up and focus on Math Programming for Games.  This week I'm learning about how to properly use the dot product and cross product in actual code to help set up the physics that are applied in nearly every modern game.  Plenty of our discussion threads contain flashbacks to my physics class with refreshers on torque, acceleration, how normal force is calculated and how this comes into focus. 

I will admit that this class is a hybrid of both programming in C++ and physics combines with some higher conceptual math, with tons of reading and frustration.  The best part is when you finally have that satori moment and can put it together yourself and realize that you really have learned something completely new.


Now I am here in boston - done with a good chunk of school work, equipped with business cards and knowledge and am ready for whatever this weekend bring me.  I'll put up more on monday for all to see! - I'll almost certainly talk about Fire Emblem then as well.

Essential Mathematics for Games and Interactive Applications

So the current class I am undertaking is using the book I've so lovingly and frustratingly used as my title.  I will say that and programmer who gets paid to do what they do 100% deserves the money they earn.  I'm barely 2 weeks in I am just trying to keep my head above water. 

I know that some of you would like to know more about the actual learning to make games process and I want to ensure that everyone who is coming here gets a healthy dose of advice. 

1. Write your own programs
2. Write them again and ask yourself why everything is the way it is.
3. keep studying and practicing coding - I'm saying this because when it comes time to add the math you'll want a full confident swing into it and not a dual struggle between understanding both the math and the code.
4. test your code, code often and never more than a couple days between.
5. practice, practice, practice.

I've heard a quote a couple times over the last couple months that says if "you want to be a master at anything it'll take 10,000 hours of time to obtain it."

Seriously, I don't know how much time you think you've spent playing games but that is a ton of time! to put it into perspective in a fun simple math kind of way

10,000 hours is the equivalent of 250 work weeks at 40 hours a week
or 4.8 years
or 62.5 months.  That's a lot of time.

I'm currently learning about the dot product and vectors in C++ and the mathematical concepts that go with them.  The programming seems simple enough but without proper understanding of the math is seems to all melt away. 

Also given that I am doing this all in an online setting I find it really hard to meet and talk to my peers- those also in the GSP program with DeVry and others who may be along the same path I am. 
The most frustrating aspect of this is not having anyone who understands what you are trying to accomplish and bounce ideas off of. The best way to understand something is to try and place it into your own words and have the understanding of someone in the same position.  Online classes is super convenient however not good with the social and integration standpoint.

So remember kids - practice your code and treat math with 100% attention - you're going to need it!