Ice Cavern Studios

So I bought the book,1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die, and have been reading it for a couple of weeks. So far, it’s really interesting to read, but something was clearly not fully right. I wasn’t listening to the Albums. I was ready about all of these amazing recordings, but I wasn’t fully grasping the brilliance of some of them.

So now, I’m rectifying this. I’ve already downloaded all of the ‘A’ artists that i can get with my Zunepass. While it’s not all of the recordings, it’s a place to start. This is going to be interesting, but a lot of this stuff sounds pretty tight. Plus, if I want to make good music, I need to listen to the best, right?

So here we go.

Music, Zune

So we’re pulling a late night here at the office (more on that at another time) and I’m faced with an interesting situation. While I have moments of having to be at work at crazy hours, I’ve had quite a bit of down time waiting for stuff. So what have I been doing? Well, playing video games actually.

Which leads to a quick video gaming update:

• I finally beat Overlord for the XBox 360. I’ve had this game from my lead for a few months and I finally just sat down and beat the last part. Overall, I enjoyed the game immensly, there was just one part I could have done without. I’d highly recommend it.
• I picked up, and have already gotten through the main stages of, Beautiful Katamari. And, if you liked the first one (I haven’t played the second) or having played it, buy it. Seriously, it’s Katamari action in all it’s glory. The graphics remain true to the series (which I appriciate) yet the world is stupidly large. It’s awesome.
• I’ve picked up and started Halo 3. I’m not the biggest fan of Halo, so I play it when I get around to it. I’ll probably beat it after launch with a bunch of guys in the office playing it on Legendary Co-op. Other than that, it’s Halo. I’m really not that into it.
• I’ve been playing through Blue Dragon for the 360, and it is pretty good. It’s not a life changing experience like some other rpg’s I’ve played, but it’s a real Japanese RPG for the XBox 360, and it’s really worth it if you’re into that kind of game. I also went and got the hard mode update which makes the game a lot more fun. I initially started a game on normal (read easy) mode and the additional difficulty makes the game really fun. There are times it’s a bit aggrivating, but once you figure out what you need to do, it’s really good.
• I’ve also really gotten into playing Forza 2. Like, even more than I may have mentioned before. It’s actually quite scary. It doesn’t help that my buddy at work sold me his racing wheel. The addition of the wheel’s force feedback just makes it awesome. It’s definitely nice to have it in the cube for quick laps around the track after a long day at work.
• Finally, I picked up Puzzle Quest and Heroes of Mana for the DS. I’m enjoying both and there good to have in my DS rotation. I’ve started playing on the bus again so my ds is seeing a lot more use.

So yeah, I’m finding some time to get my game on. Which is cool. Hopefully I’ll have more time to get through the stupidly long list of games I want to play after we release. Ooh, that will be nice. Oh, and in case you hadn’t noticed, I’m not playing my Wii right now. I have some hope, and I’ll probably get into Super Mario Galaxy when it comes out, but between now and then, I’m just not that into it. (Then again, I haven’t had time for Quincy Jones and Home Run Derby, which may be a lot of it).

Nintendo DS, RPGs, Video Games, Work, XBox 360, Zune

I know it’s been a while. I know I haven’t posted about Pat and Mel’s wedding. (I have pics, but my camera died and I haven’t gotten a new one or a cf reader yet). I know there are a million things I could takl about. But I’m kind of in a reflective mood. And given that I’m in the office, it seems fitting that I stop to talk about work and kind of how far of I’ve come.

Last night was the last PSSO concert of the season. It kind of maid me a bit reflectful. I’ve been to every one this year. Well, the post parties at least. (2/3 isn’t bad).

Six months ago or so was the fall concert. It wasn’t even two weeks since Nicole broke up with me. I was stuck in a job I hated. I was in a city that didn’t totally feel right. I was, to put it bluntly, totally lost. The world I had built up in my mind colapsed around me like a house of cards. And I came back to Seattle to get away. I came back to collect msyef.
And it was at this time I began thinking about returning. It was a bittersweet moment. It felt good to get back. I was told I was missed. I was hugged. And I was told everything would be ok.

No move forward to March 10th. I was starting a new job back on the main campus. I was working on something “cool.” I would be working with a familiar face from my times at MS.com. And I was getting a chance to start over. Boston was behind me. Groove was done. And I was being given a chance to “re-invent” myself. Mind you, my friends new me and what I was about. But I had a chance to just be me again. It was a night full of hope.

Now come back to this weekend. The end of the PSSO concert season. I was in the office playing my bass and some video games. I had a long week at work, but yet still was very happy. I went out, partied. I got up and came into the office. I’ve been in the office since 1:30 on Sunday, and I still love what I’m doing. I work with awesome people. My project is great, and I feel like I’m getting somewhere. I’m also rediscovering things I loved and just going back to being me. There are still some things I don’t know about, but for now, they aren’t too important.

^_^

Life is good. Work is good. And in a week and a half, it’s Reunions. Nice.

I gotta testify,
come up in the spot looking extra Fly……
For the day i die, I’ma touch the Sky………
gotta testify, come up in the spot looking extra Fly……
For the day i die, I’ma touch the Sky

Life and Times, Microsoft, Work, Zune

So I’m pretty deep into working on stuff for our next release. But I wanted to throw out the new advertisement. It’s actually pretty sweet.

Video: Zune TV Spot

I never thought I’d be excited about an advertisement for one of my products. But when they showed this at our all hands last Friday, everyone, and I mean everyone, thought it was awesome.

Oh, and see if you can find the fun message hidden in the add. ^_^

Zune

Ok, so once again, I’m having to make another “I’m not dead” blog post. Of course, I really don’t feel bad about any of this. So let me give the rundown of life here over the past couple of weeks.

Work

Work is going very well. It’s been 3 weeks (or so), and I seriously love my job. It’s highly stressful, and there’s a lot of work we’re doing; but man are we having a good time. I have friends at my job, I get along with everyone, and there’s a lot of passion for music, as well as the project. It’s fantastic. I never thought I’d find myself enjoying being in a cubical again, but it fits the atmosphere and personality of my team and Zune as a whole.

Plus, it’s relaly fun to be working in the music industry. At times, I find myself finding it hard to believe, but I’m now in the business of music. Everyone here is. And it’s really cool because I’m getting exposed to music all over the place. Without even really thinking about it, I ended up getting some free Lily Allen tickets for this past Monday. A bunch of us went and heard her(She is amazing live, by the way), and it was cool because we got the tickets through some people we know.

Plus, Zune is just cool. God, I’m looking forward to releasing and being to talk about what we are doing. For now, it’s just cool to know I’m doing it.

Personal Life

As my mother has enjoyed pointing out, I’ve just re-inserted myself back into my old social scene. I’ve resumed climbing like a fiend, I’m hanging out with my east side crew, as well as my west side homies. I’m also hanging out a lot with my friends from work. And not to mention the upcoming craziness with Sakura-con which will promptly begin next thursday. I’m loving it.

The one thing I am a bit worried about is that I haven’t really been looking for an apartment. But I’ll have a good idea about that this weekend after my apartment rental tour. (Yay MS perks) But I think I’m going to be ok there as well.

Oh, and I’m lifting again as well. And I’m doing it with my friend Lowell. So it’ll be easier to stay motivated.

Wow..that’s…yeah. I”m having a good time. Clearly.

Life and Times, Music, Work, Zune