The end of an era...

Saying good bye to the G-Man is never an easy thing to do. By far the most fun I have ever had making video games was under the tutelage of Giovanni Luis, animator and TD extrodinare. He is the master craftsman behind such hits as "The Cyclops Mini Game" and "The Kratos Sex Mini Game". If wasn't for him I don't think i could have taken it at SCEA. Thanks for the Korean BBQ send off and the door is always open in Australia. Hell man, I can get you hired if you so desire, let me know. I will have to charge my usual 20% recruiting fee but that might be waived in exchange for sound financial guidance...


Give it up for G-Money...

For Sale...

2006 Mazda 3 S Hatchback

Excellent Condition, Garaged, Non Smoker, Very Clean

25,000 miles, still under factory warranty 48 month/50,000 miles

5-speed manual, Power Steering, 4 Wheel ABS disk brakes, Tilt Wheel, Power Windows, Locks, Sun Roof, Mirrors etc.

Black on Black Leather interior, with 6- CD changer and factory integrated SIRIUS SATTALITE RADIO

Kelly Blue Book on this vehicle is $17,200

We are asking 16,499 OBO

Bank still holds title…

562-676-6425

The Confrence Call

The press Conference Call regarding the EA/Pandemic purchase agreement has been held and it seems that it could be a sweet deal for EA and Pandemic. According to Gamasutra's coverage, EA has been eying Pandemic and Bioware for quite some time now.
John Riccitello who headed up VG Holdings (Elevation Partners) rejoined EA earlier this year as CEO stated that the deal was "a strategic move that speaks directly to quality, online, growth and new IP". That means that Pandemic will continue to develop new IP and ownership would be held by EA with exception of Destroy All Humans which is owned by THQ.
What is to gain by BioWare and Pandemic, "Riccitiello said that as independent developers, the two spent a lot of time courting independent publishers and negotiating deals, and EA would effectively simplify that process to zero, offering them the leverage of EA publishing which could extend the two studios into places they don't traditionally get, including online and in the mobile sphere."
It sounds like Pandemic will still be in the adventure game business and BioWare will still be the RPG masters, if it's not broken don't fix it.

Some EA stock would be nice and I will have to make sure I am in that bread line...

Bait and Switch

Looks like I work for EA now...

I don't care who cuts the checks as long as I
1) get to animate
2)it's in Australia
3)Studio size remains relatively small
4)stock options would be nice

Pandemic has put out some good games and i see no reason why EA would mess with it if it was not broken...
The corporate decisions are totally out of my control so I will not lose sleep over it.

Holy Single Fin Batman!!!

Thanks to the Shark Repellent Bat Spray in my utility belt!!!

Time Keeps on Slipping, Slipping, Slipping...

It's official. I depart on October 18th at 10:35 p.m. PST


Gulp...

Sweet! No Tuberculosis!!!

A not so fun aspect of migrating to Australia is the physical portion of the 457 visa. You have to go to a Doctor that is recognized by the Australian Government, luckily out of the handful in the state, one is in Solana Beach.

First the physical, not so bad. It was just the standard breath in and out, blood pressure, hight/weight, and turn your head and cough type of thing.

Next was the radiology department at Scripps Memorial Hospital and some chest x-rays. This was not bad but just kind of depressing. It kind of reminded me of the early-bird special at Bob's Big Boy if Bob's was purgatory and the not so speedy gateway to the great beyond. Everyone there was 95 and senile, especially the woman next to me that kept referring to me as Jeffery, that darling young boy next door".

Next up were the blood tests. This was to see if I had HIV, syphilis or Ebola or anything else like that. I am going out on a limb here but, I think I passed that one.