MIchael: So your here in Fresno...What do you think of the place?
Michael: Tell you honestly, I don't like it. Nobody goes to Fresno.
MIchael: Ok. So I'm here to talk games. Video Games. You own any?
Michael: Sure. I love em. I have a Psx, and a PC.I have about 20 or more games for the Playstation, and about 10 for the PC.
MIchael: Which console, or platform is your favorite?
Michael: That's a tough question. Right now the PC...but there is always a strong pull in me to play station every now and again.
MIchael: Go on...
Michael: Well, the PC has the best graphics out right now (not including the Psx2). Although to achieve these openGL graphics, you need a card, and acceleration worhty of that particular title. For instance. Dues Ex requires a manly Vid-card, and a decently fast processor to run smoothly. Yet you can play Quake III Arena pretty damn well on a low end system with a nice Vid-Card.
MIchael: So I take it FPS(first person shooter) is your favorite genre?
Michael: Oh ya. They are the innovative side of gaming in my book. Sure there are alot of great games like Diablo, or RTS games that were in there time very innovative, and that has been duely noted. But, the wave of the fulture is eXistanZ Possibly, and hopefully, there will never be an implementation of a bio-port. But seeing out of your eyes is where VR is going to take us, and when the time comes, VR will be the best game. Being able to play a character, and 'be' that character, controling perfect movment out of your game-ego's eyes.
MIchael: How long do you think it will take to get there?
Michael: It's really hard to say. Could be 10 years, could be 20. We are improving our technology(games/computers) by folds every year, and there is nothing stopping us, the sky is the limit.
MIchael: Could you go a little deeper there...
Michael: Sure I suppose.
(uncomfortable silence)
MIchael: Well...?
Michael: Oh right, I was thinking. Ok, this has all been said before, but allow me to retort. Look at Pong. Now look at Psx2. (or a beefed up PC). The time span there is not that long at all. And to remind you, we are christmas treeing out like mad, resulting in such things as P166s in 1996 being top of the line, and now PIII800+. That is amazing. Want to hear my theory, which is by no means revolutionary...?
MIchael: Um, ya sure, whatever...
Michael: They have the technology to make Pentium 5s right now, but are holdiing off for more money. Sap us consumers for all we are worth...slowly, and release incriments of technology bit by bit.
MIchael: That's interesting...we won't go there though for sake of posterity. What are YOU doing right now?
Michael: Well right now I go to Washtenaw Community College in Ypsilanti, Michigan. I am studying Computer Graphic Illustration. Which deals more with gaming, or CG movies. You can also throw special effects in there to I believe. I also am working on buffing up my Max skills, as well as Poser, and a few other graphic apps.
MIchael: So, word round the camp fire is that you got your first gig in the gaming industry...
Michael: Ya, actually, from my next door neighboor, who hooked me up with John, who used to be a programmer for Westwood. He is now alone, doing his own Demolition Derby title, which utilizes the F-1 2000 engine. His company is called AuXpower. Great company.
MIchael: That's cool. Good game?
Michael: Ya. Lotta fun. It's like no other Demo Derby game ever. It's different because its like real demo derby. Which most people have no idea how that works. Plus, there are a lot of cars, and drivers based on actually derby drivers. My job was to illustrate the cars; as well did Mathew Cash, a friend of mine.
(((((update to come soon)))))