Socal Regionals Bound!

Tournament season is always an invigorating time for folks in the Fighting Game Community. Folks are polishing their skills, there's a collective hype for new technology and high level play that'll be unleashed, and rivalry along with camaraderie is at it highest.

Competitive fighting games may have a fairly niche interest, but it's hard to deny the energy and intensity that builds over the course of a major tournament, that then explodes at the peak of grand finals.

Socal Regionals is one of the majors that take place here in California and is set to take place this month. With many of my peers completing and the venue being UCI, I'm wondering if I'm more excited about this than Christmas. I won't be completing this year, but will be assisting with J&J Mods table, where there'll be custom art and commissions available! Drop by and give me your favorite character that you want to see rendered by me!

Preview detail: Juri, SSFIV

Hmm.

Definitely past due for a new post.
Sorry about that.

It's summer, and in that season one tends to go into serious chill/kick-back mode, or hop onto things they can't get to the rest of the year. But that could just be me. I'm least art-active in the summer(a by-product of school I assume)and more excited to travel or just get out there with friends who now have more time(a by-product of school). So among the travels I made was the Las Vegas trip for Evo2010. This was fully the most enjoyable one I've attended...you can read a quick write-up on my take of it here.

This summer I managed to feverishly work on and crank out a print for PrintZero Studios. This year it's huge and marks its first juried catalog. I had to participate! I'll keep you updated with a shot my entry soon.

With summer coming to a close I've gotta start getting back into swing of things...with whatever swing that was there to begin with...

The Last Stand.....The New Evo?!

Though the Farewell Fedex Fight Nights Party concluded a few weeks ago, it's still left me with a high. Organizing an event like that and giving folks in the community a great outlet was something very rewarding. Six months of weekly FFN can take up more time than it seems. And it becomes more of a need than it seems as well. We got opportunity to level up and formed a pretty tight crew. Maybe that's why even with a farewell I pushed for one more 'Last Stand' this coming Thursday... ;)

Evo 2010 is rapidly approaching. I can't believe it. I could go back to last year's post and anticipate the fun, and then see all the things I've done since then. Any annual event such as this can really drive excitement and notalgia. And through it I've come to know incredible people!

It's summer and I'm bound to stay busy but it's off to a good start! I oughta practice up some card counting for Vegas though...

Photos courtesty of JDM714

Prone to do things

It's 2 in the morning. I could write that anytime I'm in an inspired mode of working. I've wished I could be more productive and engaged to do things at a timely, normal hour, but hey. Best to embace it and so what I do.
I've had the opportunity to get involved with the Fighting Game Community and contributed FNN to the socal area, and it's been growing since late December '09. Next month will mark its final sessions(whether temporarily or indenfinite) and we're wrapping up with a big event! This has been an experience and labor of love. More info and if you'd like to attend, here.

This summer I'm putting my foot down and stepping forward from Goldenwest College, in hopes to begin studies at Cal State Long Beach. GWC has been incredibly rewarding and convenient for about 3 years, and I'm set forth for further artistic challenges. I'm thankful for the art I've been able to work on here as well as a recent Ken Kirslake Student Award from APA by nomination from Professor Conley.

Finally, my company/project thefedups.com has been under dormant stages for a long time but will be official soon, and I'll be pouring myself into that. Five gallon buckets. 2 AM. I'm prone to do things.

Photo from my 27th bday by Jeannie. Like a shot outta film noir ;)

Fight Nights, and Art Shows, and Shirts... oh my!

The recap of things happening from the 1st of 2010 till now:
One can't deny the commonplace videogaming has in present culture. Where fighting games once appealed to a niche followers, its interest recieved an adrenaline shot with Street Fighter IV. In '09 I dove deeper into the FGC(Fighting Game Community) culture through meeting and learning from such significant figures as Alex Valle. Inspired by the gaming sessions here in socal, I created Fedex Fight Nights. FFN is a contribution back to the community where a few casual and top players could enjoy in the common interest of fighting games, and its location-a Fedex Office conference room- lends to the broader sense that this culture isn't simply for a few fellas playing within their homes, but assembled and accepted in recognized public place. It's thus far been a rewarding weekly endeavor to hold.

Paul Hartley, an incredible influence and one of my painting mentors passed in November '09. As one who has left a impact on my art and so many others', he is honored by a tribute show that's been in Raleigh, NC and has traveled to Greenville, NC. I've been every thankful to be a part of this show, and hope to keep my art growing, if not solely inspired by Paul's prolific career.

There are always plenty of projects I juggle, but at the moment one that has garnered some excitement is that I am currently working on a few Street Fighter themed shirts to go into production next month, celebrating the release of SSFIV.

To be continued!

Through the Blizzard Again..

Aug. 20-21: Blizzcon '09. This marks my second attendence and also, recalling the writing about my first Blizzcon reminds me this blog's just about 1 year old.
The Convention in review...fun, engaging, informative, and..well, not as hype as the year's past. Don't get me wrong: The hall was packed full and expanded, energy and excitement from the major fans(and cosplayers),there was PLENTY of hype-worthy info on the next upgrade to WOW, in the form of 'World of Warcraft:Cataclysm'. But...well, it's been a slower(or perhaps much quieter)year of development for Blizzard. But hey, fans were still happy. I was definitely satisfied with minor tweaks and the new class(the Monk) for Diablo III, and meeting Felicia Day of The Guild fame was sweet. And last but not least...seeing Ozzy live!! Prince of Darkness still got some bite in him. Here's to next year...Which definitely promises to bear much more in their developments.

Digital Dopplegangers!

So, Playstation Network's released a beta for Home, a virtual space where users create an avatar to interact with the community.

The premise is interesting, and I check it out. Already, the customization is practically limitless, and I scare myself a bit with my avatar I've created. Literally, my digital doppleganger. Judge for yourself.







Awesome? Kinda. Eerie? Yes. My little brother put it best upon reflection: The fact that people can create themselves and buy things they can't really buy and do things they can already do in real life?