Archive for the ‘Cool Stuff’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

One Programmer Goes it Alone in App Development

Monday, March 18th, 2013

So what happens when you have a great idea for an Android app but are a solo enterprise? Well for starters, you do have a lot of control over the end product – but you also have to decide whether you have the necessary skills to be a jack-of-all-trades.

Making an app sounds simple, right? Here is Simon Tomlinson’s story about his foray into being programmer, designer, artist, sound designer and marketer along with the lessons he learned in the process.

Read the article in Gamasutra and then tell us if this is something you would consider doing.

Tags: ,
Posted in Career, Cool Stuff | Comments Off

Global Game Jam 2013 Team Videos

Wednesday, March 13th, 2013

In case you missed the event but want to find out what happened in 48 hours of intense game-making, here’s your chance. Check out the videos that recap each of the teams who worked their magic at Cogswell College during Global Game Jam 2013.

This international event of more than 16,000 jammers took place in 63 countries with 319 sites hosting teams. Worldwide more than 3,000 games were developed. Cogswell has been a host site since the first Global Game Jam in 2009 and is happy to continue providing a forum that helps push the boundaries of game development.

Our site’s teams had a lot of fun and are proud of what they accomplished in a short period of time.

Team “Allergy Alliance”

Team “Heart Attack”

Team “Knights of the Longtable”

Team “Rocketblood”

Team “Tinman”

Tags: , ,
Posted in Cool Stuff, Events | Comments Off

Cogs Con 2013 Coming Soon!

Tuesday, March 12th, 2013

It’s time to spend some time in Nerd’s Paradise. Join us at Cogswell College on Saturday, April 27, from 10AM to 6PM for Cogs Con 2013 – a celebration of everything that makes our student body special. Visiting artists, alumni and students will fill the Dragon’s Den with their handiwork and considerable talents. Admission Tickets are $5 online and $10 at the door.

In addition to the displays of art, games and craft items a host of activities are scheduled throughout the day. Check out the exhibitors already confirmed.

Scheduled Activities Include:

Character Design Panel

Special Guest: Bordin will be hosting a panel on character design, how it’s done and his creative process. Depending on how tired his hands are, he may be able to demo his unique art style.

Magic the Gathering Draft:

Cogswell’s Friday Night Magic club will be hosting a draft tournament of the Gatecrash expansion. The tournament is open to EVERYONE will be Single Round Elimination. The entry fee is only $3.00! The prizes may range from a fat-pack, to half a booster box!

DND Delve:

For those who enjoy table-top gaming we will have an experienced Dungeon Master who will be bringing pre-made characters and a quick delve for anyone interested. There will probably be a limit of 5 players.

C4 Lottery Raffle:

Just like last year, Cogswell Comic Creation Club will be having a huge raffle that will be held near the end of the event. Tickets will be cheap 1 for $1 or 12 for $10! We will have a variety of cool prizes so don’t miss out!

Masquerade Event:

Fan of anime and good at imitating your favorite character? Then take part in the Masquerade Event. Just like last year we will be judging you on creativity and skill. Display the craft of Cosplay well and you may just win some amazing prizes.

Concept Art Demo:

Cogswell Seniors Frankie Perez and Kyle Sewnarain will be hosting a live demo of character and environmental concept art! Watch as the use their knowledge of art and design to create fantastic pieces and talk about what it means to work as a concept artist!

DATE:  Saturday, April 27

TIME:  10AM to 6PM

WHERE: Cogswell College, 1175 Bordeaux Dr., Sunnyvale, CA 94089

Tickets $5 online and $10 at the door

Photos from CogsCon 2012

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Cool Stuff, Events, Student Life | Comments Off

Death Boulder Bones is in the Running to Win the Next Game Boss Competition

Friday, March 8th, 2013


IGN’s Youtube web series, The Next Game Boss, has a Cogswell College alumnus connection. Seth Robles who graduated from Cogswell in 2005 is the Lead Artist on the Death Boulder Bones game that is one of the final three games in contention for the $10,000 prize.

Death Boulder Bones, a product of Grandendroit, is an innovative new auto-runner game. The twist is that the game player controls the environment instead of the character. Using their mouse or touch screen, players draw walls, jumps and even control time itself in order to lead the near-sighted adventurer, Dr. Indianapolis Bones, to the exit. Along the way, gamers challenge themselves to collect the many artifacts and secrets hidden throughout each level.

“Early player response has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Robles, “and the game is expected to shake up the runner genre.”

Grandendroit began in 2009 when coder Eli Delventhal and artist Seth Robles met during the first Global Game Jam at Cogswell College. Frustrated with the difficulty of realizing their creativity at their day jobs with the gaming establishment, Grandendroit became a place for their own ideas to take flight. In 2011, they began work on an innovate auto-runner game, Death Boulder Bones.

As for the results . . . you’ll just have to watch! Check out their website to see the episode where the final two competitors are selected. Will Death Boulder Bones be one of them?

They currently have a Kickstarter Campaign underway to raise funding for further development ahead of the games official release this summer.

Let us know what you think about their game!

Tags: ,
Posted in Alumni, Career, Cool Stuff, News | Comments Off

Managing Conflict – Something Every Entrepreneur Needs to Learn

Friday, March 1st, 2013

Most of us cringe when our co-workers, especially those we must work closely with, start sniping at each other thus creating an uncomfortable workplace environment at a minimum and worst case scenario, disrupt the work flow. The average worker has not been trained in conflict management and has no idea how to improve the situation.

This helpful article by Lisa Wood, President of ManagingAmericans.com, both defines and then offers insight into how to deal with the four main sources of conflict in the workplace – conflict avoidance, conflict of opinion, conflict of interest and conflict of intent.

How do you deal with conflict in your team projects?

Tags:
Posted in Career, Cool Stuff, News | Comments Off

Copyright Laws versus Preserving Recordings

Thursday, February 28th, 2013

Can you imagine that a large percentage of our recorded history – music, historical speeches, radio broadcasts and field recordings – may soon be lost forever due to the lack of preservation opportunities?

According to the report, the whereabouts of a wire recording made by the crew members of the Enola Gay from inside the plane as the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima are unknown. Many key recordings made by George Gershwin no longer survive. Recordings by Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and other top recording artists have been lost.

Another factor contributing to the demise of these valuable recordings are the US Copyright laws. This fascinating article walks you through the dilemma and what can be done to save this piece of our history.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Cool Stuff, News | Comments Off

Creating the Oscar Nominated Short Animation, “Adam and Dog”

Tuesday, February 26th, 2013

Adam and the Dog

With the Academy Awards wrapping last weekend, we thought you might enjoy reading an interview with Minkyu Lee about how he brought his Genesis-themed (as in the Biblical Garden of Eden) story to life.

“I really wanted to focus on conveying the sense of peace in Eden, and also that sense of breath, and the purity of life there. I think breathing room is such an important thing for a character to feel truly alive. Just letting the characters be who they are,” said Lee.

The process of completing this film required enormous dedication as he and a cadre of animator and artistic friends worked off hours and weekends to finish the project. Finally, during the last six months, he took leave from work to devote all of his efforts toward polishing the animation.

His film also took the 2012 Annie Award for Best Animated Short last February—beating out major studio heavyweights for the honor. The piece also contains screen shots and concept art from the film.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Cool Stuff, News | Comments Off

The Risk Paradox for Software Engineers

Monday, February 25th, 2013

All in a day's work, right?

When people talk about risky careers, software engineering is typically not mentioned in the same breath as firefighters, police or military personnel. While software programmers generally do not risk life and limb – except perhaps in the odd spy movie thriller – the profession is not without risk.

In a recent article for Computing Now, Jim (“Cope”) Coplien, talks about the relationship between research and failure. He suggests that ‘great organizations not only tolerate risk, but encourage it.’ Mr. Coplien has authored or co-authored many books, including the Wiley title, “Lean Architecture for Agile Software Development.”

What do you think of his analysis?

Tags: , ,
Posted in Career, Cool Stuff, News | Comments Off

How to Avoid Getting Burned Out

Friday, February 22nd, 2013

You really don't want to get to this point...

Every Entrepreneur needs to find that all important balance between work and then everything else you want to do in your life. If you find that work consumes your every waking moment, chances are, you won’t be satisfied and will realize something is missing.

Watch this short video by Business Coach Ann Mehl as she shares tips and insights into creating that all important balance and avoiding burn out.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Career, Cool Stuff, News | Comments Off

Inside Moogs New Sub Phatty Synth

Thursday, February 21st, 2013

Moog’s new Sub Phatty looks cleaner, sounds dirtier. CDM-exclusive photo, courtesy Moog Music.

If you’re in to audio and you’ve never been to the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) show, then you’re in for real treat someday. The show is basically all-things-audio overload.

At the recent show in Anaheim, California, Moog showcased its new Sub Phatty Synth. To you non-audio folks that probably sounds like some creature from Star Wars needs to go on a diet but to those in the know, Moog promises a new range of bass possibilities through this compact synthesizer.

Check out this review and let us know what you think.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Academics, Cool Stuff | Comments Off

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »