Unity Tutorial 02.

This year, I've decided to kick things off by learning 3D gaming and game design with unity from scratch by Unity themselves on two of their articles; https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/set-up-your-first-project-in-unity?courseId=5cf96c41edbc2a2ca6e8810f&projectId=5caccdfbedbc2a3cef0efe63#5d07bb29edbc2a001ebf1916, and https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/installing-vrtk-beta?projectId=5cdc9e4cedbc2a1ef423426c. 

⇨ I find these tutorials much easier to understand as he is much slower, goes more in-depth in his tutorials to start for basics rather than ramble on like Jimmy Vegas, and keeps his videos nice and short. He also uses a much more recent version of Unity than Jimmy Vegas (finally something more compatible with my laptop!) So far, I've messed around and got more familiar with the Driver simulation assets, and found it much easier to use objects from other Asset packs rather than creating my own objects from scratch. I've also learned how to focus and move the camera in the hierarchy tab, which made the gameplay run more smoother and made it easier for me the navigate the screen. Messing around with the tabs by minimizing and moving them around made it much more efficient in terms of game design, and saving it as a new layout for future projects. Something that's always bummed me out with Unity is using C sharp, I'm very good when it comes to developing my own websites but somehow game scripting never works out for me, but I find that this Unity developer takes his time and explains each step much clearer than Jimmy Vegas did with each and every component and variable. 

⇨ As for the second article, I've learned how to install and include the VRTK pack in my own game, and messing around and getting more familiar with the pack's new tools and assets. After following the steps of the tutorial, I've gained a much greater understanding of placing my very own interactable objects and creating a car modifying game. 

This image was found on Pixabay.

Reading 2.

As for the proposed books, I've chosen the topics in relation to managing complexity and avoiding dominant strategies. The reasoning behind me choosing these topics is because I'd like to challenge myself and go for topics I've never actually heard of before.

↝ As for my first topic, on managing complexity;

I began my research by breaking down the two words, such as finding out the definitions and finding any synonyms in relation to gaming.

Managing; In relation to maintaining control over a subject in a game, or using your currency, time or other resources sensibly. According to Google Dictionary, managing also means succeeding in surviving or in achieving something despite the difficult circumstances, also known as coping mechanisms. Some synonyms in relation to the word are being in charge of, handling, organizing, guiding, taking care of, and leading. 

Complexity; In relation to the difficulty of a game, easy, medium and hard. According to Google Dictionary, complexity means the state or quality of being intricate or complicated or a factor involved in a complicated process or situation. Some synonyms in relation to the word are complications, problems, difficulties, twists, turns, convolutions, entanglements, intricacies, complicatedness, involvements, and convolutedness.

↝ As for my second topic, on avoiding dominant strategies;
I, once again, continued on my research by breaking down the words and finding out any information I could find online in relation to gaming.
Dominant; In relation to winning/being in the lead of a game i.e dominance. According to Google Dictionary, dominance is also related to power or control over someone or something. Some similar words include supremacy, superiority ascendancy, domination, mastery, authority, rule, command, control, leverage, and influence.
Strategy; In relation to an outcome determined by a choice made by a game player. According to Google Dictionary, it also means planning and directing operations or movements in a war or battle. Some similar words include master plan, grand design, plan of action, tactics, and schemes.

This image found on pixabay.

Growth Mindset

Personally, I have never heard of the Carol Dweck growth mindset challenge, and have learned about it through various posts and videos found http://growthmindsetmemes.blogspot.com. Honestly, I think it's very strict forcing children to push themselves and make them feel guilty. I understand that making children feel tasks are too easy for them is a bit much, but making kids feel cheated if the work is too easy for them can in turn, make them feel bad about themselves. Instead, I think telling children the opportunities and rewards that they'll receive once they push themselves, that way children will feel better about themselves.

 

   ↳  I don't think I would be very interested in further learning about this challenge as I don't want to be guilt tripped into thinking I am not pushing myself when I know I am capable of doing so.

   ↳  For this semester, I am going to push myself to learn more about the different software's and equipment we use throughout the year, as I know this will be beneficial towards my career and influencer lifestyle through creating content for YouTube and Instagram. I am also going to push myself to learn about different filming techniques and go into the technicalities of using a DSLR camera, since I want to learn about different photographic techniques and effects.

Feeling guilt-tripped

Introduction to a Future Instagram Influencer.

Hello, and welcome to my blog. My name is Vladimir Marcuta, I am 19 years old and I am a Gemini (yes I feed into all Gemini stereotypes, enjoy me while you can). I was born on May 23rd in the year 2000 (also I was 4 weeks late because I knew I was not going to be born an Aries or Taurus, my mother really hated me).

Selfie because I love myself

   ↪  I was born and raised in Dublin, but have Moldovan heritage. My parents are Oxana and Adrian Marcuta, and they grew up and lived in Moldova until 1999, the year they moved to Ireland in search of looking for a better life and hoping to have children who will have brighter futures and opportunities than them. I also have a little sister called Arina, just turned 17 and is a total Virgo, (least compatible sign with a Gemini, both friendships and relationships because they clash too much) but somehow we get along so well. I'd compare my sister to a bulldog, total hard-ass and full of testosterone, but hella protective of me. I also have aunties and uncles who emigrated here too, and cousins who grew up here just like me, who I've grown to love and cherish, and can't live without.

Group photo from a wedding last year

   ↪  My favourite movies are Charlie's Angels, Bratz Rock Angelz, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith (I know, how typical), and my favourite TV shows include Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Pretty Little Liars, and Gossip Girl, (and about 30 more, please don't judge me, I had a lot of time during my Junior Cert).

   ↪  I'm also a HUGE Arianator, have all of her ICONIC perfumes (including some of her hoodies, tops and totes.. yeah I think I'm quite obsessed and you get it now). I first got to see her live in May 2017 for her Dangerous Woman tour, and just yesterday came back from her Sweetener/Thank You, Next tour, and it was F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S.

   ↪  My favourite foods vary a lot, but I am currently obsessed with mezzulene (FILLED with mozzarella, spinach and tomato), avocados and lasagna. I also get weird cravings for mighty munch (quite a lot actually, it's very odd).

   ↪  I have plenty of hobbies, ranging from photography, videography, modelling, netflixing and cuddling. (Yes I've reached the expert level of cuddling, thank you very much).

Workshop 01.

Coming into this workshop, I've never heard of the "traffic light" exercise, and was quite unsure of what was asked and how it worked. Although I am still quite confused after it, I did get some sort of an idea of what was asked. Usually I despise group work, but in this case my peers helped me understand the task a lot more, by discussing the topic and hearing their ideas. I was paired up with Dylan and David, and unfortunately, none of us brought in paper, we somehow only brought in pens, but came to the conclusion of drawing out a site map and giving a brief description on "Word" using my Mac Book. We then got to create a timeline and code-based solution based off other classmates ideas using "Adobe Animate" after class (a programme I have never heard of before, and something useful I will be taking home with me from the exercise!). I did really enjoy the interactivity, but thought the group work and the exercise wasn't something I was really interested nor passionate about. I also find it quite draining to write about an unenlightening workshop, and would love a more enticing interactive experience in the future. I did however find discussing our solutions rather interesting as I got to see from other people's prospectives on the given topic. I wouldn't recommend using this exercise to others as I find it very confusing, and would better recommend researching exercises in groups on a specific topic, as group work can be quite beneficial to others in the future, such as improving creativity, productivity, motivation and a positive reinforcement. If anything, I left the workshop more confused then fascinated. I do hope to change my views on group work in the future, as I think it could be more beneficial to my course.

Me still being confused.