This 'N' That

Yes, I'm still alive

2010-05-18T13:19:00.000-04:00

Well, I was last time I checked, anyway. :P

I've been really busy at LZPower, a forum where I am an ~~Administrator~~ Admin.

That, and finishing up school.

And laziness. Yeah...

Anyway, I'm hoping to ~~stay active~~ get back into blogging soon. :D

Nathan/Spacedude

Some changes

2010-02-13T12:29:00.001-05:00

You may have noticed some changes on the blog. For one, the CBox, Custom games, and links widgets have disappeared, and there is a new search bar on the top-right.

Thanks to the new Pages feature, each of these widgets is now on their own page. The bar at the top has links to all the pages. Hopefully this will make the blog less cluttered.

Also, I have picked a new template for the blog.

Spacedude

INCOMING TRANSMISSION - ALPHA-CLASS ENCRYPTION

2010-02-10T21:37:00.000-05:00

ENTER SECURITY PIN: *********

CLEARANCE CONFIRMED - PCG COUNCIL MEMBER - SECURITY CLASS A

ACCESSING TRANSMISSION

"Greetings. I am Captain Spacedude of the Phoenix Command Group. If you are hearing this, you are of the privileged few who have been allowed to know this highly sensetive information. What you see now on your screen are top-secret plans for a new battleship, project codename; Almighty."

"This starship is a culmination of years of planning and work. It will be armed with enough firepower to take on any threat, while the shields are strong enough to withstand a Spectre's beam. The following are digital renderings of the ship, now under construction at a top-secret facility."

"As you can see, the most distinctive features are the triangular hull and triple nacelles... fairly uncommon for a ship it's size. It will be capable of making Warp 9.95 indefinitely, with a max emergency warp of 9.99 for up to two weeks. The large Hyperpulse engine will allow for Warp 2.5 on Impulse power."

"This information must not go any further until the project is complete. For the ECS to get their hands on this technology would be disastrous. As far as you are concerned, you never received this message."

END TRANSMISSION

An interesting experience...

2010-02-02T17:46:00.000-05:00

While I was playing Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (a great game), I had a strange thing happen to me. I was playing Episode III, Level 4 on Free Play, and I had just collected the last minikit in the level... however, when I went to exit, I saw a most amusing thing - please click the picture to see it better.

I immediately knew this HAD to be posted. Hope you get as good a laugh as I got!

EDIT: I was playing it again after dinner... same song, second verse.

Spacedude

another day at Winterthur.

2010-01-13T17:40:00.000-05:00

hi, it's Christopher again. i thought as my second post i would put up some of my Pictures from Winterthur. i hope you like them!:

first, i'll do the pictures of my Family i took.

Jessica

Mom(Left) and Dad(Right)

Nathan(Left) and Rachel(Right)

this particular one is my FAVORITE out of ALL the pictures i took.

when i took these pictures i was standing about two feet away from the squirrel.

i took this one because i liked how you could clearly see the shadows of the trees on the glistening snow.

anyone recognize this?

i took a picture of this because, if you look close, you can see that it's feet have ice on them!

this one isn't as good but if you look hard you can see a Cardinal in the branches of the tree.

well. hope you liked my Pictures!

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" Mathew 28:19-20

hello world!

2010-01-10T15:38:00.000-05:00

Hello, I'm Nathan's brother, and I'll be writing here with him. On Lego.com my username is Lambofgod4. I do BIONICLE and Star Trek Creations on the Lego universe gallery and have also recently started a Knights story on LDD(Lego Digital Designer). I've also recently started doing a personal devotions thing where I read my bible, (I'm reading John right now) and then read a Lamplighter book called Order of the White Knights, and then I read about a chapter of The Terrestria Chronicles. Well, I'm new at blogging so I'm sorry if some of my coming posts are boring. :)

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" Mathew 28:19-20

MegaBreakout

2010-01-07T20:24:00.000-05:00

Due to a recent comment, I was inspired to begin work on what is known as a breakout game, where one bounces a ball off a paddle in order to destroy bricks, earn points, and complete the level.

Sounds like it can keep one occupied for a very long time, eh? ^_^

INFO
MegaBreakout is a brick-breaking game. You move your paddle from side to side, bouncing the ball off of it to break the bricks!

FEATURES
----------------------------
One of my signature main menus
Boss levels
Bonuses
And more!

DOWNLOAD LINK
Demo 0.1

PICTURES

Main menu

Gameplay

UPDATE LOG
2/7/10 - Demo 0.1 released.
1/6/10 - Production of MegaBreakout began.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T09:52:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you get lots of Lego's!

Spacedude

Custom games

2009-12-12T12:16:00.000-05:00

First off, no, I'm not dead. :P

I have been working on a lot of things, but this has been the central focus of my time for a few weeks now. Before you read any more, please, clik duh link!

Now that you have done so, please feel free to read on.

Okay, now I will post some pictures of my completed racing game and my WIP platform game (which will be HUGE, with several zones of 5-6 levels - at least 20 levels). You can click the pics for a larger view.

First, my racing game...

Features
------------------
Main menu
Difficulty setting
Bonuses
Highscores
Opponent camera

Status: Finished.
Download link: You can download my custom games here.

The main menu... btw, the green car is your cursor.

Gameplay pics...

Lap 2...

The final stretch!!!

This game is something to do while you are bored. It can keep you occupied for a long time.

Now for my platform game. I call it Crystal Quest. You are the hero of the game, and your mission is to recover a priceless gem stolen from the Jungle Village.

Yeah, it's a cliched plot, I know. Deal with it.

Features: These will all be in the final version
----------------------------------------------------
Main menu, of course.
Autosaving and loading of games
Interaction with NPC's and items (chests, signs, etc.)
Squishing enemies, Mario Brothers-style
Multiple bosses
Multiple zones (not finished yet)
Multiple types of enemies
Climbing ladders and vines
At least seven collectible items, like coins and health boosts
Money, collecting and spending it
Cutscene-type dialogue (cliched, of course :P)
Warping between levels
Health, losing it, and healing restoring it.
SECRET AREAS!!!!!!......................................Sorry.
And some other... goodies... :D

And now, for some pics!

Main menu, with an awesome title. The unconnected letters were not intentional, but I will be keeping it that way. This time, the sword is your cursor.

"Huh? Where am I?" Beginning of the first level...

"And... jump!" Guess what... gameplay pics. Btw, the bricks will not always look like this.

"Hey, a ladder." The ladder and vine function. Very cool.

"I'll just take this gem..."

"Oh... dear..." The great chasm (also known as the unfinished level)

Status: Under heavy construction, about 12% done at this point. You can download the demo here.

Hope you like it, and if I'm not lazy, it should be finished between Christmas and New Years. If I am lazy, it might not get done until summer. :D Please try them out and leave me a comment.

Spacedude

Update on the accident

2009-10-24T11:13:00.000-04:00

It has been 5 days since the accident, and most of the legal stuff has been sorted out by now. The good news is, we are getting $5,100 for our old van. We were told to expect between $4,000 and $5,000, so this was more than we had hoped for. Also, our uncle is coming today to drop off a jeep they used to use. We are going to use it until we can find a car of our own.

The insurance company said we only have until Tuesday with the rental car they are paying for - after that, we will have to pay for it ourselves if we want to keep it. Needless to say, we are all very stressed at having to try and find a van in three days.

Keep us in your prayers.

Spacedude

...Why I'm awake at 4:30...

2009-10-19T04:52:00.000-04:00

Tires screeching, police sirens wailing. Don't you just LOVE car crashes? :P

At 3:30 AM, a maniac in a car tore (literally, TORE) through our fence and yard, smashed OUR car against the corner of our house (the house was unyielding and something had to give, so we now have a totaled car, no fence, and broken front house windows), drove across the road, destroyed the neighbors fence and promptly flipped over. They hit the telephone pole, but we still have Internet (obviously) and the phone.

We then were asked questions by two police officers (practically the same questions both times), both of which told us there would be traffic officers asking us the same stuff.

What's left of our fence is next to what's left of our car. We also have a CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION across our front steps and and all over our back yard. My Dad says we won't be using the front door for a while. My Mom says she wanted to start school early, but not THIS early.

So, I'm awake, and there's nothing I can do about it. Good morning.

Spacedude

Set review - #8256 TECHNIC Go-Kart

2009-09-28T21:09:00.000-04:00

First off, check out the links on the top of my blog. You can click them to go to different posts, like ones on Mindstorms. Neat-o! I got them from my sisters' blog, you should check it out... if you like food and crafts. :D

Now, for what this post is really about. For lack of better (or any) content, I will be doing set reviews on Lego sets I purchase (or get for my birthday or Christmas). I will be adding a link to all set review posts with the other links on top.

SET REVIEW - #8256 TECHNIC GO-KART

(picture is from the Lego Shop)

I would call this set an "impulse set". I got it last week, when we went to Shady Maple Smorgasbord. I saw it on the shelf and grabbed it. I built the Go-Kart the next day, which didn't take me very long. Building time was about 20 minutes (the Lego shop says it will keep you busy building for hours :D), and I must say, this is a well-designed model. Price was $14.99 for 144 pieces, which comes to about ten cents per piece. There have been cheaper sets, but it's not too bad. There is a piston on the back which moves up and down as you push the kart, which is very realistic. There is also front-wheel steering. The model is not minifigure-compatible, but then again, none of the Technic sets are. There is also a secondary model, a riding lawnmower. This is also very realistic, with front-wheel steering, but there is no piston. It also has no mower blade - disappointment.

In short, this is a nice little set. If you are a Technic lover, I would recommend buying it, if you have some pocket change. You can purchase it here, at the Lego shop.

Spacedude

Been busy...

2009-08-30T21:19:00.000-04:00

Sorry I haven't posted for months, mainly because school has started and I'm very busy (mostly catching up on my math from last year).

Recently, my mom got "Web Design for Kids" to review from TOS. I had forgotten how fun HTML was, and I have spent the last few days making a website. It's not finished, of course, and won't be for 4-7 more days or more, but I have a few screenshots to share.

A very plain page, but still clean and nice-looking. Notice the button on the bottom, courtesy of "Spacedude Publishing". :D Also, the text at the top- "My Page"- marquees across the page. It's not the finished title either; one of the many things I have left to do.

Coding - it may look like gobble-de-gook, but it makes a very nice page...

My Web folder, which will be full soon... I hope...

Enjoy, and I will post a link to my site if when I get it done.

Spacedude

Organizing Lego Mindstorms NXT

2009-07-06T18:07:00.000-04:00

Many people have Lego Mindstorms NXT Robotics Kit, including me. One of the problems is organizing all the parts. Some keep their parts in the box it comes in, but I dislike this for several reasons.

1. The box is too large.
2. It is made of cardboard, and can get beaten up very easily.
3. It has no way to keep it closed; if it spills over, you will have to search for an pick up all the parts again.

I use an old silver K'Nex box for storing my Mindstorms in.

This keeps it all together and can be shut securely.

Inside I have several small containers and bags for wires, tread links, etc.

This container is for the wires to connect the Motors and Sensors to the NXT brick.

There is also a USB cable in here for connecting to the computer to upload programs, a large grey piece, the backing for the battery compartment which is no longer used, a paper clip for resetting the NXT brick, and a card. This is for a security system I found on the NXTlog. I sometimes put small pieces of projects in here, due to the center of it being almost completely empty.

This bag is for the tread links and sprockets I purchased from LEGOEducation.com.

They are $12 if you wish to buy them... I would suggest it, it's not a waste of money.

This small container is for miscellaneous parts; A Zamor Sphere launcher, cage, and 7 spheres, a couple of spring-loaded missiles, some official Lego rubber bands, and some small tires that are great for caster wheels.

Fallen asleep yet? If not, good. If so, please wake up! I'm not quite finished yet!

This is the transformer for my NXT brick's Rechargeable Battery Pack. I simply put a rubber band around the cord and place it in the box.

Btw, if you check out the link, the second review from the top is mine.

This is my box after all the other "goodies" have been removed; I have no more organisation after this, I just try to put the NXT brick and motors on the top, if I can. I sometimes have half-built projects in here, too.

I'm done my post about organizing Mindstorms, although after I get my 2.0 set I am going to have to think of something else, because, as you can see, it is pretty crowded in here already.

"May the bricks be with you"
Nathan / Spacedude1234567

Today's my Birthday!

2009-07-04T08:00:00.001-04:00

Well, actually, tomorrow's my birthday, but we're celebrating it today.
I'm turning 15! Ahh! I'm old! :P

Raffle for prizes

2009-07-04T07:51:00.000-04:00

>Rules and how to enter here<

The people at TheNXTStep are having a raffle Lego sets. Two winners will be chosen at random. The prizes depend on the amount of entries recieved.

The prizes are:
250+ entries: Each will receive a Mindstorms NXT 2.0 set
200-249 entries: One will recieve a Mindstorms NXT 2.0 set and one will get a Technic set of Lego's choosing.
Less than 200 entries and each will recieve a Technic set of Lego's choosing.

Check out the link above for rules, more info, and how to enter.

I, of course, am entering, because this might let me get a Mindstorms 2.0 set without having to save up $280.

Nathan

Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 out

2009-06-30T15:54:00.001-04:00

The new Mindstorms NXT 2.0 is out, and it's AWESOME!

Check out this article at Mindstorms.com.

I really want it, and I am going to save up for it if my parents will allow me... *wink*

Check it out on Lego Shop@Home for pictures of the robots and box, more info, and a zoom and 360 degree-turning 3D model of Alpha Rex!

Tag, uh, I'm it.

2009-06-29T10:23:00.000-04:00

I tagged myself at my sisters' blog because she didn't have enough time to tag anyone.

The tag is to pick the sixth picture in your sixth folder.

This isn't actually the sixth picture, but since the sixth picture was the back end of the robot, I figured I'd upload this one instead. :-P

This is MARTY, the Martian All-terrain Rover TechnologY.

For a description and more pictures, click here.

I am not tagging anyone in particular, too lazy you see, so if you want to do it, go ahead.

My summer reading list

2009-06-24T11:48:00.000-04:00

Well, my mom promised I would post my reading list for this summer, so I'm doing my best to keep her word.

REQUIRED BOOKS

These ones are mostly history ones my mom is making me and my brother read.

Ink on His Fingers Louise A. Vernon

Beric The Briton G. A. Henty (Read it already- I was halfway through)

Winning His Spurs : A Tale of the Crusades G. A. Henty

Big John's Secret Eleanore M. Jewett (Bethlehem Books: Living History Library)

The Lost Baron Allen French (Bethlehem Books: Adventure Library)

In Freedom's Cause G. A. Henty

Adam of the Road Elizabeth Janet Gray

Beggar’s Bible Louise A. Vernon

Morning Star of the Reformation Andy Thomson; edited by Mark Sidwell Thomson

The Lion of St. Mark G. A. Henty

A March On London: Being A Story Of Wat Tyler's Insurrection Paperback at Amazon Hardcover from Amazon G. A. Henty

Both Sides of the Border G. A. Henty

At Agincourt: A Tale of the White Hoods of Paris G A Henty

The Fall of Constantinople by Bernardine Kielty (a Landmark Book)

ONES I AM PLANNING TO READ

St. George for England G. A. Henty

Wulf the Saxon G. A. Henty

The Complete Set of the Terrestria Chronicles by Ed Dunlop

The Coral Island by R. M. Ballantye

After this I have nothing particular planned to read.

So I copied the list from my mom's blog. Who cares? Saved me a lot of time typing it all out, plus I got some links thrown in.

Winterthur pictures

2009-05-23T08:48:00.000-04:00

As some of you who read my sisters' blog may know already, we visited Winterthur yesterday with some of our friends. My film camera isn't working right now, so I had to deal with my mom's digital camera which takes, well... less than quality pictures. These are my personal favorites.

These ones are Peonies from the Peony garden.

This bud hadn't opened all the way yet! So cool!

This one is one of my favorites.

Snowball Viburnums! My favorite! Jessica actually took these two pictures.

Some really cool pink flowers with orange in the center!

A yellow Iris... the only one we found!

I was the one who saw this guy. He was floating around in some mossy-looking plants in the fish pond. Not sure what kind of turtle he is.

Below are some pictures of Winterthur from a while ago, taken with my Nikon EM.

Some great pics of the Magnolia tree.

These are from a different Magnolia tree.

This is the picture I promised my mom I would post...

This one... not sure what kind of flower, but I really liked it.