So, I had to make my own. Turns out, it wasn’t that difficult. (For me, anyway.)

It’s a plugin that’s only about 56 lines long but adds the functionality that I needed and does it without constraint. It does the animation quite smoothly and nicely. It maximizes the dialog from any position to fill the browser’s viewport (the window you’re looking at) and restores the previous position/dimensions.

For the general public, you can find it attached. It’s under the typical GPL license and it usable, without restriction, by anyone. All I ask is to leave credit, as anyone else would.

Download: .zip
Documentation

What prompted me to take on, yet another, language, you ask? Well, it seems that to have any kind of chance with large, corporate development you need to have Java on your resume. Sadly, since it's been so long, I can barely remember anything Java. I know I won't have an issue picking it back since I've been programming in some form of a C-language or C-derivative since I decided to leave the world of BASIC behind many, many years ago.

Also, since it has been so long, I've decided to just go back to basics. The bad thing about this is that I hate going back to basics. Even the phrase. But, go back to the beginning I must. Given that the language has most definitely evolved over the last decade warrants this, too. Even if I tried to jump in head-first, I'd most likely smack bottom and have a cracked skull.

A bad trait of mine is that I hate learning from a book. I've always had trouble with that. All the programming I've ever learned has been by doing and trial-and-error techniques. Thankfully, over the years, and through the trial-and-error, I've learned better programming techniques and practices which has helped me to better learn new languages. I've only recently tried to learn from a technology from a book. And that was my short foray into the world of 3D programming, but that's another post.

So, given my lack of patience to textbook-learning, I've done what I typically do and find some nice online sources. I love the internet, most likely the main reason why I'm in the business I am.

I've found a few Java IDEs that look to be nice, but until I actually get in them and play around, I won't know which one I'll be using from now on. The one that grabbed me as being the most familiar was NetBeans . That name just jumped out as something I remember from somewhere… but can't quite put my finger on what or where. We shall see.

Second, I found one that I couldn't tell if it was really a good IDE or not, but it seems to have some nice utilities and functionality that I will be able to use. It's from a company I've never heard of but, by the design of the site itself, looks to be made by good programmers. You can always tell how much of a back-end programmer someone is and how deep they are into coding by the lack of any creative design. I know, I know, that sounds harsh, and it is. It's from a company called JetBrains and the IDE is called IntelliJ IDEA . See what I mean by lack of creativity?

Now. I know you're thinking, "Man, saying that someone is a good coder by the lack of creativity is a really harsh statement." And, I agree with you. I, myself, have struggled for years (and still do) to have any kind of creative aspect to my site designs. My first designs were so devoid of creativity, they looked like Lego blocks stacked on a web page. So, when I say that, I'm not doing it without any personal experience.

Back on topic. Java development, yes.

I'm hoping to be able to find some decent examples, more tutorials and products to play with and learn more about Java as I go. If anyone has examples, links or just advice, please feel free to comment.

Last year I attempted to broadcast my FanFaire experience via uStream. Unfortunately, unlike the previous year at the Las Vegas Hilton, Bally's did not have free Wifi available for the attendees to use. So, I was unable to do the broadcast.

This year I'm planning to attempt this feat again. Only this year I'm going a little more prepared. This year will be broadcasted, oh yes it will. I've made sure of it.

Be sure to check here throughout the day to see the broadcast.

Since there isn't any Vanguard content, aside from the Live Quest, I won't be broadcasting a whole lot. However, I am willing to take requests. If you want to see a specific panel, click here and fill out the info (panel time, name, etc.) and, if it doesn't conflict with anything else, I'll broadcast it. I can't guarantee that I'll be able to make every request, but I will try.

FYI: The broadcast will be at the top of the main page where the burning goblin is now.

Anyway. I have a confession to make. Even with all this horrible insomnia, I have barely scratched my planned game programming regimen. I have lazily been watching movies, TV series and anime on Netflix. (Damn you Netflix *angry fist shake*) Thankfully I believe I have watched just about any and all content they have available for stream-viewing in which I have any interest. Also, to squelch my ever nagging want/need to better various parts of my life, I finally broke down and bought some books to help with my… artistic abilities. (Read, I'm trying to draw better.)

Yes. I am not only a man (yes, man, for those who were actually wondering) of an analytical nature, as so many programmers are, but I am also a lover of art. No, not that guy on the corner that you say “Hi” to everyday on the way into work.

So, along with my needed regimen of expanding my ever expansive desire to enrich my programming prowess, I am also going to try and mix in a little bit of beauty into my analytical world.

I am by no means wholly devoid of any artistic ability. My mom told me so when I was a kid. Joking… mostly. I've drawn many things in the past when I was an angst-ridden teenager. Sadly, once I got into college I sloughed off my regular routines, including my occasional artistic romps.

However, since I have been on, what can only very kindly be construed as, an extended hiatus, I plan to “go back to basics” and attempt to refresh my ever-fuzzy memory. Wish me luck.

Oh, I'm also taking bets on how long and if I am actually able to “double up” on my regimens.

I'm still learning the ropes and reading more books. I'm working on a small, practice Flash game (similar to Tetris), mostly for learning better collision detection and multi-collision detection. I've been procrastinating for the last week with it, though. I need to get back on track.

You'd think that making a Tetris-like game would be simple and easy… en toto, it is, it's coming up with a, what I've termed, slot-collision detection scheme. i.e. How to tell when two pieces with very different shapes "notch" together. Coming up with a way to do it hasn't been my problem, it's deciding on which one to use and to allow me to expand up later on that's the problem.

To any of my fellow Kansas Citians, pray for clear skies, I'm tired of this overcast.

To say the least, I've been a bad student. I haven't been doing my homework, putting off studying and just plain watching TV instead of doing what I should be doing. But no more , I say! Don't get me wrong, I haven't been lazy. I'm one of those people that, when I sit down to read a book, I get comfortable…. and subsequently fall asleep. Regardless of my interest in the book I'm reading, I go to the land of the sugarplum fairies.

I think I may have an answer for my predicament, though. I don't know if I'm going to enjoy my solution, but it has to be done. I'm going to sit on the floor. Simple, yes. Easy, not for my rear.

Granted, the first book I'm reading actually is a textbook. i.e. The book you would get if taking a class on Game Design & Architecture. So, cut me a little slack that I'm still on the first chapter. Plus, it is 864 pages long and that's not a small paperback book, either. It's a whopping 9.4" x 8.2" x 2" hardcover badass of a book. This thing could knock someone out if it fell off a second story window.

Why am I posting this, you ask? While I haven't been the most avid of posters, I may be posting less than normal… even for me. In the last year I have posted more and about more than in the past. But, there may be benefits from peaking into my den once in a while. As I explore these tomes of knowledge and try to wring every morsel of juicy goodness from them that I can, I will most assuredly be posting my experiments up here. The first ones I'll most likely leave off and allow them to whither in the dank, dark pit that they will most likely be thrown into on my machine since they will undoubtedly make me think, "What the hell was I thinking making that?" You know, kinda how Dr. Frankenstein thought when he made the Frankenstein Poodle. Nobody likes to speak of it.

So, if you share my enthusiasm for learning all that is game, check out the books I posted and, if you have any to suggest, please leave a comment.

Until next time!

First off, I got a new job for a large marketing firm locally. Started last week and it's been pretty cool and busy. I'm enjoying it a lot and the job is a really cool one. Cool co-workers, cool environment and fast-paced work. Oh, and did mention that we are located on the tarmac of the KC Downtown Airport?! Is that not cool or what? I get to see private jets take off, local news stations' helicopter pop in and out, oh, and not to mention the fighter jets and bombers that buss the airfield. Totally awesome.

Second, my previous employers made sure to get their money's worth out of me before I left, a couple weeks ago. I guess that's a good thing. It was hard leaving but I'm glad I did. The place was awesome and I loved the people I worked with, but I needed to move on. So is this profession of mine.

What do I do, you may be asking. Well…. stuff like my own website. I'm a Web Developer/Designer, with a good helping of Flash/Actionscript Developer, all accompanied by a dash of sarcastic whit.

Annnnnway. That all said, and the reason as to why I haven't posted in a while, I've got updates on this year's upcoming FanFaire. Since my video last year was, at best, sub par, I bought a HD camcorder. I know, I know, I'm crazy. Add to that… IT'S HERE TODAY! Yay! I love getting new tech.

I'm going to do some testing and get stuff ready for this year and hopefully be able to bring some much better quality footage for everyone.

Anyway. Keep an eye out for the next update!

I loved the storyline, the cinematics and combat. I won't say that I was the best coordinated Jedi… saying that I was even a moderately good Jedi would be generous, lol!

I can honestly say that I went through the entire game without using one cheat code. That's probably a first for me with a console game.

To be completely honest, I don't think I can come up with the words to express how amazing this game was. The physics engine, the graphics engines, et al were amazing. I loved the dialogue and the cinematic feel that the game gave. I'll admit, I bought the Sith Edition. But, I don't know if there was a whole lot of difference between it and the regular. Oh well, I'm still pleased and will be watching the cinematics for grins.

Tune in for other game critiques and gossip!

That's right. The SOE FanFaire 2010 will be held in Las Vegas again this year. I'm a little sad but also happy that's it going to be in Vegas again. I'm sad because it's been there for the past 2 years and I wouldn't mind a new locale. However, on the flip-side, I'm happy that it's in Vegas because of the rockin' time I had last year and all the stuff I didn't get to do and see.

So, down to the nitty-gritty details.

When: August 5^th -8^th
Where: Bally's Hotel
What's to do: Tons!

• Special announcements and sneak peaks of upcoming SOE titles
• In-game tournaments and live, game-themed competitions and quests
• Developer forums and roundtables
• Cool giveaways and other fun items!

Visit the Fan Faire website at www.soefanfaire.com  for up-to-date information on registration, pricing and schedules. Tickets are expected to go on sale early this spring.

The Schedule is still pending, so keep an eye out. As soon as I know, I'll be sure to post it up here so you can know when the panels and events that you want to attend will be.

Never been to a SOE FanFaire before? Then come and have some fun! Join fellow gamers for discussion, talks, games, prizes and just plain fun. Get to talk to the people who make your favorite games and, maybe, even get to shoot them some of your ideas!

Oh, one last thing! I want to say a humungous KUDOS to the team at SOE for getting this info out quicker than I've seen in the last 4 years. And to that, a GI-NORMOUS Kudos to Tiffany Spence (aka Amnerys) who has been working her fingers to the bone getting everything together. Yay, Tiff! (I think I may die for calling her “Tiff” btw, so if no one hears from me post-FanFaire, you know what happened.)