AmazingAaron.com - Games, tech,... and whatever else!

New hermit crab, and new crabitat substrate!

Aaron — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:20:19 +0000

Well, I bought another hermit crab today. My big 55 gal. crabitat just seemed like it needed more life in it, so I went to the pet store (on a very cold, and snowy day here in Kentucky), and bought another crab.
I have seen some very small ones at the pet store nearest my house (like the size of my finger nail small), but I decided to stop at another pet store, near where me, and my family where shopping today. They did not have any as small as I have seen at other pet stores, but they did have one about half the size of the ones I have now, so I bought him. He was the smallest they had.
I did not know what to name him at first, but as soon as i got him into his new home, I knew what to call him! as soon as I put him in the tank he started digging down into the sand, so I named him digger.
He is getting along fine with the other two hermit crabs, and right now, as I write this, they are sharing the same coco-hut.
I also bought some Eco Earth substrate for them, and put it in there tank after removing some of there sand to make room for it. Piece by piece there tank is coming together.
I will post a picture of Digger, and of my crabitats new look soon!

Share/Save

Lets talk about crabs.

Aaron — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:29:26 +0000

Ok, I posted an entry a few days ago, talking about my newest obsession, hermit crabs. Well, I just wanted to follow up on that entry, and show you some pictures I just took of my crabitat, and one of my crabs (Hermie). I would have taken a picture of my other crab lightening, but he was hiding behind Hermie (you can kinda see hes shell behind Hermie’s in the pic). I would have just picked him (or her) up and got a picture of him for you, but I just got done totally rearranging there habitat, and I did not want to stress them out anymore (they stress real easy, believe it or not). I had to rearrange everything because I tried out a waterfall Idea I had, but all it did was get everything in the tank soaked :(. Anyway hope you like the pictures, and I’ll put more up latter.

Share/Save

NXE Commuity Games Channel Update.

Aaron — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:25:04 +0000

I got some feedback from the post I wrote earlier about the Xbox 360’s NXE. I wrote that there where only 2 Community Channel Games available, but it turns out that I was looking at the featured list, and not the whole list (oops). It turns out that there are a lot of games already available to download and play. I have been playing a few of them, including one called Being by Jesse Chounard (which is the one who gave me the heads up, Thanks). Being is the only platformer I’ve found so far (and I love platformers), and found it fun to play. So give it a try, along with all the other games available! I’m still playing though them all myself.

Below is the trailer for Being. I love the music, and sound effects.

Share/Save

I’m loving the new StarTrek!

Aaron — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:38:06 +0000

I can’t wait to see the new Star-Trek Movie! It really seems to be shaping up to be a great film, as you can see from the new trailer!

Share/Save

Getting animated!

Aaron — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:31:33 +0000

I’ve been really wanting to do some animation work, but have not been able to afford the software to do it, but the other day I was at Office Depot, and seen an affordable program ($49.99 US) called Anime Studio 5. It claims you can make very nice looking animation, without having to draw them, frame by frame, like I did for my first short animation “Smiles Stickman - A Walk In The Park“. I am planing on buying it this weekend, and getting to work on a short animation idea I have. I hope its as easy as it says it is, and works good enough to use to make nice looking animations, fairy easily, and fast. I have been reading reviews, and the jist seems to be that it does what it says it can do, but that it does have a small learning curve (which I can handle), and that there are better programs available (for the price, of course). One of the better programs is supposed to be Anime Studio 5 Pro, which is $199.99 US. The good news about that is, you can upgrade from the standard version, to the pro version whenever you like for $149.99 US! Which means if I like the software, and I want something a little nicer, I can upgrade to the pro version for what it would have cost me to buy it if I bought it first.

Share/Save

Wild world of videos, and vlogs.

Aaron — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:25:51 +0000

I really need to get a video uploaded to YouTube! I have all kinds of ideas for some really funny, and entertaining videos, but I just haven’t got around to getting everything together and making a video (there a lot of work, believe it or not).
I also need to start doing more vlogs (I really hate that word, but I don’t know any other name for it). I have lots of things to talk about, that I’m sure all of you want to hear about (LOL, or would at least watch the first five seconds of). I guess its just been a combination of being sick (I had the flu for 2 weeks), having all kinds of other things to do, and the fact that my friend West has moved in with me and I just feel strange talking to a video camera with him around. I mean he thinks I’m crazy enough (and he would be right :P).
Anyway I am going to TRY and get a video uploaded this week. even if its just a short vlog (ewww).

Share/Save

My thoughts on the New Xbox Experience (NXE).

Aaron — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:10:38 +0000

I’ve been playing around with the NXE GUI on the Xbox 360, and have been loving it. Sure its been a little troublesome getting use to, but its well worth it. Everything just seems to be much better organized, easier to use, and much better to look at.
When I first heard about the avatar idea. I did not really like how cartoon like they looked, but after creating my own, and messing around with the different looks (and they say more looks, and outfits are on the way) I think they really have potential. And while some people say that its just a Miis knock off, I have to disagree. I mean they are much more lifelike in there movements, (not to mention they have limbs), and they just seem to be more entertaining, and a better representation of yourself, and your friends.
Along with the update came 2 new services, Netflick’s streaming video, and the Community Games Channel. I have not got a chance to try out the Netflick’s channel yet, but I’m sure I will soon. I have however got a chance to play with the Community Games Channel. I was surprised that on launch there were not more games available. As you way know, I am working on my own game for the Community Games Channel (and very slowly at that) that I hope to get uploaded sooner rather than latter (more details on that project latter). The only 2 games available were a shot everything in sight side scroller, called “Weapon of Choice”, and an entertaining, but basic, word game called “Word Soup”. I found “Weapon of Choice” to be to violent for my taste, and “Word Soup” was well, a word game. Also both games seemed to be suffering from a few bugs, that seemed to make them load slower than you would expect.
I will be checking back in soon on the Community Games Channel to see if anything else has come available. There is a list available on the XNA Creators Club website, that list all the games that are supposed to be available now.
All and all I am very happy with the NXE, and all the new services that come with it. Check back latter and I’ll have a review of the Netflick’s streaming feature, and more on the Community Games Channel, and also more on my Community Games Channel game.
Also if you are interested in creating your own game for the Community Games Channel on Xbox Live, then please visit the XNA Creators Club for more details. I would love to play your game, so drop me a line if you decide to create one. Maybe we could even help each other with are game creations!

Share/Save

I’ve been crabby!

Aaron — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:25:49 +0000

So I got some hermit crabs from the local pet store. I started out with one, and then found out that they are very social, and that they get depressed without a buddy, so I got another one. The second one I got is a lot more active than the first one, and they seem to get along very well. I even caught them talking to one another one night (they make strange chirping noises). I stated out with just a 10 gal. tank, and then found out my friend had a 55 gal. just setting around, going to waste so we decided to turn it into a giant crab habitat! I’m still working on it, but its looking good, and the crabs seem to love it. I’m even building a waterfall for them LOL! This all started out as a nice, little, cheap pet, but has turned into an obsession with me. When I go to the store, I find my self in the pets section, more than the electronics section anymore. I think there really cool pets, and I’m going to get some more, because evidently, the more the merrier with hermit crabs. Also if you what to learn more about them, or you think you might like to get 1…or 2, or 10 of your own, then please check out these sites I’ve found, they are very useful.

Naturally Crabby is a great blog all about hermit crabs, and
Hermit-Crabs.com is a great site for information on hermit crabs

I’m going to get a video on YouTube of them soon, and also get some pictures uploaded as well. Also if you view my favorite videos on YouTube, you well see that the newest ones are of some cool hermit crab videos I’ve found.

Share/Save

Something Went HORRIBLY WRONG!

Aaron — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:18:46 +0000

A video I made a while ago, and never got around to uploading it. I hope you like it. My sister is in it, she is playing Guitar Hero on the Wii, and my Nephew is the one shouting strange phrases from the bathroom.

Share/Save

Lost Civilization (Alpha) uploaded!

Aaron — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 11:30:51 +0000

I uploaded a very early release of my Game Maker game, ‘Lost Civilization‘. I hope you head over to YoYoGames and give it a try. It still has a lot of work to be done to it, but it is playable. I would love to receive some feedback, and direction on how you think the game should go.

Share/Save