Absolute Filth TRU Textures Blog

Snoring Dormouse with sound - listen

2012-01-29T02:07:00.000-08:00

THE cutest video I have seen in many years....I want one! lol soooo adorable.

Seamless Animal Skin Hide Tent & Throw Textures Version II

2012-01-25T09:51:00.000-08:00

Version Two

Due to the popular feedback from the first collection to these animal hide tent textures, I have created a second collection.

10 seamless cow, buffalo, pony and bear hide skins thrown on top of each other as they would be in the days of Vikings or for RP Gorean locations.

They can be purchased now from within SL by clicking this Slurl

They will also be available from the SL Marketplace.

For use outside of Second Life, you can purchase them under an extended license from the TRU Textures website and contentparadise.com very soon.

Click to enlarge

SOPA PIPA - Stop Online Piracy Act A Rookies Point Of View

2012-01-20T03:15:00.000-08:00

It’s big news apparently, but me and news don’t get on.

It took me 8 months to learn that Gordon Brown was the PM (seriously)
I don’t watch the news and I don’t read news related newspapers or websites.

Anyway, I got an email from my other half this morning which took me to the wikipedia site for the Stop Online Piracy Act which can be read here

Even now I haven’t read all of the two websites that I have stumbled upon, so my opinion is less than worthless I guess. But I’m gonna give it anyway. :P

From the bullet points I read, I am behind it.
Of course I am!

I “am” one of those people that make a living in digital goods and I have experienced countless cases of digital piracy, usually born out of total ignorance.
Further more, in my newbie days I have even breached peoples copyright in lets call it “Convenient Ignorance”

By that I mean. I didn’t go out of my way to see if it was OK. I took the view that “Everyone is doing it, it must be OK”

True story:

My very much moralistic and law abiding Father asked if he could make a copy of a DVD drama series I had purchased over Christmas.

I laughed a little and said: “Technically, we would be breaching copyright Dad”

He looked a little taken back and replied “No, because I would only be using it for myself to watch and not charging people to view it”

This is not a rare, incorrect misunderstanding over copyright and neither does it come from an idiot.
My Father is very well read and very much up to date with the news and political topics.

But is does display how Copyright on a massive international and multi cultural level is completely misunderstood.
Furthermore, that huge scale lack of understanding is costing those of us that make it our business to understand, 50, 60, 70% of our potential income as people share digital files like they are sharing a bag of chips.

My main direction of thought was secondlife.com and IMVU.com

We all know places like these are breeding grounds for file sharing and IP theft and the owners generate millions of dollars in "User To User” transactions of digital content so potentially they are both targets for this new law, should it come to fruition.

I would NOT want to be them right now because the damage is done really.
In “their” ignorance, Linden Labs opened the floodgates to people uploading pirate textures and artwork, avatar animations, sounds and goodness knows what else in 2003.

Further more, SLers can also export content out of SL such as textures they did not make.
Why we need a “Save Texture As” option I don’t understand. Why should people be able to export other peoples content out of SL?

Why did Linden Lab think that option was important to offer whilst they continue to ignore the fact that texture and sculpt map artists are loosing sales and money on a massive scale due to the lack of protection Linden Labs offer us.

Unlike prim and mesh made content, texture artists do not get the same level of protection they get.
Our customers (And the people they may share our textures with) can export an artists texture file AND resell it AND share it with great ease.
Hell, there are even “Texture Sharing Groups” the act is so “normal”

All artists can do is throw a User License in with the product and hope some of their customers take the time to read it.

The stuff already doing its rounds in SL is so entrenched into the platform and peoples inventories even if they were to identify everything, to literally rip it out of the system would leave millions of honest peoples content not working or half textured and the customers who purchased in good faith pay the price because they won’t get any refund.

Its mind blowing what this may mean to SL and Linden Labs.

On a positive note, I think peoples awareness of IP and Copyright will dramatically increase.

With the very real threat of such acts being treat as a federal crime, people will now go out of their way to learn the facts so they don’t break the law in ignorance.

Of course, the small time opportunists are not under threat here, at least not initially.
It's the torrent websites and those that make a living from file sharing which generates massive traffic which they can then turn into very high advertising fees from other “legit” companies.

It’s a clever if not bloody lazy ass way of making a ton of money because all they provide are the servers and a website:

The traffic is attracted by the Free and 90% illegal software and digital wares that other people upload.
(I am not sure what their incentive is? Feel good factor? Feeling generous with others content? Oh, how kind!)
Then millions of people visit the site to download all the free software and digital content (Along with the crack codes generated by those that upload the pirate content)

The owners then can sell advertising space on their website to other legit websites who will pay big bucks for the kind of traffic a torrent website attracts.
The torrent owners are cashing it in without having to invest time, money or even skill into their business.

They’re what I like to refer to as “bottom feeders” and yes these websites are owned mainly by certain countries which I won’t disclose here for fear of having my house burnt to the ground.

But as I say, Copyright has so many shades of grey, it's massively misunderstood and I would say at least 50% of the “damage” comes from ignorance.

Stop Online Piracy Act

And here is the other side of the coin. Those that are against the act.

SOPA - Why is the world against it?

Frippery - Whimsical Jewelry for Imaginative Minds

2012-01-17T04:24:00.000-08:00

Click to enlarge

Elizabeth Tinsley has been my friend and the Customer Care Manager at TRU Textures for five years.

More recently she has been the Coordinator for the FFC Fantasy Faire for the last two years.
(Relay For Life Cancer Fund Raising) Which this year runs from April 21st through to April 29th.

But what I am blogging about today is something Elizabeth doesn’t mention much less boast about and that is her creative skill for making incredibly delicate and beautiful custom jewellery which she offers under her brand name “Frippery”

Click to enlarge.

So modest is she, that when visiting her little cottage store you have to look very hard to find her wares but they are scattered in tiny frames and photo snaps hung here and there from windows and shelves.

Instead, the quaint cottage appears to be more of a prop scene for taking pictures as I did today when I visited.

Click to enlarge.

I suspect that’s because she creates jewellery as more of a personal passion than a commercial venture but based on my years in Second Life, it is these very types of creators that make the most desirable content.

Not being driven by financial return tends to free up the mind for creativity in its purest form.

Click to enlarge

Her work is very similar to the hand made jewellery one would find in places like Pia Jewellery but without the real life physical limitations a jeweller would face.

Nature inspired for sure but even at a glance from a novice like myself, you can see the hours of love and passion which has been poured into each and every piece Elizabeth makes.

Click to enlarge.

Even if jewellery isn’t your thing, a visit to Frippery is a MUST.

As I was there today, there were many people coming and going, mostly couples who took advantage of the sim’s beauty as they posed and took photos.

But I ask that you stop at the cottage and look at Elizabeths work because as they say: “The sweetest things come in the smallest packages”

Seamless Animal Hide Tent Textures

2012-01-15T03:30:00.000-08:00

Seamless Layered Animal Hide Tent Textures

I have been asked countless times to make these kind of textures for the Gor RP areas in Second Life but at the time I couldn’t get my head around how I would go about it.

Recently, I literally HAD to get my head around it for a non SL related project and so with my new found technique I decided it would be a popular commercial texture collection to create.

There are 11 textures in total and all are unique (Not the same hides but recoloured) created from various animal skins ranging from pony to reindeer and Buffalo.

The effect is a dozen animal skins thrown on top of each other for the creation of tents and places of shelter.

Popular for Gorean locations in Second Life either as tents or as throws for the floor and seating.

They are all seamless on both axis and come sized at 1024 x 1024 Pixels.

They are available from the SL Marketplace here
And from the TRU Textures in world store by clicking this SLurl

Of course, they will also be available for use outside of the Second Life environment by purchasing them under the “Any World” license from the TRU Textures Website

Sample 1

New 2012 Tiling Stone Cobble Rock Textures With Normal Maps

2012-01-11T08:24:00.000-08:00

Click to Enlarge

I have just finished the new seamless 3D and 2D stone texture collection.

The 3D version comes with Normal maps for use in 3D applications whilst the 2D contains Diffuse (Colour) textures only.

As always they tile on both axis.

350 Linden Dollars for the 2D collection and 500 Linden Dollars for the 3D version.

You can view and purchase them now from the TRU Textures in world store within Secondlife.com by clicking this link

They will also be available from the Second Life Marketplace.
3D version with Normal Maps
2D Version

For use outside of the Second Life environment, they can be purchased from the TRU Textures website.

Many thanks for looking!

Second Life Places To Visit - Grand Haven Ruca Tease Fashions and More

2012-01-08T04:45:00.000-08:00

Click to enlarge.

It’s fair to say, I don’t see much of Secondlife.com these days, when I log in its to my own land and store and it is always about business, uploading new textures and responding to customer enquiries.

So when I was invited to see a customer and friend, Bonadea Cobalts new sim remodel I was not expecting to be blown away and agreed out of politeness only.

When I TP in however, I was genuinely awe struck.

The sim previously had been the location in the 2011 WinterFest and whilst it was a pretty enough Medieval style shopping mall it didn’t blow me away.

The sim has been totally transformed into a mystical, magical, very beautiful place which begs to be explored and enjoyed.

Click to enlarge.

Glowing butterflies fluttered around me enticing me to want to follow them which I did as I discovered more and more places of fascination.

Even locations under water had been carefully transformed (see image 3)
into a "World Of Warcraft" inspired eye candy feast.

The entire sim was built by Bonadea’s partner, Roscko Cobalt and whilst I recognised some of my textures from the “Majestic Fantasy” collection there were many more textures I admired that I had not made.

Under Water.

Ruca Tease Fashions and More offers little dwellings for quality merchants to rent and with a traffic of 2500 it’s certainly a location I will be renting a spot soon!

One of the little caves for rent.

Bonadea had offered me a spot on her sim during the Winterfest and I really appreciated the gesture.

I will now make the time to rent a spot on this new layout because this place generates creativity in any of it’s visitors and so merchants with fantasy based wares would fair well here.

Below are more screen shots but I strongly advise you to pay a visit by clicking this SLurl

Click to enlarge.

Striped Contemporary Carpet Textures - Seamless 1024 x 1024 Pixels

2012-01-07T14:30:00.000-08:00

Collection 1

I have just uploaded these two collections of modern striped carpet textures after taking some inspiration from the carpet I saw on my brothers new house stairs.
It seems bold bright stripes are the latest interior design craze so I figured they might appeal to builders of modern houses and apartments.

They are available for use in Secondlife.com for 350 Linden Dollars per collection and can be seen by visiting our in world store by clicking this SLurl

Also available in two separate packs on the SL Marketplace.
Set one - Click this link
Set Two - Click this link

As always they are also available for use outside of Second Life including other virtual worlds like IMVU.com by visiting the TRU Textures website.

Collection 2

Preview Sample

Thumb Nails

Seamless Mossy Country Rock Stone Textures

2012-01-06T05:50:00.000-08:00

Tiling Mossy Stone & Rock Textures

I’ve not really had too much time between Christmas and working with Forsaken Studios to make anything new but in-between various projects I managed to create these moss covered rock and stone textures.

They are seamless on both axis and as always sized at 1024 x 1024 pixels.

They are available for use in Secondlife.com from TRU Textures in world store by clicking this link and also from the SL Marketplace priced at 350 Linden Dollars for 10.

If you are interested in them for use in your game project or on another grid, virtual world or personal and commercial 2D and 3D use in general, they will soon be available from the TRU Textures website from $2.69

Faithless - Insomnia “Tearing Off Tights With My Teeth” LOL

2012-01-01T06:26:00.000-08:00

Embers of Caerus Dungeon

2011-12-25T16:24:00.000-08:00

This is the first real insight inside one of the huge dungeons in the game Embers Of Caerus which is being developed by Forsaken Studios in which I am involved as a texture artist with a touch of character texturing too.

I created most of the textures seen in the area displayed in the video including the exterior mountain terrain and interior cave and stalagmite textures, the dungeon walls, floors, ceiling, crypt coffins, books, ceramic vase and the animated fire textures.

I also enhanced and and touched up the Crypt Giant creatures skin (seen at the end of the video)

Me and Lee Perkins, the Art Director, spent two days completely focusing on this area, we basically re-textured the dungeon with Lees guidance and direction.

I am really proud to be able to see my work within a game engine created and applied to specific meshes created by the 3D artists.
Might sound a little sappy but I am...so there! :)

Mark on ecstasy - Peep Show -- Timeless Clip

2011-12-19T04:06:00.000-08:00

I can totally relate to Mark in this clip with the guy on the dance floor ... “Avoid eye contact at all times!"

Motivating Employees: The surprising truth about what motivates us

2011-12-18T06:38:00.000-08:00

Win Free Textures - One 5000 Linden Dollar Gift Voucher By Liking TRU Textures FaceBook Page

2011-12-17T03:59:00.000-08:00

*** Voucher For use in Secondlife.com only****

Please visit our FaceBook page by clicking this link:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/TRU-Textures-Ltd-wwwtexturesrusnet/150174471668977

After you have clicked the “Like” button please be sure to leave your Second Life account name on the page to be entered into the prize draw.

The winner will be announced on the 24th Dec 2011 both on the official Facebook Page and from the Textures “R” Us Second Life Group.

Good Luck and thank you for helping us spread the word on FaceBook!

Free Christmas Bauble Textures On PNG Transparent Backgrounds

2011-12-12T08:04:00.000-08:00

Click to enlarge

Gold and red and Gold and cream metallic Xmas decoration textures on transparent backgrounds.

Created using Filter Forge 3 and took an age to render so I gave up making a 10 piece collection and these have been sitting on my desk top for 2 weeks.

Please do not redistribute them “as” texture files.

Merry Christmas!

Click to enlarge

Texture Artist Working With Forsaken Studios - Embers Of Caerus - Continued.

2011-12-01T15:45:00.000-08:00

I wish I had something visual to display but as the game is still in development I am unable to display textures I have created or creature meshes I have worked on which is frustrating because as they say “A picture paints a thousand words”

Until such time, “Words” will have to suffice.

It has been my first week of working with the members of Forsaken Studios, mostly with Lee Perkins, the Art Director.

I was a tad nervous at first, totally convinced my humble 2D texture skills would not fill much of a gap in todays game development but it seems my belief that 2D texture artists are a dying trade was incorrect.

I have very limited knowledge of working in 3D and I was correct in thinking my weakness may set me back a little.

A good example of this would be the inability to map/skin creature meshes with the texture maps I have been working with.

Ideally, a 3D artist would edit his 2D map, apply it, render it and then continue to make the necessary changes. I have to guess and wait for Lee to give me his feedback.

I was asked to play with an existing skin map of some ugly evil creature mesh.

Having not done this before and wasn’t too convinced I would be able to add too much to but I tried to use my imagination and just edited areas and added some depth and realism, a few veins, some bumpy wet looking skin and made the claws as realistic as I could.
I spent no more than 30 minutes.

Because I was unable to “try it on” and see the finished result, I just had to send it back to Lee via Skype and wait for a screenshot of how it looked on the mesh.

Much to my surprise, the screenshot displayed a massive improvement on the original skin and in Lees words “It’s epic” I must confess, I was pleased with my sad self lol

So now, I have opened up another avenue of my “usefulness" which goes beyond environment and architecture textures.

Today, I was sent the texture map for a Saber Tooth Tiger mesh and asked to add more fur to the skin and generally enhance the realism.

Again, it’s like working with a blindfold on as I can only guess how each edit in Photoshop will translate into a 3D game engine.

But then I had an after thought.
I own Poser 8 and have worked on editing and creating texture maps for plants with moderate success so I asked to be sent the mesh itself in a.obj file format.

This now allows me to open the mesh and apply the texture maps thus allowing me to see directly how the post editing looks.

It’s a totally new area for me and whilst I am doing OK with it, I am only working on existing maps, editing and enhancing.
I would not have a clue (At this stage) where to begin when starting with nothing but a wireframe guide.
I need to see how each part relates in relation to the mesh itself.

Anyway, it’s all very exciting and it’s given me a new found sense of purpose.

I have also been asked to create a “Texture Palette’ (A collection of textures that will be used through out a game or region within a game such as a village or specific location) based on Rob’s concept article (For want of a better word)

So Lee is sending me URLs to reference photos which is how I am used to working anyway.

I like to think, in time, I will come to develop an intuition on texture style and theme of the graphics when asked to make them, but in the meantime, I am just happy when I manage to create something that will be used in the game when it goes live.

Mixed Architecture Material Textures - Seamless on Both Axis

2011-11-30T03:52:00.001-08:00

Click to Enlarge

I have had these “odds and ends” on my desktop for weeks now as a result of trying different elements for the "Embers Of Caerus" game development or just randomly playing with various textures making them seamless.

Working on making textures tile is like meditation to me (tragic I know)

It is a task I can almost do in auto pilot so sometimes I just do that with no real goal in mind like therapy, if you like, much like some “traditional houswives” claim the same from ironing SOCKS!! (Get a life women)

Anyhoooo, the upshot is I have gathered a collection of seamless textures but none of them belong to each other in the sense of a matching collection.

It seems a shame to leave them gathering virtual dust so I threw them in a pack and set them for sale as a “mixed bag” which is often handier than the same materials if you only wanted one from that pack. At least this offers you totally....wait...why do I feel I am justifying this? lol

OK so all 11 textures are only 400 Linden Dollars ($2.01?) and they can be purchased from:

Within Second Life - TRU Textures Store

The SL Marketplace

For use outside of the Second Life environment, such as IMVU.com There.com Avination.com and other online worlds and games, you can purchase these and thousands of other textures under the Any World License from TRU Textures Ltd website.

Forsaken Studios - Working As Texture Artist For Embers Of Caerus [ EoC ]

2011-11-26T17:34:00.000-08:00

It’s been a couple of days now since I became an active member of the Forsaken Studios team.

I work mostly with Lee Perkins the Art Director and one of the founders.

It’s quite a challenge as I am asked to make and send textures “out of the blue” and in real time which is new to me and I can’t help but feel a little pressure. I guess that’s normal as I am the newbie with something to prove (Or at least, that’s how I feel) I feel I haven’t quite gained a reliable reputation yet.

I am not used to answering to anyone but myself either, but I am enjoying the appreciation when I deliver what they need and it works well and they're pleased.

In fact, I find I am looking for reassurance a lot which must be annoying as Hell for Lee as he’s crazy busy with multiple IMs open as he communicates with the other 50+ team members.

There was an embarrassing moment yesterday when I was in a Skype conference with Lee and Si, the head environment artist.

I had been asked to create a 4096 x 4096 pixel mountain texture. When I sent the file over in Skype, Lee said it was not seamless.
That’s like basic stuff and I have no excuses but when I ran the texture through Photoshops offset filter, I could not see any seams. In fact I was convinced that Lee was seeing things so I asked him to mark the areas where he could see the seam and send it back, which he did, and I still couldn’t see it.

It was only when I zoomed in that the artefacts left over from my post editing became glaringly obvious. It was terrible. All I could do was admit fault and make sure anything I made again, I would zoom in and double check before sending.

In my defence (lol) I think part of the problem is I have never worked with 4K textures before so had it been a 1024 x 1024 those massive flaws would have stood out more.

My problem is I have a habit of rushing and more so as I am aware they are waiting on me to send it over.

But this is a life long habit too as I used to be convinced that when I started making a texture collection (for commercial sale) I HAD to complete it the same day, whilst I was still "in the zone”and could remember the direction I wanted to go in.

But now, I find sometimes it’s good to walk away and come back later with “new eyes"

I managed to gain some self respect back later on in the day after the terrain texture I had made (from an image not chosen by me) looked terrible when repeated hundreds of times within the games terrain.

The problem was, as a texture image it looked really nice but the shadows and rock formation that made it look pretty were too much of a feature that it created an obvious pattern repeat when applied to the land.
Basically, when it comes to terrain, sometimes “less is more”

I took some initiative and went and found another photo to work with and they were happy with the final result. It ended up looking really nice.
It was craggy like rock but no light gradients or obvious areas of rock formation which would stand out in a repeat.

We got there in the end and Lee was pleased (Which, as my boss, pleased me too.....brown nose that I am!)

He sent me a screenshot of the snow capped mountain terrain (which I can’t display due to legal reasons) and I must confess I am so tragically pleased with myself I have that screenshot as my desktop wallpaper! lol

Then I announced I was “Going to make a brew” and explained to Si that: In the UK that means a cup of tea Si”

When I came back to Skype Si had replied: “lol I am from Kent!”

I don’t know why but I got it into my head he was from the USA.

Since then, I have made snow flakes and water drops for particle use and a wood plank floor texture for the dungeon map.
I have also just now been playing with carved Celtic wood and stone of which I need to make more of as well as decorative Celtic metals too

It’s unusual to be working “for” someone else and to create textures from the imagination of someone else but I absolutely love doing it.

I have introduced myself to the forum and had some nice replies from other members of the studio about my online portfolio, which I always appreciate, but I am well aware that on many levels I am very much a “junior” artist with lots to learn still.

I am looking forward to the release of the official promotion video which should be released in the next few months and of course when the game goes live. (Fingers Crossed)

Free Metallic Ornamental Texture Seamless

2011-11-25T15:40:00.000-08:00

Click to enlarge and download

I made this for fun as I waited for some 4096 mountain terrain textures to render for the game I am involved in creating with Forsaken Studios,
Embers Of Caerus

It’s not a texture I would like to build on to make a commercial collection so rather than me deleting it, I thought I could “share the love” and offer it for free.

Do as you wish (Except sell it of course because that’s so 2006!) it can be used in commercial content creation providing the texture “as” a texture is not redistributed.

Its 1024 x 1024 Pixels and tiles on both axis.

Enjoy.

Working As Texture Artist for Forsaken Studios Much Anticipated Game Embers Of Caerus

2011-11-24T08:23:00.000-08:00

Concept Art - Embers Of Caerus

As I detailed in my last post, I was contacted by an Art Director from a game studio enquiring whether I might be interested in joining them as a texture artist in the development of their current game project.

After doing a little research, chatting with the team and watching the test scene above, I decided it was too good an opportunity to dismiss.

Since that time and having begun working alongside the other 53 members of Forsaken Studio on their much anticipated MMORPG Embers Of Caerus (Or EoC as it is commonly referred to) and I can say hand on heart, I am as passionate about the development of EoC as if it was "my own”

In fact, I feel at least in part, it “is” my own since I discovered and took the opportunity to invest into the game on a small financial level.

The members of Forsaken Studio all seem to display the same level of enthusiasm, professionalism and commitment whilst maintaining a family type working environment. I am really enjoying being “part of a team” something I have not really felt with my own business for many years now. (I could quote “It’s lonely at the top” but in my case “the top” can be measured in inches rather than feet lol)

The concept of the game will be totally unique and yet comfortably familiar to most regular MMORPG gamers.

The best way I can describe it is that it has all of the best parts of the most popular MMORPG’s all rolled into one massive highly customisable sandbox.

Concept Art Embers Of Caerus

I will focus initially on what I am more knowledgable about and that is of course, the graphics and textures.

Whilst there is no comparison between EoC to World Of Warcraft as a game, WOW serves as an obvious comparison partly because I have at least played it.

WOW for me at least, lacks the ability to demonstrate any creative identity.
The builds are preset and non editable, what you see is quite literally what you get, period.

Much of the same can be said for the avatars in WOW which again, like the environment, they lean towards a cartoon style.
Cute, but not realistic and I think most of todays seasoned gamers prefer realism on all levels of their game play from avatar to environment.

After working with Lee for a short while, I have learnt the focus of "Embers Of Caerus” environmental development is most definitely realism, visually, audibly and in terms of the game play itself.

Photorealistic textures are essential in the development of this game which suits me and my experience of photo manipulation and the creation of such textures.

As much as I would like to discuss the game play elements of "Embers Of Caerus", for obvious reasons there are things I cannot disclose at this time.
Plus, I feel Rob Steele, the CEO of Forsaken Studios does a much better job at describing the goals and direction the studio aim to achieve.

Here, Rob describes “The Vision” of Embers Of Caerus:

http://www.embersofcaerus.com/forum/showthread.php/40-The-Vision

Concept Art Embers Of Caerus.

On a personal level, I feel like I have been very fortunate to have been found and involved.

I have a new project that I have been invited to be involved in which is very exciting to me.

The next six months I plan to learn more about game creation on all levels and not just graphically and I hope this is a new chapter in my career and one in which I will be immensely proud to have been a part of in the months that follow.

Game & Environmental Artist Offers

2011-11-16T16:14:00.000-08:00

I have had a hand full of emails offering me the chance to work as a texture artist for some developing game an indie studio is working on.
The offer is usually you work for nothing but if the final game attracts a publisher then you will get a pre agreed amount of money for your contribution or a percentage of profits from said game.

Bottom line, due to the huge volume of indie teams all convinced their game will be the next Tomb Raider it rarely comes to anything other than a project that you can include in your portfolio.

Most seasoned game artists, coders and designers avoid these offers because essentially you are being asked to work for no pay (unless the final game is published by a big name and results in financial profitability)

I have read in forums, posts from very talented artists who have been lead down these paths and lost weeks or months of their time and work to a project that never even took off from the ground and as a result refuse further invitations of this type from other studios.

But are all game studios and associated games in development all doomed for non profit failure?

Of course not.

It's a gamble, all business ventures are. If you get an invitation like this the details you should at least consider investigating before washing your hands are:

1) How old is the studio?
2) Do they have any already published games, free or otherwise? In other words, what's their track record like?
3) Take a look at their website. Does it look professional?
4) Take a look at both published games and those in the stages of development.
5) What is your gut feeling?
6) It's a business proposition.
You need to do your homework both on the studio and game and decide whether you feel its worth the risk. Imagine if you decided against it and discovered two years down the line, that very game was a massive multi million dollar Xbox Success?? lol
7) I think you have to fall in love with the project a little bit. If you're going to be working on the basis of hopes and beliefs then there has to be some selfish motivation for you to even want to take that gamble and for most it's the promise of success. To have your name published in association with a successful game is very seductive (Especially when you have an ego the size of a small planet like I do)

I was written to tonight from the Art Director of a studio..the fact the studio even has an art director is a good sign as it indicates the size of the team is big. Its not just 5 sweaty student working from their parents basement.

I will be doing some investigation because if nothing else, its a compliment and potentially great hands on experience which is never a bad thing to have on your C.V.

Bottom line, based on the information provided, they apparently have some big names involved who are confident they will have a financial investment in six months.

You can only take that kind of info at face value initially but don't ever just dismiss these invites without looking into the potential of what could be or you may be kicking yourself in a years time.

Flagyl - Metronidazole Anti Biotic - Severe Physiological Side Effects

2011-11-15T14:36:00.000-08:00

I had my wisdom tooth pulled today following a gum infection surrounding the imbedded tooth which had spread to the inside of my cheek and resulted in my lymph node in my neck being swollen.

I am not a softy when it comes to operations or dental treatments. Honest, anyone who knows me will testify to that so I was fine to have it pulled in the dentist with no more than the usual numbing injections.

The treatment is a tad Medieval, a lot of crunching and twisting and pulling.

The usual timing is 15 minutes. After 30 my dentist explained he was going to ask another dentist who had a background in wisdom teeth at the hospital to come and take over as he was having problems.

The problem was, the tooth had shattered and he couldn't get the root out....neither could she.

I was in that chair for one hour blood smeared all over my "bib" and face and the area in my cheek where the infection had spread had been injected directly into by the wisdom tooth expert with little to no kindness and once the numbing wore off, the huge hole that had had three dentists all drilling, pulling and twisting was the least of my pain concerns... my infected cheek that had been "hung on" by each of the dental technicians was in absolute agony.

I was told they had never had such a difficult wisdom tooth removal ...like, ever and that I had brittle teeth....that made me think about my bones in general and hormone balances..and dare I say it...Vitamin D deficiency! (lol)

I had been taking antibiotics for the infection which leads me on to the main point of this post.

Known as Flagyl in the USA and Metronidazole in the UK, this antibiotic was prescribed for me about a month ago for a different tooth infection.

Apart from the terrible indigestion, stomach upset and sore oral thrush I developed when I finished the 5 day course, I experienced THE most sever form of GAD (General Anxiety Disorder) the week I was taking it.I didn't make the connection at the time, why would I? It's an anti biotic and all of the official paperwork made no mention of depression, anxiety or insomnia.

I did find cases of people on the internet who claimed they had suffered anxiety, depression and/or insomnia whilst taking it but I just think sometimes it's nothing more than a coincidence that people jump to conclusions by spotting the anomaly in their lives and linking the two.

So I just finished the course and decided I must be suffering from imbalanced hormones or stress but I was a wreck...sat on the kitchen floor blowing snot bubbles with the dogs lead in my hand crying hysterically at the overwhelming blanket of anxiety that had consumed me for 7 hours straight.
I was crying, hysterical and all sense of logical thought process was out of reach for me.

That's not my "normal" behaviour.. sure we have all had moments like that but usually with a underlying trigger.

I felt like my mind was starved of oxygen.
The week had left a scar, an insecurity within me. Was I loosing my mind?
What WAS that? And more importantly....if and when will it come back?

Like any anxiety attack... the environment it took place in becomes an association trigger and for me, I assumed it was a female hormonal issue.

All I had was my monthly cycle to go off but I had never suffered this level of PMT before so I just put it down to "one of those things" and was thankful it past but still edgy about what had happened to me and would it happen again.

Fast forward 4 weeks and I find myself taking Flagyl again, this time for the impacted wisdom tooth infection.
With 12 hours of starting it, I had anxiety insomnia.. lead in bed mind and heart racing, wide awake with absolute fear and anxiety.

The next day, the depression and anxiety left me wandering around the house in my PJs.. crying and scared stiff with hand shaking, gut wrenching, nausea riddled anxiety and depression.

I rang NHS Direct and was told what I expected to be told, that there was no mention of mental side effects. Nothing mentioned in the paperwork.
Must be all my my mind...the nurse asked me if I had been suffering from stress recently..in other words... this is YOU not the drugs.

I went to my dentist today and asked him straight about Flagyl and much to my surprise he replied that it was a very powerful drug and it was well documented within their practise drug interactions and side effects.

I was shocked but relieved. I thought I was loosing my mind and not only did the official paperwork that comes with Flagyl back my theory up by not mentioning these apparently well known side effects but the Great British NHS also supported my theory rhyming off the "Usual Suspects" of common side effects I was already aware of.

But two attacks both occurring at the same time I was taking this horrid drug? Thats more than a coincidence.

Here are some quotes and links from user experiences:

Flagyl should definitely be taken off the market and sued for the pain and misery it has caused. Started my 2 a day dose on the first day I noticed within a couple of hours of taking the pill my hands started feeling weird, but eventually started going away. The second day was the same as the first except I felt jittery. By the third day I took longer for the hand feelings to go away,my anxiety was a lot worse which turned onto insomnia that night.. didn't sleep for a minute!!! I ended up throwing up at 5 in the morning on the 4 th day. I went to the ER with a pulse of 148 beats per minute and got something to calm me down and help me sleep. On the 5th day I cut myself off the poison called flagyl. Now 3 days after I still feel the side effects. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION YOU WILL REGRET IT!! I recommend getting the mild cream.
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Severe near constant headaches, feeling of doom and paranoia, severe anxietyand panic attacks, depression, mood swings, can't concentrate.....and I'm not usually one to have ANY of these issues!, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss. To sum it up.....it feels like you are not yourself in ANY way! You feel as if you are going insane!
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My God! What an eye opener! I thought I was going mad! I am not normally a depressive type of person but have been in a very dark mood for days. I haven't been sleeping, I have withdrawn into myself. How can a anti-biotic make you feel so crap? I have been taking them for a week and was due to take them for another week after a Sinus Lift operation. My dentist has said I can stop taking them now. I feel sick, lethargic, uncommunicative, snappy and generally not myself. Thanks for taking the time to post this. I feel better already just knowing it wasn't me. Looking forward to feeling better in myself now. And looking forward to a good nights sleep.

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I just read all your comments and am relieved.

I have been taking metronidazole for giardiasis and have been feeling very out of the ordinary since. very teary, down, overwhelmed, feeling like i can't go on, life has no sense etc.

i have suffered from chronic fatigue so i know how it feels to be tired and overwhelmed a lot of the time, but i've never been this bad.

can anyone tell me, do you have other side effects, such as fatigue, nausea?

i am so over chemical drugs! never ever again!

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I know this is an old post, but I'll just add my two cents worth. I was also prescribed metronidazole for 7 days for a dental infection. They were 7 really, really bad days. Depressed, lethargic, tearful and just generally feel awful all the time. Halfway through the course, I KNEW it was the antibiotics but I had trouble finding any "official" material to back up my suspicions, only patient feedback online.
Soon, I'm likely to be faced with a similar situation, and I think my dentist and I are going to have a little argument, because I don't think I can go through that again.

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Oh my god such an evil antibiotic is metronidazole.I took it and got so depressed I was crying everyday, i had no control.I lost like a stone, as thedepression was so bad i didn't want to eat.My boyfriend came home early from work he was so worried and did not want to leave me on my own in case i did something stupid.Zithromax is another bad one, caused me bad anxiety.Sounds like im a complete fruit cake but my personality was completely changed on these tablets.

Suicidal thoughts, severe neck pain, forgetfulness, stomach cramps, loose stool, unbelievable depression, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, horrible nightmares

This medication should be taken off the market. My GYN knew I suffered from depression and anxiety as she had treated me for both before!! Never was any warning given that there could be extreme psychological side effects from an antibiotic! I have never had anything like this happen and thank god for this website. Symptoms peaked on day 8..the day the treatment ended. This is my 3rd day off of this poison and I feel worse than yesterday. I am drinking as much water as safely possible to try and flush my system but I'm scared this depression will never leave. I was fine before starting the medication now I'm in hell. NEVER take this.

nsomnia, anxiety, nervousness, increased impatience (just me?), stomach pain, faintness/dizziness, loss of appetite, back/neck pain

First off, the drug DID help treat my vaginal infection (blah, sorry for the men out there). BUT the symptoms were definitely hard to deal with. I'm petite so drugs typically hit me hard anyway, and I was prescribed 500 MG twice daily for 14 DAYS! Yep. 14 days. The first few days I experienced nausea and an acute stabbing pain in my stomach. Then the insomnia kicked in. Around Day 8 I was actually awoken from my sleep from what I thought was a female voice warning me about a fire (ah, gotta love drug-induced hallucinations). I ran around the house looking for smoke only to realize there was nothing amiss. There was a growing sense ofanxiety/impatience/nervousness which heightened to the point of stopping my meds at Day 12 (under the advice of my doc). About a week in, I was hit with a cold/virus/flu that took me out of commission for a good while. So I'm uncertain if the flu-like symptoms were due to that or the meds. I also experienced back pain early on and neck pain later during my virus-time. All in all, this did help treat me, but at a high cost. I'd advise you to monitor your symptoms and consult your doctor if it becomes too much.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:fGUxPBM3stYJ:www.drugs.com/sfx/flagyl-side-effects.html+flagyl+metronidazole+depression&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=safari

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:pU463l-jnisJ:seldo.com/weblog/2006/09/03/metronidazole_and_the_subjective_nature_of_reality+flagyl+metronidazole+depression&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=safari

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:z-Ubp43XqnwJ:freeideasblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/antibiotics-and-depression-scientific.html+flagyl+metronidazole+depression&cd=11&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=safari

Virus - Excruciating Lower Back Pain

2011-11-10T17:25:00.000-08:00

I felt so tired last week-end. I slept until 12.30 on Saturday which is insane but I didn't feel ill just very tired and what I thought was a muscle spasm in my back.

In hindsight, I know why now.

I have this strange virus. None of the usual suspects like sore throat or cough, runny nose etc, just feel "sick" little energy and this awful lower back pain. I feel like a donkey has kicked me in my lumbar area its awful, I can't move or even lie down without grimacing in pain.

Here's a blog that I read http://buggeringonwards.blogspot.com/2006/12/flu.html

I know its fairly typical to have aching legs and back when you have flu and I have only ever had real flu once. Trust me, when people say "oooo I have flu" but are up and about they don't have flu, they have a bad cold.

Real flu literally puts you on your backside, you're too weak to even get out of bed and it lasts at least 3 weeks and for me, I wasn't 100% for 6 weeks.

That was 20 years ago.

This isn't flu...it's some crappy virus that is causing terrible back pain for me. I thought there could not be a link between the two but I found this blog and apparently it's very common...doesn't stop the discomfort knowing that but it does stop me obsessing with the "why when and what fors?"

i have been run down for months. Had a standard cold caught off my partner a month ago, annoying but nothing more. Then I got a root canal infection, which didn't respond to the two lots of anti biotics that messed up my stomach and gave me oral thrush. Then the dentist had to lance the inflammation from within my mouth (which was nice!) and now this.

We have booked a week away for the Xmas week staying in a beautiful cottage in Anglesey, North Wales and Mum and Dad are staying with us for 2 nights We plan to eat out for Christmas lunch... so that will be nice...

Sorry, bit boring eh? lol

Smallest Elephant - New Born

2011-11-04T04:43:00.001-07:00

I saw this photo on Facebook, the poster said it was a premature birth and the little thing was clinging to life.

I have since seen it on blogs were people commenting are saying its a dead foetus from an abortion.

I like to this the first option is the truth.

How sad and adorable is that picture? Look how tiny his trunk is?
And his little feet.

Makes me sad... bless him.

Antique Vintage Seamless Carpet Textures - TRU Textures

2011-11-01T16:09:00.001-07:00

Tiling Vintage Carpet Textures

It’s getting increasingly difficult to spot a gap in our texture stock but I thought perhaps some floral vintage carpet textures might be in demand for period house builds from the Victorian or Edwardian era.

We have a lot of external and internal architecture textures covering that period but no floor coverings so I made these.

As always they come in 1024 x 1024 pixels and tile on both axis.

There are 12 different designs and cost 350 Linden Dollars for the collection. (Around $1 .30)

You can get them from the TRU Textures website for use both within the Second Life environment or as direct download licensed for use outside of Second Life too.

Also, not for the faint hearted, bright bold tapestry paisley patterned carpet textures as below:

Bright And Bold Tapestry Carpet Textures

Available on the Second Life Marketplace:

Bold & Beautiful Carpet Textures

Rich Tapestry Carpet Textures

Antique Vintage Carpet Textures