I started drawing and coloring with the computer back in the good old year of 2000. Since then, I've done most of my work with a sketchpad, pens, and photoshop 7.0. Over the years, I saw more and more people using tablets, but I stuck with the tool I'd been using since the beginning: a mouse. For 11 years, I've held out; not because I didn't want one, I just couldn't afford one.
So after years of wanting but never having, I finally found myself at Best Buy, and within a few minutes, was leaving with a Bamboo tablet and pen. Today, I hooked it up, opened photoshop, and took my first stab.
Stab, being to operative word, since it was very painful. I always thought a tablet pen would work like a mouse, and the tablet a mousepad that had sensors. Instead, I found that just waving the pen over the tablet would move the cursor, and touching = clicking. This is going to take a LOT of getting used to.
So, Ive decided that all non-essential art from this point on will be done with the tablet in order to teach me faster. So any art you see posted here will be tablet art. And it probably will not be as good right at first. If you want to see my first attempts, they'll be uploaded to Tumblr on a regular basis. Feel free to point and laugh.
-=September 25th, 2011=-
Even though it's almost over, there's a Mega Man X marathon that's been going on since Thursday at 6pm. They've already played all the way through X8, and are now back around to X1. They're raising money for Child's Play, so even if you don't have time to watch, please go over and donate! They'll be playing all day today until 4pm!
These are the same group that did the Megathon last year as well. These are a good group of people! Help them reach their $1000 goal!!
Edit: Thanks to everyone who visited and donated!
-=September 6th, 2011=-
I've come to know myself and my moods over the years, and I've noticed a pattern to them. During most days, I get into a routine and hold to it. But the moment the weather turns fair, as it has today, I wake up early and am instantly struck with the desire to do EVERYTHING. Within 5 minutes of waking up to the first lovely day down here in Florida after a soggy and hot summer, I wanted to:
- Fix up the garden
- Write more to my novels
- Update my website
- Work on both published comics
- Go to the beach
- Do laundry
- Clean the house
And yes, that was all within the first five minutes. So far, I've managed to get the laundry going, but just sitting here at my computer is driving me up the wall. My energy is through the roof, and it's all because of the weather. Probably, if it holds up for the week, you will see me churning out all sorts of work. So check back, and keep an eye on my Tumblr (NSFW).
Wow I love this weather! I think I'll wash my car today too!
-=August 12th, 2011=-
I've been asked by several people my opinions on Legends 3 and the exclusion of Mega Man X from MvsC3. I'm rather flattered, since it's been years since I ran a Mega Man fan page. Apparently, my voice still has a place amongst the fans. However, what I say may not please many people.
-=My Gaming History=-
Like many people, when I first heard of Legends 3, I was happy. Anytime a new Mega Man games is in the works, I feel happy. But I must be completely honest when I say Legends is one of the few Mega Man games I never played. I owned the games, but never played them for a simple reason: I never owned a PS1. I had my Nintendo and SNES. And then my parents wouldn't buy me anymore systems, nor could I blame them. I was never that big of a gamer (I'm casual at most), and even though I was a big fan of the Mega Man series since I was about 8, I couldn't warrant spending my own money (or that of my parents) on a new system where I'd only have a half dozen games for it and play it sporadically. This is a mentality that I have carried with me for years and still have to this day.
When I met my husband in 2006, I got back into gaming because he was into it as well. I was still only casual, since I was busy with doing my comic, writing, and working a job. I encouraged my husband to play some Mega Man while I worked, so I could watch. I never truly converted him, but he knows I love the series quite a bit. He had, after all, seen my "Wall o' Mega Man" collection. So, we bought a Gamecube together, my first console buy since the SNES, and I immediately bought any Mega Man related games that came out for it. I enjoyed myself greatly, since in many ways it was picking up an old friend and getting to know them all over again.
We've since added a 360 as well as a Wii to our console family. Each buy was considered thoroughly. Did the console really improve on the former versions to warrant buying it, and did it have enough games for it already that we would play? If the answer was yes, we went for it. So far, we haven't invested in a PS3, since the only game we'd be likely to play is the God of War Trilogy. At this point in my life, I didn't really touch a game unless it was Mega Man related, since it was the only game I really felt was worth my time and effort. But so few games had come out recently for a system I owned. There had been the attempted reboot with the PSP, but I play games so rarely, and almost never on a portable. I already have a DS I barely touch, so I couldn't excuse myself to buy a new portable just to play two games, even if they were Mega Man. I bought the games anyways to support the series and add to my collection, but they've never been played.
My husband and I are starting out our lives together, and like every new couple, money is an issue. One of the things we allow ourselves to splurge on once or twice a year is a small handful of games. Pretty much all of them are for him, though I'll admit I've stolen Dragon Age out from under him: the first game I've played on a regular basis that wasn't Mega Man in well over 15 years. Then I hear about Legends 3 finally coming out, and my interest in my old love is flamed once more.
-=Recent Events=-
When the DevRoom opened, I took part in very little. Instead, I watched. I figured this was a time for the true fans of Legend to come forward and shine. Were this an X game, I would have participated, but since this was a game I knew little to nothing about, I decided to be a silent supporter. I read the posts, got hyped up with the fans, and saw how much work they were putting into it.
But when Capcom said it was going to be released for the 3DS, I had a bad feeling.
For one thing, I hate 3D effects. With a PASSION. Anytime a movie comes out in 3D, I don't see it unless there's a 2D version playing. I already have to wear glasses or I can't see the scene. Putting another pair over that just gives me a headache. When I heard about the 3DS, I worried for Nintendo sales. After all, the DS wasn't THAT old, and it had already been upgraded to DSi. Now there was a 3DS? it seemed like they were releasing the same system over and over, only the new ones were given some new gimmick to try and sell it. And I'm sorry, gimmicks don't sell, at least not to me. To me, this wasn't a 'new platform', it was an upgrade to an already solid system.
So already I knew I wouldn't be buying the system this game would be coming out on. Like with Powered Up / Maverick Hunter X, I would buy the game and never get to play it. Didn't bother me too much, since I'm still a collector at heart. I still cheered for the game, but I felt a little of the wind had gone out from under me.
I still had my other love to look forward to: Marvel vs Capcom 3. While I never owned any of the previous incarnations, I remember fondly playing them in college in the little arcade they had (it had two whole machines in it, and MvsC2 was on of them). I had already purchased and tried Tatsunoku vs Capcom awhile back, but the game just didn't have the right feel to it. But I had high hopes for MvsC3. After all, my childhood game was well represented with the presence of my favorite character, Zero! I was curious, since he already had an appearance in TvsC, but I figured it was because of his popularity. And there was Tron, to loan support to the Legends fans. But like many fans, I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of a third Mega Man character. I figured since they had two on the list, they simply couldn't fit anymore in. After all, they have a LOT of games, and it's good to spread the representation.
Then I saw the polls. Naturally, I voted X, and got rather excited. A game where I can have an X/Zero/Morrigan team-up? Dream come TRUE! And it looked like results favored the blue bomber.
Then the bomb dropped, and dropped hard. Legends 3 got the ax. I felt so sorry for the Legends fans, and I understood their outcry. While I can understand Capcom not wanting to fund a venture that didn't have enough support, I think they underestimated the games true potential. However, I held back my voice. After all, it was canceled NOW. Didn't mean it would never be made. With any luck, they would later revisit it, and it would be made for a system that was already well established. But then, an added boot to the head of the collective Mega Man fandom, they excluded X from MvsC3 DLC pack. This, I felt half and half on. We already had two Mega Man characters, and one was from the X universe. Spread the love a bit. But even so, they could have put classic Mega Man back in to appease the fans. But instead, X was simply given the ax, and a slew of other characters made it in.
-=In Summery=-
I can understand some of what Capcom did. At the end of the day, they are a business and must protect their interests. They've always been good to their fans, and they do listen to us. They knew what would happen when they canceled Legends 3, so they must truly believe it's what best all around. We had our anger, now it's time to calm down and move on. Legends 3 is NOT dead, it's just gone back into stasis. I'd much rather wait awhile more for it then have it release and be largely ignored by the rest of the gaming world. While Legends fans are many, and they're upset, they may not be enough right now. Perhaps now is the time to push for a re-release of the old games, touched up for the latest generation of systems. Get new fans interested in the series to join the already established fans. As for X as a DLC, we'll just have to wait for the next fighting game, I guess. Perhaps Smash Bros? Personally, I think I'd like to have a Mega Man fighting game that featured all characters from all the series. I would REALLY like that.
-=June 26th, 2011=-
Well, I think I've managed to get into a good routine lately. I'm getting comics done faster and more efficiently, which leaves me more free time! And yes, I have been squandering a LITTLE bit of that time on Dragon Age (don't judge me!), but I've also been spending it on getting some projects done. One of those is working on more artwork for myself. I'm hoping to have more artwork I've been wanting to do here soon. I'm also going to open up commissions here in another few weeks, so if you've been interested, get your references together now! I'll make the announcement here and on Deviant Art. As usual, there will be limited slots, so you'll have to move quickly to get a spot. They fill fast.
In other news, I signed myself up a Tumblr account. I didn't really get it at first, but it seems like fun, and it allows me to post progress pictures of whatever I'm working on with ease. I also answer any questions thrown at me, so feel free to send me a message!
