I remember last night that there were so, so many things I'm wanting to do at any given time. I want to play Mahjong or Starcraft 2 ( In the beta! Woo! ), I want to work on my research, I need to work on class assignments, I need to go and do things with pep band and anime club and stuff, I want to keep up on my YouTube subscriptions, watch animes, read things - all sorts of stuff. And other things I have no idea how to approach.

I had an interview with Microsoft today! I got an email a while back by someone who had seen my resume from somewhere or another, who recommended I try out an interview. Well okay, I like how it's working out already - Microsoft has it's games division, Games for Windows and I guess also Xbox stuff, and they are very much the go-to place when it comes to OS and desktop environment related things... especially if I would be interested in promoting my ideas on desktop environments and Tablet PCs. So the interview went well, I had no worries about that. I'm solid at programming and have more than enough to talk about for 45 minutes regarding either research or game related things, the stuff I've done and projects I've worked on, etc. I didn't get a chance to mention the DUI2 Engine or some of the more novel projects I worked on like TranslatAR, but it came and went. For the people they find interesting they'll fly up to Redmond or Mountain View for more interviews. Perhaps I can talk about it then - I'm pretty confident!

A real job will be nice. I love working on my on-campus job but I can't really afford anything significant with it. I could get like, a Nexus One or a Droid, and one of them automatic Mahjong tables :D Just the simple things, really. But most of the stuff the interviewer was recommending would take place in Washington. I can goto Washington, I guess. Mountain View would be better though...

I wasn't really planning on looking for job stuff until next quarter. Maybe I should try looking into game development positions then, still? Ones in the Bay Area, ideally. That would be very, very good. Or I could always live the dream - trying to start something on my own, working on my game until I can publish it on Steam as an independent developer. Preferably with a little help. That's probably not the most efficient way to get my games made though. No, stick to the more reasonable plan - get a game dev job, wait until a game is done and people are saying "alright! now wut" and [i]lay it on them[/i]. Well not all at once. Gotta pump them up on the idea the whole time until them.

Something like that.

Also Starcraft 2 is really fun! It gives me that Starcraft vibe. It's solid. I'm working on build orders - there's one that's really good against zerg and just worked well a short while ago. Although that's because he decided to Muta my workers while I just pushed into his base. I need to work on my TvT though. I like reapers but I can't seem to handle a straight battle if they just macro Marauder+Marine at me. Maybe a little better bunker play could help - repairing it with more SCVs, doing that a little quicker, etc. Keep my other forces back a little bit, let the bunker soften them up as much as possible, maybe? I tried to keep my 3 reapers off to the side, and tried to flank him as he tried to push up my ramp. No go. Next time, use them to take out workers as he's busy at my base! I dunno, this is all frigging pro stuff.

TvP is a little easier, actually. If they go zealots then go reapers. Otherwise do what's possible with Reaper harassment to buy you time to get tanks and medivacs to go with your marauders and marines. If they push out then use your Reapers to snipe tech buildings or workers real quick like. I lost my Reapers though in one game because I let them sit there for a while I macroed and teched, and then the other dude blinked a bunch of stalkers on top of them. Don't let them die like that! They could be way more useful.

Also macro better. And don't mess up the build order. And don't forget about having enough SCVs and calling down MULEs and ahhhhhhhh


Auzner posted on February 25, 2010 5:58 AM:

My week has gone poorly, at least yours has gone really well with having a job interview at Microsoft. While you're playing the beta, I have dozens of replays I can watch to analyze the new game and formulate plans as well as get a feel for what can do what. TvP: Protoss has a lot of strong ground units. I think of zealots, stalkers, immortals, and colossi. But only the stalkers can attack air units. Protoss looks pretty overwhelming, and if you're up against them as Terran I think banshees are the best choice. You'd have heavy firepower that's untouchable forcing them to do more anti-air. Micro them well enough and they can keep flying back for repairs. Stalkers wouldn't be a match for banshees and marauders. If Protoss uses aircraft you could make vikings or a lot of marines. I miss the goliath unit though. Thor and Battlecruiser are ridiculous units unless you can keep them well defended. Early in the game I think Terran really needs marines and marauders to get anything done. Reapers look like great harassment units against workers, marines, lings, zealots, but are too expensive for a stand up battle. Strongly focus on memorizing all hot keys and having the habit of binding every building. Calling down MULEs should be just a couple key strokes that takes only a second of your concentration. I haven't seen too many TvZ matches. Some reason Zerg players always tend to master them quickly and come up with perfect hording plans. Siege tanks' splash damage and air units come to mind. A zergling or roach rush can't do anything against banshees.