Laugh Lab Games

I though I would share a project I had worked on
with a small team of game developers that I have become a part of.

We're known as Laugh Lab Games.

2 of us are from the East Coast and the other 2 are on the west coast. We all have varying levels of game developing experience. We designed and developed a small line of card games a little while back. I focus my time on graphics, illustration, style and participate in the game development. The other 3 members mainly focus on game ideas, development and testing.

I'm extremely proud of the work the 4 of us have done.

Around this time of year we get interest. The games are with a committed manufacturer but they will not get produced until we have retailers buying them. Makes sense... It's tough waiting around. To be honest I tend to forget they are out there until an email goes out that there's been a nibble. It's always exciting and currently there's a nibble.

New York's annual Toy Fair is coming up in February and we tend to hold our breathe until that's all said and done. That's when decisions are made and the dust settles. Here's hoping but not too high.

These games are a blast and they are something we want to share. This isn't about making a ton of dough it's about starting something and finishing something. And if something happens with these games we can start to think of some new one's... which I'm sure they've already done!

All the hard work and time and commitment is needed but the one thing people tend to leave out is just a little luck.

Here's to Laugh Lab!
Ya never know!

Graphic Designers: Calibrating your monitor

In a Design Note:
We all want good color. From our monitor to our laser proofs to the vendor running it on press. It's crucial we get it right first and make as few changes on press when we can.

This is the easiest and best way to color calibrate any monitor. Fool Proof!

I do tons of Photoshop work day in and day out.
Color needs to be accurate on my computer monitor at all times.
After a few months of searching our department finally found a way to consistently and accurately calibrate all our computers.

Click on the link and it does the rest. THERE IS NO INSTALLING!
Trust me it’s worth it.

http://www.linein.org/media/screenclean.swf

Touchy Touchy

Last week I downloaded the upgrade for my ipod touch.
I initially felt it was lacking some features but understood it needed to be different from the iphone. With the upgrade we are now much closer to the phone minus an internal camera.

The new additions are:
Direct e-mail
Stocks (to check my own apple stock)
Google Maps
Notes
And docking specific web pages to your home screen.

I take this thing everywhere. I use it at work, at home and in the car. I'm not addicted but I could be. This technology is incredible and I can see a lot more coming out there. TV remote controls, stereos, kitchen appliances.

I have yet to fill the thing with music or movies but I'm coming close.
Over 13,000 tunes and 20 feature films.

Every ipod touch should have the song "i have the touch" by Peter Gabriel.
I do and it made me come up with other songs with the word "touch" in it.

So far this is what I have loaded on my ipod touch. I can think of more but I don't own more than these few.

Touch: Seal
Touch Me: Samantha Fox
Out of Touch: Hall & Oates
I Want to Touch you: Catherine Wheel
Touch from your Lust: Ben Harper

Go to an Apple store and touch one today.

Oh Dear Lord

I bring this upon myself. Oh and my brother John.
We cleaned the house top to bottom today. This house has been struck with unspeakable ailments. I will spare you the gruesome details. In the process of our cleansing we came upon a few empty frames. Feeling the need to fill them I set out into our closet where all the photos are stored. Well, low and behold these wondrous shots of the past.






If you've caught your breathe from laughing I'll begin...
Oh Nelly! These are priceless. Right outta the Sears Roebuck 70's catalog. The only way I could try and help these look cool was to shoot them on my sleek iMac keyboard... I failed.
Where shall I begin? How's left to right?

1. That's me on the right. The one my brother John is giving the hiemleck to. The look on my face says it all... "eh?" From this photo shoot am I going to paint a house?

By this photo someone could suggest our future careers. John a personal fitness instructor and I a Dutch House painter. Eash.

2. Big Red. I have Photoshop but there is only so much color correcting you can do to a completely red photograph. I know it's a Christmas shot but where's the green? I actually remember this picture. I think it was taken at a bank in Medford Square.
It has my trademark model look. "Eye's Wide Shut". To this day I still do this. I can now track down why I do this. My eyes are closed because the little girl behind me is talking to me and I'm trying to calm myself through meditation. Nice use of creepy living dolls decorating the tree. Holy Freaky Set. Yea, this was a great idea. Kids will love this. Good Lord.

Fortunately for me Big Brother John takes the harder hit on this one. Those pants are (As Napoleon Dynamite would say) sweet. My Mom claims at the time John was a big Mr. Furley fan from "3's Company"... who wasn't?

From this fashion statement I determined that I did not get my creativity from my Mother.

3. Let's migrate east to this stylish number. At first glance the collars look like giant hideous bows. No no. My Mother wasn't that blind. They are much more manly. YEA! This outfit says "I'm a Bad ass!" And I will likely need back-up wearing this so we are a duo. And together we will both get are asses handed to us.

This scene says two wusses walking in a park suddenly stop... No, Not hold hands... No. We just rub fingers as if it's a hidden love we must hide.

4. Finally number 4. Red & Green. We clearly rock the color red so Mom mixed it up a bit. Work in that Green velour. This isn't John & Michael this is Helmut & Schnitzel. And hey... the stylist missed pulling my collar out of my dress.

Thanks Mom!
Love ya!

Lobster, Pats and Nemo

Happy New Year!

We've had a busy yet fun, relaxing and enjoyable holiday season!

It's ultimately the traditions that keep us going. And with each year we hope that we create new one's for Ellie.

One tradition I would very much like to keep going is the one My father & Mother-in-law started. Before the Patriots won their 16th game they surprised J & I with fresh lobster meat to enjoy before the game started. HELLO! They were excellent. What a surprise and what a treat!

Maurie and I then sat and enjoyed the Patriots go on to finish their perfect season. Despite that Maurie felt that they were going to loose. He soon turned the corner in the 3rd quarter and trusted they would pull out a victory. My constant optimism had nothing to do with his change of heart. On the the Playoffs!

The next morning we cruised on down to Everett. Nana & Papa had an exciting day planned for little Miss Ellie. They were taking her to the Boston Garden to see Nemo on Ice! Ellie has been looking forward to this for weeks and it did not disappoint! She loved it.
She behaved the whole time and got some great Nemo stuff to enjoy!
The next morning when she came into our room she was telling us again all about Marlin, Dori, the sharks and Nemo!
Hopefully another tradition for Ellie to look forward too. And who knows maybe her cousin will join them next year.

New Year's Eve was a quiet one for us. Not a big holiday for us. We get appetizers and graze for most of the night. Last year we went into Providence with my folks and enjoyed their first night. This year we took in a movie at Providence Place Mall. Alvin and the Chipmunks! It earned a decent crowd but nothing crazy. Elle dug the movie. J & I enjoyed it as well.

Maybe another tradition in the making.

Hope you all had a fun and relaxing New Year!