Michael Fogleman

Computer programming started off as a hobby for me. Then it became classwork and eventually a job. What this means is that I rarely program anything just for fun anymore. This is sorta good and sorta bad. The good thing is that I know when to stop sitting in front of the computer. Since I do that most of the day at work, little desire is left to do so at the end of the day, which means I get more important (and usually more fun) things done. The bad thing is that I don't really get to use my programming skills to just do something for fun, like write a game. Well, over Christmas break I had some free time so I decided I'd use some of it to work on a Pac-Man game. "Why don't you make up your own game, Michael?" Well, that requires a lot more thought and effort, and all I had was a week or so. =)

So that's what I did, I wrote a Pac-Man game. But like most of my just-for-fun projects, it isn't really finished yet. It is playable, though. (Which is perhaps part of the reason I haven't finished it -- I spend more time playing it than working on it) There are currently three levels, unlimited lives, and no score. Here are some screenshots...

I've had quite a few requests to make this an internet multi-player game. While I agree that would be very awesome, I make no promises. I first need to at least finish it up for single player use. Then, if the desire strikes me, I may move on to making it playable over the internet. That is no trivial task. Furthermore, I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to programming. That's often a hindrance because I spend more time trying to think of a better design when I should just code it up with whatever design I come up with first.

If you're on Windows, you can actually play the game by simply clicking the link below. You must have Java installed. This link uses Java Web Start to automatically download and run the game on your machine. Unfortunately there seems to be some sorta performance issue when running the game with Java Web Start, so if the game seems really sluggish, that's why. It runs fine when downloaded and run normally, but that requires more work for you, the user. If you decide to try it anyway, select Open-With, not Save-As when you click the link. Play Pac-Man (1.3MB)

posted by Michael  # 1/12/2005 10:33:00 PM 0 Comments

Why are you here? No, I'm not asking why you are procrastinating by seeing if, by some small chance, I have decided to update my blog. But I do appreciate your faithfulness.

Why are you here, on Earth? No, I'm not suggesting that your presence here on Earth is a misfortune, or a bother to me or anyone else. In fact, you're probably my friend, and I love my friends.

Why are you here, on Earth, along with the rest of us? Well, you see, when a man and a woman love each other very much...

No, no, no. Why does anything exist? Well, that is a good question. And I don't have to tell you that it is one that billions of people have asked before now. I'm sure you, too, have pondered this very question. If I am not mistaken, I first had such thoughts as early as 6 or 7 years old. And now, at 23, it is rare that a day goes by when this question does not cross my mind. What a nuisance. Think of all the things I could do instead of worrying about why I'm here. But then how could those things be fulfilling when the question has already been asked? Ignorance is bliss, they say. But it just so happens that I've been surrounded by people in my life who make it quite difficult to be ignorant.

In any case, we all come to our own conclusions. Some assert that their beliefs are undoubtedly correct, and some are tolerant to the beliefs of others. Some are confident and faithful, and some are never quite sure. Some are steadfast and hard to convince while others are as sturdy as the Tacoma Narrows bridge.

I don't know why I'm here; I'm not even sure why I'm blogging about it. But I do know that as long as you think about these things every once in a while, I'll like you. Will you like me? I might be wrong, you might be wrong, we might both be wrong. But I think you and I get along quite well, and that's good enough for me.

- Your friend, an agnostic inundated in Christianity.

posted by Michael  # 1/10/2005 02:11:00 AM 1 Comments