Abiyasa Blogs

I have been learning ActionScript 3.0 for my next project, and I tried WiiFlash two days ago. WiiFlash is an additional library/tool for Adobe Flash (ActionScript) so you can use your Wii Remote. You can download it from their website http://wiiflash.bytearray.org/

On my first try, the demo didn’t work

I ran the WiiFlash server 0.4.3 and it’s able to connect to my Wii Remote. When I executed the SWF file (Wiimote Demo.swf), the demo didn’t show any Wiimote’s data. I think the demo cannot connect to the WiiFlash server.

So I opened the FLA file (Wiimote Demo.fla), try to build and run it.

It worked!

The demo showed the Wiimote’s data. So the problem only occurs when you try to execute the SWF directly.

I tried using Flash player debug version and get a message something related to security. I figured out that’s because the SWF file is running from the local file but it’s trying to access the network. This is restricted according to the Flash sandbox security policy but luckily you can set the permission manually.

Using the Flash authoring tool, go to the Publish Settings (see figure below). On the bottom of the window, you can see the Local playback Security. By default, it is set to access local files only. Set it to Access network only, build the SWF file, and now your SWF file can connect to the local WiiFlash server

note: I need to know whether this method still allow your SWF file to access local file..

Namco may change the main character for the next Klonoa game for American Wii (from a recent post at Kotaku). This decision is based on a survey which concludes that the participants like the new Klonoa better than the original one.

The original Klonoa (on the left) has long ears which make him unique. The long ears also act like an additional pair of hands or wings. The original character has more cartoon body proportion with big size gloves and boots.

The new Klonoa looks more like a bat. No more long ears. It has more realistic body proportion with smaller gloves and boots. The new character has the ‘cool, slim, and fast’ feels. I could imagine that this is the ninja-version of Klonoa. It still looks cute but definitely more powerful and fierce than the original one.

Both characters are good and look great, but I prefer the original one Namco want to take more risk to make Klonoa character more recognizable in North America. Maybe they feel that the original character has not been so popular outside Japan, so maybe it is the right time to introduce a new and more acceptable character. However, most gamers who play Klonoa before might hate the new design.

Will it worth the risk? We’ll see..

Finally, I just got my work permit Hurrayyy!!! 

It takes me 7 months and 6 times going to the immigration office to get a one-year-work-permit for me and a one-year-stay-permit formy wife. I feel very very relieved and happy I can start working again this Monday.

These are some tips which can help you to get a German work permit. This is only based on my experience, so there is no guaranty

Pray a lot. Even if you have qualified to get one, it is the immigration office who decides whether you can get your permit or when you can get it. Sometimes, I feel like it is based on their mood. Some people can get the permit in just 2-3 weeks while others have to wait for months. Some people can pass by providing just the required documents, some might have to provide additional documents like translated CV/resume. So don’t forget to pray a lot or bring your 4 leaf clover or other lucky charms

Be nice and professional. Wear more formal outfits, silent you mobile phone, and prepare all the required documents (especially your biometric photos). Try to put a smile on your face Try your best not to make the immigration offices feels angry. It will suffer you or the person after you.

Bring a native German with you, if possible. Even if you can speak German very well. Preferable, someone related to your job (your boss, HRD person, or colleague) and knows about German immigration law (a little bit is OK). Not all Germans know and aware that there is a big problem in German immigration, so make sure that you tell your case to your colleague/boss/HRD person. Even better, hire an immigration lawyer!

My colleague said to me that good things come to those who waits but in my case (or most people’s cases), good things come to those who fights.

Good luck!

In the beginning of this month, me and my wife went again to the immigration office for applying for my work permit. It’s been a looong battle between us and the German immigration office.

Unfortunately until now, I haven’t got my work permit. Even worse, the immigration decided to postpone the process until the end of this month. This means that I am not allowed to work my full time job since I have worked for 90 days. As a foreign student in Germany, you are only allowed to work for 90 days full-time job or 180 days half time job.

We have tried our best to make the next process faster but no luck. The immigration insisted that we have to wait until 30th of October in order to know whether they are going to process our document or not. And then, it might take another 2 to 3 weeks to decide whether I am going to get my work permit or not

So since last week, I work at home. I am not fired but my job contract is pending until I got my work permit.

I use this opportunity as a chance for me to re-think my goal in life and whether my struggling with the immigration office is worth it.

Stay Positive

I need to focus and re-work my creative part before my next game project.

One thing that I realized that for the last 3 months, I didn’t play any video game (Except Eye Toy kinetic for sport). I was too busy working my full time job and doing the thesis. I decided to do some research of current indie games, looking for ideas. I really love this job

Now I am playing several demos from the Comicket C74 and indie games from IndieCade festival. So far, Polarity is my favorite one (screenshot above). It is a puzzle platformer game. The game is quite short (less than 20 minutes) and reminds me Megaman or Rockman. You can download the game for free from their website here.

This is my master thesis, developing a prototype of group game for Wii Remote. Using several PCs, a large number of Wii Remotes can be connected to play a video game on a big screen.

For the game development, I use Brian Peek Wiimote Library, Irrlichtnetcp Engine, and Visual C# 2008 Express Edition. The game can be played using 3 different methods using the Wii Remote.

I finished my thesis last month and now I want to share it. Just click the link below to read more about it. In the end of the article, you can download the PDF of the thesis document and the source code of the game.

Enjoy

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