Rob Coble

Networking Boot Camp.

2011-02-02T08:11:00.002-05:00

Confused About How to Network? Attend Networking Boot Camp!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011; Last Updated: 4:22 PM EST (16:22 GMT)
Confused About How to Network? Attend Networking Boot Camp!

"I kind of think of it as cooking; most people understand the concept of cooking, but until you throw a few recipes in a pot… put it into practice, you don’t fully understand the art form of cooking. It’s the same with networking."

Michelle Wess, Design Department Chair for the Game Development program

Don’t miss the Networking Boot Camp Lecture Series, a GPS Opportunity

At Full Sail, everyone will tell you networking is the way to make connections, get jobs, get ahead. It’s not too hard to get involved in activities and meet people at Full Sail, but what about when you go to a conference, like the Game Development Conference (GDC), SIGGRAPH or Evolve CG?

How do you approach potential employers and what do you say when you have their attention? How do you work a room?

“We’ve always done a good job at Full Sail in telling people they have to network. This is taking it a step forward in telling people how to network,” said Rob Coble, an Industry Outreach Coordinator for the Game Studies degrees.

Each February for the last few years, Coble has delivered a networking workshop aimed at helping Game Studies students prepare for the Game Development Conference. Roughly 100 students from the Game Studies programs attend the GDC each year.

This year, Coble has expanded the workshop to a three-part lecture series (a GPS Opportunity) and is inviting all students and staff to attend. The series, taking place Feb. 9, 16, and 23, covers the following topics: Self-Awareness, Digital Hygiene, and Selling Yourself. All three workshops take place at 6 p.m. in FS3C-102. (Click here for more details).

“It’s a universal skill,” said Michelle Wess, Design Department Chair for the Game Development program and Coble’s co-presenter. “We’ve realized this is something that everyone can make good use of and so we want to make it available.”

While some people may think that only extroverted people can be good at it, Wess says that anyone can learn the skills and preparation required for successful networking.

“There are some formulas you can follow. There are some tools and techniques that can be used,” said Wess. “Ultimately, we’re trying to take this overarching concept and making it digestible.”

The Lecture Series

In the Self-Awareness workshop on Feb. 9, Wess and Coble said participants will be examining personal values and creating a personal mission statement. The class involves “discovering your own personal networking style and developing two or three short-term and/or professional goals,” said Wess. Weaknesses will also be identified.

“It is the springboard that’s needed to get into the core material,” said Wess.

The second part of the series, Digital Hygiene, takes place on Feb. 16. In this workshop, participants will examine what their digital profile says about them and learn how to connect to influential people using Web 2.0 tools like LinkedIn, Twitter, blogs, discussion boards and Facebook.

“We’re going to share some war stories and show some good examples of what to do and what not to do when using these web 2.0 tools,” said Wess. “We want to encourage people to use them, but we want them to make smart choices when they’re using them.”

“Whether you like it or not, Web 2.0 is today’s office water cooler,” added Coble. “Basically you can gain insider’s knowledge [as] to what’s going on in the various industries you’re interested in and have the direct ear of the people who can influence your career.”

In the third workshop, Selling Yourself, participants will learn how to present themselves in a way that emphasizes the advantages they can bring to an employer.

“If you want to get a job in this industry or any industry, ultimately, you have to sell yourself,” explained Coble.

“One of the takeaways [is] we’re going to have them develop a one-minute pitch they can use in quick moments where they’re shaking hands on the conference floor or riding two floors in an elevator,” said Wess.

Participants will also learn the difference between good bragging and bad bragging. “There’s an art to bragging,” said Coble. “It’s understanding the difference between confidence and arrogance.”

Coble and Wess said they will address questions and specific concerns about the GDC during the workshops, but said the information will be useful to anyone planning to attend a convention or look for a job.

“It’s a tool that can be used anywhere in any industry,” said Coble.

- Christine Janesko

The Changing Face of the Game Industry

2010-06-15T07:28:00.000-05:00

The Changing Face of the Game Industry
Monday, June 14, 2010; Last Updated: 4:17 PM EDT (16:17 GMT)
The Changing Face of the Game Industry

"Games are outselling movies now, overall, and the record industry has been diving in overall sales, so why shouldn’t the game designers be considered the same way as record producers or film directors?"

Rob Coble, GDNBS Student Advisor

Discussion Do game designers need agents?

Do designers need agents to succeed in the adapting game world?

Games are just as fun as they’ve ever been, but lately, people are beginning to view them as more than just a pastime. People are investing in consoles for fitness reasons. President Obama is even using them to improve tech, math, science and engineering classes. Currently, 65 percent of homes are gaming homes in the U.S. As the face of the gaming world changes, the creators have begun to question the dynamic between game designers and studios to investigate whether the relationship needs to be re-examined.

One former console builder is looking to do the investigating. Former Xbox architect Seamus Blackley heads the gaming branch of Creative Artists Agency, and it’s his desire to give game designers the one thing they toil to give others: control. By liberating game designers from controlling studios, the theory is that they will create more inspired games. As of last month, Blackley has become the industry representation for such big names in gaming as Cliff Bleszinski (Gears of War) and Will Wright (Sims).

“We’re seeing a lot of parallels with music and films and games becoming more of a viable alternative,” said Rob Coble, Game Design BS Student Advisor. “Games are outselling movies now, overall, and the record industry has been diving in overall sales, so why shouldn’t the game designers be considered the same way as record producers or film directors? It certainly makes sense.”

While Coble agrees that a move toward more control for designers is certainly smart, but he questions whether or not agent representation is a necessary component of the process at this point in the game where the industry is still so friendly and welcoming for new talents, unlike movies and music.

“In Hollywood right now, the people that are making the decisions and whatnot are extremely unapproachable, same thing with people in records,” Coble said. “They hide behind a wall of people that do their daily tasks, and I’m sure that there are people like that in the game world, but my experience is that somewhere like GDC (Game Developers Conference) you can walk down the halls, and these guys that you mention like Will Wright, who will be represented by an agent himself, are very approachable and very easy to talk to. That’s not to say it won’t get there down the line.”

An agent provides services for designers to find them work opportunities, retain control and rights to their works and to help them work across a variety of platforms. The main goal of Blackley’s organizations is to help designers get the sort of top billing recognition for their work as top producers or movie stars get for their films.

Coble agrees that designers deserve more credit and ought to be careful about understanding their agreements with studios, but since the industry is still so inviting to newcomers, to take advantage of that while you can. What Coble suggests for graduates is that they network as much as possible and ask as many questions as they can.

“The thing that I love about the game industry is I have yet to really meet people who wouldn’t take the time to give back to a fellow gamer,” Coble said. “They really do seem to have a very benevolent spot in their heart for other gamers and are really willing to try and help them out in any way that they can.”

-Ashley Belanger

Rockstars present Read Dead Redemption

2010-06-10T06:52:00.002-05:00

Game Grad Rockstars Talk About Red Dead Redemption

Wednesday, June 9, 2010; Last Updated: 4:33 PM EDT (16:33 GMT)

Red Dead Redemption"

Nine of the 13 Game Development and Computer Animation graduates who worked on Red Dead Redemption were able to come to campus for Hall of Fame week.

"My dad raised me on watching Clint Eastwood movies like Pale Rider and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, so it was really cool to kind of get back into that..."

Rockstar Senior Designer and Game Development graduate Nicholas Zippmann

Discussion Best Game

Red Dead Redemption has sold 5 million copies worldwide since its May 18 release

Nine Full Sail graduates who helped create the critically and commercially successful western-themed video game Red Dead Redemption were on campus for Full Sail’s Hall of Fame celebration June 8 and 9.

The nine alumni attended the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and participated in a Q&A forum on June 8 with students from the Game Studies programs and from Computer Animation, Education Media Design & Technology, and Media Design.

In all, 13 Full Sail graduates worked on the action-adventure game Red Dead Redemption, nine of whom were Game Development graduates and four of whom graduated from Computer Animation. One graduate, Cory Shay, a Senior Audio Programmer, graduated from both Game Development and Recording Arts.

For some perspective, Red Dead Redemption has sold 5 million copies worldwide since its May release, according to parent company Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. It earned a rating of 9.7 out of 10 on game review hub IGN.com.

We were able to sit down with four of the alumni – all Game Development grads – to talk about their experiences working at San Diego-based Rockstar Games and on this western-themed successor to the hugely popular Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Revolver.

On the Game and Their Roles

“There’s not very many western games, so it’s kind of like a new frontier. It was awesome to tackle that,” said Rockstar Senior Designer Nicholas Zippmann.

“I was always a really big fan of westerns. My dad raised me on watching Clint Eastwood movies like Pale Rider and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, so it was really cool to kind of get back into that and buy a bunch of westerns, watch them and take notes and stuff. That’s what’s so cool about developing games in general is that every couple years you can become an expert on something else – like space exploration, or the western era, or the Ming Dynasty, or whatever. That’s what I think is so exciting and so great about games.”

Both Zippmann and Senior Mission Designer Danny Bulla worked on the missions in the game, interactive quests that players must achieve to “complete” the game.

Bulla likens the job of mission scripters to mini-producers or directors.

“You’re talking to a cinematics guy for a cut scene. You get your answer from him, you go over to the audio guy, and you say, ‘I need this.’ You go over to an artist, and you say, ‘I need this changed,’ and you have to be able to do all those things,” explained Bulla.

“We’re basically scripting and programming every day, just at a higher level where we get more control over the actual game play.” He added, “To me, it’s the most fun part, interacting with the player.”

The game has been praised for the number and scope of possible missions but also for the richness of its free roam features and fun multiplayer options, which is what Multiplayer Designer Chris Bourassa worked on.

“I worked on the multiplayer for Red Dead, so mainly the free roam and all of the networking from the design side,” said Bourassa.

One of the elements crucial to the ambiance of the game is the Old West train, which arrives and departs on a schedule and is featured in some of the missions. A lot of the programming for the train was done by Programmer Jason “Jay” Knobler.

“I did a lot of the train logic,” explained Knobler. “It’s not really a prevalent part of the story, but it adds to the whole world; you feel more immersed. So the logic – the people getting on and off, the scheduling, and anytime it’s needed in a mission – I needed to support that end. My grandfather, actually, he’s a big western fan as well, and he worked on a railroad, so it was really cool to develop this in a digital world when he really did it in real life.”

How Some Got Their Jobs

Tellingly, all four graduates knew each other in school and graduated around the same time in 2006. Bourassa, who got hired with Rockstar first, helped Bulla and Knobler land interviews with Rockstar. Similarly, graduate and Ambient Designer Ryan Paradis helped Zippmann and another graduate and Rockstar employee get interviews.

“Jay and I worked together on our final project, and it’s one of those, once you know someone’s good – the company knows you’re good – so by association, they’ll take a chance on them. It’s networking,” said Bourassa.

“People who are in school need to remember that,” said Rob Coble, an advisor for the Game Studies degrees. “The relationships that you build now are the ones that are going to last the rest of your life.”

He added: “Thanks to our graduates, we have built an incredible networking community. On Facebook and Twitter, I see from these kids more willingness to give back and help their fellow student than in years and years previously. They come back as rock stars but they never seem to develop an ego. They continue to give back – even those with the successes like you’re seeing with Red Dead Redemption.”

- Christine Baker Janesko

Another Vacation Awaits

2010-05-18T07:40:00.001-05:00

That's all I'm saying! Looking forward to 11 days of nothing but relaxation and fun with BC and Mags. How's everyone doing?

Networking Advice from Career Development

2010-05-04T07:49:00.001-05:00

Stepping Out of Your Shell: Networking for Introverts

Monday, May 3, 2010; Last Updated: 5:30 PM EDT (17:30 GMT)

"Most professionals anywhere will not mind being contacted if you have a purpose for contacting them."

Rob Coble, an advisor for the Game Studies degrees

Discussion The Competitive Job Market

Read on for tips on networking with professionals and peers and handling yourself in an interview

To introverts, the idea of networking can seem painful, annoying and just plain mysterious. Everyone talks about networking, but nobody really explains it.

Define Networking, Please!

“People network throughout their entire lives, but when they come into my office and I tell them they need to network, they immediately freak out because they don’t feel that they’re going to be able to do it,” said Rob Coble, an advisor for the Game Studies degrees.

“So I always ask them this, ‘How many people did you know when you came to campus?’ And the answer is usually, ‘Nobody.’ And then I’ll ask them, ‘How many people do you know now that you’re nearing the end and you’re about to graduate?’ And the answer is usually in the hundreds.”

In other words, chances are you’ve been ‘networking’ your whole time here, says Coble. “Networking does not mean you have to talk about the recording arts or film or game development. It just means that you’re meeting people. You’re getting to know them.”

Still, for introverts, even getting to know more than a few, select people can seem challenging. Here are some tips for networking with fellow students and professionals.

Shyness Drops Off When You Talk About Your Passion

Dick Bolles, the author of “What Color is Your Parachute?” points out that – interestingly – people’s painful shyness loses its power when they talk about something they love.

“If you love movies, you’ll forget all about your shyness when you’re talking to someone else about movies,” writes Bolles, who has described himself as “the shyest man I ever knew.”

To build a friendly relationship with someone, focus on commonalities, Coble recommends. “If you’re in Game Development and you’re hanging out with a lot of other people in Game Development and you want to get to know them, there’s all sorts of things you can talk about. It’s as easy as, ‘What games are you currently playing? What games have you worked on?’ Chances are, they’re going to have similar tastes in music, films, books and things like that too. So your commonalities don’t always have to be about gaming.”

Coble also highly recommends that students get involved on campus by attending activities or joining clubs. “Number one, it’s a great opportunity to meet people and expand your network. Secondly, it looks great on a resume,” Coble pointed out.

Meeting People at Conferences and Impressing at Interviews

The best salespeople know that the over-used phrase, ‘Can I help you?’ doesn’t engage people unless they already know what they want. A better tactic is getting someone to chat about a common interest.

“If you’re [at] Best Buy and you start to play around with a laptop, and the guy comes up and starts talking about that laptop, then he’s engaged you in a conversation,” said Coble.

“You can do the same type of thing at a conference, for instance, by just starting to talk with someone about a product or company.”

Coble says the best ammunition for an introvert at a conference or in an interview is research and preparation.

“If you’re going to a conference, you can always find out who’s going to be there ahead of time so that you can prepare the things that you want to ask or that you want to know. Being knowledgeable about the industry that you work in: extremely important,” advises Coble.

“If you know the top headlines in your industry at any given time, then you’re going to be qualified to have a conversation with other people in that industry because, chances are, they’re going to be impacted by those new stories in some way or another.”

Similarly, Coble recommends preparing for an interview by researching the company and the person with whom you’ll be interviewing and by writing out and practicing what you’ll say.

Get Noticed by Creating a Confident Online Presence

For people going into digital industries, an impressive online presence often takes the place of a face-face first impression and can help introverts easily expand their networks of contacts and acquaintances.

“If you don’t think you can talk to people in person, [try] social media. Be blogging with industry blogs, twittering,” said Cami Smith, an advisor for the business programs. “It’s out there; you don’t even have to talk.”

One online student got a job offer by writing a blog, said Smith. Her education blog got noticed by a software development company building gaming software for middle school students. The company noticed it and wanted her to create content for them.

Industry-related blogs and LinkedIn provide good opportunities for connecting with professionals in your industry, Coble points out.

While contacting professionals on LinkedIn can seem scary, remember that “they wouldn’t be on there if they weren’t wanting to be contacted,” said Coble.

“I relate it much [like] a dating service: Don’t be afraid to reply to someone’s ad on a dating service because they put the ad there for a reason,” points out Steve Kane, an advisor for Recording Arts and Music Business.

The best way to connect with someone on LinkedIn or through a professional site is to ask a question, says Coble.

“Most professionals anywhere will not mind being contacted if you have a purpose for contacting them,” said Coble. “If you have a reason for contacting them, more often than not, you will hear back from them.”

When asking people to join your LinkedIn network, he recommends writing a personal note reminding them of who you are rather than using the generic default message, “Because you’re a person I trust...”

Be Yourself

Finally, remember that while you can improve your skill at connecting with others with practice, always be true to yourself, says Kane. This can help in a scary situation, like an interview.

“Even if I’m a shy person, my skill set is what I’m selling; I’m not selling my ability to talk, and it’s okay if I’m shy,” Kane points out.

“Telling that person, ‘You know what, I’m a programmer, so I’m a little on the shy side. I hope that doesn’t scare you away about how awesome my programming skills are’ [can help], said Kane. Being up front about what it is that you are is a great way to break the ice.”

Christine Baker Janesko

Otis and More

2010-04-26T11:32:00.002-05:00

Another successful house concert Saturday. Busy busy day today. My mental resolve has been put to the test lately but we shall overcome. Thanks everyone that came out to meet and hear Otis. BC and I had a blast. Enjoy all of the pictures at Facebook. For now, here are a few shots of Maggie at 5 months. She is getting pretty big and is still at times hell on wheels. We love her anyway.

It's been awhile

2010-03-24T15:12:00.002-05:00

I haven't posted here in a long while now. Facebook has taken the place for my daily updates with family and friends. Does anyone still read these updates? If so please drop me a note telling me to continue. Otherwise this blog will have to go the way of fax machine and the rotary dial.

Life has been good. My trip to San Francisco was a blast and very productive. It has been hectic since returning to the office but easily managed. I am expecting a lot of campus visitors now that we have spread the word at GDC.

BC and Maggie are doing well. BC has been watching a lot of Dog Whisperer episodes and trying to break Mags from her quest for dominance in the Coble household. She has already found her way into our home and hearts even though she can sometimes be a big pain in the butt. She is a pretty cute damn dog though I have to say.

We are vacationing in North Carolina this year at the end of May and look forward to checking out another cool new section of the country. I am going to head home to Royal Oak for a few days in late June and catch up with some old high school pals that I have recently reconnected with as well as visit some family and friends in the area. Hopefully take in a Tiger baseball game too.

We have also found a new home at our church St. Stephens in Longwood. We became members last Sept. and really enjoy the congregation and the weekly message that we hear. We both continue our daily travels on the path towards happy destiny. Life is good.

Let me know your thoughts. Should I keep posting or see y'all on Facebook????

Musings from Jason Swan

2010-03-10T17:52:00.001-05:00

A great blog post from our pal Jason Swan. Thanks Jason and keep them coming my friend.

http://www.jasonlswan.com/gdc-day-1

El Dia de Presidente

2010-02-15T12:46:00.002-05:00

While the majority of the US sits home and watched riveting episodes of As The World Turns I am in my office on a somewhat quiet day. One appt. and a meeting is all that's on the docket today. Probably a good things since I feel the beginnings of a cold coming on and what's worse it's Monday so I am having trouble getting going to begin with.

We had a great weekend. Maggie's first trip to the vet Saturday morning and lot's of Red Velvet cupcakes for Valentines day. Sunday we went to Winter Park with Mom and Dad to see Crazy Heart and followed it up Sunday night with The Hurt Locker. Two incredible and I think brilliant movies. Crazy Heart really spoke to me. It was a movie that could have been made specifically for me. For those that know me you will understand that the many themes looked at in the film are either passions or a part of my life. And of course the music was great too.

Maggie is settling down a bit and seems to have really good smarts. Although we still find a puddle or two around the house when we turn our heads for even a minute she is doing pretty good and already starting to ask to go outside. My hands, head and face must look like big pin cushions to her as all three have the battle scars to prove it. Her little teeth are razor sharp and puncture pretty easily. She already weighs 20 lbs and is really starting to show some personality.

The week ahead looks to hold no major surprises. I continue to ready for my trip to GDC in March. Looking forward to a break from the routine and a new city to look around.

Cheers All!

A Rough Week

2010-02-11T10:28:00.002-05:00

It's been a bit chaotic around the Coble Ranch these days. Maggie has been keeping us on our toes and we are hard pressed to understand how anyone could possibly raise children? Saludos to those that have. Sophie was such a mellow dog in her old age and it has been 15 years since we have had a puppy. That, coupled with BC's busy work schedule and her having a cold this week has made for an interesting experiment in cohabitation.

Work has been pretty good for both of us. BC is working with the folks at the new arena trying to get some furniture in there and I am preparing for my annual pilgrimage to geek fest 2010 AKA GDC in San Francisco. I love attending this conference and this year it looks that Full Sail will be well represented with Graduates and current students. For me it's a great break from the day to day routine and I love San Francisco when I am right down in the heart of Union Square and everything I need is close by.

Last weekend we spent doing a lot of stuff around the house including about 40 bags of leaves from the back yard. Haven't even thought about the front yard yet and I don't believe it will happen this weekend either. Hopefully we will find some time to get out and see Crazy Heart and relax around the house. We had a really active weekend last with a few parties and Super Bowl. We had a great time but are not as accustomed any more to being on the go like we were.

We are pretty settled into the new house and really love it. There are still plenty of things to do and we know we will get around to them eventually. All in all life remains kind to us. We have been getting more involved with our church family at St Stephens and other than some small things we are not supposed to sweat we really can't complain.

It looks like we have have a repeat performance house concert with Otis Gibbs on the 24th of April. Last year we had 30-40 people over to see this great singer songwriter perform in our living room. If you are interested drop me an email.

That's enough for now kids. I hope everyone is well. It has been great seeing everyone on Facebook recently. Keep the pictures coming. BC and Maggie say hello. Peace and Love.

Maggie Nola

2010-02-01T09:20:00.003-05:00

We took the plunge and picked out our new puppy Saturday morning. We knew it was meant to be when we learned she was in Longwood and then found out she and BC share the same birthday. Let me introduce you to Maggie Nola Coble.

We had another great weekend. BC and I want to thank Pastor Nathan and his family for coming over Friday night and blessing our new home. It was an incredible experience we will not soon forget.

Maggie reminds us that we have our work cut out for us. Sleepless nights and lots of whining. She is really sweet and cute though!

Have a great week y'all. Peace and Love.

Daily Buzz Apperance

2010-01-15T11:27:00.001-05:00

Watch live streaming video from thedailybuzz at livestream.com

Sublime Chaos

2010-01-15T07:59:00.003-05:00

This past week has been crazy busy but great. I haven't slowed down since my feet hit the ground Monday morning. I have a few appts. today but will leave around 3 to head home for a well deserved weekend with BC. Sunday we are heading over to Ken and Carries to watch the Cowboy game and meet Bri's new beau. Life is good.

We have begun the search or rather research on a new puppy. It's hard in the sense that we wish we could just clone Karlyle and Sophie. We hope the new Pup to be mellow (yeah, right!) and full of personality. We still really miss Sophie and the worst is coming home to an empty house. Especially being in a new home it has been difficult to establish the routines we grew so accustomed to having lived in the old house for 5 years. The clickety clack of doggie toe nails on the floor always provided a sense of hominess and security that is currently lacking. Let the search begin. We want a female somewhere in the 50-70 lbs range who will mind well and be good around other dogs and kids. For me a Golden is the front runner but we are still trying to figure out our options.

This past week I have been busy promoting Otronicon, a gaming and technology conference that is sponsored by Full Sail each year at the Science Center in Orlando. I am hosting a panel of graduates who work in the industry on Monday night at 6 PM. If you are able please stop by and say hello. This generation of kids are making great livings doing what they love making games. Believe it or not it an industry who pushes out over 12 billion a year in software alone. I love it.

Needless to say I am tired and a little burned out today. Looking forward to a night at home with my wife whom I love and catching up on a few DVR'ed shows. Friday night Pizza night is always a bonus and Monday, it's back to the morning walk routine. The temps have returned to normal for this time of year and it's time to start perking up a bit in the mornings.

Have a great weekend y'all. Peace and Love.

My Central Florida Debut

2010-01-12T12:06:00.001-05:00

Happy 2010

2010-01-04T12:43:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, while at church, we were asked what we look forward to leaving behind in 2009. I could't think of one single thing outside of the global issues of poverty, war etc. From a point of view concerning things that I may have a little control over I couldn't think of one single thing. I guess I am a pretty lucky guy. I have everything I need and then some.

We did have one sad event happen the day after Christmas when we had to say goodbye to Sophie, our loyal canine companion of the past 15 years. She got really sick around the 15th of December and started feeling poorly at a rapid pace that no amount of medicine would cure. The Dr. said her liver was shot and cancer may have played a part. We really miss her but feel fortunate to have her in our lives for 15 years. She was a great dog and although we plan to get another dog in the near future Sophie could never be replaced. I will never meet another dog with such a unique personality and voracious appetite. We knew she was sick when she stopped eating which is the one thing she never had issues with previously.

Other than that Mrs. Lincoln how was the play you ask? Incredible. We are blessed in so many ways. Mom and Chuck spent the holidays with us in our new home. Chuck's daughter Jeri, husband Tom and Daughter Maxine also spent a lot of time with us and of course the rest of the Coble clan as well. We really got to break in the new digs.

Christmas eve service took on a whole new meaning. Belonging, as members, to a church seems to mean a lot more than just popping in now and again. New Years eve we spent again at home with Ken and Carrie and our friends Jim and Christy. It was the first in three or four we actually made it awake to welcome in the new year.

Although without Sophie it is pretty quiet around the house both BC and I couldn't be happier about the new home. We have a way to go before we are totally settled but made some great progress in the first month. It already feels like home and hopefully by Valentines day we will add the sound of four paws clicking on the floors.

I trust everyone had a great holiday? Any great resolutions for the new year? We have had a whirlwind December and have yet to even begin thinking or talking about 2010. I think we will probably travel at least once and maybe spend some time at home fixing it up and tackling the chores we know lie ahead.

It's pretty darn cold in Orlando this week. We have already broken in the new fireplace and plan to do so again tonight. Happy New Year everyone. I hope to see you soon.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T07:29:00.002-05:00

It's been a very busy couple of weeks as we welcome Mom and Chuck and prepare for the holiday. Today we have just a few errands left and we relax until Church tonight at 7.

Sophie is still not herself and we worry about how much longer she will be with us. 15 years is quite a long life for a dog and we have been blessed to have her. I think she will rebound and get back to normal soon.

Tomorrow we host Christmas dinner at our new home and we couldn't be any more excited. Breakfast at Randy and Susan's first.

I hope everyone, this year at Christmas, finds nothing but joy and serenity in their hearts and soul. Count your blessings and try hard to focus what is good with life. All in all we are really blessed and have so much to be thankful for.

All our love, R&B

MOVED

2009-12-09T07:29:00.001-05:00

So tired, so happy. Our new house is wonderful albeit in a state of confusion. We have a lot to do to get it in order but have made good progress in two days time. The movers had it all in in less than a days time. We love the house and can't wait to get rid of all the boxes scattered about. I will post pictures soon. Until then I hope everyone is doing well.

Happy Birthday BC

2009-11-23T08:42:00.003-05:00

A big day ahead. God willing we will close on our home today at three. Same day BC celebrates the day of her birth. Which poses the question, if I buy her a house, do I still need to buy her a birthday present? I think we all know the answer to that question!

Both of us are a bit tired and sore from all of the packing over the weekend. All of the excitement of the Holidays and Andy and Cathy's wedding and all of the out of town guests are building and we have not slept as well as we could. Our house is in a bit of chaos at the moment but we have a great head start on the packing. We hope that Friday December 4th will be the first night we sleep in the new home. Sophie is already a bit freaked out seeing all the boxes scattered about the place and knows something is up. She turns 15 in December and is getting to old for another routine change. It's harder on her than it is on us.

Tonight we head over to Moms to see Al and Darlene and celebrate BC's birthday. See you all on Facebook!

Full Sail Graduates

2009-11-19T15:01:00.002-05:00

Here's a great student video recap from an event we held last August featuring 4 graduates from Full Sail's Game and Computer Animation programs. We had a blast with them on campus. It's so great to see these guys living their dreams and loving life. Thanks guys for coming back and giving back to your Alma mater. Thanks to Henry Hoyas a current Film Student for the great editing job and to the others students who filmed and recorded the two days events.

Approved

2009-11-19T08:06:00.002-05:00

We have been approved for closing and await the specific time and date. originally planned for tomorrow it looks like Monday or Tuesday of next week is more realistic. BC is meeting workers at the house this morning and ordering the flooring etc. They start their work next week and we hope to keep our original move date of sometime around the first week of December.

Thanksgiving is creeping towards us and next week also sees the reuniting in marriage of my Aunt and Uncle Cathy and Andy. Lots of family is coming in for the celebration and we look forward to seeing everyone.

Next week will be hectic but we hope to remember the reason for the season. It's all about Gratitude. We are fortunate to be in a position that causes such chaos. Can't wait to move and enjoy our new home. BC has been working her butt off to make it happen. I am fortunate for her as well. XOXO

Enjoy the holiday y'all. I look forward to seeing so many of you in Orlando.

Rolling Along

2009-11-10T08:54:00.002-05:00

Everything seems to be falling into place. We found out yesterday that our loan has been approved and we are now looking at a closing date of the 20th. I spoke with our contractors this morning and if this does indeed happen they will indeed be able to get started on repairs etc. immediately thereafter. We have been asked to provide a few more documents but our mortgage broker does not see any further delays.

BC has been busy doing what she does best, keeping it all organized and held together. This weekend I start the arduous task of packing all of my CD's and books. It's the hardest part of moving for me. I love having a huge media collection until it's time to move. God Willing this will be the last time, maybe forever? Only God knows whats in store for us. We have lived in our current house longer than any other place since we were kids. We are excited to have our own home again and look forward to getting it fixed up and cozy. It will be a really special holiday again this year.

Work is already slowing a bit but I will be working BTS this Sunday so a short weekend ahead. Have a great week y'all.

Friday

2009-11-06T08:30:00.001-05:00

As usual I am excited for the weekend. Not a lot in store. Party to attend Saturday night and maybe start preparing for the move. Life is good! I feel pretty great these days. I hope everyone has a brilliant weekend.

Holding Pattern

2009-11-04T08:26:00.002-05:00

Allis moving forward in the house mortgage situation. We wait then wait some more. All looks good and we are hopefully targeting a November 24 closing date. After we take the keys we have two weeks of work that needs to be done prior to move in. The goal is to be safely nestled in our new confines in time for Marge to enjoy her new guest room over the Christmas holiday.

Things are well and both BC and I remain busy. It's hard sometimes to concentrate when you have the added excitement and chaos of buying a home. We are really excited to get in and make it our own. BC has been busy with color schemes and carpeting and such. Sophie looks forward to exploring a new big back yard and also making it her own.

The weather here in Orlando has taken a nice and welcomed cool turn and we have again opened the windows at night. Sleeping like babies thanks to the cool breeze entering the house. Hopefully the cool temperatures stick around for awhile.

Not much else happening. Al and Darlene will be here for Thanksgiving. Aunt Cathy remarries Uncle Andy the day before Thanksgiving so it will be a busy holiday filled with lots of guests. We look forward to seeing everyone. Work is slowing down a bit for me but BC keeps on trucking. Mom and Dad just returned from a cruise to Mexico with a bunch of their friends and had a blast.

Hopefully everyone out there is well and happy. We hope to hear from you soon. Peace!

Refreshed

2009-10-26T07:08:00.002-05:00

We finally had a very relaxing, nothing on the schedule type of weekend. Watched a few movies and ran into some old friends at breakfast Sunday morning. It was a well deserved and needed weekend. I even managed to break away from the house for a couple of hours yesterday to watch some football at Ken's house. I feel good today.

Looks like the inspection on our house is tomorrow afternoon. I also need to go to the Social Security office in Orlando do get a copy of my long lost SS card. Let the games and the paperwork begin. We are excited about the possibilities with this new house and pray that all goes well at inspection. There is a lot of work to do but we are hoping we have made the right move for the long term. God willing this is the house we will retire to. Close to the golf course where we hope to take many a morning walk and perhaps I may even dust off the clubs at some point? Lots of mature trees and privacy. The back yard is a bit larger than we hoped but eventually we will make it our own and turn it into a useful and beautiful garden area. We keep telling ourselves that it's a long term project and we don't need to get it all done at once.

EA Graduate Visit

2009-10-21T09:48:00.002-05:00

It took a bit but for those of you wondering what I do M-F here is a quick look at a student video from one of our many presentations that we host on Full Sail Campus. It's a good life. That's all I'm saying!

The Great Leap Forward

2009-10-12T07:39:00.002-05:00

Well, I think we may have bought a house. At the very least we have begun taking the leap forward and now leave it in God's hands. I think both BC and I are a bit fearful of having to make a decision that will impact our lives such as buying a new home.

We have done our research and looked at between 30 and 40 homes so far. The hard part is trying to value homes against each other in different neighborhoods. The neighborhood is the most important thing to us. We want to be safe and live where it is peaceful and serene. The house we chose is smaller than what we have now but in a more desirable neighborhood. It has plenty of room for the two of us and will accommodate over night guests as well. So why the worry? Everyone is chiming in with opinions and although we appreciate and welcome the advice we need to do what we think is the right thing based on our needs and concerns. We want to get in before the tax break goes away and for the last 5 years of renting we have been raked over the coals on taxes. A smaller place will reduce our month to month living costs and since we don't have any additions to the family on the way we don't have to worry about growth. Plus when you add the square footage of the Florida room witch is enclosed but not under air it takes the square footage back to close to where we are now.

Negatives = a little less room. Positives far outweigh the negatives. We feel that if everything pans out the way we hope then it was meant to be. I am excited about this house and the possibilities. We hope to be in over the weekend of Thanksgiving. ^ years ago we weren't in a position to even consider buying a house. We are grateful for our family and friends for all they have done and provided to us over the last few years as we changed direction, moved to Orlando and began a new lifestyle. One that has brought us so much to be grateful for.

So onward we go. Life continues to surprise and offer blessings in so many ways. No one said it would be easy and we try and remember always to let God lead the way.

Needless to say this search has left the rest of our lives pulling up in second place albeit we remain busy. I am looking into a couple of side jobs/projects, we joined a church, we continue to stay busy and we continue to try hard to grow and not let it all overwhelm us. Life is good and so are we. Feel free to remind me of this at any time you see fit!

Been Awhile

2009-10-08T10:18:00.003-05:00

Since becoming involved with Facebook and Twitter I have not update here often as of late. Things have been going well albeit a bit stressful as we continue to search for a new house. We are really close in negotiations with a house in Longwood we like and are looking at another this afternoon. Somethings gonna happen soon here I can feel it. I think we are a bit scared to pull the trigger. Welcome to the real world yeah?

BC and I are both well and keeping busy. She scored a monster order this week and continues to kick some very large buttock at her gig with Storr. I am working on a couple of side projects to keep myself busy and pad the income a bit. I will share more on these soon.

My ears have become restless and I have been listening to a lot of good music again lately. Old stuff too. New Buddy Miller, Cross Canadian Ragweed records have really made a difference lately. I have been having fun crawling through the archives lately as well. BC, Randy and Susan and I went to see Fountains of Wayne a week or two back and had a blast. It was good spending time with my brother enjoying something we both can agree upon.

A ton of great books out there as well. I just finished the brilliant and sure to be top pick of 2009 "Let the Great World Spin" by Colum McCann and start the latest by my favorite Author Nick Hornby "Juliet, Naked" I have a nice stack locked and loaded on my side table and have hit the jackpot of books that have seemed to hold my interest on late.

So there you have it. All caught up? I will keep you posted on developments with the house situation. I hope everyone is well and enjoying life. Be quick and sure to remind me at all times that I have it pretty damn good these days. Something I find I often need reminding of no matter how great things are. Go figure?

Hablamos Pronto Amigos!

Have Fun!

2009-09-28T11:50:00.002-05:00

Last week was crazy, hectic, chaotic and filled with a lot of emotion. Without the craziness that was last week I probably wouldn't appreciate what I have this week! Looks like we may have found a house but are now in a holding pattern. We have our gloves off and are ready to haggle. Bring it. This weekend we become official members of our church St Stephens in Longwood. We had a great day on Saturday with our Pastor. A new TV season has begun and we find we have many shows filling up the Tivo. Christmas is coming which also means that we have many books to read and a whole lot of shopping to do. BC and I are trying to remember to take a few minutes each day to appreciate all the good in the world filled with bad and thank God for all we have to be grateful for. Stop and smell the roses! I hope y'all are doing well. In The meantime enjoy this fun little game.

Online Physics Games

Watching the Wheels

2009-09-17T10:25:00.002-05:00

We continue our home search with no results so far. We have a few promising places to look at this weekend but it's interesting to see just how far people will go to make the web site photos look good. We have looked at a few places that can only be described as trashed and we just cannot understand how someone would let this happen to the single most expensive purchase one is likely to make at any given time. Thankfully we have a great realtor who knows her way around Seminole County.

Mom and Dad got back from their trip to Atlanta and Louisville on Tuesday. Kayla was glad to go home. They had a great trip and I still haven't seen them since they returned. I will head over tonight for a bit. It has been another interesting week for me but I feel like I have been able to work through a few of the things that have been bothering me. In reality the worse thing happening to me today is the fact that I have a dentist appt. this afternoon. I am glad I can afford and have the luxury of being able to have dental health but for some reason it is just one of those things I hate to do, then again is there anyone that really enjoys it?

Have a great week y'all. See you soon.

Stressful Times

2009-09-08T07:30:00.002-05:00

Busy at work, looking at homes and trying to maintain some sense of serenity is at times difficult. I wasted a lot of my long weekend worrying about stuff I have no control over and projecting too far into the future. Conclusion, I take things way too seriously and need to lighten up. Also need to find other things to occupy my mind outside of work. I have always let work dictate my life then grow resentful when things aren't as I wish them to be. I need to start looking at work as what I do to live my life not live my life to work.

We spent a great majority of the weekend looking at houses. We found one we really loved but there are a few things we still need to research and contemplate before we are willing to move forward. It's a great house on a great lot. An unusual layout separates it from the cookie cutters we are trying to avoid and the neighborhood is quiet and serene. Trying to remember to leave it in Gods hands, not get too excited and let him decide if its the right decision. Mom, Dad, Randy and Susan were in Atlanta for a weeding last weekend. Randy and Susan came home yesterday and Mom and Dad went to visit Darlene and Al in Louisville for a few days. The big dog has been staying at out place while they travel. I am glad Mom and Dad are able to get out and travel a bit but we sure do miss them when they are away. I think they are due home sometime by the end of the week.

Tonight we are going back for a second look around this house in Longwood. We will see if more is revealed. Have a good week y'all. Peace!

The Longest Way 1.0

2009-09-02T04:56:00.001-05:00

via vimeo.com

A very cool video and song. Enjoy

Rob Coble

Networking Boot Camp.

The Changing Face of the Game Industry

Rockstars present Read Dead Redemption

Game Grad Rockstars Talk About Red Dead Redemption

Another Vacation Awaits

Networking Advice from Career Development

Stepping Out of Your Shell: Networking for Introverts

Otis and More

It's been awhile

Musings from Jason Swan

El Dia de Presidente

A Rough Week

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Daily Buzz Apperance

Sublime Chaos

My Central Florida Debut

Happy 2010

Merry Christmas

MOVED

Happy Birthday BC

Full Sail Graduates

Approved

Rolling Along

Friday

Holding Pattern

Refreshed

EA Graduate Visit

The Great Leap Forward

Been Awhile

Have Fun!

Watching the Wheels

Stressful Times

The Longest Way 1.0

Beck / Record Club

Free Haircuts - This week Only.

Luckenback Guinness Event 08/23/09

Shades of 68

Monday Monday

Audio Engineers - You will Dig This!

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Long Over Due Update

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Burk Uzzle: Woodstock 40th Anniversary - Laurence Miller Gallery

The Tube - a Night In NYC

Emmy nominations announced

Still Alive and Kicking

Michael Jackson Parody - In Living Color - Am I Black Or White

Selig says All-Star show was 'remarkable' | MLB.com: News

For me, this never gets old.

Another Monday Already?

CEMETERY JUNCTION Teaser Trailer

Hip, Hop ....

Yet Another Cold

Three Day Weekend!

The Feelies Return To Chicago

Jenny Lewis

New Sondre Lerche - "Heartbeat Radio" (Stereogum Premiere) - Stereogum

The World Keeps On Turning

A Sad Day Indeed

When Will it End - Cross Canadian Ragweed

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For BC

Happy Fathers Day

AMI Entertainment Network

Starting Fresh Today

Friday Night - Game 7

WOW! What A Game

Detroit Red Wings - Why to Root for the Red Wings