Bio

I was born in the south west of Sydney, Australia and continue to live there to this day. I was school captain of my primary school, where I also undertook various extra curricular activities, and later graduated and recieved my Higher School Certificate in 2001.

I have just completed a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology at the University of Technology Sydney, sub-majoring in Computer Graphics. University was an interesting few years to be sure, but it wasn't until I started on my graphics subjects, that I truly enjoyed university and performed exceedingly well. Throughout my entire university career I was always pondering what I would like to do upon completion of my course, and after completing my degree, I can definitely say, anything at all related to graphics is the thing for me. There's just something about creating something out of nothing and showing it to the world that appeals to me.

In 1992, I joined the Australian Hwa Rang Do Academy, and I have been there ever since. I am currently a 3rd Dan Black Belt, a member of the demonstration team (since 2000), and just recently webmaster of their site. Hwa Rang Do is an interesting martial art and I find it constantly challenging, and it also keeps my heart beating, which is always a good thing.

I have always been interested in films and filmmaking. From an early age I was watching action movies like Rambo and Aliens, but in the past few years, my viewing habits have strayed away from action blockbusters, and steered towards strong character drama films. Films such as The Shawshank Redemption, La Vita e Bella (Life is Beautiful) and The Green Mile. But personally, to me, no film ever made come's close to Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. This simple story about a village hiring seven samurai to protect their village against marauding bandits is pure cinematic brilliance. For a movie made in 1954, it is well ahead of its time, with the best and most thought out characters ever created. Although it runs for about three and a half hours, I never seem to tire of it.

Ever since I can remember I have been playing computer games. From early classic favourites on the Commodore 64, like The Last Ninja and Barbarian and International Karate +, to the modern masterpieces like the Doom and WarCraft series. Games have always interested me and I think will continue to do so. What I have noticed in the past few years though is a massive shift towards games as the next big entertainment medium. Whether this is for the best, I can't say. Yes, there will be plenty of high-budget titles utilising the latest in graphics and computer technology, but there also be many more dud titles coming out. To me, the most important thing is gameplay. Graphics is always secondary. Yes, graphics can enhance the gameplay experience, but gameplay will always be the deciding factor whether a game will be successful in the long term or not.

I also enjoy reading a variety of books, from timeless classics like The Lord of the Rings, and Dune, to ancient texts such as Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey. I also have a fascination with ancient Rome and particularly Julius Caesar.

One of the biggest influences in my life is music. During my schooling years I was interested in regular pop and R & B, but over the past few years I have discovered a new found love for progressive/power metal, a relatively unknown style of music that incorporates brilliant melodies and wondrous lyrics. Some examples of bands I listen to are Blind Guardian, Kamelot, Rhapsody, Sonata Arctica, and Dream Theater.