Potential Idea For Wet Surfaces

This is completely untested, since I have little to no experience with graphic programming. The idea is that you can take a texture with a normal and specular map and modify it so that it appears as though a surface is wet (either all across it or only in certain parts) by modifying the normal and specular. One could then apply a colored texture to it, and the specular would make it shiny, whist the normal change would make it appear to actually be on the surface, rather than completely flat. With some fancy calculations this could potentially have a flowing effect, or drying off effect, such as when a character walks out of a pool onto the ground, it would leave footprints that would dry away. In the context of horror games, it could potentially be used for blood effects.

Trying out blogging.

I figured I try out this whole blogging deal, more of a way for me to clarify my thoughts than for others to read. I'm not sure how long it will last, or what it will have on it. If I like it then it may go on for a long time, or I may have sudden spurts of blogging followed by months of silence. Also the title is just a placeholder until I determine what the blog is about, as of right now I have no idea what I will be compelled to write about.

But enough about me and my blog, here is some actual content for it. Recently I've been stuck with a lack of motivation to program. (I program tools for the game Driver: You Are The Wheelman.) During which I usually browse the internet aimlessly, but I've been coming across some interesting stuff for motivating me. One is the blog for Frictional Games. Looking through it there is a lot of good insight into what the purpose of games are, and what direction gaming is headed in along with how Frictional Games makes their games. It's a lot more interesting than I can describe (if you like such discussions), so look around and see for yourself. One other thing I found was a video by Stephen Fry, called What I Wish I'd Known at 18. It's long, but was worth watching.

Perhaps one day this blog will find a purpose and become more refined, but for today it's just some ramblings of mine.