This article was written by Allie Coyne for ITJourno.com as part of their blog watch feature which takes a look at some of the lesser known Australian tech sites and media outlets. It was originally published on their website on Wednesday 13th July 2011 at 8:00am.
Trent Petronaitis is going it alone. After an unsuccessful foray into fansites with several partners, Petronaitis decided in 2007 to venture off alone, combining his Nintendo and CiNG- focused sites to launch a solo-run general gaming blog.
Starting life as two separate entities; AnotherCodeLabs, a Nintendo fan site; and AussieDS, focused on the Japanese games developer CiNG, Trinest came to life following a drop in both sites’ popularity, and a push by Petronaitis to give his web offering a clear direction.
“I was always changing things, basically doing the wrong thing,” he said. “So I decided I would do something I wanted to do instead of trying to run fansites.”
“It has branched out into a more personal site, where I’m writing about what I want to, rather than what people think I should write about,” he added. “I believe people will be looking for a more personal opinion rather than a commercial opinion.”
Focusing on video games analysis, Petronaitis is keen to stay away from news and reviews, preferring to dissect and analyse how games work, how they appeal to the market, and how they fit within a franchise.
“I used to do game reviews but lately I’m just doing editorial pieces,” he said. “I’d rather write one good review every so often on another site, than have lots of average reviews on my site.”
Despite this unwillingness to post written reviews, Petronaitis has recently launched headfirst into a video review endeavour, posting his first YouTube video and play-through review of Minecraft.
“They’re sort of reviews, but at the same time not really reviews,” he said. “At the moment I’m just putting up raw footage, about half an hour in length, but eventually I’ll edit them down.”
“I record the game screen; most are PC games, so I record them with screen capture software,” he added. “Once I start doing the videos properly and taking my time, and writing up what I’m going to say, they’ll be much more successful than they already are, but I’ve already got a good amount of views from it.”
Although pleased with the YouTube viewer reaction to his first video, traffic isn’t a concern for the blogger.
“The website gets relatively good hits occasionally, and sometimes doesn’t,” he said. “It depends on the articles. I don’t really care about the hits anymore, I do it because I want to, not to please people.”
Having only recently gained control and ownership of the site’s domain name and hosting, Petronaitis’ care-free attitude extends to the site’s profitability. He says he has no future plans to make money from his efforts, and is more concerned with creating a first-person perspective website, as well as growing both his YouTube and editorial offering; branching out into unboxing and review video segments, as well as upping the regularity and ‘professionalism’ of his content.
“It’s not going to be successful in the traditional sense, it’s not going to have large hits, but I believe with what I do it will be successful for how the amount of time I put into it,” he said. “It will always be successful in that regard.”
Lets go back a few years to when I was in High School, like my brother before me- I had the ability to end up using a Personal Digital Assistant, a Pocket PC- a “Smart Phone” with out the Phone. In my final years I decided this was the best- as I had little classes which I had to write stuff in, and to be honest I wasn’t going to use them to turn the TV on and off.
Around the same time, the education system in my state was going to roll out a bunch of Netbooks. Well that’s all well and good, but they where a pile of shit. Avoiding them when I used a computer for my HSC.
My final school years where filled been the tech wizard in a world full of pens and paper. Because of the subjects I have chosen it was much easier to adopt my technology based system too.
The era was when phones where still becoming the hit thing, and no doubt no- they are still shunned and schools. However this is something which should easily be adopted to the current range of phones to enhance education. The ability to use your Android or WP7 as a education tool, instead of a harassment tool. The future is clearly geared up to go that way anyway- however its more geared to rattle itself into priority based laptops and systems which do more damage then good to the technology revolution.
The green idea which removes paper, with technology. The only problem is if it was to be used in any more subjects it would diswarrent the purpose. The way the education system is set up, it couldn’t handle a technology involved system for anything which isn’t related to a computer to begin with.
What I’m suggesting is ditch the laptops, commission some cheap manufacture to make something with an Office suit on it, call it a day and hand them out like candy.
This week I’ve been scrambling to find something to write about for Trinest.com. As you may have noticed its been awhile since I’ve blogged my opinion on something, or discussed the latest game or just plan be annoying.
However looking at my old content while creating a few pages for the site. Most specifically this new page I’m introducing called “Me”. I’ve noticed that its been 7 years since I started making websites. We at least 7 years I can officially count for (I’m pretty sure the date is earlier in the year to be honest, or in December in 2003). However the official date I can get from one of my Geocities aliases is 10th March 2004. Which means 7 years. Yay?
So I just want to take this time and say Happy 7 years. Usually I’d give a post and a rant- but I’m tired- so just read my “web depression” article from a few years ago. That always cheers me up when there is no content to be had.
If you are paying attention to my site, I have to ask- why? But if you are- well then you would notice there is a brand new layout- new articles and much more been put up.
Trinest.com over the past few years has become more and more messy I guess you could say. It’s layouts in 2010 ranged from “pat on the back good” to “are you high on something bad”. In the last few months of the year I had been working on a new style- but for some reason it just never clicked with the site- so I decided to put the project on hold and work on The Chip Behind The Idea.
The Chip Behind The Idea, was a Video Game blog I had for a few months. The short lived adventure was something separate from Trinest.com, mainly because over the years the site has been riddled with horribly written articles and an identity crisis like no other.
That is where this new design comes in, its main goal is to clean up the site and once then start on brand new content. Which will only really start rolling once I get all these older articles up.
The older articles have to go through a process which involves checking to see if they are still relevant, what if at all did they offer at the time- and if it contains out of date information- is it informative to the reader? Lots of content on Trinest.com where in the ranges of Video Game blog posts and “hey I just made a new layout what do you think guys” types of posts.
Most of those posts- I’m ditching, reading them now- they either had resources which I no longer which to host- or they are quite pathetic recantations of something. Last year I did a similar thing which involved cleaning out previous posted posts. Which is happening again- but in a more striker manner. The site is a brand new clean install of word press, and I’m adding as I go what I want and how I want it presented. Once I pick the content, I have to make a header image- you will notice each article contains a header image. This will continue across the site.
The articles will also have to be fitted into the current range of categories. At the time of writing there are; Life, Video Games, Movies, Other, Projects, Downloads. This article is listed as Life- but usually something of its nature would be under Projects- as its detailing the site, what the site achieves etc. But I decided this post is more about me, then it is about the site.
In March 2011, it also marks the 7th year of a live website by me. This year I hope this layout lasts a year- instead of been replaced in 5 seconds, otherwise all this work would really be moot.
If you are wondering as well, at the time of writing I have only re-uploaded from March 2010 Articles. There are also articles within that section which haven’t been uploaded but their content will be reused some how on the site at a later date. For example the “Around the Web” articles, and some design based ones.
A few years ago I decided to dwell in the idea of making one- because I saw it somewhere- while I know it was on Mythbusters for the episode which they did the technique to polish a turd, I’m pretty sure I heard of the technique before then. Anyway a little awhile after the episode aired (November 2008 it seems) I decided to try it out- because who wouldn’t want a shiny mud ball in on their mantal piece.
Well my attempt was a complete disaster. I was with a friend at the time who I tried to convince to do it as well- but wouldn’t because he didn’t want to touch the mud.
Anyway mine was a complete disaster- and while I did get it to the stage the above picture is- I never was able to polish it- instead it crumbled in my hands after awhile- so I gave up and went on to do something else.
If you too want to achieve the same failure! Nows the time to learn about the technique, how it is achieved, and what you can do to it if it does indeed crack and brake for you.
All you need really is mud. Lots and lots of Mud. My suggestion is to dig up your parents garden to make a “Mud Bath” to have ample amounts of mud for this project.
The first thing you want to do is make a sphere which you will want most of the water squeezed out from it. Once you have the sphere, your goal is to continue to “coat” it with dirt.
With the dirt you are adding to the sphere you want to rub it into the ball. If its still not a perfect sphere you will also be using to to “shape” the ball.
Continue to rub the sphere then put it into a plastic bag for the water to disappear, then after a few hours remove it and put some dirt on it again while rubbing it. After awhile it should be polished if not you might want to try some different techniques.
There are a few variations to this main technique- which is based off the one from eHow. Another one which was more along the lines what I used a few years back involved a more “quicker” method which you would continue to rub it like traditionally, but putting it into the freezer in a box or leaving it out in the sun will speed the time required to wait for it dramatically and then you could move onto working on its coat again.
Also if it cracks- there are solutions to fix it. People can slap some mud into the cracks and work it around the ball- once that is done the dirt method and putting it around and around like before will work and just continue from there.
Earlier this week I ordered a new phone. The HTC Mozart is a Windows Phone 7 device. Here are some videos of me explaining the device in various ways. The first video is a quick unboxing and the second is a quick run through of the hardware.
The HTC Mozart is available through Telstra in Australia only, both with a plan ($49) and outright ($850). The device features 8 GB of storage (though its less then that once counting the ROM) and doesn’t contain an external storage addition.
If you wish to learn more about the HTC Mozart or Windows Phone 7 here are some links which you might find helpful.
- HTC Mozart Summery page on HTC.com
- Buy Windows Phone 7 from Telstra
- Windows Phone 7 Official Site
- Windows Phone 7 Wikipedia
- XDA Developers (Unofficial ROM hacking and development group)
When Game Informer Australia was released, I decided to give it a chance, and after reading the first issue I sent along something to the Editor- a shot letter to the editor about the world of PC gaming, and how Steam is kicking it back as one of the players- least sales wise.
So an issue passed and I heard nothing from them, then before the third issue I was told that my letter would be published, and sure enough I subscribed to the magazine and what do you know- it was published.
Game Informer Australia is a clone of the original USA version with a bunch of Australian content. Okay its not a clone, as most of the magazine is written for Australians, and the only things which are copied from the USA version seem to be the cover feature.
It is quite obvious that PC gaming would have died years ago, but services like steam seam to have given it a leg up in the right direction. I doubt many PC gamers would have spent such money during the holidays if it weren’t for such services. It would seem that people are moving more and more to consoles. The Wii is the family console and the 360 and PS3 seem more gunned on taking the PC’s spot as the “hardcore” option. But the annual sales on Steam have kicked a lot of my friends back to the PC. Given this, I think it’s obvious now to what sells and doesn’t sell on the PC, so it seems clear sailing from here instead of a stormy ride.
Buy the magazine in stores now to see the editor Chris said about my letter, as well as read up about L.A Noir the cover’s feature article- and a bunch of other Australian Goodies!
- Game Informer (.com)
- Game Informer AU (.com.au)
- Game Informer Facebook
- Magshop – Subscribe to Game Informer Australia now!
(note: we are not affiliated with Game Informer, Game Informer Australia, there publishers or distributors)
Almost 6 years ago I created my first website, entering my teens I thought it was something cool to occupy myself with. Wow that sure turned into a dirty dirty lie.
I tinkered around from the general page like Homers Web Page to a few days later a website of my interests at my time- for Harvest Moon and the Nintendo DS. I kicked out the moon and let the water flow of random crappy Nintendo DS sites- while the first true original only DS sites- like all from that time that started new disappeared to nothing.
I then brought Another Code Labs onto the scene and it took off as a nesh site- for awhile it was going alright, but my own desire to change the design all the time and ad more themes- oh and change the cms or html style all the time ended it hitting the gutter as well.
Add to that the few general side sites- and the latest atravasty of 5xxt.com, everything I tried to work for disappeared and well, nothing to show for it now.
This year I’ve made a few designs for trinest.com, but really while at the beginning tried to start it up again- ended up it to hitting rock bottom, a depression as they might say to not work on the site- or do anything to the pages it contained. A few times I deleted the site and uploaded it again- wtf did I do that for? I don’t know.
If I was to end now- I wouldn’t hit the 7 year mark, but I would still part of one of the latest generations of Australian video game website designers- but with nothing to show for it in the end- who gives a crap.
When I was young it seemed something fun, oh lets post the latest pictures of some random fucking DS game- oh great a few hits- awesome.
I never cared about hits, I just did it cause I could- but also I wanted to build something up- well that never happened.
I have learned in the end- if you called this an experiment, that yes I can make webpages and I’ve learned lots of stuff along the road. A very very interesting road.
I don’t want it to end now- but I want it to end soon, the lack of interest to keep going with the projects I’ve started, but at the same time an interesting feeling to keep making random new sites- it seems that these days the internet isn’t as interesting as it used to be- I say especially considering I’m “mr. nerd lol” then maybe I used it as an escape? Oh crap I’m babbling- but the point is now days its not as fun, I do my shit, check my emails- order a few things online then piss off and if there’s nothing else to do- go to fucking bed. What a miserable fucking existence.
I’ve dipped around and made some random blog posts of personal experiences in the past life- made a fool of myself on youtube with my shitty reviews, and in all ends developed my English skills from a bottom in the year to 4th place- fucking yay….oh wait 4th last I meant- my English she’s not good.
I’ve wanted to do other projects- I started them yes, but interest faded soon after and now I just don’t give a shit anymore.