The update to Last Cannon has finally been approved (30+ days)! If you've already purchased the game, simple update from the App Store. If you haven't, check it out! Here's what's new in 1.2:

• global leaderboards
• touch control
• smoother control
• invert tilt option
• change settings in-game
• graphics/sounds/interface enhancements

Game #2 is about 95% complete. We had a great usability testing session (party) last week and it went well - a room full of laughter. Took a bunch of notes, making some last minute changes and will give it another round of testing, then it's off to the App Store.

In other news I'm just about wrapping up my first beanie. Pictures to follow...

Go see Moon. It's a breath of fresh air, a clever story, a lonely and wonderful experience, and a homage to your sci-fi favorites. It's not perfect, but it walks the line between very good and great. Some aspects of the plot are surprising and this is perhaps the best part... I kept waiting for what I expected to happen, and it kept not happening. I've said before, my favorite films are the ones that actually tell me a story, that tell me what happened, not how something happened that I'm already expecting.

Dredg's new album is out: The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion. I've been listening to it and although I'm really enjoying (parts of) it, I'm starting to believe that they'd have a much better sound with a different singer. It pains me to say that as Dredg's music was the soundtrack for many fond memories (mostly college), but I think the musicians have outgrown the vocals. I love the music and like the vocals; that about sums it up.

Pixar's Up tugged at the heartstrings. It's a beautiful yet subdued film, and definitely more mature in subject matter than their previous lineup. It was hard to hold back tears during the introduction, and I swear every time Carl pulled out his wife's journal, I couldn't handle it. Up isn't a visual tour-de-force... it felt more like a regular cartoon film, and I mean this in a positive way. The visuals take a back seat to a slow, relaxed and endearing story. If you're a romantic, you'll most likely enjoy it.

I'm in a basketball league, and we're getting worked. I mean, worked. It's fun to be out there, and I can actually say this and mean it literally: we're way out of our league. There are brief moments of brilliance though, and it almost makes it all worth it.

Probably one of the greatest things I came across the last couple of weeks is the official blog for Maru. I couldn't get enough of the YouTube videos, and lo and behold - a continuously updated journal chronicling the adventures of the greatest cat! Next time I'm in Japan, I hope to meet Maru, but for now the blog will do. Enjoy quality photos and vids! It can't be long before I get a cat...

Moving on to other Tokyo-related matters, here's a nice tilt-shift video of said metropolis. You know my obsession with tilt-shift photos and videos (and Tokyo), so this is a delight.

Obligatory science section:

• Stem Cell Contacts Cure Blindness
• Learning from the Gecko's Tail
• Mistaken Expectations

And finally, the Lakers. Are. The. Best. High five, take a breather, let's do it again next year!

Again! Time to finish the job.

In the meantime, enjoy the new puppet commercial:

amazing photo by Capital M

Nine Inch Nails live = amazing. This is their last tour, and I could have done without Jane's Addiction, but it was worth it since NIN opened. Trent's energy is admirable - it seems as if he's giving NIN one last ultimo hurrah, though I'm sure we can expect some new and different music from him when this is all over.

Team ICO's new game has a trailer and it looks full of heart, imagination, and unbelievableness. Enjoy the clip above... we're all in for a treat, I'm sure.

I love writing code, but these guys take the cake. If you're interested in what it takes to write almost 100% fail-proof, mission-critical software, read this article about the development team at NASA.

Speaking of code, Last Cannon has a very positive reception in the iPhone community so far, and I'm super grateful and excited. The number of downloads so far impresses and flatters me! There's a bunch of great reviews, suggestions and feedback (all of which I'm noting for future updates). My favorite bit so far is a video review in German. I have no idea what he's saying, but it makes me happy anyway. Check out all the links below to some discussions across the net.

• German video review
• TouchArcade review
• TouchArcade forum discussion
• Appversity review
• Josh Spear review
• Greek forum review
• Last Cannon tweets

The best part is receiving all the positive emails from the international community. Making a game is a fun way to connect with the world, and just makes me want to develop more. That said, Last Cannon 1.2 is on it's way to the App Store (just awaiting approval) and it'll bring with these changes of goodness:

• global leaderboards
• touch control
• smoother control
• invert tilt option
• change settings in-game
• graphics/sounds/interface enhancements

Not only that, but I've been hard at work on a new game! It's as different from Last Cannon as you can get, and more of a party game. All I can reveal right now is that it WILL make you laugh out loud.

Memorial Day weekend seemed to land at just the right time. We played plenty of basketball, had plenty of barbeque, waded in the pool, and watched the Lakers lose. Which sucked. But they came back with a vengeance last night, which didn't suck. Can't say the same for the Cavs - their backs are against the wall, but they aren't done yet. At least this series has spawned some of my favorite commercials ever. I can't say enough how much I love anything puppet-related, so these bring me joy. The more I watch them, the more I pick up little subtleties in their mannerisms and dialogue that is so funny:

• Kobe & Lebron (Chalk)
• Kobe & Lebron (Three Rings)
• Kobe & Lebron (Unstoppable)
• Kobe & Lebron (Mrs. Lewis)

My work has paid off and Apple approved "Last Cannon" for the App Store. Thanks to all my friends who tested the game and gave me feedback, suggestions, and motivation! If you have an iPhone/iPod Touch (or know people with one), help me out and spread the word! Also, if you know any blogs/review sites that might be interested in checking it out, I'm happy to give them a promocode to use, just let me know. I'm indebted to you all...

Thanks to Ricardo Quesada and other contributors for their wonderful work on the Cocos2d library, abstracting OpenGL madness for more simple creation of 2D games.

Feedback on some online forums seems positive so far, people are diggin' it. Also go Lakers!