The great battle has come to an end and The Earth forces emerged victorious. Our SpaceShips are all set to return home. But the journey through deep space is treacherous. Pilots are exhausted and the ships are out of ammunition. They need guidance. "Major, you have been assigned to bring them back safely. Blast the asteroids and use shields against lasers or simply dodge them, the choice is yours. But our boys must be brought back."
For those who are wondering what all this is, it is my first iPhone game - "SpacePuzzle - End of the Great Battle". It is an action game and a puzzle rolled into one.
It is the first episode in a saga to be followed by "SpacePuzzle - The Sentinel Attack".
It was my M.Tech final project for Computer Graphics in which I got a 'C' grade. This game got me a 'C', otherwise I would have got a 'D' or maybe even an 'F' for I hardly attended classes, submitted all assignments late and scored the least in the Mid Term paper. I still remember the last class of the semester and the first rain of the season. The moment I entered the class (I took the pain to attend because it was the last class), our Prof. Jaya remarked, "Now I know why it is raining"., after a moment's speechlessness.
Anyway, after five months, the game is finally ready to go into the app store (I hope). Need to give a few final touches.
Finding the right girl to spend my life with and deciding what to do for a living, for the rest of my life are the two most important questions I am struggling to find answers to. Sigh! I decided to outsource the first task to my parents. They seem to be very well connected to accomplish it properly without me interfering. But the second task, I am still struggling. If I outsource it to some IT company, it would be my doom!
A year back, when I published my first novel, I decided to be an author. My friends told me I have undergone a complete shift in paradigm. I gave up coding entirely. When I thought things couldn’t get worse, I started this cycle thing. As if cycling hundreds of kilometers was not enough, I started collecting used cycles from those willing to donate in an attempt to rent them out. But the work involved was too much and the returns too less. Just when I thought I should go back to writing another book, it was the time to choose electives. I started searching for some course which will leave me free and I was suggested to take computer graphics by my well wishers.
The first one month I paid no attention in the class. It was just another stupid programming library that would torture young minds. But the first mini project had a drastic effect on me. OpenGL swept me off my feet. The mystery behind state-of-art games like Need For Speed, Halo etc started unraveling. I decided to create one. A game which does not require hundreds of people working on it forever but something which an individual could code and which would catch the eye. I was inspired by Trainyard, an iphone game and decided to create SpacePuzzle on similar lines. It took me two months to create a linux version, a windows version and an iPhone version. But I guess I would need around 6 more months to complete the final touches. That’s the irony as I realized when I wrote my first book too. Final touches are the most crucial and time consuming part of any product being developed to be published/released!
So well, hoping to get this into the iStore in 6 months time IF, and that is a big IF, my interests do not change overtime!
Life in an IT company becomes monotonous. The bigger the company, the more monotonous it will be. Having worked at Microsoft, HCL and now ABB, I guess I am justified in saying so. At Microsoft, everything was ready the day I joined as an intern. I had my cubicle setup with LandLine, IP Phone and Desktop. Even a pair of brand new headphones were kept beside the keyboard and the cubicle was tagged with the name "Jayanth Gurijala".
HCL, smaller than Microsoft and was also less efficient. It took a week for my Desktop to be ready, four of us shared a LandLine and I had to get my personal headphones to keep myself awake.
ABB, India, smaller than HCL, is a total mess! Life is least monotonous here. Employees share PCs, carry heavy CPU's around and assemble them, pull ethernet cables to connect to net, borrow hubs and switches and fight for keyboard and mice. Even after two weeks here, I am still a nomad. I roam around carrying a mouse searching for a place to sit. And what more, if I lift my head i can see three doors. The leftmost is the Men's toilet, rightmost is the women's toilet and the middle one is for the handicapped. Except for the middle door, the other two are always in action. I cannot even try to sleep because the doors keep banging open-close-open-close bah!
So having nothing to do than keeping a tab on who uses the restroom the most number of times in an hour, I started googling. "Exotic Engineer Entrepreneur", I typed and for the first time went on till the 14th page! AAnnd....
Exotic Engineer Entrepreneur, is something timely & needed at this time of recession,inspiring youngster,. nothing easy hard work pays!!!
book is beyond expectation lovely sweet. grammer is not a barrier for something from heart... expecting more from u!!!! i have given this book to many & got great response!!
-----keshav
(review through mail)
Three days back I read Exotic Engineer Entrepreneur by Jayanth Gurijala novel. December 2009, this novel has been released by Rainbow Publishers.
Though he is naïve to story telling, however the way he narrated and rhapsodized story in this book is awesome. This novel based on real life incidents. This novel is debut for him. Please don’t miss to read this novel.
----Sekar
(review through mail)
Hi Jayanth... its really cute book... I got my book from flipkart today afternoon, started reading it after lunch and came back to this world only after completing the book. My status msg says it all.
I hope you will continue the good work. All the Best
---Krishna (through facebook messages)
I just finished reading the book. It's absolutely fantastic. Being a software engineer in a well paying but monotonous IT position, I could fully relate with the character. I myself have been thinking for quite some time of starting up something of my own making a meaningful contribution to the society but haven't been able to gather the courage to quit my job. The book not only entertained me thoroughly but has provided me with the much needed inspiration and motivation and that too when I needed it the most. Thanks a lot!
----Hitesh
(comment in my blog )
Its a pleasure to read EEE!!!
I found my character in it. The love story is awesome, and the fundas to impress the girl are realistic. I am still in the midle of it(Reading the novel).
Nice thoughts about the life. Simple and straight forward...
And yes I met you at Symbiosis, Pune campus at Hinjewadi location. If you remember your friend took one snap while I was taking the book and mug from you. If by chance you have that snap I will be delighted to have it with me and to show it to my colleagues in the Company. And also that will me a good memory for me.
---Sagar Katte
(through mail)
Not going to sleep until I finish the book "Exotic Engineer Entrepreneur"
Author should have left out the Epilogue. It really felt nostalgic. Good book.
4 out of 5 stars to Exotic Engineer Entrepreneur by Jayanth Gurijala.
---Jeyaganesh T S
http://bit.ly/aj8ePv
Ravi says, "Hey Jayanth,
I somehow saw ur book yesterday at Sapna and brought home thinking some one wants to bcom another Chetan bhagat.
I finished the whole book in one shot generally iam a bad reader. Lovely & smooth writing .... great one :) keep writing.".
---Ravi Chandran
(through facebook)
To the most percentage of people who pass out from college join a company irrespective of the field they master in, they end up disappointed with the type of work they are given.98.9% of my friends agree to that. An expensive step to think beyond their sight is beautifully portrayed by the writer. Its just a small needs and ideas that can create sparks to enlighten life.Just the belief in your self keeps you going. A beautiful message through the story.
The first spell from the book took time to catch up fire but as it moves through the story, it drives the reader without breaks till then end.
As on whole, Wonderful(specially from a software engineers perspective - real parts of life)
As on english,Few mistakes neglected.Still as an entry by authoring it, you were remarkable.Have the style of indian authors.
Unexpectedly I got a book in my hand starting with three consecutive 'E's, by name 'Exotic Engineer Entrepreneur. I read it completely within 24 hrs and I say its a great book :) And I need that Coffee Mug from you, Specially Autographed. I am unable to come to Bangalore, but can you tell me how can I get it? I can pay you double for that . All the best for your future projects.
. All the best for your future projects. 
