FInally....

SpacePuzzle Trailer

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.

Here is a short preview of the game,
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/video/video.php?v=10150159022801796

and now... SpacePuzzle!

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!

No to The Monotonous life...

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....

Reviews

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.

---Sandeep Pareek
(http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7884680-exotic-engineer-entrepreneur)

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.

--Girish
(through Orkut)

A complete paradigm shift

"I think I should start building watch towers right from the Dark Age and by the time I get into castle age, I can keep an eye on the enemy", I thought thinking of strategies to prevent the enemy from building Barracks right at my door step as it happened the day before.
Trrrriiinnnggg... the bell rang and the invigilator started handing over quesion papers. Age of Empires, a game by Microsoft, swept my B.Tech College boys hostel and I had been playing it the day before after finishing studying for the exam. I glanced over the question paper and started sweating. I had no clue about one two mark question and one five mark question, the rest I could answer quite well. That is seven marks gone out of hundred, eight more marks and I could bid farewell to S grade, the outstanding grade. Cursing Age of Empires, I started answering.
Three hours later, "How did you do?", "Phod diya kya?" kinda questions were floating around.
"Not very good. Seven marks straight in the bin", I answered
"That is ok, you can still get S", consoled my friend.
With no mood to have lunch, I went straight to my room to find out the answers to the questions I did not attempt and resolving to delete that wretched game.
I never knew what M.Tech would do to me.

I choose a place close to my friends, far from the inviligator. We were all fully armed. The innocent Professor allowed a cheat sheet - one sided A4 page. Naveen SSM squeezed around 40 slides in that one page - the entire syllabus. The invigilator looked at her watch and started distributing questions papers, the good old bell was missing. A lot of other things were missing - no bell to tell the time, no open windows, no streaming sunlight, no fresh air, no wooden benches, no anything which would suggest it was a room for humans not robots. The room was fully closed, airconditioned and computerized, the kind of room which makes me feel highly claustrophobic. I looked out of the window, the weather was awesome, just about to rain but not raining.
"Here", said a rough female voice snapping me out of my day dream.
Resisting the urge to run out for breath, I looked at the question paper and felt elated.
"How did it go?", asked a friend an hour later when I got out of the examination hall, also being the first person to get out.
"Better than I had expected. I could attempt twenty marks out of fifty. Guess I can manage a C grade now", I said happily walking towards the canteen for a cup of coffee to celebrate!

Earphones and a Box of Chocolates

“You guys from Andhra Pradesh think life is like a movie”, one of my friend always taunts me.

I try to argue that it is actually the other way round, movies and novels are inspired by incidents in real life.
“Come on, you think all the script writers are so imaginative to conceive an entire plot on their own ?”, I keep asking but all I get is a silence and strong disapproval. A week back, I think I proved myself beyond doubt.

My Apple earphones choose the week before Diwali to stop working properly. At high volumes, the right earphone was producing a buzzing noise. Since I was aware that my ear is full of earwax, I asked one of my friend to test it. When he confirmed the presence of the buzz interrupting the music, I headed straight to forum to get it replaced; it had one year warranty.

“This is the second time I am facing this problem, what the hell is wrong with Apple earphones?”, I asked the service guy.

“Yes sir, there seem to be a problem with the apple ear phones. Today morning, a customer got his replaced for the fourth time”, he said causing my eyebrows to raise in surprise, I was under the impression that my rough usage was the reason or maybe everyone uses it roughly to get them replaced; Apple has the habit of making everything white which get soiled easily and a pure white replacement is lucrative; previously I got my white-turned-brown-earphones earphones having a similar problem replaced with pure white ones so this time I was not pissed off, in fact I was looking forward to lay my hands on ones.

“They will be ready in two working days, Sir”, he said handing me the Material Acceptance Form. I nodded and left the showroom.

Two working days later, which was actually 4 days because of the weekend, I walked in the showroom producing the form. After 10 minutes I was informed that the stock did not arrive yet.

“Please give us two more days, Sir”, said the service guy.

I was angry but because it was festive season, did not show it, it was the week of Diwali. I quietly left the showroom.

Two days later I was back with the form. I was made to wait 20 minutes and then,

“We are sorry sir. Apple had sent In-Ear earphones by mistake. We need three more days to send it back to Apple and get the correct piece”, said the service guy cautiously thinking that I might explode.

“It is ok. I will take them”, I said controlling my anger.

“Sorry sir but they cost Rs4000. We need to send them back”, he said.

With my fist clenched, I grabbed the form and left the show room. The moment I walked out of Forum, I had another idea. I ran back,

“Can I have a look at them?”, I asked.

“Sure Sir”, he said and came out with a pack of sparkling white earphones packed attractively in a white triangular case with a transparent lid. The earphones and the packing had Apple written all over it, I mean only Apple can make things so attractive. I immediately fell in love.

“I will pay the price difference and take it”, I said.

“Sorry Sir, that is not an option”, I was informed.

Highly disappointed, I left. The thought of purchasing them for Rs4000 was pulling me back.

“This is the time to listen to your mind not your heart”, I told myself and forced myself on a bus back.

Three days later, I called the showroom.

“They are not yet ready Sir”, I was informed.

I cut the call without another word. I could find no words to express my frustration. I sat in front of my laptop and composed a mail.

From: G Jayanth

To: Imagine

Subject: Horribe service

Hi,

I am utterly disappointed with the service provided at Imagine, forum. The iTouch earphones which I had given for replacement on 28th Oct, 2010 are not yet replaced. I was patient last week because it was festive season but asking me to wait till next Saturday is too much.
There was a mistake when Apple had sent the wrong earphone and I was prepared to pay the price difference and collect the In-Ear earphones but was declined and was
assured that I would get the correct ones on Tuesday (i.e yesterday).

In this competitive world, this kind of service is totally unacceptable and is very bad for Imagine too. I have already transferred my loyalty to Reliance. Collecting my replaced ear phones will be my last transaction with Imagine.

MAF: 10622

Regards,
Jayanth
(Author of Exotic Engineer Entrepreneur)

 

Within two hours, I got a call.

“Sir, your earphones are ready. Will you collect them today?”, asked a pleasant female voice.

“I will try to but am not sure if I can”, I said.

I was busy the whole day and couldn't go. The next day, I again got a call.

“Sir, I am calling from Imagine. Will you come today to collect your ear phones”, asked a male voice.

“I really am not sure. My schedule these days is a bit hectic”, I said importantly.

“Would you like us to courier it to your address?”, he asked.

“No. I will come sometime”, I said marveling at the impact the mail had.

Was it because of the signature? I have no idea.

The next day I got another call asking me the same. I politely declined wondering what was wrong.

It was the next day I had the chance to go. I had no idea I would be treated to a wonderful surprise.

I handed over the Material Acceptance Form and stood waiting as usual.

“Sir, you can have these. You do not need to pay anything extra”, said a guy dressed up in white coveralls and handed me the earphones I fell in love with.

I was speechless. I took it from his hand and could not take my eyes off it.

“Sir, here is a small token of apology from our side”, said the guy handing me a box to swiss chocolates.

I had the sudden impulse to burst out laughing but controlled myself. Instead, I put a whether-to-accept-or-nor face and just stood silently.

“Jayanth, take it”, both my mind and heart were screaming.

I took it.

“I hope you will visit us anytime you need something”, he said apologetically.

I had neither resources nor plans to buy anything from Apple but,

“Hmmm.. ok sure”, I said and took the box of chocolates. All I wanted to do was to get out of the store and laugh to my heart's content!

But there were formalities to be completed.

After giving them a rather dissatisfied kind of feedback and assuring them that next time I would rate them better, I literally ran out of the store and, out of amazement, elation, burst out laughing.

So people, remember customer is the King, one of the most important advantage a common man has in this competitive world! Use it wisely :-).

When God conspires....

The world is changing. Those who cannot keep pace will fade away and soon be forgotten. This was what happened to the canteen of IIIT Bangalore, loyal but nameless, the caterers were stuck up with biscuits and coffee. 13^th November, 2010 was their last day in the campus. They were replaced with caterers who could provide Butter Dosa.

But Deepthi Karnam, the most enthusiastic girl in IIIT Bangalore, decided that even if we would forget them they should not forget us. She made this possible with two bottles of Soft Drinks, a box of Cadbury celebrations, Haldiram Son-papdi and a bunch of her friends. We gave a tiny farewell to the dismissed four member staff on their last eve in the college campus. They were surprised and really happy. One of the staff happened to be from Kerala and talking with him brought back memories of my Kerala trip.

The trip which taught me that how much ever you plan there is just no use because chaos is a part of our life, the world and the universe.Divine intervention could disrupt even the best laid plans.

It was the first trip I ever organized and took great pains in planning everything down to the last detail. Mom, sis and me would travel from Chennai to Ernakulum where a taxi would be waiting for us. We would have breakfast and head towards Munnar to spend two days in the most beautiful part of the country. Then a day in Thekkady, where we would go shopping for spices in the afternoon. Mom would then rest in the hotel; me and sis would go on a night safari, by walk. The next night, we would spend in a house boat. Kerala, God's own country! But God tried everything to keep us off his lands.

“Where the hell is my wallet?”, I muttered looking around. I was sure I kept it in my pocket. After half a day of frantic searching, I had to admit defeat. It was lost. I was crippled. ATM cards, driving license, PAN card – all lost. It would take at least a month for me to apply and get all the cards back.

“Oh my God! I lost my driving license”, I shouted.

“I know. Apply for it. You will get the duplicate in a month”, said Mom.

“We are going to Kerala in five days. The ticket without my license is invalid”, I said sitting slumped.

Those who are familiar with the old IRCTC rules will know that the only way out was to cancel my ticket and make Mom the Master passenger with her PhotoID and that was what I did. I booked myself on a bus since the train was overflowing.

Two days before the trip, God turned his wrath on Keerthi, my sister.

“Jayanth, Abdul Kalam is coming and SASTRA has sealed itself. No one can take leave. All permissions to go home stand cancelled”, she wailed.

After half an hour of discussion, we decided that the best way out was for her to come directly from Thanjavur a day later. A dent in the best laid plans. Mom and me had to wait for Keerthi in Ernakulam on the first day and spend a day less in Munnar. I was dejected. Munnar was the place I wanted to visit the most. Also, we were split up. Instead of happily going together, I was going in a bus, mom and sis in two different trains on two different days!

It was the day of the journey. Mom didn't have a mobile phone so I gave her mine and headed towards the bus stand to catch the afternoon bus. Mom would catch a train that evening.

“Jayanth, Jayanth”, I heard Mom's voice in the bus stand. Perplexed, I turned around and saw her hurrying towards me.

“What are you doing in the bus stand”, I shouted.

“I was cleaning the house and tore the train ticket”, she said handing me shreds of her evening train ticket.

I was speechless for a moment and then burst out laughing. God has his style. Fifteen minutes were left for the bus to leave. I told Mom to somehow delay the bus if I was late and rushed towards the nearest Internet cafe to take another printout.

The trip was fun. Night Safari on foot, Speed Boat, Rowing Boat, Elephant Ride, Bugs Bunny Carrots, Echo Point we had nothing to complain. But God was not done with us yet.

We were going to Allepey for the Houseboat and were almost there when my phone rang.

“Sir, we are calling from Hotel Mountain View, we found a purse in your room”, said a male voice.

I turned around and relayed he information to mom and sis hoping against hope it was not ours.

“It has a five hundred rupee note and a PAN card. G Keerthi is the name”, he continued

I cursed.

“Oh shit! I am not able to find my purse”, said my dear sis from the back seat.

“That is because it is around 200kms away”, I told her through clenched teeth.

I requested the Hotel to courier it to our address.

“Ok Jayanth, calm down. Even you lost your purse. Don't be angry”, I calmed myself down.

“Jayanth, my return train ticket. The PAN is my photoID”, she said in a low voice.

“WHAT!”, I shouted turning to face her. She was close to tears.

“Its ok. I am an expert at handling these things now. Lets just enjoy the houseboat now”, I consoled her.

Luckily that was the last thunderbolt God had in His arsenal.

We got back home safely and I fell into my usual routine of sitting in my cubicle dumbly staring at the computer screen feeling envious of the taxi driver who took us around.