My Website | Improvement Required

Hey guys, it’s Mark here, and welcome back to my blog!

Today, it’s all about the website. “What website?” I hear you cry. Well for just about a year now I have actually had a website. It has changed in small amounts since its first version was uploaded, but now it needs a huge revamp. I did want to throw this is with my last blog post, but I then thought that would make that post waaaaaaaaay too long, and besides this is worthy of its own post.

For all those currently interested in checking out my website, click right here. All feedback is once again welcomed, and will be applied to the new version I shall be working on over the next couple of weeks. Plus, anyone feeling nosey or curious can even check out some of my university work via the blogs page (if you’re reading this after the update then hopefully you can find the new blogs page). There is also a link to my channel, and in the future there will be links to every single piece of social media that I could possibly sign up to (is there such a thing as too much?) All of this is designed with you, the audience, in mind. I want it to be as easy as possible for you guys to get in touch with any questions, ideas, applications or even just general discussions. I have considered the idea of adding a forum to the website, but I feel this will too much to manage on my own right now but the idea is definitely on the future plan pile, and as soon as it becomes viable it will of course be added to the site. Once again any ideas or suggestions, or even designs will be appreciated; as there is only so much I can produce working on my own!

It’s a short post today guys, but I believe this to be one of the most important posts I have written in my so far short media career. This website will be the hub of everything I intend on doing, my way of communicating with everyone and everything associated with M4J3FFR135, therefore I want it to be as well made as possible, so do bear with me if it does take longer than intended to go live.

But once again guys, I must thank you for reading; and until next time I will see you soon!

2016 | The Summer of Progress

Hey guys, it’s Mark here, and welcome to my latest blog!

It feels like an eternity since I last wrote a social blog. University requires me to write a lot of development blogs, some of which I may make public in the near future, and so my time to write for this blog has been limited. But it’s good news, I passed my first year back at university! For those of you who have read my first ‘Diary of a Student’ entry, you’ll understand the whole story with me and university. It’s not always been my friend, so to pass this year is a huge step in the right direction for me, and I am immensely proud of myself for deciding to go back as well as for sticking with it until the end of the year. My grades aren’t too bad (three third class and a 2:1) but of course there’s room for improvement, as I shall be doing over the next 2/3 years.

But this post isn’t about university; that was just a quick update on what’s been happening. As the title suggests, this post is actually all about this coming summer. Going back to university was all about enhancing my skills to improve both myself and my work. That is what I plan on implementing over the next few months, devoting as much time as possible towards improving the channel, as well as introducing all new and exciting projects and features. This process has already started, fans of my M4J3FFR135 Network series have already given really positive feedback on the new thumbnails, and as new and existing series are uploaded they will be accompanied by their own custom thumbnails. That takes the highest priority in my plans, making my videos look as professional as possible when found on YouTube. Just by adding those thumbnails, my viewership soared, and I don’t believe that’s just a coincidence. Along with thumbnails, I am also debating the idea of intros for each series. This is just a speculation right now, as many YouTubers I watch don’t actually use intros, so it might be a bad idea for me to create some. However I am wanting to create some themed outros, to go alongside my existing (but overused!) outro.

Those ideas are to polish up existing videos, and to help reintroduce old series back to the M4J3FFR135 schedule. The next item on my improvements is a new logo. My current logo I am still very proud of. It was made in less than 15 minutes on MS Paint, just before my first uploads went live. It has had very subtle tweaks since then, but on the whole has remained the same for nearly three years now. I think it could do with an update, don’t you? The plan is to use Photoshop to create a newer version, sticking to the original design but making it look nicer. The colours of course will remain, they are my colours after all! The reason I am telling you this is because I haven’t yet 100% decided if I should be the one making my logos, or even my thumbnails. I am asking you guys, my audience, if you would be interested in creating logos and thumbnails for the M4J3FFR135 channel. All designs will be fully credited, and the ones chosen will appear on my channel from the first upload onwards. I look to you guys as I know my design skills can be limiting at times, so this gives me the perfect opportunity to be amazed by real artists at work.

So that’s thumbnails and logos out of the way, let’s talk trailers. My channel trailer is nearly as old as the channel, and pretty much all of the series shown on there are no longer being created. I think it’s time for an update. The plan is to show the current uploads – which will be OpenTTD, Cities Skylines and Fallout 4 – as well as tease upcoming ideas and projects without giving too much away. The trailer will be constantly updated as ideas are added and removed so that you guys will always know what to look out for. After reviewing my channel for a long time, the only real stand out problem that urgently needs addressing is the trailer, so expect that to be changing in the next few days.

Lastly, I just want to throw around some ideas for upcoming projects, mostly to gain feedback and possibly even recruit people to help make them become a reality. The first is Minecraft. Viewers of ‘The City’ might be wondering where the videos are, sadly my PC began to experience problems with recording Minecraft. The framerate dropped alarmingly, basically turning the videos into a slideshow. The entire world needs to be moved to a server in the near future to avoid this happening in the long term, but for now the series is on hold. Progress is still being made off camera, with many exciting new additions to the world and even more planned. One area where I am looking to recruit people is in Minecraft, any technical builders, or even architectural builders are urged to apply to join the server and help create the world. Creativity is openly encouraged on the server and so any ideas you have will most certainly be accepted and added to the areas of the map. In the future, I will also be looking for moderators to help control the server, so feel free to apply for those positions too. I feel very strongly that this Minecraft can become huge if taken in the right direction, and I firmly believe that with the right people on board that is exactly what will happen. So anyone who is interested, send me an email at m4j3ffr135@gmail.com so we can discuss ideas and get you on the server as soon as possible.

So then guys, that just about does it for this post. I realise it’s very wordy again, I might add some images in in later edits just to make it look less daunting to read, but I wanted to update everyone on what’s going on and where the future lies. I welcome any feedback on anything I have created, even if it is negative (so long as there’s a constructive element to it). Once again I really do appreciate the support from everyone; all those who watch, subscribe and comment on the channel. You are the reason I keep doing what I do, and you’re the reason I want to keep improving as well. Together, we can create something really special here, and I look forward to keeping you all updated with progress as it happens.

So thank you very much for reading, and until next time, I will see you soon!

My Football Opinion - Who Should Leave? - Newcastle United

Hey guys, M4J3FFR135 here!

So the football season is nearly over, and the time is approaching where clubs announce their "retained" list. Basically this is a fancy way of a club saying who gets to keep their job for next season. As a football fan, I usually find this an exciting time as I start fantasizing about all the possible signings my teams (Newcastle and Stevenage) can make ahead of the new pre-season campaign. However, this year things are completely different.

Let's start with Newcastle, a woeful season that is slowly turning into a death march. At the turn of the year, they were mid-table with a decent run of results and a manager who could turn things round. In Pardew, Newcastle had a form of stability that no other team could boast, a manager who was never in danger of losing his job regardless of performance. It was a working formula, even though the team had very briefly flirted with relegation over the last two years. The players respected the manager, and the manager respected his players. All deadwood (ben Arfa I'm looking at you) had been disposed of, and the team showed real potential. But the "Pardew Out" brigade continued to protest and Pardew jumped at the first possible chance, the first plane to London and straight to Selhurst Park, the stability was lost.

Enter John Carver, Pardew's number two. A man all Toon fans believed could keep up the performances and ultimately cement a mid-table place at minimum. Oh boy how wrong we were... As I'm writing this right now, Newcastle are battling West Brom for the valuable 3 points both teams need to survive, and until just a couple of minutes ago Newcastle were in the bottom three. 8 straight defeats including a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Leicester last week (38 seconds they lasted before conceding) have left a very sickening feeling. This isn't a new feeling, the rawness of 2009 still sits within my mind. Yet another season that started with promise then capitulated into disaster with a Geordie at the helm. Could history repeat itself?

Regardless of whether or not Newcastle stay up, I have compiled a list of all the players I want to leave St. James' Park this summer. To say I've been disappointed by certain players' performances is a huge understatement. Some of the displays can be put down to poor management, but the vast majority have been a direct result of players giving up. This list isn't to name and shame people, it's to put across my opinion as to who needs to leave Newcastle so that my team never has to go through this again.

So here's the list, starting from the back and working to the front:

Defence

Mike Williamson - Do I really need to explain this one? His sending off against Leicester last week is hopefully the last time we see Williamson in a Newcastle shirt. A player who looked promising when first signing from Portsmouth in January 2010, but even a defender should score more goals than 1 in 144 appearances. His lackluster defending tactics, combined with his inability to actually win any headers, is the main reason I want to see Williamson leave the club. It's a valid argument that the only reason Williamson still plays for Newcastle is because of the absences of the injury prone Steven Taylor (we will come to him shortly). To sum up, Williamson is the first player I would put on the transfer list at the end of the season.

Steven Taylor - The man who would put his body on the line for his boyhood team. Taylor has played for Newcastle his entire career. He cried on the pitch at Villa Park in 2009 and he shed tears of joy on the St. James' Park pitch 12 months later. My problem with "Saylor" is his injuries. As mentioned above, Taylor is very injury prone, his Achilles being the latest in a long, long, long line of injuries that have haunted him over the last few years. When fit, Taylor gives it his all. The way he plays proves that he would do anything to help the Toon win, and that is very rare in modern day football. It is a shame that I have to put Steven on this list, but I don't believe his injury jinx will ever disappear and for that reason alone Newcastle need to cash in now before it's too late.

Fabricio Coloccini - The Captain. Coloccini's letter last week pretty much sums up why I believe it is time for the Argentine to go. I strongly disliked the way Coloccini publicly announced his desire to return to Argentina, and I am definitely not convinced by his claims recently that he is happy to remain in the North-East. A captain that once upon a time wanted to leave, in my mind, can not possibly inspire a team to victory. I do like Coloccini's playing style, the maverick method of defending, I just don't believe his heart is in it anymore and it is time for Fabricio to head back home.

The rest of the Newcastle defence can stay in my opinion. Massadio Haidara is young and can vastly improve, Paul Dummett is versatile and can become a very good CB and Daryl Janmaat has had a marginally impressive debut season in the BPL. When/if Davide Santon returns from his loan spell in Italy, I think he should be given a second chance as in the past he has been a stand out player for me.

Midfield

Cheick Tiote - Became a hero after his last gasp volley against Arsenal, but his overall midfield performances have been less than impressive this season. Considering he hasn't even played since the end of the African Nations Cup, it could be argued that the team would play much better with him present. But last season he was in the team and the performances were less than enjoyable then too. So in all honesty, it is time to say goodbye to the Ivorian battler, with one of the worst disciplinary records I have ever seen.

Ryan Taylor - Rightly received a warm reception on his return from two serious ACL injuries, but the best days are behind Ryan "Over The Wall" Taylor. The best he can hope for next season would surely be cameo appearances in the last few minutes of matches. A member of the last Newcastle team to be relegated, he could be a valuable asset this season, motivating the squad to ensure the same doesn't happen again. But come July, it should be time for Ryan to move on.

Gabriel Obertan - For his own sake it's time to go. Has great pace and a decent cross on him, but his first touch is always a lottery. A good signing at the time, but his year of failure in Manchester showed each time the ball came to him. A player with no confidence left, he should move on to a team that can revitalize the wicked winger.

Apart from these three, the rest of the Newcastle midfield can form an unstoppable force. Played in a line of 4 rather than a combination of 3's or 2's can exploit the strengths of Jack Colback, Moussa Sissoko and Medhi Abeid. Even if formed into a diamond, with Remy Cabella as the spearhead, the performances will be a lot more positive than the current hybrid midfield setup.

Forwards

Papiss Cisse - As much as I like Cisse, he will never recapture the form that he showed when he first signed from Freiburg. A "Goal Of The Season" winner for his wonder volley against Chelsea, Cisse lost his form with the departure of countryman Demba Ba to Chelsea. Only a miracle can help Cisse become the goal machine he once was, and with age now against him, Cisse should move back to mainland Europe to a team where he can form a solid partnership, something he will never have with Newcastle.

Yoan Gouffran - Incredibly disappointing this season. I have never been able to tell Gouffran's natural position due to the fact he is always switched around the midfield and attacking lines. The left flank has been his most chosen position, but to me he has been very ineffective even when cutting onto his stronger right foot. He did have a spell of scoring goals (5 goals in 5 consecutive home games) but that has never turned into a solid run of good performances. Brought in under the radar from Bordeaux, it is time for Yoan to slip back to France.

Emmaneul Reviere could do with a second season in England as he is still young and learning, Ayoze Perez has been the best player of the season if I were to choose, and Adam Armstrong has shown very good potential. With Siem de Jong yet to return to full fitness, the correct signings over the summer can turn a mediocre attacking line into one of the best strikeforces in England.

So that's my list, do you agree? Feel free to drop a comment below with your thoughts and opinions as to who should stay and who should go. Until then guys thanks for reading and until next time I will see you soon!

Who Am I?

Hey guys, M4J3FFR135 here!

Basically I am a YouTuber, have been for over 12 months now. My channel is what I like to call "small but growing". With 139 subscribers at the time of writing, there's enough there for me to want to keep plugging away and doing what I do best, making videos of video games for others to enjoy :).

So why start blogging? Well ever since I started my channel, I've wanted a medium in which I can express myself and maybe even find other people like myself who I can socialise and game with. However, my channel has become more of a gaming channel. I have become partnered with a network called Etach (who are excellent by the way) and become a member of the fantastic Freedom! community. To be frank with you guys, I was not expecting any of this the first time I sat at my desktop and pressed the record button.

So because my channel has become more game oriented, there's been less time for me to sit in front of the camera and just talk about my life. As much as I want to Vlog, and as much as I enjoy it, it's taken a backseat because my other videos are doing so well. That's where blogging comes in. Making videos, you end up with some downtime whilst videos save/upload. I can quite happily sit and type a blog while that's going on, whereas making a Vlog can be more time consuming (especially when it comes to editing!) Blogging is the answer, and its a really good way I feel to communicate with my subscribers, as well as making new friends and expressing myself as a person rather than just a gamer.

So this is me, an ordinary 21 year old Engineering student from Hertfordshire. I'm not the best gamer or Vlogger, and maybe not even the best blogger, but I really enjoy what I do, and hopefully that comes across in my videos and eventually my blogs.

Thanks for reading this guys, it means a lot, and until next time, I'll see you soon! :D

M4J3FFR135
(Mark Jeffries)

youtube.com/m4j3ffr135