Sunday, September 10, 2006 :: 07:37 p.m. :: Russ
This site is defunct. If you have any questions about Epic Banana you may email me by clicking the link at the top of this news post. Everyone previously involved with this site has moved on to other things.
Friday, June 14, 2002 :: 03:53 p.m. :: Jon
I can't remember when I last posted here. My life has changed incredibly since I first started The Sphere about five years ago. Basically I made the following discoveries:
Alcohol
Girls
Cars
and after discovering each one I resolved to spend more time around them. Also I've been concentrating more on my music, drawing and personal site rather than game making or doing this site.
So basically I am no longer in any fit state to keep this site. My apathy is holding things back which is why I'm handing the site over to Russ. He seems to know how to opperate web affairs pretty well and has a lot more enthusiasm than I currently do. Ryan seems to have his hands full and I don't think he'd have enough time to maintain a website what with him "busting his mad skillz" all over the gaming community.
Having said all that though, I've just started work on a new game, and it's looking to be pretty brutal. The graphics are tidy and the A.I. is pretty sweet (though I'm still trying to keep characters from floating about as if there's no gravity). I hope I don't lose interest in this one.
I can't remember when I last posted here. My life has changed incredibly since I first started The Sphere about five years ago. Basically I made the following discoveries:
Alcohol
Girls
Cars
and after discovering each one I resolved to spend more time around them. Also I've been concentrating more on my music, drawing and personal site rather than game making or doing this site.
So basically I am no longer in any fit state to keep this site. My apathy is holding things back which is why I'm handing the site over to Russ. He seems to know how to opperate web affairs pretty well and has a lot more enthusiasm than I currently do. Ryan seems to have his hands full and I don't think he'd have enough time to maintain a website what with him "busting his mad skillz" all over the gaming community.
Having said all that though, I've just started work on a new game, and it's looking to be pretty brutal. The graphics are tidy and the A.I. is pretty sweet (though I'm still trying to keep characters from floating about as if there's no gravity). I hope I don't lose interest in this one.
Tuesday, June 4, 2002 :: 06:40 p.m. :: Ryan
Whoa! Sorry about that! Long time no see. It's the end of the school year and things are getting hectic.
I'd estimate that the game is ~80% complete. Currently working on the Jail, jailbreaks, and stuff. There're two more buildings to do (maybe a third if I decide to put it in, actually), some missions to put in (I got the system working, but I neglected to complete them until the map is done) a password system to create (the one built into Klik n Play does not satisfy my needs) and then some testing. And a manual. Now if I could only find my notes on how I wanted to set up the manual....
How many tries until you figure out how it's done?
Head over here for some game juiciness. I'll respond to all your e-mails soon, I promise!
Ry
Whoa! Sorry about that! Long time no see. It's the end of the school year and things are getting hectic.
I'd estimate that the game is ~80% complete. Currently working on the Jail, jailbreaks, and stuff. There're two more buildings to do (maybe a third if I decide to put it in, actually), some missions to put in (I got the system working, but I neglected to complete them until the map is done) a password system to create (the one built into Klik n Play does not satisfy my needs) and then some testing. And a manual. Now if I could only find my notes on how I wanted to set up the manual....
How many tries until you figure out how it's done?
Head over here for some game juiciness. I'll respond to all your e-mails soon, I promise!
Ry
Wednesday, April 24, 2002 :: 06:21 p.m. :: Ry
I was on vacation last week. Maybe I should have told you. I bought books, went to a 48-hour LAN party, and got dreadlocks.
Things are progressing smoothly. I've started on the last street. It might take a while, though, since it'll have some detailed buildings (like the bank.)
I've also been adding some significant secrets, as well.
If I seem to be updating this page infrequently, then visit potential, a page which I post on semi-frequently. Then you can be assured that I am alive and not, in fact, dead. And as long as I'm alive, I'll be working on games.
Here's a link to the homepage of the Republic of Texas, a nation within a nation! Wowzers!
Ry
P.S.- Kyle's server has wigged out on him. We're working on it!
I was on vacation last week. Maybe I should have told you. I bought books, went to a 48-hour LAN party, and got dreadlocks.
Things are progressing smoothly. I've started on the last street. It might take a while, though, since it'll have some detailed buildings (like the bank.)
I've also been adding some significant secrets, as well.
If I seem to be updating this page infrequently, then visit potential, a page which I post on semi-frequently. Then you can be assured that I am alive and not, in fact, dead. And as long as I'm alive, I'll be working on games.
Here's a link to the homepage of the Republic of Texas, a nation within a nation! Wowzers!
Ry
P.S.- Kyle's server has wigged out on him. We're working on it!
Wednesday, April 3, 2002 :: 09:13 p.m. :: Ryan
Hey,
I totally forgot to mention: All the games have a new off-site mirror server: klpgames. (from the main page, click on "server") Big thanks to Kyle for that setup. I meant to mention it on the previous post, but the idea seemed to just float out of my head.
Anyway, I have work to do...
Ry
Hey,
I totally forgot to mention: All the games have a new off-site mirror server: klpgames. (from the main page, click on "server") Big thanks to Kyle for that setup. I meant to mention it on the previous post, but the idea seemed to just float out of my head.
Anyway, I have work to do...
Ry
Tuesday, April 2, 2002 :: 08:24 p.m. :: Ryan
Here I am!
Lately I've been looking at all the old video game rumors: That you can play as Luigi in Super Mario 64, or that you can find the triforce in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, or that you can find the Maibotsu Monstrosity or the full-winged dodo in Grand Theft Auto 3. These are all rumors of the most dubious sort (read: a pack of lies, lock stock and barrel), but facinating nonetheless. I must've wasted a whole Friday on the triforce, alone.
So naturally, I wanted to incorporate some secrets into ADAW2, which is precisely what I'm doing. I haven't started on the third street yet, I'm just hiding some bits and pieces here and there. Some cool bits, and in some cases, some interesting pieces.
The Metal Gear series is, as we all know, one of the best videogame series ever. (I'm willing to write off MGS2 as an "off-day", where a day constitutes a whole development cycle.) So it follows naturally that there should be a website where you could find your own name translated into metal-gear-codename. Now, before you get all excited, let me tell you up front that the codename it gave me beats any others it could possibly ever generate, hands-down, blindfolded, and with a thirty-pound sloth on its back. What is my name, you ask?
Katana Dragon. Hell yeah. That's right, you can pack up and leave right now, the friggin' Katana Dragon is in the house!
KD
Here I am!
Lately I've been looking at all the old video game rumors: That you can play as Luigi in Super Mario 64, or that you can find the triforce in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, or that you can find the Maibotsu Monstrosity or the full-winged dodo in Grand Theft Auto 3. These are all rumors of the most dubious sort (read: a pack of lies, lock stock and barrel), but facinating nonetheless. I must've wasted a whole Friday on the triforce, alone.
So naturally, I wanted to incorporate some secrets into ADAW2, which is precisely what I'm doing. I haven't started on the third street yet, I'm just hiding some bits and pieces here and there. Some cool bits, and in some cases, some interesting pieces.
The Metal Gear series is, as we all know, one of the best videogame series ever. (I'm willing to write off MGS2 as an "off-day", where a day constitutes a whole development cycle.) So it follows naturally that there should be a website where you could find your own name translated into metal-gear-codename. Now, before you get all excited, let me tell you up front that the codename it gave me beats any others it could possibly ever generate, hands-down, blindfolded, and with a thirty-pound sloth on its back. What is my name, you ask?
Katana Dragon. Hell yeah. That's right, you can pack up and leave right now, the friggin' Katana Dragon is in the house!
KD
Sunday, March 17, 2002 :: 05:40 p.m. :: Ryan
Drumroll please.....
.......
.......
Keep rolling the drum......
........
Okay, well that was probably overdone, just to announce that the A street is done. Which means ADAW2 is about 2/3 or 66% done. After this:
Also, I've come across Coldstone (from ambrosia), which is an RPG creator (thanks DarkNews-- I can't remember if I ever caught your real name, but thanks anyway.) Just don't go expecting an RPG from me any time soon. You want ADAW2 now, don't you?
Have you ever wondered what a nine hundred and nine thousand, five hundred and twenty-six digit prime number would look like? Wonder no more!
Ry
Drumroll please.....
.......
.......
Keep rolling the drum......
........
Okay, well that was probably overdone, just to announce that the A street is done. Which means ADAW2 is about 2/3 or 66% done. After this:
- The third street, C
- Some missions and things
- Bug fixes
Also, I've come across Coldstone (from ambrosia), which is an RPG creator (thanks DarkNews-- I can't remember if I ever caught your real name, but thanks anyway.) Just don't go expecting an RPG from me any time soon. You want ADAW2 now, don't you?
Have you ever wondered what a nine hundred and nine thousand, five hundred and twenty-six digit prime number would look like? Wonder no more!
Ry
Monday, March 4, 2002 :: 07:22 p.m. :: Ry
Well! Thought I died there, didn't you? I know I did! Good thing I didn't! 'Cause I'm not dead, see?
The truth is, the past week was the busiest I've had in months. That's how things go out here in the sticks of Maine-- Weeks of apathy, followed by weeks of extreme stress. To summarize, on Saturday I had an Academic Decathalon state meet (in which we managed to place fifth, despite our lack of studying and only having seven people). That lasted all day, really, since I fell asleep when I got home at 8ish. Sunday was spent doing homework: two binders for two classes, studying for two tests (they were today, and I'm getting there), and putting togther a packet of Cold War propaganda. Today I had two tests (which went well, I'd say) and passed in the propaganda (Death to capitalism, or death under the heels of capitalism!). Last week was spent dealing with copious amounts of homework (anatomy notes, chapters of math, essays on the cold war, physics problems, ostensibly reading Wuthering Heights [which is the last thing on earth I'd willingly do], etc.)
So, I hope this is a viable excuse for not updating in a few weeks. And also the fact that little progress has been made. After tomorrow (one last project is due) I ought to be back in the swing of things.
So! Go to Songfight or something. It's good. Someday, God willing, I'll have a song up there. "song". Yeah.
Ry
Well! Thought I died there, didn't you? I know I did! Good thing I didn't! 'Cause I'm not dead, see?
The truth is, the past week was the busiest I've had in months. That's how things go out here in the sticks of Maine-- Weeks of apathy, followed by weeks of extreme stress. To summarize, on Saturday I had an Academic Decathalon state meet (in which we managed to place fifth, despite our lack of studying and only having seven people). That lasted all day, really, since I fell asleep when I got home at 8ish. Sunday was spent doing homework: two binders for two classes, studying for two tests (they were today, and I'm getting there), and putting togther a packet of Cold War propaganda. Today I had two tests (which went well, I'd say) and passed in the propaganda (Death to capitalism, or death under the heels of capitalism!). Last week was spent dealing with copious amounts of homework (anatomy notes, chapters of math, essays on the cold war, physics problems, ostensibly reading Wuthering Heights [which is the last thing on earth I'd willingly do], etc.)
So, I hope this is a viable excuse for not updating in a few weeks. And also the fact that little progress has been made. After tomorrow (one last project is due) I ought to be back in the swing of things.
So! Go to Songfight or something. It's good. Someday, God willing, I'll have a song up there. "song". Yeah.
Ry
Friday, February 15, 2002 :: 07:47 p.m. :: Ry
Well, here I am.
Two more buildings to do on the A street. I may have already told you that, but I'm putting a lot of detail into the Gang HQ. A group of kids who share the g/t room have discovered it and play it, and seem to like it. It seems that Another Day at Work will be a hit.
I think I had something to say about videogames in general, but I don't remember. I was reading a copy of Computer Gaming World or something. I will say that after playing through Metal Gear Solid 2 twice (and something like 10 times through the first chapter) and 40+ hours of Final Fantasy X, I still come back to Grand Theft Auto 3. It's really good.
Hey, Cheer Up!
Ry
Well, here I am.
Two more buildings to do on the A street. I may have already told you that, but I'm putting a lot of detail into the Gang HQ. A group of kids who share the g/t room have discovered it and play it, and seem to like it. It seems that Another Day at Work will be a hit.
I think I had something to say about videogames in general, but I don't remember. I was reading a copy of Computer Gaming World or something. I will say that after playing through Metal Gear Solid 2 twice (and something like 10 times through the first chapter) and 40+ hours of Final Fantasy X, I still come back to Grand Theft Auto 3. It's really good.
Hey, Cheer Up!
Ry
Friday, February 8, 2002 :: 05:12 p.m. :: Ryan
Things are moving nicely! The A street is almost done, just need to do a couple more buildings. I showed it to a group of people and they liked it (could I be any more vague?)
And, to elaborate on my previous post, the game I'm working on is "Tactical Combat Simulator." It's not so much a game as a simulator. The concept is that you'll be able to make a team of combatants, make a set of weapons, armor, and set up a building, give the teams objectives, divide them into squads, and let them go at it. You can use it to simulate a terrorist / counter-terrorist situation, re-create various action movies, ninja stuff, things like that. There are melee weapons as well as guns, and I'm putting extra attention into the stealth aspect. The beta version may be around somewhere, at sometime.
Here is a diagram of the Geek Hierarchy. I'm not even going to tell you how many of these categories I fall into.
Ry
Things are moving nicely! The A street is almost done, just need to do a couple more buildings. I showed it to a group of people and they liked it (could I be any more vague?)
And, to elaborate on my previous post, the game I'm working on is "Tactical Combat Simulator." It's not so much a game as a simulator. The concept is that you'll be able to make a team of combatants, make a set of weapons, armor, and set up a building, give the teams objectives, divide them into squads, and let them go at it. You can use it to simulate a terrorist / counter-terrorist situation, re-create various action movies, ninja stuff, things like that. There are melee weapons as well as guns, and I'm putting extra attention into the stealth aspect. The beta version may be around somewhere, at sometime.
Here is a diagram of the Geek Hierarchy. I'm not even going to tell you how many of these categories I fall into.
Ry
Thursday, January 24, 2002 :: 05:41 p.m. :: Ry
Not much to add today, really.
I put in little pieces that allow you to live outside of your house. You can rummage in trash cans for food and sleep in an alleyway with a passed-out bum. Thank you, video-game world! You've given me my lot in life! (I don't know why I said that, it just sounded about right.)
I might as well throw this out there, as well... In my spare time at home, I'm coding a little game/simulator in RealBasic. It's not even in the Alpha-release stages yet, but it'll definately be done before "Another Day at Work: Wednesday." That's all for now, kiddies!
Go here. I wonder when this kind of technology will be integrated into video games?
Ry
Not much to add today, really.
I put in little pieces that allow you to live outside of your house. You can rummage in trash cans for food and sleep in an alleyway with a passed-out bum. Thank you, video-game world! You've given me my lot in life! (I don't know why I said that, it just sounded about right.)
I might as well throw this out there, as well... In my spare time at home, I'm coding a little game/simulator in RealBasic. It's not even in the Alpha-release stages yet, but it'll definately be done before "Another Day at Work: Wednesday." That's all for now, kiddies!
Go here. I wonder when this kind of technology will be integrated into video games?
Ry
Thursday, January 17, 2002 :: 08:13 p.m. :: Ry
Back from the deadly!
I'm surprising myself at how fast production is going. Right now the slowest thing is the art direction- doing all the graphics for the graffiti and the bums and stuff. I'm shocked at how few bugs there are to remove.
On a related note, Ambrosia Software's Coldstone has been released. Thanks to Martin for that heads-up. If his page is working, you can also find most epic banana games there, for those not in-the-know.
Additionally, I have another website to present to you: Potential. Started by my good friend Ian, potential is a weblog where several writers, including yours truly, can post inane blather. Stop over there if your brain is not functioning correctly or perhaps your pancreas.
Fear the kitty.
(Update: I just noticed that if you're in the right mindest, that link mght really freak the hell out of you. You have been warned.)
Ry
Back from the deadly!
I'm surprising myself at how fast production is going. Right now the slowest thing is the art direction- doing all the graphics for the graffiti and the bums and stuff. I'm shocked at how few bugs there are to remove.
On a related note, Ambrosia Software's Coldstone has been released. Thanks to Martin for that heads-up. If his page is working, you can also find most epic banana games there, for those not in-the-know.
Additionally, I have another website to present to you: Potential. Started by my good friend Ian, potential is a weblog where several writers, including yours truly, can post inane blather. Stop over there if your brain is not functioning correctly or perhaps your pancreas.
Fear the kitty.
(Update: I just noticed that if you're in the right mindest, that link mght really freak the hell out of you. You have been warned.)
Ry
Friday, January 11, 2002 :: 06:20 p.m. :: Ry
Hey, all right. I could give you some excuse like "pitas was being weird," and even though it would be true, it would be boring and tired. And I'm all about being fresh and exciting, now, aren't I?
I've noticed that as I iron out more bugs in the engine, production gets faster. It used to take me a full day to add the night screen for a level; I'd put it all in, link the screens, and find out that I get weird bugs in transition from screen a to screen b but not screen b to screen a, and only at certain times, and only in certain directions. What a nightmare! Anyway, I just put in the first night screen for the A street, tested it, and found no errors whatsoever. It kinda blew my mind.
Do you know an idiot? Is there an idiot in your life? Chances are there is. In that case, send the idiot here, just to clear things up for him a little.
Ry
Hey, all right. I could give you some excuse like "pitas was being weird," and even though it would be true, it would be boring and tired. And I'm all about being fresh and exciting, now, aren't I?
I've noticed that as I iron out more bugs in the engine, production gets faster. It used to take me a full day to add the night screen for a level; I'd put it all in, link the screens, and find out that I get weird bugs in transition from screen a to screen b but not screen b to screen a, and only at certain times, and only in certain directions. What a nightmare! Anyway, I just put in the first night screen for the A street, tested it, and found no errors whatsoever. It kinda blew my mind.
Do you know an idiot? Is there an idiot in your life? Chances are there is. In that case, send the idiot here, just to clear things up for him a little.
Ry
Thursday, December 20, 2001 :: 04:03 p.m. :: Ry
Ach! This sucks! I just wrote up an entire update, longer than usual, and as I was checking out potential links to throw in at the bottom, Internet Explorer decided to crash on me, just because it felt like it. So I'll boil it down for you. We both lose.
Don't expect me to do any work this upcoming week, as it'll be Christmas Vacation, and I'll be doing something like playing videogames or wondering why I bought myself a pair of 30" test leads when I have no electronics to fool around with or anything that would at all neccesitate test leads.
I'm in an "internet communications" class in school. It's really quite humorous. If we ever upload our work pages to the internet somewhere, I'd love to provide a link here. It would be funny to see the pages we were forced to write. The teacher makes us include a table on every page. Every single one. Plus an ordered and unordered list. Believe me, after four or five pages with a table and two lists, you start running out of ideas of how to include them in your next page about an imaginary consulting firm or water company or water consulting firm. Anyway, we'd all read it, and we'd all laugh, or cry, or slap each other, or something.
Have you ever wanted to communicate in binary ASCII? I certainly know I have never had such an arcane desire enter my skull. However, if you're the type, head on over to binary for some good 1 and 0 action.
Ry
Ach! This sucks! I just wrote up an entire update, longer than usual, and as I was checking out potential links to throw in at the bottom, Internet Explorer decided to crash on me, just because it felt like it. So I'll boil it down for you. We both lose.
Don't expect me to do any work this upcoming week, as it'll be Christmas Vacation, and I'll be doing something like playing videogames or wondering why I bought myself a pair of 30" test leads when I have no electronics to fool around with or anything that would at all neccesitate test leads.
I'm in an "internet communications" class in school. It's really quite humorous. If we ever upload our work pages to the internet somewhere, I'd love to provide a link here. It would be funny to see the pages we were forced to write. The teacher makes us include a table on every page. Every single one. Plus an ordered and unordered list. Believe me, after four or five pages with a table and two lists, you start running out of ideas of how to include them in your next page about an imaginary consulting firm or water company or water consulting firm. Anyway, we'd all read it, and we'd all laugh, or cry, or slap each other, or something.
Have you ever wanted to communicate in binary ASCII? I certainly know I have never had such an arcane desire enter my skull. However, if you're the type, head on over to binary for some good 1 and 0 action.
Ry
Thursday, December 13, 2001 :: 07:56 p.m. :: Ry
You won't believe why I didn't update last week. First, I tried to update on thursday, like usual. For some reason, the internet decided to employ the useful tactic of not working. Naturally, I couldn't update the page, and it slipped my mind until the next day. When I tried to update then, I got interrupted by someone and ended up doing something entirely different like organizing my socks or freezing ants in ice cubes. By this time, I'd tried to update the page twice, so the part of my brain that keeps track of things I have to do just kinda checked off "webpage" and went back to doing whatever it does. By the time I'd realized what had happened, it was tuesday. It would make more sense at that point to just wait and update on thursday, so that's what I'm doing. Here's what I had written last thursday, before the internet screwed me.
I'd better update now, before I forget!
I showed the game to a couple of guys today who share the g/t room with me for a directed study. They were quite enthused about it. I finished up the graphics for the bums, gangs, and crazy people, and I'm now working on the bar. Out of all the places, this might be the most fun to make.
I've been playing a lot of aliens vs. predator lately, even online with my 56k. Not avp2, which just came out for the PC, mind you, but AvP gold, which just came out for the mac. I know, but that's how things work here in Mac Land. I only have the demo now, but I'm hoping for the full version soon.
I present to you here, for your viewing pleasure, the weirdest shockwave game you'll ever play: Kent Kage Arm (~720k). It's swedish. It has sheep and guns and possibly some guy eating brownies as if he'd been starved for a week, if I remember correctly.
There, chew on that!
Ry
You won't believe why I didn't update last week. First, I tried to update on thursday, like usual. For some reason, the internet decided to employ the useful tactic of not working. Naturally, I couldn't update the page, and it slipped my mind until the next day. When I tried to update then, I got interrupted by someone and ended up doing something entirely different like organizing my socks or freezing ants in ice cubes. By this time, I'd tried to update the page twice, so the part of my brain that keeps track of things I have to do just kinda checked off "webpage" and went back to doing whatever it does. By the time I'd realized what had happened, it was tuesday. It would make more sense at that point to just wait and update on thursday, so that's what I'm doing. Here's what I had written last thursday, before the internet screwed me.
I'd better update now, before I forget!
I showed the game to a couple of guys today who share the g/t room with me for a directed study. They were quite enthused about it. I finished up the graphics for the bums, gangs, and crazy people, and I'm now working on the bar. Out of all the places, this might be the most fun to make.
I've been playing a lot of aliens vs. predator lately, even online with my 56k. Not avp2, which just came out for the PC, mind you, but AvP gold, which just came out for the mac. I know, but that's how things work here in Mac Land. I only have the demo now, but I'm hoping for the full version soon.
I present to you here, for your viewing pleasure, the weirdest shockwave game you'll ever play: Kent Kage Arm (~720k). It's swedish. It has sheep and guns and possibly some guy eating brownies as if he'd been starved for a week, if I remember correctly.
There, chew on that!
Ry
Friday, November 30, 2001 :: 04:46 p.m. :: Ry
Okay, we're back from thanksgiving vacation and it's time to get back to work. For me, that means drawing graphics for the slummy side of town. For the regular parts of the city, I just imported people from Office Building and and Pedestrian Devastation, and all I had to draw was building graphics. Now I have to draw five or six seperate people and their death animations, etc. I have a bum and two gangs.
A huge, massively large thank you goes out to Martin who uploaded every Epic Banana game (sans new recruits- sorry) onto a mirror site- server.martinc.com. So go there and feed your banana hunger, relive some old, discontinued games, whatever. This helps out a lot, thanks again.
There's nothing left to say, except that if I were a disease, I'd be the bubonic plague.
Ry
Okay, we're back from thanksgiving vacation and it's time to get back to work. For me, that means drawing graphics for the slummy side of town. For the regular parts of the city, I just imported people from Office Building and and Pedestrian Devastation, and all I had to draw was building graphics. Now I have to draw five or six seperate people and their death animations, etc. I have a bum and two gangs.
A huge, massively large thank you goes out to Martin who uploaded every Epic Banana game (sans new recruits- sorry) onto a mirror site- server.martinc.com. So go there and feed your banana hunger, relive some old, discontinued games, whatever. This helps out a lot, thanks again.
There's nothing left to say, except that if I were a disease, I'd be the bubonic plague.
Ry
Thursday, November 8, 2001 :: 05:00 p.m. :: Ryan
Okay, I totally missed last week's update. That shouldn't become a regular thing anyway.
With a directed study, I have a sense of forced productivity, which means I have to work on the game even if I don't want to. That's a good thing. I've basically completed the office, and I've done the graphics and layout for the last house on B street. Tomorrow I'll finish coding it. I'm also trying to think of more little mini-games to hide in the game. Hey, I'm only one man!
GTA3, GTA3, and more GTA3. It's all I play anymore. The replay on this game is insane, perhaps rivalling even that of the venerable Goldeneye. With any of the GTA games, you can just pick up a new game and go driving around the city. Even if you aren't playing through a new game seriously, you can just putter around causing chaos and having fun. The replayability, the meat of it is in the things you do when you're not on a mission.
This is the best I can come up with. Amuse yourselves, misanthropes!
Ry
Okay, I totally missed last week's update. That shouldn't become a regular thing anyway.
With a directed study, I have a sense of forced productivity, which means I have to work on the game even if I don't want to. That's a good thing. I've basically completed the office, and I've done the graphics and layout for the last house on B street. Tomorrow I'll finish coding it. I'm also trying to think of more little mini-games to hide in the game. Hey, I'm only one man!
GTA3, GTA3, and more GTA3. It's all I play anymore. The replay on this game is insane, perhaps rivalling even that of the venerable Goldeneye. With any of the GTA games, you can just pick up a new game and go driving around the city. Even if you aren't playing through a new game seriously, you can just putter around causing chaos and having fun. The replayability, the meat of it is in the things you do when you're not on a mission.
This is the best I can come up with. Amuse yourselves, misanthropes!
Ry
Saturday, October 27, 2001 :: 12:39 p.m. :: Ry
Things are progressing nicely. The basics of the Office are done; you can work and make money until closing time, and you can leave. However, I'm going to take some time to put in a lot of interactivity with your fellow cube dwellers. My ultimate plan for the place is to allow Tom to take hostages there if your wanted level is high enough.
Gib got Grand Theft Auto III the other day, and let me tell you, it is outstanding. It will probably stir up some controversy soon about video games and video game violence and violent video gamers and how video games are solely responsible for all forms of malice and evil. Just ask my good friend Joe Lieberman!
Anyway, I gotta go.
Ry
Things are progressing nicely. The basics of the Office are done; you can work and make money until closing time, and you can leave. However, I'm going to take some time to put in a lot of interactivity with your fellow cube dwellers. My ultimate plan for the place is to allow Tom to take hostages there if your wanted level is high enough.
Gib got Grand Theft Auto III the other day, and let me tell you, it is outstanding. It will probably stir up some controversy soon about video games and video game violence and violent video gamers and how video games are solely responsible for all forms of malice and evil. Just ask my good friend Joe Lieberman!
Anyway, I gotta go.
Ry
Friday, October 19, 2001 :: 04:35 p.m. :: Ry
The office is mainly done now, though I haven't added any "supplimentary job missions," that is, little errands that the boss will send you on. See, I plan to have three major jobsets: regular job missions, gang member/hitman missions, and superhero missions. Of course, on the side there's the pizza delivery missions and such.
Hooked on Civilization 2 again. (okay, that's not a link to an actual civ 2 review, but it's as close as I cared to get in under a minute.)
I don't know about you, but I love wack conpsiracy nut pages. Like this one.
"Conspiracy Theories are as American as Mom, the Flag and Apple Pie" - Daniel Perez
That's all, I need to go conquer the world.
Ry
The office is mainly done now, though I haven't added any "supplimentary job missions," that is, little errands that the boss will send you on. See, I plan to have three major jobsets: regular job missions, gang member/hitman missions, and superhero missions. Of course, on the side there's the pizza delivery missions and such.
Hooked on Civilization 2 again. (okay, that's not a link to an actual civ 2 review, but it's as close as I cared to get in under a minute.)
I don't know about you, but I love wack conpsiracy nut pages. Like this one.
"Conspiracy Theories are as American as Mom, the Flag and Apple Pie" - Daniel Perez
That's all, I need to go conquer the world.
Ry
Saturday, October 13, 2001 :: 09:16 p.m. :: Ry
The third section of B street that I'm working on contains one apartment and the office building (Office Inc.) I'm currently working on the inside of the office; its layout is essentially a duplicate of A Day at Work 1. The job is the same, too. I got so much work done last week it surprised me.
A while back I ended my post with "rock over london, rock on chicago." In case you didn't catch the reference, it refers to Wesley Willis, a truly unique listening experience.
I can't think of anything else to say, except that zombo.com is coming soon.
Ry
The third section of B street that I'm working on contains one apartment and the office building (Office Inc.) I'm currently working on the inside of the office; its layout is essentially a duplicate of A Day at Work 1. The job is the same, too. I got so much work done last week it surprised me.
A while back I ended my post with "rock over london, rock on chicago." In case you didn't catch the reference, it refers to Wesley Willis, a truly unique listening experience.
I can't think of anything else to say, except that zombo.com is coming soon.
Ry
Thursday, October 4, 2001 :: 07:28 p.m. :: Ry
I bring you good news today! Yes.
I've been more productive my last two sessions than I thought possible. It only took me one day to completely set up the pizza parlor. Completely! I did the linking, the store interface, the robbery system, etc. Then, for the next session I had, I implemented the aspect of getting a job delivering pizza. Now, if you really must get that job in a hurry, what needs to happen? The current delivery boy must dissapear, right? Now, how could you do that....hmm.... Well, you could always order a pizza and then murder him when he shows up. Then, the next day as you casually stroll down the street, you may notice a "help wanted" sign in the window! How about that?
Yes folks, all that and more. Tomorrow I will start on the third and last screen for this street. (there are two more streets in the final game. Each represents a different level of financial prosperity and criminal activity.)
Hey well, it is now around 8:30. Tomorrow's a busy day (mandatory pep rally at the end of the day! Can you feel the sheer excitement??!?!?! If possible, Gib and I are leaving early.) So that's why this post is now ending.
Before I go, I must tell you to investigate the mysterious goings-on at Robot Frank. Mystery! Intrigue!
Ry
I bring you good news today! Yes.
I've been more productive my last two sessions than I thought possible. It only took me one day to completely set up the pizza parlor. Completely! I did the linking, the store interface, the robbery system, etc. Then, for the next session I had, I implemented the aspect of getting a job delivering pizza. Now, if you really must get that job in a hurry, what needs to happen? The current delivery boy must dissapear, right? Now, how could you do that....hmm.... Well, you could always order a pizza and then murder him when he shows up. Then, the next day as you casually stroll down the street, you may notice a "help wanted" sign in the window! How about that?
Yes folks, all that and more. Tomorrow I will start on the third and last screen for this street. (there are two more streets in the final game. Each represents a different level of financial prosperity and criminal activity.)
Hey well, it is now around 8:30. Tomorrow's a busy day (mandatory pep rally at the end of the day! Can you feel the sheer excitement??!?!?! If possible, Gib and I are leaving early.) So that's why this post is now ending.
Before I go, I must tell you to investigate the mysterious goings-on at Robot Frank. Mystery! Intrigue!
Ry
Thursday, September 27, 2001 :: 10:42 p.m. :: Ry
An update on time! Score!
Now then, I have finally started on the pizza parlor. The rest of the game is stable enough to please me. Al will stay dead once you kill him. You can sneak up on the neighbor through the window. If you're chased by the cops at night, a helicopter will follow you and shine a spotlight on you (using real-time shadow technology from The Establishment). I'd work on the game some more if there was school tomorrow, but there isn't! This is cause for much elation.
I don't know about you, but Gib and I are rather excited about Grand Theft Auto 3. It looks good, does it not?
You've worn one in Yogurt Commercial 2, now go buy your very own Pimp Hat! So take off that silly Alien-Repellant foil hat and that Hat of meat, you've got yourself a genuine Pimp Hat now!
Ry
An update on time! Score!
Now then, I have finally started on the pizza parlor. The rest of the game is stable enough to please me. Al will stay dead once you kill him. You can sneak up on the neighbor through the window. If you're chased by the cops at night, a helicopter will follow you and shine a spotlight on you (using real-time shadow technology from The Establishment). I'd work on the game some more if there was school tomorrow, but there isn't! This is cause for much elation.
I don't know about you, but Gib and I are rather excited about Grand Theft Auto 3. It looks good, does it not?
You've worn one in Yogurt Commercial 2, now go buy your very own Pimp Hat! So take off that silly Alien-Repellant foil hat and that Hat of meat, you've got yourself a genuine Pimp Hat now!
Ry
Saturday, September 22, 2001 :: 10:45 a.m. :: Ry
Well well well. Looks like it's Saturday again, now, isn't it? How did Thursday fly by like that?
The directed study is working beautifully, and color me a nice shade of liar if I haven't been productive this last week. In the finished game, there will be a complete hitman/bounty hunter system. I'm reworking the AI for the neighbors so that you can sneak up on them. I seem to be having trouble keeping Al dead when he's dead; That's another bug I have to fix.
Yay Massabesic. Yay. Massabesic is so good. (Note: when I say "good," I mean "bad.")
superbad.
Ry
Well well well. Looks like it's Saturday again, now, isn't it? How did Thursday fly by like that?
The directed study is working beautifully, and color me a nice shade of liar if I haven't been productive this last week. In the finished game, there will be a complete hitman/bounty hunter system. I'm reworking the AI for the neighbors so that you can sneak up on them. I seem to be having trouble keeping Al dead when he's dead; That's another bug I have to fix.
Yay Massabesic. Yay. Massabesic is so good. (Note: when I say "good," I mean "bad.")
superbad.
Ry
Saturday, September 22, 2001 :: 10:20 a.m. :: Jonathan
I am terribly sorry for the downloads still being down, and I feel I should appologise for my slug-like approach to restoring normality. It seems Angelfire has terminated my account with them. If anyone knows of a service which offers free space and enables off-site linking, please email me. I would also like to announce that the Epic Banana shop will be online soon. Hopefully by the end of the month!
I am terribly sorry for the downloads still being down, and I feel I should appologise for my slug-like approach to restoring normality. It seems Angelfire has terminated my account with them. If anyone knows of a service which offers free space and enables off-site linking, please email me. I would also like to announce that the Epic Banana shop will be online soon. Hopefully by the end of the month!
Sunday, September 16, 2001 :: 08:37 p.m. :: Ry
Well, sorry about the delay. I'll try to restore some sense of normalcy now.
I don't have much to report today, except that the directed study is now a happening thing. That means every other school day I'll put in over an hour's worth of work into the project. This will go on for the entire school year, and I get a credit, to boot! A directed study is what pulled me through The Establishment last year.
Epic Banana anagrams: Pine cabana, a bean panic, an ape cabin, I ban a pecan. A day at work anagram: okay art wad.
Zewall.com: experience online painting. Rock over London, rock on Chicago: express one, the express super store!
Ry
Well, sorry about the delay. I'll try to restore some sense of normalcy now.
I don't have much to report today, except that the directed study is now a happening thing. That means every other school day I'll put in over an hour's worth of work into the project. This will go on for the entire school year, and I get a credit, to boot! A directed study is what pulled me through The Establishment last year.
Epic Banana anagrams: Pine cabana, a bean panic, an ape cabin, I ban a pecan. A day at work anagram: okay art wad.
Zewall.com: experience online painting. Rock over London, rock on Chicago: express one, the express super store!
Ry
Tuesday, September 11, 2001 :: 08:46 p.m. :: Ry
I am at a loss here. I really don't know what to say, except that my heart goes out to all those who were affected by this national tradgedy. Naturally, it would be out of place to write about video games in this context, so expect a full update later-- maybe friday. Until then,
Ry
I am at a loss here. I really don't know what to say, except that my heart goes out to all those who were affected by this national tradgedy. Naturally, it would be out of place to write about video games in this context, so expect a full update later-- maybe friday. Until then,
Ry
Thursday, September 6, 2001 :: 08:53 a.m. :: Ryan
Well, here's the update, as promised. I'm actually doing this from a school computer.
It will take maybe a week for the paperwork to go through, before I can start my directed study (officially), so for a little while no work will be done.
It occured to me that the "day at work" series is a whole new genre. So what is the name of the genre? town-sim? life-sim? life-adventure? I don't know what to call it. Email me with suggestions, if you feel so inclined.
Since I'm on this school computer, I don't have my notepad full of wacky links at hand! So, in that case, I must point you to Pokey the Penguin. Is it funny? Is it supposed to be funny? Is it supposed to not be funny? I don't know. I think it's high art. In any case, I fully reccomend Pokey the penguin.
Ry
Well, here's the update, as promised. I'm actually doing this from a school computer.
It will take maybe a week for the paperwork to go through, before I can start my directed study (officially), so for a little while no work will be done.
It occured to me that the "day at work" series is a whole new genre. So what is the name of the genre? town-sim? life-sim? life-adventure? I don't know what to call it. Email me with suggestions, if you feel so inclined.
Since I'm on this school computer, I don't have my notepad full of wacky links at hand! So, in that case, I must point you to Pokey the Penguin. Is it funny? Is it supposed to be funny? Is it supposed to not be funny? I don't know. I think it's high art. In any case, I fully reccomend Pokey the penguin.
Ry
Saturday, September 1, 2001 :: 11:45 a.m. :: Ryan
Hey, looks like I missed my regular update date by two days... Well, I'd better do it now, before the idea floats out of my adorable head.
This week was bug-smashing week. After the scene-stitching, I ironed out transition bugs and finished up a few things I left undone. Here's the scoop: if you kill a neighbor, someone will move back into the apartment after a little while. However, if you kill a major player, such as Al from "al's shop," he's not coming back, baby.
Speaking of Al, I do believe that whole part is done. Now onto the pizza parlor.
By the next time I post, I should have started school. (Note: this is a bad thing.) But that really shouldn't slow anything down in terms of development or updates.
Who would you say is the most under-appreciated pop-culture icon? Is it Ernest P. Warrel? Is it Mahir? Or is it the mysteriously vanished Mayor McCheese? Will we ever know?
Ry
Hey, looks like I missed my regular update date by two days... Well, I'd better do it now, before the idea floats out of my adorable head.
This week was bug-smashing week. After the scene-stitching, I ironed out transition bugs and finished up a few things I left undone. Here's the scoop: if you kill a neighbor, someone will move back into the apartment after a little while. However, if you kill a major player, such as Al from "al's shop," he's not coming back, baby.
Speaking of Al, I do believe that whole part is done. Now onto the pizza parlor.
By the next time I post, I should have started school. (Note: this is a bad thing.) But that really shouldn't slow anything down in terms of development or updates.
Who would you say is the most under-appreciated pop-culture icon? Is it Ernest P. Warrel? Is it Mahir? Or is it the mysteriously vanished Mayor McCheese? Will we ever know?
Ry
Thursday, August 23, 2001 :: 05:37 p.m. :: Ryan
Summer draws to a close, ever so slowly... like an old man, easing into a steaming bathtub. Worry not, though- when school starts I'll have a directed study going all year so I can work on my games and get a credit, to boot! It may even be more productive than my current state.
Right now I'm stitching together the parts of the streets and Al's shop, which takes longer than usual since I have seperate day and night levels for the streets. Robbery is a definite option available to all you enterprising, young gangsters. Also, I realized that I forgot to put in street lights on the corner. Then I realized I don't have a clear idea of what they look like anyway, since I live in a rural town.
I think that game developers are neglecting the single-player experience more and more, especially in the first-person-shooter genre. Of course, Goldeneye, Half-Life, and Thief: The Dark Project all stand to prove me wrong, but they are exceptions now, not standards. I mean, multiplayer is great and all, yay multiplayer, but the single player experience is equally important. The Metal Gear and Thief series, two of my most favorite game series of all time, don't even have a multiplayer mode! More and more, it seems, developers are losing sight of the single player experience and, as a consequence, it's suffering. That's what I've been trying to say.
On the rare, off-the-wall chance that you should wish to emulate me and my friends and not have a life, here's a guide on how to speak l33t! Read it, unless you're a llama.
Ry (who really loves the metal gear series, enough to find an obscure MSX emulator and a solid snake website, just so he could play the real sequel to the nes/msx metal gear original game!)
Summer draws to a close, ever so slowly... like an old man, easing into a steaming bathtub. Worry not, though- when school starts I'll have a directed study going all year so I can work on my games and get a credit, to boot! It may even be more productive than my current state.
Right now I'm stitching together the parts of the streets and Al's shop, which takes longer than usual since I have seperate day and night levels for the streets. Robbery is a definite option available to all you enterprising, young gangsters. Also, I realized that I forgot to put in street lights on the corner. Then I realized I don't have a clear idea of what they look like anyway, since I live in a rural town.
I think that game developers are neglecting the single-player experience more and more, especially in the first-person-shooter genre. Of course, Goldeneye, Half-Life, and Thief: The Dark Project all stand to prove me wrong, but they are exceptions now, not standards. I mean, multiplayer is great and all, yay multiplayer, but the single player experience is equally important. The Metal Gear and Thief series, two of my most favorite game series of all time, don't even have a multiplayer mode! More and more, it seems, developers are losing sight of the single player experience and, as a consequence, it's suffering. That's what I've been trying to say.
On the rare, off-the-wall chance that you should wish to emulate me and my friends and not have a life, here's a guide on how to speak l33t! Read it, unless you're a llama.
Ry (who really loves the metal gear series, enough to find an obscure MSX emulator and a solid snake website, just so he could play the real sequel to the nes/msx metal gear original game!)
Thursday, August 16, 2001 :: 12:25 a.m. :: Ryan
And now for an update! It's techincally Friday, but it since I haven't gone to bed yet, it feels like Thursday to me! And that's what counts!
I'm really pleased with the way things are going on "another day at work." At any point in the development I can envision what I imagine the complete product to be, but when you see the current version finally starting to fit into that vision it's very exciting. Al's shop makes a reappearance as a cornerside general store, selling band-aids, candy bars, and cheap firearms. I'm not sure how close that conforms to reality.
Epicbanana.com, our neighbor site by Paul Bergeron, will be down for a week or so as servers change and Paul does something relating to something. This is what I must tell you.
On a related note, head on over to cathead.org for family-style fun... and heart-stopping malice and evil! Insert evil laugh here!
Ry
And now for an update! It's techincally Friday, but it since I haven't gone to bed yet, it feels like Thursday to me! And that's what counts!
I'm really pleased with the way things are going on "another day at work." At any point in the development I can envision what I imagine the complete product to be, but when you see the current version finally starting to fit into that vision it's very exciting. Al's shop makes a reappearance as a cornerside general store, selling band-aids, candy bars, and cheap firearms. I'm not sure how close that conforms to reality.
Epicbanana.com, our neighbor site by Paul Bergeron, will be down for a week or so as servers change and Paul does something relating to something. This is what I must tell you.
On a related note, head on over to cathead.org for family-style fun... and heart-stopping malice and evil! Insert evil laugh here!
Ry
Saturday, August 11, 2001 :: 11:21 a.m. :: Ryan
What? What you say? You mean I didn't update yesterday, or the day before for that matter? Hmm. It's strange, since I wasn't doing anything special.
Still working on more streets. Each outdoors level, once completed, has to be duplicated and then made dark, for the night levels. That also adds a bit of complexity to the level-transition rules, but hey. There's a soda machine on the curb. You can push it.
Ambrosia Software is working on an RPG creator program, called "coldstone." Looks promising, and their ads say it's "coming soon." I've seen an RPG creator once or twice, and they made several for the super famicon (nintendo) in japan. I already have multiple game ideas out there, though, so I'll probably be working on a game when this thing comes out. But I would like to do an RPG.
Imagine my surprise when I found out that Matthew Lesko had a new commercial out! For those of you not familiar, Lesko is a wiry 50-something whose earlier commercial had him running around washington D.C., positively frothing at the mouth about how he can get the government to pay you to clip your toenails or read a book. His suit has big "?"s all over it. And then he tells you that you have to buy his book to get all the secrets.
Anyway, his new commercial has him flying around computer science techno land on a rocket, gesticulating wildly and shouting near-incomprehensible gibberish on the top of his lungs. I'm not kidding. I saw this thing on at like 1:00 in the morning, and was overjoyed. Matthew Lesko strikes again!
Ry
What? What you say? You mean I didn't update yesterday, or the day before for that matter? Hmm. It's strange, since I wasn't doing anything special.
Still working on more streets. Each outdoors level, once completed, has to be duplicated and then made dark, for the night levels. That also adds a bit of complexity to the level-transition rules, but hey. There's a soda machine on the curb. You can push it.
Ambrosia Software is working on an RPG creator program, called "coldstone." Looks promising, and their ads say it's "coming soon." I've seen an RPG creator once or twice, and they made several for the super famicon (nintendo) in japan. I already have multiple game ideas out there, though, so I'll probably be working on a game when this thing comes out. But I would like to do an RPG.
Imagine my surprise when I found out that Matthew Lesko had a new commercial out! For those of you not familiar, Lesko is a wiry 50-something whose earlier commercial had him running around washington D.C., positively frothing at the mouth about how he can get the government to pay you to clip your toenails or read a book. His suit has big "?"s all over it. And then he tells you that you have to buy his book to get all the secrets.
Anyway, his new commercial has him flying around computer science techno land on a rocket, gesticulating wildly and shouting near-incomprehensible gibberish on the top of his lungs. I'm not kidding. I saw this thing on at like 1:00 in the morning, and was overjoyed. Matthew Lesko strikes again!
Ry
Thursday, August 2, 2001 :: 1:29 p.m. :: Ryan
Whoa! Whoa! This is the day I update.
Work is flowing smoothly on "another day at work," as water flows over polished glass. I think I have the engine complete, so it's off to build the city! oofa.
I'm trying to put together a password system, so you can continue your career over several sessions. The built-in password system of klik n play is no good, I'll have to create my own.
It's hot and somewhat humid here in Maine. But at least we don't have any exploding whales!
Ry
Whoa! Whoa! This is the day I update.
Work is flowing smoothly on "another day at work," as water flows over polished glass. I think I have the engine complete, so it's off to build the city! oofa.
I'm trying to put together a password system, so you can continue your career over several sessions. The built-in password system of klik n play is no good, I'll have to create my own.
It's hot and somewhat humid here in Maine. But at least we don't have any exploding whales!
Ry
Sunday, July 22, 2001 :: 11:06 a.m. :: Ryan
Now this.... This is a quick update to tell y'all that i'll be gone until thursday.
Also, to prevent game-information-overload, I'll be keeping the juiciest secrets of "another day at work: wednesday" to myself. But I can tell you that I've started on the AI for neighbors and random houses. After that, i move on down the street and furnish the city.
Legend has it that whoever can push the Really Big Button That Doesn't Do Anything and get it to do something is rightwise kingborn of England! Or something like that. Or maybe it had to do with a linoleum knife. I'm not sure. Badda-bing, Ryan out.
Ry
Now this.... This is a quick update to tell y'all that i'll be gone until thursday.
Also, to prevent game-information-overload, I'll be keeping the juiciest secrets of "another day at work: wednesday" to myself. But I can tell you that I've started on the AI for neighbors and random houses. After that, i move on down the street and furnish the city.
Legend has it that whoever can push the Really Big Button That Doesn't Do Anything and get it to do something is rightwise kingborn of England! Or something like that. Or maybe it had to do with a linoleum knife. I'm not sure. Badda-bing, Ryan out.
Ry
Sunday, July 15, 2001 :: 01:28 p.m. :: Jonathan
As you may or may not know, depending on whether you've joined yourself up to the mailing list, The Sphere will be launching a range of merchandise. However, the goodies will be available slightly later than planned as the site which offers this service is having a few problems with uploads.
You can see the two t-shirt designs here. Check out the designs on a larger scale too:
Design 1
Design 2
Aside from t-shirts, there will also be a baseball cap, a sweater, a mug, a mousepad and a bag. All apart from one t-shirt, are in white with one of the two red, white and black logos on it.
As you may or may not know, depending on whether you've joined yourself up to the mailing list, The Sphere will be launching a range of merchandise. However, the goodies will be available slightly later than planned as the site which offers this service is having a few problems with uploads.
You can see the two t-shirt designs here. Check out the designs on a larger scale too:
Design 1
Design 2
Aside from t-shirts, there will also be a baseball cap, a sweater, a mug, a mousepad and a bag. All apart from one t-shirt, are in white with one of the two red, white and black logos on it.
Wednesday, July 11, 2001 :: 10:16 p.m. :: Ry
Hello my name is Ryan. I am seventy-two years old and I live in a cardboard box.
I lost track of time and thought it was wednesday two days ago. Then I hit somebody in the head with a frozen fish and blacked out for two hours.
I am now ironing out the bugs for the engine in "another day at work: wednesday," and once that is complete, level design is in. I also put in that shotgun I was talking about. It's quite satisfying. Plus, getting hit by cars in the street is one of the funniest things this side of "funnyville, USA"!
If anyone tries to tell you about classic videogames without mentioning Punch-Out then kick them in the mouth, light them on fire, and toss their struggling body down twelve flights of stairs. Everyone could learn a bit about video game presentation from it- as long as the rom isn't messed up.
On a darker note, if you fear ghost infestations, be sure to pick up one of these puppies! Oh yeah, the ghosts can't hide from ya now, baby!
Ry
Hello my name is Ryan. I am seventy-two years old and I live in a cardboard box.
I lost track of time and thought it was wednesday two days ago. Then I hit somebody in the head with a frozen fish and blacked out for two hours.
I am now ironing out the bugs for the engine in "another day at work: wednesday," and once that is complete, level design is in. I also put in that shotgun I was talking about. It's quite satisfying. Plus, getting hit by cars in the street is one of the funniest things this side of "funnyville, USA"!
If anyone tries to tell you about classic videogames without mentioning Punch-Out then kick them in the mouth, light them on fire, and toss their struggling body down twelve flights of stairs. Everyone could learn a bit about video game presentation from it- as long as the rom isn't messed up.
On a darker note, if you fear ghost infestations, be sure to pick up one of these puppies! Oh yeah, the ghosts can't hide from ya now, baby!
Ry
Thursday, July 5, 2001 :: 03:25 p.m. :: Ryan
Now, look here, you: I meant to update the site yesterday, but something happened.... um...... what happened?.... um..... I know! I was abducted by aliens! Even when I was wearing my dumb alien-repellant hat!
I've got Tom's house done, and I started on the TV screen-- but I really want to start on the streets, so I'll say "screw the TV.. for now" and start on the streets. And I haven't gotten around to the shotgun yet- maybe I'll just leave it out.
Is it just me, or are videogames getting easier? Perhaps it's because I'm older and my gaming skills are improved, or that older games didn't have difficulty settings; there are few games around that I feel are worth beating on the hardest difficulty level. The last one I did was Perfect Dark, which, incidentally, I also unlocked every cheat for... But the point is, I did beat it. But could I beat Karnov if my life depended on it? I think not, buster. Beating those old NES games is harder than getting a straight answer out of a politician on primetime news television.
On a related note, it's next to impossible to tell how hard a game is if you made it. I get the feeling that "the establishment" is rather hard, though it's blidingly simple for me. But hey, I made it, so how do I know?
Anyway, that's the rant. Production is soaring on "another day at work:wednesday," and I'm wearing my hat of meat.
Message ends.
Ry
Now, look here, you: I meant to update the site yesterday, but something happened.... um...... what happened?.... um..... I know! I was abducted by aliens! Even when I was wearing my dumb alien-repellant hat!
I've got Tom's house done, and I started on the TV screen-- but I really want to start on the streets, so I'll say "screw the TV.. for now" and start on the streets. And I haven't gotten around to the shotgun yet- maybe I'll just leave it out.
Is it just me, or are videogames getting easier? Perhaps it's because I'm older and my gaming skills are improved, or that older games didn't have difficulty settings; there are few games around that I feel are worth beating on the hardest difficulty level. The last one I did was Perfect Dark, which, incidentally, I also unlocked every cheat for... But the point is, I did beat it. But could I beat Karnov if my life depended on it? I think not, buster. Beating those old NES games is harder than getting a straight answer out of a politician on primetime news television.
On a related note, it's next to impossible to tell how hard a game is if you made it. I get the feeling that "the establishment" is rather hard, though it's blidingly simple for me. But hey, I made it, so how do I know?
Anyway, that's the rant. Production is soaring on "another day at work:wednesday," and I'm wearing my hat of meat.
Message ends.
Ry
Friday, June 29, 2001 :: 03:26 p.m. :: Ryan
Well, how do you like that there, huh?
Check it out: it's summer for me now. Since I don't have a job, I have roughly 20 hours per day to work on games (I allocated one hour per meal and for a shower.) Subtract four hours for sleep, and that leaves me with 16 hours to work on games. In fact, though, with enough coffee, I should be able to cut out sleep entirely.
Now, after a large time (read: fifteen minutes) of sould-searching, I decided to put freestlye and movie on the backburner and get going on "another day at work: wednesday." It's probably been something like a week's worth of work by now, and I'm still putting details into your starting house. How's that for quality?
I'm telling you, this concept is staggering. One of the things I'm putting in is the ability to order a pizza, nap for an hour, answer the door, murder the pizza man with a TEC-9 pistol, enjoy a slice of pizza goodness, hide the body, sponge up the blood, feed the police a convincing story, then slip out and apply for the job of pizza delivery man after the cops leave. Since all I have now is the one level where you're in your house, I have only implemented up to the murder/coverup part. I'm working on the bathroom, then I'll do the cops. After the house is done, I'll move on to the city streets, and from there, the pizza parlor where you can get the job. It's all possible and planned out. Maybe someday I'll put up a screenshot.
There won't be twenty weapons in this gem. (when I did that in action movie, klik n play started to crash.) Instead there'll be:
•.45 caliber usp
•tec-9 semiautomatic pistol
•ak-47 russian assault rifle
•m-16 assault rifle
• some type of shotgun (I haven't worked out the specifics on that one yet.)
I think the game would still survive even with just one weapon (the original did), but I'm much happier with at least five.
What on earth is wrong with this kazoo? It's one of the mysteries of the ages.
Ry
Well, how do you like that there, huh?
Check it out: it's summer for me now. Since I don't have a job, I have roughly 20 hours per day to work on games (I allocated one hour per meal and for a shower.) Subtract four hours for sleep, and that leaves me with 16 hours to work on games. In fact, though, with enough coffee, I should be able to cut out sleep entirely.
Now, after a large time (read: fifteen minutes) of sould-searching, I decided to put freestlye and movie on the backburner and get going on "another day at work: wednesday." It's probably been something like a week's worth of work by now, and I'm still putting details into your starting house. How's that for quality?
I'm telling you, this concept is staggering. One of the things I'm putting in is the ability to order a pizza, nap for an hour, answer the door, murder the pizza man with a TEC-9 pistol, enjoy a slice of pizza goodness, hide the body, sponge up the blood, feed the police a convincing story, then slip out and apply for the job of pizza delivery man after the cops leave. Since all I have now is the one level where you're in your house, I have only implemented up to the murder/coverup part. I'm working on the bathroom, then I'll do the cops. After the house is done, I'll move on to the city streets, and from there, the pizza parlor where you can get the job. It's all possible and planned out. Maybe someday I'll put up a screenshot.
There won't be twenty weapons in this gem. (when I did that in action movie, klik n play started to crash.) Instead there'll be:
•.45 caliber usp
•tec-9 semiautomatic pistol
•ak-47 russian assault rifle
•m-16 assault rifle
• some type of shotgun (I haven't worked out the specifics on that one yet.)
I think the game would still survive even with just one weapon (the original did), but I'm much happier with at least five.
What on earth is wrong with this kazoo? It's one of the mysteries of the ages.
Ry
Thursday, June 28, 2001 :: 10:15 p.m. :: Jonathan
I appologise for this sites sudden lapse into hideously designed and basic look.
The reason: This site relies on CSS technology to define every single attribute to every element; its layout, colours, font face/size etc. To make the CSS easier to manage, I coded it in a separate file from this actual page and wrote a line of code telling the browser to parse (or retrieve) the information from this alternative source to this page. This essentially means that all of the code for the look of the site is somewhere else entirely. This is, all things being equal, an excellent way of managing a site, but the problem comes when that file is deleted. My site, http://www.hamstring.org.uk/ contained this file, and has been deleted by Easynet (my former ISP) since my change of ISP to BTinternet. I've got all the information on my hard disk, everything is perfectly okay in that respect, it just isn't online in any shape or form.
What I'm going to do about this: I will re-code all the parse lines and upload the CSS file to the server which hosts all the games (don't worry, they're not deleted, but the page containing them is), thus making it impossible to render this site badly, unless of course, you have a particularly bad browser which doesn't support CSS or Angelfire decides to boot me off for whatever reason.
The final word: I will get this done soon. I'm afraid I won't be able to do anything about it until Saturday. So until then, hang tight, and thanks if you read this far.
My appologies,
- Jon
I appologise for this sites sudden lapse into hideously designed and basic look.
The reason: This site relies on CSS technology to define every single attribute to every element; its layout, colours, font face/size etc. To make the CSS easier to manage, I coded it in a separate file from this actual page and wrote a line of code telling the browser to parse (or retrieve) the information from this alternative source to this page. This essentially means that all of the code for the look of the site is somewhere else entirely. This is, all things being equal, an excellent way of managing a site, but the problem comes when that file is deleted. My site, http://www.hamstring.org.uk/ contained this file, and has been deleted by Easynet (my former ISP) since my change of ISP to BTinternet. I've got all the information on my hard disk, everything is perfectly okay in that respect, it just isn't online in any shape or form.
What I'm going to do about this: I will re-code all the parse lines and upload the CSS file to the server which hosts all the games (don't worry, they're not deleted, but the page containing them is), thus making it impossible to render this site badly, unless of course, you have a particularly bad browser which doesn't support CSS or Angelfire decides to boot me off for whatever reason.
The final word: I will get this done soon. I'm afraid I won't be able to do anything about it until Saturday. So until then, hang tight, and thanks if you read this far.
My appologies,
- Jon
Tuesday, June 19, 2001 :: 07:43 p.m. :: Ryan
This ought to interest you....
Years ago I dismissed "Another Day at Work: Wednesday" as impossible to do on Klik n Play. "It's just too complicated," I'd say. "The fact that there's no global variables alone cripples it!" There are just too many things to keep track of- too many people, too many things.
Now, years later, for some reason my subconscious mind started working on the problem again. I don't remember consciously thinking about it. Really, not at all. I never said, "gee, I wonder how I could do another day at work" to myself. I just seem to have found the answer.
That's right. I've figured it out. I've worked it all out- how to manage the variables, how to set up the town. Everything. There's a day/night system, a hunger system, a more in-depth monetary system. Think: Go to work to get money to buy food to survive. Or save up and buy a tech 9 on the black market, knock off a general store and mow down civilians.
I'm telling you, this game I have envisioned is better than anything I ever imagined possible. And yet, it is. It's amazing. But, there is a conundrum, a problem:
I want to make this game. Real bad. I'd be in a production fury for a month or so. It'd be my summer project. The problem, though, is that y'all are already expecting freestyle walking and action movie. The question is, do I go ahead with work on them or do Another Day at Work: Wednesday?
I'll probably just put AM and FW on the backburner this summer and concentrate on Another Day at Work. I'm telling you, this game will be un-frickin-believable.
So, I encourage you to read this work of modern fiction, "ghost pancakes," by a budding 21st century author, Taco The Wonder Dog. With talent like this, he'll make it big.
Ry
This ought to interest you....
Years ago I dismissed "Another Day at Work: Wednesday" as impossible to do on Klik n Play. "It's just too complicated," I'd say. "The fact that there's no global variables alone cripples it!" There are just too many things to keep track of- too many people, too many things.
Now, years later, for some reason my subconscious mind started working on the problem again. I don't remember consciously thinking about it. Really, not at all. I never said, "gee, I wonder how I could do another day at work" to myself. I just seem to have found the answer.
That's right. I've figured it out. I've worked it all out- how to manage the variables, how to set up the town. Everything. There's a day/night system, a hunger system, a more in-depth monetary system. Think: Go to work to get money to buy food to survive. Or save up and buy a tech 9 on the black market, knock off a general store and mow down civilians.
I'm telling you, this game I have envisioned is better than anything I ever imagined possible. And yet, it is. It's amazing. But, there is a conundrum, a problem:
I want to make this game. Real bad. I'd be in a production fury for a month or so. It'd be my summer project. The problem, though, is that y'all are already expecting freestyle walking and action movie. The question is, do I go ahead with work on them or do Another Day at Work: Wednesday?
I'll probably just put AM and FW on the backburner this summer and concentrate on Another Day at Work. I'm telling you, this game will be un-frickin-believable.
So, I encourage you to read this work of modern fiction, "ghost pancakes," by a budding 21st century author, Taco The Wonder Dog. With talent like this, he'll make it big.
Ry