~Metroid48

Wow has it been a long time since I updated on DeviantArt xD

Well, the most notable thing in gaming I've done in the past month is make some slot machines for gmod! That's right, I fully modeled, textured, and coded some slot machines for the Lounge gamemode in gmod. My hope is that Sassafrass (the owner of the lounge) will implement them soon.

If you want a live demo you can see a video of them here, with full annotations! [link]

As a note, though I started public announcement first, Spraus posted afterwards that he was doing slot machines as well (and was at about the same level of completeness). We both have finished ours at around the same time, so it's really up to Sassafrass to implement them at this point.

The forum topic for my slot machines can be found here: [link]

I've been away for a bit from DA right now - mainly due to exams. However, after Monday I'll be done exams for this year and will be able to create stuff again!

I've still been doing quite a bit in my spare time. N-JAMM, of course, has been finished by Azura - but it has also been started by slforce, who's doing a neat run as well. I'm happy with all the positive feedback I've gotten. In addition, all the negative feedback has been realistic critique as opposed to dislike for no reason, which is fantastic! You can view the whole sequence here:

[link]

As for other ventures, I donated $20.00 to Sassafrass's gmod gamemode - The Lounge and Sassilization. I've been seeing plenty of progress in it and hope to see more! In addition, I'm working on a slot machine in hammer (and consecutively the Lua coding involved) that could be added to the Lounge. I have no idea if it'd be accepted or not, but there's been enough want for them on the forums, so I feel it's a good task. Plus, it never hurts to practice coding!

Freeze tag is, once again, taking a backseat. I have to say, I'm having more fun doing stuff like making a map segment for the Lounge, or coding minigames. That as well as G3X lost his server. It has a possibility of being restored, but until I convert my spare computer to a Linux-terminal-for-hosting I have no (easy) means to self host servers.

Overall, things are going well. Learn more about Sassilization at [link]

Freezetag dev log, Metroid48, 2008:

-01/25/08: FacePunch user Striker5 created a topic wondering what happened to Gmod 9 gamemode freezetag. I became the sole responder and decided to code a gmod 10 version. [link]

-01/27/08: I created the first files for the gamemode, beginning the coding procedure. I announced a planned release for within a week.

-01/28/08-02/02/08: The gamemode was fun. Very fun. Via the kindness of user G3X (GeXeH, [link] ), I was able to have an online version running for people to play. Aside from getting great suggestions, being able to balance it so it worked better, and finding bugs, it was a real riot that people enjoyed. In addition, the "SAVE THA WHALES" phrase came up here, prompting me to add hats.

-02/02/08: I create several promo pictures for freeze tag.

-02/03/08: I posted the first topic about this in the Lua Gamemode coding forum. [link] my planned release to be within 2 weeks to accommodate mapping and future coding.

-02/03/08: SuperToaster's map was already ready, since it had been in development prior to the topic. Map ft_rusty added to list.

-02/04/08: During testing of ft_rusty on G3X's server, player Dwight comes up with the quote "Every time you don't save a whale... God KILLS a whale. Please, SAVE THE WHALES!" I promptly make a poster for it.

-02/04/08: User Borsty (no link to profile) creates really cool looking HUD for it. Is implemented.

-02/05/08: I begin work on a new help interface.

-02/05/08: Sometime about now, there was a major crash on the server. It was my own coding fault and was quickly remedied. However, the 16-ish people on just before didn't rejoin.

-02/07/08: I got very busy and could not continue development on freeze tag. However, for reasons I can't recall (probably I didn't expect to have so little time for so long), I did not make a release at this time. The crash could have affected this decision as well.

-03/--/08: PC Gamer UK magazine prints a feature "GMod gamemode round-up" in their "EXTRA-LIFE" April column. It lists 5 top gamemodes of their own pic, that are recently active. Freeze Tag is among those five. [link]

-03/31/08: Sechs releases his "Simple Gamemode Base," to aid the lua community in creating gamemodes. [link] He releases two samples with it of his own creation. They are Ultimate Dodgeball and his own version of FreezeTag, which he named exactly the same as my version >_>

-04/01/08-04/30/08: People confuse Sechs' Freeze Tag with my Freeze Tag, thinking his got mentioned.

-05/05/08: User TErMinEiGHt confuses my gamemode for the one made by user Sechs, of the same name. It comes to my attention within the next week that this has happened, as I finally get time to come back to gmod, gaming, and other online activities. [link]

-05/17/08: I finally begin development, making my own map. Realizations of just how complete Freeze Tag is, as well as how there are people who want to see it come back, fuel my mapping.

-05/17/08: I realize I also have 2 heavy assignments, due the 21st, and exams for June. Thus, I make the decision to still work on this, post screens/movies, and get a server up (either by myself or, if G3X still wants to, hosted on a dedicated.

-05/19/08: I decide to chronically organize all FreezeTag related events. I also attempt to install HLDS server package, UNIX distribution, on my web host (Dreamhost). I must contact tech support shortly.


So, what say you about Freeze Tag development? I say, Onwards!

You know, I never really noticed how much variety there is in my bookmarks. When reading something with moments that I'd like to note down, but don't want to dog-ear the page/can't use the cover, I'll use any scrap of paper or card I have lying around. Including the occasional $5.00 bill.

And that, people, is probably the most random thing I've ever mentioned on the internetz. Hurray!


Moving on, The World Ends With You is probably the most captivating DS game I've had. Sure, Phantom Hourglass was neat graphically, Tetris DS has great local multiplayer in push mode, and Elite Beat Agents is a really cool DDR-esque-but-not-really music game I'd love a sequel for. However, as a whole, The World Ends With You shines. It's got great, unique gameplay: You fight battles against "noise," half-tattoo animal variants which actually don't randomly attack you. The battle itself occurs simultaneously on two screens, the top being d-pad operated, the bottom using the touch screen. It's fast, epic, and gratifying; you really feel that you deserved the win when you get it.

Then there's the story. Without revealing anything deep, you play (mostly) as Neku, a confused guy who wakes up in Scramble Crossing, a real location of Shibuya Tokyo. As a part of The Reapers' Game, in which he receives a task (and a painful appearance of a timer on his palm) every day for seven days, each with its own time limit. With no memories of his life or why he's here, he has to make pacts with other characters and fight off the noise.

The brilliance of all that is that it occurs in a real location. You can look up pictures of the landmarks in the game. Though shops are spin-off names of their real counterparts, they are no doubt stylized versions of the originals. All the time that you're running around town, invisible to the normal folks (as are the noise), you feel like it's a real place. To only strengthen that preposition, the game offers a method of reading the thoughts of the people around you; you'll find them thinking about things like watching concerts of spin-off bands, or reading someone's blog. It all feels one step from reality, with only the noise and such to keep you out of the mainstream.

On a final note, there's the music. though most songs differ from the Japanese release, they share the qualities that made them such a success. The music has an up-beat feel that, at the same time, complements the world in which you play. It only strengthens the idea of it being a living city, while simultaneously keeping you ready to erase the noise.



I could go on quite a while about this game. Really, it boils down to this: Buy this game. NAO! It's got fantastically innovative gameplay, upbeat music, and a story to keep you hooked for its many hours of entertainment. There is no doubt in my mind that any fan of RPGs, Action Games, or pretty much any genres should have a copy of this game. It's from the creators of Final Fantasy and holds that quality, just with an upped storyline and the coolest combat ever.

10/10

Yup, my romhack (N-JAMM, also known as NotJustAnotherMarioMod) has started being reviewed by AzureBlade49 on youtube! I'm glad to see it get going and am pleased with the results so far, though the update didn't seem to get through quite in time :/

In any case, here's the links. Note that these contain mario, funny deaths, moderately strong language, and very very restrictive timers!

Part 1: [link]
Part 2: [link]

Those are only the first two parts, though, so stay tuned!

I'm a bit worried about the opinion that'll result from trying the special world levels, since they're not really named and are more so experimental levels (though there are reasonably difficult ones). Still, it'll be neat to see, and has already been pretty funny xD




EDIT:

The next level, ClickaClackaClunk, unexpectedly took 2 videos. I have made a video response to part 4 with my original intended run of it, but Azura and WhiteNekos have provided 18 full minutes of hilarity!

Part 3: [link]
Part 4: [link]

My own playlist of it all: [link]


It's still ongoing, too!

EDIT2:

Here's an embedded player for it!

[link]