RMN SNEWS - ISSUE #2

A newsletter - Befuddle Quest, Best RM Games, Sore Losers, Outlaw City, Craze

  • kentona
  • 04/24/2009 12:00 AM
  • 14331 views

..:: Issue #2 ::..






Map Design Fun #8: Befuddle Quest was a different take on the faltering Map Design Fun events held irregularily at RMN. This time it was a collaborative puzzle/maze game community project headed up by kentona. Using a RPG Maker 2003, participants each made a single map puzzle or maze and kentona linked them together into a quest with a story.

The game is akin to the popular ALEX: Collaborative Game format, wherein people submit portions of a loosely tied together story, except the focus of this project was on puzzles and challenges.

There were 7 entries:

1. kentona
2. GreatRedSpirit
3. Fractal Advocate
4. Liberty
5. Blitzen
6. SavageInventions
7. ZPE

Thanks to all the participants.

kentona is wondering if there is enough interest to start a second Befuddle Quest. Post here if you are interested:
http://www.rpgmaker.net/games/1101/blog/991/#comments






Best RM Games you've Ever Played
Relyt ("Tyler" backwards) challenges us with:

Name your top 10 favorite RM Games you've ever played.

This has stirred up discussion, nostalgia and a bit of heated discussion. Do you have an opinion? Is someone else's opinion just plain wrong? Speak up and speak out in this active thread!

Some games frequenting the lists are A Blurred Line, The Way, Demon Legacy, Love and War, Sunset Over Imdahl, Three the Hard Way, and Kinetic Cipher (Again).


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Yarr! Thar Be Pirates!


Pirating has become a hot button topic at RMN of late, with the (now locked) Pirate Bay Copyright Case topic, Downloading Music Illegally active topic, and even the If this were rrrrrmatey.net... Moronic topic.

The flurry of activity stems from the recent court case involving the group who run The Pirate Bay - a site centered around connecting users with torrents (99% of which are pirated material such as movies, songs and games...and porn). The thread discussing the case got heated and had "run its course" ahead of its time, but the new thread started by backwards-Tyler (him again?) should allow those of us with an opinion voice them (in a civil manner, mind!).

Avast ye scurvy dogs!




Frontpage Update

WIP has been experimenting with the layout of the RMN homepage. The new frontpage now shows Newest Screenshots and Newest Blogs in addition to the existing Featured Game, Latest News, Newest Games, Latest Updated Games, Random Screenshots, Articles/Tutorials and Reviews in an attractive and well-aligned layout.


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Max McGee's Upcoming 3 Hour

Max McGee still intends to host the next 3 Hour Competion, wherein the participants have 3 hours (duh) to create a new, original game from scratch using the agreed-upon theme. So prep your projects in anticipation of the yet-to-be-revealed-and-won't-be-revealed-until-gametime theme!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Interest Check/Preparation topic for a Map Contest

Feldschlatdinger IV pinged the community for an interest check in a new mapping contest. Interest was generally high, but the devil is in the details and things ground to a bit of a halt. However, it is not dead yet!

Here's your chance to get involved!




Understanding Fun Game Design ~ Case Study: Tetris

Blitzen's essay on fun game design centers around the popular game Tetris. "Fun" is at the core of any game and any chance we get to examine it is a step in the right direction. Read the article, post your thoughts, and use the ideas within to improve your own game.








SORE LOSERS

NOMINATED "MOST PROMISING DEMO", 2008 MISAOS!




"It takes a 12 step program, hypnosis, a sex change, and the whole damn starwars series to break you away." - Tyrannos


What is it?
Sore Losers is a cyberpunk RPG set in an immersive modern, dystopian world with traditional gameplay broken up with interactive mini-games and optional missions. Markus and David, two criminals making their way in the slums, get dragged into a conflict beyond their scope and understanding...

Why should you care?
The FULL GAME version of Sore Losers has just been released. The demo verison of the game had generated a lot of interest from the community and the full game release is proving to be doing the same. Invest 10 hours of your life into this great game.



Putting the spotlight on a oft-overlooked game



Welcome to Outlaw City



Overlooked games should be outlawed!


What is it?
Outlaw City is an RMXP traditional RPG with an interesting setting (an modern independant city-state gone awry) and a compelling storyline. Generation City's Infinity Generators - once the darling of the world - have been superceded by other energy production means. Now they are leaking a strange radiation, and people soon find themselves possessing increased physical attributes or able to control the elements or use powers not unlike those of comic-book superheroes.

Why should you care?
Outlaw City is a very polished game by Anaryu, maker of other hits such as SkyE and Gravity. The lack of attention is practically criminal!

Also, you can take a look at its sequel: Outlaw City: Dark Past.




Craze

Epic Monster Designer Extraordinaire! + Mysticality = Craze
..:: Games :: Reviews ::..


Craze is a prolific poster and game maker, with 1430 posts and approximately 1431 games. He joined RMN wayyyy back on June 4th, 2007. One time he even started making chipsets and charsets for Hero's Realm!

In his own words...


RMN HISTORY:
It all began with... somebody. Iishenron or brick or WIP or Sei or SOMEONE who told me to go to #rm2k during a time when I was mostly on Gaming World. So I started the whole IRC bit and got involved in some hilarious drama and finally joined multiple iterations of RMN. I have been a part of the RMN community for years now (has it been that long?).

...actually, I'm pretty sure it wasn't brick who invited me to #rm2k.


PERSONAL BLURB:
I wish that RM* developers would focus more on gameplay and consistency instead of lists of features. Sure, you can have your CBS and minimaps, but are they necessary? Do they make the game lag? Are they any fun? Can you stand playing through your own game and looking for bugs three times in a row? Also, I don't want to see monsters from etolier, Hot Toke and the RTP all in one game. Pick a set of resources and roll with it. Make the game work as best it can, and let your consistent graphics bring up the game's appeal. If you really wanted that wolf battle in the woods but don't have a wolf graphic, then use a bear. Maybe you have a werewolf but not a wolf--add a sub-plot about werewolves to the dungeon. Trust me, your game will get done more quickly and it'll look better in the long run.

Also, please start moving on from RM2k3. Believe it or not, XP and VX games work better on my computer than 2k/3 games do. Soon they are going to be outdated and not supported--get with the future, guys.


SPARE TIME:
In my spare time I play whatever Iishenron and Karsuman tell me to play, as well as act as stage manager for school drama productions and participate in public speaking. Sometimes I pretend to draw, but I've pretty much given up on that.


FAVORITE FOOD:
Pizza, secret family recipe


FAVORITE SAYING:
"If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can point at that mountain and say 'move from here to there' and it will move."


PET PEEVE:
Aggravated jeans.


LITTLE KNOWN FACT:
I have spent one-on-one time hanging out with Aaron Carter.



Recognition for a dedicated member.


GreatRedSpirit for his efforts in the the Help & Requests forum. GRS is often there to point us in the right direction (and curse at poorly coded RMVX scripts). Plus, his avatars are cool.

Posts

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So, because I am incredibly bored all the time, I've decided to do this on a (roughly) bi-weekly basis. Thus Issue #3 ought to be released around the weekend of May 9th, for anyone who is interested.

Also, if you have suggestions for Games, Hidden Gems, Spotlights, or Shout-Outs, PM me and I'll consider it.

Thanks for reading.
Craze
why would i heal when i could equip a morningstar
15150
Outlaw City is pretty fun: the battle mechanics are excellent and the art is great. I <3 Outlaw City. It does have some of those "puzzle" things though... not exactly a coffee break RPG. =D
Hey, anyone who reads this: Is bi-weekly too frequent? I understand that not too much happens in a span of two weeks, but I can keep this up if the demand is high.
Craze
why would i heal when i could equip a morningstar
15150
You might run out of people to spotlight. Maybe do bi-weekly, but do one spotlight a month and on the off-issue do another featured game/hidden gem...? Or do a big production of the current Top Game Pick thinger?
Starscream
Conquest is made from the ashes of one's enemies.
6110
There are always people to spotlight. Craze wouldn't have even been in my Top 10. :)
Craze
why would i heal when i could equip a morningstar
15150
Craze
why would i heal when i could equip a morningstar
15150
Sell your legit copy of rm2k
Craze
why would i heal when i could equip a morningstar
15150
Craze
why would i heal when i could equip a morningstar
15150
Drop it, and don't complain about the price of RMXP/VX.
I dunno Craze, I guess in a way it's pretty irritating to see you bug people about moving on from RM2K3 and all that jazz. You say it all the time, we get it! It'll happen on its own time.
Craze
why would i heal when i could equip a morningstar
15150
See, that's the problem right there. I'm willing to bet that the top five RM* sites (active population-wise) hide away rm2k/3 games either in a sub-forum or in a forum separate completely from rmxp/vx games, and that those games are less active (reply-wise) than rmxp/vx games.

It needs to happen more quickly. Besides, you can think of it as paying tribute to the company you've been stealing from!
Yeah, but you bugging everyone about it won't make it happen any faster, no matter how much you need to feel it happen (even if it OBJECTIVELY needs to happen more quickly). Eventually people are going to start tuning you out.
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
Aherm-herm, take it to the forums, fellows...

In response to kentona's question of bi-weekly being too frequent, I think monthly would probably be just fine. I don't feel there's enough that goes on to warrant having it so often. I like Craze's idea of switching off between spotlights/hidden gems/etc.
No, actually I agree with bi-weekly, to be honest.
I'd be surprised if biweekly updates really have that much content, I'd say go for monthly. Or hell, forget a regular schedule. If something interesting is going down, do a semimonthly RMNews. If its a slow month, do a monthly article. Once a month guaranteed, but if something deserves attention do another article ahead of time. Flexability!
...or maybe....TRI-WEEKLY!!
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