RMN SNEWS - ISSUE #19

A newsletter - deadlines, lame gamers, sissies, TLSRMNCMV, Dungeoneer, Drunken Paladin, Your Star, calunio

  • kentona
  • 06/14/2010 08:59 PM
  • 9785 views

..:: Issue #19 ::..






Deadlines and Motivation

Have you ever noticed that when a deadline approaches, whether it be for an assignment or due date, you work hard to get it done? It is easy to put off tedious work on your game (all games have tedious work that has to get done to finish off a game) and (if the Languishing Projects thread is any evidence) we all do it. What can we do about this? We can set a deadline for ourselves.

An external deadline can be a great way to make progress toward your goals. If you have been thinking about doing something, but not taking much action, set a deadline. Then, make yourself accountable to someone else for meeting the deadline. When another person expects you to complete a task, you are more likely to actually do what you have been putting off.

Join a group of people who are all working toward goals (say, RMN). Announce your goal to the group and provide progress reports (say, through Blogs). The support of the group will help you reach your goal, and the act of reporting to them will cause you to focus on results.

Make a public commitment to having something completed by a certain date. There is nothing like the threat of public humiliation to get you started--and to make you finish. (On the flipside, does this mean that if someone missing their deadline, we should mock him? Oh dear!)

Related to this, the impending deadline of an event (or the approach of an event) seems to generate a flurry of activity on RMN. For those of you there were here long enough ago, you might remember the big Release Something! Days we used to hold. Their annoucement sparked a lot of members into working on their projects so that they could release something (!) on RS!Day. I know I did. And we did this despite knowing that there was going to be a deluge of other releases that same day and that it could get lost in the pile. But - and this was the weird thing - RS!Day also seemed to heighten the anticipation of the (few) game players we had, and a lot of the games released got played. It was a festival of sorts.

Anywho, the point I am trying to make is that deadlines motivate people, even for hobbies and other trivial things. There are probably reems of psychological studies and theories on this, but I am not motivated enough to look them up.




As if this isn't cool.


5 Reasons It's Still Not Cool to Admit You're a Gamer

Article.

#5. We Can't Shake the "Lonely, Anti-Social Virgin" Stereotype
#4. The Industry Thinks We're All 17-Year-Old Douchebags
#3. Video Game Storytelling is Still at the Level of B Movies
#2. We're Still Obsessed by Shiny Gadgets
#1. We Have Some Serious Entitlement Issues

Whether you agree with this assessment or not, or even wonder if it is relevant, this article (posted by Mog) has spurred a good debate!

Admit that you're a gamer and post here: http://rpgmaker.net/forums/topics/6311/

SIDEBAR: When did Cracked start writing (semi-)serious articles?




Tastes Like Spelunky RPG Maker Network Community Metroidvania


halibabica invites you to make a level in Tastes Like Spelunky and he will combine them into a massive adventure game!

This is a community event similar in nature to what Super RMN Bros. was. All you wonderful forum-goers out there sign up and make levels for the project in Tastes Like Spelunky's editor. Once they're all finished, I put them together in one big package for everyone to enjoy! Sound interesting? I certainly hope so!


There are still a lot of open slots so sign up today! It should be fun.

Sign-ups: http://rpgmaker.net/forums/topics/6314/



Why can't I just poison him a little bit!?

Can you inflict status effects on bosses? Should you be able to inflict status effects on bosses? Can you design a better system?

Cast your opinion here: http://rpgmaker.net/forums/topics/6325/

~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Strong vs. Sissy

A keen fashion sense can provide just as much protection as plate mail. -socksmakepeoplesexy


post=ButtHandle_Productions
if you have played even a single video game, it is quite obvious that the current fad for main characters and cohorts is that of the skinny/homosexual/sissy looking stereotype. From final fantasy games to that terrible kingdom hearts stuff, it seems that developers are focusing on these looks. Now, this troubles me for a number of reasons...


...and this started a lively debate of character looks in RPGs and videogames, and some sexy images of Ivy.

post=kentona
I hate the pansy heroes and their sissy looks and spaghetti arms, and I am vocal about it. I should not have to wonder whether the hero is a boy or a girl.

(and manly beefcakes are way more attractive than little scrawny ladyboys)

Manly beefcakes are where it's at, in my humble opinion, but it appears that mainstream jRPGs disagree with me.

Voice your own opinion: http://rpgmaker.net/forums/topics/6339/





Beautiful Escape: Dungeoneer
Oh by the way calunio your mind is completely fucked over. =) -Pokemaniac


Who made it?
calunio

What is it?
A short game about torture and love (mostly the former). It is also a Game Gale entry (meaning it was made in about 2 weeks).

Why should you care?
In a word: Contentious. As in, the subject matter of the game is controversial and elicits strong reactions from nearly all who play it (or hear about it, really).


Tales of the Drunken Paladin
this is it this is the best screenshot -tardis


Who made it?
Drunken_Paladin

What is it?
A comedy RPG wherein an amnesiac Paladin on his quest to recover his riches and memory.

Why should you care?
Love or Loathe seems to be the two reactions to this game. It is the only game (as far as I know) to recieve two 5-star reviews.




Your Star
I left the image this big because the visual style is striking -kentona


Who made it?
natahem

What is it?
A translated French RMXP game where you play as a young boy searching for his sister in a strange mansion.

Why should you care?
Visually striking meets adventure game. The game is also rich in interactivity.




THEME: I've Only Got 15 mins!
"That's what she said." - funny guy

The Mirror Lied by Reives
Action 52 RMN - Real Men Edition by a lot of REAL MEN
I Expect You To Die by kentona
The New Adventures of Billy the Kid by catmitts
Tokens & Tigers by Mikemc

Sometimes you just don't have a lot of time to play games (but you still want to). Hence, you look for short little games that you can pick up and play in 15 mins!

1. You don't have to actually finish the game/demo, but of course you should get far enough as to where you can say you've actually played it.
2. You don't have to like the game/demo. You're completely entitled to think that the games you picked suck ass. And that brings me to my next point, and perhaps most important...
3. After you've played the games/demos you picked, give something back! This is the most important part of the whole thing! Not just a "Looks good", or "That was fun", give something more. Write a review (and submit it to the site even), post your opinions on the gamepages, list bugs you encountered, hell, maybe we'll even get something that I couldn't even have imagined. Surprise me.





calunio

aiouhuhuohuoioihio


..:: Games :: Reviews :: Tutorials :: Achievements ::..


The straightforward dude from Brazil is this SNEWS's featured dude! He prefers that RM game designers take risks and proves it by making games like Dungeoneer.

In his own words...

RMN HISTORY:
I started my main RM project in 2004, and I have had serious motivational issues completing it since. I always joined RM communities to motivate and inspire me, but I was having trouble finding any that could do the trick. I found RMN on January '10, and it was like finding heaven. Honestly, I dropped a lot of bad habits after I joined RMN, it became my new healthy(?) addiction. To me it's one of the best online communities about anything. My initial excitement has faded a little, but not much. My original intention was posting Marvel Brothel somewhere, and minutes after I did there were comments like "wow, incredible", and I thought "great reception!", only to find out later that people thought it was a joke game. I don't mind much, because download count is decent. After that I just tried participating on as many activities as possible, being the latest my participation on Game Gale. Project was supposed to be nothing more than a decent shot at the contest, but ended up being... something else. Now I'm apparently known for making morally questionable games (which I consider to be an unfair reputation).

PERSONAL BLURB:
I am a 28y/o Brazilian psychologist. Got my Psychology degree in 2004, and my Masters degree in 2008. I work as a psychotherapist, and though I'm not yet established in my profession, I consider it to be my dream job already, because I learn a lot and I help people at the same time. I feel like I'm a creative person and I need creative outlets, so game making is my huge passion. To me it's much more than just a hobby, but I would never do it for money.

SPARE TIME:
I do capoeira, and it works for me as a hobby, a physical activity, and a social activity. That's where I get most of my friends, my reasons to travel... It's heavily addictive and consuming. When I'm not at it, working, or working out, I'm usually home, usually at the computer, and usually doing something game-making related.

FAVORITE FOOD:
Hot-dog pie. Not technically food, but I also love passion fruit juice. I can't help closing my eyes while drinking it.

FAVORITE SAYING:
"Life's what you make it, so let's make it rock!" - Hannah Montana.

PET PEEVE:
Everything traffic-related.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT:
I'm specialized in lie detection research.




Liberty for her work on the DOING IT! weekly events.

Posts

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Keep on rockin', ken.
LouisCyphre
can't make a bad game if you don't finish any games
4523
comment=34087
Keep on rockin', ken.
I do it for the makerscore.

Also, on the subject of motivation, I think that for some perverse reason, spurious events like Release Something! Day actually gets projects out the door and completed.
comment=34096
Setting deadlines for yourself is a good idea so long as you don't take it too seriously.


I have the opposite opinion, and that's my problem with setting deadlines for oneself. If you don't take them seriously, there's no point in making them. And I particularly find it hard to take my own deadlines seriously. I like kentona's tip on getting someone else to put the pressure on you.
edchuy
You the practice of self-promotion
1624
Good one. Interesting profile on cal. Anybody that doesn't get his games ought to be psychoanalyzed by him. Too bad his Alvorada do Mal is largely unknown just because it isn't in English.

Also, choosing Liberty for the Shout-Out!! was a good choice.
Great job as usual, Kentona. Nice choice for the hidden gem - I found that one last week and gave it a play through. It was pretty nice. ^.^
And wow! A shout out? Thanks! <3
you guys make me feel special
comment=34118
you guys make me feel special


You are special kenton-ah.
edchuy
You the practice of self-promotion
1624
comment=34120
comment=34118
you guys make me feel special
You are special kenton-ah.


Yeah, make that Super special!
I always look forward to these! Nice read, thanks for doin' this kentona.
Sidenote:
Official Declaration - Kentona having shown that 'gamer' picture up top, I hereby declare and decree that Kentona's next 'retrogame' project must include a class of 'Game Mage'.
halibabica
RMN's Official Reviewmonger
16873
Hey, thanks for the mention (and the epic banner, too)!
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