flash mmorpg update

I've been doing some design in the background for my flash mmorpg - unlimited realms. It's going to be a place where 5 - 10 people at a time can get together and play in a fantasy realm - almost like a traditional "DND" style game where everyone can contribute as an interactive story. Combining aspects of interactive fiction, chat, multiplay, freeform rpg's etc. I think it's going to be very interesting :)

Here's my original post:

Unlimited Realms

Petals Around the Rose

I spent some time agonizing about this game today after discovering it by accident. I highly encourage you to try it out yourself. I finally did discover the solution, and I understand why folks are reluctant to just tell the solution - the feeling you get when you find out for yourself is quite gratifying, besides its just dice :) Try not to pull your hair out too much!

Ajax: A New Approach to Web Applications

Here's a very interesting article about creating applications for the web using standard javascript, css, html, etc. The rise of the age of "weblications". Sucks for me, because I thought of this almost 5 years ago (if not longer) while working at Netscape. I guess it's all in the timing and execution :)

TEKHNA3D - shockwave demo goodness

Remember the days of old, when Amiga reigned supreme as the graphical and computing powerhouse for "PC Demos"? You can relive those glory days of bobs and colors with this site which seems to be a collection of demos showing off features of Shockwave. In all honesty its easy to forget that shockwave is the older brother to Flash and contains quite a bit bang for the buck still - especially with a nice 3D engine. Who knows? You might find some inspiration here.

Make your own games - Gamemaker

I've been tooting the horn of GameMaker from Mark Overmars for quite some time, but lately I've felt the need to toot a bit louder. With version 6.0 - there's been added support for 3-D style graphics which seems to have resulted in an explosion of Wolfenstein-style games. It's great! I want to post again to heartily recommend you give this app a try and create for yourself that game you've always wanted to do. It's easy enough that my 7yr old can create something (with my help) while sophisticated enough through scripting that you could create a seriously nice game - and sell it yourself with no attachments from the tool. After seeing many 3D demos lately, I've gotten the idea of creating a simple Tactics clone. We'll see if this ever get's off the ground, but at least with a tool like this it's something that is very possible, instead of merely pie in the sky dreaming.

Also, it's a must to use the Forums effectively - you can find sourcecode, help, graphics, etc. to help you in your quest for indie game stardom.

Midieval Strategy - Slay

Heard about this game via some indie gamer boards. I haven't tried it out myself yet, but it looks very interesting. Give it a go yourself and let me know what you think,

From the site:

Slay is a simple to learn game of strategy and cunning set in medieval times. The island is divided up between the six players, and you must try to capture your enemies' land and link up your own territories to create larger and stronger ones. You begin capturing land by attacking with your peasants. Once your territories become richer you can combine peasants to make stronger and stronger people (Spearmen, Knights and then Barons) who can kill weaker enemy troops, or knock down their castles. Just be careful that you don't create too many expensive men or the territory will go bankrupt!

The latest version of Slay for Windows allows you to play games over a network or the Internet, and to design your own islands.

January Game Round Up at GameTunnel

If you are an indie game fan, as I am, you'll enjoy poking around the list that Game Tunnel has created this month of indie games. The games are reviewed to save you time playing them yourself.

Oasis - the game

If you havent discovered this game already, you are really missing something. Combining strategy gameplay similar to games like Warcraft with ease of play like "mine sweeper" you get something that is both highly addicting and fun. You clear out grids on a map while accumulating followers. At first you might find the gameplay to "simplistic" but if so you are missing a key aspect of the game - and you might find that you arent really that successful at it. It's nice to have a game with "layers". Ogre's have layers, games have layers.....

Flash Game - Heart Attack

A bit too late for Valentines day, but a clever game nonetheless - this is basically a flash-based Defender clone using cupids and little devils. Very cute!

Found this on Jay is

Terra Nova

This is a great blog to add to your collection, if you enjoy playing MMORPG's. It even has a handy dandy RSS feed.

Imeem

This application certainly looks interesting. It appears to be a new style IM + file sharing application. If anyone has a spare invite to send my way so I could try it out I'd be eternally grateful!

Awesome gaming news site: Insert Credit

I've been running across this site quite a bit lately. It's basically news about japanese arcade, gba, playstation, etc games. Often mentioning new releases for the states as well. Japan definitely got a triple helping when they were passing out creativity and gaming coolness. I'm sure It'll become a fast bookmark.

Faint Echoes

I just got finished reading "Faint Echoes, Distant Stars" by Ben Bova - it's quite a good book and has renewed my interest in astrobiology. And due to the amazing power of Google, I found the link above, which seems to be a site dedicated to the same science mentioned in Bova's book. Check it out.

Star Wars III: A Lost Hope

Ok, its funny -- geeky -- but funny!

Text based Pong

I imagine PONG has been remade in probably almost every programming language ever created, however, this instance seems particularly clever. Imagine taking the game PONG and trying to play it as a text-based adventure like ZORK.

A new day

It's a new day for me. Just a few weeks ago I had no apartment, or prospects for one, and lots of other stuff going on as well (irs, etc.) Today I woke up from two days of non-stop lugging boxes: sore, stiff, but happy to be in a new place. With that I hope to start posting again daily.

So in light of that, click the link above for an amazing freeware game called
Cave Story ~ Doukutsu Monogatari

It's sorta a zelda meets metroid with old school graphics. Very fun and very playable.

Moving Day 3

We're in day 3 of moving. Why is it taking so long? Well when you have a day job and only yourself and wife and kiddos - a move that might take a day for normal friend-enhanced folks might take a week for 1 person. I am however learning creative ways of moving very big things with 1 person and a tiny red dolly. Heck, I'm just grateful I'm _able_ to move.

Well, back to shlepping. All that's left over here pretty much are clothes, bedframe, the TV and the computer. I'll update this once things are moved. Laters.