The Shining Source

I promised you a double update, so here you go ;) This is actually the last email response I’ve received, so hopefully by now you should be fully clued-up as to where our Shining fangames are in their development. If you still have any questions, I’ll be listing the addresses and phone numbers of the developers, so you can get real answers ;)

Shining Odyssey

Project website

Development team:

Zylokh – programmer, artist, “scenarist” (I think that means he devised the scenario – Newts)
Philippe, Magalie, Remi – moral support

Development language
C++ builder

Most recent release, 31st December 2003

Most recent update or newsworthy happening:

The project is somewhat paused until the end of June 2004 due to professional exams I have to take this year. Yet, I have been reworking a little bit on the character graphics recently. Devlopment should start again in September 2004. A release scheduled before the end of 2004? That would be great.

Other comments:

8 chapters are programmed for this epic journey. Character designers and/or artists, programmers are heartily welcome to be part of the project (…)

Newts says: Sounds like another developer has hit the hassle of exams, only this time it looks like the summer development route isn’t an option, which is a shame. Also, it sounds as if the development team could use some expansion, which is another common problem with all fangames. Still, I hope Zylokh can overcome these problems and produce a really high quality fangame :)

Newts also says: I was only joking about the phone numbers earlier :P The only project I’m yet to hear from is Matty B‘s Shining Force Online, so I hope this series of news posts has rekindled your interest in the fangame world :D

I’m going away tomorrow, so you’re getting two Shining project updates today. Aren’t I good to you? First up is the behemoth of a project that is Peter van Dalen‘s Shining Force: Dark Resurrection.

Project website (hosted at TSS)

Development team:
Peter van Dalen – programming, story, graphics

Development language:
DIV Games Studio (DOS)

Most recent release

Most recent update/newsworthy happening:

The Shining Memory minigame is almost finished!

Other comments:

I plan to release the new demo in July. By then, it must have: intro, 2/3 towns, 2 dungeons, 5/6 battles (+ enemy AI) (excluding ambushes), all item shop options, all weapon shop options, all priest options, talking to villagers

Newts says: Peter has proven himself to be one of the most talented and hard-working Shining developers around these parts, and Dark Resurrection is a highly ambitious project. The new demo scheduled for July could well be the most advanced Shining fangame demo yet. I’m sure everyone else is looking forward to it as much as I am :D

As promised, it’s the Shining fangame world’s equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters, Ikitclaw‘s and Moogie‘s Tatakai. Let’s see how it’s going :)

Tatakai website

Development team: ikitClaw – developer (see site for tester list)

Development language: VB6 + DX7

URL of most recent release: Download on request – see site

Most recent update/newsworthy happening: Main game engine finished – AI, EXP & Combat open to discussion – adding graphical & sound extras. Tatakai now distributed with Moogie‘s MOD.

Other comments: Tatakai is really just waiting for some of the testers to get back with suggestions or comments. The site’s ‘Design’ section contains specifications of AI, EXP & combat functions. Also awaiting some decent MODs by other authors.

Newts says: It seems this project has come on leaps and bounds in the past few months. The prospect of a customizable Shining battle engine sounds very promising, and obviously with Moogie on board it should all be as accurate as possible. With the game engine now fully complete, it sounds like we could finally have a fully finished, fully playable SF fangame on our hands :)

Tomorrow it’s yet another very impressive fangame, Peter Van Dalen‘s Shining Force: Dark Resurrection. Don’t miss it!

It seems like an absolute age since we heard from Lazy Bum about his Shining Truth project, so what better time for an update than now?

Shining Truth

No website

Development team:
Lazy Bum (ain’t I lonely?)

Development language: Game Maker

Most recent update/newsworthy happening:
The project is officially “on hold”, due to major exams.

Other comments: The engine is being rewritten

Newts says: On the whole, not an especially lengthy update from Lazy, which shows how busy he is. I certainly hope that Shining Truth will resume in the summer, and we can see much more development then.

Tomorrow, one of the current “big things” on the Shining fangame market, the all-celebrity Tatakai. Don’t miss it!

Another shortish update today :)

Shining Flash

Project website

Development team:
Job (Djobi) – programming, game conception

Development language: Flash MX/ActionScript

Most recent release

Most recent update/newsworthy happening:
Currently reproducing another SFII map (the one that leads from Granseal to Kazin’s quarters). This will be interesting as i’ll be able to incorporate map transitions in the game and see if they work out. As usual, the engine is also being tweaked to obtain the best performance.

Newts says: Shining Flash dates back quite a way, and is one of the most advanced Shining fangames currently available. Job was also the developer of a TSS favourite pastime, Penn Pong. Expect big things from this one!

Tomorrow I’ll be posting all the latest gossip on one of those projects which I thought had disappeared, Lazy Bum‘s Shining Truth. Don’t miss it!