Newts – The Shining Source

New article uploaded

Newts — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 23:56:15 +0000

This evening I uploaded the first in my series of articles designed to help you create beautiful music for your Shining fangame. This one focuses on direct recording, with future articles on tracking, MIDI recording and hopefully some compositional theory too!

You can find the article in Shining Aid > Articles, or simply by clicking this link.

Shining Force III Articles

Newts — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 08:49:36 +0000

Ty and I have just posted joint blog articles about the tremendous Shining Force III, analysing it in some depth from two very different perspectives.

Ty’s “Game Design Lessons – Shining Force III” is a really interesting look at some of the important lessons we can learn from SFIII that apply to all games, not just Shining fangames. There are some really good points here that game developers would do well to heed.

My article “Player P.O.V. – Shining Force III” is more player-focused, and tries to deal with how SFIII engages and immerses its players in the world.

I think both articles have some interesting points to make, and I hope you agree!

Newts is leaving TSS

Newts — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 00:03:32 +0000

I move out in a week, and my new pad won’t have Internet access there, so I will no longer be the regular fixture of Ye Olde Blah that you have all grown to hold with such ambivalence in your hearts.

I should still be able to continue to contribute to Shining Online as much as I do now, however.

I’ll still be able to access the ‘net from Internet cafes and libraries, but I don’t think they’d approve of me posting on Ye Olde Blah, so the best way of getting in touch with me will be e-mail. Not that I’m expecting anyone to want me or anything.

Well, now that I’ve told you all, you can each have a little cry in here, if you like.

Newts is leaving Ye Olde Blah.

New Shining Force screenshots!

Newts — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 19:28:19 +0000

At last, Sega have decided to show off its brand new Shining Force game for the PlayStation 2. Expect more screenshots to follow shortly :)

Click me and enjoy.

AT LAST!

Bee-ware!

Newts — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 17:18:41 +0000

It’s not proper, SF-related news because, to be honest, there isn’t much of that about at the minute. What it is is a fantastically entertaining piece of music, co-written by myself and Edgey from the forums. It’s the theme tune to a brand new superhero, Beeman! Download it here, and let us know what you think right here.

Shining Odyssey update

Newts — Mon, 31 May 2004 15:06:32 +0000

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

Dark Resurrection update

Newts — Mon, 31 May 2004 14:53:19 +0000

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

Tatakai update

Newts — Sun, 30 May 2004 17:49:34 +0000

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!

Shining Truth update

Newts — Sat, 29 May 2004 17:36:01 +0000

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!

Shining Flash update

Newts — Fri, 28 May 2004 18:27:35 +0000

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!