Update – Shining Online Mailing List – 03/07/2002 Right, as you should be aware I’ve started sending out a regular Shining Online newsletter with exclusive news, articles and screenshots about the project to the inboxes of those lucky enough to have subscribed.
If you haven’t subscribed then I’m afraid you’ve already missed out on the first mind-numbingly brilliant issue which I sent on Monday! However, all is not lost young ones – if you wish to subscribe, send an email to newts@shining-online.co.uk with the subject “Subscribe newsletter”. I’ll then add you to the newsletter and send you the first issue, absolutely free :D Ok ok, so they’re all free, but you get what I mean! Remember – exclusive brand-new screenshots and inside information only with the SOnline newsletter! Huzzah!
Yup, the Shining Online website has been updated! Not much has been added, but you might want to check out the character and gallery sections (and maybe even the development diary)
Now, while you’re all busy looking at the new stuff, I shall now tell you the bad news…
As you know, Demo 4 is scheduled for release on July 1st, to coincide with the release of the new Shiny Sword demo and the re-release of Shining Force World. However, we’re quite far behind development wise, and (to be quite honest), it looks unlikely that we will make the deadline.
This is as disappointing for us as it is for you, but we want this demo to be the best. Demo 3 was not particularly stunning, and it was rushed to make the deadline. As such, it contained bugs and was too small. We won’t make the same mistake again. Demo 4 will not be released until it is perfect (or as close as we can get it). Hopefully you’ll appreciate the extra effort that is going into this demo.
Well, enough jabbering, I have some programming to do!
What’s an update? Plenty has been done, so here goes…
- Changed the backbone of the game structure, making it a lot more versatile. Took a bloody long time but should be worth it in the long run. Source code is now readable too.
- Drew some nice graphics, like more enemies and townsfolk (mostly drawn by Newts though).
- Started adding some tasty new effects, though they won’t be in the demo.
- Completely re-wrote and re-designed the development environment…because I got bored. Looks much better now and is far better, allowing more complete control over the game.
- Changed some weather effects to look better. Which they do.
- Added a fullscreen/windowed mode selector. Fullscreen mode is far superior, but some people can’t run it…
- Played lots of Skies of Arcadia and Grandia 2. Finished Grandia 2, need to play more Arcadia.
- Prettied up the windows.
- Spell Icons redrawn by Newts.
- Music re-recorded by Newts.
- Listened to some punk music.
- Started major work on demo 4, and watched stress levels go ballistic.
- Fixed some more minor niggles, and cleaned more source code. Again, it’s more readable than before, plus it’s a little faster.
- Realised (again) that for the amount of time I’ve had, I’ve done very little..
I suppose I should make it look like I’m hard at work :)
Demo 4 is coming along quite nicely, and a lot more effort is going into this one. It should be as “Shining Style” as we can manage, though there’s still much to be done.
So far the maps are ready, and the enemies are being drawn. This demo will feature so much more than the last one, and should actually showcase what we’ve achieved. Aside from that, it should also fix most of the bugs from the last demo.
Online wise, I haven’t really coded much, as I really want to get the offline engine working perfectly before I start the more complicated (but more fun) side of the coding.
Also, I’d like to say a very, VERY big Thank-you to all of the people who have supported Shining Online all this time. We’ve now had nearly 1200 downloads (740 being for demo 3 alone!), and interest seems to be growing every month. Thanks for your support! (especially everyone at TSS ;) )
Well, enough rambling from me. You can expect some more updates now I’ve started work again. Yes, I shall be working on through the World Cup AND the hot sunny British weather :P
Ok, so updates have been pretty thin on the ground recently – sorry! There’s been plenty of work for me to do, as I’m a little snowed under with university work. Hopefully I should be able to get some work done on Shining Online, though I’m beginning to have doubts.
The Smash Software page is still down, as I’m too lazy to fix it. Maybe one day next week, though no promises.
That’s about all the news I can think of for now (yes, there’s been no progress =P) Just wanted to let you know that the project is still alive, even if it is barely breathing =P
