Work in Progress

I am obviously working on updating the blog's artwork and layout.

This isn't what it is supposed to look like, I got interrupted while working on it the other day and I haven't been able to get back and fix it. I won't be able to get back to it this weekend either.

Nothing you see here at the moment is something I am happy with. I really didn't mean to switch the blog over to the new layout when I did. I was just starting to experiment with the new template and a background when I clicked on the wrong thing.

I have a better version of this background, but for some reason blogger is shrinking it 50% when I upload it and that is where I left off. I still have to redraw the blog logo and fix all the text and background colors. Then I have to rebuild the links that got lost because I had hacked them into the old sidebar.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

1 Louder Than 10

Last week Jet Set and Electronic Arts unveiled the limited beta of Music Construction Set: The Blues. It isn't so much a game (yet) as it is an experiment. It let's you rock out with your plastic guitar controller. ...on YouTube.

Here, I'll let Dr. Fantastic, aka Owen, explain it better.



The YouTube channel where you can find more information including the download link, instructions, FAQ and videos of people rocking out is http://www.youtube.com/profile?feature=iv&user=1louderthan10.

Check it out, Rock out, I'm out...

EDIT: Added the Logo, fixed the link.

Joseph Hewitt - Dangerous Assassin!

In Conspiracy on the PlayStation Home, we have a large screen that cycles through some game-based propaganda screens. Just some ad-like pictures for some of the corporations in the game. Danny created the wanted screen below with my name and image. I thought it was hilarious.



The other day we were hanging around in the Volcano Base, the public hub of the game, and managed to witness the following conversation.



DrJeanGreY: name two types of technolgies they make
wildswagg345: hey wats gud
DrJeanGreY: any of the technologies in the slide show would have been correct
DrJeanGreY: the guns
jaylive1234: =( (3
DrJeanGreY: battle suites
DrJeanGreY: nano tech
DrJeanGreY: all of that
DrJeanGreY: finally..
Kendahl: samus aran
DrJeanGreY: the name of the fugitive who is wanted by I.C.I
PuertoRicenGirl: what that mean?
DrJeanGreY: His name is Joseph Hewitt...
DrJeanGreY: And he is a dangerous assassin
jaylive1234: ****
RAWDABOSS: get from behind me
DrJeanGreY: that we will be targeting in the coming missions
DrJeanGreY: come
aussie554: i love the way you walk jean
aussie554: lolz
Kendahl: ^^ ME 2

Loads of Stuff!

I don't want to be one of those people who apologizes for the lack of blog posts. Heck, I didn't even want to be one of those people who has a lack of blog posts. But I really have been really busy. I know EVERYBODY says that, but I not only have proof I can now finally talk about it.

=Highborn Chrome=
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First up a bit of slightly old news, Highborn is available on the PC as part of Google Chrome's store. You can find it HERE.


Unfortunately, the updates for the iOS versions listed below are not ready for the Chrome version as of yet.

=Highborn iOS Update=
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Highborn iOS update has been submitted to Apple with a host of new features including the much awaited Chapter Two!

• Updated 3D artwork. Many of the characters in the 3D combat scenes have been improved.
• Units now display their attack range when they move.
• Selecting a Monolith will show you which spell it represents and if you control that Monolith it shows you its cooldown time so you know if it is ready to be cast again.
• End of mission statistics screen filled with detailed information about the mission that you can analyze to your heart’s content.
• An undo feature implemented so you can stop your pathetic little whining about how you messed up and move to the wrong square or whatever! You shake the device and it will give you the option of redoing your turn. This only works in campaign mode, not in multiplayer.
• Chapter Two as an in app purchase.

Note that you do not have to buy Chapter Two in order to get the other new features, they are included free in the update. Look for it to go live on the App Store very early next week.

=Conspiracy=
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Conspiracy for PlayStation Home was finally announced and the first billboard advertisements went live in PS:Home's Central Plaza in yesterday's update.


I'll let you do your own research into what Conspiracy is, because what kind of conspiracy would it be if I just came right out and explained it to you. Actually, we never had this conversation. Pretend you don't know me.

=Shandor=
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Shandor, our active furniture item for PlayStation Home was updated. There is now a way to win a virtual item and he has a few more secrets to divulge.

01010011011010000110111101110000

Yahoo Email Compromised

It looks like my yahoo email address is continuing to send out spam. I think they are just spoofing my email address, but that doesn't explain how they got the emails of everybody on my contact list. When I first realized it was happening deleted my contact list and changed my password, but another round of spam went out this morning. Yahoo is no help in the manner and a quick Google search shows that people have been having this problem for years. There is nothing I can do except tell you not to click on any link from any email from my yahoo address.

I will be spending this weekend changing everything over to a gmail address. If you know anybody that knows me, pass this information on to them. I wasn't smart enough to actually save my contact list before deleting it, so I can't send out email to everybody myself.

Old Westwood NES Games

NESGuide.com posted this 15 minute video containing every U.S. game release for the original Nintendo Entertainment System. That is 1.1 seconds for each NES Game.



If you look watch real carefully, you can see each of the three Westwood NES games I worked on. They are DragonStrike (03:35.3 - 03:36.4), Pac-Mania (08:27.9 - 08:29.0), and Vindicators (12:56.3 - 12:57.4). Note they are all credited as Westwood Associates, not Westwood Studios. They were all published before the Virgin Games buyout when we changed our name.

If you want to see a bit more of each of those games, NESGuide.com's list actually links to these pages which has more video:

DragonStrike

The player character is a knight who flies on the back of a metallic dragon equipped with a lance and various magic items (among other things a magic orb that acts as a radar in the game). The player's dragon can use its recharging magical breath to attack and can also attack with its claws if the dragon passes closely above enemies. Opponents in the game include evil dragons with and without riders and other flying monsters such as manticores and beholders. Flying too close to the ground is another hazard for the player as enemy archers are present in some areas.

Pac-Mania

Just like most of the other games in the Pac-Man series, the goal is for Pac-Man to eat all of the dots before he is caught by the ghosts. This game has several significant changes from the traditional format. The first, and most noticeable, change is that the board is viewed in an isometric, 3D format. Because of this, it can sometimes be difficult to remember where the ghosts or the remaining pellets are. Secondly, and more importantly, Pac-Man can now jump. This in principle makes evading ghosts easier.

Vindicators

The Tangent Empire are preparing to attack the earth with their convoy of tanks, and it is you who has been sent forward to destroy the 14 space stations which make up the potential invasion threat. There are 3 sub-levels on each station, which can be played in any order. The action scrolls in every direction, with you guiding your tank-link droid around to shoot the opposition droids. The tank takes a while to steer, making it initially harder to avoid contact with those enemies. Each level contains energy stars, which can be traded in for upgrades such as improved weapons and extra speed after each level.

The scary thing is I think that I was the sole artist on those games, and there several bits I have no recollection of. Though, the technical restrictions of creating art on the NES was a enough of a nightmare that I'm not surprised I blocked some of it out.

There are a few other games in the first video that are ports of original Westwood Games, but that we didn't do that port of. The one that comes to mind is Hillsfar.

Apptastic iGame Review Podcast & FREE Highborn lite

Just a quick post before I run to get some dinner. Rade and I just recorded a live podcast for The Apptastic iGame review with is part of the Tech Jives Network.

I'm sorry but I didn't realize it was live until we sat down to do it or I would have posted a notice beforehand.

Anyway, they should have the recorded version up on their site really soon and you'll be able to find it HERE.

Speaking of Highborn though, the FREE LITE version went live today for the iPad. The iPhone version was submitted at the same time so it should available any time now. (EDIT - It's up now, link below) The lite versions contain the new Tutorial and the first two missions. Share and enjoy.

I was really worried about the humor in the tutorial. I was worried that I may not be able to pull it off 'the funny' again especially in that it isn't just putting silly jokes in. I have to actually teach the player about the game too without making it too text heavy. I think it is the hardest thing I've ever had to write. The Apptastic iGame people assure me it was just as funny. WHEW!

iPad Highborn HD Lite link

iPhone Highborn Lite link

Shandor for Playstation Home

I haven't written much lately because I haven't done much lately. I spend all my time at work slaving away at a project that hasn't been announced yet.

How ever we did just release Shandor for Playstation Home. Shandor is a decoration furniture object for your apartment. It is modeled after the Zoltar machine from the movie Big where Tom Hank's character (as a kid) makes a wish to be big.

There is more to it than that, but I'll say no more and just show you this video somebody posted to YouTube.



Although it is still early, it is really great to see things start to happen.

Mac History

The Computer History Museum has an article (and the source code) for MacPaint and QuickDraw up on their site.

Looking at the pictures, I can't help but feel a little old knowing that the artwork I did on the Apple Macintosh computer back then wasn't in fact the first computer I worked on professionally. The first professional computer art I did was on the Commodore 64, but it couldn't have been too much farther back than the Mac stuff. I've always listed my computer career as starting in 1985 but I had been going to "The Computer Learning Center for Children," which was also the home of the newly created "Unicorn Software," for a little while before they asked me to do some work for them. Trying to match my memories of how long they were in their original offices before moving to the new building, how that matches up with me spending my senior year of high school (Class of '86) in California, etc.

I had thought that once I got back from California, summer of 1986, that I had only done Amiga and Atari ST work for Unicorn before going to Westwood in 1988. But now that I really think about it, not only do I remember doing a few things on the Mac, but I also did several more titles on the Apple II.

Trying to look for a picture from one of the Mac games I drew on MacPaint I found it funny how back then every program for the Mac had to be named MacWhatever (MacPaint, MacRobots, MacEtc and so on) just like when the iPod/iPhone first launched and everybody was naming their Apps iThis and iThat.

I also found this page that appears to be some sort of Unicorn Software holding page. I've never seen that slogan before, that wasn't their logo, and although I have no idea when the company shut down they were publishing games before 1986.

Anyway, I didn't find anything that I hadn't posted before. So if you really want to see a picture, use the blog's search feature and look for "Unicorn software."

Online Soccer Champions AKA Interzone Futebol

It looks like Big Collision Games aka Interzone Entertainment is launching Online Soccer Champions aka Interzone Futebol in "closed beta." So they claim anyway, knowing what I know about the state of the game when it was ripped from the servers at the Perth studio and what it takes to actually make a game, I have serious doubts they have anything worth playing actually running.

The video and screen shots they have released are really telling. The video is only kind of labeled Online Soccer Champions, as it clearly has the Interzone Futebol and Interzone games logo all over it with only some shots re-branded as "Online Soccer Champions." It actually appears to be the exact same video from last year just re-cut with some Photoshop work. Same goes for the screenshots they have on their site.

Nick Lowe, my friend and former college at the closed Interzone Games studio in Perth, has the latest news on his blog where you can read the latest, sad update on the nefarious Interzone saga. The links to the various sites where you can also find the video and screenshots I mentioned are also on his site for you to check out after reading the sad state of affairs that is going on.

Highborn Video Trailer & More!

The game has been out for a week now and still doing pretty good. I expect another bump as some more reviews come out. Here is another great review from The Portable Game just came out last night and another one from 148 Apps just came out a few minutes ago.

I also posted another Developer Diary that talks about why we didn't include an Undo Feature in Highborn, and what we are going to try and implement to compensate for that. It also talks about a few other things we are working on for the game.

We also have this wonderful review that was posted about the game in Apple's App Store:Finally I want to post this sneak peek at some of the tokens we are redoing for the iPad version of Highborn. We are increasing the scale of the game by 150%, notice that isn't the standard doubling. The new scale allows you to see more of the maps and still have bigger squares to touch. The original tokens from the iPhone are above, and the new ones for the iPad are below.

Highborn doing GREAT!

Supposing you haven't been following me on Twitter or Facebook, Highborn is indeed out and doing great! We have gotten some wonderful reviews!

5 out of 5

Highborn by Jet Set Games is a fantasy turn-based tactical strategy and combines some of the best aspects of the genre's top alumni with a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek comedy. The creators aren't above a bit of fourth-wall action and bless them, they've even included the infamous Wilhelm scream - if that can't win you over, then you might be a bit dead on the inside.
-App Spy

And in response to somebody, whose name I won't mention, that said my dialog was overdone and hurting the game:

When characters clash the banter that results is consistently hilarious and peppers the 9 campaign missions with easily some of the best dialogue we've seen on the platform.

A Marriage of Winning TBS and High Fantasy Parody!

-Touch Arcade

Highborn has been steady rising in the various iStore charts. It is in the 70's for Top Paid App, 40's for Top Paid Game, and holding steady at #8 Strategy Game. I even expect those numbers to go up as more reviews are published. We are submitting our first patch today and I just got done filming a video podcast that talks about things we are working on for the game. I have a Developer Diary that will go up with that as well as soon as Sarah proof reads it for me.

Oh and I just found out that Highborn is TUAW's Daily App today while everybody is reading about the iPhone 4G! Score!

Joseph, you've just put out a really good iPhone game. Now what are you going to do?

I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND! Anybody know of any good augmented reality iPhone apps for Disneyland?

Another Highborn Preview

Slide to Play has another preview of Highborn, again big praise for my wacky writing and even the hand-drawn maps. Though, can you consider working with the mouse in Photoshop "hand-drawn?"

Here is a short gameplay video of they posted. I have one small problem with it, which was also pointed out by one of the commenters on their site. He goes into a handful of combats, each one has 2 spell cards that come up ready to cast, but he doesn't cast them! To explain, our combat scene isn't just for show, you do have a little imput. When you attack an enemy unit on the map, it goes into a 3D scene showing a round of combat pretty much like other turn-based strategy games only in 3D. However, if you are the attacker you have the option to cast one of your combat spells which you gain from Monoliths spread across the map. Also if you are in range of a Castle, Keep or Wizard Tower they will shoot arrows or fireballs at their owners enemy.



We should be submitting just about any time now. I'm already hard at work on a few tutorial levels and Chapter Two!

First Highborn Preview!

We send out a press preview version the other day and the first preview is up over at Touch Arcade! They have some screenshots and a little video showing off the first level. Best part, they loved my writing!

The rich world created by Jet Set Games doesn't stop at the visuals though, as each character we encountered in our brief time with the game were larger-than-life and very self-aware. We appreciated the (often very funny) well-written banter between characters and the many instances where dialogue segues right through the fourth wall. It's been a long time since a game made us laugh, but Highborn promises to do just that.

They like me! They really do like me!!! Check out the preview for yourself and watch the video.

Humor, Story and Breaking Through the Fourth Wall

My second Highborn Developer Diary went up on Jet Set Game's Facebook page this morning so go check it out.

The character bio for Trillian, the rogue with the heart of gold, went up a few days ago if you missed it. Yes, that is a big Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy reference. You should know by now that I don't write anything without including Douglas Adams references.

Speaking of references, the title of my previous Dev Diary, "Gentlemen, This is About Combat" is a quote from Top Gun which was sampled into the song "Just Do It Up" by Frank Klepacki for the original Command & Conquer soundtrack. I thought at least somebody would get that.

I would love to prattle on some more, but we are moving offices tomorrow and I have way too much to do before I can finish packing up my stuff. So enjoy the Dev Diary and TTYL.

"Gentlemen, this is about combat."

My first Highborn Developer Diary is up on the Jet Set Games Facebook page, which I am sure you are already a fan of. You are a fan right. Okay, good.

The Developer Diary lists the details of how combat plays out in the game and briefly talks about the mysterious Monoliths that are scattered about the maps.

I am not going to copy and paste the Developer Diary here, because I'm sure those evil marketing people (Amy doesn't read this blog right?) are watching the page count and stuff. So, pop over to the Jet Set Games Official Facebook Page and read it there. While you're there become a fan in case you were lying about it before. Shame on you.

I am also awarding the famous Joseph Hewitt "Hero Points" if you catch the title's reference. Hero Points* will only be awarded only if you know the original source and then where it was used that makes it relevant. Some additional conditions apply, see Joseph for details.

* Hero Points have no cash value and cannot be redeemed for anything. Hero Points decay over time at a rate which I make up as I go along. Offer not valid where prohibited by law.

Today is pretty much Teh Fail

I just wasted some time screwing around with the blog's HTML again to see if I could figure out where to put in a separate background image for the post area, so that I can use the background I have on my Twitter page. The post area would need it's own more text friendly background so you could still read it. I have had several people tell me how easy this would be to do, and even go so far as to say they would show me, but as of yet none of these promises has panned out.

I'm supposed to be writing some more background information on various units and things in Highborn, but my tummy is a tab bit upset and it's hard to get into the right frame of mind for that kind of humor.

I am also trying to write my developer diary, same problem.

Since I don't have much else to blather about at the moment, I though I would mention how I am obviously wrong about a few very popular games.

First, the God of War series. Been trying to play all three, and although there are some parts I like, I have some big issues with them. I don't like the special button sequence moves to defeat bosses. There I am fighting away, and suddenly this big, ugly interface thing pops up on screen telling me what to do with one of the controls. It violently pulls me out of the game. It doesn't help that half the time, I find I have to change my grip on the controller in order to mash the button or flip the joystick fast enough for it to register. But like I said in the introduction, I am must be in the wrong because so many other people LOVE these games.

Secondly, I started playing Mass Effect 2. I think it's okay, but I am not so overly wowed by it as lots and lots of other people are. I just don't think the level of story in these games are as great as they are made out to be. Don't get me wrong, it isn't bad, it is just people are raving about how deep the story is and the choices you make, yadda yadda. But I find them irritating. For example, right away at the begging of the game Miranda(?) (if you should know anything about me, you should know I can't remember names seconds after I learn them) shoots the guy she claims was a traitor and was trying to kill her. I have a dialog option that expresses that I'm a bit concerned with her just walking in and shooting the guy without letting him say his piece, try to deny it, or anything. She gives some half-assed explanation and after that I'm supposed to be all peachy about it. Sorry, I just don't roll over like that. I've been taught that in the Criminal Justice system, the people are represented by three separate yet equally important groups. The police, who investigate crime, the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders and the Goddamn Batman! (I think you can see why I've kinda given up writing humorous back-story for today.)

But anyway, people love the game so I just have to admit I'm wrong.

I got another game. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 for the PC. I just can't play it at the moment. I doesn't recognize my Logitech G9 mouse clicks in the game. It recognizes them in the menus, just not when I am actually playing. I go up to the first two enemies in solo play, I'm supposed to take out the guy on the left. I click my mouse and nothing happens. I go into the menu, make sure my mouse keybinds are correct. Reset LMB to Fire/Use. It takes the Left Mouse Button Click there, but when I go back into the game nothing happens when press the button. Granted I could just set the commands to out of the way keyboard keys and remap the mouse buttons to those, but I am writing this instead.

I guess I should actually go home and change. Have a birthday party to go to. Will try life again tomorrow.

BTW, I washed my car again. Expect rain or another intense wind storm.

Highborn Announced!

Hey everybody, look we announced the latest iPhone game I've been working here at Jet Set Games. I can't say too much at the moment, just wanted to put up some links and such.As I am sure you guessed from the title of this post and the words under the logo, the game is called Highborn. It is a fun little strategy game with the emphasis on the fun. You can read all about it at the Jet Set Games website. You can real all the latest news and updates on the Facebook page. That is where we are putting up developer diaries, character introductions, screen shots and other fun stuff. There is also the Flickr page.

Like I said though, I can't say too much at the moment. They've already threatened that they are going to make me write my own developer diary pretty soon, and I'm gonna save all the juicy stuff, tell-all, stuff for that.

Picasa Site Having Problems

The day they announce my new iPhone game, Highborn, Google's Picasa site has problems and my blog is full of broken picture links. Sigh.

Fixed the Valve Apple Ad

You may have seen the faux Apple ads that Valve released today.

Well, I thought one of them wasn't quite right, so I fixed it for them.(click image for full size)