_______ __ | _ | .-----. .--------. .--------. .---.-. .-----. .--| | .-----. .----. |. 1___| | _ | | | | | | _ | | | | _ | | -__| | _| |. |___ |_____| |__|__|__| |__|__|__| |___._| |__|__| |_____| |_____| |__| |: 1 | |::.. . | `-------' ___ ___ | Y ) .-----. .-----. .-----. |. 1 / | -__| | -__| | | |. _ \ |_____| |_____| |__|__| |: | \ |::.| . ) `--- ---' ______ __ __ __ | _ \ .-----. .--.--.--. .-----. | | .-----. | |_ | |_ .-----. .----. |. | | | -__| | | | | |__ --| | | | -__| | _| | _| | -__| | _| |. | | |_____| |________| |_____| |__| |_____| |____| |____| |_____| |__| |: | | |::.| | `--- ---' Commander Keen Newsletter Issue 18, "Another Random Stuff Issue" (c) 2002-2003 by Joseph Burke, all rights reserved. All trademarks are properties of their respective owners. WARNING: This document may not be distributed without permission. Check out also our site at http://www.commanderkeen.net/cknews/ ========================================>>>>>>>> >> In this issue << [1.0] Articles [1.1] Creating a Fangame [2.0] ReviewCorner [2.1] Website Review: Scalloped Llama's Commander Keen Stuff Sooper site [3.0] KeenFiction [3.1] Chapter 8 of Ilsoap's fanfiction [4.0] Keen news [4.1] Farewell, Isis II... [4.2] Check out these mods! [4.3] Character creation contest (Keen related)! [4.4] New Keen mod... [4.5] The Revolt on Camostria III [4.6] Keen game engine... [4.7] Keenbound! [4.8] Dopefish made of snow! [5.0] Miscellaneous [5.1] Announcements [5.2] Credits ========================================>>>>>>>> >> [1.0] Articles << ---- [1.1] Creating a Fangame Those who have been in the Keen Community for more than a couple months know that countless fangames have been released, most of them being extremely bad. I’m going to discuss what makes a fangame worth playing. Many say that for a fangame to be good, it must be programmed, and cannot be made with a "Klik" program, such as The Games Factory, or Multimedia Fusion. This is completely untrue. Countless people have taken advantage of the fact that you do not need to learn how to program with these tools, and have thrown together horrid fangames as a result. If, however, one puts time into their game, just as they would when programming, they can get just as good a result. ENGINE The engine of a game can refer to many things, but I’m mainly talking about the movement of the player. Klik tools have a built-in platform movement system, however it is plain horrible. To get the correct physics and feel to the movement, you have to do what one would do when programming: create your own system for moving, and keep working on it until it looks, feels, and plays perfectly. Also, to make a fangame Keenish, don’t leave out what made Keen stand apart from other games in its age. Include the pogo stick. STORY The story of a game is where you can be as creative as you want, and be sure to make it as perfect as you can, because it will determine the atmosphere of the entire game. A story should above all, make sense. Second to that, make it exciting and funny. Some boring secret agent mission or rescuing your spaceship from a random planet will not interest many people. Add funny, weird, and strange stuff, like slug poo and burping fish. The more Keenish, the better. GRAPHICS The graphics of a game are very important, and are the downfall of many of the fangames released. The most important thing about graphics is that you make them yourself. Do not, under any circumstances, rip graphics from the original Keen games. It’s completely uncreative and shows that the creator of the game didn’t want to put the effort in to making a complete game. Graphics should express what the story tells. If you have a good enough story, it should give the reader some idea of the location(s) they’ll be in. If the story results with the main character in a jungle, make some nice jungle tiles and creatures to match that. And remember, add variety. Having one type of atmosphere the entire game would be completely boring. You might want to have a couple of levels in a swamp, some in the high foliage of the jungle, and others underground. LEVELS Once you’ve finished your graphics, you need to begin to design the levels. Levels, above all, should not have just one path to the exit. They should be large, complicated, and not mono-directional. Make fun and cool secrets, and be innovative. Do not make the levels insanely hard, and make sure you place the graphics in ways that blend together smoothly. Endlessly complicated mazes are not fun either. OTHER Sounds and music are key. Try to use imaginative and funky sounds whenever possible, and write music that will fit the atmosphere of the level. Another important part of a game is it’s opening screen and menu. If they’re boring and hard to use, people will tend not to want to play your game as much. A good idea is to include a minigame for people to enjoy when they need a break from the main game. That’s what makes a quality Keen game, in a nutshell. So go on, start making games, but NEVER release a game unless you think it’s perfect in every way. --xtraverse ========================================>>>>>>>> >> [2.0] ReviewCorner << ---- [2.1] Website Review: Scalloped Llama's Commander Keen Stuff Sooper site Scalloped Llama's Commander Keen Stuff Sooper site http://www.geocities.com/scalloped_llama/ Site Rating: Good Quality - 7/10 Originality - 8/10 Keenishness - 6/10 Overall - 8/10 This is a nice little site. The intro thing was annoying but once you get into the site its cool. Sections on the site are pictures, downloads, and creations. The pictures section has the intro screen to Keen 5 with many different filters and effects on it. In the downloads section you can find a SGA sign maker, a winamp skin, and some shareware downloads. Original pictures made by the author of Keen rollerblading and pogoing and a good 3D model of Robo Red can be found in the creation section. Overall its a nice little site though it is a bit plain, the background image is kinda cool and adds interest though. The sections could use a little bit better organization too. --Yorpy ========================================>>>>>>>> >> [3.0] KeenFiction << ---- [3.1] Chapter 8 of Ilsoap's fanfiction "Okay, so it's night time, and we're all playing hide-and-seek, and my cousin Duflap is seeking. I find this awesome hiding spot behind some rocks, and Hermuk sees me there. Well, Hermuk decides to play a bit of a joke on me and stuck some glowing yorp cabbage on my back without me knowing it. So there I was, thinking I was completely hidden, but instead I basically have this signal light strapped to my back. Duflap immediately sees the glow, goes to see what it is, finds me there, says 'You're it!', and then bursts out laughing. Of course, all the other yorps come out of their hiding places and roll around on the ground, laughing like crazy. I don't figure out what's going on until I twist my eye around behind my back..." Norp continued telling his story, while K-2 sat and listened, laughing. Keen watched the two of them as they sat there, developing a bond closer than Keen ever had with Norp. Sure, Keen had enjoyed his time with the yorp, but over the last few months, Norp had become more and more lonely, almost to the point where Keen was considering taking Norp back to Mars for good. Now, there was a new sparkle in the yorp's eye, and with the new communication device, Norp would enjoy new freedom at home. Keen only hoped that what he had discovered about K-2 wouldn't change all that. "Yeah, Hermuk played a lot of practical jokes on me when we were younger, but I got him back too. There was this this one time..." *DIIING* Norp and K-2 both looked up. "Doorbell!" Norp said. "I'll get it!" "That's no doorbell, Norp." Keen replied. "We've arrived at Dimorphius II. Hey, K-2, could you get us under the atmosphere? I'll check for concentrated areas of intelligent life." K-2 brought the BwB Megarocket near the planet's surface. "You find any life yet?" K-2 asked. "Strangely, no, there's hardly anyone here. There's lots of life around, but it's all plant life... mostly moss and algae. But there's a group of buildings about a mile from here. Maybe whoever lived in those buildings left since Mortimer was here." "OK, that's where I'll land then." K-2 piloted the ship to the surface, and the three on board got out. The building was a hazy orange color, with uneven patches of yellow moss surrounding it. It was shorter than an average house, with holes the size of playing cards randomly spaced around it. "The creatures that lived here must have been a lot shorter than us," Keen said. "That door looks like it would come up to my waist." "Yeah, neither of us will be able to fit in there to check it out, but I know someone who'd be able to squeeze in there." They both looked at Norp. "Yeah, yeah, I get the drift." Norp muttered. He walked up to the building and stuck his eye in to look around. "Okay, well, there's nothing in here, but the place is a mess. And there's yellow moss in here too... whoa." Norp pulled his eye out, then looked around him. "Hey, guys, I think the moss is looking at me funny." "It's what?" K-2 and Keen said, simultaneously. They rushed up to the building to look at the moss on the outside a little more closely. "Get back! Back, I say! Didn't you do enough damage the first time?" K-2 and Keen looked at each other. "Did that come from the moss?" "Of course it did, and it's your fault that I got this way! Come any closer, and so help me, I'll... I'll... I'll bite your ankles off!" "It's coming from the moss, all right." Norp was inside the house. "There's a whole lot more yellow moss in here, and they're not saying very nice things about me." "You've got five seconds to get out of here! I don't know what you're after, Remitrom, but you'll never get away with it!" "Remitrom? Who's Remitrom?" Keen asked. The moss stopped yelling. "You... you aren't Remitrom?" "I don't think we are... we just got here, we're trying to stop someone very evil from destroying the universe." K-2 explained. "Mmm... we might be on the same team, then. Until a few days ago, we were Dimorphian scientists, working on a top-secret project, a device that would combine the molecules of living organisms together." "The Merger?" K-2 asked. "What, you know about it too? Don't the words 'top secret' mean ANYTHING anymore?" Keen sat down. "Perhaps you should start from the beginning." "Yes... well, there's a lot I could tell, but not much that would actually help you. We are from Dimorphius V. We came here to conduct experiments that were too dangerous to perform on our home planet, and the most dangerous of those experiments was the Merger. We had completed it and were testing it out when the planet was invaded by a strange creature. The creature was tall, and with him were glowing, transparent, energy beings." "Shikadi." Keen muttered to himself. "Why would Mortimer hire them again?" "He said something about blowing up the galaxy, then the glowing things overpowered us and took the Merger. He thanked us for the 'gift', then somehow shot a huge beam from the Merger at the entire building. There was a bright light, and when I woke up, I found that I had been merged with the red moss on the ground." "You and all your friends," Spot said, coming back out of the house. He was carrying something in his teeth. "I think this is what they looked like before they were merged." Keen took it from Spot. It was a yellow statue of a six-legged creature with a spongy-looking body and over-sized head. "Do you have any idea where this Remitrom went with your device?" K-2 asked. "Not a clue, and until we get the Merger back, there's no way to figure out if we can reverse the process." said the moss-creature. "Wait... you never figured out how to reverse a merge?" K-2 asked, horrified. "You mean I could be stuck like this forever?" The moss started vibrating vigorously. "Hey, at least you can move! Until someone comes back with the Merger, I'm going to be stuck to this rock!" "Yeah... I suppose things could be worse for me. No offense intended." K-2 replied. "I promise that we'll try as hard as we can to find the Merger and save the universe, and after we'll do, we'll come back and restore you." "Thank you." the moss said, gratefully. "Remember, you know where to find us!" "So," Keen said while walking back to the ship with the others, "the one who stole the Merger called himself 'Remitrom'. I'm sure you've already figured out who 'Remitrom' probably is." K-2 frowned. "Yeah, that was pretty basic. Remitrom spelled backwards is Mortimer. But why would Mortimer McMire hide himself behind such a stupid nickname. He's smarter than that." "He may have wanted to be found. Or maybe he's pulling one of his oldest tricks on us." K-2 looked at Keen, puzzled. "What do you mean?" "Oh, nothing, just a possible theory I've been considering." Keen said. They arrived at the ship's entrance. "After you." "Thanks!" K-2 and Norp walked into the ship, with Keen following. "So, where to now?" K-2 asked. "I think I know how to find some answers. Set a course for the planet Korath III." TO BE CONTINUED... --Ilsoap ========================================>>>>>>>> >> [4.0] Keen news << Now we should be back on track again, with a new member xtraverse on the team. :) Well, here are your Keen news this time... Too bad that there wasn't happening much this month, probably many were in vacations or something. :) ---- [4.1] Farewell, Isis II... :( Keener eK has informed us in the forums, that the Isis II project is stopped now. He will be moving on, and won't do any new stuff to it anymore. He has started making a new game, which is not a Keen game. Well, goodbye Isis and good luck with the future stuff, Isis team (though they're not working together anymore). Like Xky said; *holds his football helmet over his heart to honor the passing of Isis* ---- [4.2] Keen game with Java. Keen fan called JavaKeen is interested starting a new Keen game made with Java. Read more in this topic: http://pub128.ezboard.com/fpimentogamedevelopment.showMessage?topicID=793.topic ---- [4.3] Character creation contest (Keen related)! :) Robo Blue has started a character creation contest topic, where you can send your cool Keen enemies or stuff like that... Go to check it out, there is many nice drawings: http://pub128.ezboard.com/fpubliccommanderkeenforumothercommanderkeenstuff.showMessage?topicID=727.topic ---- [4.4] New Keen mod... Eazyjay has been working on a mod, that is pretty much done already, almost all the levels are done. Read more about his mod and play one sample level in this topic: http://pub128.ezboard.com/fpimentogamedevelopment.showMessage?topicID=798.topic ---- [4.5] The Revolt on Camostria III Keener called BBalazs has done some new fan games, be sure to read more about them and give them a try by going right here: http://pub128.ezboard.com/fpimentogamedevelopment.showMessage?topicID=790.topic ---- [4.6] Keen game engine... :) Vitamin Zach is working on a Commander Keen fan game engine. And soon he is starting Commander Keen fan game. He is going to do those by programming. You can find info and news about his projects from this topic, where is also link to his site: http://pub128.ezboard.com/fpimentogamedevelopment.showMessage?topicID=797.topic ---- [4.7] Keenbound! This should have been in last months issue, but I sent the news to "press" before this topic was there... :) Well, here you go! Well, Keener called Robo Blue is making a Keen RPG called Keenbound. You can read more about it in this topic: http://pub128.ezboard.com/fpimentogamedevelopment.showMessage?topicID=783.topic There's also a link in to it's site. On the site there is already one very promising looking Keen sprite Djaser has made. :) Good luck for the game making Keenbound team! :) ---- [4.8] Dopefish made of snow! :) I don't know is it smarter than a real dopefish, but be sure to check out the dopefish made of snow. And guess who made it? Right. TMST has had some spare time again... ;) Check out this topic: http://pub128.ezboard.com/fpubliccommanderkeenforumothercommanderkeenstuff.showMessage?topicID=720.topic --KeenRush ========================================>>>>>>>> >> [5.0] Miscellaneous << ---- [5.1] Announcements Well this issue was certainly bigger than last issue! Anyway since then we have added a new member to the team, xtraverse. He's going to do fangame reviews, articles, and work on getting past issues into HTML form. And hopefully by next issue the newsletter site will have much more content filling in those empty sections. --Yorpy ---- [5.2] Credits Yorpy - website review, composition MRC Marky - website, graphics KeenRush - news, some other stuff xtraverse - article, working on HTML issues Forge315 - started this newsletter ========================================>>>>>>>> * swim swim hungry *