Along The Tech Tree #191 TIMBER!

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ID:106446
 
Dec 30 2010, 4:46 pm
Keywords: techtree

Welcome to what I plan to be the final column of Tech Tree.  The BYOND site will soon be redesigned and, while guilds will still be available, I think my efforts would be best spent site-wide.  Fugsnarf appears to be planning a schedule for BYOND Weekly, but I have a different style and some years of experience that might still be of use.  I've turtled long enough with open standards and regular content.  It's time to expand.

I'm still handling BYOND's Facebook page.  Developers, please polish your work to get it featured!  I don't like constantly linking to the same game or two, but it's the only material available.  I will be pushing for open standards across the site.

Last I knew, Acebloke was planning on releasing a bunch of updates before the end of the year.  The next version of his featured abstract board game, Exploder, should have been available by Saturday.  The next version of his military/economic sim, Wargames, should be out today.  And there's five more...  Unfortunately, I have yet to see anything released.

What has been released is news of the prizes for this year's AceMedalTable.  The top three will gain short subscriptions to Acebloke's projects.  Pre-release access to the Spore-inspired graphical MUD Dreamland is also on the menu.  Along with the prizes, a poll is being held to help determine whether to allow players to purchase access early (sort of like Minecraft).

Tsfreaks has posted his year in review for 2010.  His small RTS, MRTS, remains less than half finished and is unlikely to be continued due to the amount of moving parts and lack of a perceived audience.  His turn-based Hexwar, however, could still see a release.

Of course, there are plenty of other projects included in his review and some are much more successful.  However, passing up the chance to appear strategy-biased in the final Tech Tree seems like sacrilege.  MUHUHAHAHA!

Mecha Destroyer JD hosted a test session for Ultra Strife.  He doesn't appear to be thrilled with the results, but he manged to uncover some gamebreaking bugs.  I figure that's what testing is for.  He's currently keeping a new project close to his chest and thinking of entering a contest.

...BTW, The BYOND Cartridge Classic II ends at 12AM BST on February 1st!

Last announced in October, Twin II is back to work on his tactical RPG engine.  Along with a couple new screenshots, he describes some animations and the difficulties of arranging art for an isometric perspective.

Thejackalofevil is looking for programmers, designers and artists to help create a tactical RPG with the working title Celestial Battlefields.  Players will collect units, gear perks and abilities with persistent upgrades.  Compensation is up in the air.  TheJackalofevil will be focusing on promotion and management.  My hopes for the project are low after considering those factors, but perhaps the ability to help define the mechanics will tempt someone.

Inspired by Game Boy Advance renditions of Fire Emblem, Wardrake is looking for a programmer, music composer and graphical artist to help create a tactical RPG called The Divided Kingdoms.  No money is offered and Wardrake has been merely recoloring sprites.  Ouch.

I've announced The Gift Me Games Deal for lifetime Fooldom Come subscriptions.  Fooldom Come is my passport for benefits in my current and future projects.  A lifetime subscription currently costs $20, but you can get one for the key (username) of your choice just by gifting me a game from my Steam wishlist.  The offer ends on my birthday, February 2nd.

The most recent addition to Fooldom Come is my award-winning (watch me run that into the ground) rhythm action game with procedurally generated music.  As of version 4, Fused Finale has added level selection and score records for subscribers.  There have also been a plethora of tweaks to improve the pacing.  Songs begin with shorter durations and the durations of later songs increase much more slowly.  Meanwhile, those who are good enough to keep earning extra life bars can trade them for score multipliers.

I'll be back to implementing my racing combat board game, StarScurrier, soon.  I've been thinking of adding sound effects just to ease myself into it.

Fooldom Come: One subscription. Many games.

Got news? Post it! I don't know where I'll start the next column, but the new site's moderator options should help make developer updates easier to find.

Dec 30 2010, 4:53 pm
Glad to hear you're branching out instead of shutting down. Yes, it sounds like some exciting changes are coming to BYOND in general.
Dec 30 2010, 5:14 pm
"Fugsnarf appears to be planning a schedule for BYOND Weekly, but I have a different style and some years of experience that might still be of use."

Could you elaborate a little? Are you planning on basically doing your own "BYOND Weekly"?
Dec 30 2010, 5:36 pm
Fugsnarf wrote:
Are you planning on basically doing your own "BYOND Weekly"?

ACWraith wrote:
I think my efforts would be best spent site-wide.

I'm actually looking forward to it. Some friendly competition might drive up the quality of both if once doesn't fall under the pressure of opposition.
Dec 30 2010, 5:37 pm
@Fugsnarf: No, I'll be doing a site-wide Tech Tree, oh thief of Thursdays like the Rosanne to my Cosby. ;)-

I've been planning to switch to a site-wide format since I first learned of the redesign in private forums, but that redesign kept changing and being postponed. Your column came out afterward and I had no way of knowing it was even back until I was writing this today.
Dec 30 2010, 5:38 pm
If you're wanting some news for a site-wide post, my zombie shooter Quarantine has been getting some interest. Its actually getting a small community going :)

http://www.byond.com/games/PaperClipProductions/QE
Dec 30 2010, 5:39 pm
ACWraith wrote:
@Fugsnarf: No, I'll be doing a site-wide Tech Tree, oh thief of Thursdays like the Rosanne to my Cosby. ;)-

I've been planning to switch to a site-wide format since I first learned of the redesign in private forums, but that redesign kept changing and being postponed. Your column came out afterward and I had no way of knowing it was even back until I was writing this today.

So basically, yes. AWESOME!
Dec 30 2010, 5:39 pm
Well this will... make things interesting...
Dec 30 2010, 5:47 pm
Judging from your last Tech Tree, you've got the BYOND staff on your side. For all I know, you've worked something out with Tom. If that's the case and you become some "official" column, I may as well throw in the towel. If not, I'm fine with the competition and will continue as long as it lasts. I'm starting to feel like a bit of a hopeless underdog now, though.
Dec 30 2010, 5:49 pm
Fugsnarf wrote:
Judging from your last Tech Tree, you've got the BYOND staff on your side. For all I know, you've worked something out with Tom. If that's the case and you become some "official" column, I may as well throw in the towel. If not, I'm fine with the competition and will continue as long as it lasts. I'm starting to feel like a bit of a hopeless underdog now, though.

Cheer up man, you have a different style. For example, I haven't seen any interviews on tech tree. I really like the interviews and wouldn't want them to vanish because of scary old Tom.
Dec 30 2010, 5:51 pm
@Fugsnarf: I do apologize, but I really didn't know you were coming back to it. If it makes you feel any better, I feel like my tiny amount of insider knowledge and control over BYOND Strategy makes me look like an evil lackey while you're the people's champ. I'm not sure the majority of people on BYOND care about my volunteer work here. I'm expecting some flak.
Dec 30 2010, 5:54 pm
I disagree that that has anything to do with it. It was certainly mostly my fault for letting it go that long without a new issue. In the end, the column is what will be judged. Bring it on!
Dec 30 2010, 7:44 pm
You could make quite a few TechBows with those 191 TechLogs you've got there.
Dec 30 2010, 9:59 pm
Last one :O
No party?
Dec 30 2010, 10:00 pm
ACWraith wrote:
@Fugsnarf: No, I'll be doing a site-wide Tech Tree

Then this wont be the last Tech Tree, it'll be the last strategic-only Tech Tree. Personally, I'd continue with the name, and release the next one as #192. Tech Tree is a known "brand" around BYOND if you will. =)
Dec 30 2010, 11:03 pm
@Tiberath I'd rather have one clean, consistent title across the sites I post on and lose the strategy game reference. Right now I have Along The Tech Tree here and BYOND Strategy Tech Tree elsewhere. People used to reading my work likely won't really care. However, I think the title could stand to be less confusing for new readers.

I'm favoring BYOND and Within at the moment. It's a little vague, but it keeps the suite in the name and gives me a double entendre to help explain the external links I've grown fond of sharing.
Dec 31 2010, 5:25 am
Whoa. Scott Nicholson just ended his series as well.

Dec 31 2010, 5:03 pm
At least make it to 200 to be able to say you did, you already did 191.
Dec 31 2010, 6:03 pm
@OrangeWeapons: I thought of that, but it's just a number. It doesn't seem to fuel anything except my ego. I'm thankful for the developers who have games in the guild, but I don't think it's beneficial to keep encouraging participation when the navigation of the new site should provide the same (if not more) benefits.
Jan 1 2011, 2:36 am
Had the flu :(

Hoping to update at least Exploder today.
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