What's in Store

Things have been kind of busy behind the scenes recently.  To be quite honest, I know my channel has been kind of dusty lately but certainly not behind the scenes and it's because I've been trying to tackle larger games and figure out the best possible format for them.  While games like Double Dragon, Super Mario Bros 3 and the like are pretty easy (record, split if too long, upload), I've been debating on how to tackle longer or more complex games.  With Kirby's Adventure and Startropics, I ended up chopping the videos up into segments, similar to how I used to make videos when I first started.  And with some games that strategy is working.  Behind the scenes, I'm currently editing my full runs for Zelda 1 & 2 as well as Startropics 2, all of which are fully complete.

But with other games, such as RPGs and games like Myst, I debated on how to do this.  Do I livestream them and convert them to Youtube, keeping in errors and random encounters?  Do I do them LP style like other Youtubers?  Do I record them and post commentate?  Or do I just do them the same as the other games and simply record them and explain through text what to do (which I feel is extremely confusing for certain games).  Eventually, I decided to go with the second option: record them LP style with commentary.

This led to my first RPG LP: Final Fantasy from Final Fantasy Origins.  I did a livestream last week with the intentions of converting it to Youtube but unfortunately, I was ill prepared and the footage ended up being 90% random encounters.  I also unfortunately lost my save file when I accidentally saved over it (oops) so I apologize if you were enjoying it but the progress from that game has shifted to an LP style walkthrough, which is going swimmingly.  Not only can I edit out the random encounters but also offscreen the grinding.  I collected all my Final Fantasy 1 notes and am currently at the Ice Cavern just shy of the class change, which has been my project for the previous two days.

I also updated my backloggery and provided a permanent link near the top (with the links to my collective work).  This will help you guys know what projects I'm working on in the background and where they currently stand and hopefully give you an idea of what to expect in the future.

Lots of cool stuff is in the works and I hope you'll stick around for it.

Planned GB/GBC/GBA Videos

Again, I've got more videos in the works, this time for GB/GBC/GBA.  Here's a list of them.

RECORDING STARTED:
*Final Fantasy Legend
*Legacy of Goku

RECORDING FINISHED:
*Final Fantasy Adventure
*Super Mario Land 2
*Super Mario Land DX

FUTURE RECORDINGS:
*Advance Wars 1 & 2
*Dragon Warrior 1-3
*Dragon Warrior Monsters 1 & 2
*Final Fantasy Legend 2 & 3
*Final Fantasy Advance 1-6
*Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
*Fire Emblem
*Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones
*Harvest Moon 1-3
*Harvest Moon: (m)FomT
*Kirby's Nightmare in Dreamland
*Kirby and the Amazing Mirror
*Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Seasons
*LttP/Four Swords
*Mega Man Xtreme 1 & 2
*Mega Man & Bass
*Mega Man Battle Network 1-6
*Mega Man Zero 2-4
*Metroid Fusion
*Metroid Zero Mission
*Pokemon RBY/GSC
*Pokemon Puzzle Challenge
*Pokemon Trading Card Game
*Super Mario Land 3
*Wario Land 2-4

Planned SNES Videos

So NES videos aren't the only thing on my agenda.  While it's true that I have quite a few coming out (mainly cause I'm really enjoying going back and replaying my favorite 8 bit games), it's mainly revived my interest in retro gaming in general and I plan to have a few SNES games recorded soon too.  Here's a few on my to-do list:

RECORDING FINISHED:

*

RECORDING STARTED:
*Addams Family
*DKC 2
*Mario is Missing (Rerecord)
*Mega Man Soccer
*Super Mario All-Stars SMB3
*Star Ocean

FUTURE RECORDINGS:
*BS Mario (All versions)
*Actraiser
*Actraiser 2
*Chrono Trigger
*DBZ Butoden 1-3
*DBZ Legend of the Super Saiyan
*DKC 3
*Dragon Quest II
*Dragon Quest III
*Dragon Quest V
*Dragon Quest VI
*Earthbound
*Earthworm Jim
*Earthworm Jim 2
*EVO - Search for Eden
*Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
*Final Fantasy IV
*Final Fantasy V
*Final Fantasy VI
*Harvest Moon
*Illusion of Gaia
*Kirby's Dreamland 3
*Lufia
*Lufia 2
*Mario Paint
*Mega Man X2
*Mega Man X3
*Radical Dreamers
*Secret of Evermore
*Secret of Mana
*Secret of Mana 2
*Soul Blazer
*Terranigma

New Videos

So I took a break from Scribblenauts for a moment because I had a craving to play some classic NES Mario.  I dunno why but I felt like smashing 8 bit Goombas up and decided to play the FDS version of SMB2j.  While I was playing, I started messing with the built in movie recorder (since Fraps wouldn't work with it) and was impressed with the small file size (around 3 MB).  Sure, I realize it's merely capturing my input and not "recording" per se, but after testing the AVI recorder, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality and the file size (around 1 GB per hour VS Fraps 1 GB per 10 minutes).  So I recorded myself playing SMB2j.  And you'll likely see that I've since uploaded it to Youtube.

One of the things the recording software doesn't allow is voice over feedback.  To be honest, I don't really mind cause my first videos didn't have it either but it's a limitation that I may have to find a workaround for later.

While I haven't abandoned Scribblenauts, I did record several more videos due to the ease of using the in game recorder and the low file sizes.  Here's a list of NES videos that should be coming your way to Youtube within the next couple days:

RECORDING FINISHED:
*(None)

Here are a few more NES games that I'm in the process of recording and finish in the next few days:

NEAR FUTURE RECORDINGS:
*Adventure Island 3
*Final Fantasy 2
*Fire Emblem
*Home Alone
*Wai Wai World

Here are a few NES games that I plan to record in the future:

*FUTURE RECORDINGS:
*Adventure Island 4
*Back to the Future II & III
*Bible Adventures
*Chrono Trigger Demake
*Donkey Kong 3
*Dragon Warrior 3
*Dragon Warrior 4
*Ducktales 2
*Exodus
*Felix the Cat
*Final Fantasy 3
*Final Fantasy 7 Demake
*Home Alone 2
*Joshua
*McKids
*Mother

Need for Speed: Most Wanted Guide Progress

So I figure I'll leave this post up and just edit it, so people will know just how far I'm coming with my NFS guide and where it's at currently.  I want to warn people that it DOES cover the Multi milestones and plates, but does NOT cover anything else about Multiplayer (due to my lack of experience with it and difficulty finding multiplayer games).   Below is my table of contents:

I.    Game Basics (100%):
      This section is 100% complete.  It gives new players the information they need to find, explore and otherwise follow my guide.

II.  Car Race Walkthroughs (30%):
     Working on getting all the races accounted for and strategies posted.

III. Most Wanted Walkthroughs (0%)
      Separated this section from the Car Race walkthroughs due to the significance the game places on the races.

IV.   Collectables:
      -Walkthrough (100%):
              FINISHED!  Got all collectables logged into the walkthrough!
       *Speed Traps (66/66)
       *Billboards (156/156)
       *Gates (135/135)
       *Jack Spots (93/93)
       *Speed Level Unlocks (All 71 Speed Levels covered)

V.    Cars & Pro Upgrades (100%):
        All cars are accounted for, all Jack Spots listed and all races listed.

VI.   Milestones & Plate Backgrounds
      -Milestone Basic Information (100%):
                This section lists all the different terms you'll need to obtain Milestones
      -Milestones (100%)
       *Single Player (100%)
                All of them copied over from the Wii U
       *Multiplayer (100%)
                Such a pain...but at least it's finished.
       *Collectable (100%)
                A breath of fresh air, since it's only 9 lines long.
       *License Plate Upgrades (100%):
                Phew...that took a while!  At least the last few were all the same!

VII.  Exclusives/DLC (85%) *CURRENT PROJECT*
       Change of plans...since DLC cars use current races and don't take much time to cover, I'm doing them first.
      -Ultimate Speed Pack
        *Car List (100 %): Everything documented!
        *Races (75%): Only 5 left
        *Billboards (100%): All 5 billboards accounted for
        *Milestones (100%)
        *License Plates (100%)
      -Vita Exclusive Levels (100%)
      -Wii U Exclusives
        *Features (100%): Lists all the unique features of the Wii U version.
        *Mario Karts (100%): All locations documented.

VIII. FAQs (100%):
       All questions I can think of are in the section!

IX.   Achievements/Trophies (100%):
       Every possible achievement and trophy is in the section with walkthroughs for all of it.

X.    Checklist (0%)
       The checklist is always the last thing I write before I proof the guide.

XI.   Thanks To... (100%):
       This section is always a work in progress, but I've included the usual list of suspects.

XII.  Closure (100%):
       Guide is closed!

CURRENT STATS:

-Pages: 212
-Paragraphs: 8954
-Words: 83073
-Characters: 559173
-Lines: 8955
-File Size:  569 KB

CURRENT PROJECTS:

*MAIN: To finish the races and Most Wanted section so the guide is complete.

*SUB: Currently working on races!

*NEXT: After this, I'll be done (aside from proofing the guide for submission).

(On a side note, this blog has really been helping me push myself to get it done.  There have been times when I've grown really frustrated and wanted to give up, but I always came back after a day's rest and re-cooperation since I've been able to keep track of my progress here.  It's nice to see just how hard you're working in numbers).

Behind the Scenes: Projects in the Works

So it's been forever since I posted.  I wanted to update you all on my current standings with my projects.  I have several that I plan to publish soon and I will upload them at the earliest convience.  However, it's my personal policy that each published work be the best it can be, so I intend to upload these as soon as I feel they're ready.  Below is the list:

*CURRENT PROJECT:

Need for Speed Most Wanted Walkthrough. (80% Done).  Finished the collectables of McClane, Downtown and The Beltway (working on Ripley's Point).  Once finished with that, I'll likely work on car locations and races.

Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7 Walkthrough (Vita) (30% Done): Been working on this one off and on since I published my Batman one.

Bit.Trip Beat Walkthrough (56% Done): Finished 10 of the Wii Exclusive Challenges as well as a complete walkthrough for the first stage.  Hope to finish up the last 10 and get on the remaining 2 levels.

Pokémon Chapter 4 (25% Done): The continuation of my pokemon story is currently waiting mainly for my collaboration with my friend at this time.

Rural Beginnings 2 (1% Done): Well...outlines are done for the most part.  Wanna start this soon.

Scribblenauts Unlimited Video Guide (20% Done): Finished all the object shards!  Converting to upload.  First two parts are online already.

*FUTURE PROJECTS:
Riven Walkthrough
Lego Lord of the Rings Walkthrough (Vita)
Lego Chima (Vita)
Lego Harry Years 1-4 (DS)
Lego Pirates (3DS)
Lego City Undercover (3DS)
Lego Star Wars III (3DS)
Lego Indy (DS)
Bit.Trip Series (Wii/PC)
Lego Batman 2 (PC/Wii U)
Kirby's Adventure (NES)
Jeopardy
Wheel of Fortune
Mega Man 1-6
Mega Man X-X8
Virtua Tennis 4
Doom 1, 2, Master Levels and Final Doom

Writing Update

Well, I never pictured there would be as long of a drought as this one and I apologize. However, recently I've been writing mainly for myself. I've started several new personal projects as well revitalized old ones. I apologize, but for now it seems that my writing schedule is filled with projects I don't intend for anyone to see.

In fact, one of them is a continuation of my personal favorite series, one I started with a friend long ago as a joke but it evolved into an eight part series that, nearly 11 years later, is nowhere near completion. To top it off, I'm also planning rewrites of a few of them as well as branched off stories to pick up where my friend left off.

So please bear with me until I find the time and inspiration to continue with my published works. I apologize for the downtime. Thanks.