Happy Holidays!

And a happy New Year!
...Well, other than that, I have nothing for you. Still, you're enjoying your holiday bangles, you don't need anything new, right? Right?

I know I don't! If you own a DS - and are a good thinker - Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is a must-buy. I'm nearly finished (it's rather shorter than most other Zelda games) but it's jam-packed with treasures and ship parts which take a good long while to track down.

Anyway, Happy Holidays, Ho Ho Ho!

Previews Updated

Yes indeed, follow this link or click on the Previews and Spoilers section to see information on a new game in the works: Invertebreak!
More information will be revealed as development progresses. For now, let me say that there will be 5 levels, 3 two-player battle maps, and a total of 5 selectable characters for battle mode.

Entry 2: Metroid!

Indeed, my next project is a 2D Metroid game. This game - with the working title "Metroid Life" - will provide an experience I hope to be like the classic Super Metroid, but filled with new life. For instance, I'm taking a page out of Metroid Prime's book by implementing a visor system, as well as multiple beams. In fact this game will be stuffed with upgrades, even for a Metroid game!

Let me telll you a bit about some of the new items you'll get early in the game.

• Volt Bomb: A morph ball upgrade, the Volt Bomb unleashes arcs of electrical energy. If you've used the Hyper Ball from Metroid Prime 3, you'll have a good idea of what I'm talking about. The Volt Bomb uses up bombs on the bomb meter: once the meter is empty, the electricity will stop and you'll have to wait for it to recharge.
• Command Visor: So it's not new, but the Command Visor will be good for a whole variety of tasks. You can command your ship to land in any open-air area, for instance. Other options will include bombing runs, and grappling obstacles. The Command Visor also usurps some of the responsibilities of the Scan Visor; you'll use it to hack into systems and such.
• Spider Ball: Also not new. Still, the Spider Ball has been reimagined: it will now cling to most metal surfaces. Some metal is demagnetized, preventing such feats, but it still is a much more open system and allows for numerous new possibilities.
• Seed Missile: You will receive a number of organic upgrades, and the Seed Missile is the first. It fires a seed which implants itself in organic enemies and begins to grow, destroying them. Just be sure to keep your missiles away from Phazon, or you'll have a riot on your hands!
  

I'll leave you with but one more thing. In the game, you will receive a number of Grapple Beam upgrades. There is the standard Grapple Swing and the newer Grapple Catch, but you will receive another. It is the Metroid Grapple. Think about it. . .

Entry 1: Dungeons, Ships, and Apples

The next demo of SPIRITS: The Wind Crystal will go up to the end of the first dungeon. I hope to have it finished by the end of the month, but that is somewhat unlikely: Metroid Prime 3 is a fantastic game, whether or not it is my second run through. :D
I'm also working on another game, an edutainment scrolling shooter, which I'm doing as a school project. Depending on how good the final product is, I may post it.

I suppose now is as good a time as any to give a shout-out to YoYo Games, the company that creates the software I use to develop my games: Game Maker. The name is painfully creative (:P) but offers a powerful development system that can be used with surprising ease. You can download the LITE version for free, and upgrade to PRO for $20 USD if you like. I recommend it!
While I'm discussing Game Maker, I have a tidbit of news that will gladden the hearts of a large number of visitors. As this glog entry states, development of a Mac version of Game Maker is beginning. While it is not expected to come out in the near future, it will allow me to create Mac versions of games. Good deal, no?

SSA On-line Setup

It's obviously not a game, but an on-line setup. The Spirit Software Architecture On-line Setup - to give it its full title - will be a program that will allow you to set up an On-line account so you can play our on-line multiplayer games. Here's how it works.

1. Give yourself a username and password.
2. Note which on-line protocols you can use.
3. Save.

*Procedure subject to change.

This acount saves your records for all on-line sessions. It will be universal to all the games saved on your computer.

You would login in a game (Say, SPIRITS: The Wind Crystal) to play on-line, and manage the account from the SSA On-line Setup.

This account system makes for an interesting on-line experience; one somewhat akin to that of console multiplayer. Who knows, I might even be able to include a 'Profile' system a la Halo!

Entry 2: Movie not loaded...

You may have noticed, but all the Flash widgets are currently phail. Awesome banner, music test consoles...nothing.
I can explain! My hosting had suddenly and unexpectedly gone splat. Why? I have no idea.

Music Test will remain in hiatus unless I can jimmy some Media Player or Quicktime console. As for the banner, I have an older banner I made long ago that I will be using. In the mean time, pray and/or cross your fingers that my host will come back.

SPIRITS: Ghost of a Chance

They're creeping in on All Hallow's Eve...!

It's the SPIRITS Halloween special: dark souls have come to haunt Spiritown, and it's up to you to find 'em. Pull out your flashlight and outspook the spooks!

The game will work like this:

You start out in the street; you'll click one of the houses to head in. Furtive souls haunt the road: a click will net you bonus points.
Within the houses are terrified spirits and - more importantly - dark souls eager to feed! When you enter, one soul will flip the light switch while the rest sneak off into the shadows. You'll whip out your trusty flashlight and trawl the gloom for the hidden souls. If you don't find them all before the timer hits rock bottom, it's lights out for you!
Most souls are defeated the instant your flashlight hits them. But as you progress up main street and into the President's mansion, tougher spectres will start popping up.

The game will feature three areas: the suburbs, main street, and Presidential Residential. The haunting begins October 25th.

Music Test

I'm obsessed with music, I admit. I feel it's the most important part of a game after gameplay. So, along with screenshots I will be posting music that will appear in-game.

originally "atmospheric vibe" by PSION


originally "behind the darkness 3" by Marek Eno


originally "Shadow Shifter" by Treadz

Location: the Ghost Realm

The Ghost Realm is where the souls of the departed go. Very little is known about it: none but the dead enter, and none leave.
Rumor has it Menace was very interested in the Ghost Realm - or at least Lady S'kl'ch - before his demise. Bane might try to enter the Ghost Realm and complete his master's goals.

Beings of the Ghost Realm

Communication with those in the Ghost Realm is still possible. About one in every 100,000 seances are successful, and the Ghost Archspirit has the power to speak with most any ghost after some special preparation.
Any list of beings of would be pointless: the Ghost Realm contains every deceased soul ever to exist, from King Sippah to

Sir Isaac Newton.

Lady S'kl'ch: Queen of the Ghost Realm. The Ghost Archspirit recorded what the late Passenger Pigeon Spirit said about S'kl'ch during a discussion beginning about bird migration.

"Incredibly powerful, regal, but certainly insane. I feel a connection between her and the on-coming darkness you have

been telling me about - but the darkness and she are repelled, almost revolted by each other, I think. Whatever shadow awaits you, it comes not from the netherworld."

"originally winter.fall

by kuang hong"

Entry 1: It's Sort Of A Blog

Yes, it is sort of a blog. SPIRITS On-Line was made with a blog engine. That means...the blog has blogs! However, I call 'em Build Journals because...I like the name 'Build Journals'.

You may not have seen the old website, but it wasn't slick! I tried to make it cool, but only an awesome revamp like a blog engine could bring forth what was needed. I like the archive hierarchy myself. It also gives the "SPIRITS feel" much better than the other. And there's a sweet flash banner in the wings, waiting for the perfect moment to look awesome! Plus, the new website can get big changes easily and at any time. Not a bad deal, eh? Just keep watching for all sorts of updates, major and minor!

Location: the God Realm

The God Realm: home to the gods, and to a certain other species. What is this species? Humans. Yes, us mortals are a little portion of the God Realm.

God Realm
The God Realm is a messy place. The oh-so-famous Greek gods take the spotlight there, but there are others that gambol about there. Some famous name include Yahwehjevohahallah, Ra, and Horus. Then there are the gods who haven't gotten themselves into a religion: Blaetheus, Deviletheus, and the God of Disturbing Evil Monstrosities.

Human Realm
Let's feel honored: the most commonly used portal to the human realm existed in Greece at the time of the Greek empire. Had the main portal been somewhere else, we might have ended living in the Quenti Realm, or the Shadow Wings Realm.

The Dark Flame

Uncountable billenia ago, a dark spirit of fire named Bane laid seige to the
whole of the Spirit Realm. Evil beasts walked free...darkness held sway.

In the midst of this carnage, a young spirit set out to destroy Bane.
Knowing that any number of troops would fall before they ever reached
Bane's fortress, he enacted a bold plan. He took a large plate of
diamond and tied a set of balloons to it. With this craft, he flew
directly to Bane's tower.

The spirit fought with bravery and courage, yet he could not hope to harm
Bane, who lay behind a curtain of flame. In a daring attack, he hurled the diamond
directly into Bane's eye. An observer said he saw a tremendous flash of light from
the fortress, then it collapsed in a mighty quake.

As the ruins decayed further, people began to forget of the dark times.
Those who remembered came together as a council. This coucil extensively
explored the fortress sub-basements, and found endless texts regarding magic.
They taught themselves some of the magic - all that they could be sure was free
of darkness - and became known as the Archspirits.

The Council of Archspirits knew that Bane was so great that no strike or spell
would ever wholly end him, he had merely been dispersed into an unconscious essence
which permeated the fortress. They gathered this essence and sealed it in a bottle, but
they knew the fiery magic in the essence would soon break it out. Help came from an
unexpected source.

The government decreed that a temple would be built in the valley that the fortress
had stood. The Council of Archspirits volunteered to help build the temple. They brought
in the most magical and most pure stones they could find, and constructed the Moonkeep
Temple. In the deepest sanctum, Bane's essence was sealed. There was peace. Then
disaster struck...

One of Bane's old lieutenants, Silzrav, attacked the Spirit Realm with a mighty army.
Victory was won, but at the cost of the top floors of the Moonkeep temple...and six of the
seven Archspirits.

Their apprentices took their place, and trained with their notes. However, one piece
of information was lost to them...where Bane was sealed away . . .

Location: the Spirit Realm

The Spirit/Demon Realm is referred to collectively as the Spirit Realm. Ask a spirit, and only the spirit half of the realm is the Spirit Realm, the other half being the Demon Realm.

The Spirit Half
The Spirit Half is a bustling metropolis. Landmarks include Spiritown, - the quiet capital famous for its nasty burgers - Overworld Clouds, - the popular tourist attraction - and the Moonkeep Temple - an oasis of peace and quiet reflection.

The Demon Half
The Demon Half is much like some shantytown. Mountains and pillars of rock stick up out of the ground at random, with housing attached to them at equally random points. The place commonly known as Dusty Dusty Ruins is really King Sippah's old castle.

Location: the Realmian Archipelago

The Realmian Archipelago is an archipelago of realms which includes the Spirit/Demon Realm, the God Realm, and the Ghost Realm.

There is nothing that's actually special about the Realmian Archipelago.

Location: the Acid Sea

Upon this murmuring sea of energy, all the realms float. Though it seems to be an acid, it is truly a transmutagenic substance: all matter that touches the Acid Sea is transformed into the material of the sea.

After much experimentation, loss of life, and coffee with extra sugar, a way of transportation over the Acid Sea was devised. Concentrations of magical energy - known in scientific circles as unity waves - could form a cushion that would protect a vehicle during the crossing.

The deeper one goes into the Acid Sea, the more powerful the transmutagen becomes. The current record for depth goes to the late scuba spirit, achieving a depth of four-point-three-eight-five feet.

Previews and Spoilers

This page is where any and all previews and spoilers will be unveiled. Check here often!


???

What is it? Find out in 2009












Invertebreak
Shiny...and 3D! Using a somewhat limited game development program, I'm making this (rather glitchy) third-person shooter! And yes, you do play as a scorpion.








The Family of Kress
Kaskamai...Darknu...these two will clash in a battle to be remembered, in a tale of betrayal, trust, and vengeance.
If you want to win in this game, you will have to learn the strengths and weaknesses of every foe, for ineffectual attacks will doom you in a second. Be cautious, and be brave.
Darknu is waiting...

Beings of the Spirit Realm

Spirits: Spirits are funny beings. They all look something like that, though modified to represent their respective power, be it sound or asparagus. Generally speaking, a spirit is a match for a demon. However, the demons of high rank often have power that could decimate all but the greatest warriors.




Propeller Spirit: The unassuming young spirit destined to bond with the Wind Crystal and challenge Bane. Play it out in SPIRITS: The Wind Crystal.

SPIRITS: The Wind Crystal

SPIRITS: The Wind Crystal is an epic top-down adventure, chronicling the Propeller Spirit's desperate search for the awesome Wind Crystal. Featuring impressive graphics and an innovative battling system, The Wind Crystal belongs in any gamer's download library.

Version 3.1 is out! Graphics have been fully updated, menu finalized, and all original music make it quite impressive. It also loads all the music externally, so load times have been drastically improved! It's unfortunately a good deal shorter than the previous version, but I promise the game will be quite long in the end.

[Click to download] Size: 15.9 Megabytes (Zipped)
Host: FileFront
You will need WinZip or WinRAR to open this file.
This game will not run on any Macintosh operating systems.
This game has not been tested for play on Unix, Linux, Ubuntu, etc.

History

Ancient Zephyr
The Spirit/Demon Realm was first poulated by the Zephyrians. They were wise and awesomely powerful. Many years after they were first established, internal tensions began and culminated in the Schism, where they were separated into two groups: the Zephyrians and the Repheez. The two groups fought for a long time, and their battle continued into parts unknown as they left the realm.

The Zephyrians left behind a mystical computer to further their aims: the Zephyr Spirit Base. It generated all the spirits which now poulate the Spirit Realm. A glitch also caused it to generate the demons. After the demons were formed, the Spirit base was so damaged and heated it popped and stretched, forming the barrier between the Spirit and Demon Realms.

Trouble With King Sippah
King Sippah was probably the worst thing that could have happened to the spirits and the demons. He was paranoid and believed everyone was out to murder him. He surrounded himself only with a circle of "trusted" beings. Sadly, these were really the beings who hated him most: Lokiju, t3h n00b pwn3r, and Bane.

He died under mysterious circumstances. Subsequent investigation revealed Lokiju had killed him. Continued subsequent investigation revealed Bane had manipulated Lokiju. Extra continued subsequent investigation revealed Bane supplanted Lokiju's place as king. Further extra continued subsequent investigation revealed that all of that could be figured out really easily.

The Volcano Empire Invasion
The Volcano Empire's ranks swelled by demons, Bane turned his attention to the Spirit Realm. Bane laid seige to the
whole of the Spirit Realm. Evil beasts walked free...darkness held sway.

In the midst of this carnage, a young spirit set out to destroy Bane. Knowing that any number of troops would fall before they ever reached Bane's fortress, he enacted a bold plan. He took a large plate of diamond and tied a set of balloons to it. With this craft, he flew directly to Bane's tower.

The spirit fought with bravery and courage, yet he could not hope to harm Bane. In a daring attack, he hurled the diamond directly into Bane's eye. An observer said he saw a tremendous flash of light from the fortress, then it collapsed in a mighty quake.

The War Against Silzrav
Silzrav was one of Bane's most devoted servants, as well as his lieutenant (a rank served dually with Thrazonn). Silzrav, along with another of Bane's servants, held together much of the empire. After a brief and rather sloppy attempt to conquer a far-off city, they returned and attempted to finish the job their master had started. They came close, but the newly created Council of Archspirits laid waste to Silzrav's plans, though he escaped with his life.

The Long Peace
There is very little that can be said about this time; there is not even a list of presidents that could be given: the President Spirit bumbled through all four hundred thousand years of his three-year term. The Long peace is considered to have ended with the Spiritown Theatre Massacre.

Complete Beings List

Sorted alphabetically.

Demon Realm
Bane: He masqueraded as a demon for several hundred years and entered Sippah's trusted circle.
Lokiju: Sippah's younger brother, Lokiju was jealous of his brother's rank and spiteful of his stupidity.
Sippah, King: The late king of the Demon Realm.
t3h n00b pwn3r: A l33t-spelling and slow-thinking bodybuilder, t3h n00b pwn3r was part of Sippah's circle of trusted beings.

Ghost Realm
S'kl'ch, Lady: Incredibly powerful, regal, but certainly insane.

Lordship, The
Gravera: Menace's lieutenant, Gravera controls the dark organization Grave.
???: King of Evil, one of the First Ones.

Spirit Realm
Propeller Spirit: The unassuming young spirit destined to bond with the Wind Crystal and challenge Bane.

Volcano Empire
Aranus: Bane's lieutenant, Aranus is a being of great power and intelligence.
Bane, Lord: Lord of the Volcano Empire, Bane is also the Elemental of the Inferno.
Kolasaurus: A huge and cruel dragon.
Necrosa: She has a long and complicated past, which only Bane knows, though it is generally understood she is the Elemental of Lust.
Plantasm, the: A bizarre and malicious plant, the Plantasm is respected and feared throughout the Empire.

Beings of the Demon Realm

King Sippah: The late king of the Demon Realm. He was extremely paranoid, and surrounded himself only with beings who could be "trusted". Too bad those he deemed untrustworthy sought his continued life.






Lokiju: Sippah's younger brother, Lokiju was jealous of his brother's rank and spiteful of his stupidity. He had good reason to be spiteful: he was first to be inducted into the circle of trusted beings. While Lokiju was quite intelligent, he was no match for Bane's manipulations.







t3h n00b pwn3r: A l33t-spelling and slow-thinking bodybuilder, t3h n00b pwn3r was part of Sippah's circle of trusted beings. No one is really sure why. t3h n00b pwn3r was most loyal to Sippah than any of the others, though he liked him no more. t3h n00b pwn3r was only loyal because he believed being a traitor was the worst thing you could do. Lokiju was patient enough to talk him over to his side, but both quickly tumbled when Bane showed his true colors.





Bane: He masqueraded as a demon for several hundred years and entered Sippah's trusted circle. He convinced Lokiju to murder Sippah, and later supplanted him and brought a horde of demons to him to feed the ranks of the Volcano Empire.

Beings of the Lordship

???: King of Evil, one of the First Ones. All of the universe would have been devoured by his rule were he not checked and then defeated by The Soulwing. Little is known about this being.


Gravera: adviser to the unknown ruler of the Lordship, Gravera controls the dark organization Grave. At first glance, Gravera might seem witty and cowardly, but he is not to be reckoned with.


Lord Bane: Bane's relationship with the Lordship is unknown.

Beings of the Volcano Empire

404'd! No, just kidding. This page is currently being updated.