Hiroshi Sotomura
November 27th, 2006, 11:39 AM
http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/header.png
Welcome back, avid readers and what not, to a brand new issue of [romhackersweekly]! Yes, I've been hacking rijonAdventures too much to explain my absence from writing this up. But don't worry, I'm going to get back into this very soon! Issue 11 might contain more? Who knows!
http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/interviews.pngLet's kick off with my favourite section - we're going to interview [ray.z], known in the PokéCommunity Chat as Amachi. So, my avid readers, let's start the interview. This interview, for those curious, is held at #thepokecommunity (http://www.pkmncommunity.com/javachat.php), our official chatroom.
<Sotomura> Okay, let's start the interview~
<Amachi> Bout time! :P
<Steampunk> o,o
<Sotomura> So, Amachi-kun, what got you interested in ROM hacking? :o
<Amachi> You can't help but become interested with all them ROM hacks
<Amachi> So I blame them
<Sotomura> XD
<Sotomura> So, when did you stumble across PC to see them?
<Sotomura> Were you browsing PC for other things before you saw the forum, for instance?
<Amachi> I somehow came across Chaos Black in Limewire, and then one day I was really bored. Since I was kinda tired of the original Pokemon games, I searched "Pokemon hacks" in Google
<Amachi> First thing that popped up was "Pokemon Naranja", and so yeah
<Amachi> That was my first time at PC too
<Sotomura> Ah.
<Sotomura> Limewire, eh? :x
<Amachi> Yeah
<Sotomura> So, as you've told me before, you're planning to make a hack. Care to describe how you plan and what you do to plan?
<Amachi> Sure
<Amachi> I firstly just go over ideas in my head, and for anything that pops up, I write it down (so I don't forget :P)
<Sotomura> Will you be starting a project anytime soon?
<Amachi> Hopefully, but unfortunately I need to gain a better understanding of scripting first :<
<Sotomura> Aaaah, alright.
<Amachi> So while I'm waiting for the tutorials, I've been doing a little bit of mapping, and a lot of planning
<Sotomura> Planning always helps, obviously. :<
<Sotomura> Do you think you'll work independently or with a group?
<Amachi> Independently, but I'm sure I can rely on other PC members at time for some assistance
<Amachi> at times*
<Sotomura> It'd be interesting to see more independent hackers, sure.
<Sotomura> So what's your opinion towards unoriginality?
<Amachi> heheh umm, well it does make one's hack seem very bland
<Amachi> Just cause of the repetition
<Sotomura> Ah, alright then.
<Sotomura> Anything else for the crowd before we end this interview?
<Sotomura> Which has sadly NOT been interrupted by Cooks and Audy. D:
<Amachi> That is a shame.
<Snape> MOOO
<Amachi> Ummm ... well I guess I'd like to recommend planning ahead
<Amachi> Not you Snape! XD
<Amachi> And ... Sotomura's a pervert!
<Sotomura> DDDDDDDDDD:
<Amachi> hahaha XD
<Amachi> I had to say it XD
Interview concludes here.
Oh, and also, Amachi left a nice little award as a guest recommendation. If you have any hacks you'd like to suggest, I might consider adding it in the issue as a Guest Recommendation.
http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/gr10.png
Yay for rijonAdventures getting an award. :D
http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/reviews.pngReviewing time! So, what's good and what's bad? What should you not touch? Let's look in!Pokémon Shiny Gold ([url-inline="showthread.php?t=74447"]Link[/url-inline])
Hack author: zel
Pros: Great area concepts, deviation from based game, excellent scripts.
Cons: Inconsistent mapping and odd glitches, no running shoes for fast movement.
I was really tired one day and started humming the Gold and Silver tune. As much as we demand a remake, is it possible? Is it plausible?
That's why most of the general public seems to want a Gold and Silver remake. Some can't wait for GameFreak to release one (and who knows if they will!). For those who are impatient and know how to play ROM hacks, this just represents one of them on the ROM hacking scene.
And it's really good.
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/2449/image05by4.png Pokémon Shiny Gold features a lot of good ideas for the maps. Most of them look nice, and use pretty good tilesets too. However, some maps look a little odd the way they've been designed - most maps really look similar to what they appear like in Gold and Silver, which can be really awkward considering games should extend and leave more room for tiles. Pokémon Center roofing looks a little odd, having been shaved a couple of tiles.
The game deviates quite a bit from the original Gold version. We've got a few persistent rivals (Carlos, for instance) who seem keen on battling, and hopefully they're recurring too. Most of the limitations of FireRed have been addressed pretty nicely too. While there's no PokéGear (yet), there is the VS Seeker. It's an okay compromise. What does bug me, though, is the lack of Running Shoes. The Advanced games feature them - even FireRed and LeafGreen did and they were remakes. Fast movement is nicer than walking sometimes!
The game wins in terms of scripting. zel must've studied his scripts a lot - they're almost dead-on accurate, but if not, provide nice compromises and niceties. The new people are scripted in well, and blend seamlessly with every other script in the game.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6499/image50vm6.png There are some odd glitches and other funny bits. Why, for example, isn't it possible to use Escape Rope at the top of Sprout Tower when the rival can? Also, using a normal tree for Sudowoodo might be a fun way to exaggerate it, but if you tried manually using CUT... The nice thing is, though, that zel has dedicated a section in his thread for glitch tracking. Great way to keep people updated, too.
Still excellently done, especially with its scripting efforts. Good work, zel!
Editor's rating: http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/star.pnghttp://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/star.pnghttp://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/star.pnghttp://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/star.pnghttp://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/star-half.png (4.5 out of 5) (See awards panel!)
Reviewed by: Hiroshi Sotomura (Editor)
http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/awards.png
http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/ec10.png Drumrolls! Excessive fanfare! It's the awards panel! Let's see who got a special award this week, shall we?
Okay, so this week, I've already found a clear winner. Who is it?
Well, after my review up there, you all should've predicted so. XD
Why Shiny Gold?
It had a beta release lately. It's also a pretty established start on a Gold "remake" - it includes more than just what's seen in the game it's based on. And it's pretty good, graphically. My objections can be seen in my review up there, but this hack really deserved it. It also deserved its Hack of the Month award this November, methinks. More awards for the hack author is good.
Definitely my pick for this issue.
http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/editorial.png
Okay, so it's my closing notes now.
Why so little time? It's been spent on my hack, rijonAdventures. Exams and stuff are over, so I'll be spending more time on my hack, bur maybe I'll find time for this too. We'll see soon. XD
So as our issue comes to an end, here's a random comic pane from Ichigo 100% (provided by [ray.z]). D:
http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/14.png
Welcome back, avid readers and what not, to a brand new issue of [romhackersweekly]! Yes, I've been hacking rijonAdventures too much to explain my absence from writing this up. But don't worry, I'm going to get back into this very soon! Issue 11 might contain more? Who knows!
http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/interviews.pngLet's kick off with my favourite section - we're going to interview [ray.z], known in the PokéCommunity Chat as Amachi. So, my avid readers, let's start the interview. This interview, for those curious, is held at #thepokecommunity (http://www.pkmncommunity.com/javachat.php), our official chatroom.
<Sotomura> Okay, let's start the interview~
<Amachi> Bout time! :P
<Steampunk> o,o
<Sotomura> So, Amachi-kun, what got you interested in ROM hacking? :o
<Amachi> You can't help but become interested with all them ROM hacks
<Amachi> So I blame them
<Sotomura> XD
<Sotomura> So, when did you stumble across PC to see them?
<Sotomura> Were you browsing PC for other things before you saw the forum, for instance?
<Amachi> I somehow came across Chaos Black in Limewire, and then one day I was really bored. Since I was kinda tired of the original Pokemon games, I searched "Pokemon hacks" in Google
<Amachi> First thing that popped up was "Pokemon Naranja", and so yeah
<Amachi> That was my first time at PC too
<Sotomura> Ah.
<Sotomura> Limewire, eh? :x
<Amachi> Yeah
<Sotomura> So, as you've told me before, you're planning to make a hack. Care to describe how you plan and what you do to plan?
<Amachi> Sure
<Amachi> I firstly just go over ideas in my head, and for anything that pops up, I write it down (so I don't forget :P)
<Sotomura> Will you be starting a project anytime soon?
<Amachi> Hopefully, but unfortunately I need to gain a better understanding of scripting first :<
<Sotomura> Aaaah, alright.
<Amachi> So while I'm waiting for the tutorials, I've been doing a little bit of mapping, and a lot of planning
<Sotomura> Planning always helps, obviously. :<
<Sotomura> Do you think you'll work independently or with a group?
<Amachi> Independently, but I'm sure I can rely on other PC members at time for some assistance
<Amachi> at times*
<Sotomura> It'd be interesting to see more independent hackers, sure.
<Sotomura> So what's your opinion towards unoriginality?
<Amachi> heheh umm, well it does make one's hack seem very bland
<Amachi> Just cause of the repetition
<Sotomura> Ah, alright then.
<Sotomura> Anything else for the crowd before we end this interview?
<Sotomura> Which has sadly NOT been interrupted by Cooks and Audy. D:
<Amachi> That is a shame.
<Snape> MOOO
<Amachi> Ummm ... well I guess I'd like to recommend planning ahead
<Amachi> Not you Snape! XD
<Amachi> And ... Sotomura's a pervert!
<Sotomura> DDDDDDDDDD:
<Amachi> hahaha XD
<Amachi> I had to say it XD
Interview concludes here.
Oh, and also, Amachi left a nice little award as a guest recommendation. If you have any hacks you'd like to suggest, I might consider adding it in the issue as a Guest Recommendation.
http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/gr10.png
Yay for rijonAdventures getting an award. :D
http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/reviews.pngReviewing time! So, what's good and what's bad? What should you not touch? Let's look in!Pokémon Shiny Gold ([url-inline="showthread.php?t=74447"]Link[/url-inline])
Hack author: zel
Pros: Great area concepts, deviation from based game, excellent scripts.
Cons: Inconsistent mapping and odd glitches, no running shoes for fast movement.
I was really tired one day and started humming the Gold and Silver tune. As much as we demand a remake, is it possible? Is it plausible?
That's why most of the general public seems to want a Gold and Silver remake. Some can't wait for GameFreak to release one (and who knows if they will!). For those who are impatient and know how to play ROM hacks, this just represents one of them on the ROM hacking scene.
And it's really good.
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/2449/image05by4.png Pokémon Shiny Gold features a lot of good ideas for the maps. Most of them look nice, and use pretty good tilesets too. However, some maps look a little odd the way they've been designed - most maps really look similar to what they appear like in Gold and Silver, which can be really awkward considering games should extend and leave more room for tiles. Pokémon Center roofing looks a little odd, having been shaved a couple of tiles.
The game deviates quite a bit from the original Gold version. We've got a few persistent rivals (Carlos, for instance) who seem keen on battling, and hopefully they're recurring too. Most of the limitations of FireRed have been addressed pretty nicely too. While there's no PokéGear (yet), there is the VS Seeker. It's an okay compromise. What does bug me, though, is the lack of Running Shoes. The Advanced games feature them - even FireRed and LeafGreen did and they were remakes. Fast movement is nicer than walking sometimes!
The game wins in terms of scripting. zel must've studied his scripts a lot - they're almost dead-on accurate, but if not, provide nice compromises and niceties. The new people are scripted in well, and blend seamlessly with every other script in the game.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6499/image50vm6.png There are some odd glitches and other funny bits. Why, for example, isn't it possible to use Escape Rope at the top of Sprout Tower when the rival can? Also, using a normal tree for Sudowoodo might be a fun way to exaggerate it, but if you tried manually using CUT... The nice thing is, though, that zel has dedicated a section in his thread for glitch tracking. Great way to keep people updated, too.
Still excellently done, especially with its scripting efforts. Good work, zel!
Editor's rating: http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/star.pnghttp://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/star.pnghttp://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/star.pnghttp://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/star.pnghttp://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/star-half.png (4.5 out of 5) (See awards panel!)
Reviewed by: Hiroshi Sotomura (Editor)
http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/awards.png
http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/ec10.png Drumrolls! Excessive fanfare! It's the awards panel! Let's see who got a special award this week, shall we?
Okay, so this week, I've already found a clear winner. Who is it?
Well, after my review up there, you all should've predicted so. XD
Why Shiny Gold?
It had a beta release lately. It's also a pretty established start on a Gold "remake" - it includes more than just what's seen in the game it's based on. And it's pretty good, graphically. My objections can be seen in my review up there, but this hack really deserved it. It also deserved its Hack of the Month award this November, methinks. More awards for the hack author is good.
Definitely my pick for this issue.
http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/editorial.png
Okay, so it's my closing notes now.
Why so little time? It's been spent on my hack, rijonAdventures. Exams and stuff are over, so I'll be spending more time on my hack, bur maybe I'll find time for this too. We'll see soon. XD
So as our issue comes to an end, here's a random comic pane from Ichigo 100% (provided by [ray.z]). D:
http://members.optusnet.com.au/soanevalcke/i10publication/14.png