8-Bit City and Star Quest Update

You might be wondering, "Where the heck are all the updates?" I am sure you were not. I felt like taking a little time off from all the super serious video game criticism and informally address readers and tell a little about everything video game related in my recent life.

I'm now getting a lot of emails asking for me to do graphics for their game, or if they can use my graphics in there game, or if I'd write something for them, or if they can write something for me. Unequivocally I've turned everyone down in the form of not responding.

Nobody acts professionally. Rather, some of these emails borderline unsettling. Keep reading, I'll tell you whats wrong with the messages.

As far as graphics go, anyone is free to use my sprites in their own FREEEEE games. Not sort of free, or any sort of pricing anything. I'm talking down and fucking dirty indie game devs doing it all for free can use anything they want as far as I'm concerned. If you wanna make an iPhone game don't email me with some ambiguous nonsense about a shady "project" or "game." I am not opposed to design or graphics jobs, but have your shit together before emailing.

Second, if you want to write an article for 8-Bit City, just do it and email the article to me. However, I have never published an article by another author on 8-Bit City, but I've also never received one by submission. Of course, I reserve the right to not publish anything you send me. You should also send 3-4 pictures with the article if applicable.

If you are working on/finished an indie game and want me to blog about it, please email me the link! Know about a cool game? Hit me up! These are the kinds of emails I really do enjoy, and you can also post this sort of thing in the comments section of recent posts and I'll read it.

As far as games go, I am in "recharge" mode, playing through Phantasy Star 3, finishing the Phantasy Star 2 article, playing NESTalgia & Final Fantasy 6, and about to Start Dragon Quest VIII... so just remember that one has to play games in order to write about games.

NEStalgia, the 8-Bit MMORPG, is set to receive a new patch which will allow the player to recruit almost any monster (humonoid's included) as a party member with it's own set of skills, promising much expanded gameplay and party options. If you haven't played NEStalgia, now's the perfect time to start!

Finally, I've been thinking of my own development projects, and what I'd like to do next. I realized that Star Quest was still technically in Beta 2.0 and I've considered updating the battle system and gameplay. Generally speaking, I'd like to turn it into a classic console-style RPG. This would mean that I would need to increase the overworld, make some other changes, but overall I don't think that it would be too daunting of a task.

However, there are other options for the future of Star Quest. I've also considered porting the game to Byond using the same graphics, style, and story but adding online multiplayer functionality. I truly feel like this is the best option for Star Quest because the simple graphical style would allow for easy expansions. The OHRRPGCE Beta 2.0 feels like a sketch. I picture player-controlled robots and rogues hanging out in shady arcades and mugging other players for their quarters.

I'm also reworking the way in which the arcade machine's work, but I'm throwing around a lot of options.

It's also possible that I just move on to Star Quest 2 using OHRRPGCE...one never knows.