Hello people who can read english but not spanish. Yes... i know, there are a lot of people that reads this blog that know spanish, but for you is the spanish blog XD.
This weekend it will be celebrated in Barcelona the Art Futura 2006. For all the people that doesn't know it, i have to say that is one of the best places to see something related to videogames in spain. Its not e3 or gdc, is something different, small, but very interesting, so i will make the coverage for the people who don't have the chance to enjoy it.
Today was the opening of the show. This year they have added one exhibition place, very interesting and innovative, called "Experimental Arcade". Is like a chill out arcade place, with these games: Okami, shadow of the colossus, viewtiful joe 2, lego star wars, guitar heroes, a dance dance, vib ribbon, uparappa the rapper, un jammer lammy, mojjib ribbon, all of these from ps2, and from psp tokobot, lemmings and loco roco. Add to these Ryota kuwakuwo's toys and, in some moment.. a ps3!
After that we have seen Scanner Darkly, a film that is more a mental fart thatother thing. Visually compeling, its supposed that they will talk about how they made the film in other moment during Art Futura.
So, we stay in contact!. This will be updated as new things come!.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Friday, October 20, 2006
Dracula Twins demo and preview
Hi to everyone!. Today I am happy to announce that everyone can now download the demo of the game Dracula Twins here.
Well, if you want to know something about this game, is a game developed by the spanish company Nerlaska. I have a strong relationship with this company because they have their offices near Valencia, so i have been there a lot of times. I have helped their in "Codename Silver", "Wanted Guns" and this last game. The worst part is that my name is not Ramon Majere, but is not the first time someone has given this name to me XD. Nerlaska comes from a small village, but the people that was once inside this little team are now in groups like Pyro Studios, Enigma, Digital Legends, Gameloft or Guerrilla Games.
The game is a platform game very that tooks the formula from pandemonium (gameplay 2d in a 3d game engine) and something done as homage to titles like castlevania and ghouls and ghosts. Graphically acomplished, with a sound very well done, and using only 2 buttons and the cursor keys, its a game that you could test for seeing if it is a good game or not. It will be launched worldwide online, so i will advice you as soon as possible.
Opa Opa forever!
Well, if you want to know something about this game, is a game developed by the spanish company Nerlaska. I have a strong relationship with this company because they have their offices near Valencia, so i have been there a lot of times. I have helped their in "Codename Silver", "Wanted Guns" and this last game. The worst part is that my name is not Ramon Majere, but is not the first time someone has given this name to me XD. Nerlaska comes from a small village, but the people that was once inside this little team are now in groups like Pyro Studios, Enigma, Digital Legends, Gameloft or Guerrilla Games.
The game is a platform game very that tooks the formula from pandemonium (gameplay 2d in a 3d game engine) and something done as homage to titles like castlevania and ghouls and ghosts. Graphically acomplished, with a sound very well done, and using only 2 buttons and the cursor keys, its a game that you could test for seeing if it is a good game or not. It will be launched worldwide online, so i will advice you as soon as possible.
Opa Opa forever!
Sunday, October 15, 2006
News of the past week (09-15 of october)
Here is Nae writing the most exciting news referring to spanish game development.
Nerlaska has finished its videogame "Dracula Twins", a game that takes the pandemonium formula and merges it with some imaginery derivated from games like castlevania, ghouls and ghost. It's said that could be bought on 21 of november by web. More info here.
The next week, on wednesday 18, is the first igda madrid meeting, and that is a good new because is the first time the companies from spain have a serious meeting. Its needed to make more things for advancing in videogames. It's expected that i won't be there (i have to work on wednesday and thursday) but is a good new.
Another good new is the exposition about space invaders at "el tossal" gallery, located at "el tossal" square in Valencia. Its free and will last until 30 of november.
More info (sorry, in spanish) here.
And its supossed that the finalists of the art futura contest will be announced tomorrow. When i have the information i will edit this to add it.
Till this moment... Opa Opa forever!
Nerlaska has finished its videogame "Dracula Twins", a game that takes the pandemonium formula and merges it with some imaginery derivated from games like castlevania, ghouls and ghost. It's said that could be bought on 21 of november by web. More info here.
The next week, on wednesday 18, is the first igda madrid meeting, and that is a good new because is the first time the companies from spain have a serious meeting. Its needed to make more things for advancing in videogames. It's expected that i won't be there (i have to work on wednesday and thursday) but is a good new.
Another good new is the exposition about space invaders at "el tossal" gallery, located at "el tossal" square in Valencia. Its free and will last until 30 of november.
More info (sorry, in spanish) here.
And its supossed that the finalists of the art futura contest will be announced tomorrow. When i have the information i will edit this to add it.
Till this moment... Opa Opa forever!
Friday, October 13, 2006
Some thoughs about videogames
First of all, i have seen that I haven't had the comments option open to everyone. Sorry. I WANT your comments for knowing what do you think (specially about my written english, where my skill is not strong enough for what i want), so it was difficult to have comments if i don't let you to write it...
Second point, today I will explain some things. Videogames, as every entertainment industry, is related to how much benefits will you gain with your product. Yes, i would prefer another option, but now this is the truth about videogames industry. Other case is when you are a professional of another field (for example education) and you make games in your free time. But in videogames industry the most important is how much benefits you get. Life is Life...
Inside this, there are several points we should know.
A) The three keys factors are: Time, people and money. They are related among them. Usually more people means you are going to invest more money in your game. More time means more months you have to pay all the people you have in your team. But you have to know how to distribute this key factors: The time should be between one year and two for any professional game. Less time means the game has not enought effort driven inside it, and more means that the technology you have used at the beginning of the game is a bit older for compete. Not all the games need to use the last technology, but is a handicap. Appart that you have used too much money and time for finishing a proyect.
B) Innovation: If a game is something really refreshing, could happen two things: The game is a hit, or the game is a "game no one will play". Yes, is a pitty, but this is too common. The ideal is to make something different to every game in the market, but not enough different that makes the people ask "what the hell is that?" and don't know how to aproach to it.
C)Perfection Degree: All the games have bugs. But there are bugs biggers than others. For example, if you collision box is too big, it is a bug. But could be that this is nothing important, as it happens in Fantasy Zone. Every game changes in its development. And no game reachs the goal has at the beggining. But you have to know how to develop a good game, considering the three key factors and initial idea.
Deceived about videogames industry?. Don't worry, its very common. But you can help someone to have a nice time, to teach someone something, or make art inside your work. It's not as bad as it could be.
Opa Opa Forever!
Second point, today I will explain some things. Videogames, as every entertainment industry, is related to how much benefits will you gain with your product. Yes, i would prefer another option, but now this is the truth about videogames industry. Other case is when you are a professional of another field (for example education) and you make games in your free time. But in videogames industry the most important is how much benefits you get. Life is Life...
Inside this, there are several points we should know.
A) The three keys factors are: Time, people and money. They are related among them. Usually more people means you are going to invest more money in your game. More time means more months you have to pay all the people you have in your team. But you have to know how to distribute this key factors: The time should be between one year and two for any professional game. Less time means the game has not enought effort driven inside it, and more means that the technology you have used at the beginning of the game is a bit older for compete. Not all the games need to use the last technology, but is a handicap. Appart that you have used too much money and time for finishing a proyect.
B) Innovation: If a game is something really refreshing, could happen two things: The game is a hit, or the game is a "game no one will play". Yes, is a pitty, but this is too common. The ideal is to make something different to every game in the market, but not enough different that makes the people ask "what the hell is that?" and don't know how to aproach to it.
C)Perfection Degree: All the games have bugs. But there are bugs biggers than others. For example, if you collision box is too big, it is a bug. But could be that this is nothing important, as it happens in Fantasy Zone. Every game changes in its development. And no game reachs the goal has at the beggining. But you have to know how to develop a good game, considering the three key factors and initial idea.
Deceived about videogames industry?. Don't worry, its very common. But you can help someone to have a nice time, to teach someone something, or make art inside your work. It's not as bad as it could be.
Opa Opa Forever!
Monday, October 09, 2006
News of the past week (01-08 of october)
Today I will begin a new initiative... to bring you, people who don't know spanish, videogames spanish news. I will try to make it more or less fluid, but i have to say that i write better in spanish.
The first new is referred to the Art Futura show, the 2006 edition. It will be the days 26 - 29 of october, but the most important day is the last, which is dedicated to videogames.
At 13:00 horas in the Sala MAC it will be the round table around Games in Spain: Next generation, with Javier Arévalo Baeza, Pyro Studios (ES) http://www.pyrostudios.com Enric Alvarez, Mercury Steam (ES)
http://www.mercurysteam.com David Darnés, Ubi Soft (ES)
http://www.ubi.com Joan Carles Vendrell, Infinia (ES)
http://www.infinia.es Fernando Piquer, Zinkia Game Crew (ES)
http://www.zinkia.com and moderated by Daniel Sánchez Crespo, Novarama (ES) http://www.novarama.com. I suppose that it will be the classical mental fart about what we are doing in spain, with some exclusive videos and several thoughs.
At 17:00 horas , the same Sala MAC Ted Price, Insomniac Games (EEUU)
“ Designing games for next gen” http://www.insomniacgames.com/index.php Well, the man behind "Resistence, fall of the man" will show us what thinks.
At 18:00 horas, on the same Sala MAC Masaya Matsuura, NanaOn-Sha (JP)
“Sinergía” http://www.nanaonsha.com, the man behind “Parappa the Rapper”,“Vib Ribbon”, “Mojib Ribbon” will show us his advances in sound in videogames.
An finaly, at 19:00 horas in the Sala MAC, the 2006 ArtFutura Awards, with
ArtFutura Show Award, Videogames Creation Award, and 3d in Spain Movistar ArtFutura Award. Pay attention to the winners :P.
Other news are:
Virtual Toys has opened their website, and is showing images from their new games, Horsez and Rafa Nadal.
Devilish Games has finished his new website.
Enjoy all, and please... make comments!
The first new is referred to the Art Futura show, the 2006 edition. It will be the days 26 - 29 of october, but the most important day is the last, which is dedicated to videogames.
At 13:00 horas in the Sala MAC it will be the round table around Games in Spain: Next generation, with Javier Arévalo Baeza, Pyro Studios (ES) http://www.pyrostudios.com Enric Alvarez, Mercury Steam (ES)
http://www.mercurysteam.com David Darnés, Ubi Soft (ES)
http://www.ubi.com Joan Carles Vendrell, Infinia (ES)
http://www.infinia.es Fernando Piquer, Zinkia Game Crew (ES)
http://www.zinkia.com and moderated by Daniel Sánchez Crespo, Novarama (ES) http://www.novarama.com. I suppose that it will be the classical mental fart about what we are doing in spain, with some exclusive videos and several thoughs.
At 17:00 horas , the same Sala MAC Ted Price, Insomniac Games (EEUU)
“ Designing games for next gen” http://www.insomniacgames.com/index.php Well, the man behind "Resistence, fall of the man" will show us what thinks.
At 18:00 horas, on the same Sala MAC Masaya Matsuura, NanaOn-Sha (JP)
“Sinergía” http://www.nanaonsha.com, the man behind “Parappa the Rapper”,“Vib Ribbon”, “Mojib Ribbon” will show us his advances in sound in videogames.
An finaly, at 19:00 horas in the Sala MAC, the 2006 ArtFutura Awards, with
ArtFutura Show Award, Videogames Creation Award, and 3d in Spain Movistar ArtFutura Award. Pay attention to the winners :P.
Other news are:
Virtual Toys has opened their website, and is showing images from their new games, Horsez and Rafa Nadal.
Devilish Games has finished his new website.
Enjoy all, and please... make comments!
Monday, October 02, 2006
Opa Opa
Could be that someone has seen my sentence "Opa Opa Forever". And could be you don't know what is Opa Opa.So let's talk about Opa Opa, because is a marvelous character. There are another places where you can read about Opa Opa, the best of all is shrine of opa opa , and at wikipedia you can read something more.
Opa Opa is the main character of Fantasy Zone series. As simple as ti seems. Now I have to describe the points.
Opa Opa is some king of a egg, more like easter egg, with wings. Some time ago (the spacial year 1422) very very far, there existed a fantastuc zone where a hero (our character) fought valiantly for rescue it from forces from Menon planet. For your interest, the fantasy zone is the where takes live the game Space Harrier.
I meet first time with this game a lot of time ago. When I had to buy my first game, at year 1992, i had to choose a cheap game. As I had game gear and Master Gear Converter, it should be one of the cheapest games of Master System. The fought was between My Hero and Fantasy Zone, and at least won this last game. It was cheapest (12 $) and at the back of the box it said that you can make your ship, and it was shown in a spanish magazine called hobby consolas. So Fantasy Zone wins.
When i went to my home the first thing i do was to play this game, and get surprised. The first stage never finished! And they didn't kill you. What i do was to go straight and keep pressed the two button. Few time after i discover that what i have to do is to destroy the bases for reaching the next stage. And if you took floor the ship didn't get destroyed because Opa Opa uses his legs for walking over the floor. Marvelous detail.
After this i listened his wonderful sound, his marvelous graphics, the shop, his terrible difficulty (and this with a enemy so cute are difficult to kill them). Appart from this, i usually let the machine go for seeing the intro. And this game has the following routine: Presentation screen, demo, presentation screen, demo, and this will be with each level. But at the end the game shows a story with a ultra lovely music. Pure Love that made me have the eyes near tearing. Few time after playing it, i lend my game to a friend, that liked it and near finishes it. And is a very difficult game.
And time passed, Opa Opa and me where separated definitively when i changed my room. I don't know exactly why, but it seems that my mother washed the robes with the Fantasy Zone cartrigde inside them. Luckily for me, i saved the instructions booklet, that were very great.
And years after, i discover that Opa Opa was in another games, appart from Fantasy Zone 2, Fantasy Zone: The Maze, Fantasy Zone for game gear and Super Fantasy Zone for mega drive, Opa Opa was also in Zillion tv series and Zillion games. Zillion was also the name of the Sega Light gun.
Other day more stories.
Opa Opa forever!
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