Newgrounds.com — Everything, By Everyone.

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At 3/17/14 04:33 PM, Richard wrote:

At 3/15/14 08:11 PM, Miguelicuddy wrote: I am another suspicious alt account that only became active in the forums immediately upon posting of this thread.

Yup. Two alternate accounts posting in this thread that have been active for over a year, yet haven't posted anything at all untl this thread was posted.

Sketchy as fuck OP. Sketchy as fuck.

I gotta laugh on this one. I know you're trying to coax a fight, or an all-out war that will end with one of us shouting keyboard obscenities at the other. I have been as graceful as humanly possible toward you despite your rants and oddly angry comments on everything I've posted. I've even pointed out when you're correct on certain things.

It's obvious you're just looking for a fight, man. You won't find one here. Post what you will from this point on; I won't reply anymore. Anyone else seeing this can read for themselves that every one of my responses above have been careful and respectful.

Take care, all.

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At 3/17/14 01:33 PM, Miguelicuddy wrote: Dino Park Tycoon.

I played it on the little Macs they had in the tech lab at elementary school in the 90s.

The only thing that made this game not terrible was that somebody in the class figured out how to cheat and get money. Maybe we were all young idiots, or maybe we were rushed for time since it was always in the last half hour after classwork was done. Not sure. But nobody could ever get more than a few in-game days in (at most) before their dino park business venture went belly up.

Can't speak for all games, but I think this one might be MY worst game. Even the alternative option -- a weird, creepy, pointless simulation with gerbils on rainbow roller coasters -- was better.

You played that!? Ha! I remember that, too! So frustrating. It's funny, looking back it was like literally the worst game we could have played in the limited time we had in the classroom environment. Talk about blast from the past.

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At 3/17/14 12:37 AM, Richard wrote:

At 3/16/14 12:58 PM, Miguelicuddy wrote:

At 3/16/14 06:39 AM, Richard wrote: Not at that price point.

I'm one of those guys that likes to "wait out the bugs" for a little bit first. Sometimes that also means giving the price a chance to balance out, too, if it was so screwed up that they had to adjust it early on to increase sales.

The prices that companies are getting away with setting keep increasing regardless, though, so that part doesn't necessarily bother me as much as if there's some sort of crippling bug to be addressed. I'm no longer an 11-year-old kid hoping and begging for an N64 to spirit itself into my life by being a good boy and emptying the dishwasher without being asked. If something is good enough, I'll manage my money right and get it.

Not sure if I remember what the price point for the Omni is. I feel like it was $400-500ish or something? Well, that's an Xbox One. If the world can handle that price for that, they'll handle this too. Can't speak for everyone, but I'm to the point now in my professional life where the little time that I have available for video games really needs to be meaningful. I keep looking for ways to up the ante over the years and get rewarding experiences (this includes outside of video gaming, too, to provide some perspective). New content alone isn't enough. I also want a new way to experience the new content.

It's 500 dollars for a gaming PERIPHERAL. Not a system, a PERIPHERAL. That's like spending 500 dollars on a mouse, a keyboard, or a controller. The only people who buy xbones are the uneducated and lazy. For 500 dollars you could get a superior PC with many more titles, and a lot more utility including support for any controller/peripheral you could want. There aren't even any real graphical differences between the XB360 and Xbone. If you really want to get behind an expensive but futuristic and meaningful gaming peripheral, occulus rift is it. Not virtuix.

In order for a product to be widely implemented, there has to be a market for it. That market has to be willing to buy it and use it. Virtuix was turned down by many BILLIONAIRE investors and venture capitalists because of it's high price point and physicality. Many people don't want to be physically involved with their videogames. These people don't see the value in it and don't want to invest in it. If companies like microsoft, sony, and nintendo think virtuix won't be able to make any money, and refuse to back them, how do you think they are going to get investment anywhere else? Answer. They won't. You need investment to get factories to produce your item for you. Virtuix can't. You can't even buy a virtuix right now. You can only PREORDER it, and there's no guarantee you'll even get the product for it since the creators can't even get the capital they need to produce the initial units for an initial order. No market for selling = no one developing games for it = dead product.

OP is using virtuix as a gimmick to market his shitty movie to videogame rip off concept.

Honestly Richard, I would love to play a game truly designed on the Virtuix from the ground up. That's the truth. What they've done so far has been extremely limited because they haven't actually been a part of a game development process from the ground up (because of the funding issues you've pointed out).

It's kind of strange for me having grown up on the NES and old PC games like Doom, Descent, etc, to see people lump a virtual reality experience in the same category as a mouse & keyboard. When we were kids, gamers dreamed of it. But apparently, money talks.

You make very valid points about the Omni, including affordability (lack of, rather). We will definitely take this to heart. It's pretty much the reaction I get from friends in person; I show them the videos of the Omni in use. They look at it and say "Whoa!" and are floored...until I tell them the price. So, this is an issue and our company will discuss it.

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At 3/17/14 02:15 PM, Miguelicuddy wrote: Went ahead and looked up Rust for the first time.

Definitely a striking similarity, graphically. Somebody said somewhere above that it's got better graphics than what you've got here, but honestly they look identical to my eyes. Make what you will of that, as I'm really just observing, not insulting or praising. That game, too, looks like it has a long way to go before it's considered finished. The developer makes it a bold, shiny point that the game doesn't have a purpose yet. I suppose somebody could eventually mod it when it's ready, to do something like what yours is doing? Assuming anyone is interested in that type mod for that particular game? I think one thing that would give this game the edge over a Rust mod like that is the statistics tracking that is mentioned further on down your Kickstarter page. You're not the first game to do it, of course, but I think that kind of thing does make a difference in pulling a community together, so it's a solid idea.

Also, do you anticipate yours supporting a modding community? It seems like that'd be a tricky topic, since some mods would seek to alter the rules of the matches being fought. User maps or UI mods could be successful probably.

Another post above had another point worth noting. Take away the Omni collab idea. Pretend it's invisible, and gimme a keyboard and mouse. Is this game still unique enough to stand on its own? I suppose the quick answer is no, not at the moment, because it's not fleshed out yet. I think what I'm really questioning is the team's vision for the community. What will keep them coming back to a dynamic experience? You have to be ready for the possibility that NO players will have an Omni, just in case that company's venture does fall through. Under no circumstances should your development get stopped up by a dependency on contracts or rules imposed by that outside company (much like the publisher deal that you're trying to avoid, according to your spokesman). It could destroy your company's shot at making it, and give you a very prolonged and fun run through the gauntlet that is the legal system while you deal with the aftermath.

Absolutely. I would totally play this game with a mouse & keyboard. It just happens to be something I'm personally looking for as a gamer. Straightforward idea, done in a new way.

We do have plans for mod support. In games that don't have it, that's among the top complaints from fans. Like you pointed out though, it's a slippery slope.

I think people will have to remember that the whole point of Kickstarter is to try to acquire funding. What you see on our site (including the gameplay footage that certain individuals said doesn't exist) is before Pre-Alpha. This was all done without any outside funding, so I invite others to imagine what it would look like with funding.

It's no secret, everyone. Our Kickstarter will either fail, or not fail. Games like Novus Aeterno, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and Torment: Tides of Numeria were all ideas that garnered enough support on Kickstarter to become a reality (and I will definitely play Kingdom Come and Torment, for the record). Their companies already had either powerful, established presences, or private investors. We don't, so we're fighting uphill.

People must remember that what I am pitching here is a game that has not even reached the Alpha stage yet. What you're seeing online is a workable, playable prototype (again, there IS footage). We're on Kickstarter to flesh this thing out and are were well aware of the hurdles we'd face before doing so (ultra-polite forum feedback included xD).

I am very thankful for the feedback, because this is exactly why we wanted to reach out. Gamers are passionate and extremely picky (myself included), so their opinions matter; even if they want to mail your head in a box to some lucky recipient's doorstep xD

Thanks everyone.

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Thank you all for your input. It looks like the high pricing of VR tech being incorporated of any kind is really what would be the roadblock for most gamers. This is the feedback we've received elsewhere as well. As amazing as that capability could be, a lot of people simply aren't willing to pay for it. Totally understandable.

That and concern about developing for multiple input methods; this I can personally assure wouldn't be a problem.

Another response we've got is that people are pointing out that since our game will feature support for the Omni and traditional methods, the people trying use the Omni would be at a disadvantage against others. We've been discussing this as well. If there's a solution, we'll find it.

I'll wrap this up here then, since I got what I came for. Thanks again to all of you; even you, Richard (you called me a toolbag; I suppose that's better than douchebag. That's the word on the street, at least).

We'll see what happens from this point on. Take care everyone!

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Richard, you've made it pretty obvious where you stand on the matter. Your answers tell me you probably glanced at our site without actually reading anything. I'm even wondering if you read my post word-for-word and actually thought about what I was saying before you replied.

But hey, it's okay. This is the internet, after all. I'm hoping others will weigh in here (thank you, Miguelicuddy, Balamnir). I simply came here to ask about where gamers stand on VR Tech, and if it were incorporated into a game like this, what they'd be looking for. I didn't come to argue with one guy who had his heart set on being extremely critical.

Miguelicuddy, as for what you said, I'm with you. I've always been wary of VR, but I'm at that point where I think the Omni has what I'm personally looking for, and things will just get better.

And again, our game is being fully developed for keyboard + mouse input, controllers, etc. You will not have to own the Omni to play this game.

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At 3/16/14 06:44 AM, Richard wrote: With what I'm reading here, I'm waiting for your company to get a cease and desist letter from Suzanne Collins once you guys get into development.

Is this vaporware at this point? Or do you have an actual working model that is in alpha?

If you're really reading what I sent you, you should know the answer to that second question. And anyone else reading this can check up on that for themselves.

As for the cease and desist letter; well, let me put it this way. Deathmatch contests are nothing new. Right? Did you ever play Unreal Tournament? Old Medal of Honor games? Free-for-all fights to the death were not invented in The Hunger Games. We have specifically outlined exactly what the game's content involves, what it was inspired by, what our vision is, etc.

Suzanne Collins is not single-handedly responsible for the idea of a fight to the death using weaponry provided to you. Old games are remembered for that, such as Goldeneye for the N64. Countless other titles did this. People started unarmed, frantically dashed for a weapon, and then fought.

I read the Hunger Games trilogy, and am a fan. I can tell you right now that there were no natural disasters like what we're featuring in TSG. Combatants were forced to fight against their will in those books, not voluntarily for monetary reward. There was a big government oppressing 13 districts after a failed civil war; but in our game there's no Capital, no districts. No single-player whatsoever to even try to copy a story, as you're suggesting.

The title of our game, The Survival Games, literally means exactly what it sounds like. They're contests. Fighters join them like gladiators in Rome (only fighters in TSG have a choice). And for the record, again, if you read what I sent you, we are quick to point out that the "Start unarmed, Kill or be killed," principle of The Hunger Games is what started to inspire us. We loved that idea. And...wait for it...it's nothing new.

Neither is cash rewards for winning and gaining experience in a multiplayer game. It's nearly standard in the industry, now; but to you, is that concept off-limits as well?

DayZ started as a mod. Not its own standalone game. The Survival Games is its own game. Not a mod based off another existing model of any sort.

With your frame of thinking, we should criticize DayZ Standalone for asking for full price on their Alpha release. Their standalone isn't even remotely near a quarter of the way finished, their message boards are full of people clamoring for actual purpose in the game, and yet they're charging money. Still, people including myself, invested in it because I believe in what they're doing. So I won't criticize them.

How about The Last of Us? Should we criticize them for kinda sorta being similar to The Walking Dead? Zombie-like apocalypse across the U.S., follow the story of average people trying to survive? Well, no. I'd call them completely different. Built on roughly the same idea, but entirely unique. That is what's going on with not only the game we're developing, but the entire industry.

The sooner you understand that everything has already been done in one way or another, the better. What we have to do these days is take the old, and make something new out of it. War movies will continue to come out. Super hero movies. Military FPS games. MMORPGs. They all have similarities with other titles in their own genres, but they all put different spins on what already exists, and try to expand on it.

So, after all that is said...what I'm gathering from your input, Richard, is in your opinion the VR Tech is far too pricey.

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At 3/16/14 01:20 AM, Richard wrote: And why would I play your game, when I've already dropped 30 bucks on the game I'm playing right now, and someone can modify it for free to add natural and man made disasters as a threat?

This project doesn't add anything that hasn't been done before, and better, other than trying to use hardware that no one on this board would be willing to pay for. Except perhaps tom fulp, to place in his office for pico days and other office events.

There is nothing really proprietary about this game for the everyday gamer.

I hear what you're saying, and I understand. But, I would point out again that this game is also being fully developed for traditional methods.

I also want to tell you that I've been playing games since the late 80's, and I would call myself an everyday gamer. When I was approached by Hella Games to write for them, they had to pitch it to me, too. When I really dug into it, and was shown footage and plans for the game itself were outlined, I was sold very quickly. I personally have been looking for something like this for quite a long time; and I enthusiastically played everything from Guild Wars, to WoW, to Call of Duty, F.E.A.R., Left 4 Dead, the Thief series, the Elder Scrolls series...my tastes are pretty broad.

We already are completely aware that developing games specifically for VR systems of any kind is a risk no one is willing to take, and the majority of gamers quite frankly are more than hesitant to give it the light of day. This is really why we're reaching out to the public, to get feedback like what you've given; and I do appreciate it.

Mods take an existing game and, well, modify them. DayZ for example, was developed on ARMA. Therefore mods are limited to what that engine and platform will allow. ARMA was designed specifically as a military simulator, and DayZ modified the entire thing into a post-apocalyptic zombie experience.

DayZ would be a completely different game altogether if ARMA was not a military simulator, but developed specifically for a zombie survival experience. What I'm saying is, someone can make natural disasters (for example) to work with the ARMA engine; but I can guarantee it could never be on the same level as a game developed specifically for survival-combat amidst a chaotic environment, like ours. Since The Survival Games have been developed from day one as a pure multiplayer combat game with Mother Nature practically as a character itself, there won't even be a comparison.

Please note that our team has the utmost respect for games such as Rust, or DayZ; elements of those games actually inspired us. Everything I just said also applies to our own vision; quite frankly, if someone tried to engineer a military mod for our game, it would be nothing compared to what could be done with the ARMA platform. Different strokes for different folks, as they say.

Richard, I would ask respectfully that you check out our Kickstarter site here; not asking for you to donate of course, but if we cut to it, you're asking me to tell you what makes our game different than other games you've already played. That page will answer far better than I could here; and I think my posts here are already long as they are!

We suspect most gamers feel the same way you do about the VR aspect, and are trying to dig in to "Why?" So I do appreciate your feedback!

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@Balamnir Thanks! That was done by Eric Kaufman. Actually if I'm not mistaken, he's from around these parts (Newgrounds)...I'll have to check. I loved Mirror's Edge, although from my experience, people either loved it or hated it.

@Miguelicuddy Ha, yeah, it's the same for me. Started with the NES. Something like what we're talking about here could literally revolutionize everything. The problem we're facing is every new concept or idea that comes out totes that slogan a mile high. It's actually the case for us.

And I'll come right out and say that balancing the "survival" and "combat" aspects of The Survival Games is going to be a challenge. But we'll get it done right.

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At 3/15/14 04:03 PM, Balamnir wrote: Pretty neat!

Definitely do it standalone! One problem I have with a lot of mods is that they never quite nail it just right. It's like they try really hard to mold an original product into something it wasn't meant to be, and it sort of works, but there's just something off.

That's right, Balamnir. Mods can be incredible. Hell, DayZ started as a mod (I'm sure most of us know that). But The Survival Games is its own, well...game. It will feature archaic weaponry, like swords, axes, bows, daggers, etc; and yet it takes place today. You might be stalking through the woods when a supply plane cruises overhead and an airdrop falls to the earth, the location marked by a red flare.

Survival Games are contests, voluntarily joined by competitors. It's a brand new take on an old concept. Imagine hunting, surviving, fighting in the wild; when suddenly a tsunami hits, and the titanic wave courses inland. Unlucky players will have to cling to floating debris, or drown. Those left alive will still battle it out. That's just one example of something that can happen during gameplay. We're aiming for every match to be varied and dynamic. Things won't always happen the same way.

We do have some gameplay video; check it out here if you're interested. It's the footage of our prototype (not even pre-Alpha), so keep in mind that everything done here was done without funding of any kind, public or private.

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I also would like to add that our studio is hyper-aware of how "virtual reality" experiences have been used as hollow marketing schemes for games in the past. This is a major hurdle we'll have to get past, but this is the real deal here.

And The Survival Games is also being fully developed for traditional control platforms as well. Mouse/keyboard, controller support, etc.

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At 3/15/14 03:02 PM, Richard wrote:

At 3/15/14 02:57 PM, Richard wrote: Explain how anyone can't do this with a simple mod for Dayz or Rust.

Especially how those two games are graphically superior.

Well, they CAN do this with DayZ, or Rust, absolutely. Any game with keyboard input can be coupled with the Virtuix Omni. Everything from Minecraft to Call of Duty.

However, never before has Virtuix been a part of the game development process from the ground up. What you see in that Battlefield 4 video for example, is extremely limited compared to what Virtuix and our studio are talking about doing. The possibilities are actually vast, practically endless. Virtuix has a good video on their tech here, if you're interested. What they can do actually will most likely expand beyond gaming.

As for the visuals, what you see in our game's trailer was done in a 6 month period with our own money. We have an international team which you can view here. One of our guys even worked as a modeler for the film Jurassic Park, as well as The Avengers.

We launched our Kickstarter and have high hopes; things are going well. Visuals are one of the first aspects that will be drastically enhanced.

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Hey everyone! I'm the Lead Writer for Hella Games Entertainment. We have a workable prototype of our multiplayer survival-combat game, The Survival Games.

The Survival Games is a multiplayer deathmatch experience in which players fight to be the last combatant standing in dynamic, ever-changing wilderness environments. One of our biggest features is natural disasters, like tornados and meteor strikes. Players can also attempt to ally with others during the match, although doing so requires a bit of trust, since there’s nothing preventing allies from suddenly turning on you.

We were definitely inspired by the brutal nature of The Hunger Games. We love the concept of "Start unarmed. Kill or be killed." But that's where the similarities stop. We're taking things to a whole new level.

We are developing support for the Oculus Rift, and are in talks with Virtuix Omni to be the world's very first 1st-person multiplayer game built from the ground up with VR specifically in mind. I urge you to check it out here.

To be clear, our game will FULLY support traditional control platforms as well, like the mouse + keyboard, controller support, etc.

To be even remotely successful with a true virtual-reality experience, we’d like to get input from gamers themselves. What’s important to you? What concerns would you have? What would you expect? What would you hope for with such a game? If you're skeptical, why exactly?

Our game's web site is here. Check out The Survival Games trailer here. Check out the Virtuix Omni technology we are currently in talks with here. Thanks so much for your time, NG. We could really use your input!

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Hi Newgrounders! I'm Paul. I'm the Lead Writer for Hella Games Entertainment. Our game, The Survival Games, is a 3D, 1st-person survival multiplayer game. It's been in development for nearly a year, is looking to be a part of Steam Greenlight, and has a professional team working on it (including someone who did Special FX for Jurassic Park and The Avengers, for example).

For information, concept art, actual in-game screenshots (like the one you see here), everything you'd wanna know about The Survival Games, I would be beyond grateful if you clicked here to go to our web site! Soon, a trailer (for the upcoming Kickstarter) showing real in-game footage is scheduled to be released as well (we've already finished filming it).

To be straightforward: we need help spreading the word about the game, and are currently running a Thunderclap campaign (12 days to go) as we ease into the Kickstarter program. Our company has put months upon months of time into developing this game, and we've come to the phase where garnering enough support and gaining exposure to the gaming community is going to make or break us.

I've been on NG for over 10 years (mostly anonymously), and I wanted to reach out to you all. We won't make it without outside support, and that's the stark truth. Our goal for the Thunderclap is 250 supporters in the next 12 days (by Mar 1).

Thank you so much for your time! If you like what you see, tell your friends and fellow gamers, and sign up for the Thunderclap campaign (info on front page of site)! It's free and literally only takes a couple clicks of the mouse. Take care!

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I chose to go into this with an open mind, like we all should with any written works, especially poems. Now here's the thing; as people and Kylpault himself has pointed out, this poem is directed especially toward a certain group of people. I am not one of those people. So, perhaps I'll never fully understand the circumstances truly in my heart, but I stepped out of my box and acknowledged while reading, "This is someone pouring their heart out about something truly important to them."

I felt claustrophobic while reading. Perhaps that's how you feel/felt? I could feel the desperation, too. I didn't even need to know exactly what was going on. I don't need constant rhyming and perfect cadence with this one. It doesn't seem like it was meant to be so; what I got from this was some pounding on the walls and an expression of feelings coming from deep within.

I'm not trying to sound all "mystic" here. Before I read your reply to others about what the content was specifically about, Kylpault, I understood this to be a torrent of thought that you had to release somehow, because if it was bottled up any longer it'd tear you up. Sometimes that's the best poetry I've read, is when someone is honest and transparent and puts themselves out there at others' mercy.

What I'm tryin' to say is I liked it a lot, and it packed some heat. I could feel it. Good job, man.

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What you have to say about characters is very interesting, Kylpault. When people ask me (it's not often, but they do) about what it's like to write a fictional work of any kind, funny enough, I find there's no possible way to really get across how much work it really is.

Creating engaging plots, interesting characters, and a story's path are difficult enough; weaving them all together is a friggin' art. Just like songwriting, playing guitar, or painting a vibrant masterpiece on a canvas. I find that when I talk to most people about storytelling in any way, they kind of have this, "So it's like, 'Once upon a time, this and this and this, right?'" And I wanna say, "No. It's really not. It's so much more."

I'm 27 right now. i've been trying to write stories since I was in 1st grade. Now, about two decades later, I am finally finding my voice and balance as a writer; and only now do I have a finished work, an unpublished novel that I'm truly happy with.

For a good friend of mine (also a writer), he prefers to map out characters to the bone, from their physical appearances, their psychological traits, their behavioral tendencies, what their favorite food is, etc. It helps him envision them. i tried that myself for years, but in all honesty the characters became robotic to me when I did it that way. They were just characters on a paper that I was trying to breathe life into. For me personally, I wanted more. I wanted them to be real people in my mind, people I'd actually had conversations with and got to know.

Many times I would write the next chapter of something without really knowing where it's going. That's largely frowned upon; I was told countless times not to compose a story that way, to brainstorm exactly where the story's going before I set pen to paper, and take the story forward along those guideposts.

Having no plan, but ideas and visions about characters of the stories, obviously led to disaster when I tried it that way. So I finally decided to map out an entire novel from beginning to end, with a flurry of notes everywhere. Notes for character development, plot progress, etc.

Now when I write, it's a very organic, sometimes unpredictable experience. I've found a balance of writing out a foundation (where I want a chapter or entire story to go), versus just letting the words flow without a plan. Sometimes I write it all out right there. Sometimes I want to, but find it's best to take additional notes, and so I do. My novel was tediously planned out; the short story I'm almost done with is the opposite, though.

I had an idea for a story one night at work a couple weeks ago. I knew the setting, what emotions I wanted readers to feel, the tone and mood of it. I knew I wanted a steadily-building, mysterious, solemn story with an explosion of emotion at the end. That's all I knew. No character names, not what exactly the mystery was, nothing! Just that it would be a quiet but poweful, heartfelt piece taking place at a cottage in the woods.

In this particular case, it worked grandly. I'm nearly done. Writing the introduction, setting the scene for the first chapter, eased me into the world I was creating, and helped my mind conjure up the rest. And sometimes (not just with this story), when I write, things change. Characters deviate from what I had intended originally, or an event will happen completely differently than what I had planned. It can slow my process greatly, but it happens.

I say sometimes things change as I write, but in reality, they usually do. It used to discourage me, but now I look forward to the process. Fleshing a story out, really chiseling away and making something out of a huge rock of an idea is something I've grown to relish. So the story, characters, plot...I look at it all as a living thing. An organic experience that will change when it will, and as a writer, I must pay attention to it and "listen" to what it's telling me, as I write. I think I'm able to do it this way because for two decades, all I did was fail in finishing anything I set out to write.

But, that's definitely not everyone's cup of tea (or coffee, if you prefer). My creative process might be a lot slower due to all of this, but it's grown into my preferred method, and I've never been happier as a writer.

Whoa. Deep. Haha! Forgive me for such a long-winded post, but your posts got me thinking, and I wanted to share!

Follow me on Newgrounds! - Find me on Facebook! - Visit www.pauldavidholland.com!

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While the guy above me does make strong points, I gotta say, man; nothing is impossible. I know this firsthand. Improbable, maybe. Impossible? Never.

I would ask for more information myself, but I'm swamped with my own work. Maybe post a few details on the production itself, and you'll snare the interest of more people?

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Thank you for the kind words, Kylpault! Truly! Interestingly, I originally dreamed up a world and these characters sometime in 2007...but after the years, I actually ended up with an idea for a trilogy that takes place in their world, but decades before.

I've completed the first novel of that series, and plan on actively seeking a publisher in the months to come; though I hear it's tougher to get a good publisher to even look at your book than it is to finish writing one. Time will tell!

Thank you for your time. I've found poetry or songwriting of any kind is indeed difficult! An art I'd love to master.

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Thought I'd share this. I wrote this back in Jan of 2012; it's actually directed at the three main characters of a sweeping saga I haven't written yet. Their story has been in my mind for nearly 8 years now...but their time will come!

"GHOSTS"

I left you back there, somewhere along the line.
In a place special and dear, a doorway in my mind.
We once travelled through days and together braved the nights,
Pressing through hardships and confronting life's plights.

How could I ever explain to others my relationship with you three?
Like lost brothers and sisters, you're truly a part of me.
Though born from the deep labors of my quiet thoughts,
Through my heart and mind's plains, you still walk.

I strolled with you through the streets of Mable and mountains of Belfour,
We fished in Foye's waters and pledged protection to Eisley evermore.
Please, I beg you, do not think I have forgotten you!
You still cross my mind every day, this I promise you!

The three of you are constantly with me, ever-present throughout my day.
Like ghosts you shadow me from your own world, eyeing me across the way.
Strange to think that your realm was conjured up in my mind,
Yet since has become a far-off place I once lived, over time.

I made the three of you a promise, years ago;
I swear I'll deliver on it, I just ask that you have hope!
I'm sorry so much time has passed, but worry not, there was never an end.
Every day I hear the whispers of your voices, your words on the wind.

This is another oath to you, and a bones-deep oath from me.
When the time is right, I promise, the world will know your story.

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I've got a few replies now, and realize I should've been more specific about what the illustration is. It would be of an old cottage at night in the woods, with candle-lit windows, surrounded by a dark forest. I'm looking for a "realistic" style? I'm not very art-savvy. But the story itself is a solemn drama with a twist ending, so looking for an "enchanted forest" feel, even though it takes place present-day. Thank you!

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Hello NG artists! I'm a writer and author. Just a quick glance at who I am: I am trying to get a completed novel published, I work for an indie PC game company, and am writing for other collaborations. On my web site I post "demo" scenes, poetry, a blog, and short stories I hope to get compiled into a book someday.

View my site and work here if you'd like.

Right now I am working on a short story called The Cottage. It's a present-day, short tale that takes place over a couple hours one fateful night at a cottage in the woods.

I am hoping to get someone to draw/create a single illustration for the first page of it. This story will be finished within the week. I do not have money to offer; only perhaps a way to get your name out there and one more job on your resume. I have some things happening that will most likely increase my own exposure very soon, and I would gladly credit your name for the illustration, your NG page, FB page, whatever you'd like, right there on the first page of the story.

As for the art itself, what I have in mind is pretty straightforward. I can write a novel but I can barely draw a stick figure.

If anyone is interested, please contact me for details! PM me here on NG, or email me. Thank you for your time!

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Hi! I might be able to help...possibly. What do you need help with exactly? Do you already have lyrics and need to refine them more? Already have the music but need to put words to it?

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Whew. I could feel that as I read it. That's rough.

Interesting how after time passes, we can look at things (in this case, the guitar) through a new lens, huh?

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At 12/20/13 12:46 AM, Conal wrote: That was violent.

Blood and guts...everywhere!

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Ready for this? Huh? Are you?!

'Twas like, six nights before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse!
Stockings aren't hung by the chimney, since we don't have one
I mean, we live in Phoenix; it's a desert, like an oven

My fiance and I were nestled all snug in our bed
While visions of sugar-plums danced in our heads
We'll say she was in her kerchief, and I in my cap
Alas it was time for work, so I awoke from my nap

Threw on my pants, my boots, shirt and jacket
Tried to stay quiet and not cause a racket
Into the night I strode, gazing at the stars above
Shining brilliantly in the sky, hosts of Christmas love

Then I got to my car. And found the rear window busted out and glass and shit all over my seat.
They didn't steal anything.
But I get to pay for it now.
Sometimes, people suck.

That was last night. True story.

Merry Christmas!

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At 12/19/13 04:11 AM, Maryam23 wrote: Nice post.

Hey, thank you!

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Hi! This is me, whoring myself out for work! I can write for your production, genres of all kinds! Sky's the limit! Check out my page!

I recently finished a fantasy adventure novel, entitled An Eislian's Tale: Penny the Brave. I hope to get it published in the next year. Click here for demonstrations of my work! Contact me here by PM or on my site!

Never had the chance to contribute to Newgrounds, though I have lurked around here for nearly ten years. Would welcome the opportunity to write for a production of any kind. Thanks for your time, and take care!

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This is one short chapter from my finished novel, An Eislian's Tale: Penny the Brave.
----------------------------------------------------------------

“Blast. Sun or no sun, I’m still bloody cold,” Royce complained.

Alomar snorted. “Yeah? Try being in handcuffs, mate.”

Royce knelt by the river and swished his hand around in the current before washing his face. Alomar was pacing this way and that, taking stock of the area. I had noticed that since we left the city the man had been extremely observant, making a complete sweep of our surroundings at periodic intervals very often. I found myself glad that he had been a soldier once. It wasn’t the first time since he’d returned from Dekka that I appreciated the skills and experience he brought back with him, but now I found it to be incredibly valuable to have an ex-member of the 2nd Cavalry in our midst, handcuffs or no.

I strode over to a tall ash tree and knelt low under the reach of its leaves, making my way to the base of it. Yawning loudly I sat down on the dirt beneath it and pressed my back to the trunk. It felt good to sit, especially after all the traveling we’d been doing. Between running about in the Northroe backstreets and escaping into the wilderness to continue south, we’d traveled for nearly half a day in all.

Resting my head against the ash tree’s bark, I inhaled deeply. The fresh forest morning enveloped us, and I realized the air here seemed much more fresh than that of the city’s, as if we had it all to ourselves. I stretched out my legs the best I could, and they felt notably stiff. As I did so, the burlap material of my pack rubbed against the tough fabric of my trousers audibly, and my eyes wandered to it.

Well, then. Here I was, day one of our journey, in the beautiful Kovald Forest. Wasn’t this was writers did? Real writers, I mean? They traveled the world, saw the sights and met new people, learned of it and what new lands had to offer. They wrote incredible stories inspired by what they’d seen, or would bring back writings and journals telling of others peoples and the like.

Kovald Forest was right next to Northroe, but it was a start. I gingerly opened my pack, scooped out my quill, blank parchment and uncapped my jar of ink. A smile played across my face, and I felt a surge of excitement. This was what I would do. This would put me on the map the world over. I would document our travels, our adventures!

That is, if we didn’t get captured by bandits. Being sold off as slaves or killed and left for dead in the wilderness where no one would ever find our bodies didn’t strike me as appealing, but more importantly, that would prevent any good stories from being written.

Perhaps I had my priorities a bit mixed up.

It was then that I remembered my writing hand was out of commission, at least for a while. I sighed and took the quill in my left hand, testing it out as I scribbled words into the air. It felt terrible and foreign, but it’d have to do.

“Right. Okay then,” Royce was saying. “So you’re suggesting what, we live off berries and leaves for a while, mate? Shall we hunt for deer as well? We could sharpen Penny’s quill over there. That could bring us some dinner, for sure.”

Alomar was shaking his head. “I’m just saying we need to stay off the roads is all. Even traveling here by the river is a bit risky.”

Royce took off his tunic and the shirt beneath it before wading knee-deep into the water, then up to his waist. He dipped his head into the cold river and brought it back out, rubbing the dirt off his face. His breathing was rapid as the man tried to shrug off the chill of the water.

“Gods,” Royce muttered. “Aye, pretty soon we’ll we bandits, yeah? We’ll start starving, since I haven’t seen any berries or fruit since we entered the woods. Who would have thought.”

Alomar laughed, making his way to the river’s edge. He sat and was able to awkwardly kick off his boots before letting his feet dangle into the current. “Aye. We could do that. Start robbing commoners on the road.”

“Rob them unarmed, at that.”

“Didn’t think about that. Suppose weapons would help.”

“Don’t bloody have any, do we?”

While the two men talked, I was relaxing in the shade and taking in the forest. The scent of earlier rain mixed with pine and dirt was intoxicating. A slight wind passed through our tiny thicket, rustling leaves overhead softly.

The hell would I write, anyway?

Here I was, a Writer-in-Training, off in the woods in a beautiful clearing surrounded by nature in all its glory. Wasn’t I supposed to be able to write something? Anything?

“-thinking of becoming an inventor.”

I looked up to see Royce coming ashore and kicking back in the grass near Alomar.

“Eh?” asked Alomar. “An inventor?”

“That’s right,” replied Royce. The man snatched a blade of grass from the earth and chewed on it as he spoke. “For example, I was thinking of well, you know inventing this thing. A thing where you hold a wide brim over your head while it’s raining, and it protects you from getting wet.”

Alomar mulled over this. “What is this...brim? Is it like a hat?”

“Aye. You could hold it by a stick or something while you walk.”

“A brim on a stick.”

“That’s right,” Royce said again. “It’d be made of...cloth, or some fabric. Leather hide or...or something.”

“So a wide circular leather-or-cloth-or-something brim that you hold on a stick over your head while you walk in the rain to prevent you from getting wet. Why circular?”

Royce thought for a moment. “Well, I dunno. Suppose it doesn’t have to be circular. Maybe it could be like a rectangle, or pointed like a triangle and all that. We could sell them in different shapes. And actually I didn’t say anything about it being circular, anyway. The hell?”

I tried picturing this, and watching Alomar’s face I could see he was giving it serious thought as well.

“No, mate,” Alomar finally concluded. “It’d never catch on. Why carry a big...brim to protect from the rain when you could just wear a hat? Or a hooded cloak and the like?”

His face seem to fall for a moment in defeat, but Royce shrugged after a minute. “Eh. Guess you’re right.”

I left my writing tools next to my pack at my perch under the tree and got up to join the two men next to the water. “Well, Royce, I for one think it’d be a great invention.”

Royce craned his neck to face me. “Yeah?”

“Aye,” I said, reaching the river’s edge and stepping out of my boots. The grass and dirt felt soft beneath my bare feet. “I think people would go for it.”

“Well thanks, mate.”

I gingerly made my way into the water, gritting my teeth in response to the shock of the cold water. Ignoring the chill washing across my body, I looked down at my reflection in the river’s surface. It was more of a shadow in the current than an actual picture of me, but I could still imagine details of my face and put it to the shadow Penny that stared up at me. It danced in the ripples, and I found myself wondering if this was truly real, actually happening; had we really struck out from Northroe and embarked on a journey?

Scooping two hands into the water and dashing my shadowy silhouette from the river, I splashed it about my face. We’d left the city indeed, but it wasn’t exactly on our terms.

I washed the cold water about my skin, closing my eyes as I did so, trying not to shudder with the cold. It was at this time that I felt a weight of some kind bump into my leg.

Opening my eyes I looked down and saw another face staring up at me from the water.

What?

I froze. Wiped the water from my eyes and blinked twice before looking again.

A face was gazing back up at me; a man, wearing an expression of absolute terror. His blue eyes peered at mine absently and his mouth was open. I quickly realized there was no life left in his face.

His throat had been cut.

---

CUT OFF
I wrote this on behalf of a friend back in May of 2012. An exchange, of sorts.

Planning to come back like we're old friends
Like you were never gone, you never left
I imagined that when you came, you’d be smiling too
And oh, you are; look at you

Please excuse me, I didn’t mean it
To up and go and leave you to it
Fend for yourself since the world can be so rough
When I left, did I leave you with enough?

You sure didn’t, but who’s keeping track?
I was without love, and under attack
Rain’s cold when you don’t have a coat
Water’s even colder while sinking in your boat

Well, I’m here now, right? Here with you
I’m back to make it all up to you
If you-

Let’s make things perfectly clear
I’m not expecting you to stay around here
Matter of fact, I don’t really want you to
Oh, spare me that look; what are you trying to do?

I shouldn’t have left, now I know
That’s why I’m back, to atone for my lows
I’m so sorry, my child
I was young and dumb; I was wild
God knows that I’m sorry for what I’ve done
It was a wretched thing to bestow on any daughter or son
See? Be happy, now I’m back to help you!
I’m ready and smiling now; why aren’t you?

Looks like you can start just as easily as you stop
Just now realizing you made a mess, so you bring a mop?
There’s a common belief telling children to “Honor thy father and mother.”
Well, that goes both ways, so step back from the rudder
I’m taking my ship onward through my life and away from the past
Go on your way and fly your flag at half-mast

But I-

You what? No, no. You don’t get to speak now!
Are you kidding me? You are absolutely clueless to the thorns in my crown!
The life I endured in your absence is one you will never grasp
I was wounded and broken, and you weren’t there for that
Where the hell were you anyway? Wait; I don’t want to know.
I don’t care, and-

If you don’t care, why’d you ask?
Let me explain, just this once, about the rest

No. I made it this far, and might I add, further than you would
We’re family, but the blood running through our veins is just blood
If I spill it to the street at our feet, it’s red like anyone else’s, right?
It’s not a free ticket to your abandoned kid’s ride
You may be my parent, but I’ve got news for you
I’m faster, smarter, and stronger than you
I became this way in your absence
I’m the best place you’ll never have been
Many terrible, sleepless nights I’d look out my window and pray
Wonder what you’d look like, and what, to you, I would say
Now I have the opportunity, and I have nothing
My words would fall on deaf ears; you’re like a castle without a king
A castle because for years I pictured you as the iconic answer to it all
But I got older, and wiser, and thus the more I saw

Look, I’m sorry. I-

I know you are, but it really just doesn’t matter, you see?
This moment’s finally here, but I just want you to leave
Thought I needed this closure for years, all this time
Now I see your face, and turns out, I don’t mind
All I went through, you couldn’t comprehend
But I overcame it, am happy now, and will always fight to the end

Yeah, you didn’t have to cut me off
But you did, and now your kid’s all grown up
You could have stayed around, you know
But you didn’t, and I was forced to become tough

...

Speechless? Guess I’m not surprised, not really
Oddly, you coming to make things better has just pissed me off more
I’ll probably feel a little bad about this tonight before I go to sleep
But the nightmares will come, and I’ll awaken, my heart sore

I’ll picture that pitiful, sorry face of yours that you wear now
And smile, knowing I made the right decision in brushing you off
Maybe you’re truly sorry, but truth is, you’re a little late
And now, the time’s come; it’s your turn to be cut off

Don’t wait around for me. I won’t be here.

---

At 12/14/13 11:27 AM, MrFalcon wrote: I'm working on an anime series called "The Angel". I'm no so great with dialogue. So help with that would be great. Can't pay. Really any writing help would be appreciated. If I had to compare the show to another anime, i guess it would be One Piece. If interested, message me.

Hi! I'd be glad to help you. No worries on money. Check out my Newgrounds page here for more info on me and my writing (my web site as well)!

If you'd still like my help, let me know more about the project? Estimated length, etc. Luckily I've seen the first 20 episodes or so of One Piece. Loved the show but couldn't continue watching it.

Anyhow, if it helps, I have finished a fantasy adventure novel that I'm working on getting published. You can preview it here. Good luck to you!