EBG Movies

[Korova]

Hey just wanted to let everyone know 2 things...

#1 - I've got a friend coming down from Utah today to spend the weekend with me so I'll probably have little time to post here. I didn't disappear! I'm enjoying my time here and I'm very very very very thankful that you guys are still around.

#2 - I haven't forgotten about the movies either. I've been working an hour every night before i go to sleep on episode 2 (last night i feel asleep with my computer, forgot it wasn't in battery save shutdown mode and it died without saving the last changes I made.) Hopefully next week we can have a big episode 2 re-release party. I'm going George Lucas style here.

Cool? Everyone elses homework is to watch episode 3 and write down all the glitches you see... haha j/k you don't have to... i think i know where they are.. mostly sprite transparency problems with dead froggy and SS sprites.

Oooh, I also watched Episode 5 two nights ago.. its about 3 minutes long and obviously very unfinished... I think its far too serious and if I would have continued to work on it I probably would have scrapped it for something funnier.

-K-

[Victoria]

What's wrong with having a little seriousness? =(
I like seriousness in a movie. xD It gives drama and suspense and all that kinda stuff.

Epicness can sometimes be fun.

[SOLDIER #819]

But it's not his kind of EBG fun. Every movie has gotten progressively serious start from Episode 1. He may want to draw the line at some point, lol.

[Magitekno]

I think a possible plot to an EBG short could contain a conspiracy to overtake Google Inc., and the only hint we have is the change of the head graphic to read 'Gookle Hookle.'

[Spekkio]

Jeez, it must be hard to work on the EGB movies now. Especially since so many of the jokes are in the past... imagine how much easier you would have gotten off if you had finished these things 4 years ago =P

Not that I'm complaining. I'm just hoping Episode 5 isn't the SW Episode 1 of your otherwise legendary saga....

[Korova]

oh i'm not doing episode 5... haha.. i have no real intentions of making any new EBG movies... i'm retouching the old ones and then focusing on my new animation project.

[Chickenballz]

Damn you nostalgic injokes!

However, they do paint a picture of TFF's past. A picture of carnage. A picture of culture. I see it - coming here - hell-wind - titan blue - black wing - Yog Sothoth save me - the three-lobed burning eye...

[Korova]

Although Mag's idea is great.. Why google, Mag? Because of my location?

[Tifa]

Would you still like me to update the http://leonhart.net/ebg/ site as you work?

[Korova]

I absolutely have no problems with you updating it, adding to it, creating your own EBG movies, whatever.. :-P I'll give you the updated movies as i go along.

[Tifa]

Okay, great. So you have the first two un-glitched now? Because I'll reupload them if they are.

[Korova]

First one is unchanged. I didn't touch it since i made a special edition later on. Second one is being worked on.. but i uh... in usual fashion i um... well... went a little overboard. so its taking longer... that and people keep inviting me to Gears of War games that end up going for hours... that and I'm addicted to Fable...

[SOLDIER #819]

Fable takes like 10 or 15 hours to beat! That isn't an excuse! Go have 10 wives, kill them all, and beat the game already!

[Spekkio]

That, and it's hard enough as it is to be addicted to such a shallow game.

[Korova]

so negative.. i like any rpg with customization... it seems like a lost art in console RPGs (more like an art that never was or is hard to come by)... if more console RPGs would look to PC RPGs... thank god for the xbox and devs like bioware to bridge that gap and show developers the way

Fable is very unique. a lot of devs could learn from some of its strong points. Fable 2 should learn from mistakes too, lets hope.

[Chickenballz]

You want Megami Tensei yo. It's Pokemon. Pokemon with f***ing demons. With apocalypses. And will make you its bitch.

Even though I'm more of a western-style RPG playa, Megaten's probably my choice series. SO PLAY IT. I suggest Nocturne, as it is the most recent of the core series, compared to say, Digital Devil Saga, Raidou Kuzunoha, or Persona 3.

Oh, Megaten, only you can make me so hot and bothered.

[Taco-Calamitous]

I really like The Elder Scrolls Series-particularly Morrowind-personally. I've yet to play Oblivion, but I really want to. In any case, I'd say there's a fair amount of customization (of your character at least) in those games. Although the PC version is probably better, because you can make your own maps, or something, right? You've probably played those games anyways, if you're into customization. Anyhoo...

Wuv, Yer Mom

[Korova]

yeah... like I said I grew up with western RPG video games based off of or inspired from D&D eons before I played Final Fantasy (Wizardry, Might & Magic, Ultima, AD&D Gold Box games). You can tell the first final fantasy and dragon quests were also inspired by the western RPGs like Ultima. and then.... i don't know what happened.. but you have to simplify things with consoles and you have to appeal to less geeky audiences and I think thats what happened.. haha... they're still fun and they usually focus TONS on the story, but then with less player customizations, choices, and more linear.

luckily the xbox audience contains a lot of the PC gamers so western RPGs have made it back to consoles.. yay...

on a side note, elder scrolls is definitely an evolved form of the style set up by Wizardry and Might and Magic (as opposed to the Ultima style of RPG) meant to feel more realistic but the first person does get a little clunky.. .its strange how it works.. you'd think 1st person would make you feel like you're playing the game more (since you can't see your character and you can just imagine its you) than 3rd, but instead i feel like i'm playing a crippled version of myself who has more limited vision, and isn't sure exactly where he's standing in relation to the environment.. hehe.. thats why i like 3rd person. Plus I don't want to always be myself.. haha...

I love RPGs in all shapes and styles (pokemon included), but i like something the best when it makes me feel intelligent and lets me do what I want to do and who I want to be.

Fable lets me snipe farmers heads off with a crossbow and watch blood shoot out like a fountain, walk over to his daughter and scare the hell out of her, and then go woo chicks with my trophies and bed them.

Oblivion/Elder Scroll series has lots of freedoms too.. its great.. but some people get lost in it or find it too free.. Fable is more in the middle.

as far as console first RPGs go (leaving PCs out of it)
Favorite Eastern RPG: Chrono Cross (character choices, yes!!)
Favorite Western RPG: Knights of the Old Republic (NWN-like, lots of decisions)

[Incognitus]

yeah... like I said I grew up with western RPG video games based off of or inspired from D&D eons before I played Final Fantasy (Wizardry, Might & Magic, Ultima, AD&D Gold Box games).

I broke down and bought the SNES port of Might & Magic III: The Isles of Terra several years ago. Around $15 for a completed, near mint copy of the game. It was shortly after my favorite uncle had died. He had the DOS version of it but his PC room wasn't exactly family-friendly (too small and crowded). My best friend noticed they had brought the game to the SNES, so I brought out my SNES and the rented game and we played it that way. We took turns controlling the game, but we would all sit around and enjoy playing it, even when we were not directly controlling it. We rolled stats for what seemed like hours, and brought out the pen and paper to take notes. Some of my best memories of playing games come from that experience. Good, solid game.

I never did get a chance to play the preceding games; my uncle had the discs, but they were destroyed in a fire. I did play the sixth version (Mandate of Heaven I believe). I'm well versed in the Heroes of Might and Magic series of games, but that's a derivative of the style of game this thread is about.

[Magitekno]

I don't know much about RPGs. But I'd like to try Fable.

Korova, in response to your question, I thought that idea because of those characteristic double 'o's. But I only posted it because it was pertinent to you

... well, and I can see how the story could plausibly take a turn toward this, and wouldn't it be a great twist to see timid, unassuming Gooku Hooku hijack a multi-billion dollar corporation, and it has potential for self-reference and commentary, especially considering your expertise in the area.

That's why.

I would be happy to help anyone interested in making another EBG film.

It's nice to read everyone here talking. I have not spoken to Kazanthikus for a long time. Does anyone remember someone by "TracerBullet", or nearly?

[Taco-Calamitous]

If we're discussing our first RPG's now... mine was either the original Dragon Warrior/Quest, or Crystalis, both for the NES. I always wanted to play Ultima, I think; wasn't that the one where you could fight anybody, including the king? I remember a game like that. The person playing fought and killed a little girl, and then immediately after the entire town came and killed him. Heh.

Does anyone remember someone by "TracerBullet", or nearly?

I do. He was cool, from what I remember. Anyhoo...

Wuv, Yer Mom

[Korova]

My first RPG was M&M II on a C64 in the 80s, and from there went through the Wizardry and Ultima series. Like you said I would do it with a friend and we'd kind of make decisions together and take turns. I still have the hintbooks for it to this day.. they're his.. he doesn't know I have them probably... He stopped talking to me after his mission.

M&M IV and V were really really kickass... it was the first game where you could "join" the two together to make one giant game called World of Xeen. It took a long time to beat World of Xeen. I suppose they ported III to SNES because it was smaller.. but I was playing World of Xeen in Jr. High and that was pre-1994...

Mag: Its really nice to talk to you again.. I vaguely remember TracerBullet... if someone said something about him i'd remember more...

[Spekkio]

Now that I think about it, my first RPG was the first Final Fantasy. I wonder if I somehow missed out on this whole Might and Magic thing.

[SOLDIER #819]

The only thing remotely close to the name Might & Magic I've played is "Heroes of", and I remember there being a distinction between the two. I never really got into that...Haha. My first console was a hand-me-down Atari with Pitfall. Then I got an SNES and just played Super Mario and a few other games I barely remember. I don't think I touched an RPG other than Baldur's Gate until FFVII.

[Incognitus]

The only thing remotely close to the name Might & Magic I've played is "Heroes of", and I remember there being a distinction between the two.

The Might and Magic series and the Heroes of.. series were two completely different beasts. The former series was a first person, turn-based adventure RPG (from the games I played, anyway), while the latter was more turn-based strategy and creature accumulation, while the heroes of the Heroes series were generals had statistics that helped overall army strength. Both series of games are fun in their own right. I still play them both (Heroes III and restarting M&M VI: Mandate of Heaven).

You may have missed out, Spek, but I am sure those games are floating around cyberspace somewhere. If not there, they have to be ungodly cheap in a used game store somewhere.

My first console RPG was Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra. Before that point I had no interest in RPGs whatsoever. Then I rented FFVI one day, and subsequently played the rest in the series whenever they became available to me. One of the greatest things about one of my mother's ex-boyfriends was that he had a mint copy, maps and all, of FFI. I conveniently borrowed that thing before everything went sour between them. I still have it.

PC RPG is more of a challenge to pinpoint... I think I played Shadowrun well before anything else.

...

I remember Tracer-Bullet, but I lost contact with him years ago. Last I had heard of him he saved enough money to move back to South Africa with his girl. Previously he had been in England (I think).

[SOLDIER #819]

The Might and Magic series and the Heroes of.. series were two completely different beasts. The former series was a first person, turn-based adventure RPG (from the games I played, anyway), while the latter was more turn-based strategy and creature accumulation, while the heroes of the Heroes series were generals had statistics that helped overall army strength. Both series of games are fun in their own right. I still play them both (Heroes III and restarting M&M VI: Mandate of Heaven).

I remember Korova telling me the exact same thing when I mentioned it, heh.

I never had any siblings or relatives that were into gaming (except a cousin, who got me into RTSs for a while). It's a lot easier to find out about all sorts of games when your family has a little gaming history. I just played SMW and various fighters from ages 5-9 or so. I couldn't even stand to play FFVII the first time around. The crappy PC version (which is awesome) somehow won me over though.

It was very very tradtional, Gooky and definitely inspired from Wizardry. You had 6 party members + 2 more hirelings if you wanted them. Each with very traditional RPG classes. Turn based everything and lots of dice rolling. You'd never "see" them, they were just text or avatars at the bottom of your screen. You moved in 4 cardinal directions on squares. Later games allowed you to "see" some of your enemies instead of just random encounters but they wouldn't move until after you did.

That sounds pretty cool...Wait, is that Wizardry or Might & Magic? If either of you could tell me of a place to get it easily (I don't think there are used game stores in the area), I'd pick up at least one. Though it'd have to be for the PC, and even then I'd wonder if it runs on XP. Vintage games are tough.

[Korova]

I wouldn't count any RPG with turn based battles and random encounters (do-do-ta-do) an adventure RPG

It was very very tradtional, Gooky and definitely inspired from Wizardry. You had 6 party members + 2 more hirelings if you wanted them. Each with very traditional RPG classes. Turn based everything and lots of dice rolling. You'd never "see" them, they were just text or avatars at the bottom of your screen. You moved in 4 cardinal directions on squares. Later games allowed you to "see" some of your enemies instead of just random encounters but they wouldn't move until after you did.

I'm not sure what M&M VI evolved into. I only played I thru V.

[Korova]

I was describing the M&M series.

honestly you'd get bored i'm sure if you tried playing them today. They were really fun. ... I highly recommend MMII but I don't know where you'd find it. You have to have patience with these games and the desire to explore and find all the quests yourself. If you're doing that you might as well be playing Oblivion or NWN II.

I loved the Heroes of series because it was an RTS without the RT. It was like taking Dune/C&C style strategy game and combining it with the Warlords series. I love turn based strategy/war games. Thank God for Advance Wars for giving us new turn based strategy games.

[Incognitus]

It's probably not an adventure RPG, but I still consider it one. More RPG, less adventure obviously.

Korova's explanation basically covers it the early games. M&M VI, in comparison, got rid of the turn-based element for the most part. Everything is free roaming (not locked into a grid, like other games) and battles are no longer isolated to turn-based combat. You can trigger it to a more real-time battle system if you want, and have Clerics of Baa shooting you from the distance if you aren't careful.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HEusVDjVPCI <-- example of combat in turn-based mode.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=x9wEIcYROQ4 <-- example of combat out of turn-based mode.

[Korova]

God damn EA.. They ruined Wing Commander and Ultima when they purchased Origin.. I would really really really love a new Ultima game. :'( ****ers..

a new M&M game, a new Wizardry game... why is that only elder scrolls survived.. hehe..

at least we still have Bioware and Blizzard satisfying my traditional RPG and hack-n-slash RPG tastes, respectively...