HamsterSpeak 63 Online

The Wobbler · Post by **The Wobbler** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 8:44 pm

http://superwalrusland.com/ohr/issue63/cover.html

And that's that. This is the last issue before a hiatus of unspecified length. If and when HamsterSpeak returns, we'll have a fresh new format will a slightly less clunky layout!

Special thanks to all of this month's contributors who have helped make this issue one of the most packed in months. I was hoping to get something more from some of our older users, but the newer ones really did a great job. You guys are the future of the OHR, and I'm looking forward to all the games you make. It's been a fun five years, but I'm going to take a nap now.

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 9:54 pm

This final picture from the Bob Surlaw trial sums it up for me, Hamsterspeak riding into the sunset of hiatus draws a tear from me as well.

<img src="http://superwalrusland.com/ohr/issue63/ ... urlaw9.png">

This was a great issue, thank you Surlaw, and thank you to everybody who wrote (and drew) for it.

Baconlabs · Post by **Baconlabs** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 11:53 pm

I liked this issue, too. Vampiducki's articles were pretty interesting, he's very well-informed about what goes into an actual NES game. His graphics & palettes article cleared up an old question that had been bothering me for some time ("How did the later Mega Man games have so many colors per sprite?") and the Ghouls 'n Ghosts sound-alike from his music article was really good.
I had forgotten why I cared about reviews for the longest time, but the little entry on EPIC! reminded me that there are some great OHR games (or in this case, a sorta-good OHR game with a cool gimmick) that would never get noticed if not for the digging of our reviewers. I dispute Mari's review of Universal Wars and thought 'e was too generous with some generic praises that could have gone to nearly any other game out there - the fact that it was adjacent to a different take on the game, Willy's critical commentary, was brilliant and I want to see this kind of double reviewer dynamic more often. I bet it would have done well in a video review.

And thanks for the fanart, Mari! It's always great to see someone else's perspective on the characters I've created.

The Wobbler · Post by **The Wobbler** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 12:43 am

Baconlabs wrote:I want to see this kind of double reviewer dynamic more often.

I agree, I love having multiple reviews of a game in one issue. I think this is only the third time it's ever happened though, it was hard enough to get even one person to review a game normally.

I am really let down that even with dozens of people discussing Spellshard none of them wanted to write about it in the months since its release.

FnrrfYgmSchnish · Post by **FnrrfYgmSchnish** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:35 am

Oh man, that cover... old Bob with a cane, Herman with a walker, Slime King sitting in a bucket... makes me think "OHR Nursing Home." XD

Pepsi Ranger · Post by **Pepsi Ranger** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 4:33 am

I am really let down that even with dozens of people discussing Spellshard none of them wanted to write about it in the months since its release.

I wanted to write about it, but I've had such difficulty with the lighting on my monitor that it became too much of a hassle to even try to play it. This was the story since its release. Sadly, I didn't get my replacement monitor until just last week, so even then I just simply didn't have the time to work on the review. I do plan on playing it and reviewing it in sections like I did with Okedoke during the hiatus. Hopefully I'll have the whole game finished, broken down, and reviewed in full by the time we come back in the spring (or whenever). I wanted to try to do the same for Tales of the New World 1.

You do pose an interesting question, though. I know I've been advocating a lengthy strategy guide type review for Spellshard, but what stopped others from tackling a less comprehensive, more overall opinionated review? I'm not sure. It wasn't as if I had to corner the market on reviewing that game.

There were actually several articles I had wanted to put together before the hiatus if not for the terrible display I was working with. We'll see what comes of those during the break.

Thanks for giving us 63 issues in spite of the emotional ups and downs you've gone through. It certainly made up for the drought of news stories, reviews, and previews we had prior to its first release. Hopefully we'll have a bigger, more prolific community by the time you're ready for Issue 64. I will keep submitting content in preparation for the relaunch, so hopefully others will do the same.

The Wobbler · Post by **The Wobbler** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 4:41 am

Yeah, I mentioned several times that I was hoping for a more compact Spellshard review to go alongside yours, but no one took me up on it in spite of it being one of the most played OHR games in years.

Also, apologies for no Sky Flyers this month. Hopefully Senator Surlaw is good enough.

Post by **Mogri** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:26 pm

I really wanted to write something for this issue, and I'm really sorry I didn't. I had to deal with a new house, two surgeries, long work hours, and other Real Life issues, but the real reason I didn't contribute is that I couldn't think of a single thing to write.

Willy Elektrix · Post by **Willy Elektrix** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:56 pm

The features were awesome this issue. Vampi's NES articles displayed a surprising degree of technical sophistication. I also appreciated Mjohnson's tutorial. Along with the pixel art tutorial from previous issues, these newbie oriented articles are a welcome addition to the magazine.

Also, when is Sid's absurdly meticulous Doom RPG ever going to come out? I've been quietly following the development of this game for a year. I only hope it doesn't get cancelled, like projects of this vastness so often do.

Surlaw wrote:Yeah, I mentioned several times that I was hoping for a more compact Spellshard review to go alongside yours, but no one took me up on it in spite of it being one of the most played OHR games in years.

Reviewing Spellshard is challenging. Pretty much everyone in the community played it. So its difficult to say anything in a brief review that everyone doesn't already know and understand. A longer review offers more opportunity to get into specifics. For instance, examples of creative ideas and features. However, it's difficult to find time to play and review short games, much less long ones.

SDHawk · Post by **SDHawk** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 1:36 am

Gizmog requested Spellshard as his review prize for the Review Contest, so by the end of the year there will finally be a review for it at the least.

marionline · Post by **marionline** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:31 am

I'll miss Hamster Speak.

In this issue i liked the article about the Dingoo. Very funny!

We should have this kind of article more often but with only one monsters/creature explained, otherwise it would be too much.
Maybe start with the "old" OHR Heros everyone talks about, but new OHR useres do not know...

I'll tyr the tutorial about makuing a menu and title screen. I like tutorials, I usually look in the old issues of Hamster Speak to read them.

The Wobbler · Post by **The Wobbler** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 12:44 pm

marionline wrote: Maybe start with the "old" OHR Heros everyone talks about, but new OHR useres do not know...

marionline · Post by **marionline** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 1:50 pm

Thanks for the links.
This lookes interesting.

Baconlabs · Post by **Baconlabs** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 4:42 pm

Anyone who wants to do general cover art relating to the OHRRPGCE needs to know who those characters are and should meticulously study the history of each one. Click all of Surlaw's links!

mjohnson092088 · Post by **mjohnson092088** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:50 pm

Willy Elektrix wrote:I also appreciated Mjohnson's tutorial. Along with the pixel art tutorial from previous issues, these newbie oriented articles are a welcome addition to the magazine.

Also, when is Sid's absurdly meticulous Doom RPG ever going to come out? I've been quietly following the development of this game for a year. I only hope it doesn't get cancelled, like projects of this vastness so often do.

I hope at least some people found my article useful. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea, since most of the regular community is far more experienced than I am. There are also loads of tutorials in previous issues of Hamster Speak already, all of which cover more complicated things. That's why I decided to write about simple, easy to understand topics. If anyone was interested, I'll continue writing about simple stuff like this. I do have a few more easy-to-do tricks up my sleeve.

So far, there's no set date for the next release of Doom RPG. There's no way this project is getting cancelled anytime soon, though. Especially after everything I've been able to try... and actually succeed in doing.