Best Quote of the Week ~ [5/3/15]

Not the Spirit, but the Singer.

          "I was lost and no one searched. I became free and found myself unneeded. I was truly lost."

~The Spirit Odyl from Kit's Story

Story/Site Plans for 2015

Currently replaying ~ It's still so amazing!!

          Hi Everyone.

          If you're reading this, thank you so much for visiting my blog after a long silence. I've got a lot of plans for 2015 and some of them involve my blog network. I've never been much of a blogger--writing random articles or talking about my personal on goings. I've occasionally dabbled in that stuff to various degrees of success and interest: Best Quote of the Week (Good), Reviews (Bad), and News (Ugly). But the bread and butter, the true core of these blogs have always been about being a place to easier display my projects--be that stories, games, pictures, etc. This year, or rather December of last, I made some resolutions projects-wise. Which in turn means more life here, if least a little.

Dance of the Wanderers

Post from Virtual Gaia Projects

     For 2015, I'm working on a new project entitled: Dance of the Wanderers. It's a 15 episode series that about a young woman name Kathleen Nyro who becomes cursed by a Spirit and has to find a way to break the curse or leave her home behind forever.

     I'm really tired right now, so this won't be long. If you want to find out more about the project check out the Dance of the Wanderers page. There you can read updates, my insane schedule, or the just (I mean moment ago) finished Pilot episode.

Seeya in the future.

Shoy Schot! nui Press Release

          Virtual Gaia Games is proud to introduce Shoy Schot! nui, an electronic card game. The game will release Sunday, December 29^th, 2013 to all PC user for free!

          Shoy Schot! is an additive, console-based, strategic card game created in C#. Starting out as a simple minigame about flipping cards and gaining ownership over the game board it soon blossomed into a full fledged card game with a mega ton of customization options and gameplay modes. And now, with Shoy Schot! nui, it has finally reached its ultimate form!

          Shoy Schot! nui retains all the features of the previous release (Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition Version 2.0.1.9) which included (but not limited to): 5 main Rule Sets to play in their own Free Play modes; an Arcade-like mode called Unlimited Deck Mode; a Best Of… Mode to play consecutive matches; a robust Tournament Mode for serious play; 22 Accomplishments to earn; Stats pages that kept over 80 stats; a Personal Rank Card to share and compare with other Shoy Schot! players; 8 profiles for same computer, different persons use; and Virtual Gaia Games Matching!, a completely separate matching minigame.

          New features to Shoy Schot! nui include (but not limited to): a Custom Rule Set Maker, where players can build their own custom Rule Sets; Endless Tower, which is a survival mode; a Score Attack Mode; Arcade Challenges where players can try to conquer all 40 challenges; a single player tournament mode called Arcade Battle Campaign, a Tutorial Mode, where players can learn the basics of the game in a new, more interactive way; a new mini-game called Clementine; 26 more Accomplishments to earn; more Stats; and slew of secrets and tweaks.

          Shoy Schot! nui also marks Virtual Gaia Games’ final game made in this text-based style. Shoy Schot! nui is our swan song to this type of design. While being made in this engine, Shoy Schot! has never been a graphical powerhouse, but we think anyone who has played it in the past has had a lot of fun and we believe Shoy Schot! nui will continue this feat threefold!!

          Again, Shoy Schot! nui is a PC game from Virtual Gaia Games and will be releasing on Sunday, December 29^th, 2013. It will be downloadable from: http://virtualgaiagames.blogspot.com/2013/12/shoy-schot-nui-update-log.html for free when available. We hope you all download and enjoy our game!

Quick Information About Shoy Schot! nui

Game: Shoy Schot! nui
Genre: Electronic Card Game
Platform: Windows PC
Developer: Virtual Gaia Games
Release Date: December 29^th 2013
Price: Economical Priced [Read: FREE!]
Download Site: http://virtualgaiagames.blogspot.com/2013/12/shoy-schot-nui-update-log.html
Website: http://virtualgaiagames.blogspot.com/
Game Page: http://virtualgaiaprojects.blogspot.com/p/shoy-schot-nui.html
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ShoySchot/
IndieDB Page: http://www.indiedb.com/games/shoy-schot-nui

Download a PDF of the Full Press Release: Here

          Check out Shoy Schot! nui Complete Features List after the jump.

Shoy Schot! nui Release Date Announcement

          Hi, Everyone!

          I am proud to announce that Shoy Schot! nui, Virtual Gaia’s much delayed Electronic Card Game, is done and has entered into Final Testing!! I’m even more proud to announce the Release Date of the game: December 29^th, 2013. That’s right, Shoy Schot! nui will go live next Sunday for the economical price of FREE!!

          The next thing I want to cover is: What exactly Shoy Schot! nui? I think I’ve alluded to it in the past, but I’ve never formally announced it. After a long (very long) development and many additions that weren’t included in the original scope of the project, Shoy Schot! nui is no longer third version of Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition (SS! SAE) but its own entity. Think of it more like the evolution of SS! SAE, just like SS! SAE was the evolution of the original minigame version of Shoy Schot!

          So, what does that mean? Just that the game grew big enough to warrant a separation. It feels different, it’s noticeable bigger and slicker. That said, Save Data from any previous version of Shoy Schot! is 100% compatible with Shoy Schot! nui. Also, it will retain SS! SAE version numbering and still be released as Version 3.0.0.0.

          A more formal Press Release will be issued a little later that will include more information and a full features list, but until then here is a short list of new features including in the upcoming Shoy Schot! nui:

• All Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition v2 Features
•  6 New Game Modes
• Custom Rule Set
• Endless Tower
• Score Attack
• 40 Arcade Challenges
• Arcade Battle Campaign
• Tutorial Mode
• 26 New Accomplishments to Earn (48 in All!!)
• Improved, Smarter AI
• Improved Match Interface
• A New Mini-Game Added: Clementine
• The Ability to Create 8 Separate Profiles with each keeping track of their Own Stats, Game Settings, and Accomplishments!!
• A Slew of Secret to Discover and More!!

          Again, Shoy Schot! nui will release next Sunday, December 29^th! While Shoy Schot! may not be a graphical powerhouse by any means, it's a load of fun! So... Get excited! Tell a friend! The last game of 2013 is Coming Soon!

          Seeya when we release!!

General Information

Game: Shoy Schot! nui
Genre: Electronic Card Game
Platform: Windows PC
Company: Virtual Gaia Games
Release Date: December 29^th 2013
Price: Economical Priced [Read: FREE!]
Download Site:  http://virtualgaiagames.blogspot.com/2013/12/shoy-schot-nui-update-log.html
Website: http://virtualgaiagames.blogspot.com/
Game Page: http://virtualgaiaprojects.blogspot.com/p/shoy-schot-nui.html
IndieDB Page: http://www.indiedb.com/games/shoy-schot-nui

P.S.:
Check out screenshots of the game after the jump or go to our Flickr page: Here.
(Go to Options in the slideshow and uncheck embiggen)

Shoy Schot! nui Pushed To November

          Another small, yet big update. Shoy Schot! nui has been pushed to November. For more information check out our last Sunday Report: Here. In the time being, please check out our demo: Here.

Join the Official Shoy Schot! Facebook Group: Here
Check out Shoy Schot! SAE's game page: Here
Check out Shot Schot! nui's IndieDB page: Here

Shoy Schot! nui Releasing October 2013!

          Small update, but big update on Shoy Schot! nui today. The game will be releasing this October! I will have a more exact date as we get closer to the release. See you soon!

Join the Official Shoy Schot! Facebook Group: Here
Check out Shoy Schot! SAE's game page: Here
Check out Shot Schot! nui's IndieDB page: Here

UPDATE 1 (9/16/13): Extra Info added

[Press Release] Announcing Shoy Schot! nui

          I am proud to announce Shoy Schot! nui [Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition Version 3.0.0.0 nui], the third and final major release of Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition (SS! SAE).

          Shoy Schot! is an additive, console-based strategic card game created in C#. Starting out as a simple mini game about flipping cards and gaining ownership over the game board it soon blossomed into a full fledged card game with a mega ton of customization options and gameplay modes. And with Shoy Schot! nui, it has finally reached its ultimate form!

          Shoy Schot! nui retains all the features of the previous release (SS! SAE v2.0.1.9) which included (but limited to): 5 main Rule Sets to play in their own Free Play modes; An Arcade-like mode called Unlimited Deck Mode; Best Of… Mode, where players can play best of X matches; a robust Tournament Mode for serious play; 22 Accomplishments; Stats pages that kept over 80 stats; Personal Rank Card to share and compare with other players; 8 profiles for same computer use; and Virtual Gaia Games Matching!, a completely separate matching mini-game.

          New features to Shoy Schot! nui include (but not limited to): Custom Rule Set Mode, where players can build their own custom Rule Sets; Endless Tower, which is a survival mode-type gameplay mode; A Score Attack Mode; Arcade Challenges where players can try to conquer all 40 challenges; A Tutorial Mode, where players can learn the basics of the card game in new, more interactive way; a new mini-game called Clementine; 22 more Accomplishments; more stats; and slew of secrets and tweaks.

          In the year since Shoy Schot! was first released as hidden mini-game in my text-based, horror-adventure game, Still Here After Wednesday Night; it has seen 13 updates, two of which were major updates in terms of improving efficiency and adding new content, but this is by far its biggest update—going as far as rewriting and overhauling large sections of the code and spending more man-hour working on it than any previous release at over 70 days in counting. Previous major release took around 30 days to complete (give or take a week and a day), minor releases taking about a week or two.

          Again, this will be the Final Version of Shoy Schot! What that means is that once Shoy Schot! nui is released, there will be no more features added to the game periodically like with Version 2’s tenure. However, I will continue to support Shoy Schot! nui and release new updates for bug and error fixes, but that is all. Shoy Schot! nui will also be Virtual Gaia’s final game made in this way—without real sound and graphics. The next game project I do will be on a new engine and utilize sound and 3 dimensions!

          Shoy Schot! nui is a PC only game Coming Soon (later this summer) from Virtual Gaia Games. It will be downloadable from http://virtualgaiagames.blogspot.com/ for free when available.

          For those who have yet to experience Shoy Schot!, they can download it latest release, SS! SAE v2.0.19 here: http://virtualgaiagames.blogspot.com/2012/09/shoy-schot-stand-alone-edition-update.html, before Shoy Schot! nui releases.

          If you would like to help test Shoy Schot! nui before it releases please leave a comment saying so below.

           A complete list of returning features, changes, improvements, and new features along with screenshots are listed after the jump below.


Game: Shoy Schot! nui
Genre: Electronic Card Game
Company: Virtual Gaia Games
Release Date: Summer 2013
Price: Economical Priced [Read: FREE!]
Download Site: http://virtualgaiagames.blogspot.com/2012/09/shoy-schot-stand-alone-edition-update.html
Website: http://virtualgaiagames.blogspot.com/

Shoy Schot! One Year Anniversary!

          It's been exactly one year since I created and released Shoy Schot! as a hidden mini-game to my text-based, horror-adventure game Still Here After Wednesday Night! I have to say that Shoy Schot! is perhaps my favorite of all the project I've created over the years and it's one of the only ones that has actually continued to evolve well past its initial release. It's come a long way from its pre-Stand-Alone Edition release to the Stand-Alone Edition Version 2.0.1.9 release. So, here's to my little game about flipping cards.

Download Here: Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition Update Log

...

Shoy Schot! NEXT Project

Future?

          I made a series of surveys (3) about possible future versions of Shoy Schot! If you have some spare time I would appreciated if you took this. Thanks a ton. You can take them by either doing them here below or by going to the full screen web link versions--the links are directly below this line.

          Be an informed survey taker! Download the latest version of Shoy Schot! Here

Full Screen Web Link Versions

• Survey 1 Link
• Survey 2 Link
• Survey 3 Link

Survey 1: Shoy Schot! NEXT Project (Part 1: Future)

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

See the other two parts after the Jump.

Current State Of My Projects

This has nothing to do with my projects but it looks nice.

          This is a list of my current projects and their statuses. I was originally going to put this post on Projects but since I'm talking about all my project I decided to throw it up on the main site. It's mostly for me but I wanted have full disclosure of my projects. See them after the jump.

UPDATE 1 (5/4/13): Added a project I forgot about. Some status updates.

I've Been Published...

          Sort of. Castella In Theory: The Worst Of Derek Russell (We Always But We Never) has been turn into a printed book thanks to the brilliant guys and gals over at Blurb.com! Blurb allows people to publish myriad types of books from photo books to novel and more with various options on paper, covers, sizes, and the like. A really great site for up-in-coming writers or oldhands. Blurb.com allow content creators to keep full rights to their works as well! Found here and here. And you can also sell your book in their bookstore and earn profit off it! It's free to join and add stuff so give it a try!

          That said you purchase a physical copy of Castella In Theory: The Worst Of Derek Russell (We Always But We Never) here for only $8.45 (softcover). The Worst of Derek Russell is a character drama about high school delinquent Derek Russell trying to manage through the all the boredom and problems of his life through music, drugs, and sarcasms. The story is divided into to two parts, with the first half opting for a dialog/monologue-only style and the second half in a more traditional style.

Buy: Castella In Theory: The Worst Of Derek Russell

• 52 page
• 6x9 inches (15x23 cm)
• Softcover Price: $8.45
• Hardcover, Dust Jacket Price: $22.45
• Hardcover, ImageWrap Price: $23.45
• Warning: Crude/Explicit Language and Drug Use

P.S.: You can still download a the pdf version of the story from my blog here or find the other Castella In Theory stories archived here.

UPDATE 1 (11/23/12): My book came today! In retrospect, I should've moved the title to the center of cover or used the above picture. Just a horrible use of space right there, well, next time. I've added pics below.

Four Days Of Short Stories I

Picture by Morfex

          Four Days Of Short Stories is writing exercise/event I'm doing this weekend (Friday, Nov. 2 - Monday, Nov. 5) where I write an original short story everyday for four days. I'm going to post them here, in this post, and also here. I do not promise that the stories will good, just that they will be written in a day. The idea is to quickly come up with an original concept and run with, to experiment, and try out new styles. It's a learning and experimenting exercise.

          Also, anyone is welcome to write stories along with me and post them here as well; even if they cannot write all four days. If you plan on doing so please follow the few guidelines.

• An original unused concept (ideas you'll had but haven't written are fine)
• No sequels/prequels/continuations to any of your old/current stories
• Experiment
• Try to make it a full stand-alone story
• Must be posted by 11:59 PM of that day
• Have fun!

          Also, the stories should be between 1-4 pages (to be manageable) be can be longer. There isn't any set theme or motif, but if you're having trouble coming up with a story idea try this: The theme of boredom or try making the boring or ordinary event you can think of unique or strange.

          Lastly, note that it says Four Days Of Short Stories 'I,' I may do this again if this first one goes well. I'm doing this to improve my own writing ability and to get myself run with concepts less stressfully and to writing quicker (looking at you Elevator Music).


UPDATE 1 (11/2/12): Day 1 Story added below. Read it in all its unedited glory!

UPDATE 2 (11/3/12): Day 2 Story added below.

UPDATE 3 (11/4/12): Day 3 Story added below.

UPDATE 4 (11/5/12): Day 4 Story, the final story, added below.

UPDATE 5 (11/6/12): Day 0 Test Story added.

• Day 1 Story: [We're Closed So, Come Right In]
• Day 2 Story: [Ride]
• Day 3 Story: [Lowell O’well, the Flying Mechanical Whale]
• Day 4 Story: [Anderson Wicked]
• Day 0 Test Story: [Letter]

Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition Version 2 Press Release

          Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition (SAE), the addictive card game, is back! And very much improved with Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition v2! Version 2.

          Shoy Schot! is an console-based strategic card game I created in C#. The objective of a match is to own the most panels by the end of the match. The game was originally a minigame on another game I created before I started to add a ton of features to it. It grew to become bigger than the game it was attached to, so I decided to make a stand-alone version of it back in September.

          Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition is divided up into four main sections: The Unlimited Deck Mode, which allows a player to play against another player or CPU in customizable matches that use the Unlimited Deck (more like arcade play). The World Tour Mode, which is a more serious mode but have a ton of customization options. Best Of... Mode, where a player can play consecutive matches against another player or CPU. Lastly, Tournament Mode, which players can enter a series of matches against 2, 3, or 4 of their friends to see who is the best.

          Most modes allows players to customized some of the settings before entering a match. They include: Change the game grid to a 3x3 board (allowing for quicker matches), 4x4 board (allowing for more competitive and fair matches), or 5x5 board (allowing for longer matches). Changing who will go first. The hand rules in play, meaning do players what to use a full deck or only low valued card, etc. And a few other settings. There are Over 500 Different Ways to Play—find your favorite!

          Some of the new features to Version 2 include improvements and tweaks to the different AI player to provide a higher and fairer challenge. The Version 2 Game Deck which adds 4 more card type to the game increasing the total to 15 different card type from the original 11 (and increasing total cards from 110 to 150). Players can choose to switch between the Version 1 (Classica) and Version 2 Game Deck in the Options Menu. The ability to have up to four different profiles for multiple people using the same game. The different profiles will keep track that profiles stats independent from another profiles stats. Also, Version records 80 different stats so players keep track important stuff from number of wins and losses to less important stat such as the number of times played on the 4x4 board. There is even a way not to keep track of stats now (with a indicator to let players know). 8 more accomplishments (Shoy Schot’s trophy/achievement system) have been added to the game bring the total number of accomplishments to 22! Lastly, a ton of minor fixes, tweaks, and additions have been made to the game to make the whole experience more fun, user friendly, and streamlined.

          I hope you all enjoy the game. Please feel free to give feedback or make comments. Check out the full feature list below:

• Version 2 Game Deck
• Adds 4 New Card Types
• Switch between Version 1 and 2 Game Decks
• Create up to 4 Profiles
• Keep Stats of up to 4 different Players
• Use Guest Mode to not track Stats
• Keep track of 80 different stats
• Including Playtime
• Match Time
• Improved AI
• 8 New Accomplishments
• Cleaner Interface
• More Streamlined Experience
• Overall Game Balancing
• Tweaked Rank Calculation
• More Extras
• Fixed Chain Reaction Error
• Fixed CPU vs. CPU glitch
• Fixed Rank Title Error
• A Ton of Minor Fixes and Additions

Download: Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition Version 2.0.0.0 Here


          There were going to be several 50 second trailers to coincide with the Version 2, but computer issues prevented that. In lieu of trailer I give you screenshots, concepts for the new icon, and some would be trailer screens after the jump.

An Exercise in R

          The round man with his red tie, rosy cheeks, and rotund belly, runs, I kid, rumbles down the street. He makes a right turn on Rosalind Ave., slips and rolls down the hill. On his riotous fall, he rams into a registered nurse, passes rowdy bunch of punks, and crashes into a record store owned by retired Randy Regal. Red Hot Chili Peppers play on the radio as the two men share a rustic looks. The ringing of the store bell returns owners glance to the store’s entrance revealing a rigid looking old lady with eyes like rubies. She commands respect and when she has it she tells them a riddle. The one who remarks correctly gets a great reward. The plump one goes to response, but the owner throws a recorder at him, rather rude of him, and gives his own answer. The woman reports that his answer was indeed correct and gives his 300 rubles. Roland, the fat man, roars with laughter. Rejoicing and unhurt, he walks out—the broken window made he rocketed through earlier.


          I don't know if I'll continue this, but if I do you will find it here.

Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition Press Release

          The Ultimate Edition of Shoy Schot! is now live! Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition (SAE) is the complete game from Still Here After Wednesday Night plus some extras. Now only that but anyone with system data from  Still Here After Wednesday Night can back up their system data from that game and retrieve it in Shoy Schot! SAE. It will only take data pertaining to Shoy Schot! Below is the features list:

• Clean Interface
• 3 Different CPU Players
• 3 Game Boards
• 2 Types of Decks
• Many Customizable Free Play Modes
• Best Of... Mode
• 2 Types of CPU vs. CPU Modes
• (Robust) Tournament Mode
• Accomplishments
• Stats
• Check For Updates
• Back-up System Data
• Nice Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition Icon
• Extras

          With the release of the Shoy Schot! SAE the version of the game inside Still Here After Wednesday Night will no longer be supported. Only Shoy Schot! SAE will be updated and supported.


Download: Shoy Schot! Stand-Alone Edition Version 1.0.0.0 Here

Still Here After Wednesday Night (Version 5.2.0.0) Now Live

          Version 5.2.0.0 greatly updated Shoy Schot! adds general fixes and additions to the overall package. The short list of additions include:

• Greatly Updates Shoy Schot!
• Adds New Hard AI: CPU PLAYER: ELSA
• Overall AI Improvements
• Artificial Errors
• Better Handling of Discard
• Chance of Inspiration
• Cleaner Interface
• 5x5 Game Board
• More Game Modes
• Unlimited Deck CPU vs.CPU
• World Tour CPU vs. CPU
• Best Of... Mode
• (Robust) Tournament Mode
• Stats
• Accomplishments
• Stand-alone Basework
• Extra Secrets
• More Grammar Fixes
• A Ton of Minor Fixes and Additions

          I also want to add as a special treat: How to quickly skip to the Epilogue of Still Here After Wednesday Night and quick access to Shoy Schot! Cheat. In Still Here, at the very beginning of a new game or new game + cheatcodes may be entered. To do this simply start a new game or new game + and don't move from that spot! Instead type in CHEAT and you should hear a beep. Voila. To skip to the Epilogue type in NE after CHEAT. You should hear another beep if successful. To quickly unlock Shoy Schot! type in SS after CHEAT. You should hear another beep if successful.
Ex. >Cheat (beep)

      >SS (beep)

          Have fun with the new update. Read the Special Message in the game (go to the About section within the Main Menu).

Download from Log: Here
Go to Still Here After Wednesday Night Page: Here

Elevator Music Video Update 6 ~ [9/3/12]

          Keep ya waiting, huh? This update contains the an update to the Script. Please read and comment on the progress. Sorry about delay. As always the video will be up later.

Script for First Floor (Season 1; Episode 1 - Pilot) [Partial-9/3/12]: Here

Check Main Page
Check Facebook Group

Next Update: Sunday 9/9/12

Shoy Schot! Update Video 1

          This a  video (WATCH IN FULL SCREEN) of the new features I've been adding to the Still Here After Wednesday Night Minigame Shoy Schot!, which is now significantly larger than Still Here... and has no right to be called a minigame at this point (at least in comparison to Still Here...). Sorry to the monotone, I'll get better. Also, I'm still learning this recording system--It didn't pick up the background music at all.

Elevator Music Video Update 4 ~ [8/19/12]

Elevator Music Video Update 4 from Thaddeus Coleman on Vimeo.

          Another short update, no script this week. Sound may be weird since I'm outside in the middle of a forest. Script update next update and maybe a bonus scene sometime within the week.

Check Main Page
Check Facebook Group

Visit Virtual Gaia Project Every Sunday to get Updates on my audio drama project:
Elevator Music Can Be Good Music Too

Next Update: Sunday 8/26/12