Spam Spam Spam Humbug 6 – The Manuals Were Beautiful
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Shout-Outs
Ben Stephens, who re-broadcasts podcast episodes on Avatar’s Radio (http://avatarsradio.com) every week.
Podcast Topic(s)
Kotaku — which, granted, is not the most historically literate gaming-focused website — posted an article recently which purported to discuss The Beauty of the Game Instruction Manual (http://kotaku.com/the-beauty-of-the-game-instruction-manual-1697341910). The manuals — digital and physical — for games like Minkomora, Tomb Raider, We Love Katamari, Mojib-Ribbon (the manual for which is, admittedly, both beautiful and something of a rarity), Final Fantasy 7, Bangai-O, and even Space Assault are discussed in the article. A few other games are mentioned in the comments.
Notably absent from both the article and the ensuing discussion? Ultima. What was I saying above about historical illiteracy?
In Other News
Rock, Paper, Shotgun ran an article by Richard Cobbett recently, in which various cancelled games are discussed (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/04/16/the-witcher-fallout-baldurs-gate-ultima-cancelled-rpgs/). It talks about Fallout 3 Van Buren, an early attempt at The Witcher, and a few other titles…and also mentions Ultima X: Odyssey and Ultima Online 2.
There are a couple of companion applications in the works for Shroud of the Avatar, one of which was given a shout-out in a recent Update of the Avatar (https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/?p=49319). That app, created by one Brenton (https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/sota-companion-app.23271/), is in development for iOS at present (and will thereafter be ported to Android). Beta version 6.1 of it has just been released (https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/sota-companion-app-beta-6-1-english-maps.24314/).
The other companion app is being developed by a team led by one Matterio, and is targeting both iOS and Android from the get-go (https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/forum/index.php?threads/sota-community-app-ios.23073/).
The apps have different focuses: Brenton’s app is very much about Shroud of the Avatar, and contains lots of information about information relevant to those playing the game. You’ll find maps, crafting recipes, a bestiary, and an adventuring guide therein, along with the ability to take notes about creatures and characters.
Matterio’s app, on the other hand, focuses on the community surrounding Shroud; it connects to the Avatar’s Radio stream and the official IRC channel, pulls Shroud-related news from a handful of fansites, and offers a calendar of community events. Planned features include a view of SotAWiki (http://sotawiki.net), and also maps of Novia and its points of interest.
Neither app is available on an app store (iTunes or Google Play) yet; both are still in beta. But the developers will happily add you to their respective beta programs if you send them an email address.
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Music
OC ReMix #44: Ultima IV ‘trollbash’ by Subliminal Labs
Party Time! (Ultima Exodus Remix)
In which SSSH discusses the attention and detail that were put into the manuals and reference books that accompanied the Ultima games.