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Topics - fesworks

#81
Well, not incredibly new, But it is starting to pick up!



I started doing 60 second segments for Infendo.com's Infendo Radio Podcast called "2 Cents in 60 Seconds". Soon I spun off and started doing a few video game reviews and now Webcomic reviews.

I have several webcomic reviews already done. Mostly I'm working in The Webcomic List forums and getting good feedback. I have a whole list of comics I plan to do, but It basicallly is when I read through an archive and I feel I know what I want to say.

It's hard to limit what you want to say about a webcomic to 60 seconds.

It basically boils down to a recommendation netcast. I only do a review if the comic is worth recommending. If you were to give a scale, I would not go lower than a "50%" which would be a "Recommended for Others" which means that I don't, but I can see how others could like it.


http://fesworks.com


(yes I plan to do reviews of comics over here too ;) )


Opinions?
#82
General Chat / I made my first general vidcast
February 06, 2007, 05:44:03 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5gTv2-960Y

Well I have 2 others.. one is that Game Review Contest drawing, and the other was "field coverage" of the Wii Launch... but thei is the first general vidcast.. I was coaxed to do it at the gaming forum I go to.

Check it out if you'd like. I had fun putting the whole thing together :D
#83
Basically, I'd like to know if anyone can do this:

http://www.cornstalker.com/comics/cornbox/cornbox-light.html

The Cornstalkers have this on their pages in some place... this one is on the bottom left:
http://goforit.comicgen.com/

I mean, I can copy the code easily, but what I can't figure out is from the code I copied, is how they are linked together with the text and buttons! All the image and text locations seem to be somewhere else and not in the code, so I don't know how they did it.

If anyone can adapt this code to exist together, or can tell me how to complete it (like a couple examples, then I can add more on my own), that would be awesome, but I understand this might be difficult.

What I'd like to do, once I get the base code to, was to put together the same idea, only for "Xepher Comics" or something. Webcomickers on Xepher could put it in their links page if they'd like, or whatever.... Possibly to use the 468x60 ad banners instead of the avatar size.

But that's my idea. If I could figure out the Base code, I could compile all the images and text and fine tuning.

Anyone have any thoughts?
#84
General Chat / need help on rating my comic, please
January 23, 2007, 03:51:17 AM
Currently, I have my comic rated Web 14 which says it "Contains slightly offensive material. High chance of mild swearing, partial nudity, violence and adult themes."

Now, there are a few times in which the material extends to the borderline to MA which is "For mature audiences. Contains high risk of violence, nudity, and adult situations. Viewer should be at least 17 or with parental guidance."

I have even had to re-rate one strip in particular to an MA (in hindsight, I should have realized what I did was way over Web14).

For those that have read my archive (its 90 strips -- sans two deleted strips) I'd like to know if you think the comic should be rated.

I'd like a rating suggestion for what it is SO FAR, and what is APPEARS to be becoming (if changing).


I would like to stay as Web14 with a bit of pushing it once in a while... I just don't feel that it really is up to a MA comic though, but I'd like to know what others think since there is no real committee in this self-regulation.

(I take no offense to those that have not read, don't care to read, and don't like my comic.)

I don't know if Miss Mab is still around (or checks this particular forum), but if you do read this, your opinion would be greatly apprecaited as I am using your rating system/descriptions.

(understandable if noone has time, or even if they hate my comic)
#85
General Chat / Looking for Guest Strips or Art
January 12, 2007, 03:29:17 AM
Well, I'm needing a bit a of break in my updates so I can work on my story and Ardra a bit more. my P.S.I. strips are taking me a bit longer to draw now, and my have to drop to 2x a week (which I had been considering for some time now). But If I can get some guest stuff in to help with my updates, that'll be helpful too.

If noone is interested, no biggie. Just checking several places.
#86
(I'm going to rework this post into a full special on my site for my 100th strip in about 5 weeks.... fair warning... IT'S WORDY!)

I just reached my 6 month mark for my comic. My first strip was my first sketch and genuine attempt at making a webcomic.



Needless to say I really didn't know what I wanted to do with the strip. I decided to put myself into it since I obviously know myself enough to right about. Ernst was to be the more angry and critical side of myself. born out of a fit of depression, I intended the comic to be a bit depressing with various rants that would either be in comic form, or be combined with a blog. As well as Ernst insulting Fes whenever possible.



Ironically, setting out to make a depressing comic strip ended up making my depression less severe and and happier. I forced myself to take steps to get rid of my depression and the comic was certainly working, though not in the way I intended. I did not want to make my comic cliché and use stereotypes... but I could not help it at the beginning, and decided to experiment around until the comic took it's own direction.




Some methods I used to "force" myself to work on the webcomic was to start drawing and start making the website. With a website in place, I elected to have no counter on the site at first because I did not want to see how few people may or may not be reading my comic. I knew some people were, and people hate when you miss updates, so I made a committment (sorta) to make regular updates. When I have a comittment to people, I have a respsonsibilty to see it through.



I originally started on Geocities and the to Atspace. I did not think where to really get my comic going because I never really talked to anyone in the community. Well, I have interacted with Mat from Badly Drawn Kitties before, but that was about it. I was in no community. I never wanted ads on my comic. I always hated ads for crap I'm never going to buy, and just block up the screen. (of course now I have Project Wonderful ads, but its much different than forced ads that try to get you to buy crap, and you can put them where you want). So basically I would rather try to by my own space than sign up with Comic Genesis and such. Then I found Xepher.net through the webcomic Dan & Mab's Furry Adventures. I decided to check it out. The Application process was interesting and looked like a good challenge for me to try and push myself to work more on my comic to improve it. Of course I get ahead of myself and apply before I really have enough to apply about. I stuck with it and continued to stick with making comics.

I always wanted to make simple one-off strips, but my writing is pretty bad for confining what I want to illustrate. My first big strip (and even today people always mention it after reading the archives) is the "Salt" strip that was the first idea to take more than one strip:



Which led to the future ideas to use more and more strips to explain my thoughts. Trying to come up with a "gag" to end on each strip on these multi-strip "gags" was difficult and ended up taking a a few ideas on how to rework the strip and panel size and how to delay a punchline to fill in the the remaining panels, etc. For the most part I started to really get into ideas and jokes that might have been too inside.... or perhaps just too weird.



I ran into problems with having giant anthropomorphic animals in my strips. My idea was originally to to a half furry, half human strips so I'll be able to easily make cameos from both kinds of comics. Obviously I started by merely making larger animals that could talk and think, and they didn't wear clothes because they had fur. After finding out that I can cop-out on my difficulty drawing Ernst, by adding clothes, I successfully transistioned animals into humanoid form, as well as explaining a world "taboo", developing Ernst's character more, and avoiding an easy, yet cliché, set of strips which I would feel as a cop-out.



Soon I found myself more on a roll with my first intentional arc. While only intended to be about 10 strips based on my summer camping trip, I found I had more ideas to share and that I don;t know how to write well enough realize that people don't need to know all mundane details. Which dragged my first arc to almost 4 times as long as I planned.

[abridging to not take forever in this post]

Over time I learned more and more techniques, improved my skill, and increased my audience. While taking a lot of time to do this strip, I've enjoyed it, and, for the most part, and been a consistant updater. I look forward to where this perpetually experimental comic will be taking me!

In the mean time, I'll enjoy doing cameos and plugging music and other things I like while breaking the fourth wall and pouring suagr in your gas tank!

#87
Art / Some art I did for a Band I like.
January 07, 2007, 02:28:34 AM
a month ago, I e-mailed Fabulous Disaster to ask them permission to use their lyrics and logos in my comic. They said that it would quite alright.

Well, I made 3 comics with Fab-D References. One a bit more blatent that the other two, and one where I have Fes and Ernst sing along with most of the song "Collide".


In any case, I also told of the members (Squeaky) that I would be doing an art of the band.

Well, I finally did it, and it was damn hard and damn fun to work on. Did my best, but this is the most active I have ever made people look. 98% Most of it is drawn by hand. The coloring and the rest is done on photoshop.

so first here is them:



and here is my art:




Squeaky's hair color has changed from that pic above... at least in the images I saw, it was darker.

Granted I'm not the best artist, but I think it looks alright.
#88
Applications / Ardra
January 04, 2007, 03:02:27 PM
Hello, I have mentioned in another post that I have started a collab project with the author of the Ardra webcomic. I am the new artist and webmaster. I know I already have an account here, but this application is Jason and myself for just the Ardra webcomic (so we can share the account without me having to split traffic and my password on my account). So here we go:


Desired Username: ardra

E-Mail: fesworks-gmail & jdunstan74-yahoo

Description:

As I stated, this application is for a webcomic called Ardra (Ardra: Experiment 2.0 if you want to be specific). Ardra is written by Jason Dunstan. About the first 30 strips were drawn by Jason himself. Then until strip 47, they were drawn by Trevor Adams, formor artist to 'Least I Could Do' (and as long since disappeared since October 2006). There are a few other guest artists as well, most of which were written by Jason as well.

The comic is currently hosted at http://www.stormpages.com/bluedogbeyond/ . Which, to the best of the previous artist's abilities in programming, tried to mask the forced ads. We are looking for new hosted when we relaunch the site and comic in February (abouts). There is an "Ardchive" of about 50 strips, and has a good fan-base (and ranks fairly well in comic listing sites).

As far as the website's layout, I will be reworking all of the images, and a bit of the design of the site as well. As shown by my own website here, I certainly am capable of page work without a template. Comic contents should fit quite within content standards for Xepher.net.

Why Xepher? Well, Jason's experience has been with Angelfire and Stormpages... not really the best of free sites, especially when it comes to ads. There was consideration of the main comic hosting sites, but neither of us have ever worked with them too much. The more we can avoid having forced ads, the better. Besides, Xepher is a very cool place to be hosted, with a bunch of cool people.

Hmmm, I think I have a complete application there. Jason should be along at some point to chime in on the post as well. If you'd like I can post a sample page of what I am working on for the site redeign (still being worked on), but the entire site and it's content can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.stormpages.com/bluedogbeyond/


Thanks for your consideration and bring on the questioning :P
#89
General Chat / Got a New Project!!
January 03, 2007, 03:51:13 AM
In addition to P.S.I., I will be the new artist (for the current arc at least) for Ardra!

Trevor Adams (who originally drew 'Least I could Do' i think) was the artist for a bit over half of Ardra's current archives... and pretty much went "missing" in October. So I met Jason in The Webcomic List forums and I did some sketches of the characters in Trevor's style and he said he'd like me to draw the rest of the current arc!

Weekly updates should start in February.

Here's an example of my artistic adaptation of the previous style:


It's kind of exciting to work on a new project!

http://www.stormpages.com/bluedogbeyond/
#90
Knowhow Trading Post / "Tag-Board" Scripting?
December 28, 2006, 12:31:57 AM
Anyone know of what kind of "tag-board" "Chat-box" or "Shout-box" type of scripting that can be done on Xepher? I think there are some scripting restrictions of a certain kind of script or script release... but I was hoping someone knew how to code a tag-script or could point me in the right direction of such a thing for Xepher hosting.

Otherwise I'll be looking into a free version of one of the "outsoursed" coded tag-boxes, or whatever they are called.
#91
Art / Pigeon-Wing's Commission of my characters :D
December 27, 2006, 02:20:19 AM
This sweet commission was done by Pigeon-Wing at Suku Suku



click for bigger image.

I Love it :D
#92
General Chat / 2007 Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards
December 23, 2006, 04:00:35 PM
Anyone participating in this? I submitted for voting privildges already.

I've been told that it apparently has been bumpped ahead by a half year, so some people may not know about it.

But here are the categories:

Outstanding Newcomer - This is an award that acknowledges the best new comic of this year. Eligible candidates would be any comic that debuted within the last year.

Outstanding Comic- This is the over all most outstanding comic most effectively using every element of the creative process; art, writing and technical. This is the category that best represents the collection of all of the other categories

Outstanding Artist
- This to award the artist whose body of work best demonstrates all of the visual elements of art including line, color, design and composition.

Outstanding Layout
- This award recognizes an online comic whose art is notable for its highly successful compositional elements.
Outstanding Use of Color - This award recognizes an online comic that has a highly successful use of color in its art.
Outstanding Black and White Art- This award recognizes an online comic that makes use of highly successful black and white art.
Outstanding Photographic Comic - This award recognizes an online comic that makes use of highly successful photographic imagery.
Outstanding Character Rendering - This award recognizes an artists' skill at rendering the characters of an online comic during the previous year, where the visual flavor of the character design is effectively presented.
Outstanding Environment Design - This award recognizes visual design work of environment, props, or setting of an online comic, where the visual flavor of the environmental design is highly successful.
Outstanding Website Design - This award recognizes outstanding website design of an online comic, where the design and interface of the entire site enhance the experience of reading the comic.
Outstanding Use of The Medium - This award recognizes comics that make superlative use of computer developed and/or presented content to achieve in webcomics what cannot be done in print comics.


Outstanding Writer - This award recognizes the author whose work best utilizes the elements of writing including character and plot development, exposition, pacing and atmospheric description.

Outstanding Character Writing - This award recognizes an online comic whose character or characters have been rendered though image and narrative development to an extraordinary level of quality.
Outstanding Long Form Comic - This award recognizes comics with longer formats and extended, continuous storylines. Traditionally these comics fit (but not restricted to) "Comic Book" formats.
Outstanding Short Form Comic- This award recognizes comics with shorter formats with regular gags, or beats to it's story to reflect each individual strip. Traditionally these comics fit (but not restricted to) "Comic Strip" formats.
Outstanding Single Panel Comic- This award recognizes comics with one panel formats with regular gags. Traditionally these comics fit (but not restricted to) "Magazine Cartoon" formats.
Outstanding Comedic Comic - This award recognizes an online comic's ability to use humor and comedy effectively.
Outstanding Dramatic Comic - This award recognizes the dramatic elements of an online comic's storyline.

Outstanding Anthropomorphic Comic - This award recognizes comics that make the best use of anthropomorphic characters such as talking animals, plants, or usually inanimate objects.
Outstanding Fantasy Comic - This award recognizes comics that stand out in their use of fantasy elements.
Outstanding Gaming Comic - This award recognizes comics that successfully base their stories around video or roleplaying games, their characters, players and/or creators.
Outstanding Slice-of-Life Comic - This award recognizes comics that make outstanding use of realistic settings and characters: autobiographical comics, journal comics, and fictional comics that deal with realistic subjects.
Outstanding Romantic Comic - This award recognizes comics that reach a high level of quality in addressing issues of love and romance in their stories, settings and characters.
Outstanding Science Fiction Comic - This award recognizes webcomics that exhibit excellence in using real or imagined science and technology to tell their stories.
Outstanding Superhero/Action Comic - This award recognizes the finest comics that incorporate action/adventure elements including superpowered characters.



Anyone participate in this thing before?


I know I wanna nominate Miss Mab for a couple... DMFA for Character Rendering, and Abel's Story for Dramatic Writing.

I'll be looking around Xepher for other nomination possibilities.. I think we can naminate up to 3 different comics per category?

I wish  there was a "Most Improved" category, 'cus I'd nominate Beastling for that.
#93
I hate sounding like a wet blanket, but there are a couple things that I have looked for but have never figured out how to do it.

1) you know how sometimes a webpage will have an icon that will be next to the link in your bookmarks, and on the top-left of the webpage itself? how do you do that, or what is the proper term so i can go look it up?

2) also, I use "Creatuve Block BB" or something as a font for my comic text... I would like to use it on my actual page... is there a way to make it so that when people visit the broswer they will download this font so they can see the site as I intend it to look? Or can someone point me in the right direction for that?
#94
If anyone is interested in writing Video Game Reviews...

My gaming MB is having a Video Game Review Contest.... each review submitted counts as an entry into the drawing for a free game or periphial of the winner's choice (up to a $60 value).

I'm running the contest myself. Rules are simple. Submit a well written (to avoid brevity and 'leet' crap) review of a game released between Q4 2005 and Jan 28th 2007. Up to 3 different reviews per game will be accepted (so if you submit a 4th review, it will not be counted). Anyone and everyone is able to enter and submit as many reviews as possible. ... well actually, I made myself disqualified...  ;)

the site does not sell log-in info, nor sells anything, nor has ads... its basically a "membership drive" and to have some fun getting our Review section back in full swing. Free. No obligations.

So if anyone is interested, go to:

http://thegamingrevolution.com/forums/showthread.php?p=227088

Since I am putting this notice up at a few of the message boards I frequent, I can't saw I'll wish any one of them in particular to win, as I need to stay un-biased ;)... Drawing will be show on Youtube to show I won;t be cheating. :D

contest ends Jan 29th 2007.
#95
Writing / Can I submit this, Xepher?
November 11, 2006, 05:00:07 PM
I was wanting to post a link to my gaming MB's Video Game Review Contest on here... but I did not want to get caught for putting up Spam.... I just thought of it as I posted it, So I'm editting it out right now...
#96
This is going to be in a *.php page.. so I guess I need code for PHP, JAVA, or HTML.

But I am wanting to have small image links to other webcomics, but I would like them to cycle through either timed, or per refresh... either as an ordered list or random... and then with each image that shows, there is a new link associated with that image. I think I used to be able to randomly display images before, but never with changing the  hyperlink.

is this easy to do? does anyone know how to do that, or at least tell me some key words of which I should look for the "how to" myself?

Thanks in advance.
#97
General Chat / Just can't get this song out of my head...
November 07, 2006, 07:50:19 AM
Its just so damn catchy!!!


Loco Roco Main Theme:

Bajumbo moi noi noi jecker
Dabatto bunkergait jun jun
Nora juerue-rotto pura-pura petto
Puraret dum dum
Papuranoi noi noi jecker
Dabatto bumperget tum tum
Ora poerketino bookeran tan-tan-so

Bokeretyo kyenturanai mimani unlalhood-cha-la
Terra hooki-ra pishi-to diki-ra poody-to
Seni-kidi koseibo
Kokorenkyo kyenturanai mimani unlalhood-cha-la
Terra hooki-ra shishi-sho tusura hajiki yo

Bajumbo moi noi noi jecker
Dabatto bumperget tum tum
Nora juerue-rotto rokorolo-petto
Pura-purarun dum dum
Papuramoi noi noi jecker
Dapatto bumperget tum tum
Ora poerketino bookeran tan-tan-so




Go here to download an MP3 (I think its recorded from in Game, but you get the gist if you have not heard the game music before :P )
http://www.videocrab.com/locoroco/
#98
Art / Got a new project and a new art-stlye
October 22, 2006, 04:57:06 AM
Ok, this is for a NEW project I am working on... trying to do a new style (as compared to the style I currently do). My goal is simple characters with a somewhat detailed (to the best of my abilities) background. I am trying to incorporate DEPTH as well. The comic is slated to be a Choose Your Own Adventure type of webcomic. The Idea is that It would be a once a week (or twice a week) comic where viewers can vote what ACTIONS the main character will do next. Like will the character go this way, do this, hit this person, etc. So it is not a WHAT will happen choice, but a HOW to handle the current situation. The next comic (or two) will illustrate the consequence of the action most voted on.



I like the blockiness of the hands, head, and feet with the flow of the coat and hair.

The whole thing isn't exactly what I want, but I am sure I will improve much with time and more practice. My original idea is beyond my current skill level.

Suggestions and Comments very much welcomed (even negative, but please don't be needlessly brutal). ;)
#99
Hosting Q&A / Side Projects and Rules Questions
October 21, 2006, 03:47:39 AM
Ok, I tried looking for info on Side Projects... but Didn't find much, or did a piss poor job of searching...

But my Question is this: What If we would like to run a couple side Projects on our account? Like, say, another webcomic we are working on? Or even if one comic is retired and a new one is born in it's place? (i'm not quitting my current webcomic, but it seemed like a good question too).

My other question is about the rules.

Rules 3 and 9 are talk of violence and porn... what about a comic that may contain sexual discussions (perhaps even detailed) from time to time, or, say, innuenduous (sp? word?) suggestions that "the nasty" had occured? Or even "covered" sex by say a blanket or from a wall... purly asking as a simple story subtext that may pop up, but not the driving point of the comic itself? Like a reference that it has happened or is happening?

As far as the Violence, perhaps I'm reading too much into rule 9, but What about a comic that would be rated Web MA for violent content pertaining to story development? Like a crook shooting a hostage, context sensitive without motive of  race hate or such, just part of the story.

I have ideas for two side projects, and they may include some of both examples. Neither case would be the main part of either project... Except story driven violence for one of them.

I hope I conveyed, what the heck I'm talking about, properly.

I'm not even sure if either projects will get off the ground just yet, but I wanted to ask anyway. If you need a better explanation, just let me know.
#100
Web Design / Message Board help?
October 05, 2006, 10:11:08 PM
From my understanding, people have have message board programming uploaded to their accounts, correct?

If so, can anyone help me out with figuring that stuff out? even pointing me in the right direction via some links would be most helpful. I know I could go get some crap-o Free MB out there, but I don't want ads. Also, while my website may not warrent the use of a Message Board yet, I'd still like to try and learn this stuff.

My knowledge is in HTML, not PHP, if that helps where I should be going.

I'm sure I could do a Google search, but I am sure people here could tell me places they trust such knowledge to be so I don't fly blind in various searches.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!