These days, many people are not sure where Don Miguel resides. Some people believe he is, of sorts, a legend now due to his contribution to the amateur game making community, and due to him being the very reason that sites such as this were even created. As his deeds are well known, but the man himself is seldom seen. Well, I decided to do the RPG Making scene a favour by catching up with the elusive programmer and translator and asking him a series of questions.

In this interview, you will learn all about Don. From his reasons for not translating RPG Maker 2003 to his views on Gaming Ground Zero and to his favourite soft drinks, Gaming World is about to jump into Don Miguel’s head and let me tell you.. It’s certainly pretty interesting in there!

UPRC: Don, let me just say that it’s an honour to be interviewing you. Not only do you have a reputation as a legend in the RPG Maker scene, but from my own recollection, you’ve always been a pretty cool guy too so hey, why don’t you tell the folks who you are and what you do? Give them this opportunity to “know” Don Miguel.
Don: I have to greet all the readers. Yo all!
I’m a programmer and translator. I’ve graduated from 2 universities so far. I started working right after the school and haven’t moved from my place yet. It’s very reliable and, well, fine to keep. Since 13, I always had a gamedev hobby. I continue making games for myself and sometimes I’ll sell them. It doesn’t bring in much, so it’s just a hobby.
What do I like doing? Well.. I like visiting friends, like Japanese RPGs, books and anime… I plant cactuses, and I like cats. That’s all I can tell you.

UPRC: You sound like a pretty laid back guy! That’s pretty cool.

Don: My personality is just a mask on the internet, I think. But my real friends find me easy going and such.

UPRC: Anyway.. In retrospect, you’re responsible for a lot of sites existing such as Gaming World, Gaming Ground Zero, RPG RPG Revolution, and so on. Even though someone else would have likely translated RPG Maker 95 and 2000 if you had not, how does it make you feel knowing that you’ve had such a significant impact on the hobbies and leisurely activities of so many people?

Don: I like the feeling of that impact. Some people have become game developers, designers and work in the game development industry. But I also regret that I spent so much time supporting the RPG Maker products Which were nothing more than warez. I made my own maker made in 1995, “Platformer maker”.
And the fun fact is… localization isn’t hard. I finished the RPG Maker 95 translation in two hours and made the RPG Maker 2003 translation in 2 days, I think. So it was easy for anyone with some experience.

UPRC: With experience, yeah. A lot of people who work with the RPG Makers really don’t have that, so people like you really do them a large favour I would say. You say you regret spending so much time on the RPG Maker products.. Was this part of the reason why you decided not to translate RPG Maker 2003? What was the precise reason?

Don: I just waited for a letter from Enterbrain, it was like a nightmare… I mean, I used to put all my free time into the RPG Maker community in place of my own projects. So the letter was a good reason to stop. A few months later, I sold my commercial game. So it all was for good! I won’t name my games though. It’s not on topic with the question.

UPRC: So Enterbrain asking you to stop was your reason for not continuing?

Don: It was the last straw. So yes, it was the reason. I even believed them, helped them to gather some feedback from “future buyers” of the official English RPG Maker 2000, but they postponed the release. It doesn’t matter now.

UPRC: Definitely a good thing for you to do, then.
A lot of people don’t know what you’re up to these days, and they seem to think that finding the legendary Don Miguel is a difficult challenge. For these people, why don’t you tell us what you’re currently involved in? Making a game? Programming anything?

Don: I have a bad habit here! I like coding game engines. My latest engine uses LUA (see http://lua.org) as a script language. The engine is very portable and it works on both PC and some ARM based handhelds.
Every year, in July, I teach children how to program at a summer school for young programmers. This school is going to be devoted to some sound effects library coding. It’s my my own workshop.
I have three work in progress game projects, but I have to polish up my engine first before continuing them!

UPRC: Here’s a thinker for you, Don. If you had not translated the RPG Makers, do you think that Enterbrain may have considered releasing them on their own? And if they had, do you think that they would have had as much success as they have had through your translations?

Don: Well, I believe that they would have never released it abroad. I don’t count some Playstation stuff, those are not as serious as the PC RPG Makers.
I know some Japanese people in real life, and they say that domestic market of Japanese RPGs is devoted to “smart people”. Who does the domestic market consist of? You know.
My translations and free advertising brought much attention to their products in many countries. They could have even released it in Russia despite the software piracy.
I don’t know how much they had earned on RPG Makers abroad, but I believe the sum could be less without my “help”. That’s just my opinion. There are many similar (and more professional) products for game making, which became forgotten right before the release of the RPG Makers.

How ironic that back in the nineties I had so much trouble when my commercial games were pirated. I haven’t covered my expenses, but I’ve got some “fame” because my products were wide spread. My next projects were pirated as well…

UPRC: So you rose to fame through piracy? Sounds more like infamy, eh?
Here’s another RPG Maker question for ya. Don’t worry, this whole interview won’t focus on the RPG Makers. This will be the last question focusing solely on this subject.
What are your thoughts on the newer RPG Makers, XP and VX. You may not use them, but I’m sure you’re aware of them? Do you think that they are a step forward, or a step backward? Is Enterbrain giving the amateur game designers the proper tools? I ask this because a lot of people are still using RPG Makers 2000 and 2003 despite these newer engines, and they are reluctant to change. What are your thoughts?

Don: I haven’t used the new makers, but I’ve read about their features and I’ve seen some screen shots. They kept backward project compatibility, that’s good. They added Ruby. That’s good, too. However, I don’t think they (new makers) vary much. So if people want to make games, they could use any tool.
One day users realize that the RPG Makers have their limits. They’re good for starters, good for fun. Being a professional programmer, I still like the idea of RPG Makers. The key is in their simplicity.

UPRC: So you still have a soft spot for the RPG Makers?

Don: That spot is my friends, the friendships that I made through my work with the RPG Makers.

UPRC: That’s pretty nice to here, but I suppose it was evident since after passing on RPG Maker 2003, you continued at your ezBoard for a bit, followed by staffing at Gaming Ground Zero and then, finally, ending up at Stifu’s forum. You seem to have a close partnership with Stifu, even being featured as a playable character in his Mario Kart hack. How would you describe your relationship with Stifu, another well known figure from RPG Maker’s past?

Don: I didn’t pass on RPG Maker 2003. I just got a letter from Enterbrain and stopped distributing their products. I kept my forum online due to some friends of mine. It was the place to meet. Somehow I parted with GGZ (I never liked to be manipulated and such). It seems that Stifu is a very reliable man. Just look at his site. Stifu is my friend. For me, it’s a honor to have such a friend and be a tiny pixel in his (and his pal’s) project. I like Stifu’s pixel-art talent. Our friendship has grown up from the fight. I hope we’ll finish our cooperative projects and have some projects in the future.

UPRC: Well, I wish you luck! Now, remember that this interview is for Gaming World. Predominantly, we are an RPG Maker community. However, I know that there are a lot of people at the website who would undoubtedly try other makers or methods of making games if they had the chance. What route would you suggest these people try if they would want to branch out from RPG Maker?

And that is where things abruptly ended as Don’s replies stopped coming. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s all he felt like saying?

Anyway, that’s that.

Head on over to Scirra.com for more info!

For the past year I’ve been working to create a website where indie developers could host their projects for free. I do this because I LOVE the industry. My website offers you a page for your game, screenshot hosting and a fast download server. All of it free because I don’t believe in creating yet another financial hurdle for inspiring developers. If you are interested please check us out, you have nothing to lose. I plan to run the site purely on donations so I don’t require any “catch” or “gimmick” for you to use the service. The basics go like this.

-A project page for your game. Which allows for advanced BB code functions and update posts.

-Image Uploader tied to your project page.

-100mb file uploader also tied to your project page (you can upload as many files as you like, though each will be approved by an admin before appearing)

-No bandwidth limit for your downloads.

Please keep in mind that we tried our best to make a stable site, but its brand new so there may be bugs. Let your friends know!

I can with 100% certainty guarantee that it is excellent music (despite not having listened to it yet) because Josh’s music is always very good! (To hear some samples of the kind of tunes he makes, check out his portfolio.)

where is my spaceship – [2009] christmas is dead

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1. claws
2. mary christmas
3. dennis k
4. rudolph
5. f

==========

all vocals were done by josh evensen.
guitar bass banjo also josh evensen].
all drums were done by matt olsson.
ukelele melodica and accordion and trumpet and trombone were also matt olsson.

dealing with incessant yammering about this album
while i was working on it was done by danii gallegos.

==========

this is the other side of the coin.
something has to change.

http://www.myspace.com/whereismyspaceship

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Only a month after their debut album, Lonely Hearts, hit the online airwaves the GW Troubadours were at it again with not one but TWO CD’s full of material. But with a community filled with musicians eager to experiment and improve themselves, it didn’t take long for 34 songs to be submitted. Despite clocking in at 2 hours and 17 minutes, Gaming World’s IRC channels were flooded on release day with members from Europe, America, and other corners of the world who were eager to hear the album in its entirety.

Ink Blots is the Troubadours’ first album to be based off a theme: insanity. From mind-twisting jungle electronica to the echo of a piano in an empty hallway to the chaos of layered acoustic guitars to the drunken sales pitches of Orson Welles, Ink Blots is enough to make any sane man lose his marbles. As the Troubadours’ first non-cover album, it deserves your attention for the ability of these members to crafted their fresh, original ideas into chaotic but well-composed songs.

CD1
01. Lars – My Mind, My Temple
02. ATARI – Cãozinho Sobre Incendiar
03. RPGoddess – dick
04. BunnyMilk – Dope
05. Trystero – Rorschach/Tire Fires
06. GaZZwa – Time for French Toast
07. SPC1st – Egonomics
08. Bruce Genitals – Lifetime Opportunity (All This and More on my Audiotapes)
09. Bruce Genitals – Orson Welles Reads My Audiotapes
10. DarkPriest – March Of The Chaos Fungus
11. Shepperd – Her Floral Grace
12. BunnyMilk – Showdown
13. last life – Lettuce Memories
14. Moriason – Epiphany
15. DragonSlayer, Trystero – Y 2 Da Dizzle
16. BravoSector – Loneliness

CD2
1. LORd – Intermission
2. Gelatinous Cube – Endmind
3. Lars – Great Gig in the Sky (Pink Floyd Cover Song)
4. GaZZwa – He’ll be Back for the Second One
5. Realm Dude – I Will Kill You
6. Bootface – Slaying the Thirst
7. GaZZwa – Ten to Butter Blood Voodoo (John Frusciante Cover)
8. Belross – SaT
9. Chef Boyardee – gope
10. ATARI – Canon In D Major
11. Kaworu – Without A…
12. Shepperd – Taste My Brew
13. last life – Florescent Aftertaste
14. Lars – Richard
15. BunnyMilk – Smoke and Mirrors
16. Kalar – National Treasure
17. idiot kid & Trystero – A Collection (Marillion Cover Song)
18. Bootface – Darkest Chapter

DOWNLOAD LINK

MIRROR

Advised and organized by a man named Steel, on the 3rd of May, 2006, their honest renditions of The Beatles were released on streaming live internet radio to a small audience. The GW Troubadours were born. Partially lost in time due to dead links and forum reorganizations, this album is available here for your reminiscence and/or enjoyment:

DOWNLOAD LINK

01. Sredni Vashtar – Yesterday
02. Bootface – Eleanor Rigby
03. Shepperd – Day Tripper
04. GaZZwa – Octopus’s Garden
05. Ballpoint – With A Little Help From My Friends
06. ATARI – Penny Lane
07. Bootface, BunnyMilk – Come Together
08. Cheshire Cat – I Am The Walrus
09. Lars – A Hard Day’s Night
10. A Short Eternity – Yellow Submarine
11. idiot kid – Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
12. Bootface – Ticket to Ride
13. Ex Oh – Fixing a Hole
14. Lars – She Loves You
15. Ex Oh – Good Day Sunshine
16. Magma King – Blackbird

DOWNLOAD LINK

Almost lost but never forgotten…

The long-anticipated, over one-year in the making*…

The GW Troubadours is the name given to Gaming World’s unofficial group of amateur musicians who get together for the common goal of creating music, having fun, and learning a thing or two from each other.

This EP is the shortest of all Troubadours releases, with only 4 tracks, and thus is a quick listen if you’re curious to hear what kind of varied musical talent GW harbors. Give it a listen!

DOWNLOAD 1

or

DOWNLOAD 2

*actual production lasted less than 2 months but it took a year to release it…

Machinarium (PC, Mac)
Developed by Amanita Design
Released on October 16, 2009

Machinarium is, at its heart, a return to the classical definition of a point-and-click adventure game. The gameplay is very traditional; you go from screen to screen and you solve puzzles to advance. Those puzzles mostly falls into two categories: one will have you use various items on the environment, like those old adventure games from the 90’s, and the other will have you solve mini-game puzzles that are more reminiscent of Myst, like sliding stones, playing leap frog with arrows and connecting lights to create shapes. You’ll even get to play a Space Invaders clone on your journey through the steam-punk city of Machinarium. One of the interesting aspects of the game is that you have to move your little robot close to items and mechanism before picking them up or using them. That kind of removes the tedious pixel hunting that can go on in games of the same genre.

Everything starts of pretty easily, but as the game goes you will be faced with more and more challenging puzzles. The items matching puzzles aren’t the hardest part; the real difficulty will come from the mini-games puzzles. Thankfully, the game comes with two hint systems. One will give you a small hint in the form of a thought bubble, and the other consist of an in-game guide with all the solutions to all the puzzles. The only thing stopping you from getting to that guide, beyond any shame of taking the easy way out, is a little side-scrolling shooter mini-game that lasts about 15 seconds. Just enough to make you think about it before you overuse the guide.

If anything, the real hook of this game is the aesthetic direction. First, there is the music. The nice ambient tracks by Tomas Dvorak really set the mood of the game; calm with and underlying aura of mystery. Secondly, as Michael Abbott recently posted on his blog, hand-drawn graphics are currently living some sort of resurgence and Machinarium sure is part of it. While the lo-fi charm remains the same, the guys from Amanita Design departed from the “photo-realistic surrealism” of Samorost 1 to something more logic and believable in term of universe (while keeping it weird and offbeat), with some beautiful hand-drawn graphics for all the screens and the characters. And even if they never speak a word, or just have thought bubbles at best, each and every single of the robots you meet in the game (from the bullying Black Cap Brotherhood to the street musicians) are unique and filled with personality.

The most speaking example of this is your little robot avatar. From the start of the game, you will fall in love with him and his story. While nothing is exposed directly to you in term of story, the little thought bubbles of your avatar when he sees something that reminds him of earlier days, or just when you idle for too long, do more than enough to get you to know this little chap and the universe he lives in. While the universe and the plot seems light at times, the whole thing being pretty much a save the princess story, there is a very dark depiction of the world under all of this. But this analysis is for another time.

Even with its fairly standard gameplay, Machinarium offers an original and stylish presentation of an old genre with a very touching story and a universe that begs to be explored. For 20$, this is one of the finest, most original, point-and-click adventure game I’ve played in the last few years.