Anime, RPG, Illustration, and MORE

**Grifter730** · 11-18-2003, 12:10 AM

***This message has been updated. People who doesn't want to load everything at once, please read my note below)***

This site is a product of 6 months worth of full-time unpaid work (left corporate job to dedicate myself to work on this site). It's ONLY for broadband users, as they are my target audience. Modem users can enjoy this too, but you'll want to take a nap or do something else while waiting for this site to load. I hope I don't disappoint. Turn on your speakers, and enjoy! (Btw, the preview you get in the beginning is a clip from the final animation, which you can only view after collecting all the clues.)

www.skycastlestudios.com

***NEW LINK (this is for people who wants to see what the site is like, without having to wait for all the sections to preload. You now have a choice to load each section on the fly): www.skycastlestudios.com/testbeta/

Riki

**alexxlea** · 11-18-2003, 12:45 AM

Why hasn't anyone posted on this piece of art...
IT IS THE BEST WEBSITE I HAVE EVER TRULY EXPERIENCED.
Cutting edge, nostalgic, AWESOME, sir, you have created the BEST THING TO HIT THE WEB EVER. I must tell everyone about this site... it is a must visit... i mean... the experience...
I am overwhelmed by the sheer greatness... I deeply respect you...

**ljd** · 11-18-2003, 01:05 PM

Hi

web users have the attention span of gnats and even on I my broadband connection it took too long to load

I suggest that you do not attempt to load everything at once and let people load what they want to see

LJD

**Grifter730** · 11-19-2003, 01:06 AM

alexxlea:
Thanks for the feedbacks

I'm trying to get exposure and I'm promoting this site, so anyone that enjoys it, please do tell your friends, or even better, post on sites like flashkit, or ultrashock.com, etc. Anyway, thanks again. Is there anything about the site that you didn't like?

ljd:
Thanks for the response as well. I know that the download time is long, but please let me explain. If I were to give the option of allowing people to download each section individually, it completely ruins the impact of the website. Loading a section during the game makes the transition doesn't look as smooth. I debated long and hard before I made this decision, but in the end, what I wanted to have was a very smooth game once the viewer is finally in. I realize that the hard part is GETTING them into the site itself, which I know a long preload can do, but I'm really hoping that people will give this site a try. I truly believe that it is innovative in a way, and I hope everyone can appreciate that if nothing else.

Riki

**hammerAX** · 11-19-2003, 05:57 AM

The animation and sound is great.

But does take a while to load..

**therealndnchief** · 11-19-2003, 01:11 PM

OK, first I would like to say, Great Work. A wonderful inter-active site. Art work A+, Audio A+, Story line A+, Inter-activity and animations A+. I can only imagine all the time and hardwork you put into creating this site, Hats Off to you, your hard work and time spent, really payed off. The site is excellent. (Excellent is an understatement) I havn,t been through the whole site, but seen enough to be very impressed. I certainly will promote your site wherever possible. My son spent a very long time on your site, and had a great time, and when time permits, I will sit down and take a second crack at it. Oh! I have Cable, and it took about only 20 sec
to download all the files, I dont really see that as a problem. (since the site is geared toward Broadband users) You certainly have a site to be proud of, Congrats!!!!!

The Real NDNChief.....WOW! (WOW! is also an understatement)

**Grifter730** · 11-19-2003, 01:20 PM

hammerAX:
Due to the fact that the *only* complaint I've seen from all the forums I'm posting at, is the download time, I am currently working on an option where people will have a choice whether to preload everything all at once, or to load each section as they come up. I will most definitely tell the visitors that preloading everything at once is a much better option, but because this is the only complaint I've seen, of course I want to make it better.

therealndnchief:
Thank you for the kind words

It's nice to hear from people who can appreciate the concept behind the work. I really wanted to take the words "user interaction" to another level, and I really hope I achieved that. When you have time to go through the site thoroughly, be sure to play it until the very end, and watch the 5 minute animation, so I hope you enjoy it

For everyone else:
Here's a couple of screenshots to show you what the site looks like, in case you're too lazy to load the site.

**J-Luv** · 11-19-2003, 01:21 PM

nice site, it is tight, but loadtime took waaay too long and i am on a T1 connection here at work.

**Grifter730** · 11-19-2003, 07:35 PM

I have just updated this website to please all the people who are annoyed at having to download everything at once. Please go to www.skycastlestudios.com/testbeta/ and tell me what you think. Now all of you have no excuse to not check this site out

If there are any bugs, please let me know.

Riki

**hammerAX** · 11-20-2003, 09:59 AM

Grifter730...
I think your site is great.. But yes sorry I have a couple of complaints and suggestions.. I'm fairly new to flash but I hope u respect my opinion (and hope u go view my site and criticize as well.)

I love your site because of the anime theme. Its great.. The Intro was really cool.. I like the start becuase it reminds me of Legend of Zelda.. Not really final fantasy coz I have only watched my friend play it (it looks great but I have no time to play it.)

I loaded the whole site at once, and it did take a while (512k ADSL in Au). The only reason why I didnt leave is because I previously saw your intro and was quite amazed.

If you meant the site to show off you great scripting skills, then great, but the site as a portfolio was a bit time consuming.. Having to walk around to find the different sections etc. If people were to come back to check to see if you updated, would they want to go through all that just to see another illustration or website you created.. Maybe when the sites finished you will add links to go straight to the sections (or did I miss that already?)

As for the game, I will have to get back to you because I havent even started yet.. I gotta goto sleep and will have to access your site tommorrow.. On the whole great site.. And rather than a game, I hope you make a anime series out of this.. If its anything like your intro I'd come back and watch it..

I'll also be d/l Castle in the Sky.. I'm currently watchn Rurouni Kenshin and its great.. Already one of my favs.. I also love Hunter X Hunter, Prince of Tennis, Berserk, Visions of Escaflowne(tv series) to name a few..

**alexxlea** · 11-21-2003, 04:22 AM

DL?
Dont you mean legally purchase? =)
Btw the preload works great... i wish you well... and what a timely response to we flashkitters, very uncommon... hehe.
Have a nice night all.

**Grifter730** · 11-22-2003, 08:07 PM

If you meant the site to show off you great scripting skills, then great, but the site as a portfolio was a bit time consuming.. Having to walk around to find the different sections etc. If people were to come back to check to see if you updated, would they want to go through all that just to see another illustration or website you created.. Maybe when the sites finished you will add links to go straight to the sections (or did I miss that already?)

Quick links are in the menu bar. I also now have an explanation box that appears and says "you can use quick links if you're too lazy". Well, not literally that, but you get my point.

As for the game, I will have to get back to you because I havent even started yet.. I gotta goto sleep and will have to access your site tommorrow.. On the whole great site.. And rather than a game, I hope you make a anime series out of this.. If its anything like your intro I'd come back and watch it..

I tried my hands at creating an anime series. It was too much work for one person, so I quit. By creating a game, I can tell a story much easier, and then I can REWARD a player by showing them the animation. That was my intention

Anyway, the site is currently down because it reached bandwidth limit. I'm moving it to a new host, so it should be up within 1-2 days.

**gmh526** · 11-22-2003, 09:29 PM

well i get an error 500. ah, now is ee your post about the bandwith limit. with a site that size no wonder. how big exactly is the grand total?

ive been to the site once before, briefly. not long enough to remmeber much, but heres what i though.

i managed to sit through your ridiculous loadnig times on my cable connection. 20 seconds? you must be nextdoor to his server cause ive tested my connection at a variety of places and its top-tier. unless your targeting a very specific audience (people on T1, a lan with your puter on it, or ppl with waaaaaaaay too much free time) im afraid your alienating a very large crowd.

im not into the whole anime thing, but you did i nice job with the graphics and animations, scripting, all that. however, its a website, and even your quick links required me to walk around talking to guys to find content.

if you have lots of time to kill, then im sure its a great experience. but not everyone does, and they want content fast.
your site might be more suited to cd or a gameboy, but for the web id question its practicality.

**alexxlea** · 11-23-2003, 12:48 PM

As he stated he is aiming to open up the field for a new type of web experience. I think it is unique, creative, and good. Although the bandwidth thing is an issue, his new version more or less solves that. And it remains as cool as ever. Which brings me to another question. How long are those corporate bigwigs going to keep cheap fiberoptics from us? I hope not forever.

**Dave1983** · 11-24-2003, 02:57 AM

dosent load on my site

**FlAss** · 12-05-2003, 05:30 AM

mmmm... ok, not so hot on the api

**Branny** · 12-05-2003, 06:42 AM

Nice site

I am at work and had to tear myself away for fear of getting cuaght playing games.

The network connection here is only small and I didn't find it that long when loading the site. However the site froze when loading the end animation (load all at once)

so I refreshed the site and went to load individually (the ones that had already loaded stayed in my cache)

I havent got to the end animation yt so don't know if it will freeze there.

also

http://www.skycastlestudios.com/images/footer.gif

does not load for me it maybe the network i'm on here cause a lot of things are blocked.

anyway nice animations good site

cheers

B

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