Well, as is pretty typical with us, things just happened this week, throwing us into a tailspin. We had a hack on one of our other sites, and then a very sick baby who kept us up all night…and slowed our work on the computer. We actually had the Booyah ready on time, but then at the last minute forgot one of the items! We had done the WiiMiis nearly a month ago. When we were gathering the pieces for the Booyah, we stumbled upon the images and did one of these:

And that meant a lot of running around, trying to get it together for the Booyah. The thing that stymied us the most is that Jim really wanted to get screenshots of the actual Check Mii Out Channel. Problem is, while you can download certain content onto a memory card from the Wii, you can’t save WiiMiis. To do so, you need to patch in a DVD Recorder into your television. Well, we have a DVD recorder we had never set up, so Jim decided to use that. Now, if you have ever read about any “easy” project we embark on, you can totally guess what happened next. This comic pretty much sums it up. Getting the images to pipe into the DVD player was not the problem, it was getting the player to write to the disc properly. Quite seriously, it took 3 hours and a half dozen discs, and it STILL didn’t write right correctly. It saved the data, but not a menu, so we couldn’t access the pictures. So, that meant Jim spending several more hours on the internet, trying to find software that could repair and/or read the disc. After that, there was the matter of ripping the screen, creating graphics, putting together the tutorial, and… Well, you get the idea. Anyhow, the neat thing is if you are a fan of the site and have a Wii, you can use Bitmap World characters in your games! How cool is that?

I am also super excited about the Comment graphics. There are over 100 different graphics. Literally, this took me a huge amount of time to do. If you are familiar with doing glitter graphics, you know that to make one, you need to create 3 different images, then merge/animate them. So, literally I had to create over 300 images. It was a challenge. But the good thing is that during the process I learned a TON about Paint Shop Pro, as well as getting some techniques that will help me considerably in doing the comic. In fact, some of the shortcuts I used for the current strips, and they went a lot faster than those I did even a week ago!

Oh, and speaking of the Comments, we reported earlier that the Booyah was initially delayed a bit because of some programming. That was actually for the comment graphics. I did not want to hardcode pages with the graphics and the links–it would have taken me days. We did consider going with some fancy gallery program to display them, but that turned out to be overkill. Eventually we found a so-so program that we could drop into the directory and it would list the graphics. Jim modified it so it would automatically generate the link codes. It worked up great! Took time, but hey, it will help us loads in the future.

I’ll let everyone get into all the goodies of the Booyah. At the current rate, it looks like we’ll be tying up the current storyline on Tuesday. I’ll post another blog entry there with my comments on the most recent strips.

I have been using a different paint program to do the last few comics. Not really a new program, but a “new” version. I have to admit to being an old-timer, in the fact that I was very comfortable using Paint Shop Pro 6. When it came out, I bought Version 7, and then got Version 8 free with one of the computers we bought. But, I could never really get into the newer versions. So, I plugged along with 6. Oddly enough, the reason I have finally moved to the newer versions was not Bitmap World, but the fact that I have been doing a lot of animated gifs and glitter graphics. Some of the plug-in and effects I wanted to accomplish, I could not do in Version 6. So…

I actually use 7 the most. I have often read that Version 7 was most people’s favorite version. And I have to agree. I need Version 8 to do some higher level effects, but the navigation and layout of 7 is much easier for me to use. That said, there are still things I can simply do faster in Version 6. So, I now have all 3 installed on my machine and go back and forth. It’s kinda funny.

Oh, and if anyone wants to know why I don’t use Photoshop, I’ll simply say this: Money. Don’t have the money, and since PSP can do 90% of what Photoshop can, I really can’t justify spending 6 times as much for that software. I mean $100 as opposed to $700 is a big thing. Also, I know that many people recommend GIMP as a free alternative to PS, but I have some serious issues with the interfaces and controls. So, I’ll stay with my PSP, thank you.

All of that said, using PSP7 has been great, but there is a re-learning curve. Strips are taking a tad bit longer to do, but overall I’m happy and think that in the long run it will help things speed along a little better.

I do want to note that Jim’s program of preference is still Windows Paint.  Though, he does do a lot more in PSP now. Perhaps he’ll finally cross over once and for all…though I doubt it.

More pop-culture references in this strip (Issue 180).  Had fun with the nods in the the last issue.  This strip I pay a little homage to one of my all-time favorite fantasy movies.  In fact, I got all so nostaglic doing this strip, I’m gonna have to brush off the DVD this weekend and watch it.  Post in the comments or in the forum if you know what movie it is!

Oh goodness. Issue 179. This strip took FOR-EVER! 4 hours!!! That’s like the old days when I first started this strip. Ugh. Of course, doing the interior of the pub was a huge endeavor. Since this is not really traditional art, the technique is a bit different. I talk about building “sets” and that is what it is. I have to admit, so much of my days in theater comes into play with Bitmap World. You build the set, which is essentially a panel with a background. Then you get the props–many of which need to be drawn from scratch. Then you put in the people. I did manage to snatch some of the art, but a lot of it needed to be heavily modified. Granted, not nearly as time consuming as drawing it from scratch, but particularly since the size-ratio was off, I needed to remaster everything anyway.

That said, the set is built, and I did work ahead on the next few strips. I’m proud of how it looks. Am also pretty proud of the jokes in there…a good number which were Jim’s! See you on Tuesday.

First of all, thank you to everyone who sent well-wishes this past week. I had a couple of scary days there–almost considered going to the E.R. But I’m fine now and that’s all that matters. Thanks for being understanding and such loyal fans. You guys rock!

I have wanted to write a bit more detailed comment about some of the strips, but life has been kinda crazy. I figured the Booyah would be a good time, so I’m going to backtrack a bit.

Issue 158 - The orange joke was totally inspired by the art. Those oranges are some Japanese pixel art which I used for the strip. When I saw it, the gag immediately jumped into my mind. It is SOOOO appropriate for the Mayor.

Issue 159 - I am a little bummed the second float was blurred. I had done some great “celebrity” smilies for it and they are obscure. 5 points in the forums if anyone can guess who it is! I do hope to feature them in another strip down the line. Also in 159, I love the line “Hey, Mac.” Double play on words there.

Issue 160 - I am really proud how this strip turned out. Not a word spoken, but everything is said loud and clear. I really wanted to do the last panel justice, and I went over a lot of ideas on how to depict it. The long-shot shadow definitely worked best, and I love how it turned out.

Issue 161 - I already commented on this one in an earlier blog, but I did want to note Jim’s favorite line is the cop chiding his partner about wanting to shoot the volcano.

Issue 162 - I think it is so funny, and convenient, how there is always a reporter in the crowd anytime something exciting happens in a movie or on t.v. I thought it would be great to have something happen and there NOT be a journalist around.

Issue 163 - Rasterman was not our first choice for the superhero name, but it was in the top 3. I totally wanted to do the spotlight shot for the second panel, and made sure to use a snazzy comic font for the wording. I just crack up when I see the paperboy ready to bean the superhero to keep him from flying away.

Issue 165 - We debated how we were going to have Blip get a newspaper in this strip. We thought of having the paperboy deliver it, but that would have distracted from the story. We toyed with him just having the paper on his front step. Eventually, I went with the idea of him going out at the crack of dawn to get one. I wanted to do a news-stand, and went searching for pictures for inspiration. The stand I did was replicated from this picture. The Times New Roman is a great name for a newspaper and I’m psyched to have come up with it!

Issue 166 - Designing a new set is always stressful for me. I really try to get something that will reflect the characters. Since this is the first time we see Blip’s wife, I wanted it to be extra special. Originally I was going to go with a different look, but once I got the retro-modern blue theme going, it fit the best and I ran with it.

Issue 167 - The mayor is such a hopeless dope. He was supposed to be a small supporting character, but he has totally developed beyond that and we have a special place in our heart for him.

Issue 168 - I wanted to have a nice strip just showing Pixel life. It was kinda inspired to have Smiley in there cogging it up. While I was doing this strip, all that kept running through my mind is the Simpsons episode where they have all the major league baseball players, and Bart is heckling Daryl Strawberry (I think that was who it was). ROFL!

Issue 169 - Yes, the first three panels are identical to Issue 39. That was totally deliberate, and not simply to be a cheat. I just felt it best illustrated Harry’s transformation from psycho newspaper boy hound to indifferent and rational smiley.

Issue 170 - Are we really only 30 away for Issue 200? I know we poke so much fun of corporate American in this strip, but we can’t help it. Have you ever seen the movie Mystery Men? Captain Amazing is covered in endorsement badges and does commercial. I just think the idea of that is wild. Seriously, would any good, upstanding superhero stoop so low?

Okay, so pretend I didn’t say last entry that our server issues were resolved. Apparently they weren’t, but now they are supposed to be. Actually, the issues are not at all related to our server, but DNS records and propogation and all of that. It appears that the problem is fixed now, but since that can change at any minute, we’re just gonna act like it’s fixed, okay?

I am super proud of today’s strip (Issue 138). I loved the idea of doing a “noir” strip in pixel art. I think one of my biggest challenges is that I am working in a cartoony style. There is plenty of pixel art which is amazingly rendered and looks like…art. My job is to make things look real, yet keep their “smiley” feel, which can be harder than it would seem. I wrote a little more about this in my pixel-art blog if anyone is interested.

As promised, we are steaming ahead on the whole crime storyline. We’ll be peppering in a few other threads in it, but suffice it to say, some answers to much-asked questions are coming soon!

What a whirlwind! Okay, I’ll admit, we probably shouldn’t have had the cut-off for the contest on Friday and plans to announce the winner on Tuesday. Since many of our judges work and have families, it was difficult to get all the votes together (not to mention that Jim wanted to create a utility to help make voting super-easy). Still, we’re really happy with the way everything turned out. For an upstart comic, we got quite a few strip submissions. It always amazes me how creative people can be when using comic-makers.
 
We didn’t really plan on inserting the monkey strip exactly here, but it actually works as a good segway to issue 109–where Harry is next seen walking into work drinking a coffee. I love the idea of the Macrohard guys making a coffee run. That’s something I can totally relate to working in downtown Chicago where there is a Starbucks on every corner.
 
Now, I don’t know if it needs a lot of explaining, but I should give some backstory as to the whole “Allied Pay” thing in issue 110 and issue 111. When Jim was at his last job (a Fortune 500 company), there was a yearly push for employees to donate to the United Way. Now, I’m not knocking the United Way or any other similar organization. I think it is a good thing to donate to those types of agencies. What we didn’t like was the yearly extortion by management. There was this huge push for “100% participation.” They always stressed it was voluntary, and that your job wasn’t dependent on it, but the insinuation was otherwise. Literally, as the cut-off date rolled around, Jim would get 1-2 emails a day, plus calls, kindly reminding him that he hadn’t made his donation yet. Though not in the official rulebook, it was well-known that management was expected to sign up for the “weekly give” where a certain percentage was withdrawn from each paycheck. So, why the racket? Even though employees gave the money, the company got to take the tax deduction. Certainly a good reason for them to rough up the staff. Anyhow, I had a lot of fun with poking fun of this, including creating a good mock-up of that type of logo. Also, I am enormously proud of the artwork in these strips. While some pre-existing elements were used in the school gym, a good deal is my original art. It really took me a long time, but I think it looks great. If you want to know more, I plan to talk about that a little more in my pixel art blog soon.
 
I always try to end Booyah strips with a little bit of a cliffhanger. Thankfully, the current storyline allowed me to do this. I will note that we are starting some things in motion now that we hope will come to fruition just in time for our year anniversary in March. Stay tuned!

I was surprise how many hits we got this morning, apparently viewers coming back for the next installment! Thanks for your interest! We’re psyched about the comic and hope everyone enjoys it.

Another slight delay in getting the strips up, but this time it was not website related. We’re trying to get our home office network together, particularly since we’re all need access to the graphics, etc. Then some of the technical issues of actually doing the comic, such as the paint program and fonts. Anyhow, despite the delay, we have a bonus with 4 strips up today! We wanted to run through the end of the first day at the Smiley’s house. Our continued plan is to have 2 new comics this coming Tuesday…and hopefully on time!