Finally, after a whole slew of personal changes and computer difficulties, I have finally returned to continue work on Retro Warp.  I apologize to anyone who missed out on updates during my extended absence.  Now that I'm finally ready to start hammering things out once again, I'm able to start making plans for the future.  The first new addition will be review #10.  It should be up by Tuesday at the latest.  With the number of NES reviews reaching double digits, I hope to expand and add some reviews for additional platforms in the coming weeks.  I'm also making some changes to the Articles and Special Features section.  I still plan on adding content to the Special Feature sections which were already promised but I'm cooking up something new in terms of articles.  More to come on that later.  The eight month mark is coming up and I've got lots to get done before that one year anniversary rolls around.  Stay tuned.
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NOVEMBER 17, 2008  10:27 PM:  Just figured out that during the course of fixing the ol' computer I lost all of my review screenshots.  Total bummer, man.  It's not going to affect the reviews that are already posted, but it may take me an extra couple of days to finish numero 10.  It's definitely coming though...once I get an opportunity to retake the pics that is.  Hang in there.

First things first: I've made the review text larger and easier to read (Thanks Steve).  And of course...

Let's all welcome the newest addition.
More to come soon.

With Retro Warp's four month anniversary just around the corner, I figured it was time to finally revamp the home page.  Here's a quick rundown of some of the changes you're seeing:
      · The Walkthrough portal has been abandoned for the foreseeable future and is no longer linked.
     · The Hot Links section in the right panel contains some of my personal favorite gaming resources along with everyone who is currently listed as a "Friend of Retro Warp."  How can your site achieve such a prestigious distinction?  Email me and we'll talk about it.
     · The Game Portal in the lower panel allows for quick access to a specific review.  I figured this feature would be helpful for those of you who may be using my reviews as game guides.  Plus, it gave me an excuse to make some excellent hover buttons...

And there it is.  Hopefully, everyone likes the new design.  If not, that's too bad...because I think it looks completely bad ass.  But I'm not completely narcissistic and uncaring.  If you have a suggestion concerning design, layout, or any other aspect of the site, just drop me a line.  For you JB fans out there (and who isn't?), he's promised me a new article tomorrow.  He's already run the idea by me and I assure you...it will be hilarious.

With the rest of the site finally coming together nicely, I figured it was time to do something about the Sprites portal.  I've started dividing it up into separate sections for game logos, characters, sprite sheets, etc.  To kick off this sprite overhaul on a productive note, I've uploaded 150 NES game logos.  Eventually, I'll be adding additional NES logos as well as logos for games on every platform that Retro Warp plans to cover in the future.  Character sprites will also be added in the near future.  I'm also in the middle of Sweet Home (Famicom), which will be the first game covered in the Articles and Special Features "Super Import Happy Fun Time!" section.  So look for that coming soon...
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JULY 11, 2008  09:07 AM:  Justin is angry.  Why, you may ask?  For as long as he's been gaming, one franchise has caused him more frustration, hair loss, and tears than any other.  But he's a glutton for torture...he's chin deep in the latest installment and still getting his ass kicked just like the old days.  What is this mysterious gaming series that has panda bears trembling in fear?  JB's second article has arrived and he wants to tell you all about it...

I've got big news today, people.  I'm pleased to announce that Justin Bostian will be joining the Retro Warp team!  JB is a fellow retro gamer and will be our featured writer for the Articles and Special Features portal.  He's already presented me with some great ideas for content and I have no doubt that his contributions will make an outstanding addition to the site.  To you, the fans of Retro Warp, he has this to say in greeting:

"I will make you laugh until you urinate. Or I urinate. I guarantee urination from someone."

So there you have it.  New content and unplanned urination?  What else could you possibly ask for?  Work on his first article is underway and we hope to have something for you by early to mid next week.  The reviews are designed to be informative and concrete, but we want to provide an opportunity for interaction within the Articles portal.  Therefore, we'll be including an area for your opinions, comments, and questions to each article published. I'm sure you're quivering in anticipation, so keep your eyes peeled for Justin's first submission to be coming very soon...and bring your adult diapers.  Until then, I hope you'll all join me in welcoming the newest member of the Retro Warp team!
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JULY 3, 2008  02:02 PM:  A few things for today.  First of all, I've finally completed and uploaded the layout for the Articles and Special Features Portal.  Justin's first article arrived in my inbox today.  It has been uploaded and I recommend checking it out.  It's just an introduction for now, but he's got plans for some additional content coming soon.  You won't be able to post comments on his articles just yet.  My experience with MySQL and CSS is a bit limited, but I'm getting close.  The ability to post your comments should be available by the middle of next week at the latest.  I've also posted a few of the special features that we have planned.  These links aren't working at the moment because the pages have yet to be created, but they're on the agenda for the near future.  That's it for now.  Here's wishing everyone a safe and happy 4th of July weekend!
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JULY 7, 2008  11:01 AM:  Finally got the whole comments thing figured out.  It's a basic system, but it does recognize some HTML commands.  Head on over to Justin's first article if you'd like to try it out.  JB has also informed me that his next article should be ready for publication before this weekend.  I've also added a nifty Reset button to several of the pages to help with navigation:

By clicking these Reset Buttons, you can return to the main page of the portal you're currently perusing.  For example, if you're hanging out in JB's section reading his submissions and you decide you'd like to return to the Articles and Special Features main page, simply click the Reset Button.  It's that simple.  More to come later this week...

First, the good news.  Retro Warp's eighth game review has just been posted.  The Legend of Zelda was an epic release which has had a significant impact on gaming and continues to be enjoyed by fans the world over twenty years later.  Therefore, it's no surprise that this is our longest and most carefully researched review to date.  Check it out and you'll find everything you need to start fully exploring Hyrule.

And now, the bad news.  I'm afraid I have no choice but to take a short hiatus from working heavily on the site while I look for a new job and a new computer.  Now, this isn't going to be one of those breaks that amateur web developers seem to never return from.  I'm extremely pleased with the direction the site is going and I've been getting some awesome feedback from fellow gaming enthusiasts.  It's just that updates might become a little few and far between until I can get these aspects of my personal life figured out.  Considering it may be at least a month before I'm able to continue posting reviews and new content, I think it's only appropriate that I mention some of Retro Warp's goals for the near future. 

First off, I'm toying with the idea of eliminating the walkthrough section.  Considering the abundance of walkthroughs and maps already available online, it just doesn't seem feasible.  Designing layouts, researching, editing images, writing, and coding for one review already takes me several days to complete.  With the amount of reviews I have planned plus additional content I'm working on for the future, I just don't have the time.  I may eventually bring this section back as the site grows, but for now it's been moved to last on my list of priorities.  As a compromise, I'll be adding a section to the Links portal which will provide good online resources for walkthroughs and cheats.

The first of July marks three months since the birth of Retro Warp and the word is starting to spread.  I'd like to once again thank everyone who has sent emails voicing their support or provided a link to the site.  With that being said, I'd like to hear some additional feedback from you all during my short break.  Like the site?  That's awesome.  Supportive emails are always welcome.  However, what I'm really looking for is some constructive criticism.  What would you like to see more of?  Is there something about the current style or format that you'd like to see changed?  Tell me how you really feel...I can take it.  I'm also still looking for contributors if anyone is interested.  Come on friends...this is your chance to help me shape the future of Retro Warp.  Email: Webmaster@retrowarp.com.

When I return, I'll be adding several new NES reviews.  Plus, I'm finally going to break free from the 8-bit chains and upload some SNES and Genesis reviews.  The Sprites portal has taken a back seat lately and I still need to begin working on some articles, but these issues will also be addressed during my hiatus.  Needless to say, my next update will hopefully be a large one.  Until then, shoot me some emails and please help me to continue spreading the word of Retro Warp...

In honor of the upcoming Batman film, The Dark Knight, and Heath Ledger's rumored legendary portrayal of the sadistic Joker, a review for the 1991 NES title Batman: Return of the Joker has been posted.  With this addition, the number of available reviews has risen to six.  Although they're all currently for NES releases, reviews for titles on other platforms are on the agenda for the summer.  Additionally, I'm also working on some article/special feature ideas to be announced soon.  I'm also posting an open request for submissions.  If any of you rabid retro gamers out there feel like you have something to contribute to the site, shoot me an email.  There's no money in it for you, but you will of course receive recognition, gratitude, and possibly a cookie...
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JUNE 16, 2008  01:44 PM:  Just got done uploading a new review.  Check it out: Double Dragon II: The Revenge.

A new review had finally been added!  Our coverage of Castlevania II: Simon's Quest includes screenshots, sprites, items, weapons, cheats, and all of the content you've come to expect from Retro Warp.  Additionally, game-specific sound files have been added as background music for all four of the currently completed reviews.  I've embedded these .midi files with sound controls so you can listen to the files as much (or as little) as you want.  You'll find the sound controls at the bottom of each review.  Here's hoping you enjoy the new review.  Be on the lookout for more coming very soon...

The "Friends of Retro Warp" section has also been added to the Links portal.  Here, you'll find sites that have posted links to Retro Warp.  As the site continues to grow, we thank everyone who's been willing to give us a chance during this initial construction phase.  This section is our way of showing our appreciation to our earliest followers and fellow gaming website visionaries.  We're happy to announce that Flying Omelette, previously mentioned in the May 14th update, and RVG Fanatic are the first official Friends of Retro Warp.  We thank you guys for your support and wish you continued success with your sites!
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MAY 30, 2008  07:56 AM:  It's been brought to my attention that Scrollboss has added a link to Retro Warp and will shortly be added to our list of Friends.  Big thanks to our friends at Flying Omelette for the heads up.
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JUNE 03, 2008  01:57 PM:  No time for a big update.  Just wanted to let everyone know that another new review has been posted today.  This one is for the 1988 NES release Fester's Quest.

Now that a major portion of the site has been designed and prepared to house content, it's time to start focusing on the most important part of Retro Warp: the Review Database.  In preparation for the new reviews which should be popping up over the next several months, it was necessary to finally get around to completing the original three.  A big part of these revisions was the addition of Warp Scores which serve as actual reviews of the game and rate it in several categories.  For addtional information about the rating system, head over to the About portal. As of this posting, the NES reviews for Castlevania and A Nightmare on Elm Street are now completely finished.  Castlevania was already close to full completion and the only new addition is its Warp Scores.  On the other hand, the review for A Nightmare on Elm Street was only about halfway finished initially.  Consequently, there have many new additions to this review including sections on characters, enemies, bosses, items, and more.  Additionally, Nightmare has also received its Warp Scores.  The plan is to have the revisions for The Adventures of Bayou Billy completed by the weekend in the hopes of starting new reviews scheduled for next week.  Keep your eyes peeled.

With the addition of several new sprites in the past couple of weeks, it's only a matter of time before the Sprites portal receives an organization makeover.  The sprites will be organized by platform and game.  However, new reviews are the top priority at this point. That's about it for site updates up to this point.  Before signing off, Retro Warp would like to extend special thanks to Flying Omelette.com for becoming the first fellow game enthusiast site to hook us up with a link.  With the site still new and trying to make some headway, it's most definitely appreciated.  For more information on how you can contact Retro Warp concerning a link exchange, please contact the webmaster.

May 08, 2008

Global Takeover

Several changes to the site that you should be aware of.  First off, the About page is finished.  It attempts to answer any questions you may have concerning the site, emulation, permissions for graphics, etc.  Further questions should be directed by email to the webmaster.  I've also decided to rename this portion of the site to "The Retro Wire" and in the future I hope to not only post news about site updates, but also about classic gaming and emulation related topics.  Look for some additional reviews coming soon...

In case you've been hiding in a cave for the past couple of weeks, you probably already know that the biggest news in gaming right now is Grand Theft Auto IV.  Publisher Take-Two Interactive is reporting six million units sold in the first week after release "with estimated retail sales exceeding $500 million." (Reuters)  The game has received near universal accolades from reviewers and industry experts including IGN and Game Informer.  However, no Grand Theft Auto would be complete without its controversy.  GTAIV has already drawn criticism from politicians for it's violent, sexual, and drug related content.  Additionally, with the added ability to drive while intoxicated in-game, MADD has demanded the game be pulled from shelves in respect for those who have lost their lives to drunk drivers.
 

Over the course of the last week or so, I've been able to make some major additions to the site.  At this point, all of the main pages are now linked and set up in preparation for the addition of content.  Additionally, the Links page is now completely finished.  The only updates I will be making to the links section from here on out will the addition/deletion of links and possible future layout changes.  If you're interested in having your site linked on Retro Warp, shoot me an email.  Finally, I've added some content to the Sprites page.  Although the majority of the sprites used on the site so far have been the work of others (these sites are provided in the Links section), I ultimately plan to feature many of my own sprite creations on the site.

Things are finally starting to come together, but there's still a lot to be done.  For those of you keeping tabs on my progress, I thank you for your patience.  I've been working hard to create impressive layouts and content.  Hopefully, the results thus far serve as a positive indication of what's to come...

Hello and welcome to Retro Warp.com.  The site originally began as a part of my personal homepage, Bomb's the Word.com.  It was still under construction while posted there, so transforming my retro gaming content into a completely separate entity will obviously take some time.  Until everything is up and running, I invite you to contact me by email with any suggestions or comments you may have: webmaster@retrowarp.com.

For now, please allow me to explain a little more about the site and my plans for the future of Retro Warp.  I've always been a huge fun of classic video games.  When I was younger, I can remember playing Ninja Gaiden or Sonic the Hedgehog for hours.  On nights when the family wanted to hit the bowling alley, I was begging for quarters so I could get lost in the arcade.  So now, as a full grown and "mature" 23 year old, it's no surprise that I look back on these early pioneers of gaming with joy.  And because I love these retro classics so much, I decided to start Retro Warp as a sort of museum or shrine for classic gaming.  Now it goes without saying that I'm not the only person who has created a site like this.  I'm not even going to claim that mine is the best, or even any good.  But maintaining the games of yesteryear is important to me and I plan to give it my all.  I'd also like to mention that I don't have any sort of staff or assistants, so please forgive me if updates are a little infrequent and/or minimal.

Now on to some site content.  The main focus of the site will be the Game Database.  This section will feature reviews on a variety of console and arcade games.  I've currently got three reviews completed.  Each one takes a good amount of time to produce because they will all feature game specific graphics and information.  To get a better idea of what I'm talking about, check out the following examples: