*darkspeeds
Elson Wong Shoutboard
It's times like these you just gotta rock the world! Shout out what's inside that heart of yours. 
Shoutbox
-
~HappyAggro
- BeastHero, those pages aren't done yet. The series is on hiatus due to TGAF. Be patient though, it will be back.
Sat Jul 5, 2008, 2:07 PM -
~lil-mimi-2
- dang on the comic previews it looks like alot of work u must b very busy when even tryin to do one page ^^ awsome too tho! Sat Jul 5, 2008, 9:13 AM
-
*darkspeeds
- Thanks for the feedback guys! Shadow eats swiss rolls if you didn't know! O.O XXD Sat Jul 5, 2008, 2:47 AM
-
~roxettethefox
- HAI MOM Fri Jul 4, 2008, 7:35 PM
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~Lucario-Chan
- KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK DARKSPEEDS^^ Wed Jun 25, 2008, 6:51 AM
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~BeastHero
- for the SA2 comic, thats what i was referrin to btw Tue Jun 24, 2008, 8:36 PM
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~BeastHero
- your comic is amazing, everyone knows, but its been a hassle reading from beginning to end. Where is page 185-262?? I'm so confused. Tue Jun 24, 2008, 8:35 PM
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~HappyAggro
- Toris brings up interesting question. Darkspeeds, how do YOU deal with writers/artist's block? Tue Jun 24, 2008, 1:07 PM
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*Knux-the-Killer
- TGAF will surpass sonic one day!! Mon Jun 23, 2008, 12:55 PM
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~SkyTheMoonWarrior
- HAPPY B-DAY SONIC AND SHADOW!! Mon Jun 23, 2008, 11:55 AM
-
*darkspeeds
- Ah it works! Yes we need more pillows to have an army ready to pillow fight Cous cous tastes mous mous and yes NOF are on holidays. Sun Jun 22, 2008, 2:39 AM
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*darkspeeds
- It's really odd how for the past few weeks DA wouldn't allow me to SHOUT here. X_X;; XD Hope it works now. Sun Jun 22, 2008, 2:38 AM
-
*EvanStanley
- sorry, computer stnank... Sat Jun 21, 2008, 8:35 PM
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*EvanStanley
- sorry, computer stnank... Sat Jun 21, 2008, 8:35 PM
-
*EvanStanley
- I Sat Jun 21, 2008, 8:34 PM
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WESTERN KINGDOM CHALLENGE 03 - Vote for your favourite! (SECTION 02)
23%
14 deviants said Western Kingdom Challenge 03 - 'To Win a Girl's Heart'_by CountChocola
22%
13 deviants said Western Kingdom Challenge 03 - 'Love Isn't In The Air'_by Matt Lee
15%
9 deviants said Western Kingdom Challenge 03 - 'What Could He Love More'_by AlexE88
15%
9 deviants said Western Kingdom Challenge 03 - Parmir's Heartbreak_by Emily
10%
6 deviants said Western Kingdom Challenge 03 - 'The Fortune Hunter's Guide To Beating a Pervert'_by Darkoakster2
10%
6 deviants said Western Kingdom Challenge 03 - 'It's Not Easy Being a Ladie's Man'_by Alexix 'Knuxy64' Fromm
5%
3 deviants said Western Kingdom Challenge 03 - 'One Lost To Parmir'_by Lily-ChanFox
|
Recent Journal Entries
Disclaimer
The views expressed on this website are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect those of deviantART or my employers.
Darkspeeds Journal Entry #134
Journal Entry: Sat Jul 5, 2008, 3:00 AM
05th July 2008:
Hi again everyone! I've been rather busy with a few things lately.
To keep things short I'll share with you my updates.
i) Exposure of TGAF
Recently I've purchased a month's worth of advertising on CAMP SONIC
Also I've expanded my comic series to other comic archive hosting sites. This includes The Webcomic List and Smack Jeeves.
This banner here links you to the official Smack Jeeves comic hosting site. It's free to use so if you're into making comics go right ahead and use it's simple yet effective facility.
The button here
ii) Chapter 6: The Early Days
Yes I'm finishing off the next 4 pages to this chapter! ^^ The preview pages are available in the GALLERY section of the official TGAF website.
iii) TGAF Fanart (JUNE 2008)
Dedicated fans of my cartoon series have yet again brought you another set of brilliant fan art for your viewing pleasure. I enjoyed this month's collection and shall encourage you all to continue to deliver for this month of July!
Huge thanks once again to all who have contributed! You should be proud! *thumbs up*Be sure to check out
amazing new mini side-story of your favourite mountain horse called Dragon Wind! Also in addition to Fei fans be sure to check out the Fan Fei Club section of the GALLERY to review their latest pieces! Mainly updated by the lovely ...! ^^ Alternatively you can view all of this on the Fei Fan Club @ deviantART iv) Finally there's the mention of new sections to be added on the official TGAF website. I realise that what the website is missing are:
FAQ and LINKS sections. I will be adding those in when I come back from my trip to London and Singapore at the end of August 2008. *thumbs up*
In the mean time YOU can help gather a whole bunch of questions for me to answer - just to give me ideas and on questions that I have missed out myself (don't worry I got my own list.
...)So yeah please contribute your questions on a special forum that I will be creating in half an hours time. *thumbs up* Click either here - DARKSPEEDS REQUESTS HELP ON F.A.Q. SECTION! or the silly photo of me below.
24th June 2008:
TGAF/Darkspeeds Advertise!
came up with a great suggestion. Why not advertise my stuff on Camp Sonic (a Sonic fansite dedicated to publishing quality news on Sonic Unleashed). I checked out the stats:
* 100,000 Pageviews / month
* 200+ Subscribers via Feedburner
* Primarily US Audience
* Primarily Wii & 360 Owners
This information seems most attractive in my opinion for the target audience I'm aiming for. TGAF site at this point of time I believe should have enough content that is attractive enough to engage new people to check out my stuff. And for only 5USD? I reckon it's a steal. Thanks HappyAggro!
Guys, please do not hesitate to give me suggestions on how to advertise TGAF! I'd love to here your ideas! ^_~
I shall be getting the banner up and running shortly - as soon as I make the transaction which is in a couple of minutes time. Let's hope it'll all go well.
21st June 2008:
TGAF Website Update
Hey guys! Just been busy completing a dedicated section to the TGAF comic that is now technically considered as a web-manga. Free to download and share! My main aim is to gain as much exposure of this series as possible.
Please do your bit to share this with your friend at school and at home. The website's got a new section dedicated to purely reading the web-manga at your own pace. It is created for viewing pleasure and navigation of the TGAF story has never been easier. Much thanks goes to
once again for his technical support and for helping me set up a template that was workable and efficient. *thumbs up*
In addition to the update I've improved the splash page as pictured below. There is an animated gif that is dedicated to the wonderful friends and fans of TGAF who have contributed their artwork! The archive continues to grow and it's all thanks to you guys.
Now then with that done and dusted I'll explain what plans I have with TGAF Project.
In the following months to come I'll be exploring other ways to publish the TGAF content on different sites to gain maximum exposure. I want to make sure that the sites that I have the web-manga published will be relevant to the target audience whom I aiming for (i.e. teens to young adults of 14 and over) I'll most probably be looking into a demographic that is interested in shonen manga and anime but is also open to anthromorphic characters from a design perspective (Sonic fans will be a main target her).
In future I may be self-publishing the web-manga via print media through self publishing initiatives. After reading those reference books I bought from Sydney it seems that comics nowadays can become commercial property if the idea sells well. All of this can be done via the internet. Despite it sounding 'all too easy' and too 'good to true' there is a downside to it, and that is, immense competition in the digital comics market.
In my case it's the most relevant way to go in publishing my material during it's early stages since this 'global digital publishing strategy' is cost efficient and doesn't require any significant start-up costs hence risks are reduced. I will have more control in what I do too including the website content and the artwork/comic content in general. Australia at this point of time has very little publishing opportunities/initiatives in the field of comics/manga. Even in America they're finding it hard to compete for a top spot in the original manga publications field - but at least they have a starting point (check out SevenSeas Entertainment and Toykopop for examples of publishers of original manga from local manga artists).
Anyway to wrap this up I'll be doing self publishing my web manga content online and eventually through print media via Lulu.com when complete volumes are finalised by your truly.
I'll need all the support I can get on this! XD *thumbs up*In addition to TGAF updates I'll be making sure that I have more pages available soon. You can find out when they will be coming by looking at the allocated dates on the archives (i.e. the missing pages to Chapter 06: The Early Days). ^_~
Below are some behind-the-scenes photos of some of the latest artwork to the TGAF series. If you're interested the most recent PIN-UPS were drawn with a half folded A4 piece of paper! XD Saves a lot more time doing a full page the usual way! X3
Bottom right-hand corner pic for Ana and Fei Fan Club fans!! XD
Sonic The Hedgehog Week
Yup this week I'll be dedicating myself to Sonic the Hedgehog cuz it's birthday on the 23rd June 2008!!! XD
(17th Anniversary logo created by Professor-J from The Sonic Show)
I'll be in full gear to make promotional images for the upcoming and promising Sonic convention (one of the biggest Sonic-fan community meet-ups yet) coming this August 2008 in London, U.K!
I've already made the logo and am now in the process of completing character standalone s and group pics of Sonic and his chums. I hope to do my very best!
Sonic and gang are lookin' pretty sharp with their suits and gowns! X3
Be sure to get all the news from the sexy revamp of The Sonic Stadium (blog style! XD)
TSS staff will also be announcing plenty of exciting news on the latest Sonic game releases (such as Sonic Chronicles and Sonic Unleashed) and activities dedicating to his birthday (like the SEGA Sonic Radio Show Marathon that is being hosted by several familiar faces and celebrities of the Sonic fan community
)Do make sure you check out the latest from the Summer of Sonic in a spankin' brand new website (also most sexual in it's presentation XD). Click on the images below to find out more!!!
Well that's it from me! Thanks a bunch for the continued love and support on my The Grand ASHWORTH Fortune series and also my life in general!
There is much to look forward to in the coming months. ^_~ *thumbs up*- Mood:
Joy - Listening to: SEGA Sonic Radio
- Eating: Chilli Sausages
- Drinking: Pineapple Juice
Darkspeeds Journal Entry #133
Journal Entry: Mon Jun 2, 2008, 7:52 AM
02nd June 2008:
Revisiting Sydney
Sydney, the prime location for hustle and bustle in Australia, it is my third visit by now.
The latest trends in fashion, technology and lifestyle are ever present in the heart of the city. Most of these elements (based on observation) are derived from the Asian culture and influences of South East Asia (including Singaporeans, Chinese, Philippinos, Japanese and surprisingly a huge amount of Koreans). People chillin' at an Internet cafe's watching YouTube movies with a Bubble Tea in hand (comes in over 40 flavours including Honey Melon, Chocolate Malt and Rose Petal), mobile phones ringing away in a close by train station with an unusual ring tone that is only familiar to Chinese Pop listeners, Japanese Conveyor Belt Sushi stations in nearly every block of the street... I feel like I'm living in the fast lane here, almost like Tokyo (but not Sydney's not that crazy, yet).
So yeah it's exciting to be strollin' around in the city as a tourist. For those who live there it is almost a joy for them to have a lifestyle filled with conveniences just about anywhere within two feet of their apartment, but then again it isn't a city without it's faults either. People are generally more rough, rude or threatening (though they are not as bad as in the more Southern parts of America) and especially when it comes to driving in Sydney's traffic you better not be the 'slow driver type' or be prepared to get honked or get a nasty threat from the driver behind or beside you. It's almost like you're in a GTA4 scenario and you have to a Belic cousin to survive (okay just exaggerating there.. XD).
Still Sydney is an awesome place to visit especially when it has some world class attractions that are easily reachable by the convenient transit system (train, bus, and ferry being their prime, though it's bloody expensive nowadays to use either one - almost $2.20, non-concession bus fare for just one way - 2-4 zones!! The 5-7 zones is almost double that!) In addition to that Sydney has a rich and diverse geographic including country hills, beautiful coastlines, wonderful mountains and a bloody good wine country region.
I'm going to stop there let the photos speak of my trip. I had an extremely brilliant time with my sister Eleanor (the travel guru, she's a cool sister) and her wonderful friend, since high school times, Jacqueline. Even though it's been 5 days (2 days in the city and 3 days at Hunter Valley, wine region) we did so much and made full use of our time.
We've eaten some of the most amazing food there especially when it came to dinner at some of the finest (and casual) restaurants both in the city and in the country area. I thoroughly enjoyed every cuisine I had in Sydney, thanks to my sis and her friends for their treat and to the staff at the restaurants (including manager, wait staff and chefs) for preparing the excellent and tasty experience.
It is interesting to note that of all my travels this is the first time I've ever spent so much of my money during a visit to one city (I only took out $300 but spent only $120 on research and reference material for my cartooning business, the rest was on transport, accommodation and other expenses covered in the trip). I will speak a little more about the books later but for now enjoy the happy snaps below! = )
Please Note: On the first photo, my sister is the one on the right standing, her friend Jacqueline is in the middle. The others are friends of Jacqueline (as seen in Sydney's best Thai restaurant and the Chinese Dim Sum restaurant at the Fish Markets).
Comics! Comics! And Books!
It is once said that 'a wise investment is the smart thing to do' and spending $120 worth of reference books, manga and western comics was something I feel was fulfilling and satisfying.
Here is a snapshot of my book collection from Kinokoniya, Comic Kingdom and Kings Comics in Sydney (excluding the Spider-man comics that were bought for entertainment reading):
By the way the book and comic book stores were exceptional. I enjoyed browsing through the diversity of products and unique services it provided, the style and decor of the store, and friendly staff accompanying the needs of their customers.
Book Reference Recommendations for Comic/Manga Artists
For those who are really serious about their business in making and selling comics or manga (on the web or by print), and understanding the wide range of issues on how to best market your work in the ever growing industry of comics and manga try the following books:
I bought this one when I was in Sydney the last time I visited the amazing and massive Kinokoniya bookstore. I remember skim reading it through the highly attractive and simple to follow comic style lessons on how to create an awe-inspiring comic. Scott's a genius, in fact his dad was an inventor, you can say that he is a theorist/inventor/analyst on how to 'do it, to it' on comics. I've read the book and find it extremely entertaining and useful. Very handy for those who want to understand how comics work for you and your readers. He's got some comic techniques that will knock you socks off - for beginners to advanced comic/cartoon artists. Thanks Scott for the handy tips!
I've only just started reading this one. It is a book not to be missed by manga fans and for those who would like to make their own one day and find the right genre that suits your style and needs. I've enjoyed their easy referencing system where it gives the reader a synopsis of the most recently published manga titles in America (updated till 2007, the top 200 or so in each respective area i.e. action/adventure, sci-fi, thriller/horror, mystery, shonen, cooking, romance, sports, business, pachinko (wait business and pachinko manga??)) and etc...). The author also includes a 4 star ranking of each title he has written about (based on various reviews and his own to keep it unbiased).
For those interested manga such as Astro Boy, Ranma 1/2, ONE PIECE, Full Metal Alchemist, Naruto, Eyeshield 21 and Death note got 4 stars, whilst Love Hina, Initial D, Rave Master and Bleach got 3 stars, and Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz, Raxaphon and Pokemon Adventures got 1-1.5 stars.
I've still hundreds to go in reading his reviews and synopsis! XXDNot only does this book tell you about what's good and bad out there in today's Westernised manga market but Jason also speaks about the demographics, art styles and the publishers of manga. He also provided detailed descriptions on the genre types as already mentioned above (we've still got ninja, occult and religion, comedy and gag, children and family etc...) As a bonus he notes the profile of the comic artists, a brief history on manga and also other useful information that will surely assist in the manga artist/reader connoisseur (e.g. extra reviews, links to topic discussions on manga and much much more!)
So if you think you've seen it all you ain't seen nothing yet without the book. Use it to your advantage my dear manga artist or the reader (i.e. the otaku, hate using the word! XXD)
I have yet to read this book in full but I strongly believe that there is something in this +370 page book that will hold the key to my knowledge about the American manga/anime market. The author, Fred Patten, is an acknowledged authority on manga and anime in the United States. He has been a pro-active member of the fandom for decades even before manga and anime became mainstream. He has been compiling information on the subject based off a twenty-five year overview. Now that is impressive.
I really think that this guy who has an abundance of experience and knowledge on the anime and manga scene in America will teach me something invaluable and I hope that I will use that knowledge to my advantage and apply it with my current projects such as The Grand ASHWORTH Fortune and GYROSHOES.
Just to give you an idea he explains in 63 articles on:
ANIME FANDOM
- The first ads in America
- Japanese recognition on American anime fans
- Anime Conventions
THE BUSINESS OF ANIME
- Soundtracks
- Licensing
- Home Video
- Theatrical features
- Simba vs Kimba
- Nadia vs Atlantis
ARTISTS
- Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy)
- Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away)
- Fred Ladd
JAPANESE CULTURE IN ANIME
- Anime Business in Japan
- Manga
- Refighting WWII
and much more...
And finally...!
THIS was what gotten me into coming up with the concept of GYROSHOES. I was really excited about the possibilities of the internet and how it can be best used to the advantage of a proactive comic artist. The web has unlimited possibilities people, it is only a matter of how your use your time and resource on the technologies of the Internet available to today.
What I've learnt from this book is that the inevitable of the Internet has brought significant influences on the comics market and industry today (manga included). Campbell has provided successful examples such as VG Cats, MegaTokyo, Penny Arcade and Scott McCloud (to name a few) to be pioneers and entrepreneurs to the web comic business and today's fortunate technological era.
I wanted to make something like those mentioned by the author, you know 'start out early and see how it goes' approach. GYROSHOES will be ON HOLD for the moment. It is a project I'm very interested in pursuing when I have the time and motivation to do it. Right at the moment my ideas are too sketchy and early for anything mind blowing to deliver. Probably in the next month or even a year or so you will see GYROSHOES come to life in a new form that is learnt from the applications of this book.
I won't hesitate to recommend those who are serious about making comics to get this book. It will teach you about how web comics history has significantly influenced the industry and market of print comics and how web comics can be used to make yourself enough money to do the things you really enjoy doing - i.e. coming up with stories and drawing them!
The Science Behind the concepts of 'Sonic The Hedgehog'
Ever wanted to go a little deeper in knowing what makes people tick when it comes to our beloved game/cartoon character 'Sonic The Hedgehog'? Ever wondered why thousands and thousands of people around the world have been at one point in their have been significantly influenced by the fastest thing alive? What is the science behind this notion? What are the answers? Are there any concrete answers to this?
Well seek no further my friends, for there is an old website that is soon to be (revived and) launched that talks about these concepts called Concept Mobius. This community and website is powered by the creative members, resource and knowledgeable staff of TechnoGuild). Be sure to check it out!
For more details be sure to read up on Chemb0t's latest journal entry about the website's exciting prospects from the team!
I had an interesting chat with Jason (aka
- humble genius and kind friend who also helped me built the TGAF website) about the concepts on how Sonic influenced the way we are today. I was attracted to his composure in the Sonic games, the style, design and presentation of the character and the values taught by the character. Because of those elements (fueled by compassion to re-create my own kind of character and story one day - which eventually became I've been able to become the pro-active, enthusiastic, innovating and globtrotting Elson 'Darkspeeds' Wong that I am today. I couldn't be more proud and happier to be who I am right now. ^^ Thanks to my family and relatives, my special friends and all of those who have supported me over the years, I couldn't have done it without your benevolence and support! Here's to another generation of inspired fans of the Sonic series! *thumbs up*
TGAF Chapter 6: A Secret Location - SNEAK PEEK! Aaaand... Congratulations!
Wonder what happened to our beloved unlucky fortune hunter after the rather unfortunate events that took place at Cape Locke with T.R.A.P. looking for the traitor Stream the Hawk? Well just ask Ruby!
And also congratulations on unlocking the rest of the lost archives of Darkspeeds concept sketches of TGAF during his world tour! Thanks for all the visits! It's reached 7,000 hits and I can't thank you guys enough for your show of support!
See you guys on the next tour of sketches! *thumbs up* 
21st May 2008:
Getting Shoed Up For This One...
What do you guys think of the new logo?
Any suggestions as to what this whole new concept is about? I'm actually curious to know what you think.
I hope to create something that is somewhat different from TGAF. Cartoon design is slightly different in terms of character design but the style of the comic is very different (i.e. the genre or nature of the series). I will let you know that they do share the same universe... Probably a spin-off? O.O
One can only find out when the website is open in which the next 10 web comic strips are too completed by yours truly first. After reading those through web comic strips you should get a clearer picture on what GYROSHOES is all about.
Once again I'm working with the talented
on the website. It will be more simpler and easy to navigate (because essentially I want readers to focus on reading the comic ). I'm sure I will have a great time working with him again! Here's to bringing a successful result in the coming weeks! *thumbs up*Also, a full update on my Sydney trip and projects to come for the month of June will be available during the end of Sunday. See you then! *thumbs up*
- Mood: Joy
- Listening to: Jesse McCartney, Bargrooves, Ranma1/2
- Reading: Reference books about Comics & Web Comics
- Watching: OMG! Sonic Paradox!!! XXD
- Eating: Chicken Rice
- Drinking: Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Darkspeeds Journal Entry #132
Journal Entry: Wed May 21, 2008, 5:14 AM
21st May 2008:
Eastern States of Australia A~HOY! XD
Hey guys! I will be heading off to SYDNEY (one of the capital cities of Victoria via Eastern states of Australia) tonight!
I will be back home and ready for action again with the cartoon series on the following Tuesday! I'm spending quality time with my sister and her friends for 4 nights both in the city and in the countryside of Hunter Valley (sounds like an awesome town to visit).
Hope everyone will take care of themselves while I'm aways and also keep up the rather awesome stuff both at school and at home! Loving the new TGAF fan arts and also your own original artworks! Keep inspiring the community guys! Much love to you all!
12th May 2008:
Winners to TGAF Creative Campaign Challenge 03!
Congratulations to the following:
I share my thanks and gratitude to all of those who had contributed their time and effort into this month's contest!
I shall be taking a break from the Creative Campaign for the month of May and come up with a new and exciting challenge for the month of June.
The challenge will be hosted by the EASTERN KINGDOM while the WESTERN KINGDOM get's a theory treatment (i.e. extra content about the TGAF series).It's been a fun and exciting ride for me so far organising these events online! I shall be sending out the prizes to the winners as soon as I get their details.
Darkspeeds Return To Sonic The Hedgehog?
Wow... After submitting my latest edition of 'How to Draw' Sonic the Hedgehog tutorial it has reached a massive 500+ favs the next day! LMAO! XXD Thank you all so kindly for the positive feedback on the tutorials. I have plans to make some more in the near future so that I can help out those Sonic drawing enthusiasts get started on getting the grips on the basics of drawing their favourite hedgehog!
There is also a reason behind the return of Sonic art and that is because I am warming up for fully coloured official promo picture that will be dedicated to the awe-inspiring event that is The Summer of Sonic
)I shall do my best to honour this event with my artistic flair!
TGAF Projects
So far I've completed 4 sketched pages to the 5th Chapter to The Grand ASHWORTH Fortune comic series entitled: Ashworth The Wombat. This chapter will be projected to have at least 25-30 pages or so. I shall be working more on the pages to the chapter next week.
This week I have plans to complete at least 3 FORTUNE in COLOUR pieces to update the collection. So far I've finished 1 out of 3 and it's looking pretty sweet!
Do look forward it when I come back from work tomorrow, I would have submitted it by then. = )
Thanks again for sharing with me your support and enthusiasm for the series! The fan arts I've been receiving have been a blessing, do continue to send in your TGAF fan arts on DA or via darkspeeds@hotmail.com so that I can have them published on the official website! Take care guys and have a lovely week!
Oh and of course, hope many of you have celebrated Mother's Day last Sunday and given thanks to them for their amazing love and support over the years of your growth from childhood to adulthood!
Mine has always been an awesome mom, if it weren't for her I wouldn't be here sharing my talent and hard work with my friends, fans and family from around the world. Thanks mom, with much love and respect from yours truly.
*thumbs up*04th May 2008:
Behind The Scenes Stuff
Secret project in the works? What could it be? Let the photos do all the talkin'!
Western Kingdom Challenge 03 Entries Ready For Voting!
All the very best to all of the entrants who have participated in this month's Western Kingdom Challenge of the TGAF Creative Campaign!
So far I've received a total of 15 entries and they all look spankin' cool! ^^A CHANGE OF RULES:
I will not have any influence on the final decision of picking the winner! I have decided to let the public poll have full power to determine the winner!
So please do what you can to spread the word to your friends, family and relatives on making their vote count towards your final score. ^^ The reason being - I liked all the entries! XD Most shared a very similar theme of a failed attempt of romantic love from Parmir to Ruby, however there were some that had something more unique than others in their dialogues/narrative of the comic piece. Nevertheless I appreciate the efforts put into each and every entry and I reckon each and everyone should have the same opportunity to win. *thumbs up*
Just a reminder VOTING is due in a weeks time which is 11th MAY 2008.
Have fun reading the entries in the GALLERY SECTION of the TGAF Official Website! ^^ Please be sure to notify to me if there are any problems loading any of the entries presented in the GALLERY! Thanks and good luck once again everyone!
Eastern Kingdom Challenge 03
So far I've received 2 entries for this part of the competition.
Please be sure to submit something like the sample below you. That is a perfect example of an entry to this month's Eastern Kingdom Challenge.
There will be no voting or judging on this occasion. I will be picking out from the hat the winner to this challenge! XD Be sure to submit your entries! You've still got time till the announcement of the official RESULTS which is on the 11th MAY 2008.
TGAF Creative Campaign Winners!!
With much respect and appreciation I thank to the champs on submitting their photo shoot of their prize along with themselves (or in one case a group of friends!)
They totally deserve it and I continue to wish them all the best in their endeavors at school/college/work/life in general!
WESTERN KINGDOM CHALLENGE 01 WINNERS - Stephanie, Elly & Joe
EASTERN KINGDOM CHALLENGE 01 WINNERS - Jenise Toney (aka) BlazeTBW
WESTERN KINGDOM CHALLENGE 02 WINNER - Mayra A Hernandez (aka Lildarkangel99)
EASTERN KINGDOM CHALLENGE 02 WINNERS - Ana Ilda (aka Knux-the-killer)
Unlocking The Lost Art of World Tour Sketches!!
Well this image will pretty much explain it all. XD This time EVERYTHING REMAINING in the World Tour Sketches will be unlocked as soon as it reaches it's target. Be sure to keep an eye on it! ^_~
The Summer of Sonic
It has been a very long journey for a top bloke who lives with his parents and also his bro in the same room together in a small town called Southend-On-Sea in the United Kingdom... But before I continue on with the goods regarding this special upcoming event called 'The Summer of Sonic', that is possibly the first legitimate and biggest Sonic conventions ever held in the United Kingdom, I shall explain a little bit about the man behind this incredible concept.
This highly motivated man of prestige with his innovative approaches to market and promote activities beneficial to the Sonic online community is named Svend Joscelyne (also known as Dreadknux - founder of one of the coolest and well acclaimed Sonic the Hedgehog fan sites in the world called The Sonic Stadium). An interesting piece of history worthy of note is since it's official launch in 24th October 2000 the website has a million hits only four years down the track. This demonstrates his incredible potential and capability to run a website that is attractive and can bring significant influence to the world stage.
Also involved in the SoS is his bro Roarey Joscelyne who can sometimes be seen as a counter part to Svend or a complete opposite in terms of personality and visions of the video gaming industry. In many cases he annoys the hell out of Svend in the most uncanny manner during their infamous and immensely entertaining SEGA Sonic radio show entitled 'The Sonic Hour' (every Sunday, 7:30PM GMT).
However don't let Roarey's rather silly and troublesome nature fool you, in reality he is one of the more mature, intelligent and talented people amongst the Sonic online community (check out his dedicated Pixel Artwork resource, his own games radio show - The Tiger's Eye (every Friday, 8:30PM GMT) and vocal recordings for proof). His creativity and hint of innovation are also qualities that is share with his bro.
Here is an photo that was taken during my World Tour in 2007. It was my visit to London for one of it's earlier Sonic meet-ups. Pictured below your left to right are Svend, myself and Roarey.
So now you have an idea of who the brothers are and how they have built their reputation amongst the Sonic online community you will start to get a better picture of why they are involved in a totally new and exciting prospect that is coming this summer in London, United Kingdom.
Do you remember way back in 2006 I made journal updates about a special event called the Summer of Sonic 2006 that marked a celebration of Sonic the Hedgehog's 15th Birthday? Many people from around the world, communities and fan sites of the blue blur and even the talented artists of deviantART who had admired the hedgehog for so long had an opportunity to pay tribute to Sonic's 15th Anniversary by taking a proactive approach with the guidance of the SoS event.
And just to be clear what I meant by a proactive approach can include: taking photos with you and your favourite Sonic memorabilia (such as your very first Dr. Eggman plushie); drawing Sonic fan art; writing Sonic fan-fictions; recording remixed music tracks that is attributed to the already large and diverse Sonic the Hedgehog soundtrack and sharing it with other like-minded Sonic fans by uploading it to the SoS server.
Being proactive also includes participating in competitions that won rare and noteworthy Sonic merchandise, reading special articles of Sonic's history and publications and also unique interviews conducted by dedicated fans (such as Adam 'T-Bird' Tuff of Newcastle) with key people in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise (that could range from the music industry - Jun Senoue for instance - to the games makers themselves - Masahiro Kumono, Shun Nakamura and more...)
SoS was loads of fun, full of interactivity and an experience to remember by. It was also the idea of connecting with a like-minded and mature audience that admired the fastest thing alive as if it was only yesterday. SoS was a very important event that can be learnt from and treasured for years to come. Heck it made me become closer to my friends in the Sonic community, including the ones mentioned earlier in my article.
This reminds me also that because of SoS I wouldn't have been in touch with a talented and passionate friend of the blue blur named Adam Tuff (well known as the 'Man With The Hat' who is knows his heavy metal music more than anyone else in the planet or T-Bird - you can see a photo of myself and Adam during my visit to the town of York where he studied in one of their prestige universities), and I wouldn't have known the J Bros. any more better without experiencing their amazing journeys through the Sonic fandom.
Of course it hasn't always been the best of times during the struggle to make a positive outcome out of a recent releases of the games from the Sonic franchise. There had been sweat, blood and tears trying to withstand the repercussions of SEGA/Sonic Team's mistakes but it is because of a few mature minded and proactive people in this vast world we live in that make the difference.
And so it leads me to an exciting point about the new and upcoming event called The Summer of Sonic. Keep in mind that everything that was done during the year 2006 was purely online and the result of the concept was extremely successful. Now is the time that the SoS event was taken to the next stage.
.........
.........
The event that is now officially confirmed of it's venue and dates will be real and it will be one of it's first in it's kind in Sonic fandom history. Like I mentioned earlier it will be a Sonic convention where real people will meet up and spend a quality day together celebrating the best things of our interests in the Sonic community. This year's SoS event will take place on a Saturday 9th August 2008 at the Covent Garden Dragon Hall Trust. Again as a reminder of the full details on this event it can be all found here (or by clicking on the image below you).
And so I shall end my discussion about the event and leave you with a strong recommendation.
If you have been a respectable fan of the Sonic the Hedgehog series (whether it be the game, music, toys, comics, artwork, story... etc), whatever your sexual orientation, age and your whereabouts, if you have the will, time and hard earned cash to travel make London city your next stop on the 9th August 2008, because I'll be there - whether you like it or not.
- Mood: Joy
- Listening to: The Sonic Hour, T-Time, TRZ, Turbo Drive Live
- Watching: Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares/Hells' Kitchen!
- Playing: Waiting for GTA4...! (29th April 2008)
- Eating: Singaporean Styled Laksa
- Drinking: English Tea
Darkspeeds Journal Entry #131
Journal Entry: Tue Apr 22, 2008, 11:41 PM
23rd April 2008:
Happy 23rd Birthday!
A week ago I had my 23rd birthday celebration both online and offline. To be brief I had an awesome time. Thank you all, including family, close friends and relatives for making it so memorable! = )
I will not forget to make a special mention to Roareye Black from SSN (Sonic Spriters Network) and his awesome radio show
Also thanks to my special friends overseas for their B-day cheers which include the The Sonic Stadium/Sonic Wrecks gang from the UK Sega Sonic Community (Adam, Svend & Roareye) and also Jason (aka Chemb0t - who helped created TGAF website and offer technical assistance from time to time) and Raul (aka Bungie95 - network to the gaming and animation industry and also bought my DA subscriptions since 2006!!) both studying in universities from San Francisco.
In addition I can't thank the people of DA/TGAF Community for also their wonderful B-Day wishes, love and support (includes Ana, Monika, Isabel and a whole bunch of others!!)
TGAF Creative Campaign Contest Winners!!
Well it's official and it's been decided. I'd like to pass on my congratulations to the winners for this month's Western & Eastern Kingdom Challenges!
Congratulations to all of those who have been good sports and participated in the contest! Further thanks goes to the supporters and of those who voted for their favourite entry on each challenge!
I shall be contacting the winners via DA Note to let them know they've won!
TGAF Creative Campaign Contest 03 Still Active!!
Remember guys the deadline for this contest is the 03rd MAY 2008 which is on a Saturday. So you've still a week and a bit to submit in your entries.
You can do so using Adobe Photoshop or even a simple program such as MSPaint to complete the task! I would really appreciate it! All the best of luck people!
Check Out Ma T-Shirt!
What more could you ask for from a T-shirt other than putting in your very own custom made design!
For those who would like to promote their cartooning business this is a great way to do so because wherever you wear it people in the public can catch a glimpse of your rather intriguing cartoon design! It's also a great way to show it to your friends and family back and if they think you're really good they'll probably ask to buy one off you or spread the good work to their friends and relatives! Good stuff! *thumbs up*
Printing this T-shirt costed me $30.00 AUD. I can get it cheaper elsewhere but I wanted to see what the quality was like in this shop in Fremantle. It was not bad at all! = ) I shall be printing more of these in future and showcasing it to the TGAF fan community! ^^
BIG CHANGES
You may wonder what the hell did Darkspeeds mean when he mentioned 'big changes' in capital letters...
To the folks who either got a copy of the first book from yours truly or bought one from me, please treasure it because you'll never, ever, get the same first chapter like that again!
Why is that copy that is in your hands or at your home so special? Well it is essentially a trial copy. It is history in the making because never will anyone in the world (in future) have a copy like yours that has a ton of mistakes and a significantly changed of dialogue that was present in it's initial stages of development.
I've made a total revision of Chapters 01 and 02 and compiled everything into a proper manga format of several chapters in a 190~220 page book. That was my plan the whole time people. And right now it's working.
I've got a much clearer picture of where the story is head and how it will link to future events in a logical and presentable order.
The revision was very necessary and I'm happy with how things are fined tuned up till now. Some examples of changes made to the story so far include the following:
Ruby being a 'Clumsy Fortune Hunter' was a BIG mistake. She was never clumsy, she can actually fight pretty well in Chapter 01 (for those who own a book will know this) I just couldn't find the right word to distinguish her character trait at that time. Reading back on it made me realise that Ruby was more competent in what she physically did rather than fall into unfortunate situations. To make it more sensible I've made it as "she has incredibly bad luck". This will be later explained as to why she is one of the unluckiest fortune hunters ever as the story progress (you'd like a hint? Well it has something to do with the green gem stone she is wearing...)
Anyway it will soon be decided whether or not I will can it.
Anyway enough of that. Do know that this new change is good news for all and that once it is completely revised I shall be REPOSTING the comic pages on DA and the TGAF website. I will also be making CORRECTIONS to the theories discussed in the official website. Do look forward to it! *thumbs up*
Oh and here's a peak at how the all new 180-220 page book (which will be the NEW VOLUME ONE) will look like under a division of chapters that will flow in the story.
So yeah those are the BIG CHANGES I'm implementing folks! Stay tune for more TGAF goodness in the near future!
All I've left to say is... "CHAPTER 06: ASHWORTH THE WOMBAT" START!!!!
- Mood: Joy
- Listening to: The Sonic Hour, T-Time, TRZ, Turbo Drive Live
- Playing: Waiting for GTA4...! (29th April 2008)
- Eating: Chicken & Avacado Wraps
- Drinking: English Tea
Darkspeeds Journal Entry #130
Journal Entry: Wed Apr 16, 2008, 9:40 AM
17th April 2008:
TGAF Creative Campaign Contest 03 Ready!!
Hi everyone! The next contest rules and details are available now!
Click on the image below to proceed. All the best of luck to everyone who enters the new challenges! The deadline for this contest is 03rd MAY 2008 which is on a Saturday. So you've got plenty of time folks.
Happy Birthday Wishes From Yours Truly
To my dearest, Mum (17th April), Stacey (my sister's husband in Singapore ~ 18th April), Stacey's uncle Robert (also 18th April like mine and Stacey's!) and finally to my beloved nephew Matthew (25th April) I wish them all a wonderful and exciting birthday this year! Much love and respect to you all ~ my dear family members and relatives.
And to all my friends and fans at DA/TGAF/Sonic fan community I thank you for passing on your regards and Birthday wishes to me!
13th April 2008:
TGAF Creative Campaign Contest Entries revealed!
My sincere apologies for the delays to the second contest. I thought I was able to make my updates in Singapore but I believed that my time was best spent with family and relatives there.
Well guys you know the drill, time to get voting! All the best of luck to all of the entrants who have submitted their entries! Make sure you vote for each kingdom to support your favourite! ^^ Avoid the disappointment folks!
Details on the TGAF Creative Campaign: CHALLENGE 03 will be following shortly. The new challenges will be as easy as eating pie! It'll be a lot of fun too since it's not much effort involved to submit an entry. = ) I'll probably have it up and ready by Wednesday.
Thanks again everyone! Have fun and help your fellow fans of the TGAF community to win some amazing prints! 11th April 2008:
The Land of The Rising Sun!
Tokyo in Japan was an amazing journey that had broaden my prospects on culture, people and the environment. I had travelled and stayed close to the heart of the city in a hotel at Minami Senju which is 20 minutes train ride from Tokyo station. The New Koyo Hotel (well it's a hostel in reality) had a lovely reception and staff that could speak both English and Japanese fluently. Close by to this welcoming new home was a convenient store (thank GOD for Seven Eleven i.e. 7/11 stores!!), karaoke bar, police station and JR Line (one of the two main transit service stations, the other being Tokyo Metro).
The rooms were the size of your study room but, wait, half that size and you are just about there! A room like that that sleeps 2 people in New Koyo Hotel will cost you at around 4,800Yen (which is around $50(AU) per night but half that again to get $25(AU) per person when sharing the room). It was modest and comfortable. Some Japanese live in much small compartments so you should feel fortunate if you get a room like that! The facilities in the hostel was very good, especially the showering facility and internet service.
My first couple of days in Tokyo, in all honesty, wasn't too good at all. In fact I didn't enjoy it at all. Why you ask? Well I'm the type of person who takes in a new environment quite seriously when I'm in a travelling/adventuring mode. I had rather high expectations that Tokyo was a really new place with buildings as tall as skyscrapers in the city central just like the ones you see in your favourite anime. But instead the place is getting quite old and run down in contrast, buildings in the suburb parts are getting mouldy and the general atmosphere was nothing special (after comparing to my visits to so many other places in the world). It must've been the rain.
The third day was fantastic though. The sun came out and as if a ray of light shot into my eyes. I felt alive again. My heart was pumping, I was feeling really energetic to be in Tokyo! It seemed that I had strong hopes of finding new and exciting places to visit in the days to come.
Anyways my brother (Elvin), his two good friends (Danny & his girlfriend Christine) and myself travelled to all sorts towns in the Tokyo metropolitan circle. The Ueno route was the best. It was one green lined circle that stopped at several of the 'must-see' places in Tokyo such as Akihabara, Asakusa, Ueno, Shibuya and Shinjuku. Using Tokyo's transit system will take a little practice and patience (it is one of the most complex in the world) and if you don't have a good sense of direction or common sense then you'll easily get lost. I suggest to all of those travelling there in future to take out what's called a PASMO card. It is similar to the MRT (Singapore), Oyster (London) card where you put a certain amount of credit into it and debit whatever you use during transit. Think of it as your 'all-in-one-ticket' to getting your way around Tokyo (it's cheap and very easy to use as you will tap your card as you enter and exit each station).
The non-express train from Narita Airport to Ueno (close to heart of Tokyo) takes roughly 1 and half hours. Costs 1000Yen. Cheap actually!
We finally arrived ~ heading towards the hostel. Oh and that's what the rooms look like!
Shinjuku on the first couple of nights! Tiring to travel there since it's at least 40 minutes one way from where we stayed!
Tokyo is like what they all say: Busy, fast-paced, crowded and the word 'stop' has no real meaning. People are on the go and people are there to make the dough. Time is not to be wasted and everyday you can see this in the way they walk, the way they eat and the way the talk. Conversations usually last for a minute and consumption of food is usually 'on the go'. This kind of characteristic is most common amongst the working class and white collars in their business suits but in general the Japanese will not stop to waste time.
The way they do things is rather efficient. Take the escalator for example. When you ride it there is usually enough space for two rows. The left side is for those who are slower or too tired to move. The right side is the fast lane and everywhere you go (shopping malls, train stations etc...) you will see this. It's like their code, discipline, respect for the system. Another example is when you dine in at eateries you have what’s called a 'ticketing' system. There is a vending machine at every eatery and you have a full menu list and a lot of buttons to choose from. Put in the right amount of money, select your dish and out comes a ticket and change. Present the ticket to the counter and the cook will serve your dish which will later be either picked up by yourself or sent to your table. Nice.
Being in a fast paced environment means you gotta be quick on your feet when it comes to walking across the city streets. Also you are sometimes forced to remind yourself to never miss the next train because waiting another 5 minutes for the next train will seem quite long in their world.
In almost every corner of Tokyo you are pretty much cramped to the brim. In some cases of being inside the train is much like being inside a can of sardines. Here's another thing, you may think that it's over at 12AM. Think again. It gets more packed then. For those travelling to Tokyo be careful when travelling on a JR Line or Tokyo Metro Line during peak hours (6-7PM and usually 11PM~12AM), you may have problems breathing!
Despite all of the hustle and bustle do remember that you're a tourist and that it is part of the fun to be one to experience new cultures not found in your hometown!
For those who want to know some interesting places to shop head over to Harujuku, Ueno, Shinjuku, Akiharaba, and Shibuya! Shibuya is best for clothes/fashion and it can get pretty crazy at night! All the neon lights, huge plasma TV screens mounted on the buildings and bling remind me of my times in Piccadilly Circus in London and Times Square in New York! Harujuku is also cool for the latest trends in fashion, their popular style is Goth!
For all your electrical needs head over to Akiharaba. You won't find mobile phones like theirs ANYWHERE in the world. The i-phone is nothing to them. In some cases their mobile phone is an all in one TV-internet-gaming-e-mail-camera-vid cam recorder-scheduler-organiser-translator-mirror-speech definition-ticketing system in one. Crazy ain' it? And that's just the start, they add accessories to it to give it that bling look to it! Try 'Hello Kitty' mobile chain.
Akiharaba is also home to all your ANIME/COMPUTER GAMINIG/MANGA/MODELLING (and yes PORN) needs. Japanese men are lonely. Could you believe the 6 floors of ANIME FAN SERVICE?? Go to the basement for porn of extreme proportions. I don't fancy that stuff, still it doesn't mean I'm not straight! XD
I bought a couple of manga books and game/anime OSTs. That's just about it. All very useful for my journeys to published TGAF and make it a commercial successful with its intellectual property in 10 years time. I think I spent less than $100(AU) in stuff. My brother however has spent well over $2000(AU) in all sorts of stuff (clothes, music CDs, games, music books, shoes, accessories etc...) and he tells me that it's not enough!
Colourful and vibrant Harujuku! Check out the fashion here! Shibuya at night on the last photo. Hey! I'm still wearing that limited blue Sonic T-shirt I won from Summer of Sonic! XD Oh and that there is another Aussie who has joined out Tokyo journeys! His name is Mike from Sydney and he is actually the Forum administrator of VirtuaFighter.com!! Danny and Mike are super top players of Virtua Fighter 5 in the world but even they find the Japanese players being 'monsters'!!
I forgotten to mention that one of the main reasons for our trip is to play Virtua Fighter 5 against the Japaense top players. Both my brother and I are fans of the game and we're pretty good at it (at least intermediate~advanced level). Danny and Mike came to Tokyo for one purpose - to train and kick some ass in VF Japan land! XXD Their level is at least above advanced level ~ expert/master ranking and they really show it in their fightning technique in the arcade arena! It was truly awesome to watch them play. Thanks for the demonstration guys! *thumbs up*
Mmm...! Yum! Japanese food there was relatively cheap! Tempura anyone?
Be sure to visit at least the following:
i) DisneySEA/DisneyLAND (DisneySEA is unique to Tokyo, Japan)
ii) An Anime/Game Convention if it's the right time.
iii) Tokyo Towers (check out the scenery from hundreds of feet above!)
iv) A temple or shrine (Asakusa would be perfect place to do that)
v) Sakura blooms!! (it's beautiful for a while but nothing too special, the animes spruce it up too much! It's worth checking it out for a first time!)
vi) Go check out an dedicated Arcade building (try CLUB SEGA) and join a local tournament with some top Japanese players of your favourite game.
vii) Dine in a traditional Japanese restaurant
Bustling Akiharaba.
Inside a CLUB SEGA arcade. The Sonic poster says: "Sonic says, 'Drugs are no good! But smoking is encouraged!'... No not really..."
Beautiful Ueno Park. Worth a visit and it's right next to the station for pete's sake! The shopping district is also very close by. Convenient!
Inside Ueno Park. The shrine was rather cool! Ring the bell if you want!
TOKYO DISNEY SEA!!! Best ride ever there? The Haunted Mansion hands down. Be there or be square.
I can't believe it... I was actually posing with Luffy and the ONE PIECE gang!!! That really made my day... *sniff* Just in case you were wondering this was Tokyo's Annual International Anime Convention! What a coincidence!
Enchanting Asakusa!
The beautiful gardens of the shrines of Asakusa.
Tokyo Towers!!
Overall the trip was very well worth it. Don't be fooled by what your family, friends and old school travellers say about Tokyo, Japan and how it is extremely unaffordable to visit. It IS possible to enjoy all aspects of travel in Japan with a tight budget. I had managed to prove that on this trip and I'm very satisfied with the achievement.
I have to give a big thank you to my brother Elvin for joining me and making this a memorable trip to Tokyo. I actually did this for his sake, a brother thing as well as it is his first time travelling to another country other than Australia and Singapore. He sure had a great time (especially of all the things he bought there!)
And also I cannot forget to give a very special thank you to my brother's friends Danny and Christine for their hospitality and company. Without them we would not have been able to navigate around Tokyo easily. We would have been lost on the first day! Danny was able to show us all around places and also taught us how to use the transit system. His fluency in Japanese was plus. Cheers to you both and I look forward to meeting you guys again in Singapore in the near future!
Finally thanks to my sister Eleanor (travel guru) and Svend 'Dreadknux' Joscelyne for their tips on travelling around Tokyo.
Oh also, Adam 'T-Bird' Tuff, next time we should travel there together with TSS crew for our own personal Japanese trip extravaganza!!! We'll track down Jun Suneou, Yuji Naka or whoever and force them to sign your Sonic merc!! All the best to you if you are doing it earlier! May these tips help you a little to knowing more about Tokyo! The same with everyone else on the DA/TGAF/Sonic Community!
Finally home (well back in Singapore that is).
07th April 2008:
Back From Holidays!
Hi guys! Just a quick hello to you all as I'm finally back from my wonderful 3 week trip to Singapore and Tokyo! Awesome times indeed.
I shall make a full update this coming Friday (11th APRIL 2008) including details on:
Hope to see you then!
*thumbs up*- Mood: Joy
- Listening to: Tokyo Ska Paradise, Super Robot Wars, SSRadio
- Playing: Virtua Fighter 5
- Eating: Chicken Rice at the Chilliz
- Drinking: Lemon Lime Bitters