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Anyway, thinking further about a tour, perhaps it could be coded generically and be driven by one or more text files?   Then as things are added only the text file need be updated; except of course if characters or backgrounds are added then those elements would need to be imported.

There's a thought. Here's a rough idea of the processes I'm going through with this:

- Step 1: Import backgrounds, making sure to pick the most recent.
- Step 2: Connect each background to each other in a logical way, utilising a 'hub map screen' where appropriate - possibly a newly designed one, based on Dylan Downing's 2005 plan.
- Step 3: Add dialogue detailing location's backstory.
- Step 4: Import characters, again the most recently designed.
- Step 5: Add dialogue detailing their backstory.
- Step 6: Script and design cutscenes of key events from past games, triggered by discussions with characters/examining items or locations.
- Step 7: ????
- Step 8: PROFIT.

So, in summary: Step 1-3 will make an interactive map with all possible locations and how they relate to each other, along with giving people ideas on the latest versions.  Step 4-5 will add into it a layman's FAQ on characters and their backstory and personality, and 6 will form as a visual recap. 7-8 will be the delicious win that ensues from all of the above. Again, it will all be general stuff, but for those wanting specifics, they can go off and read on the wiki safe in the knowledge they have the basics bolted down.

Regarding the player character... well, since Max Griff was the narrator to the nameless protagnist in 'A Brief History of RON', how about here as well?

I think to begin with, it would help to have all of the newest version of each background joined together and with workable regions/walk areas. I can imagine as the games go on and backgrounds are added/redrawn, this can be updated to reflect this, and act as a kind of 'current state of the town'. Plus this might help with actually mapping out the town, something that could be very useful in terms of 'what areas haven't been explored yet'.

Just thinking small with this idea at the moment, but the idea of an interactive tour is good. I'm seeing it in terms of containing more or less basic information, which will then in turn send people to something like the wiki.

Gonna start throwing together something this week. Think I'll start with backgrounds, utilising the most up to date of each one. It'll be quite basic to start with, but even just stringing together all of the backgrounds as interactive rooms is a good foundation.

I'll see if I can do all of the Town Square and contents of the buildings, since that's effectivly one 'area'.

I've got Compiled folders for at least 5 RON games. And damn it all, they WILL get done.

Yup, pretty much. Mainly because there have been so many possible causes chucked around since the original 'cow buggery' scenario (head explody by God, vat of acid, hallucination by herbal tea), it's easier to jsut say 'he was dead, and now he's alive'. Which judging by the policy on the original RON site was one that was adopted.

I wouldn't say it was a canon-reboot, more of a case of distinctions between games following the original story, games that are standalone, and non-canon-can-do-anything-totally-messed-up-games. I'd say Crisis on Infinite RONS could fit nicely into that third catagory though.

I think the general consensus is that it HAS happened, and indeed there's a period of time when he clearly is dead. It's just that the exact circumstances of his death and resurrection are from now on being kept undefined.

It was mentioned in a previous thread that a very good way to help newcomers get up to speed on The Story so Far would be have some kind of recap, allowing significant story events and character developments to be handily summarised outside of the games themselves. Based on some of the key postings, here are some possible ideas that could be worth looking into further:

- Text based recap - This was actually started a while back by Creed Malay as A Brief History of RON. Could be very handy if it were continued, albiet focusing on the 'Canon' games. It would also be very quick and easy to add to, seeing as each game could be condensed into a couple of paragraphs worth?

- Game based recap - A suggestion from another topic, this would be an interactive primer, featuring many of the RON characters and locations. This would be a slightly more engaging experience visually than the text based recap, and would be very handy in terms of showing off the newest backgrounds/sprites and nailing down a consistent map.

- Movie based recap - A collection of scenes from the games, compiled together in the style of a 'Previously on' sequence from television dramas. They can either be straight rips from the games or redone scenes with the newest backgrounds/sprites.

Possible factors when considering the above:
- Time it would take to make.
- Effectiveness as a recap.
- The ability to keep it up to date.
- General presentation/interest/ability to engage.

Thoughts? One of these? All of these? A combination ie a game that occasionally features redone cutscenes? None at all, something different?

HOW VERY CROMULENT

Sweet. I propose something in the style of the Sluggy Freelance New Viewer's Guide. Just with more of a synopsis as to what RON's premise is, along with the suggestions for starting games.

I must not fear RON.
RON is the mind humper.
RON is the little crazy than brings total win.
I will face RON.
I will permit myself to play it all.
And when all of RON is played I will look upon my knowledge and twist it to new heights.
When the fear is gone, there will be nothing of 'canon' and 'standalone'.
Only awesome will remain.

WE SHALL SUE THEM. IN INTERNETS COURT.

Hang on, I've got Leonard Crabs on speeddial. Someone rustle up some kale and kool-aid for his legal fees (or 'buckshot dosh' as he likes to call it) and we'll be in business.

Did it? There's more than one? Doh, sorry, jumping the gun a bit. Getting a bit excited about all of this. You can tell, can't you?

Okay, will edit the original post, and when the site comes back I'll change the link to direct folks there instead.

So, along with a restructuring of the current games, there seems to be a strong consensus for having a centralised hub of information pertaining to the games, current stories and characters.

Well, there so happens to be a RON wiki. Problem is, it hasn't been touched in donkey's years, and what is there is either non existant or is about as far from thorough as is humanly possible to be, being mostly copypasta from the old site. The current system for listing the games is also outdated in comparison to what has been discussed on other threads. So, I think along with the new forums, future new site and the sudden interest, now would be a perfect time to finally make something of this.

A possible idea to kick something off - for game pages, I propose a format similar to individual Doctor Who serials on Wikipedia - 2 sentence intro, Synopsis, detailed recounting of plot, continuity (past and present), Production notes (where applicable), and links.

EDIT - posted the wrong link, will re-edit this post when the new site comes up.

THOUGHT YOU WERE HOT
GUESS WHAT
YOU'RE NOT

*sniff*

It's all so beautiful... all these people coming out of the woodwork... 'scuse me, I have something in my eye...

*runs out of the room, blubs, comes back in*

But yes, it's quite heartening seeing that a lot of what put people off can be solved with a few admin tweaks and some restructuring. It just goes to show that as the oldies have said, the idea behind RON itself is just as fantastic as it once was.

Now then. *cracks knuckles* Let's do this thing.

You crack me up, little buddy.

Being serious for a moment, I believe Creed Malay started a recap thing in the Fiction section where Max Griff narrated the events of the first 5 or so games in first person to an unknown third party in Scids. If this could be continued and given more prominence, then this would do wonders for people wanting an overview of a game and its repercussions in the wider story. Unfortunatly due to the site's current downtime I can't link it, but I'm pretty sure the older members know of what I mean.

It starts as a pisstake, putting characters in completly implausable messed up situations that have nothing to do with the canon and takes the piss out of dramas/soaps:

(music - 'Escape', Craig Armstrong)

Max: No more games, Wolfgang! Where did you hide the bomb?
Wolfgang: The one place you would never think of looking.
Max: You dont mean...
*beep*
Wolfgang: Yes. The hat.
*Yahtzeebrand explodes*
Mika: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Elandra: Davy... I'm pregnant... and Hooky's the father!

DVE: Soon, everyone will be eating Reese's Puff Cereal... and the WORLD WILL BE MINE!

Gower: Death... I never told you this before... but I can't hold it in any longer...
Death: I know sir. And it's nothing to be ashamed of.
Gower: No one must know my dark secret. NO ONE.
Death: Don't say that, Mr Mayor. Line dancing is a perfectly acceptable pastime.

Elandra: Davy... I'm pregnant... and Melt is the father!

Greyson: This town... the number 23... it all makes SENSE now.

Frank: DROP YOUR WEAPON!
Fred: No, YOU drop YOUR weapon!

Elandra: Davy... I'm pregnant... and the chicken is the father!
Chicken: S'up.
Davy: ... MOMMY?!?

Thakbor: Let me go, Mika! I must fight the demons.
Mika: No Thakbor. YOU are the demons.

*cuts to the Bum in they alley, talking to Mary*

Bum: And then Thakbor became a zombie. Any questions?
Mary: Mary only wanted to know if the strange man had any rum.
Bum: Ah. Right.


... in fact, screw it. How about this for the proposed Lunchtime of the Damned remake? Have this for the intro, then make the Bum tell a REAL story, which segues into the game?

Unfortunatly this is a problem with having so many games submitted over the years. Bear in mind that RON has been around since 2001, and in that time a pretty lengthy set of ongoing stories have developed. Having said that, this new system would mean that not playing the other odd 59 or so games would not be detrimental to doing a game that depended on knowing the current story.

Don't forget, the maker of a RON game doesn't have to do one centered around established characters or story if they choose. They can be completely standalone with original characters, such as the case with RI's 'Cold Storage'. Having clear distinctions in place - unlike previously, where new games were simply added onto the end and it really did give the impression of one long continuous story, something that WAS completly inpenetrable to casually dive into - would go some way to allieviate the intimidation that was once there. Not get rid of it entirely, but make a start of addressing it. Hopefully having wiki entries for these games - addressing significant events, effect on continuity, references to past games etc - will help reduce this intimidation further.

A possible suggestion - would a 'beginner's guide' page, maybe listing 4-5 of the most accessible games, help ease people in and be welcomed? I'm thinking maybe:

Lunchtime of the Damned - first game, sets the tone of the series.
The Repossessor - Carries on a number of themes from the first game.
Purity of the Surf - fairly standalone but features a number of secondary characters and forms a good 'overview' of their relation to each other.
The First Stitch - First in the Tapestry series.
Cabbages and Kings - First in the Night of the Kittens series.

These particular ones would let people easily branch off into the other canon ones, ie the other Tapestry or Kitten games.

[Canon Games]

So, before the forums went down, there was a very interesting discussion going on about how the games were to be re-organised. This sprung up from a recurring part of the feedback which said that as it stands right now, there was no way of telling the better games from the slightly more dubious in quality, and in particular which ones were relevant to the ongoing story and which were standalone.

So, I present the following suggestions, drawn up in emails between Renegade Implementor and myself, with explainations for the sections crossposted from the other RON topics. Please bear in mind that nothing is set in stone right now, these are but suggestions. Take a look and see what you think.

Canon Games
Games that are crucial in understanding both the RoN universe and the characters that inhabit it. The games in this section are considered canonical and part of the RoN universe timeline. The events in these games are set in stone. Anyone new to RoN and wants to know the timeline and crucial events should go to this section.

Lunchtime Of The Damned
Vengeance of the Chicken
I Spy
Return of Die Vie Ess
The Repossessor
The First Stitch
The Postman Only Dies Once
The Lost Treasure of RON
Dead Man's Political Party
Hooky McPegleg, Pirate Postman
The Underworld
The Phantom Inheritance
I Spy 2
The Unraveling
Paranormal Investigation
Rend
Cabbages and Kings
Kittens and Cacti
Apocalypse Meow (Chapter One)
Defender of RON
Purity of the Surf
The Spoons
III Spy
Rock - A True Story


Stand-alone Games
Games that make use of established characters and events in self-contained stories. While these games do not significantly impact ongoing story or character arcs, they are still considered to have happened and can be referred to in other canon or stand-alone games.

Fowl Play
The Soviet Union Strikes Back
Blastoff!
Nightwatch
Monty on the Norm
Your Bum is Talking
The Punk Allen Trilogy
Strange Days
The Sorceror's Appraisal
The Chef
A Better Mouse Trap
Shadows of RON
MI5 Bob
Disappearance Time
The Petshop Incident
Major Bummer Dude: Lassi Quest RON
Stuck at Home
Simon's Journey
The Crazed Chicken
Cold Storage
Sixteen
Witch!
The Murder of Adrian Elkwood
Root of all Evil


Experimental/Non Canon games
Games in this section are not considered to exist in the RoN universe at all. Events and characters in this section should generally not be referred to in canon or (to a lesser extent) stand-along games. As games in this section are isolated from an official canon, character death is permitted.

Nihilism
Davy Jones C'est Mort
The Universal Equalizer
Davy Jones is Back
Invasion of the Space Aliens...
Commander Keen Enters RON
The Lost Dollar
Before the Legacy
Surreality
That Crazy World
I'm Only Sleeping
RON 13:13 Retaliation
Ron 13:13^2 The Thickening
Yet Another Death of Davy Jones Scenario
Au Naturel
Edge of Reality


Non-Adventure Games
A section for games that are non-adventure: quiz, rpg, action, platform, strategy, etc.

Ron Quiz Part 1
ROTN Quiz game 2
Men of War
Davy Jones's Spellbook
Easter in RON
Pre-RON MI5 Bob
Michael Gower's Zombie Hill


Trailers/Demos
A section for game trailers, game demos, and technical demos

Edge of Reality (demo)
Scoop Da Poop � move to demos � not a game per se, it functions more like a demo
Time Out
Everything that Begins with an M
Drunk Punk Allen Episode 1


My personal take on this layout is that in the case of stand-alone or non-canon games, there can be some change over time. For example, the one thing that really stops Au Naturel being a Canon game is the small fact that Davy Jones is a character in it during a time he was meant to be dead. If this were altered, then it could become a canon game. Essentially, this is a small start with helping people know which events in the series so far warrent referencing or can be happily ignored.

Thoughts?

Huge thanks indeed to rumoured son of God, Chris Jones, for making this subforum for us RON developers to gallivant around in. It really does mean a lot for those of us who hold this little town close.

Right gentlemen. Let's get to work.