Monthly Archives: April 2009

Character Contest 1: Capstan

Posted on April 21, 2009 by | Comments Off on Character Contest 1: Capstan

I'm going to try something a bit different this week, and challenge you to come up with the best character portrait for someone named "Capstan". Whoever comes up with the best design (as judged by me) will win inclusion in a new "Hall of Fame" category on HeroMachine.com, which will feature each winning character in their own post, along with credit to you, a link to a web page of your choice (assuming it's clean!), and if you like, a brief history or story about the character. You'll also get to pick one item to be included in HeroMachine 3.

You can use any HeroMachine version you like, from Shakti to the Horror Edition to HeroMachine 3 Alpha, or whatever you like. To enter, make a comment to this post with a link to where your character can be seen online. If you don't have web hosting space, I recommend using the UGO HeroMachine Forums, where I've made a topic for this contest (registration required to post images). Or you can put it on Flickr, Photobucket, Facebook (make sure it's a public album), etc. So long as people can view the image without having to register or be on some kind of authorization list, I don't care where you put it. Just make sure you put the link to it in the comments to this post, or it won't count.

So, a quick review of the rules:

  1. Best costume design for a character named "Capstan" wins an entry in the Hall of Fame, as well as the ability to choose an item for inclusion in HeroMachine 3.
  2. All entries must be left as a link to an image in the comments to this post.
  3. You can use any HeroMachine version you like, but only HeroMachine versions -- no Marvel Creator or Her-O-Matic or whatnot.
  4. Enter as often as you like. If you have a description/history for the character, leave it in the same comment as the link please.
  5. Contest ends next Tuesday, winner to be chosen by Jeff Hebert.

Good luck everyone!

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Posted in Challenges

Caption Contest 55 Winner

Posted on April 21, 2009 by | Comments Off on Caption Contest 55 Winner

I am happy to announce that the winner of Caption Contest 55 is ... Hakoon!

contest-55-winner

The other Honorable Mentions were:

  • D: No! It’s my word! I had it first!
  • Merrick: Seriously … the blue pill?
  • Jonny Demon: Honk,honk!
  • The Imp: I won’t let it get weird, mama…
  • Bael: Badger? I don’ need no stinkin’ badger!
  • Xstacy: Then he says, “We call it the Aristocrats!” and King Peter struck him dead. Just absolutely smote him!

For submitting the winning entry, Hakoon wins either his choice of up to three related items to be included in HeroMachine 3, or an illustration of his face, also for inclusion with the program.

Thanks to everyone for entering!

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Posted in Challenge Favorites, Challenges

Random Panel: Confusing moments in gender relations

Posted on April 21, 2009 by | Comments Off on Random Panel: Confusing moments in gender relations
wonder-comics-8-1946-dlcks

(From "Wonder Comics" number 8, 1946.)

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Posted in Daily Random Panel

Poll Position: Those marvelous toys

Posted on April 20, 2009 by | Comments Off on Poll Position: Those marvelous toys

This week's Poll Position is all about the gear:

{democracy:79}

Discussion after the jump.

Continue reading →

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Posted in Versus

Random Panel: It's good to have goals

Posted on April 20, 2009 by | Comments Off on Random Panel: It's good to have goals
wonder-comics-8-1946-ramming

(From "Wonder Comics" number 8, 1946.)

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Posted in Daily Random Panel

HM3: Blades, and I don't mean Wesley Snipes movies

Posted on April 19, 2009 by | Comments Off on HM3: Blades, and I don't mean Wesley Snipes movies

I've just released the ItemRight-Blades to the HeroMachine 3 Alpha. Note that this is part one of two sets of Bladed items; once I got to 72 entries, the file was getting to be too slow to work with easily. So starting tomorrow I'll be working on "Blades2", as I am only halfway through the HM2.x cutting implements and haven't gotten much into the user-submitted stuff. Breaking everything into four pieces is slow slogging and really balloons the file size.

To recap, you'll see each item broken out into four pieces: the entire sword/dagger/whatever; just the hilt and pommel; just the crosspiece (what the heck is that called?!); and the blade. Basically this gives you a mini-HeroMachine "Weapon Maker" within the main application, because you can add the handle of a broadsword to a round katana crossguard and a greatsword blade. Or -- and this is pretty neat -- you can put a ... ahem, an "energy based saber-like blade" onto a samurai sword base.

I know, cool, hunh?! Here's one screen of previews showing some of the new entries:

blades1sample

In some cases there wasn't really enough of a crossguard to warrant having it as a separate piece, but I wanted to keep to the "four items per design" thing going, so I threw in something else that fit. For instance with the colonial hatchet, I made a double-headed blade instead, and for the sickle I put in a spiked hand guard.

Let me know your thoughts on what I have so far, any changes you'd like to see made, any bladed items NOT currently in HM2.x that you want to make a pitch to include (Scorp, I still have all your suggestions on file), etc. I hope this works like I think it will and that you find it fun to play with ...

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Posted in HeroMachine 3, Previews

Random Panel: Why boys are afraid to ask out a girl

Posted on April 19, 2009 by | Comments Off on Random Panel: Why boys are afraid to ask out a girl
wonder-comics-8-1946-rude

(From "Wonder Comics", number 8, 1946.)

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Posted in Daily Random Panel

Random Panel: Um, I think he already is, Sweets …

Posted on April 18, 2009 by | Comments Off on Random Panel: Um, I think he already is, Sweets …
los-54-getoff

(From "Legion of Super-Heroes" number 54, © DC Comics, Inc.)

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Posted in Daily Random Panel

HM3: Legwear Spandex updated

Posted on April 17, 2009 by | Comments Off on HM3: Legwear Spandex updated

Just a quick note to let you know that LegwearMaleSpandex has been updated with items to match those in TopsMaleSpandex. They're the four at the end. Enjoy!

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Posted in HeroMachine 3

HM3: Eyes and sharks

Posted on April 17, 2009 by | Comments Off on HM3: Eyes and sharks

I forgot to mention it last night, but I added two shark items to the Heads-Animals set, a hammerhead and a Great White.

I just uploaded three new sets of pupil-less eyes to Eyes-Standard as well, to allow you to have solid color fills inside eyes, by request from the comments. That seemed to be a popular item so now you can go to town with it.

I'm about to start working on Legwear-Spandex to add the missing items from 2.x and to make sure they line up properly with the Tops, also by request. Once that's done, I'll start working on weapons, starting with swords. The plan there is to do them like I did the Tops, where you'll have four separate items that comprise the completed sword. You'll have the blade, the hilt, the handle/pommel, and finally the whole item with the three parts pre-assembled for ease of use. That'll let you essentially make your own swords and daggers. Should be neat.

Thanks for all the feedback you've been giving, as you can see I'm reading it all and taking it in, even if I don't respond to a specific request. Not everything can go into this first round of items, and not all of what's left out will be in later updates, but an awful lot will. You're directly affecting how HeroMachine 3 works, which I think is awesome. Go you!

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Posted in HeroMachine 3