Category Archives: Meta

META: New UGO design

Posted on January 27, 2010 by AFDStudios | Comments Off

If you haven't been over to UGO.com today, check it out -- they've done a complete site redesign and it's pretty nifty. Also, if you scroll down on the main page, down in the right-hand column, you'll see a nice little HeroMachine plug that'll change every week to feature one of the recent contest winners.

The UGO front page is prime digital real estate, and from now on if your character design wins the bi-weekly contest, your work will be shown to millions of visitors!

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Posted in Meta, News & Updates

META: FeedBurner added

Posted on January 21, 2010 by AFDStudios | Comments Off

If you would rather get an email with all the posts made here in a given day instead of coming in and checking each time and you don't like using RSS readers, you can now do so with the Subscribe to HeroMachine Updates by Email link in the right hand navigation bar.

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Posted in Meta

META: Contest thoughts

Posted on January 14, 2010 by AFDStudios | Comments Off

So here's the deal -- we're discussing the idea of a new weekly contest, with the winner getting their character image, character name, brief character description, and their screen name (at least that's what we're thinking) featured on a UGO.com ad, featured across their sites, saying something like "Make your own hero!" to hopefully drive traffic to the application. That ad will be seen by literally millions of people in the course of a week, so your work would be featured on a major web site. You'd practically be published!

Does that sound appealing? Is that a prize you'd want?

What effect would you want that to have on the current contest cycle of alternating caption contests and character design contests each week? Keep them and make this an additional one, maybe to take the role of the Friday Night Fight?

Setting aside the new thing, is the prize of getting an item or your portrait worthwhile? Or would you be just as happy to not have a formal "prize" and instead just have the honor of winning?

Gene suggested that the hero on the masthead rotate each week as the prize for the winner, what would you think about that?

Basically, let me know what you think about the contests in general, their frequency, if they're worth doing, if you enjoy them even if you're not a participant, etc.

Thanks for your feedback, it's truly invaluable!

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Posted in Meta, Open threads

META: HeroMachine Facebook page

Posted on January 14, 2010 by AFDStudios | Comments Off

For those of you who use Facebook, I've created a HeroMachine Fan Page so you can get your bloggy goodness there instead of checking the site if you prefer. It's also a way of getting the information via Facebook without having to Friend me, and thus being subjected to my non-HeroMachine idiocy.

Anything posted here automatically gets reposted to the Fan page (except comments). I'm also slowly adding in image archives of all submissions to all the Character Contests, which will be kind of cool to see.

Anyway, check it out if you're a Facebooker:

HeroMachine

Promote Your Page Too

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Posted in Meta

Hammerknight’s HM Creator’s Club Poster

Posted on January 1, 2010 by AFDStudios | Comments Off

Thanks to Hammerknight for putting together the first ever "HeroMachine Creator's Club" poster! Click on it to see it in a much larger version in all its glory, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! And that the floating Jeff heads don't freak you out.

Nice job Hammerknight and everyone who submitted a self-portrait!

Once again, Happy New Year everyone!

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Posted in Cool Characters, Meta

META: I’ll be home for the holidays

Posted on December 23, 2009 by AFDStudios | Comments Off

I just wanted to give you a heads-up that I'll be back in Louisiana for the holiday, from Wednesday the 23rd to Saturday the 26th. I'll be checking in periodically via my iPhone to approve moderated comments and such, but not as much as usual. I have also scheduled something to be published each day for your entertainment and (non) edification, with a special tip o the hat to Hammerknight for a fair chunk of that.

And like Batman:

So luckily it's not goodbye, just "See ya Sunday"! Hopefully I will have not just a successful family gathering to be thankful for, but also a Fantasy Football championship to celebrate. Although since my opponent is my best friend, that would take some of the pleasure out of it.

Anyway, have fun and be good to each other!

(Batman character and image copyright DC Comics, Inc.)

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Posted in Meta

META: Previews

Posted on December 13, 2009 by AFDStudios | Comments Off

I just installed a plug-in that allows you to preview your comments before posting if you want. Let me know if it's wonky for you.

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Posted in Meta

Creator’s Club

Posted on December 5, 2009 by AFDStudios | Comments Off

Hammerknight came up with a great idea, to put together a poster featuring super self-portraits of HeroMachine users for the holidays! Here's his invitation (click for a larger size):

If you're having trouble viewing that, it says:

The HeroMachine "Creator's Club". If you would like to join the "Creator's Club", all you have to do is make a character that best represents you. An artistic rendition of how you perceive yourself. After you are done with your character, e-mail it to m. Please include the name you want to go by. Also include any ideas that you have for the club. My e-mail address is "thehammerknight@yahoo.com". Please send your characters by the 18th of December, so that I can try and have a club poster done before Christmas. Many Thanks, Hammerknight.

It sounds like a neat idea! Thanks for thinking of it HK.

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Posted in Meta