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361
General Discussion / Re: Park Your Amusements Here
« on: June 13, 2010, 04:09:06 am »
One thing that's tickled my funny bone lately is a commercial I've seen in the movie theater advertising the Kia Soul. You see a bunch of rapping squirrels singing the praises of the Soul and dissing the "people" riding in everything else. It's ridiculously over-the-top, kind of like a lot of soft-drink commercials, but it makes me laugh.
362
Fan Art / Re: Twist on classic CT cover art (not mine)
« on: June 09, 2010, 05:43:50 pm »
This brings new meaning to the term "Guitar Hero" 
I'm loving this!
I'm loving this!
363
General Discussion / Re: Game Theory
« on: June 09, 2010, 05:37:21 pm »
Yeah, putting on the holoband is like stepping into a holodeck on the Enterprise.
You make very good points, J. And some of them are echoed by one of the show's main characters. A middle-aged man is looking for someone in the virtual world and has an experienced young kid guiding him. The man asks the kid what the point of this game is, and the kid doesn't really have an answer. Caprica is a very dark show, much like Battlestar before it.
You make very good points, J. And some of them are echoed by one of the show's main characters. A middle-aged man is looking for someone in the virtual world and has an experienced young kid guiding him. The man asks the kid what the point of this game is, and the kid doesn't really have an answer. Caprica is a very dark show, much like Battlestar before it.
364
General Discussion / Re: Park Your Amusements Here
« on: June 09, 2010, 05:20:32 pm »I was so disappointed with the prequels because I was expecting this...awesome, Byronic character arc for Anakin, and got this sudden snap into pure insanity instead. Maybe it's the Byronic character arc that's the more unrealistic of the two after all? Did George Lucas, in fact, do an ingenious thing by tossing aside the deep possibilities for anti-hero romanticism that he could have otherwise explored?
I'm not sure it was feasible to do an in-depth analysis of Anakin in a movie format and keep the running time at an acceptable level for George. A television series is a better medium to explore characters in this fashion. Is "Clone Wars" doing anything like this? I haven't seen any episodes since season 1.
365
General Discussion / Re: Big Surprise From Square Enix?
« on: June 09, 2010, 05:05:35 pm »
Now that you mention it... 
366
Chrono / Gameplay Casual Discussion / Re: Another e3, and another chance for new Chrono?
« on: June 09, 2010, 04:58:57 pm »
In the extremely unlikely event that something is in the works, they would not announce it this soon. A project would have to pass a certain production milestone to warrant an official announcement.
Personally, my money is on 2015 - which would be the 20th anniversary of Chrono. But honestly, even this late date is being optimistic.
Personally, my money is on 2015 - which would be the 20th anniversary of Chrono. But honestly, even this late date is being optimistic.
367
General Discussion / Re: Big Surprise From Square Enix?
« on: June 08, 2010, 01:40:49 am »Hmm! I wonder...if an established and successful Western studio were interested in developing a Chrono, would Square Enix assign that property to them?
That would be perilous, if none of the "dream team" were onboard for the project. The last thing we want to see is something with the Chrono name attached that has little or nothing to do with the original story and characters. I'd like to think that Square/Enix wouldn't risk it.
Of course, if the Compendium got together a bunch of artists, programmers, composers, and a $100 million dollar budget, that would be different.
368
General Discussion / Re: Game Theory
« on: June 08, 2010, 12:57:41 am »
A valid question. I can only assume that the "one life to live" policy is appealing to realists - especially the realists good enough to stay alive. The really good players create criminal empires with themselves as the kingpin, and have dozens - if not hundreds - of player bodyguards to protect them from random acts of murder while they're online. I agree that the business model for such a game would be highly questionable, but "Caprica" is a sci-fi show, so we can suspend our notions of reality to explore interesting questions.
369
General Discussion / Re: Game Theory
« on: June 07, 2010, 01:28:40 am »
Back to the facinating discussion of murder in virtual worlds. Reading this thread, I was reminded of a number of episodes of "Caprica" where much of the story took place in a virtual gaming world called "New Cap City".
For those who are unfamiliar with Caprica, "New Cap City" is a direct copy of the real "Caprica City" transmitted directly into the user's mind through the use of a "holoband" - the difference being that there were no rules in the virtual world, save one: If you died in "New Cap City", that would be the end of you. Not just of your avatar/character - you would lose your entire life in that virtual world. You would still be alive in the real world, but you would never ever be allowed to create a new character in New Cap City again. Game Over.
To clarify things a bit, New Cap City is essentially an environment of gangsters and sociopaths in a never-ending state of civil-war. Virtual killings between player/characters are commonplace. Now with so much at stake in a virtual sense, would it be considered murder if you headcapped another player crossing the street with the full knowledge that doing so is essentially banning that individual from the virtual world that he joined of his own free will forever? I think it is. With the direction gaming is taking in the form of virtual communities, the question of what constitutes murder is one well worth discussing. What does everyone else think of the "New Cap City" terminal world that can end so abruptly on a sadistic player's whim?
For those who are unfamiliar with Caprica, "New Cap City" is a direct copy of the real "Caprica City" transmitted directly into the user's mind through the use of a "holoband" - the difference being that there were no rules in the virtual world, save one: If you died in "New Cap City", that would be the end of you. Not just of your avatar/character - you would lose your entire life in that virtual world. You would still be alive in the real world, but you would never ever be allowed to create a new character in New Cap City again. Game Over.
To clarify things a bit, New Cap City is essentially an environment of gangsters and sociopaths in a never-ending state of civil-war. Virtual killings between player/characters are commonplace. Now with so much at stake in a virtual sense, would it be considered murder if you headcapped another player crossing the street with the full knowledge that doing so is essentially banning that individual from the virtual world that he joined of his own free will forever? I think it is. With the direction gaming is taking in the form of virtual communities, the question of what constitutes murder is one well worth discussing. What does everyone else think of the "New Cap City" terminal world that can end so abruptly on a sadistic player's whim?
370
General Discussion / Re: The Thread for Writers
« on: June 06, 2010, 11:32:56 pm »Quote
The key to writing is to write for yourself. That's true even when you're writing professionally. If you have something to say, say it--or, rather, write it. If you don't have something to say, don't write it. If you write for the validation of others, you live and die at their whim. So write for yourself. Even if you never receive acknowledgment, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you tackled what was on your mind.
I couldn't agree more. In fact, I don't think many people who do write as a serious activity don't get some personal satisfaction out of it. Sometimes you write a passage that clicks, and you can't help but go on a personal ego trip by looking through it over and over again. And you want to write another passage and admire that one too, and if the passage doesn't work, then you keep revising it until it does. Writer please thyself. Who knows how many novels have been crafted in this way? I suspect all of them, to some degree.
371
Dream Splash III - Chrono Break [2010] / Re: Announcement: "Project Unity"
« on: May 31, 2010, 05:17:02 am »
Happy Memorial Day, everyone. While I am hard at work trying to revise the opening chapters of "Project Unity" to a semi-finalized state, I will occasionally update this thread with more information on the new world of Chrono Trigger. Today, I will share some insights on the history of Zenan Bridge, which in this story is called "The Span of Zenan".
The Span of Zenan is one of the wonders of the world; a relic from the ancient Zealian Empire so old that no one alive can even guess when it was constructed. The Span is an enormous bridge built of unknown materials that stretches across the Straight of Cerale at its narrowest point, linking the continents of North and South Zenan. The bridge is 526 miles long and half a mile wide, making it the largest structure ever built by man. Its strategic importance throughout written history cannot be understated. At one point, the Span was a city-state that controlled trade between North and South Zenan, with subsequently built communities and fortifications stretching across its entire length. This bridge-nation existed for about three-thousand years until it was sacked by Cedric the Conqueror in 3 B.G. (before Guardia) Cedric then used the Span as a beachhead from where he would begin his conquest of the south, a position he would not be dislodged from despite setbacks suffered at the hands of Antaeus Poore.
In the year 1 B.G., after the war between Cedric and Antaeus reached a stalemate, Cedric proposed a duel between himself and Antaeus on the Span to determine the undisputed master of the Zenan continents - under the condition that Cedric would not use the Frozen Flame in the contest. But Cedric knew that he could still wield some of the Flame's powers even if he didn't have the artifact in his possession, and he treacherously used those powers to blow a hole in the bridge underneath his opponent's feet before he could even draw his sword, causing the heavily armored Antaeus to fall into the Straight of Cerale where he drowned. To this day, the hole that Cedric made in the otherwise indestructible Span to defeat his enemy remains at the site of the duel, now covered by a shrine in honor of Cedric's "achievement". When Cedric unified the continents - beginning the Guardanian calendar (year 0) - Cedric rewrote history to paint himself in a more flattering light, saying that heavenly lightning struck down Antaeus in favor of the more virtuous Cedric. Guardia has since called this place "Heaven's Scar", though many in Antaeus' homeland of Poore give it the more accurate monicker of "Cedric's Scar".
The Span would be the site of another major battle 600 years later, when Mystic forces under the command of Ozzimort (Ozzie) marched on the Span to gain a foothold for their final push into the heart of Guardia. This marked the turning point in the Mystic War, but it would not be in Ozzimort's favor. During the battle, a ferocious storm suddenly struck the Span, which by some miracle blew Ozzimort's army into the sea while leaving the forces of Guardia unharmed. Ozzimort was forced to retreat to St. Dorino where his army would later suffer another crushing defeat by Leene, and this battle would prove decisive in ending the war. A few historians would thereafter refer to the Span as "Ozzimort's Folly".
The Span of Zenan would continue to stand up until the "Day of Fire" in 1999 G.D., when the alien parasite known as Lavos awakened from its 14,000-year-long hibernation and launched pieces of itself into orbit to rain down thermonuclear and zero-point destruction across the entire planet. Even the incredibly dense material of the Span could not withstand this assault, and the Zealian wonder that had stood for 700,000 years vanished into the sea forever.
"He who controls the Span controls the West."
Cedric Guardia - 3 B.G.
The Span of Zenan is one of the wonders of the world; a relic from the ancient Zealian Empire so old that no one alive can even guess when it was constructed. The Span is an enormous bridge built of unknown materials that stretches across the Straight of Cerale at its narrowest point, linking the continents of North and South Zenan. The bridge is 526 miles long and half a mile wide, making it the largest structure ever built by man. Its strategic importance throughout written history cannot be understated. At one point, the Span was a city-state that controlled trade between North and South Zenan, with subsequently built communities and fortifications stretching across its entire length. This bridge-nation existed for about three-thousand years until it was sacked by Cedric the Conqueror in 3 B.G. (before Guardia) Cedric then used the Span as a beachhead from where he would begin his conquest of the south, a position he would not be dislodged from despite setbacks suffered at the hands of Antaeus Poore.
In the year 1 B.G., after the war between Cedric and Antaeus reached a stalemate, Cedric proposed a duel between himself and Antaeus on the Span to determine the undisputed master of the Zenan continents - under the condition that Cedric would not use the Frozen Flame in the contest. But Cedric knew that he could still wield some of the Flame's powers even if he didn't have the artifact in his possession, and he treacherously used those powers to blow a hole in the bridge underneath his opponent's feet before he could even draw his sword, causing the heavily armored Antaeus to fall into the Straight of Cerale where he drowned. To this day, the hole that Cedric made in the otherwise indestructible Span to defeat his enemy remains at the site of the duel, now covered by a shrine in honor of Cedric's "achievement". When Cedric unified the continents - beginning the Guardanian calendar (year 0) - Cedric rewrote history to paint himself in a more flattering light, saying that heavenly lightning struck down Antaeus in favor of the more virtuous Cedric. Guardia has since called this place "Heaven's Scar", though many in Antaeus' homeland of Poore give it the more accurate monicker of "Cedric's Scar".
The Span would be the site of another major battle 600 years later, when Mystic forces under the command of Ozzimort (Ozzie) marched on the Span to gain a foothold for their final push into the heart of Guardia. This marked the turning point in the Mystic War, but it would not be in Ozzimort's favor. During the battle, a ferocious storm suddenly struck the Span, which by some miracle blew Ozzimort's army into the sea while leaving the forces of Guardia unharmed. Ozzimort was forced to retreat to St. Dorino where his army would later suffer another crushing defeat by Leene, and this battle would prove decisive in ending the war. A few historians would thereafter refer to the Span as "Ozzimort's Folly".
The Span of Zenan would continue to stand up until the "Day of Fire" in 1999 G.D., when the alien parasite known as Lavos awakened from its 14,000-year-long hibernation and launched pieces of itself into orbit to rain down thermonuclear and zero-point destruction across the entire planet. Even the incredibly dense material of the Span could not withstand this assault, and the Zealian wonder that had stood for 700,000 years vanished into the sea forever.
"He who controls the Span controls the West."
Cedric Guardia - 3 B.G.
372
Dream Splash III - Chrono Break [2010] / Re: Announcement: "Project Unity"
« on: May 21, 2010, 07:04:10 am »
The animosity between Guardia and Poore will certainly be addressed in the novels. Guardia of the year 1000 is not as stable as the Millennial Fair festivities would suggest. Guardia, as a country, makes the Soviet Union look small. It is absolutely huge - spanning two entire continents in addition to several vassal states like Choras. Imagine one country controlling all of North and South America, and also taking tribute from territories abroad. Now imagine that country as a monarchy in the 1890's, and you have the Kingdom of Guardia in a nutshell. Geopolitically, it is virtually impossible for a country that large to remain stable for very long unless the underlying culture is strong. By the year 1000, that culture is starting to unravel. To explain things more clearly, a brief (for me) historical summary is in order.
Guardia developed a powerful culture after its founding by Cedric the Conqueror - mostly due to the virtuous rule of Queen Anne after Cedric's death. Known as "The wind beneath Guardia's wings", Anne came to be regarded as a divine figure, and this reverence turned into open worship after she died in the year 56. The descendants of Anne and Cedric took their places as rulers without question, and many inherited magical powers from the magic-endowed Cedric. But these powers grew less and less potent with every passing generation, and this weakness became known to the Mystics of Medina in the 6th Century, leading to the outbreak of war in the year 588.
Guardia suffered defeat after defeat trying to defend the southern lands, and the young but sickly King Aldren decided to take a queen from the south in a desperate attempt to maintain morale. After a lengthy search, Aldren decided to take the hand of the daughter of the governor of Poore: Leene. (Please don't laugh. I'm not trying to be funny, here. These are the names I'm stuck with.
) Although mainly a political decision to reduce Poore's historical animosity toward the north, Aldren also saw in Leene a spirit akin to Anne the Divine, and Leene indeed was descended from the great queen. But as the Mystics advanced to conquer most of South Zenan, King Aldren's behavior grew erratic and Leene was entrusted with the majority of state affairs by 599. When the Mystics launched a major attack in 600 to take the Span of Zenan (Zenan bridge), Leene had no choice but to take the field herself and drive the Mystic forces away from the prosperous north. She won a stunning victory at the Span, then advanced on the city of St. Dorino to fight a decisive engagement against the main Mystic army. Against all odds, Leene also won this battle, and the remaining Mystic forces were thrown into complete disarray. A month later, the war was over, and Leene would thereafter be known as one of Guardia's greatest rulers. For a long time, the animosity between Poore and the north would be largely forgotten.
But Leene would be the last Guardanian ruler to come from a southern province. As the centuries passed, and Leene's accomplishments faded into myth, the wealthy provinces of North Zenan came to hoard the majority of the Kingdom's wealth, leaving the south neglected and envious. The industrial revolution launched by Alistair Ashtear's (Lucca's grandfather) steam engine in 933 was slow to spread to the south and the difference in wealth between the northern and southern provinces became greater still. By the year 994, open talk of secession was spreading though the cities of Poore, which led King Malcolm to sack most of the Poorian officials and replace them with northern loyalists to restore order. This action only increased Poore's animosity and moved the secessionist movement underground, where it grew in strength until it would successfully break away from Guardia in the year 1000.
I am aware that Poore's year 1000 breakaway is something that did not occur in Chrono Trigger canon, but this event will add an interesting dynamic to the Marle/Malcolm storyarc, seeing that it takes place during the Millennial Fair (and Marle's quest to save the future from Lavos). It is one among many additions I am making to flesh out the world of Chrono and make it believable and compelling.
Guardia developed a powerful culture after its founding by Cedric the Conqueror - mostly due to the virtuous rule of Queen Anne after Cedric's death. Known as "The wind beneath Guardia's wings", Anne came to be regarded as a divine figure, and this reverence turned into open worship after she died in the year 56. The descendants of Anne and Cedric took their places as rulers without question, and many inherited magical powers from the magic-endowed Cedric. But these powers grew less and less potent with every passing generation, and this weakness became known to the Mystics of Medina in the 6th Century, leading to the outbreak of war in the year 588.
Guardia suffered defeat after defeat trying to defend the southern lands, and the young but sickly King Aldren decided to take a queen from the south in a desperate attempt to maintain morale. After a lengthy search, Aldren decided to take the hand of the daughter of the governor of Poore: Leene. (Please don't laugh. I'm not trying to be funny, here. These are the names I'm stuck with.
) Although mainly a political decision to reduce Poore's historical animosity toward the north, Aldren also saw in Leene a spirit akin to Anne the Divine, and Leene indeed was descended from the great queen. But as the Mystics advanced to conquer most of South Zenan, King Aldren's behavior grew erratic and Leene was entrusted with the majority of state affairs by 599. When the Mystics launched a major attack in 600 to take the Span of Zenan (Zenan bridge), Leene had no choice but to take the field herself and drive the Mystic forces away from the prosperous north. She won a stunning victory at the Span, then advanced on the city of St. Dorino to fight a decisive engagement against the main Mystic army. Against all odds, Leene also won this battle, and the remaining Mystic forces were thrown into complete disarray. A month later, the war was over, and Leene would thereafter be known as one of Guardia's greatest rulers. For a long time, the animosity between Poore and the north would be largely forgotten.But Leene would be the last Guardanian ruler to come from a southern province. As the centuries passed, and Leene's accomplishments faded into myth, the wealthy provinces of North Zenan came to hoard the majority of the Kingdom's wealth, leaving the south neglected and envious. The industrial revolution launched by Alistair Ashtear's (Lucca's grandfather) steam engine in 933 was slow to spread to the south and the difference in wealth between the northern and southern provinces became greater still. By the year 994, open talk of secession was spreading though the cities of Poore, which led King Malcolm to sack most of the Poorian officials and replace them with northern loyalists to restore order. This action only increased Poore's animosity and moved the secessionist movement underground, where it grew in strength until it would successfully break away from Guardia in the year 1000.
I am aware that Poore's year 1000 breakaway is something that did not occur in Chrono Trigger canon, but this event will add an interesting dynamic to the Marle/Malcolm storyarc, seeing that it takes place during the Millennial Fair (and Marle's quest to save the future from Lavos). It is one among many additions I am making to flesh out the world of Chrono and make it believable and compelling.
373
Polling / Re: Who would you cast in a Chrono movie?
« on: May 20, 2010, 09:33:27 am »
Taylor Lautner, you say? Hmm...
Well, Magus doesn't have a bow staff. He has a scythe, and the weapon dynamics involved with a scythe are different... but probably nothing Lautner can't learn with instructor's guidance.
Slap on the costume and make-up, and maybe (just maybe), you have a working Magus character. What says you, Lennis?
Up next: the minor characters with a MAJOR presence in the story.
I don't know much about Taylor Lautner, but he looks much too young to play Magus. However, he might make the perfect Serge. If the character makes an appearence in the later installments, why not use Lautner? His bo staff experience would closely mimic Serge's fighting style.
On the subject of a dedicated Chrono Cross film, I really don't think it would be manageable. Even if you pared the cast down to only the most essential characters, you'd still have the problem of the convoluted plot. I'm planning to address this somewhat in my upcoming "Project Unity" fan fic in its later stages, though being 100% true to Chrono Cross canon probably won't happen. That's one reason I'm reinventing certain aspects in my version of Chrono, though the core story remains faithful to the original.
On the subject of minor cast members, the most important by far is Schala - even though she doesn't get a lot of screen time. Schala's fate basically determines the fate of the whole Chrono universe. Save her, and we have a happy ending. Don't save her and everyone's pretty much screwed. The audience needs to know why we should care about her so much. I envision Ellen Page playing Schala. What say everyone else?
374
Dream Splash III - Chrono Break [2010] / Announcement: "Project Unity"
« on: May 20, 2010, 08:28:37 am »
Hello, all. Looks like summer is finally upon us again. Time to release our pent-up creative energies to give the Chrono franchise a much needed boost. I have been lurking on these forums on and off for awhile now, reading much, posting little, and (sadly) contributing nothing. I intend for this to change over the coming months. With the beginning of Dream Splash III, I think the time is right to make an announcement about a project that has been a year in the making so far.
I've been thinking of a fan-fiction project to continue the Chrono series for quite some time. A year ago, I began writing a chapter detailing a pivotal event of an alternate future that would resolve the events of Chrono Cross, among other things. The prose was uneven and the plot didn't quite work out, mainly because I hadn't played Chrono Cross in years, but the action sequence that ended up on my computer screen clicked in a way I didn't expect. Even now, looking at it gives me goosebumps in the fashion that I wonder how my fingers typed it. It's not publishable quality by any means, but that little project gave me the confidence to think about the world of Chrono Trigger in a new way.
For many of us in the community, Chrono Trigger has become more than just a game, or a piece of 90's memorabilia. It's become something much more profound - like remembering our favorite fairy tale from childhood. Fairy tales are not as simplistic as one would believe. They are stories with real power - filling us with wonder as children, and greater understanding as adults. Most video game characters from the early days we only remember as sprites on a TV screen. They had no real development other than their visual quality. Lara Croft became more memorable because the evolving technology of video games allowed the character to express herself in previously unseen ways. But Crono, Marle, and Lucca are every bit as real in our minds, despite having none of Lara Croft's advantages. There is a reason for that, but it is an answer I don't know how to describe in the limited space of an Internet posting. It is only through a larger effort that I or anyone else has a chance of doing so. Some lucky souls have the gift of artistry in which they can draw that which makes Chrono Trigger profound. We have seen many examples of this on DeviantArt in recent years. More recently we have heard new orchestral arrangements by Dan Goodale that make us wonder if we might one day see Chrono Trigger on the big screen. (Yes, they really are THAT good!) I have no such gifts, which leaves me only the medium of literature to express my vision.
The more I thought about what form a new installment of Chrono would look like, the more I realized that what was most needed was a retelling of the original story - using the insights we have all gained over the years about what makes Chrono compelling. And yet at the same time, it can also be "Chrono Break". To tell the original story and a sequel to that story in the same work is not outside the realm of possibility in the world of Chrono. Chrono Cross was never really resolved. It ended on a decidedly somber note. In my mind the fairy tale of Chrono Trigger has been left unfinished. That is something that we, as adults, feel the need to rectify. We have tried to do so in the form of fan-fiction and home-grown games, but the unevenness of those works (those that were finished) has made it difficult for our efforts to be taken seriously outside of the community (aside from Crimson Echoes, but that was a special case). What I most desire for the community is a novel series that combines aspects of Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, and various fan projects that the community has produced over the years. I call it "Project Unity" - a definitive fan fic that finishes what Squaresoft started fifteen years ago.
So why retell a story that is already beloved by almost everyone in its current form? Because we have grown up. Crono, Marle, and Lucca are no longer just sprites in our minds. We see them as real people with real hopes, desires, and fears. It's important to present them in a world that is just as real and developed as they themselves are. (Crono's muteness is gone if you're wondering.) Things won't be exactly as people remember them from the game. The Guardia of the year 1000 is in the midst of an industrial revolution - roughly equivalent to America of the 1890's. Crono and Lucca have a backstory in which they've already met Melchior prior to the Millennial Fair. GATO is not a sentient machine. Lucca does not yet have her iconic helmet. And Norstein Bekkler's Lab is not to be seen at the Millennial Fair. Some scenes are rearranged. Some are completely different. Minor characters from the game are expanded upon, and I introduce a few new ones. But the core of the story is unchanged. "Project Unity" is not a complete reimagining along the lines of Battlestar Galactica. It's more like the difference between the Sega CD and Playstation versions of the Lunar games, for those who have played those gems. "Chrono Trigger Complete" would not be an inaccurate description of what I'm trying to accomplish here.
To call this project ambitious is an understatement. I don't know if I am the one best suited to write it. I've never published anything in my life. But I've decided I have to try. This idea has endured in my mind for over a year, and it has been developed to some extent in the form of dialogue blocks, exhaustive notes, and a few completed chapters. (GenesisOne has already seen some early drafts of the Millennial Fair chapters from last year.) Now that summer is upon us again, I have the time to devote myself more fully to this project. It's anyone's guess what level of completion I can manage by August, but it will not be a completed work by then. I envision "Unity" to encompass four full-length novels at the very least, and for me to finish even the first by summer's end will be a stretch. I don't do anything small. (as this post will attest)
I would like to ask ZeaLitY if this project would fall into the parameters established for the third Dream Splash. I plan on writing it anyway, but I don't want to get in the way of other contributors playing more by the rules. What say you, Z?
I've been thinking of a fan-fiction project to continue the Chrono series for quite some time. A year ago, I began writing a chapter detailing a pivotal event of an alternate future that would resolve the events of Chrono Cross, among other things. The prose was uneven and the plot didn't quite work out, mainly because I hadn't played Chrono Cross in years, but the action sequence that ended up on my computer screen clicked in a way I didn't expect. Even now, looking at it gives me goosebumps in the fashion that I wonder how my fingers typed it. It's not publishable quality by any means, but that little project gave me the confidence to think about the world of Chrono Trigger in a new way.
For many of us in the community, Chrono Trigger has become more than just a game, or a piece of 90's memorabilia. It's become something much more profound - like remembering our favorite fairy tale from childhood. Fairy tales are not as simplistic as one would believe. They are stories with real power - filling us with wonder as children, and greater understanding as adults. Most video game characters from the early days we only remember as sprites on a TV screen. They had no real development other than their visual quality. Lara Croft became more memorable because the evolving technology of video games allowed the character to express herself in previously unseen ways. But Crono, Marle, and Lucca are every bit as real in our minds, despite having none of Lara Croft's advantages. There is a reason for that, but it is an answer I don't know how to describe in the limited space of an Internet posting. It is only through a larger effort that I or anyone else has a chance of doing so. Some lucky souls have the gift of artistry in which they can draw that which makes Chrono Trigger profound. We have seen many examples of this on DeviantArt in recent years. More recently we have heard new orchestral arrangements by Dan Goodale that make us wonder if we might one day see Chrono Trigger on the big screen. (Yes, they really are THAT good!) I have no such gifts, which leaves me only the medium of literature to express my vision.
The more I thought about what form a new installment of Chrono would look like, the more I realized that what was most needed was a retelling of the original story - using the insights we have all gained over the years about what makes Chrono compelling. And yet at the same time, it can also be "Chrono Break". To tell the original story and a sequel to that story in the same work is not outside the realm of possibility in the world of Chrono. Chrono Cross was never really resolved. It ended on a decidedly somber note. In my mind the fairy tale of Chrono Trigger has been left unfinished. That is something that we, as adults, feel the need to rectify. We have tried to do so in the form of fan-fiction and home-grown games, but the unevenness of those works (those that were finished) has made it difficult for our efforts to be taken seriously outside of the community (aside from Crimson Echoes, but that was a special case). What I most desire for the community is a novel series that combines aspects of Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, and various fan projects that the community has produced over the years. I call it "Project Unity" - a definitive fan fic that finishes what Squaresoft started fifteen years ago.
So why retell a story that is already beloved by almost everyone in its current form? Because we have grown up. Crono, Marle, and Lucca are no longer just sprites in our minds. We see them as real people with real hopes, desires, and fears. It's important to present them in a world that is just as real and developed as they themselves are. (Crono's muteness is gone if you're wondering.) Things won't be exactly as people remember them from the game. The Guardia of the year 1000 is in the midst of an industrial revolution - roughly equivalent to America of the 1890's. Crono and Lucca have a backstory in which they've already met Melchior prior to the Millennial Fair. GATO is not a sentient machine. Lucca does not yet have her iconic helmet. And Norstein Bekkler's Lab is not to be seen at the Millennial Fair. Some scenes are rearranged. Some are completely different. Minor characters from the game are expanded upon, and I introduce a few new ones. But the core of the story is unchanged. "Project Unity" is not a complete reimagining along the lines of Battlestar Galactica. It's more like the difference between the Sega CD and Playstation versions of the Lunar games, for those who have played those gems. "Chrono Trigger Complete" would not be an inaccurate description of what I'm trying to accomplish here.
To call this project ambitious is an understatement. I don't know if I am the one best suited to write it. I've never published anything in my life. But I've decided I have to try. This idea has endured in my mind for over a year, and it has been developed to some extent in the form of dialogue blocks, exhaustive notes, and a few completed chapters. (GenesisOne has already seen some early drafts of the Millennial Fair chapters from last year.) Now that summer is upon us again, I have the time to devote myself more fully to this project. It's anyone's guess what level of completion I can manage by August, but it will not be a completed work by then. I envision "Unity" to encompass four full-length novels at the very least, and for me to finish even the first by summer's end will be a stretch. I don't do anything small. (as this post will attest)
I would like to ask ZeaLitY if this project would fall into the parameters established for the third Dream Splash. I plan on writing it anyway, but I don't want to get in the way of other contributors playing more by the rules. What say you, Z?
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Polling / Re: Who would you cast in a Chrono movie?
« on: April 21, 2010, 04:33:03 pm »
Sorry I've been away for awhile.
For Robo, I figured Weaving would be a good choice in part because it would be VO. He could do all his work in an audio studio and not necessarily have to be on set with everyone else. I've heard they do "Shrek" in this way. I don't see a costume approach at all doable unless they completely redesign the character. (cringe) From a production standpoint it would be much easier just to make a CGI Robo.
I never considered looking at lady bodybuilders. For one thing, Ayla has to be able to emote. Just because her dialogue is primitive doesn't mean her character can be played by someone with little to no acting experience. Secondly, modern bodybuilders have fake physiques - meaning that they use artificial means to attain them. I don't think there are many GMC stores in 65,000,000 B.C.
Updating my Marle casting, it looks like Hayden Panettiere has dyed her hair red and that really throws a wrench in things. I really don't know who else to cast. Maybe there's another young starlet on the way up?
For Robo, I figured Weaving would be a good choice in part because it would be VO. He could do all his work in an audio studio and not necessarily have to be on set with everyone else. I've heard they do "Shrek" in this way. I don't see a costume approach at all doable unless they completely redesign the character. (cringe) From a production standpoint it would be much easier just to make a CGI Robo.
I never considered looking at lady bodybuilders. For one thing, Ayla has to be able to emote. Just because her dialogue is primitive doesn't mean her character can be played by someone with little to no acting experience. Secondly, modern bodybuilders have fake physiques - meaning that they use artificial means to attain them. I don't think there are many GMC stores in 65,000,000 B.C.
Updating my Marle casting, it looks like Hayden Panettiere has dyed her hair red and that really throws a wrench in things.
I really don't know who else to cast. Maybe there's another young starlet on the way up?