The Weekly Gazette 02-12-2023

[DerVVulfman]

(February 6 to February 12, 2023)

Welcome dear readers to the latest issue of the Weekly Gazette! Here in the Gazette, we give you the news in brief of what occurred in the past week as well as provide any news happening in Save-Point itself

Official Area

Feedback and Suggestions

The subject of AI Art continued as Kain Nobel showed he used AI powered tools to assist him in his graphic tileset work, but noted it was a tool only. He also reported that RPGMakerWeb had apparently issued policies against AI usage. Understandably, she who goes against the grain as she represents chaos, Remi-chan, felt like AI art is not something to ban as long as its use is moderated.

Occasions

Early this week, we were hit by a thunderstrike. A new member who just discovered the RPGMaker line of engines, thunderstrike found we had scripts that couldn't be found anywhere else. Welcomed by Kain Nobel and DerVVulfman initially, and later by kyonides, thunderstrike was thrilled when informed about the forum's index page of scripts. A pixel artist most of the time, our newest member does have a tendency to write, and has hopes to contribute something sometime from now.

General Chat

Food was What's on the Mind of kyonides, particularly those of real meat and not the vegitarian variant such as the Impossible Whopper.

Last week's News of the World began with the Chinese Spy Balloon that crossed the United States, the debris recovered from the Atlantic now revealing it was indeed used for espionage. Since then, two more targets designated as 'objects' were shot down in Alaska and Canadian Airspce once detected by Norad. Originally lashing out against the retaliatory act against the first ballon, China authorities have now remained silent. Japan is now investigatingif a 2020 object spotted in their airspace was of Chinese origin. Since then, six chinese firms connected to the spy balloon technology have been sanctioned, a Chinese project in North Dacota cancelled over national security concerns, and the U.S. has extended protection to Hong Kong residents from Chinese repression. It may not fare well for the FBI as they now disavow an internal memo that suggested connections between 'radical-traditionalist Catholics' and hate groups. And the Republican held House will begin hearings on the FBI's weaponization, placing them accountable for the hundreds of letters and requests ignored, and bringing forth a 1,050 page whistleblower report indicating their firing of agents protected under the whistleblower act. With it looming close, outside council was put on retainer for the possible Alejandro Mayorkas impeachment over the Border Crisis. Meanwhile, it appears that New York Mayor Abbott, who has complained about busses filled with illegal immigrants arriving, is hypocritcally giving tickets to immigrants now arriving at the Canadian border. And lawyers representing the FTX Debtors are demanding all the politically donated funds given mainly to liberals under a 2009 legal precedent. Explosions that rocked England, LAX airport, and San Francisco, the proposed banning of Russia from the Olympics, more military support for Ukraine, the twin earthquakes that devastated Turkey and Syria, and much more hit this week's news.

Tech Talk

For most, the News of the Cyber World was how Google stocks took a nose dive after their chatbot AI flubbed questions during an promotional advertisement. Oddly, the boss of Google's search engine chose to warn users agains AI chatbots later this weekend. Cybercriminals from North Korea ramped up attacks while sanctions against seven members of a Russian cybergang was applied. Donald Trump was reinstated back on Facebook, with the ACLU defending the decision. And on Facebook, a Michigan Police Department posted content about one of their own stealing the lunch from a fellow officer. Since then, the police K-9 has invoked his right to remain silent.

Games Development

Development Discussion

If you're nosy, you might want to know What's Up among your fellow RMers. For example, kyonides pondered how one could deliver a status ailment to a target, but delay its appearance for some time. Meanwhile, Remi-chan is going through burnout, but is going down memory lane showing videos of her using the Minecraft engine to determine the house her current game's protagonists resided.

Material Development

Tools

Work upon RPG Developer Bakin as new fixes are made and new features added. Now at version 1.1.3.7, monster placement within the battlesystem was fixed, graphics used within the map tree have been changed, issues with the dash feature and collision boxes rectified, and much more improvements have been made.

Scripts Database

Earlier this week, a new achievements menu was added to the RPGMaker XP version of KyoAlert. But it was later that all three ruby-language editions of the system were updated with title backdrops and additional features.

For the RPGMaker VXAce users, kyonides wrote KDescXtraLines ACE so the game developer can add character biographies to each character within their status screen.

For one who wishes to ensure some skills only work if two weapons or a special accessory were in use, kyonides created the KDualWield & Accessory Skills system. Originally for RPGMaker VX and VXAce, a later RPGMaker XP edition became available not long after.

"How was that poison? You know... the one you drank twenty minutes ago." For someone who wishes to give the player a very vivid surprise, imagine finding that your hero received a status ailment... hours ago! Yes, with KDelayState for RPGMaker XP, the status effect need not immediatly act until some time after its application!

Creativity Section

Music and Audio

He's back! And he's still Sharing His Original Music! Yes, Eric Matyas, whom is still accepting commissions for custom work, has returned with two more looping piece of music. The first composition entitled Future Industry has a slightly futuristic vibe, pefect for a lazy or relaxing space encounter. And the second piece, Coin-Op Shenanigans may take you back to the early 80s with its 8-bit mimicry.

When doublechecking his stats, it turned out that Kain Nobel's Music Videos made more recently with better quality footage did better than earlier releases. Our musicion had no idea that video quality made a difference, but the recent spike in viewership was something to behold. Just be ready as the next album slated for next year is already in the works. Meanwhile, Kain revealed that there was an issue with the ReGaL engine, but the problem was specifically the fault of a third-party component and not the core.

Well, that's it for this week.

"Color television! Bah, I won't believe it until I see it in black and white." - Samuel Goldwyn (1879-1974)

PROSPECTIVE GAZETEERS!

If you are the creator of a thread in Save-Point, you have the option of sending/writing your own entry into the Gazette. The Gazette accepts write-in announcements (which will be doublechecked). Likewise, the Gazette would welcome other content such as a comic-strip series, ongoing story arc, or the like.

Just PM DerVVulfman with the submissions. Submissions must be in by 10pm EST.