Finally. After a missed comic on Monday and about 30-40 hours logged on this project, I present a special, 200th Edition of Reclaimer. This is my maiden voyage with Flash, and I spent most of the weekend poring over reference manuals in an attempt to learn how to bend Flash to my will. I’m relatively pleased with the final product, and I hope that you’ll enjoy this format, as well. A number of webcomics writers out there are experimenting with Flash as a presentation model, and I wanted to see what a Reclaimer comic would look and feel like in this format. Please let me know your thoughts and opinions, as well.
What I love about this format is the way the canvas opens up a new mode of presentation. I gave myself a 750px by 500px canvas, and as you can see, I let the story sort of wander all over it. I like the pacing, as each button click allows the reader to experience the story at his or her leisure. I do apologize for the lack of a ‘Back’ button, however. I never was able to get that part working, and by the time I got done putting together the story, I was tired, sore, and out of time. Maybe next time (if there is a next time), I’ll figure out how create a deeper level of navigation. For now, a simple refresh of the page should start the Flash file over.
On the downside, this was an extremely time-consuming project—and not just because I devoted quite a bit of time to figuring out how Flash CS4 works. The mere act of setting up the various layers, buttons, transitions, animations, and Actionscript 3.0 code, plus setting up the images in Photoshop the way I wanted and putting all the dialogue in, well, there’s just no way I can devote that kind of time to this three times a week. Friday’s comic will show a return back to the regular image format. I will, however, include my original Flash file here for download. I am, by no means, convinced that the way I built this file is the best or most efficient way. If someone more Flash-savvy than I wants to download it and take a look and provide me with some tips and pointers for making this process easier—and faster—then I’ll be more than happy to consider a return trip to Reclaimer comics in Flash format.
In the meantime, however, enjoy this edition, and thanks for making this so much fun to do. I’m looking forward a long and continuing ride with our favorite hero.
EDIT: I’ve just uploaded a new version of the SWF file with typo corrections, a Restart button at the end, and strategically placed Back buttons along the way. It’s still perhaps not quite perfect, but it’s definitely closer to what I’d originally visualized.
I usually just go with Actrionscript 2.0. Much simpler for me, and it's really all I need for something like this… And I'm already familiar with 2.0…
I know this because I have half of DEAD in a Flash document that's somewhere in my files collecting dust, and it works nicely for being half-done.
I'd never coded in Flash before this, so I just decided to pick up with Actionscript 3.0. The code was actually pretty simple, just very repetitive.
That's how I found it. But get the coding right for one button, and just copy-paste it to the rest of the buttons like it.
Actionscript 3.0 has far greater relations with javascript, which is why I found it unfamiliar compared to Actionscript 2.0.
Flash is still a powerful program.
Yeah, that's pretty much what I ended up doing.
What's your opinion on Silverlight!
Ha.
I actually poked around in a Silverlight manual for a couple of hours the other day while waiting on my car at the mechanic. That's another one I'm going to have to play with at some point.
Isn't all programming repetitive? I never actually used Flash or Actionscript but I do code a lot in Source and that gets repetitive too.
Jim, I have to say, thank you for doing this for us, I felt like it brought the comic more to life. I understand that you can't do this for every comic (yet), but if you do ever get good enough to where you can do it every day, I think it would be awesome. 200 comics, a few devoted Junkies, and a great community of people and we have an awesome thing going here, all because of what you do for us. Thank you.
No, thank you. You all are what keeps this going.
Hey, let's not go throwing around words like Junkies without a good reason.
Aside from that, I agree with the life part. I wish this was done with an action sequence instead of casual speech, but that was Jim's decision.
It actually had more to do with where we are in the story at the time of #200. I would have preferred an action sequence, as well, but that's just not where we are at the moment.
Please, ditch the flash, or at least have a non-flash version.
I realize you put a lot of effort into it but it makes reading the strip a real pain, not to mention that for those reader who are stuck with dial-up (~30% of internet users) it is going to be slow going. For myself, having to keep clicking the mouse to get the next word bubble disrupts the flow of the story. I couldn’t get into it because of the delay while the next frame faded into view, also there is no back button.
I have enjoyed the comic for the last several months and make a point of checking it almost daily. I like being able to see the whole comic at once, I can read through, go back and double check something I missed and take in the over all artistry of the comic. But if I have to keep dealing with the current flash presentation style I can already tell I am going to loose interest very quickly and end up removing this site from my daily web comic check.
I’m sorry that I must give negative feedback and I may be the only one who has an issue with the new style but I would hate to have to drop Reclaimer.
Thank you, and congratulations on the 200 milestone, I just can’t give it the praise I would normally have passed along.
Tim
Well, like I said above, this is just a one-time deal. I do like the way it looks and presents in Flash, but it's a bigger time commitment than I can manage on a regular basis. I also realize that there are some downsides to flow and such, things that could be tweaked were I ever to do something like this again that would make it less of an interruption.
I would suggest that you would script it so that the first bubble of text comes out with the last piece of scenery. It is really easy to do, just connecting the two, and maybe put a small timer on all the frames that can be sped up with a click.
So, are you going to release a regular version of this one, or just leave it as it is and go back to the original format for the next ones? I do agree that the comic page format is easier to read than the flash layout.
The Flash version will stand by itself.
I partially agree with you. It can ruin the flow, but It's still a nice change from what we're used to. This wasn't the best time in the series to make a comic like that. It would be more fun if more happened than Reclaimer standing and talking.
Just read the blurb. Please ignore the critical comments I made.
I really must learn to read everything before commenting.
Again, Congrats and good luck. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the story.
Tim
Hehe, yeah—when I write something to go along with the comic, it's generally with a purpose.
Love the flash! A great comic to celebrate the 200th issue milestone!
Thank you, sir. I did have fun building it, even if it did take me longer than expected.
Nicely done as always Jim. I've really enjoyed reclaimer and think you've done a great job with it. I've been reading for a while now (probably about 100 comics ago though I have read all 200) but for some reason have never commented.
I really liked the flash and thought it was really cool but at the same time I missed the old layout. I know it'd be alot to ask and a ton of work but is there any way in the future that we could do both the flash and the regular version?
Congrats on #200 and once again great job,
-Resounding Glass
I'll certainly consider it, but part of the point of using Flash was that it allowed me to give you slightly more content without additional 'clutter', so to speak. It's rather a moot point, however, as it's likely to be quite a while before I do something like this again. It's likely you'll see official machinima first.
Not commenting is O.K. I kept commenting without a profile for half a year before I realized that I wasn't going to get bored commenting like usual.
I was scepitcal of the Flash thing at first, but I have to admit, it was pretty darn awesome. Still, while I think it would be a good format for special occasions, I prefer the classic set up. Congrats on 200, Jim. Unless I'm quite mistaken, this is the longest running Halo webcomic since One One Se7en.
Yup, classic layout returns on Friday.
And yes, it is. I wanted to make a point of not puttering out after a hundred comics (or less) like so many others have done. Rest assured that, barring death and dismemberment, you all will receive a complete storyline, however many comics that turns out to be.
And we will be here for the whole time
Nice job! And either you used a few concepts of mine from my failed attempt at machinima writing or I was right on track :p Excellent job for #200! Can't wait for 300!
Honestly, I don't really pull from any other sources when I'm writing. I just write the story that feels natural. Ironically, the Cavalcade still didn't get an answer to their question in this edition. :p
You know, if Flash was the original format and Jim made it a picture comic for 200, you would probably complain about that too.
Says the guy who finds something to bitch and moan about with every edition. :p
Doesn't that mean he has first-hand experience, thereby making him more qualified to make this claim? Indeed, he has proven the claim himself by his bitching and moaning about every edition! =P
Hehe, indeed.
Touché Jim.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please be sure to check your egos at the door…"
Amazing! (though I do agree that the other format is better)
This was a great way to celebrate the 200th comic in a great series.
Thanks! It was fun.
Very nice! This must have been very difficult to do. Also, there were a few mistakes, but I don't know how to describe where they are. Two were using a instead of an and one was misspelled commander. Thanks for making 200 great comics so far!
PS. Are you going to be doing all the comics like this or was this just because of the special occasion?
Just the special occasion, if you read the blurb about it.
Regardless, great job, Jim! Looking forward to the next 200, and the 200 after that… and the 200 after that…
It's not really a blurb, it's a bit of a small speech.
Heh, I'm guessing you didn't read the block of text I posted with this one. There's no way I can commit the amount of time necessary to presenting Reclaimer in this format three times a week. This was mostly just for fun and for a change of pace as a way to celebrate #200.
Thing is, though, this comic was way longer than the normal 4-6 panels. This one was huge. If you were going to do this format, I figured it would be more like 1 a week. Just a thought.
Yeah, there were a total of eight panel units – the first unit composed of three images, the second composed of two (well, one broken into two). But there was definitely more scripting involved. Just look at the transcript for this one compared to any previous scripts.
I thought of going to one a week in order to do a Flash presentation, but I like the flow and pacing of three times a week. I feel like it's easier to keep readers engaged and keep them coming back more consistently by updating three times a week.
I like the way you do it now of updating three times a week. It allows time to ponder all the possibilities that have opened up, and then you get to have another to think about, right when you want it.
Congrats on 200 Jim, keep up the awesome work.
Thank you, sir.
Great comic! I really like the whole flash thing (do it again sometime), but I found there was a bit much clicking involved. Maybe an auto-play feature? (I'm a complete noob at flash so I don't really know how hard that would be. Feel free to ignore me).
I deliberately avoided auto-play for a reason. For instance, Haldrid
over at the ODST comic uses video for his, and it continues playing
regardless of an individual's reading speed. I wanted to provide a
mechanic that allows the reader to move forward at their own pace,
since not everyone reads at the same speed. If I do this in the
future, though, I might find a reasonable compromise between clicking
for each item and auto-play.
Thanks for elaborating. That makes sense.
Maybe for the compromise you could automate the times when multiple pictures and text boxes come up on top of each other. Also, to go back to the start just right-click and hit "rewind", much easier than refreshing the page. (Sorry if someone has already said all of this, I haven't had a chance to read through the comments).
Once again, congratulations on the 200 comics. I'm looking forward to what you do at 300!
Yeah, I was thinking about it on my way in to work this morning. I have some ideas for a future project that'll actually make it a little quicker to put together (i.e. fewer button instances and less Actionscript).
I would think instead of having to click for ever speech bubble and whatnot, that you click once and it "autoplays" through the frames coming in and the speech bubbles coming up for each "panel".
I would think instead of having to click for ever speech bubble and whatnot, that you click once and it "autoplays" through the frames coming in and the speech bubbles coming up for each "panel". Then, once you finish that panel, you click again for the next one.
Congrats on 200!! Although I don't comment too much, I am a dedicated reader since about comic 120, (yes I have read them all), and I must say that the flash was nice for this milestone. I do agree with Yukob though, that if you were to do this again, maybe use the autoplay feature on the pictures, to avoid a lot of clicking. Like everyone else has said, thanks for a great 200, and I'm looking forward to 200+ more!
Yeah, that's one of the things I've added to the list of tweaks for next time.
Good Job, Jim. Gratz on 200, I can't even begin to imagine to time and effort that must have gone into this and past Reclaimers. I appreciate your kindness in sharing this form of entertainment with us so many times a week. Congratulations.
Thank you, sir. I love having this creative outlet. It's part of what keeps me going.
Congratulations on #200 Jim. I loved the presentation, very slick!
p.s. small typo when tran says "boon to the commander", you put commaner.
p.s. i look forward to the next 200!
Yeah, I noticed that. The typo may have to stay in place this time.
It's a bit more difficult to change things in Flash than it is in
Photoshop.
Yay! The typo remains as a reminder of Jim's poor spelling abilities!
Naw, I fixed it.
Now the lack of a typo is a reminder of Jim's poor 'lazy non-perfectionist' abilities!
Jim, That was a great attempt at the flash animation! I frequently work with Flash and I would have to say you are definitely talented! Especially for you first time!
Some tips and ideas… Make a back button or a restart button at the end.
To make a more interactive comic, you might try that same idea but with a canvas the size of an actual comic page you do and then just slide in each frame and animate the chat bubbles.
Again great job and I have read it twice!
Thanks for the kind words, Rob. It was challenging and, at times,
frustrating – but overall I enjoyed the experience. You'll note in my
blurb above that I made an attempt at a back button (and a restart
button) but was never able to get it to working. Something I'll try to
get right for the next time.
I hadn't considered the idea of making it a full, regular-sized page
and animating that way, but that's certainly a great idea. Thanks for
the tip!
Oops… I skimmed through the blurb and I guess I missed about the buttons. Sorry buddy.
Heh, no biggie – though it IS telling as to how many people don't
bother to read those entries.
Read what entries?
I'd have a look at the file, but Flash 8 doesn't open the newer CS4 file. Oh well, that's what you get for using outdated equipment.
Increase the framerate? It did seem like the motion of each image was quite jerky, although the tweening of the speech-bubble fade was nice and smooth.
I used ten frames for each image transition onto the screen. Probably wasn't quite enough.
Very nice! My only gripe with the new format is the tiny button I have to click to advance. My personal opinion would be to make it so you can click anywhere on the comic to advance it.
Hm, something I'll have to look into…
Wow Jim. Once again, you outdid yourself in creativity. Not only was this comic eye opening but you did it in a way even I wouldn't have thought of. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go find a way to criticize this comic. It may take a moment…
Heh, don't strain yourself trying. Several flaws have already been pointed out (many of which have now been repaired).
Got it! Right after I posted this the power died and I had to go out in the rain to start the generator. Ha!
Your comic sucks so bad it shuts down my computer in a way that's scientifically impossible just so I don't have to read it.
Yup, I definitely like this as a special occasion thing. My Internet connection depends on where I am (since I primarily use free public wi-fi) but as an occasional thing for special comics, I think this would be a cool idea.
Yeah, I tried to keep the file size at least somewhat trim. Harder to do than you might think.
Wow, I never knew…
I'm not kidding either, the power is still out right now. I moved my computer to the kitchen to turn it on.
Generator?
It's only connected to a few circuits. Namely the Kitchen, the Furnace, the AC, the Garage, and the Water Heater.
That was pretty incredible, but i understand the time consumption.
Your series is a brilliant weave. thanks for the fan food!
You're more than welcome. Thanks for being a part of the community.
not sure why people are complaing about the back button it works just fine for me XD or is it coz im specail Jim
He just added it like five seconds ago
Well, more like a couple of hours ago, but yeah—I figured out what I was doing wrong and make the addition to the file.
fair enuff would be smart to take out the bits about it not workin in tht blarb thing in future tho stop any confdusin when u fix the problem lol
Naw, that's the reason why I added the edit at the bottom of the post.
I noticed that if you click next while the current animation is still going it restarts.
Yeah, it's because of where the buttons fall in the timeline in relation to the animations. Like I said, still not perfect but close enough for government work.
We're not playing horseshoes Jim. We're making art.
Correction. I'm making art. You're just along for the ride.
Are you denying that your fans don't partake in some of the imagination for your comics. I seem to remember on more than one occasion when your fans have inspired a plot element.
Oh and speaking of inspiration, will we see the Machine sometime soon, if ever?
Also, have you heard of a thing called observer theory? Take a look at my ID description.
Are you denying that your fans don't partake in some of the imagination for your comics. I seem to remember on more than one occasion when your fans have inspired a plot element.
We may not partake in the creation directly, but we do partake in it.
Oh and speaking of inspiration, will we see the Machine sometime soon, if ever?
Also, have you heard of a thing called observer theory? Take a look at my ID description.
Please keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.
hey, you added a back button! I was just rereading it and it reloaded and was there! Nice
Indeed. I figured out how to add it in this morning.
Very, very frickin' cool. Too bad it's too time consuming to do all of them this way.
Agreed. There's a lot of potential to this sort of presentation—if you have the time to do it.
Well, I feel hnoured to have been part of what seems to be a growing and still brilliant series. Even if my input was nominal. Still, keep up the good work, enjoy your work here, as we are, and make sure it keeps going. Reclaimer has reached one of my weekly rituals. Don't fail me, Jim.
Well, like I've said, barring death and dismemberment, I have every intention of continuing Reclaimer for quite some time yet.
Sweet, I like it. Whenever I read anything I always visualize it (sound too) and this format makes it alot easier (obviously adding interactivity, yay).
But as people have said the clicking is distracting, try using the space bar for it next time.
And since the whole glitch with restarting that SnowXing pointed out you're probably using a gotoandplay command, try using just a play command (I'm not sure there is one though).
Surprisingly though I know a ton about Flash, I've never even used it (700$ is just WAY to much for me), but if you could ever maybe send the entire set of files from it… just a thought (even though i tried that with something else and it didn't work).
I am using a gotoAndPlay() command. I don't know if a simple Play() command would actually work, since I basically have to use the buttons to force the playhead to the appropriate frame. I have Stop() commands built in every 10 frames, with the appropriate image or text block at each one. I'd have to play and experiment to see if a simple Play() would do the same thing as my current structure.
Great comic! The way you can continue the story being told whenever you want instead of having the whole thing thrown at you at once is a simply awesome.
But did he ever answer what a "mimic" AI is? I
Hehe, nope. He never did.
He's getting back at the Cavalcade.
He's getting back at the voices in his head.
Does anybody else notice something wrong with that?
Wow. I really like this format. Congratz on the 200th and thank you for putting your time and effort into this.
Though this may be a one time deal, I sure wouldn't mind seeing this format every 50 comics or so. It would really be a great change of pace.
-Josh
Well, I certainly hope it won't be the last time I do this. I'll see what I can do to switch it up from time to time.
found another buglet if you want. I save all the Reclaimer pages to my local machine. I saved the SWF flash file. And while it plays. It doesnt display the text. Its as if the text is external to the flash as opposed to embedded in it.
Interstel
What version of Flash player are you using, and what method did you use to download the file? Because I can't replicate the 'bug'.
I created a desktop webpage with the a href link pointing to the SWF file. then I simply did a right click save as from IE8. I have Macromedia MX installed on machine which allows for SWF files to play as stand alone. The buttons dont work under that mode, nor can I do a step forward action through the controls, if I put it in Play mode it cycles through all the frames in sequence but no text boxes.
I did just find out something. I went ahead and loaded the SWF inside of of Media Player Classic Homecinemea v1.2.1008.0 and I can step and see the text.
So I guess it would be an imcompatibilty with my older Macromedia MX autoplay back.
Now that Media Player Classic is supper SWF. I'll just change the type to point to that.
Interstel
Yeah, I built it using Flash CS4, so unless you have the latest version of the Flash player, it's probably not going to work properly.
Wow, 200 episodes. And the Flash presentation is pure win. Well, here's to 200 more!
Glad you like it!
This is was unexpected. Excellent use of Flash, and for a first try too! I doubt I could have done anything like this the first time I used flash (maybe the second time, cause I had an excellent flash teacher, but the not the first).
I'll download that fla, wanna take a look at it. Haven't done much in ActionScript 3, so it'll be cool to see how you managed to do something that I know how to do it AS2.
I've always wanted to do a project in Flash. I felt like this would be a great way to introduce myself to the software. I'm glad it turned out as well as it did.
If you have any tips or advice to offer once you've looked at it, I'm all ears.
I forgot, I have Flash 8 at home. It doesn't have support for AS3…
Guess that puts off any advice I could offer.
Oh, yup. That would be a problem. =/
I have a tip, incorporate flash into the website to celebrate the 201th comic.
That would be epic!
Great work on the Flash Jim, Though reading your experiance, i think Silverlight may have been a little easier… Anyways, Thanks a lot for the comics, and awesome job on achieveing the 200 mark. Now onwards to the 500 one
I'm definitely going to investigate Silverlight at some point. I'd like to have a fairly broad range of knowledge and experience with various tools. This was my introductory foray into Flash.
Congratulations on reaching 200! Let's hope for 200 more!
At least…
Let's hope for 9654.5 more!
.5?
If we are lucky, there won't be a clifhanger ending, making it not quite a complete comic. Jim will ruin that anyway but I can still dream.
200!!
hehe not sure if i prefer this way but its nice
i think the other way just because its easier on you
I prefer the old version better, although the comic length and accidental-spoiler-free is good. I'd recommend instead of breaking everything down, set it up so that you click the button to see the next frame, not load dialogue, see more pics, etc.
Other than that, it's pretty cool!
Jim, you are getting a lot of new members this comic.
Awesome!
Or at least getting a number of lurkers to delurk for a moment.
More people to psychologically torment!
I already do that with every comic.
O.O I knew it! You're a sick, sick man, Jim… And the worst part? I love it!
You know, the Cavalcade aren't very creative.
Sometimes. Sometimes not.
So many cliffhangers, I can barely not be one myself!!!
ARRGH!
Lol…
Notice the three dots.
I love it, great job.
Thanks!
Congratulations on reaching 200 comics; 200 comics filled with cliffhangers, with more questions than answers, comics that have awesome quotable quotes and a tantalizing storyline that amassed a following of fans that are constantly salivating in wait for the next update. Congratulations on something that is more than just fanfiction, but a work of art, a work of labor, and (most likely) a work that is fun for you to do, therefore making it not count as "work" work (if that makes sense).
Here's to 200 more!!
...seriously, we'll need like 200 more to tie everything up XD
I really liked it, keep it up!
Woot Flash!:D
(my account won't let me log onto it)
Yeah, pretty much exactly what I was thinking, as well.
Pretty much exactly the way I like it.
Me too.
That's where observer theory comes in. I am just imagining you saying that.
Shut up Imagination Figment.
I imagined you would say something like that.
I hate to break it to you, but your ID description is wrong, I'm the one who's imagining everything.
Too late. My Brain already left the building.
Or we could just end by assuming that neither of us are real and that we're both just figments of Jim's imagination.
You know, neither of us can prove each other wrong. Let's end by just assuming I'm right and that you don't exist.
Congratulations Jim. In my attempts to demean you I ended up doing so to myself.