December 2003
Buy List updated
Finaly the Buy List is updated! Munch’s Oddysee for GameBoyAdvence is added and there is a new Merchandising section.
Earthquake affects California
The Oddworld Forums were down for a while today, while Abe Babe updated vBulletin to 2·3·3, the latest version.
I found a thread in the Xbox Solution Gaming Forums about Oddworld 4—or rather, as some people still believe it’s going to be called, Oddworld: Steef’s Oddysee, which will feature a main character called Steef and be part of the Quintology. If anyone’s a member, would you please set things straight?
However, the most incredible and important news of the day must surely be that of the earthquake that struck California today. It measured 6·5 on the Richter scale, and affected the area between San Francisco and Los Angeles—which includes the county and town of San Louis Obispo, home of Oddworld Studios. The epicentre was not far from Passo Robles, which was the worst‐affected town, and is where the only two deaths caused by the quake are. Let’s hope Oddworld’s century old housing above Ross Dress For Less is intact, and that everyone from OWI, San Louis Obispo, and California is as alright as circumstances allow.
3d Festival 2004
According to Atusiya’s father, Lorne Lanning, President and Creative Director of Oddworld Inhabitants will be speaking at the 3D Festival 2004. Read the article and a little text about Mr. Lorne Lanning.
By the way, the Oddworld Forums (and also, Oddworld Universe, Oddworld‐Web, Oddchat,…) are back online. But Oddworld.com does probably again have server issues.
Sources: Atusiya’s father
Oddworld 4 ‘First Look’
Mini‐Dukes the III has written a short article at Gaming Nation about Oddworld 4, or at least what he gleaned from the X‐Factor video. There are a couple of inaccuracies in what he writes, namely calling Stranger ‘Steef’, saying the game is over a year away and mentioning that the Steef develops horns and becomes the centaur (as opposed to the other way around, although to honest, we don’t know either way). Thanks to Alcar for (eventually) divulging this information.
Meanwhile, the Oddworld Forums server is down, meaning nobody can access it, Oddworld‐Web, Oddworld Universe, or OddChat without mIRC, for the time being. Stay tuned.
Splinterz
Do you remember the topic ‘Inspiration?’? We found something new, apparently there is a real industry called Splinterz, you can find out more in those pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3
Matt Scott interview
Animator Matt Scott has been interviewed by Joe Harkins (who worked on The Matrix: Revolutions) at Animation Artist. The questions are mostly concerned with Matt’s daily routine and lifestyle. There’s no news, but an interesting quote: “Yes, Oddworld fans can be very dedicated, but I don’t really worry about my work living up to their expectations.”
Sources: Official Oddworld Site
Further FeeCo
Remember www.feeco.com? Esus found an interesting sentence on the website: ‘At FEECO, we specialize in turning problems into opportunities.’ In Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus didn’t Aslik say: ‘Where you two see problems, I see opportunities.’? Here’s the thread again. This prompted Abe Babe to tell of Sligo, a metal products manufacurer.
A while ago Death noticed a hacker on the Forums. No need for concern, but read his thread if you’re interested in the technical workings of the Forums.
Avatars added
I’ve created two avatars, one for Xavier and one for myself, so you can tell who’s updating. I got the idea off of Penny‐Arcade, so credit goes to them.
You may have already guessed it, but Xavier is now a permanent news reporter here, hence the avatar. Hopefully OddBlog will make him feel at home in the absense of Oddworld News.
Addendum (2003‐12‐17T09:09): I should give thanks to The Red Muse for hosting the avatars for me.
FeeCo inspiration
Death has found the site of an Earth company called FeeCo International, which should ring a bell with Oddworld fans. I have a couple of Oddworld‐related finds, but cannot currently offer any proof of their existence. A few weeks ago I saw a large, possibly hydraulic, vehicle, the firm owning it being run by a Mr Phleg, or similar spelling. I’ll investigate my local businesses to see if I can find it. I also spotted a box outside a house with large letters on it that were in the Oddworld font. I’ll have to see if it’s still there. Unforuntately, I don’t have a digital camera, so I couldn’t snap any pictures; I will see if I can borrow one, though.
Sources: Death
Fan site links updated
This isn’t much, but according to Oddys the official links page was updated. There is a new site to the list: Oddworld‐Fan.de (Oddys’ site), and Oddworld Maniac/News were removed.
Sources: Oddys
Xav joins OddBlog
Max is away…
…but will hopefully come back.
Xavier (me) is temporary the second reporter of Oddblog. I will make sure this great place doesn’t die and will keep it up to date (at least try to do it).
So if there is anything new in the Oddworld Comunity, come here and you will be sure to know more about!
GamerFeed interview
GamerFeed has replicated Lorne’s interview from Oddworld.com. The say they took the interview from the official site, but don’t mention that the questions come from the fans.
Sources: Sekken
Odd in Iraq
Oddworld.com has been updated with a return of Fan Photo of the Month. This features the 670th MP company sporting Oddworld shirts in Iraq, and was taken this month.
Shaved X‐Factor video
Abe Babe is reporting to have a streamlined downloadable version of the X‐Factor video with all the Crimson Skies and Halo 2 material removed, eliminating excess watching time, download time and computer space filling. Unfortunately, according to moodokon man the link isn’t working. As I said, my computer is a bit messed up, so I can’t check right now. Leave a comment to let me know if it’s working for you, or just leave me to leach off the Forums again.
Sources: Abe Babe
Official site updates, December 2003
Oddworld.com was updated, evidently in the early hours of the morning, and offers a bounty of features. This month, Dear Alf returns, and is accompanied by an interview with Lorne, where Alf asks him questions fans have been asking. You needn’t bother with the first, trust me, but the second is well‐recieved, and thanks go to Lorne for taking the trouble to address our concerns. There is also a new Fan of the Month, yet another Brit, Bob C.; a new Inhabitant interview, this one with Raymond Swanland, appropriate given the amount we’ve been discussing his work; a new Quote of the Month; and the return of The Daily Deception Online, the tabloid version of the newspaper seen in Munch’s Oddysee. This Holiday issue serves to provide clues about future happenings in the games, and of course take the piss out of the fans. I don’t want to set myself up as a figurehead, but I think they were talking about me.
Read everyone’s reactions to this at the thread at OWF. Xavier would get the credit for finding this, but I found it myself. Just afterwards.