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We’ll see you over there!
OddBlog has ceased production of Oddworld‐based news reports, and this URL will seldom receive further updates. However, there is no need to fear, as Max and Xavier have not at all packed anything in. Instead, to comply with Oddworld Inhabitants’ legalise and provide the best blog‐based news site for readers, OddBlog v2·0 has been erected at http://oddenc.blogspot.com. We hope to see you there!
OddBlog 2·0
Welcome to OddBlog v2·0! I got tired of fiddling about with frames and not being able to find a host that didn’t have adverts everywhere, allowed remote linking, or whose owner would allow it. Having said that, I do thank Mac for his willingness to host the frameset had he had the time to proceed with the Oddlympics. However, after realising there were other blog‐hosting sites on the Internet, I did a quick scout round and found Blogger, which allows multiple accounts to post on the same blog, and the ability to alter the template of the blog at will—and all for free. There are still adverts, but Blogger deserves them. If you want a journal, I really do recomend Blogger.
That said, you’ll notice I’ve been able to include a permanent link to Oddworld.com as well as the disclaimer at the bottom of the screen. This means OddBlog is now elligable for releasing. However, I want to wait for Xavier to transfer his posts over from the uJournal, so that everything is complete. It shouldn’t take long now: a couple more days tops!
Oddlympics cancelled
Due to time constraints, Mac the Janitor will be unable to start the Oddlympics 2·0 any time soon. He tells me that there may be more of a chance of them proceeding come the summer. Mac offers his apologies to everyone who was looking forward to the venture.
Sources: Mac the Janitor
Oddworld‐Web staff wanted
Oddworld‐Web is looking for new staff, namely in the position of reporting news. Those that are interested can send Abe Babe a PM, or reply to her thread in GD, which also contains further information on the position.
Sources: Abe Babe
Ed Fries leaves Microsoft
Abe Babe has told the Forums that Ed Fries has left Microsoft. Read the article here. Ed seemed to have a close relationship with OWI and Lorne, so one wonders how the relationship between OWI and Microsoft will continue.
Sources: Abe Babe
Game Over
Rick Burgh has uncovered news that Abe and his enemies from Abe’s Oddysee will be appearing in a program called Game Over, which will air this Spring on UPN. The show stars the Smashenburn family who live in a videogame reality populated by ‘real’ cyberstars such as Crash Bandicoot. Voice actors on the show include Patrick Warburton, Lucy Liu, E.G. Daily, Rachel Dratch, Artie Lange, Marie Matiko and James Sie.
The producers’ web log entry for 30th of July reads:
The other big exciting news around here right now is that the good people over at Abe’s Oddysey (and Abe’s Exoddus and Munch’s Oddysey) are working with us to put Abe and a few of his enemies into our first episode. For those of you who haven’t encountered these enormously popular games, let me just say that they are awesome. Also, we got a sneak peak of the new one that’s in the works. I am, of course, sworn to never mentioning to anyone what I’ve seen, but all you gamers out there should be very excited.
According to the same blog, the first two episodes of Game Over have completed production. The official site also has a trailer, and there is an article about Game Over in issues #747 and #748 of Entertainment Weekly (23rd/30th January 2004).
Sources: Rick Burgh
E3
The registrations for the exibitors at the Electronic Entertainment Expo are finnally open! Some intresting things to notice is that:
Oddworld Forums online
The Oddworld Forums are back online due to the tireless efforts of Alcar and Abe Babe. vB3 works a charm, and so far Sydney’s Munch’s Oddysee template is being used, resulting in faster loading times. For those with greater connection speeds, updated (and labouriously re‐created) Industrial and Native themes will be added later, while Sydney’s Honeycomb design will provide another slow‐connection backdrop.
Sources: Abe Babe
Background
As you should be able to see, I’ve added a background to OddBlog, just to help make it look a little less dull. I’ve also constructed a layout that should be able to encompass this page, using up more redundant space and distinctly branding OddBlog as a section within The Oddworld Encyclopaedia. The images in the frameset include the appropriate links and legalise, so all I have to worry about now is writing the code—so perhaps I can launch OddBlog with the new and improved Forums.
Speaking of which, Alcar was today able to upload the entire Forums to the new server and update it to vB3. It really shouldn’t take long before all or most websites, hosts and addresses are up and running again.
OddBlog permitted
Sorry for the delay in news recently, but I’ve been tied down with revision and coursework of late.
Naturally, the most important news right now is that of Abe Babe and Alcar having decided to move the Oddworld Forums to another server and upgrade to vBulletin 3 in the process. Obviously this is fabulous news for Forum users, as it should mean an end to the slowness, lost pages and image replacement issues that have been plaguing us for the last few weeks and months. While this process takes place, fans are being herded to a temporary Ezboard site, at http://pub177.ezboard.com/bowforums.
In the meantime, this means that some sites may not be working. Oddworld Universe, Oddworld‐Web, the browser version of OddChat and the Oddworld Topsite may all not be accesible through this period. The actual Forums URL (www.oddworldforums.net) is certainly not working as I type this.
OddBlog also has good news. Just today I recieved an email from Oddworld Inhabitants’ Fan Legal department, so once I’ve adapted the site to comply with their terms and conditions, I’m going to release the URL upon the world: hopefully at the same time the Forums reopen. That should give us some special panache. Stay tuned: you may even see our updates before I find time to talk about them!
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