| Mez's TS Series - The Mighty Backstory; Documentary of a TS fandom dissected | |
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| Topic Started: Sep 26 2008, 08:12 PM (64 Views) | |
| Mezoroth | Sep 26 2008, 08:12 PM Post #1 |
Interior crocodile alligator, I drive a Chevolet movie theatre
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This is something I've been working on since season 5 went into full swing last year, when I decided to look back over the past...6+ years of TS fandom, and all the wierd shit it's made me do. Namely, the list of TS game ideas that I've mentioned MANY times on pretty much every forum I've been on.  I know if you sojourn over to TSHQ's Fanmade GoodiesFanmade Goodies section, you can still see the assortment of threads for some of these projects. (admist classics like the legendary Tuscon Coyote thread and it's 8 million pages)This documentary of sorts chronicles the series that has pretty much forged itself over the years; combining TS with a variety of other sources for my own entertainment, until TS was essentially my lifeblood, heh. Figured it go here since it's a bastardized offshoot of fanfiction, with it's own alternate storyline featuring characters from pretty much anywhere. Or at the least, definetly a piece of literature inspired by the show.  Anyhoo, this is still in the process of being written, but the start (and explanation) of the madness is completed. For the sake of easier reading, I'll do each project as a seperate post. As this is just me remincising, there's no NSFW scenes/language, so I rate it safe for all readers. Additionally, my comments will be in this fine red color. Let's start it off, then! Enjoy a glimpse into my being as a TS fan, lol. 
Edited by Mezoroth, Sep 26 2008, 08:23 PM.
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 Head Abbot of the Shrine of Princess Kimball since 2006 GASP! A character sketch for me?! Thanks Marathon! :3 | |
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| Mezoroth | Sep 26 2008, 08:23 PM Post #2 |
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Interior crocodile alligator, I drive a Chevolet movie theatre
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PART ONE - BASIC INFORMATION BACKGROUND ON ME This was taken from the New Class "About" page. Me 5 years ago describing myself as an eccentric. Please excuse the raw sense of optimism; I was but a wee lad. XD “First things first. I'm cursed with a weirdly creative section in my brain, which is probably bigger than normal people's. (Yep. I'm an art kid) While many people have this sort of thing, mine's weird because it causes me to watch a show then think about what would happen if I put in things that I like. (mostly characters from other series) Then, (thanks to my oppressing love for video games) I come up with ideas for possible video/computer games. This was especially bad during my Sailor Moon fandom, EVERYTHING went in, and weird-ass ideas came out. Of all the things, Mega Man was probably the only one that really worked. (Maybe StarCraft too, but that's not really the point here) With that, when I first saw Totally Spies in November 2001, I wondered "Hey, can lightning strike the same spot twice? Can it work?" TS was even BETTER suited for Mega Man inclusion then Sailor Moon in it's own way, boasting all kinds of technology that stacks up with or even passes what I had in mind. I played with the idea and did a few little sketches here and there. No big ideas yet.” SERIES OVERVIEW Here I try to explain the game itself: How it would run, controls, fighting system, yada yada...Basically, if you'd heard of/played Nintendo's Smash Bros. and/or any of Capcom/SNK's stuff, you'll be in good shape. The base idea of this was that I wanted to do some sort action/fighting game for Totally Spies, and since Smash Bros. Melee was brand spankin’ new and the essence of all things awesome, I immediately drew the conclusion that it’s zany style of fighting fits TS very well, and with a few tweaks and flair could fit it even better. It would feature similar “2.5D” gameplay (2D movement and controls with 3D look, feel and effects) with longer platforming scenarios to better suit the various missions and “spy” feel of TS. In addition, you would be able to play through these missions as various characters aside from the heroes, such as the various villains, side characters, as well as characters who hail from outside the series. For the combat aspect, I decided to give this fledgling game life bars over Smash’s damage system. Partly to avoid being a direct copy, but also to provide the familiar feeling associated with other 2D fighting games. It would still be possible to fall off of a level and lose a stock life that way, but you would mainly expire when your health hits zero more often than getting swatted off the stage. As you take more and more damage, you eventually can get dizzied or start to tire and get weak. Stages would also borrow from the series, with general backgrounds such as WOOHP or the mall, along with areas specific to certain episodes or characters. The main controls were (and still are) mostly derived directly from Melee. You would press a button in combination with a direction to produce different special moves and attacks. I had also borrowed the ideas of super moves from other fighters I was familiar with (Marvel vs. Capcom and Street Fighter) to give TS the right amount of razzle dazzle it needed to match the show. However, to give the TS its own little niche, the ‘Mode’ system came about. Inspired by Melee’s Zelda and her ability to change her set of specials by transforming into another character (a two for one deal), the Mode system allowed for different versions of each character. In one mode, you would have the usual 4 moves and a super, but if so desired, you could choose a second mode with 4 different moves and another super. If a certain character feels off, you could try another mode and give him/her another chance. Become skilled with a certain character, and you’ll have 2 sets of moves and strategies to keep opponents guessing. In other words, you pick...meh, let's just be honest and say Mandy.  You're asked if you'd like Mode A or B. Each has the same basic attacks, but different sets of special moves, and a flashy super attack. Suck at Mode A's Mandy, but don't want to give her up for an inferior character? No problem. Use Mode B, enjoy the same character in a way that feels comfortable to you. Everyone wins. Except the people who didn't pick Mandy.  The following is the template for presenting each 'game'. Project: “Official” name of project. Nicknames: What ever I would refer to it on boards and such. Usually shorthand. Follows: What season(s) it’s based off of, where applicable Dates: When it was a main focus of mine, at least when I first started it TS was: The status of TS in the US at the current time. Main Influences: What games I borrowed elements from, or otherwise inspired me in some way when doing all these. Basically all the spices that were added to each title. Super Smash Bros. Melee will most likely be listed in every single one, so I’ll refer to it as SSBM henceforth. Important Characters Introduced: Various key figures of the series who debut in said titles. Platforms: What game systems these, in theory, are playable on. Notes: Quick side notes about these projects that I rattle off from my brain. There will be a summary of the game and it's basic backstory (often in sales pitch style), and my explanation of it all. Then bullet points detailing other notable features. Next chapter will detail the first 2 entrants to the series...when my love for the show first became realized. Edited by Mezoroth, Sep 26 2008, 08:57 PM.
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Head Abbot of the Shrine of Princess Kimball since 2006 GASP! A character sketch for me?! Thanks Marathon! :3 | |
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| Mezoroth | Sep 26 2008, 08:56 PM Post #3 |
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Interior crocodile alligator, I drive a Chevolet movie theatre
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PART TWO - THE BEGINNING (TS1 AND 2) Before I begin, quick note that the characters "Rock" and "Blues" are Alex's surrogate brothers. Male WOOHP agents, with helmets that bestow the powers and armor of MegaMan and ProtoMan respectively. Bass is mainly himself, an android that after some interesting circumstances works for WOOHP and general justice. The names of those 3 will come up a lot in the future, so I thought I'd clear it up beforehand. Project: Totally Spies! Nicknames: “The Best Idea I Ever Had” “TS1” Follows: Season 1 Dates: Early 2002 TS was: On ABC Family Main Influences: SSBM, Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo, Mega Man Important Characters Introduced: Uh…everyone. SCA (Sam, Clover, Alex), RBB (Rock, Blues, Bass), every reoccurring character (Jerry, Mandy, Arnold), Dee Jay, Sagat, Quickman, Snakeman, Shadowman, Pharoahman, Napalmman, King, Tim Scam, Dr. Wily Platforms: GC, PS2 Notes: …the first one. Decided that Totally Spies, Mega Man, and Street Fighter needed to come together and have a chat. Thank God for Super Smash Bros.  Choose your gadgets! Power up your weapons! Uh…do your nails! It’s Spy Time! Sam, Clover, Alex, Rock, Blues, and Bass take on the world in a no-holds-barred brawlfest! Essentially, the heroes of this shindig (SCA and RBB) battle the forces of evil, including a myriad of “Robot Masters” designed and controlled by Dr. Wily. These robot masters are humanoid machines that can exhibit feeling, free thought, and other characteristics that push the boundaries of robotics. Renting them out to aspiring villains around the globe, Wily watches the money pour in for an even bigger operation… Eventually, the spies confront and defeat him, scattering the remnants of his forces and making the world safe again for the fun of normal teen life. -As this is the first in the series, the content here varies very little from the big overview’s description. This does mark the appearance of a lot of key figures, many of whom are involved in almost every project henceforth. - Rolling, side-stepping, throw teching, air blocking…all that good stuff introduced. -Music for this one generally borrowed from the Sonic Adventure soundtracks. Other sources include various arrangements of classic MegaMan and Street Fighter music, naturally. Later, I'd throw some KOF 2000 tracks in to recapture my interest in the soundtrack. Project: Totally Spies! 2 Nicknames: “TS2” “TS2: NCE” Follows: Season 2 Dates: Mid 2002, Mid 2004 TS was: Started when it was still on ABC Family. Finishing touches when season 2 was on CN. During its Golden Age, I’d think. Main Influences: SSBM, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Anime, Mega Man 8 Important Characters Introduced: Neo Mad Gear crew (Rolento, Sodom, Birdie), Adon, Dan Hibiki, Britney, Kigami, Narutaki, Ryoko, M.Bison Platforms: GC, PS2 Notes: Definitely my favorite project. I wish this one existed. Series and characters were still fresh, and rivalries and friendships that last throughout the series (Like SCA vs. Mad Gear, the Mandy and Dan partnership, etc.) were forged here…plus I lost count of how many times I revamped the roster. Probably over 8 or 9, and it just kept evolving as a project. This is the symbol of my TS fandom. My made a shirt for it, even. XD It’s make-or-break time as the gang returns for even more adventures and over the top battles! This time a twisted megalomaniac crime lord known as M.Bison is making his move towards global conquest with his ‘Shadowloo’ syndicate. Armed with an arsenal of gadgets and the slickest moves to hit espionage in ages, SCA and RBB travel the globe to confront an array of die-hard world warriors, wacky villains, and ultimately Bison himself. This is where EVERYTHING happens and paves the way for the rest of the series and the events within. The roster for this one has been changed countless times since I started this up before I knew anything about the second season (episodes, charaters, etc) and was crafted while I was slowly getting into anime in general. As such, many characters from whatever series I got into found their way here. Narutaki of Steam Detectives and Ryoko of Real Bout Highschool are the 2 that have persevered over time. This project has character sketches for about half of the…60+ people involved. None of the others really come close to that kind of development. This also had several ideas like a World Tour mode and a ridiculous, “probably inspired by Halo” 8-player melee mode that I gave up after dreaming a bit too big. As whichever fighter, you go around the world and attempt various missions from the second season. As you go, you have chance encounters with other characters that (usually) are pivotal to the outcome of your story, thus forming the many rivalries of the series. In the end, most characters battle Bison and his henchmen, including a brainwashed (yet again, sorry ^^;) Pam-Alice-Crimson combo. Others (like the villains) get a chance to battle the 6 main characters and the man himself, Jerry Lewis. - Guard break added, the bane of cheap-ass turtlers everywhere. - Dash-Run added, allowing one to turn a dash maneuver into a sprint to chase the enemy down. - A million characters to unlock, from TS and beyond. I think the final count was in the low 50s. - Dan Hibiki enters the series. ‘Nuff said. - Story battles with dialogue 'demo scenes' between characters to spice things up. Basically SF Alpha3 was the first time I had seen any of this kind of thing, so I naturally wanted to jam it in here. I was obsessed with this at one point. :3 - Fan Tome, my current mascot, debuts. Greatest inside joke of sophomore year EVAR. In short, someone make TS2. NOW. SRSLY! Next chapter is a from the days my fandom was climbing the mountain to the peak of greatness, in a project where I took the ideas to fellow TS fans to see what we could come up with...and that was the original UDM... |
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Head Abbot of the Shrine of Princess Kimball since 2006 GASP! A character sketch for me?! Thanks Marathon! :3 | |
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| Trillium | Sep 27 2008, 10:55 AM Post #4 |
Winkles Acknowledge Me.
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This thing made a lot more sense to me then it does now. Maybe it works better in small doses than one big toss at you. Still, I remember like, half of this which is pretty sad considering I can't remember half the stuff they taught me in college.
Didn't said discussion eventually find it's way to a KP Yahoo Group in which KP fans were offended by our suggestions of punching Ron? And I'm both glad and...unsettled that my fan stuff is still alive. |
 The internet. Ruining (or possibly improving. I'm not sure which this is.) pretty much everything since...Al Gore Made it. Trilly's Blog. Free music sometimes. I have no fun comments now.  I think of this every time I see one. | |
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| Mezoroth | Sep 29 2008, 04:48 PM Post #5 |
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Interior crocodile alligator, I drive a Chevolet movie theatre
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Yeah, it was probably easiest to as it happened. That or I suck at explaining stuff that's so far embeded into my head.  The real familiar stuff is on the way. The first two projects were largely done before I became aware of the interbutts and posting on boards, though they had some due time to stand out here and there. (like the 2 drawings I scanned years ago)
I don't remember the details (and I didn't read that far into the thread the other day when I went to look), but if it did it may have possibly found its way into the Off-Topic more than that fanmade thread. Probably because we all lived in the Off-Topic board, so a lot of the anti-KP stuff went down there. |
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Head Abbot of the Shrine of Princess Kimball since 2006 GASP! A character sketch for me?! Thanks Marathon! :3 | |
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| Mezoroth | Oct 1 2008, 06:01 PM Post #6 |
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Interior crocodile alligator, I drive a Chevolet movie theatre
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PART THREE - MEZ AND THE INTERNETS (TSHQ and NEW CLASS) As I've alluded to in past posts, this is the part of the timeline when I brought all my shenanigans online to various TS forums. Really though, there was only one real forum at the time, Mela's (mighty) TSHQ. Project: Totally Spies! The Ultimate Dream Match Nicknames: “TS3” “UDM” “TSHQ” Follows: No real season in particular Dates: 2003 TS was: On hiatus in US. Main Influences: SSBM, King of Fighters 98, the fledgling online fanbase for TS Important Characters Introduced: The Rabid TS Fans Team, Team NAFTA, Team Trilly, The A-Ko Team, The Xyber 9 Team Platforms: ??? Probably Arcade Notes: It had 96 characters. Yes. 96. And some had alternate versions. And some are caricatures of real people. Fun fact: Trillium is in this game twice, but only one character is the actual forum member… It’s pure mayhem! The world’s technology is hacked to shreds by a malefic computer virus powered by the depths of the netherworld: Cyber-Malgus. WOOHP has a way to confront this threat, but even our heroes may not be enough. Deciding to hold an open tournament for any willing volunteers, the Ultimate Dream Match begins! Oh GOD. UDM. This…this was online TS fandom at it’s BEST. Months before even a scent of the show getting picked up by Cartoon Network here in the States, I decided to try my hand at a new project (basically the next game in line after TS2). At this point I was getting to know other die-hard TS fans via the internets, so I figured I could make this project awesomer (it is now a word. Deal) by gathering input from everyone and, hell, even asking if they’d like in on the carnage through a caricature of themselves. Somehow, this led to 32 teams of 3 fighters each, making a staggering 96 fighters. As I was delving into SNK’s King of Fighters series for the first time, I wanted to do something with team battles, and UDM was basically it. Characters range from the usual suspects (those who had appeared in the past 2 titles), heroes and villains from various other series favored by the fans, original fan-made characters other than my own, and rabid TS fans. It was one big party. Any one who was part of the TSHQ crew (you know who you are, no naming names here :p) back then might not remember some of the other things I did, but they DEFINETLY should remember this madness. If I figure out how to do stuff with M.U.G.E.N., I am making this project. XD There was a breif period when this madness was actually part of the canon for the rest of the numbered series. Mainly during the beginnings of TS3, which features cameos from several peeps introduced in UDM. After awhile, I realized I was crazy, and broke it off from continuity. Now, this project sits happily by itself where it will remain a testament to a golden age of TS and its fandom. - 96 characters. Again...damn. I think, like, a quarter of that were actual TS characters. I will note that the "real" UDM in '07 topped at 71. TSHQ sits on the throne for biggest roster.  - Teams aspect introduced. This is important to many of the future projects and their respective stories, namely TS3 and TS4. - SNK characters finally appear in the TS series. Kyo, Terry, and Ryo man one team whilst Iori, Kim, and Ralf form another. From there, several would trickle down to other projects, notably Iori and Ralf to my Martin Mystery projects. -Real people appear in one of these projects for the first time. And, if I remember that tournament we had going on the HQ boards, they kicked the crap out of everybody. I should just made you guys the final bosses. Would've made things easier. ---- Project: Totally Spies: The New Class Nicknames: “TS New Class” TSNC” “New Class” Follows: Season 1 mainly Dates: mid, late 2003 TS was: Still on hiatus in US, but not for much longer. It was right after Canada got Alex Quits for the first time, though. Main Influences: Random 3D line fighters, Street Fighter III, Power Stone, Trigun, BRITNEY Important Characters Introduced: Tiffany, Emily, Grey Stone, Ballade, Seth, BOB, Jon Hweet, Duo Platforms: Arcade, XBOX Notes: My TS spin-off, inspired by Britney’s appearance into the world. :3 (I am dead serious) The other favorite project, since this was an attempt to do something with a team of original characters. Almost like a fanfic, except no one is grossly overpowered! (except King, but he’s the boss, so he’s allowed to be) Fun Fact: I will say, Bleach Blade Battlers series plays almost exactly like what I have here. I was surprised it actually works, lol. It's on the PS2 over in Japan, though the first one might get translated and pop up locally. The world’s gone crazy and the usual gang of heroes is way beyond preoccupied! The egomaniacal King is out of control and is building an army to bring the world to its knees, and it’s up to WOOHP’s newest power team to take him down! There’s Tiff, the sensible artist; Emily, the wild adrenaline junkie; Grey Stone, the open-minded free spirit; and Ballade, the hard hitting techno-fighter! It’s the start of a long career in action featuring many faces, old and new… It’s Totally Spies!...through other eyes! As mentioned, this was all Britney’s doing. Her appearance got me ridiculously pumped up and that inspired the idea of a spin-off. Essentially, I wanted to do something with her early days of enlisting/training for WOOHP, which meant diving back into season 1. At this point I came upon the idea of how there are probably many side stories that have occurred while the main characters were out saving the world the first time. They can’t handle EVERY crime that happens at the same time….things like that. So from there I drafted a team of originals that would pick up the slack while the main characters are busy. Using all the experiences and knowledge that I had obtained since early ’02, I tackled season 1 again. And from there came what is probably the greatest brainstorming session ever. The end result was a mix of mostly new faces with a few series vets (like Tim Scam, Mr. Sebastian, Snakeman, Sagat…) that headlined the adventures of a brand new quartet. A quick recap on said quartet, we had: -Tiff (in dark green), cut from sensible type characters, but not an academic like Sam. Though she goes on her instincts while investigating, she'll flake a bit in a pinch and usually have to play by the book to get out of trouble. Hails from San Francisco. -Emily (in orange), the wild type with an interest in extreme sports. Naturally has trouble getting used to stealth missions, but doesn't mind action and close shaves. Has a rivalry with the "rich girl" at school, a la Clover vs. Mandy. Hails from Palm Springs, CA. -Grey Stone (in gray), the free-spirit hippie type. She belongs to a Native American tribe, the Thunderfoot (of Capcom's T.Hawk), and is 'destined' to fight for justice. Hails from Santa Fe. -Gabriel is the fighting, family man type. He's an answer to Rock and Blues in the numbered series, as he has WOOHP helmet to give him power as Ballade. Much love if you know which Mega Man game he's from, lol. Hails from San Diego. As New Class was an experimental spin-off, I figured it would play differently too. Instead of the usual 2D Smash Bros./Street Fighter madness, I tried to think 3D. I wanted to do it in a way that allowed it to be similar to line fighters like Tekken, but allowed players to break the line-fighting and go anywhere around the stage freely, like Power Stone. The result was a ‘Lock-On’ feature that allowed you to do whatever you’d like running around the level (like throw/break props, take cover behind something, etc.) , but then target and Lock-On to someone to change things into a traditional line fighter. Basically you can switch between these 2 things at will. I felt this would give it a unique play and feel while making it easy for some series outsiders to transition easily to the general mayhem of TS. I also did it for the combos that people seem to like so much. This originally had a story mode, with 3D action stages sort of deal, but I neglected/discarded it as it ended up being too damn complicated. (especially for a modern arcade game) As such I figured to borrow a page out of TS2 and fit stories and dialogue into a regular arcade mode. Each character fights a set number of opponents along with 2 people that are related to their story. At the end, you would face 3 of 6 bosses, depending on the character. The hero types would usually get King and his stronger underlings; villains would get Jerry and higher up WOOHP agents. However, this was not always the case: most characters were a mix between the good/evil bosses. A first for me, as I had grown up on the notion that there was always one boss everyone gets no matter what. When I went back to working on TS2 for the final touchups on the project, I ended up taking this idea with me to maximize the “real” start of the storyline. - Features a balance of brand new fighters as well as series vets in a foray into 3D fighting, including 4 new heroes. - First game to be seriously designed with an arcade cabinet in mind. It had a million buttons, IIRC. - My friend John Wheat becomes a Totally Spies character as Britney's brother Jon Hweet, and a long running in-joke among my friends and I. - Featured Vash the Stampede as a playable character. - Only project to have it's own website, which I will post/plug later. Edited by Mezoroth, Oct 1 2008, 06:02 PM.
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Head Abbot of the Shrine of Princess Kimball since 2006 GASP! A character sketch for me?! Thanks Marathon! :3 | |
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