Score: 8

"A Great Flash"

submission: The Collective #1

date: November 28, 2005

The first impressive part of this flash was the pre-loader screen where 'Alex' came to life with a detailed background scene. I liked the way you are able to attract the viewer to keep a consistent watch to see if any modifications occur at this point. You also add a good font to the 'loading' feature, which is an added bonus. The only negative I can point out so far is the 'erasing' of the preloader, where Alex disappears, momentarily becoming visible - a slight glitch.

The opening menu is also very powerful. Nice use of colours for the background and text. I also like the way you explain the 'Nav-bar', which gives an indication that you are providing a high level of depth into this Flash.

This flash shows a wide range of graphics and animation techniques which are really stunning. I like how you used the multi split screen during the two battles, such as the two of you charging, the shuriken flying etc. Your use of movements, chasing scenes and three-dimensional use was also very powerful. One slight notch I picked up on was the scene where the 'ninja agents' begin to approach you as the camera pans in a circle. Watch the lines on your body as they tend to flash in and out a bit.

You also developed a very humorous storyline which not only engaged the viewer, but also allowed them to feel involved. I liked your use of the irony of 'power' in the later parts of the film. Also there were particular points where the comic relief was strong, such as when ninja robots piled up on you and when Alex pressed all the buttons in the elevator. Another suggestion may be to make times between the joke and the punch line shorter, as time is an important (although not always considered) factor in comedy based flash.

Apart from that, the concept that requires the most work on is your sound quality. Although it is plausible, there are times when it is slightly muffled, due to the quality of the microphone. "Uh Alex, a little help here." The best two ways to approach this problem is to project a louder voice, but be more distanced from the microphone. The alternative is to buy a higher quality microphone, but that costs money. I really like the use of your music throughout the film, especially the catchy introduction you provided. It's one that sticks in the head.

Apart from that, a really great effort. I really look forward to Collective #2. Keep up the fantastic work!

Alkador, aka Danny.

Score: 5

"A Good Game"

submission: Blocks!

date: November 17, 2005

This flash is very well presented. The blocks are colour friendly and the music implemented is effective and is good enough to keep the gamer's attention to continue playing. Maybe you should have brightened the blocks to keep the gamer's attention to the flash consistent or something.

Apart from that, it did present a high level of difficulty for the gamer. 'Restarts' involved changing the entire order of the blocks which was good, but only added frustration to the player. Most gamers like games that start off easy, gradually building up into a complicated mass that requires thinking. Your game directly tackles the complexity, making it hard for the player to win. After a few plays, I realized that I would not be able to win without analysing the board in depth. Upon doing this, I considered the very thought: will there be combinations that will not provide wins?

Other flaws in this flash was the 'restart' button itself. Upon pressing it, we were led back to the loading screen yet the frame of the game was still present, making the overall quality of the flash lower than it should have been. I would assume that you were meant to make the blocks rearrange. Maybe you should also add interchanging music instead of a constant loop (it is good though), which would raise the overall quality of your flash presented. Apart from that, it was about as good as it could get for a basic flash. I hope that my suggestions are of help and that they can incorporated into your future flash.

Keep up your current work and best of luck for you in the future!

Score: 3

"Nostalgic"

submission: Space Invaders Clasic

date: November 17, 2005

This flash really does incorporate the traditional style of the game and you have done it very well. However, as a reviwer, I must place forward my recommendations for you to improve such a thing. When I played this original arcade (and your flash), there were many things I came across which I did not like or wanted improvement upon as I felt it made the overall gameplay low in interest or for another reason which lowered the game's depth.

The first recommendation I can provide is to use a larger resolution. Smaller resolutions are good in limiting the Flash file size, but it makes it difficult to see and harder to play. If you were to increase the resolution four times larger than what it is, it would become a much more effective flash which I would enjoy moreso. I know that increasing the resolution would make the ships and such more pixelated, but it also makes it easier for the player to see what they are doing.

One thing I notice in both this game and the original is the delay of movement present when you press the arrow keys to move and when firing, particularly when you miss the alien ships. This was also present in the original. I am not sure whether you wanted to pertain this, but I feel that making the game a bit more quicker and smooth would improve it's overall performance, making it more likeable to the player.

My final tip is the use of 'extra credits' provided by the C button. I know that this is not a real game, in essence of being one distributed to the gamer, but adding extra credits makes it all but too easy. Overall, your work is well done, but try to incorporate these little tips I have provided so you can improve your flash in the near future.

Score: 2

"Hmm...unfinished"

submission: ODST squad

date: November 17, 2005

As you have said, it is a test, so I will review this 'test' you have uploaded to Newgrounds. Firstly, one thing I look for for all flash uploaded on NG (no matter what) how completed they are. This movie presents a very powerful introduction with a good use of graphics and style incorporated into it. However, this quality is lost through the incomplete animation you have used later.

You have good potential for future flash but only if you have the effort to complete it. If you had of completed this flash using the basic animation techniques I saw, you may have earned yourself a 6 or a 7, but you really need to work on your work, 'tests' or not.

Score: 3

"Missing a lot..."

submission: Welcome To

date: November 13, 2005

The loading screen was a bit awkward. The words were not alligned in the centre and I wasn't sure if that was intentional or note, but it would have been more effective to keep them centred. The loading bar was also a little bit large, which distorted attraction by viewers.

I then tested out the effectiveness of your pause button, noticing that your background tween moved even though the flash was supposed to have been paused. Try finding methods to stop the overall flash from moving.

Your drawings and style were very good. I must say that I was deeply impressed by your level of animation and this level is much greater than average flash. If practiced correctly, I could expect some very powerful flash from you in the near future.

The next thing I noticed was the strange voice recordings. Increase the recording volume. A higher level of sound makes the overall level of the movie much more effective and this was missing from your movie. There were also points where the microphone reached a 'volume spike', which distorts the sound input and makes the viewer less inclined to watch. Also focus on adding personality and persona into your voices so they take life and become more effective.

The final part I picked up on was the strange 'unfinished end'. Guns n' Rose's 'Welcome to the Jungle' joke would have been more effective if you placed the timing correctly. There were also points in the flash where two sounds played at once and this made it very confusing for me to dinstinguish which ones I should have heard.

The final thing is the spacing between the 'boss' and 'tom' at the water cooler. There are just little kwirks here and there that require improvement. Fix these little things up and your flash will become much better in the future times to come.

If you're going to make a flash, please finish it.

Score: 0

"Too simple"

submission: RedCircle

date: November 13, 2005

Even for my basic circle spinning flashes, I added something to keep the reader attracted, such as decreasing the spinning velocity to lower, hence making the circle roll and fall. I can understand why you submitted this flash, so I will provide suggestions for particular areas of improvement for a simple animation.

The first thing that degraded the overall score of this flash was the resolution. That is, the overall size of the flash. A huge area of emptiness with a single focus (the spinning circle) lowers the depth of the flash and you must be sure that you are using the correct resolutions in such flash. Make it 200 x 200 or even smaller, depending on the size of the circle.

Other simple methods of making effective simplicity is to add shading or even a shadow, which would engage the viewer. Through these simple methods, the viewer would be more inclined to watch the flash. As I have suggested in other flash, a background would also be useful.

I hope these simple suggestions will stay in your mind. Good luck for future flash.

Score: 2

"Could be much better"

submission: Fruit Assault

date: November 13, 2005

As you know I am a harsh reviewer, so I will give you some critical comments for this flash. The first thing that would be recommended to use in most flashes is a backgroun which is capable of engaging the viewer and keeping their interest alerted throughout the length of the entire flash. By doing this, you not only add more depth, but create a higher level of effectiveness which is used in the more 'advanced' flashes out there.

The next suggestion I hold is a quote; 'If you are going to make something simple, at least present it at a high quality'. This goes towards the banana and apple, where an extreme level of depth can be added towards them. High level shading and curves can be used to really bring life into the flash, which could raise your type of style. Sometimes doing this type of depth is enough to not require a background.

The next suggestion I hold for you is to use some sounds, anything. The music you have is simple and effective, but maybe you should add something else to make the flash more effective as a whole.

Finally, spend more time on your work. You could have made a greater effort for this flash. You could have added more comic relief by having one 'give birth' or something out of whack that the viewer would not expect. The key to a flash is having the viewer drawn in and kept them at edge at a state where they want more. Keep this in mind and I hope that your future flash are at a much higher calibre than what I have seen.

Good luck with future work.

Score: 2

"Needs work"

submission: Flash:The Basics

date: November 13, 2005

The first suggestion I have for you is to improve your loader screen. Put the word 'loading' (add eclipses maybe [...]) and create an engaging background to the viewer...preferably black or a cool colour such as blue. The flash really is not effective when I see a white screen with a back outlined button with the word 'play' in the centre. Imrpoving this will keep viewers attached to your flash.

The same suggestion goes for your menu. A user friendly menu (one that engages the reader) is more effective and easily liked. I was happy you included music (Crazy Motorcyle Chase is an interesting composition). Calmer is also effective too. Work on your background for this menu and make the buttons more user friendly.

The next suggestion I have for you is to change your resolution. Make the width bigger than the height as flash are more effective in this format - like movies are at the cinema.

The final suggestion I have is the actual tutorials themselves. An effective tutorial holds various styles of learning which the reader can assosociate with. Some can read from a book where otheres rely on images (like me). Put some screenshots of the flash work and stick them into the flash so learning animators are able to grasp where they can change the frame rate, where they can modify the Action Script and such. You must also remember that not everyone has the same version of flash, so this is why imagery is needed at times. My final suggestion goes for when you click the buttons. Remove the sound effect that follows as this makes the reader less inclined to hold an interest in the flash.

Overall, it was a good start for a tutorial flash, but a lot is missing. Work on what I have suggested and I hope that you can produce something more powerful in the future.

Score: 1

"Interesting"

submission: When the Wind Blows

date: November 12, 2005

I know this is a small file sized flash, but the play button appeared while the flash was loading for me (as I have dial-up).

I followed your instructions, watching your flash and watching the basic animation techiques you used. There is one point where the 'block' scrape sound abrubtly ends. There is also another point in the flash where the cloud appears 'incomplete' at the bottom right end.

I watched the entire flash as that is what I do when I write reviews. I was a bit dissapointed as I expect better things from you but I guess it does have a point as well. I'm suprised it passed through the portal, but then again, I guess people vote through anything assuming they don't watch it all.

Hope your future works are less like this.

Score: 3

"A different flash"

submission: Things that go slash

date: November 12, 2005

It was a very dark flash, that I will say, but I didn't really get the idea of it. One particular part of the flash I noticed was the dark lighting at the tombstone. One tip for such movies: If you're going to make something be read, then make it bright. However, if you don't want it to be read, keep it dark and brief so there is not enough time for the viewer to read it.

The next part I saw was the hill, tree and cloud and the small shadow, which was very effective in my opinion. You used very good shading and animation techniques for a dark setting. However, as the flash progressed, I saw the yellow window and other scenes, which proved to be very confusing to me. I am not sure what the purpose of this flash is, but it was very difficult for me to grasp. Maybe I'm dumb, but this is what I saw.

Anyway, best of luck with future work.