They Came From Hollywood in Computer Games magazine

[Captain Cookiepants]

With awesome screenshots and a scene from the trailer.
Hey Sparky, it seems you're serious about the Spring release date. Yay.

Kinda old news I know, and I'm sorry but the thing about getting names from census data has been bugging me: How exactly does that work? Does this mean I might actually be in there?

Edit: Also: I'm REALLY starting to question whether or not Harold Haxton really existed.

[Sparky]

Kinda old news I know, and I'm sorry but the thing about getting names from census data has been bugging me: How exactly does that work? Does this mean I might actually be in there?

The names are generated randomly, assembled from three census lists: The most popular first names (male list and female list) and the most popular last names (a few thousand names in each list). The names are picked using a bell curve, so the ones at the top of those lists are more commonly used by the game. So if your name is John Smith, you'll definitely show up, but if your name is Aloysius Grimshaw-Pong, it's unlikely. You can also make a custom list by entering full names that you want to appear, like Tom Chick, Peter Molyneux or John Many Jars. When you load a scenario, you can tell the game which of your custom lists to use, so that, for example, many of the tiny humans in D.C. have the names of politicians, or in NYC, the names of Woody Allen movie characters. Or just add all the people you hated in high school.

Of course, there are so many people (an average of 1000-2000 onscreen at any given time, and a map is at least a couple hundred screens in size), it usually just ends up being a pleasant surprise that, amidst all the 8-pixel tall hordes, you happened to step on Tom Chick.

[Jakub]

Of course, there are so many people (an average of 1000-2000 onscreen at any given time, and a map is at least a couple hundred screens in size), it usually just ends up being a pleasant surprise that, amidst all the 8-pixel tall hordes, you happened to step on Tom Chick.

We need some Easter eggs here!

A Tom Chick in LA, a Chet and Erik tandem, that kinda stuff =]

[Captain Cookiepants]

Ok, thank you :D

Also I introduced your game to the one forum that will appreciate it for the B-Movie aspect. Needless to say they are all VERY excited. :)

[Staff Sergeant]

Kind of a huge necro here, but I stumbled across a link to Sparky's game's page and I am intrigued. How much closer is the game to completion, Sparky?

[Adree]

Kind of a huge necro here, but I stumbled across a link to Sparky's game's page and I am intrigued. How much closer is the game to completion, Sparky?

http://i40.tinypic.com/5uk56o.gif

[Tyjenks]

I think their (Sparky's and Lars') real jobs keep getting in the way. Supposedly it IS still in the works.

[Aleck]

Arise! (and apologies for the thread necromancy)

Is there any update on this? I've been looking forward to it for years.

Aleck

[Dean]

I guess it should be a Kinect game now.

[extarbags]

I guess it should be a Kinect game now.

You know, that would actually be awesome.