CTNP Demo Release 5, Beta Read, Ian & Jonas Portraits, CT DS News

[ctnovelist]

In the process of preparing our presentation documents package for Square-Enix, several relatively minor (though some significant) updates have been made to the Demo Chapters (Chapters 2-5) of the Chrono Trigger Novel.  If you haven't read them in the past or just have an itch to do so again, you'll want to download the new Demo Release 5.

"Finalized" drafts of Chapters 1-7 have also just been released to a group of individuals for the project's first "beta read."  Most of these individuals are self-proclaimed readers and not current fans of the game, though at least one is an old fan.  Through this effort, printed forms of these chapters have been distributed with special note pages so that the readers can jot down their thoughts and reactions as they read through the text.  Following this process, which is slated to end by August 11, all notes will be gathered and used to make any final changes (if necessary) to these chapters before sending them as part of the SE package.

For those of you who have read Chapter 4 of the Demo Chapters, you know that the two captive soldiers (Ian and Jonas) in Manoria Abbey have been given more active roles in the novel.  To personify them along with the rest of the Chrono Trigger cast, I have called upon my friend Miqe to create character portraits for these and other characters who don't already have this particular honor.  Below are the fully colored portraits of both Ian and Jonas.  Portraits of more characters are also on the drawing board, including Fritz Grancourt, Elaine Bellecote, Marle's maidservant Mary, and Pierre Levasseur.

   

Finally, some speculation has begun about Square's sudden trademark of the name "Echoes of Time."  Is this simply a subtitle for the upcoming Nintendo DS release, does this point to a possible new game in the series, or is it completely unrelated?  Only time will tell, though we'd love to hear your thoughts at the CTNP forum (as well as the Compendium's, I'm sure).  See the article here.

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[nightmare975]

Your portraits have a feel to the original art. I like them!

[ctnovelist]

Yeah, that's the effect we were looking for.  I knew Miqe would be the one for the job, and I'm obviously very grateful that he's been able to oblige.  Thanks!

[4th Triforce piece]

Looks intresting and has good potentiol for those who like that kind of work 


Some construtive Criticism.


So I looked at the wepage thinking "Cool I can now finally understand the thoughts of the characters especally Robo and Frog since he is soo funny with his Old English and what Frog thought of all the different time periods"  But nope.

So, It would be nice if this book had a mix between first and third person view depending on the situations as I like to read the thoughts of people too and how they analize things around them plus thoughts put out by the narrator but this Noval looks like it's not it.     Good project for those who love narration point of views but sadly not a balanced one for the 'other crowd'   


If you don't like me not liking it then too bad as I have a right for my insight.  (hey that rhymes)   Don't like my opinions dont' read them. 

[SilentMartyr]

While in theory writing between third person omnipresent and first person is an interesting endeavor it wouldn't work very well for the story. There are so many liberties to take when sharing with the reader what one of the characters is thinking. For all you know you might not like what We would have the characters think in certain situations. It's honestly better for the reader to think for themselves there as we are not writing this only for the fans but for fans of reading as well. Catering to both is something that is taken into extreme consideration with every scene we write.

(I know that this is an incredibly late response but I didn't want him/her to be left without explanation)

[FaustWolf]

ctnovelist, do let us know how the presentation package works out. By approaching the IP holder itself, you're going where no fan has gone before!

[ctnovelist]

I certainly will!  Communication with Square has certainly commenced.  I'll let the community know of any significant updates.

(Sorry for the late reply.  I tend to check the CTNP forum and only this one when I'm putting up an update.  I need to be better about that.)