h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Commander Keen - A1092124
Author: Afgncaap5 (Burford? Are you there, Burford?) - U99500

Well, I like it, seems well written and imoftive and Commander Keen is a true hero of mine

First of all, I've gotta say that I'm honored to have this Commander Keen article nominated (though it may put me on a trend as being "That Guy who wrote all those computer game-related articles!").

I never saw this article as "finished" back when I wrote it as I wanted to include more info on just who the makers of the games were, what they wanted to do, etc. However, looking back on it now, I'm thinking that this information might be a bit redundant to add, and unecessary for eager reader edification.

Thanks again, for the nomination, and I'll work on cleaning up some of the grammatical issues.

Well, it taught me something.

I remember a letter to PC Gamer once that recounted a story about someone in Scandanavia -- Denmark I think, but I'm not certain -- claiming that Doom featured babies hanging from the ceiling, and the 'baby' turning out, with the game being played on television, to be Commander Keen. A quick Google search didn't produce anything, though, so I can't be certain that that's reliable.

Good entry!

You need to say in the introduction that this is a Computer Game.

It might be worth giving some details of what the game is like: two dimensional platform game, using the arrow keys, a jump key and a fire key. The controls are very simple compared with later 3-d games which have things like walk/run, side-step etc. The sound on the first three was just PC Speaker sound.

Commander Keen 4 introduced the "Commander Keen Theme", an incessant jolly tune that ran in the background of many of the scenes. This one is hard to get out of your head.

Good thoughts. I'll get on implementing those as soon as I don't have quite as large a school load.

Incidentally, I can confirm the Doom/Keen relationship for you. I think that the "All You Can Eat Keen" website has some screenshots, in fact.

Are you still working on this?

yes, I've just had about two of the Worst Months Ever(TM).

However, soon the school semester will be over, and I'll be able to focus on what really matters: h2g2. Thanks for your patience.

No problem - just pleased to hear you hadn't forgotten us

Great Entry

It might be worth mentioning that the Dopefish cameos in a number of games made by Id and ex-Id employees (and others). I think this site has the full list.
http://dopefish.com/fishinfo.html

The Dopefish Lives

I thought about that....but I also thought about giving the Dopefish its own Guide Entry and just linking to it.

But you are right....as I've done neither, the Dopefish data is severely lacking.

Okay, sorry about the long delay there, folks. Anyway, I've updated the page with many of the suggestions here, and I fixed one or two little grammatical errors in the previous works. It's a little smushed due to the length of my name at the moment, so I should change my name, I think....but aside from that, I'm currently happier with the entry now as it stands.

What do you people think?

I'll try and have a look at this tomorrow. If I don't, be sure to remind me.

Okay. I'll set a nice little post right here, effectively reminding you....assuming that you don't have ten other active conversations that might get rid of it, that is....

Hmmmm....guess I'll have to post again tomorrow, too....

It looks great now!

I'd put the section on Game Play before all the detailed descriptions of the eight games.

There's some repetition in the section on Game Play. Read that bit through and see which bits you've repeated.

You shouldn't put a capital 'T' on 'the' when you use it in the middle of sentence, even if it is with the title of an alien such as the Bloogs.

You should use 'single quotes' rather than "double quotes".

I've no idea what Everclear is. Would it deserve a footnote?

There are a few minor typos and differences between American and British spelling:

pajamas --> pyjamas
noteable --> notable
giant potatoe --> giant potato
photacyon --> photachyon (I think!)
past time --> pastime
favor --> favour
inhabitted --> inhabited
unconcious --> unconscious
Armegeddon --> Armageddon
Ventillation --> Ventilation
inconsistancies --> inconsistencies
maneuvered --> manoeuvred (yes, I know, strange isn't it!)

G

Okay, thanks, I'll get right on those.

One little question about the spelling things, though. Should I really change it when the game itself intentionally does something differently? Like, the photacyon/photachyon thing. I'd feel better about changing it if the story didn't actually spell the name of the item out.

And as for Everclear....um....not a clue, really, beyond the fact that Keen found it in his dad's alcohol cabinet. I assume it's a pretty stiff drink, but beyond that the story doesn't really go into it. Methinks I should research just to be sure....

transform --> transforms (in first paragraph)

existant --> existent

Isn't it 'id Software', conventionally?

Are we assuming readers know what shareware is? I don't know how knowledgeable EG readers are assumed to be.

That's about all I can find.

Hmmm....hadn't thought of the Shareware thing. Thanks, I'll work on that one to when I get a free minute.

Everclear is a brand name of incredibly potent alcoholic drink - 190 proof. When we were young and stupid we used to make kool-aid with it at parties. A google search for 'everclear' will give you a few results, discounting the ones for the band. I can't access them from work so I can't give you more than that.

I'll go take a look at your entry now

Now I see where some of the Crater Labs ideas come from

--Footnotes that come at the end of sentences should be placed before the full stops.
--Need full stop after footnote 9.
--The story sounding interesting >> sounds?

For my tastes it's a bit heavy on the footnotes, but they do all add something to your entry. It just gets tedious having to hover again and again to read them. Could any of them be worked into the text?

I'll have to keep an eye out for the GameBoy version, sounds like the kind of game I would enjoy.

Sadly, the game boy version wasn't up to the normal Keen standards, nearly cementing Keen's status as a "dormant" gaming icon. It's worth a play through if you're a fan of the series, but other than that it's not the most enjoyable of games.

I mean, I enjoyed it, but I enjoy lots of unenjoyable stuff.