UPDATED Newsletter 1-2 MORE FIREWORKS NEWS & Pics!!!

[Bugdozer]

01/01/2007 – Happy New Ear! Get ready for '07 with a highlight of VMK events from 2006 - and we remix a VMK favorite, the Castle Fireworks game!


Happy New Ear!
Hope you are had a wonderful holiday season, I have quick update to get your 2007 rolling but first let's look back on some VMK highlights for last year!

VMK 2006 - YEAR IN REVIEW

January - Monsters Door Game Launched

February - Everest Month and the month that hosted our first ever Ride-A-Thon, plus the launch of Everest Track pieces.

April - The Narnia Celebration! VMK gave you a chance to win exclusive Narnia Items from the Narnia DVD site.
May - Baseball came to VMK!

June - An updated Pirates Of The Caribbean game launched.

July - Waterslides! And a new Waterslide Puzzle games based on the Walt Disney World Water Parks were released.
September - This month the video game legend Tron entered the Virtual Magic Kingdom.

October - Halloween came to VMK, and so did Single Use Items.

November - VMK's Holiday Celebration and the debut of the Space Mountain Track pieces.
That's a short list of the cool things that happened in VMK in 2006. Wow. We have grown and changed a lot over the last 12 months (don't forget we also defeated the horrible Disconnect Monster!). I know each of you have your own memories and things you liked best about 2006 too! For 2007, we here at VMK Central are committed to continued growth and improvement of community.
As I've mentioned before we have exciting changes in store for you for early January and beyond! Speaking of changes, introducing...

CASTLE FIREWORKS
remixed

We've put a new spin on one of your most favorite games - I know you want to learn more about our remix of Fireworks!

The screen above shows some off the brand new interface and game features.
The remixed version of Castle Fireworks has many cool new additions, let's take a look at them!

SPECIAL FEATURES

Bonus Combo
Explode the same shapes in the correct order to earn extra points.

Now go for a Flawless Bonus!

Real Time Scoring
During gameplay, this shows you score and that of your closest competitors. For example, if yavn has 500 points but sparky, sillysyl and caffdawg have close to 100 points, it will only show sparky's and sillysyl's score to caffdawg because they are the closest competitor caffdawg needs to beat.

During breaks between rounds you'll also be able to see the Top 3 Players and their current avatar.

Flawless Bonus
Every time you get a Flawless your Flawless Bonus goes up and you get more points.

Fireworks Left
Number of fireworks left to explode before the round ends.

Coming In
Shows the next fireworks due up in the show.

Explode All
Hit this button to explode everything on the screen. You need to have the correct firework selected in order for this to work and once you use it you will have to wait a bit for it to recharge.

Lock & Unlock
You now have a new way to move your selection cursor. Unlocked is the traditional movement method, with the firework shapes locked in place and the cursor moves over them. Locked keeps the cursor locked in the center and the shapes moves left and right (try this play technique and you'll see what we mean).

Randomized Fireworks
No more repetitive patterns, now the patterns are now totally random so you never know what's next (aside from looking at the next firework 'Coming In' box).

Revised Scoring & Prizes
We're still tuning this, so I don't want to give you too many details yet, but the credits you win will be based on how many fireworks you explode as well as the correct timing of exploding them.
For more info on 'Fireworks remixed' check out the FAQ.
We've been testing Fireworks Remix and are really excited! The music and backgrounds have not changed, but we hope to switch them out over the next few months.

Next?
Over the last few weeks we've discussed lots of changes to VMK, VMK Pass, Tickets and Castle Fireworks remixed. So what else can I tell you about that will get you excited? Well, be sure to check back next week when I'll have sneak peek screens of what's on the way in the coming months. Plus! Monorail Music Mixer!
Hey, my New Year is off to a great start, I've just beat Caffdawg & Sparky for the 3rd game in a row of remixed... Now back to the testing!
See you in the game,
Yavn

 

[VMK_MagicalLadee]

WOOT. Thats aweshum.

 

[WDWLIGHTNINGZ]

Awesome!!

 

[silvrstrfx]

And I'd just gotten relatively good at the old game LOL... this happened last year with pirates, too. Oh well, at least it keeps it interesting and gives the opportunity for a new generation of players to become good. Ah, putting my nonexistent hand-eye coordination to the test again

 

[Laurabearz]

The whole random thing has me nervous....

Not sure if I get the lock unlock thing..

Also since they havent worked out the score/payouts yet I suspect it will be a while before we see it...

Oh and the "New Interface" looks just like the old one but with a flash Fireworks Remix added to it... Ooooh that's 'new'

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Hmm. All I want to know about fireworks is will I get some sort of credits for my time and will it use more of my computer's resources? If it does, then I may not be able to play it at all.
I already can only play 3 games of it at a time before having to close out.

 

[laxplaya1346]

Wow... i totally forgot about sillysyl, first tester i met


Hey maybe this game will work on Macs!

 

[kitashus]

oh, wow! I was wondering when they were going to revamp this game. Guess I'll have to relearn it...

Sounds like the scoring might be good though. We'll see...

 

[BestLittleLauren]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeto I dont get the locked thing eaither but still Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeto

 

[VirtuallyMe]

fireworks being the main game I play I was very interested in learning about the changes...

Glad to hear that your score will be somewhat based on how you play and not just on where you place- they mentioned the score for flawless hits and also bonus' for hitting certain combinations

I sort of like that they are changing up the order the fireworks appear- as long as they keep them in order on game board (the order that we flip through them with the arrow keys) I think the game will be more fun and and exciting that way- it can be a long 10 minutes when you play a bunch.

And blast all the fireworks- hmm the only time I would think that would help you is for some of the last current patterns where you get runs of a lot of the same fireworks- otherwise I just don't see it being that much of a benefit but I'm sure it will have it's place.

I'm still hoping that the first place finishers will get more than 2nd and lower even if it is a bigger bonus for the place you finish...

And now I guess we also have to make sure our avatars are dressed nicely since the top finishers in each round end up on screen lol

I'm excited to see the changes coming I wonder when it will go into place?

 

[shadow pirate]

I'm content with most of the new features, but the new interface worries me. Nothing a few days practice can't handle though. This sounds pretty awesome.

 

[Alionette]

fireworks being the main game I play I was very interested in learning about the changes...

Glad to hear that your score will be somewhat based on how you play and not just on where you place- they mentioned the score for flawless hits and also bonus' for hitting certain combinations

I sort of like that they are changing up the order the fireworks appear- as long as they keep them in order on game board (the order that we flip through them with the arrow keys) I think the game will be more fun and and exciting that way- it can be a long 10 minutes when you play a bunch.

And blast all the fireworks- hmm the only time I would think that would help you is for some of the last current patterns where you get runs of a lot of the same fireworks- otherwise I just don't see it being that much of a benefit but I'm sure it will have it's place.

I'm still hoping that the first place finishers will get more than 2nd and lower even if it is a bigger bonus for the place you finish...

And now I guess we also have to make sure our avatars are dressed nicely since the top finishers in each round end up on screen lol

I'm excited to see the changes coming I wonder when it will go into place?

I believe we are going to get a 1 use pin if we win, and yes, it is better to get first than second. My hope is that you can get a lot, and I am SO happy that it will have flawless bonus. I'm worried about the order thing though for a bonus, because here is what I think. There will be precious few times that we can get these without having to miss a firework.

All I can add on to this is- I CAN NOT WAIT!!

Lion

 

[VirtuallyUnknown]

The whole random thing has me nervous....

Not sure if I get the lock unlock thing..

Also since they havent worked out the score/payouts yet I suspect it will be a while before we see it...

Oh and the "New Interface" looks just like the old one but with a flash Fireworks Remix added to it... Ooooh that's 'new'

Thats not true, I like the bright stars instead of the dull old 1s that look like they could get hit by something any moment and bend down like tin foil.

P.S. Yavn:

(dont forget we defeated the Disconnect Monster).

That may be true but the crash monster moved right in.

 

[anya.sparrow]

P.S. Yavn: That may be true but the crash monster moved right in.

Fortunately, I have not had any problems except for the Yard Sale Monster (YSM, lol). Hee.

 

[CoolTrainerTerry]

Am I the only one that DOESN'T like the remix idea for this?

 

[AmberDaze]

I wish they would keep the old game as well as add the new version. This way we could choose which one we prefer to play...everybody's happy. .

 

[VirtuallyMe]

I wish they would keep the old game as well as add the new version. This way we could choose which one we prefer to play...everybody's happy. .

LOL guess that is sort of having our cake and eating it too...

I wished they did that for pirates- I was just learning to manage a round of pirates on the old game and can't do it on the new at all

I'm going to save my fears and concerns for when the remix actually occurs and remain pollyanna for now and hope for the best and play the glad game if it turns out not so great...

 

[sleepingbeautymama]

I have to say I'm a little scared about these new fireworks. I liked the old way because it was a sure way for me to get credits. I hope they at least reward the top players with the same type of credits as before.

 

[LittleWoodenHead]

Am I the only one that DOESN'T like the remix idea for this?

No, you're not the only one. I have a lot of concerns, too. Hopefully the prize/credit structure will be good, as I fear the remix will favor the more "arcade-inclined".

As for the Lock/Unlock thing, this is how I understand it: Right now, the types of fireworks are stationary at the bottom of the screen and you move between them to select. In the new Locked position, however, instead of moving the cursor highlight to select them, you move the fireworks icon itself to a center position. The cursor doesn't move, the fireworks icons do.

I personally can't see what difference it will make, as you'll still have to move the same number of times left or right to get to the correct firework type. Maybe it will seem different once we actually play it.

 

[mtlhddoc2]

Well, for those who do not like the idea of a new and improved fireworks, all I can say is this. those of us that cannot get past level 3 like the idea.

and mind you, I am no slouch at fireworks, before the "280s" took it over, I could consistently get about 220k, now I dont even have a chance.
I love the idea of a revamp, maybe I will actually bother to play it now.