WoW!  The new site design REALLY surprised me!

I've spent some time this morning trying to fix all of the errors that had existed when the site first updated in the middle of the night.  Please post any glitches you are still seeing here, and I'll try to address them.  Thanks!  

I like the new design as well! I'd like to point out that it needs more Sandusky and less Bunker.

I like it too. I mean.... Wow. Just wow.

The archives seem a little broken though. Go back to Friday's strip (via the "back one" button) and the nav buttons end up in the middle of the strip, and the background disappears.

But the main page looks nice, and that's the important thing

I think I have all of the archives fixed now (you may need to do a hard refresh - F5 on a PC).  As you'll see, the "Rocky Mounain Lion" story line can now be accessed via a link above the main strip.  It will show up in a new comic book-style format.  Hopefully, that works OK for everyone.

Obviously, the non-comic pages still need to be updated to the new style.  I'll get to them one of these days.  

--Last edited by john on 2009-05-11 09:56:42 --

hey the new website rocks bottoms!
Am I the only one to find sandusky older? he looks like more "adult" ^^

go on this way =)

Jeeper creepers, when you said there would be major changes, you weren't bluffing.

Anyhow, I like the outlook of the new site so far, and I second the notion that Sandusky looks more adult (even if he acts like an immature cub).    This new art style could need some getting used to, however, if it's here to stay.  

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meckelbu wrote : This new art style could need some getting used to, however, if it's here to stay.

Yeah, I like the new look for the site, but I'm not crazy about the new look for Sandusky. It will take some getting used to.

John: perhaps I missed the discussion, but why the change in Sandusky's look? Just an artistic choice? Or was there something bothering you about the old look?

Yea, I have to be honest, I'm not thrilled with the new look. I didn't say anything about the pic of Sandusky and Bunker from several weeks ago because I thought it was a one off thing.

I too am curious about he change. Are you just trying different things or are you dead set on this style?

I'm trying to put into words what/how I don't like it. The first word that popped to mind is that it has taken on an "anime" kind of look that just doesn't seem to go well with the characters.

It kind of goes back to the post I made on a comic being like cooking. In this case the cook has changed the recipe, the patron knows something is different, but can't really put it to words or describe it. I really wish I could because I don't want to be someone that just barges in and says, "It sucks". I do have to say I like the old style better.

Now, I'm not going to condemn the new style completely based on one comic. I am pessimistic however on that outlook. We will see what the future brings.

Now, enough of me being the internet tough guy critic and get back to the story here. Poor Bunker, he always seems to be running from someone to someone else for help. Sometimes he is running to Sandusky for help and sometimes he is running away from Sandusky looking for help.

I reminds me of the strategy often used in the BF1942 Desert Combat mod. (Back when I was into it big time.) If a pilot gets a plane on its tail and it can't shake them they would just fly over a friendly base that had AA and let the friendlies have a go at them.

This was especially effective in the El Alamein map with the middle flag. That flag was very important as it either provided a buffer between the enemy and the allied main base or as a staging area for attacking the allied main base. VERY important in CTF mode. That flag was only attacked my armor or air power so everyone that was defending that flag was anti-armor which also had stinger missiles.

It was so much fun being at that flag. I was a kick ass AA gunner. With me on the AA gun and another guy with a stinger very few enemy planes made it through with any more than a sliver of health left. The M-163 Vulcan that someone would normally drive to the hill near the base took quite a chunk out of them too.

So yea, Bunker runs by "friendly forces", hoping they can help him out. Sandusky must be really stealthy to get those on Bunker without waking him up. I wonder what kind of glue he used? Must have hurt to get off. An extra laugh at the end Scott making Sandusky apologize to Bunker.

With regards to the changes in Sandusky's appearance...

I understand that a change this drastic can be rather jarring.  Over the course of the past six months or so, I have been experimenting with more grown-up versions of Sandusky for after the Rocky Mountain adventure.  Things are not set in stone, however, as I'm not completely convinced that this is how I want things to look myself.

The major physical changes have to do with the size of Sandusky's eyes and his larger stature.  There's also a change in the way I'm shading the characters.  Crosshair, this may be where you're seeing the anime look.  I've tried a similar shading style before (http://sandusky.comicgenesis.com/d/20061030.html).  I liked the look of it then, but it was very time consuming, so I went back to my previous style.  I now have found a quicker method of shadig that way, but, if it's not something you guys particularly like, I can adjust it back again.

Another major difference is Sandusky's head fur.  There's a reason for that, though.  

As for the shading, let me know if this is better or worse.

Thanks!

That shading does look better. The biggest "problem" I had was with the way Bunker and Scott were drawn, especially in the last frame. Sandusky might "need" some tweaking. To early to tell.

We'll see how things turn out as more comics are posted.

I'm hitting F5 waiting for the comic to refresh. No idea what time that happens so I'll leave it at this, head to bed, and see how the next comic looks. (Got home late from an install job.)

Bunker sleeps like my dog when he sleeps in his kennel!

BTW: Towards the end of the last thread, I asked you "Ive been wondering, how long was this storyline? (# of comics, timespan within the comic, and timespan outside of the comic)"

Looks like Sandusky now has a partner in crime. The new format is interesting, but I imagine that it will work well.

My "kat" sleeps JUST like that as well. However, I swear he has a 6th sense, if you go for the belly, he wakes up about 1/2 second before you can touch him and your hand becomes a play toy.

Is it just me, or are the new comics smaller, or at least blurrier then the past ones?  It seems abit hard on the eyes, but maybe it is just me?  

--Last edited by jurrel on 2009-05-13 13:00:57 --

Obviously they're smaller than the recent Rocky Mountains storyline.  However, they are the same size and resolution as the prior newspaper-style strips.  I haven't heard any other comments about them being burry, but I'll look into things.

EDIT:  Jurrel, can you send me a screen capture from your end, so I know exactly what it is you're seeing?  Thanks!  

--Last edited by john on 2009-05-13 13:37:16 --

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John wrote : Another major difference is Sandusky's head fur.  There's a reason for that, though.

Took heed of the past commentary over how feminine Dusker looked, or something else?  

I still haven't made my mind over the new art style - on one paw, I was accustomed how everyone looked and I liked the old style, on the other paw the new one doesn't look all tat bad either. Somehow more 'refined', perhaps, and the characters look a bit more mature.
I'd love to see the rest of the cast drawn in the new style, however. Especially any female felines.  

Also, I guess it's good Sierra is his sister, otherwise she wouldn't have a reason to come up with pranks like that.    I just wonder where the wig came from, since I doubt Scott would have much use for one.  

After a day of contemplation, I've revised the first two strips a bit.  Some things seem better in your head than they do when they're put into practice.  

Wow. Lots of issues here.

What's with all the wasted space in the page layout? The strip should be bigger. It isn't like that's going to cost you anything.

The text in the comic is now much too small, almost difficult to read even though I have a nice display and good vision.

Sandusky's personality was consistent with his scrawny appearance. Now instead of looking like the kind of cat who pops Whoppers, he looks like he shoots up steroids.

What in sweet feathery Christ is up with these new fonts?? Did you WANT to make the whole site look like a CAPTCHA? (Actually, I see the CAPTCHAs in your registration process are much EASIER to read.)

What is this background supposed to represent? Do you see some intrinsic connection between mountain lions and urban poster or graffiti artists?

Seriously, wow.

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Quote :

meckelbu wrote :    I just wonder where the wig came from, since I doubt Scott would have much use for one.

Probably came from Ashley's stuff. The rouge on Bunker's cheeks and the bow on his tail are also nice touches. Sierra knows what Ashley has, so this stunt is most likely her idea. Dusker wouldn't know how to apply the makeup, either.