Firstly, my apologies for the downtime over the last few hours. I’ve no idea what’s been going on, looks like some kind of server problem. As I’m typing this update, the site is still down, so I don’t know when you’ll actually be able to see this update!
As always, there’s a new MP3 and a new comic strip. I can’t get onto the site to edit the poll, so the old results and the new poll will have to wait until everything’s up and running again *grumble grumble* Many thanks to Dragon for hosting the MP3 now I’m without my company webspace 🙂 If anyone wants the lyrics to this crazy Shining Wisdom MP3, drop me an email – I’ve got them at home 🙂

I’ve added a lot of new things today: lots of fanart (Shining Force, Shining Force II, Shining Force CD, Shining Force III Scenario 1, Scenario 2 and Scenario 3). We also have some great midi files from Magnus Andersson, mostly for Shining the Holy Ark (two of which are currently exclusive to this site!), and one for Shining in the Darkness. Great work, Magnus!

I understand some users are having problems finding their way to the newer sections of the site, as it requires going to the relevant game and then to the section. To make things easier, I will be adding an entry page for each of these sections (rather like the greeting cards etc).

The Shining Force Webring has finally been updated 😉 Lots of dead links have been removed from it, and it needs more submissions! I’ve got to get the webring code added to each of my Shining sites, but I’ll have to wait until the server is back up before doing that.

I’ve got a few items to sell at the moment, namely a few single Shining Force Gaiden cards (contact me if there’s a specific card you’re after and I’ll see if I have it) and a Shining Force II Attack Special (Japanese booklet that came with Megadrive Fan magazine many years ago). I will soon be in possession of some Shining Force III cards too, contact me if you need some to finish off your collection and we’ll discuss a price.

There are still lots of areas I need to add to, right now I’m focussing on the game scripts. Thankfully, a few brave souls have volunteered to help with putting them into the right layout. I’m still in need of the Shining in the Darkness script and Shining Wisdom script. I’m hoping to type up the UK Shining Wisdom script, since the translation is better than that in the US version. However, if you already have either of these scripts typed up, please let me know if you’d be willing to let me use them here.

The Campaign is now at over 4,300 signatures… less than 700 to go until I send it off! I’ve decided to only send it to Sega, Nintendo and Camelot, due to lack of finances for sending to Sony and Microsoft too. It seems clear that Nintendo has the Shining series now anyway, so it shouldn’t matter. If you haven’t already signed the campaign, what are you waiting for? Sign it!!

Right… I’d best go and upload this now, so it’s ready for when the server stops playing up 😉 The new poll & results of the last poll will be online later, when the site is back up.

I’ve finally gotten around to updating the SFC links database, although there are still a few I need to double-check. So, there are some revised listings and a few new sites added.
I’ve been through the merchandise sections, and updated the items I now own 😉 I’ve still got to update my collection page though.

I’ve started work on adding the game scripts in English, so far I’ve finished off Shining Force CD, chapter 2 of Shining Force III Scenario 3, and almost finished the first part of Shining Force II. More to come soon!

I’ll be adding the credits for each game soon too, to save people asking me who did the artwork for each game, who composed the music etc!

Other plans include updating the Shining Force Webring (I was unable to do anything after the merge with Yahoo! due to some error, but all should be well now).

Finally, I’ve added the Japanese Shining Force ROM to my Shining Force II site. I still need to update the emulation section on the Shining Force site, maybe I’ll do it later today. Many thanks to Dragon from the SFC forums for providing me with hosting space for the ROMs. Since I’m leaving my job I’ll be losing the server space I had there, and would have had nowhere to host the ROMs. Likewise, due to my situation, I’ll be moving my www.shining-force.co.uk domain – if you try to email me during the move, it might bounce back 🙁 All should be well within the next couple of weeks. I will also be moving my Final Conflict site back onto the shining.zophar.net space shortly.

Anything else? Ah yes, I need to archive January’s news too 🙂 More updates tomorrow!

The new contest has been launched, and the winner of January’s contest announced!

Whoah, has it really been 2 weeks since I last updated? Time is going so quickly these days! I’m spending a lot more time with my other half… but you’ll be glad to hear that I’ve handed in my notice at work and will be leaving my job at the end of February – which means… more time for me to update!!
Well, since I intend to spend another evening with my Lee, I don’t have time to write too much here. Basically, as always there’s a new MP3, poll and a new comic (yes, I had time to do one this fortnight 😉 It’s not great, I was in a rush). I’ll be updating my collection in the next few weeks, and I’m also working on something that I’m sure you’ll all love: I’m going to put up all the game scripts in English! I have a good amount of them so far, I just need to put them into the right format, which – needless to say – will take some time. As always, I strive to keep SFC the most extensive resource for Shining information on the web 🙂

Only a few days left to get your contest entries in, and I’ll be launching the new contest next week. So, you’d best get your entries in soon! Also, please do keep your fan art coming in, I love to see it and so do a lot of other SFC viewers!

Look forward to lots of updates in March, when I’m free to do what I like (and play Shining Soul!) 🙂

A big thank-you to cullsoft for providing me with a great comic strip for this fortnight!

As usual, there’s a new MP3 and a new poll. I haven’t had the time to make a new comic strip though 🙁 I’ll try to do it over the next couple of days, but I can’t promise anything. Sorry about that! I’m sure you’ll love the other additions though 🙂
I’ve added several Fan Art submissions, and updated various related merchandise pages 🙂 Keep the Fan Art coming!

I still need to update the chronology, midis and my collection (I’ll probably wait until the batch of items I’m waiting for arrives). I’ve yet to add my “want list” and a number of game storyline summaries. I also hope to add some Desktop Wallpapers and more Greeting Cards soon, once I’ve left my job.

Expect some new links to be added later this month.

Well, before I leave you with the results of last fortnight’s poll, I thought I’d tell you about the letter I received a few days ago. I was most amazed to find a Camelot Software Planning envelope when I picked up my mail… I haven’t had contact with them for a few months, so it was quite out of the blue. This is what it said:

I congratulate you opening in Ms. Mariska.
A New Year’s Card is given to you!!
Please enjoy yourself as a collection by all means.
I’m also asking for our Company well this year!!
Thank you.

With it came two Camelot 2002 postcards, and some Camelot stickers. The letter itself was hand-written in English, on some Camelot development paper! Woohoo! Those guys really are great! I was really pleased to see that they’ve kept in contact with me, even though they don’t have to! I’ve emailed them a thank you message, and wished them all the best for 2002 – the year in which we all hope there will be a new venture between Camelot, Sega and Nintendo for a new Shining game on the GameCube. I wonder how they’ll respond?

The storyline summaries for Shining Force CD, Gaiden 1 and Gaiden 2 have been added – thanks Earl! See the relevant game sections for the summaries.