There was an update earlier this week with the Baroness sprite pack, a Passion Tanaka sprite and other additions to the Image Generators. I just added Endless Duck to the generators and updated the Variable/Create-a-scene options with five more backgrounds: Bison, Chun-Li and Dhalsim from Street Fighter Alpha 2 along with Final Fight’s Steel Cage and Sodom’s fighting ring.
GFX Generators – I added a few new backgrounds to the 384×224 scene styles and added an early fix for the text feature to prevent certain symbols from gumming up the works.
Character Updates:
SNK – Duck King and Eiji Kisaragi added. Kim Kaphwan gets some KoF 2000 sprites added.
Toys ‘n Toons – Baroness (separate from Cobra character, new sprites & SFA 3 items. Storm Shadow gets a new SFA3 Vs. Name Graphic.
Illmosis – Passion Tanaka (with mini-logo) added.
Custom Sprites: Passion Tanaka was added to the PrimeOp gallery page and more Baroness sprites were added to the G.I.JOE page. Speaking of Baroness sprites…
Custom Sprite Downloads – I added the VERY incomplete Baroness sprite set from the long-dead project. I also added some of the sprites from this project to the G.I.JOE Custom Sprite Page and now has her own character slot in the GFX image Generators.
There will be another small update soon to make up for having to rush this one out.
BTW: Elevator Action Deluxe fans, don’t forget that the free DLC Time Gal character is now available along with Sayo-Chan and an extra level.
Graphic Generators
New Characters: Rocket Raccoon for Marvel. Charlotte, Galford, Hattori Hanzo, Jubei Yagyu, Kyoshiro, Shiki, Ukyo Tachibana for SNK. Donovan for Capcom. The Ox for Data East.
Updated characters: Strider Hiryu (added sprites including a pose in his original outfit + new UMvsC3 palettes)
Style updates: GroupShot 160×192 box (classic European Mega Drive box added), backgrounds added to the 384×244 pixel variable styles for the GroupShot and VsMaker screens
Mini-Logos – Strider (Genesis & EU Mega Drive cover) added to Capcom. Burning Fight and King of Fighters 98 added to SNK.
Custom Sprites – Rocket Raccoon was added to the Marvel page
Game Index – Alien vs. Predator (arcade), Rival Turf (SNES) added.
Breakin’ News 
Sega is having a big sale on multiple classic (or classic-based) titles on PSN and X-Box Live. PSN has Golden Axe, SoR2 and Comix Zone on sale for $2.99 until November 29 while Live has SoR 2 and Phantasy Star 2 on sale for 200 MS points each from November 22 to November 28. There are other deals going on so check out their news post for details.
Shadi has updated his Arcade Quartermaster site with a lot of new game shrines for various Neo-Geo titles, CPSIII games and Marvel vs. Capcom 2. As always, Shadi comes up with inventive ways to use game graphics to make interesting shrines, so give his site a visit to see what he’s come up with this time!
Kiwi has written an article that I’m sure quite a few fans of older games will agree with. Check it out on his 2D Will Never Die site and prepare for a possible flashback when you get to the second paragraph.
BTW: I added a sprite of Nutroll, one of my own characters, to Illmosis earlier this week.
edit: Nutroll, with his new sprite and mini-logo, are now in the Graphic Generators.
Just in case you haven’t heard elsewhere, the man behind these graphics…
… and this incredible MUGEN stage for the classic Tower of Omens from ThunderCats…
… finally has his own pixel art website with a very appropriate title.
You’ll find some beautiful pixel art, tutorials, tips, links and some excellent articles about 2-D gaming. Those who are as inspired by Kiwi’s work as I am (hint: A LOT) should bookmark the new site and follow the site’s account on Tumblr to see pixel art from Kiwi along with many cool pixel art reposts. Those of us who know Kiwi have been hoping that he’d make a site like this for a long, long time and we knew he wouldn’t disappoint. He did a great job and I can’t wait to see what else he has planned for this site after an amazing start like this.
This is the last of the “unpause” updates Check it:
GFX Generators – The main engine for this was upgraded a lot since the last update. The picture style options have been upgraded so much that a lot of separate picture styles that were almost the same (like the various 160×196 box/art/poster tributes)are now in one choice slot on the first menu. The engine is getting close to what I’d call version 1.00 but I still have many small things to iron out. Let’s get to the content.
New chars: Andy Bogard, Billy Kane, Blue Mary, Duke Edwards, Fio, Genjuro, Marco, “(more) Metal Slug characters,” Leona, Maxima, Rocky, Robert Garcia, Sie Kensou for SNK. Anakaris, Baby Bonnie Hood/Bulleta, Firebrand, Huitzel/Phobos, Lilith, Rikuo/Aulbath, Q-Bee, Sasquatch, Victor for Capcom. Metroid for Nintendo. Elevator Action spy for Taito. Riki, Sabu (Super Dodge Ball sprites) and Nekketsu/Kunio-Kun enemies (Shinji, Kenji and Misuzi in one character slot) for Technos. Black Lightning for DC Comics.
Updated chars: Andore/Hugo (added 2 sprites), Aquaman (new sprite), Iron Man (new MvsC3 armor edit), Kunio-Kun (SDG Neo Geo graphics added), Morrigan (MvsC taunt & Nurse edit), Phoenix (Classic Phoenix costume sprite), Robin (classic Dick Grayson sprite)
KoF/SvC sprites & sprite edits were added to:
Athena, Clark, Joe Higashi, King, Geese Howard, Haohmaru, Mai, Nakoruru, Ralf, Ryo, Terry Bogard for SNK, Andore, Balrog, Dan, Demitri, Chun-Li, Guile, Ken, M.Bison, Poison, Ryu, Sagat, Vega and Zero for Capcom. Billy & Jimmy Lee for Technos.
Samurai Showdown 5 sprites added to:
Haohmaru, Nakoruru
GroupShot styles merged: Boxes, Flyer & Posters 160×192 (merged version of the Capcom, Genesis, SNK and Konami boxes, Playstation 2 added), Create-a-Scene 384×224 (many scene boxes merged + new scenes), Justice League Task Force (bigger screen with Superman, Batman, WW, Aquaman & Darkseid sub-choices)
Vs.Maker styles updated: Create-a-Scene (384×224 pixels) (new background system)
Capcom: Firebrand (scratch-made hovering sprite)
Nintendo: Metroid (new scratch-made sprite)
Sega: Blaze Fielding (new sprite)
Taito: Elevator Action Spy (two scratch-made sprites)
Technos: improved KoF-style edits of Billy and Jimmy Lee
DC Comics: Scratch-made sprites of Black Lightning (90’s) and Robin (classic) and a new edit of Aquaman.
Marvel Comics: Iron Man (MvsC 3 armor), Phoenix (Classic)
PrimeOp: A new gallery with most of the scratch-made sprites I’ve created that aren’t completely embarrassing.
The site will update now semi-regularly but updates will be a bit light for a while. I have commission work to finish and another website to “start” **looks shifty** but I’ll have enough updates to keep you from thinking that this place is dead. You wouldn’t believe all of the things I didn’t get finished for this update.
Breakin’ News
Elevator Action Deluxe will be adding four DLC characters FOR FREE starting this week. First up? SAYO-CHAN from Kiki Kaikai/Pocky & Rocky! Hit up the official site to see who else will be joining in on the fun.
Anyone who likes to use create-a-character formulas to bring their favorite characters into other games should visit GameLabor, a new website with formulas for Mortal Kombat Armageddon, Soul Calibur III & Soul Calibur IV. There’s even a YouTube channel so you can see the creations in action.
Another mini-update. 100% mini-logos!
Mini-Logos
Capcom: Forgotten Worlds
DC Comics: Black Lightning
Jaleco: Hachoo, Rushing Beat
Marvel Comics: Rocket Raccoon
Nintendo: Link (Zelda II style)
Square Enix: Moon Diver
SNK: Metal Slug, P.O.W., Psycho Soldier, Robo Army
Taito: Elevator Action, Elevator Action Deluxe, Kunoichi (Ninja Warriors & Ninja Warriors Again)
Technos: River City Ransom
Thursday’s update: Custom sprites (including two monster/horror themed sprites) and the GIANT GFX Generator update. Be ready!
I was going to make one big update with all of the new content and fixes but I decided to start early and test things out bit-by-bit. The main menu layout mutated a bit (including the return of the Random Screenshots) and will probably have a few more shifts in future updates. Work on the new content got out of hand and I forgot to keep track of a few new things. This update is basically everything except the custom sprites and graphic generators.
Sprites – Hachoo! (new page with a few sprites and animations), Ninja Baseball Bat Man (new page). The Streets of Rage 2 page was updated with walking animations of the heroes.
Game Index – The new main page leads to lists based on the first letter of the game and its release year.
New games: Hachoo (arcade), Jungle Hunt (arcade), Metroid (NES) and Ninja Baseball Bat Man (arcade) added. E-Swat (Arcade) added to the main list after being left off the main list by mistake.
Logos – Cannon Dancer, Hachoo, Metal Slug 1-5 & X, Metamorphic Force, Ninja Baseball Bat Man, Osman, P.O.W. (arcade), Pirate Ship Higemaru, Shaolin’s Road, Super Double Dragon, Turrican
ToyBoss – Stafani Rolento sent some brand new pictures of her custom 12-inch Rolento figure!
Links – added links that I forgot to keep track of. One that I remembered to list is the very cool Retro Revival X. I also added Brawler’s Ave (not to be confused with the “Brawlstreet USA” banners) has been added to the Quick Links section. I really need to set up a true affiliates list. Brawler’s Ave is under reconstruction right now but be sure to check out the links on their landing page for a hint of what they’re all about!
The second update will hit later this week but I still haven’t decided which day. The update to the GFX Generators is HUGE. All of those things I showed you on the weblog are coming along with some Darkstalkers and old side-scroller monsters for Halloween. Here’s a teaser for one of them:
I’ll see you later this week with more treats!
ScrollBoss is still on pause so I could work on my own characters and comics for a bit while doing behind-the-scenes work on the site along with a bit of content. I need your help to shape some of the new content for the site. Some of these will come as close as I’ll get to doing a request thread.
1.) There will be new GFX Generators geared towards making avatars and sigs you can save and use on message boards and social sites. There will be the typical square shapes but I need to know what sizes or ratios you use in these places.
2.) There will be new sprite tutorials in the future. I’m not an expert but I think I’ve figured out enough to write decent tutorials on a few things. I’m going to finish a lighting tutorial that I started long ago along with tutorials based on questions people have PM’ed me with on a message board or two. Are there any pixel art questions you’d like me to try and answer in a future tutorial?
3.) I added these old-school game boxes to the GFX Generators a while back but I’ve never really gotten any feedback on them. Did anyone like them? Do you want me to make more? I will add the top 3 requests if any are made. Yeah, that’s a big if.
4.) Are there any game logos you’d like to see converted into 64×26 pixel mini-logos that aren’t already on this mini-logos page? Don’t be too ashamed to ask for something related to your current fan-game project. I’ll make either the 5 most requested or my 5 favorites.
5.) I want to start a yearly event where other fans like you get to vote on some of your favorite gaming things. The easiest way to do this is to post a category here and have you leave a comment with your choices. Yes, this topic is also a test to see how that would go. I need to know if it’s too much trouble to leave a comment in these news posts and if you’d be willing to post here again when it’s time to vote.
Please post your answers in a comment on this weblog post so I’ll have an easier time counting up the votes. I’ll do more Request Line posts if I get enough responses to this one.
**edit**
One more thing! [/unclebill]
6.) Go to the Vs. Maker, click the “Custom Scene (384×224 pixels)” option, hit button DONE! button and look at the background image options. Are there any game backgrounds that you’d really like to see added to that list? I’ll add as many as I can.
(edit: fixed the Vs. Maker link right above this. Thanks for the heads-up, Kiwi!)
EDIT: This Request Line is now semi-closed. That means that I can’t aim to have any new requests make it into the late October update. Any requests after this will be considered for future updates.
Site stuff: I’m still working on this site while doing character designs, logo work and other preparations for my own projects. Work on a new GFX Generator feature can be found in this weblog post and improvements to the Game Index section can be found in this post. A scratch-made sprite of DC’s Black Lightning was posted on Illmosis.
Breakin’ News
Elevator Action Deluxe, an update, remake and overhaul of Taito’s classic “Elevator Action” spy-shooter, is out on PSN today.
It’ll be a while before I can buy this one (gotta pay the website bill soon) but it looks sharp and sounds funky. I like how the in-game documents you steal are Taito documents like flyers that you can view in a gallery. The character designs have a Lupin-esque look mixed with the classic official artwork.
Between this and the criminally underrated Moon Diver, Square-Enix, who now owns Taito and it’s intellectual properties, has thrown some great old-schoolian love our way. I hope those of you who are angry about a lapse in a game series with more entries than most entire companies have games will take some time to support the companies that put work into projects like this when they really don’t have to.
Kotaku feature on classic Nintendo composer, Hip Tanaka
It’s just a short overview of the man’s work but it’s always good to see him get attention for his music. Do yourself a favor and don’t look at the comments section on that page. I’m serious.
Capcom-Unity: Rockman-Unity TOM-PON interview
Capcom-Unity has links to a translated and subtitled interview that Rockman-Unity had with TOM-PON, artist and background designer for some classic Capcom titles starting with Mega Man for the NES.
(Note: more posts and interview segments came out after I posted this so I’m updating this news post as they’re added)
part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6
Let’s end this one on an high note, courtesy of Wizzy…
More like crap-tastic, amirite? This update pays respect to the release of the new Captain America: First Avenger movie by hitting you with content based on characters from Cap’s comic along with Data East’s “Captain America and the Avengers” arcade game. Non-comic book fans won’t be left out thanks to a classic beat-em-up bad guy crashing the party since this is also the 11th Anniversary week of ScrollBoss. Gotta have some gaming stuff in there somewhere!
GFX Generators
New Characters
Marvel – Batroc the Leaper, the Falcon, Namor, the Red Skull, Ultron, the Wasp, Other Heroes (Ant-Man and Diamondback) and “Other Villains” (Absorbing Man, the Controller, Crossbones, the Grim Reaper, Klaw, the Living Laser and Whirlwind).
Toys & ‘Toons – Jem
Updated Characters: Abobo (new Capcom SFA/Vs. style edits) from Technos, Iron Man (new taunt sprite edit), the Vision (new sprites and palettes)
Custom Sprites:
Marvel – Diamondback (scratch-made), the Falcon, the Grim Reaper, Namor, the Red Skull, the Vision, the Wasp (scratch-made) and Whirlwind. An Iron Man taunt has been edited into the armor he wore in CAatA.
Technos – Abobo (two versions), Juggernaut (a new edit based his odd look in the Avengers game)
Toys & Cartoons – Jem
Sprites:
Captain America and the Avengers gallery rebuilt in the current style and has new sprites.
Mini Logos: Sakura added to Capcom. Batroc, the Red Skull added to Marvel. Jem added to Toys and Cartoons.
The Announcement: ScrollBoss is on hiatus until further notice. There won’t be another update for a while and updates won’t be regular when they start up again. I have some important projects that require a lot of time so I’ll have to put this site on pause for a while. The main thing is that it’s time for me to hit the drawing page again. One of the main reasons that I kept working to make sure that the GFX Generators were loaded with options was because I wanted you to keep having fun as the site was inactive.
ScrollBoss will NOT be neglected. I have some coding improvements in mind and it’s nearly impossible to do them while also trying to get enough content for a site update. I can work on those things on the side until the time comes to un-pause ScrollBoss again. I also have some bigger things pixel-related things that I could never do because I had to keep doing smaller things to make sure I had an update. There will be previews of these things on the weblog and main menu. I’m still taking sprite and pixel art commissions (because it costs money to have this site hosted), posting ridiculous screenshots on the Tumblr and you may see some new scratch-made sprites appear on Illmosis.
ScrollBoss will be active again before the end of the year and it’s going to hit hard. Until then, please leave any feedback in the comment section of this topic. Thank you for reading and thanks for stopping in.