BeeStorm: A New DoDonPachi Web Site

[slateman]

I've been toiling on a new website for the past two months and I think it's time to share with you all. Rarely do I encounter folks on forums as knowledgeable of their content as you guys are and I hope you'll take a few moments to check out my site and let me know what you think.

http://www.slateman.net/beestorm/

I in fact started this site over a decade ago, but it was pretty barren. However, with SDOJ's platinum release my love of DDP was renewed and I've put together something that covers all 12 DDP titles. I've included a complete boss list, ships & dolls and captured many of the games' endings. I'm pretty proud of how it all came out.

Thanks for taking the time...I'd love to hear some input!!!

[chempop]

At first glance I like what I see

[Lord Satori]

When I saw this thread I was like "oh, a fansite..." with relatively low expectations.

Needless to say I was very surprised at how amazing this site is! The only issue I have is that some of the mobile game sections are missing actual gameplay screenshots.

[Captain]

You sir, did a great favor for the dodonnpachians everywhere.

[IseeThings]

for a site called BeeStorm I was a little surprised by how little information you have on BeeStorm (and how inaccurate some of what you have is)

I can tell you for a start that the V102 release of BeeStorm adds the use of 'Button D' as option formation change for example.

It was also definitely released in more regions than Japan

Full build dates are also as follows, although I guess you derived your release dates from these anyway.

V102 09/10/01 09:37:54
V101 07/10/01 13:38:41
V100 05/21/01 09:49:04

There are also various other mistakes on the site, you call IGS 'IGN' on the DOJ page when talking about the re-release.

[DestroyTheCore]

for a site called BeeStorm I was a little surprised by how little information you have on BeeStorm (and how inaccurate some of what you have is)

I can tell you for a start that the V102 release of BeeStorm adds the use of 'Button D' as option formation change for example.

It was also definitely released in more regions than Japan

Full build dates are also as follows, although I guess you derived your release dates from these anyway.

V102 09/10/01 09:37:54
V101 07/10/01 13:38:41
V100 05/21/01 09:49:04

There are also various other mistakes on the site, you call IGS 'IGN' on the DOJ page when talking about the re-release.

Yeah, this is basic knowledge. Even my mom knows about the version differences.

[gray117]

Fun - consider a tidier/more regular font for your titles/header pics. I think this will do a lot to improve the site feel and avoid the just-another-fansite-geocities feel.

Consider using smaller and more numerous sub headings or sub pages to split up content rather than a single side menu.

Good luck would be interesting to see it fill out even more with interesting bits n' bobs.

I'm sure you're familiar with it but http://www.world-of-arcades.net/ remains an excellent example of a fansite done nicely imho.

[Cata]

Loving this site!

[slateman]

Thanks for the input! If all goes well, I'll keep updating it w/ bits here and there. I've put far too many hours into this project lately.

I did have some questions before replying to some things...Maybe someone can help me.

Does anyone know what DDP: Taikenban is? It was a PS1 release...I wondered if it was a demo disc or maybe a re-release.

In DFK:BL - Zatsuza kinda looks like Hibachi's last form to me, how are they different? Just bullet patterns?

Relating to DFK:BL, I never played this but I don't see it on the XBL Marketplace any more. I have the European version of Resurrection, not the Japanese game. I found it online for £15, but that's a steep price in USD. Wasn't it available on the US marketplace at one point? (800 points?)(I probably need to get a euro XBL acct first...still, £15 is a lot for it.)

The only issue I have is that some of the mobile game sections are missing actual gameplay screenshots.

I'll get on uploading more Maximum & Paccin images, but for the others, I fear I'll never get more.

for a site called BeeStorm I was a little surprised by how little information you have on BeeStorm (and how inaccurate some of what you have is)

Yup...I knew it was a glaring gap in my coverage, but I knew you all might help provide more stuff. To be honest, I don't know if I ever completed DDP2 but I sure thought BeeStorm sounded like a cool title! Thanks for the input. I'll likely go back and test it out a bit. Most of what I had was from 2003 or so. Never knew there was a D button in v102. Thanks!

[IseeThings]

Taikenban is used to indicate demo versions.

[Never_Scurred]

Nice work on the site, slateman!

[Magma Dragoon]

I think you should make a separate boss subsection for each game, especially because the current section looks all over the place.

The site has a lot of potential!

[k*d]

site looks amazing

[LegoSlug]

Looks really pro and it seems like a great source of information for the series. Good job.

[slateman]

Thanks for the kind words & the input. What started out as a small endeavor has really blossomed & as such, sections like the Bosses page has gotten slightly out of hand (as Magma Dragoon pointed out). I'm not sure quite I'm going to handle it but the goal will be to really deepen the information on each individual game's pages. I gave DDP2 some love this weekend (and that decayed into ripping boss sprites for that stupid Boss section again!) If all goes well, there's still a ton left to add. I'm pretty psyched there's a centralized DDP website; there certainly are enough games!

Thank you IseeThings for the Taikenban info.

If anyone finds anything else (errors, omissions, stupidity), just let me know. Some have pointed out that everyone knows about DDP2's revision differences, etc. If that were the case, the site wouldn't be necessary. It's clear many people don't, including me, who just devoted 6 weeks to setting this up. I'd love to leave no stone unturned. Thanks again, guys. \m/

[Magma Dragoon]

A good idea you should consider is to have various subsections for each game, instead of having sections covering all games. Example:

* DonPachi
** General Info
** Story
** Ships
** Enemies
** Bosses
** Endings
* DoDonPachi
** General Info
** Story
** Ships
** Enemies
** Bosses
** Endings
> And so on.

[rapoon]

awesome site. nice work.

[Cagar]

Truly great job.
but please remove the dodonpachi 2 entry entirely

[Magma Dragoon]

but please remove the dodonpachi 2 entry entirely

And just why he'd do THAT?

[slateman]

DDP2 section isn't going anywhere. Just needs some love.

As for Magma's excellent suggestions, I have to figure out how I want to approach it. Bosses/Ships/Endings was an afterthought. My main goal was to describe the games, their ports, soundtracks, etc. For now, it'll all do. There's still so much to cover...including expanding that DDP2 page.

As I'm a high-school teacher, I have just one more week until summer vacation. With four kids, it's not like I ever have a ton of free time but summer vacay is awesome and I hope to get stuff up. I've been making updates consistently the past week, albeit behind the scenes. Thanks again for the kind words.

[Lord Satori]

What do you mean Bosses/Ships/Endings was an afterthought?! That's pretty much the entire game! Without that all you're doing is describing the scoring system.

[slateman]

What do you mean Bosses/Ships/Endings was an afterthought?! That's pretty much the entire game! Without that all you're doing is describing the scoring system.

i.e. my goal with the site was just the games. Arcade revisions, home ports, soundtracks, superplays. At the last minute, "Hey, I should also document bios on each doll and...why not catalog each and every boss. Ooh, why not snapshots...then sprite rips...and what does Genbu translate to in English? Oh, I know, now lemme capture and document each ending: good, bad, 2nd loop, Hibachi..."

But, that's what makes it a fruitful endeavor. No reason to make a site if you're not going to be complete about it.