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Chris Jones Gaming - The Ultimate Universe - and Chris Jones Media

Gaming Evolution

15 years ago we delivered a downloadable product that went viral, the beginning of our Gaming Evolution.

I was interviewed recently regarding that successful undertaking. A link to the interview follows..

It was dream for a long time to launch a digital marketing agency.

As early as 1993, before ‘Chris Jones Media’ existed, I was building websites for real estate agents, and had a side business with on-site computer consulting, taking care of software issues for customers in their own home.

This continued while I was involved in PC Gaming, modifying existing games, in the science fiction genre, with improved graphics, sound effects, and gameplay.

This evolved into leading a team of about 20 people on a mission to completely transform a particular PC Game into something much better than it was.

I was interviewed in March 2023 about this game modification by some fans of our ‘mod’. In this interview I talk about organizing teams, accomplishing goals and becoming sought after.

See it here:  https://lnkd.in/g5nWJf2Z

Our modification of a #startrek pc game garnered many thousands of downloads and is still downloaded to this day.

I mention my gaming days because of the challenges involved in coordinating people from around the world in different time zones and with conflicting personalities.

Along the way I developed a deep understanding of what consumers need and want, and how to communicate with them effectively.

This, coupled with being in Radio Broadcasting and Face to Face sales in various industries, led to a deep understanding of consumer pain points, and the methods to take care of them.

This is my Gaming Evolution.

Because of that, I formed Chris Jones Media. Initially I was building Websites – and later added Voice and Video Creation services, along with business advice.

Over the past year, with a few collaborations and work hiccups I came to understand true teamwork and it became apparent that my long held dream can be done: I have built a digital agency at chrisjonesmedia.com. That is my ‘Gaming Evolution’.

My experiences in the gaming industry set me up for what is happening today. As Sir Patrick Stewart said more than once, “Make It So”!

Chris Jones Gaming

Make A Game

At one point Chris Jones Gaming was considering making a game. This was about 15 years ago when we were modifying Star Trek games.

It hasn’t happened, but who is to say it won’t happen. If we were to do that, here’s a bit of what’s involved.

Making a science fiction game involves a lot of stuff, as you might know, including:

  1. Concept development: Developing the game concept, which involves creating the storyline, characters and their interaction with each other, and the setting. This is the foundation upon which the game will be built, where it starts.
  2. Game engine selection: The game engine is the software framework that is used to create the game. Popular game engines used for science fiction games include Unreal Engine, Unity, and CryEngine.
  3. Art and design: Once the game engine is selected, the next step is to create the game’s art and design elements, including 3D models, textures, animations, and user interface.
  4. Programming: The game’s mechanics, features, and interactions are created through programming, using languages such as C++, C#, and Python. I have a few people in mind for this.
  5. Sound and music: Sound and music play a crucial role in immersing players in the game’s world. Game developers must create or license appropriate sound effects and music tracks that fit the game’s theme and mood. I have someone in mind for this.
  6. Testing and debugging: As the game is being developed, it must be tested and debugged to ensure that it is functioning as intended. This involves identifying and fixing bugs, balancing gameplay mechanics, and optimizing performance. This is one of my favorite parts of the process.
  7. Distribution and marketing: Once the game is complete, it must be brought to the gamers of the world. This involves distribution channels, like digital storefronts or physical distribution, and marketing the game through various channels to attract players and fans.

To Make a Game, that is popular, involves quite a lot – and the talent needed isn’t going to work for free. Getting it done involves many different skills and areas of expertise. The author, Chris Jones, is working on all of that. I have talent in mind.

Stay tuned.

I have talked about this before -the fact that I’m bringing it up again means I have not, and will not, drop the idea. Full transparency – I’ve done nothing but think about making a game since I wrote the last article about making a game.

Make a Game - Chris Jones Gaming
Chris Jones Gaming SciFi
Eve Online

Eve Online 20th Anniversary

CCP Games Ignites EVE Online’s 20th Anniversary by Teasing New Expansion

Capsuleers can also celebrate EVE’s monumental milestone with in-game events, a special Twitch stream, and the chance to become legend as part of the EVE Monument

REYKJAVÍK, Iceland – May 2, 2023 – In honor of its landmark 20th anniversary on Saturday 6 May, 2023 CCP Games has revealed EVE Online: Viridian, the next content expansion for spacefaring MMO EVE Online. The first of two major expansions in this year of 2023, Viridian will empower players with new tools, personalization options and social-driven content to manifest the glory of their corporation. The expansion launches free for all players in June 2023, real soon!

“With Viridian, players will be given more power to shape and color New Eden,” said Bergur Finnbogason, EVE Online‘s Creative Director. “Viridian builds upon last year’s pivotal Uprising expansion by giving corporation leaders more means and methods to help their group flourish. There is no better time than the present for reconnecting with your corporation members to plan your next venture – you never know what’s on the horizon.”

EVE Online: Viridian will empower player-run corporations in more ways than ever before. From strengthening and growing their numbers to new personalisation options and an expanded toolset, corporation leaders will be able to create meaningful content, manage and efficiently train new recruits, and lead their corporation to collective glory.    

Ahead of the expansion, Capsuleers will find a wealth of activities to enjoy in and outside of the game in May, including Capsuleer Day celebrations, a dazzling in-game cosmic fireworks extravaganza at Jita 4-4, and a momentous opportunity to be inscribed onto the updated and expanded Worlds Within A World monument. CCP Games also shared the completed Fabric of New Eden mosaic, a celebratory digital artwork featuring over 80,000 EVE players.    

“The EVE universe has grown exponentially over the past 20 years thanks to the devoted, unshakable explorers of New Eden,” said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP Games. “From breaking world records to selflessly rallying around those in need, EVE Online’s players continue to prove why it is an MMO unlike any other. Join us in New Eden for live events and in-game activities observing this incredible 20-year milestone throughout the summer.”

For the first time in 10 years, players can have their EVE character’s name engraved on the Worlds Within A World monument in Reykjavík, Iceland, solidifying their mark on EVE Online’s storied history. To be eligible to stand alongside the legends of New Eden, players must have an active Omega account on May 6, 2023.

Igniting the birthday month of May, players can warp into EVE Online’s celebratory CCP TV stream on Twitch this Saturday, May 6 (17:00-19:00 UTC), which includes developer interviews, prizes and a live in-game (Jita 4-4) fireworks display of cosmic proportions.

Stay tuned for more information about Viridian later in May. Details for the Capsuleer Day event can be found hereEVE Online can be downloaded for free by visiting www.eveonline.com. For all the latest information about the game, please visit EVE News.

 

About EVE Online®
EVE Online (PC/Mac) is a compelling, community-driven sci-fi MMO game where players can build and pilot a wide variety of spaceships, traversing vast solar systems for free and choosing their own path from countless options, experiencing space exploration, immense PvP and PvE battles, mining, industry and a sophisticated player economy in an ever-expanding sandbox. EVE is a captivating game in which hundreds of thousands of players compete for riches, power, glory and adventure, forging their own destinies in a single thriving universe.

The Right Timing

The Right Timing – A sci-fi short by Chris Jones

“That’s my father!” Captain Dane Briggs said as he stared into the time travel vortex. Dane did not realize he was about to become part of his father’s famous space battle.

…a third warship hovering down from above struck Dane as odd.
“That’s… not how the story went.” Dane thought.

Starship Captain Dane Briggs finds himself back in time 30 years, on his father’s ship during a now famous battle in which his father was victorious, but something was not right here, and it wasn’t the fact that he himself was ‘out of time’ on his father’s ship.

..Is my being here, back in time, somehow causing the change?” Dane thought as he faked like he was doing his job..

..he only had a short amount of time before his father would enact his original plan and get them all killed..

Chris Jones is an avid Science Fiction fan and PC Gamer who has written missions for several Star Trek PC games spanning 1999 to 2009. Most recently, Chris was the head of a modification team that changed a Star Trek game to look close if not exactly like the original TV shows and movies. That modification has garnered nearly 100, 000 downloads and is still downloaded today.

It was time to author a science-fiction short story.

What caused this time travel vortex that seemed to only be in Dane’s Captain’s quarters? Why was he drawn back in time to be with his father?

It’s on Amazon Kindle!

*****

As an update to this post, this story is now public. It’s called ‘The Right Timing’ – A Father and Son Time Travel story. 

Artwork by my daughter Olsie.

Chris Jones Gaming

Let’s Make a Game

Chris Jones Gaming was founded in Late 2006 by Chris Jones and Mindwipe. Chris Jones had been a well known member of the Star Trek Gaming Community for a number of years, modding games in the Starfleet Command series and 2002’s Star Trek: Bridge Commander.

It wasn’t long before Modders who’d known him in the past joined Chris Jones Gaming and began work on the Ultimate Universe Mod for 2006’s Star Trek: Legacy.

The team grew to a respectable size and the Ultimate Universe Demo was released just four months later. Over the next four years, the Ultimate Universe Mod and Chris Jones Gaming continued to grow, releasing expansion packs to the mod in between the feature installs, which were named Ultimate Universe Version 1.0 and Ultimate Universe Version 2.0, as well as attracting some of the brightest talents from other communities, their scratch-built models reaching professional standards.

The Ultimate Universe Mod is one of our proudest achievements. Through its various incarnations, it has been downloaded many thousands of times from various websites, in our own way greatly expanding and extending the life of Star Trek: Legacy beyond what would have been its natural life.

What’s Next? We are alive and well here – and are in the discussion stages for creating a brand new game! (as of June 4, 2022).

so.. Let’s Make a Game!

Chris Jones Gaming

Let's Make a Game
Chris Jones Gaming SciFi

We are going to make a game

I feel the beginning of a month is a good time to announce something like this.

We are going to make a game.

Chris Jones Gaming is going to make a game.

What kind of Game?

Science Fiction – or SciFi.

We got the look..

I have a short story that will be published soon – I’ve been saying that for a while – but it is happening.

It will for sure be a PC Game, and we’ll discuss Console versions.

Update Sept 19, 2022 – The Short Story has been released on Amazon – Click this!!!

Heading up The Ultimate Universe Mod starting in 2007 was a fantastic experience, and I believe it to be the time right to create something brand new.

There’ll be more on this as it progresses.

Excited for the Future!

Star Trek Legacy - Ultimate Universe

The Ultimate Borg

What made the ‘Ultimate Universe‘ much more fun?

This did.

Stardate 2007

I was leading a team of extremely talented individuals who were dedicated to making the 2006 PC version of Star Trek: Legacy into something much more than it was.

We were lucky enough to obtain actual visuals of the Borg used in the movie Star Trek: First Contact.

This was the result.

This video is one of highest viewed videos on my YouTube Gaming Channel.

A foreboding shadow looms over the horizon, as the most lethal enemy known to the Federation makes its debut in this installment of the Ultimate Universe Mod for Star Trek: Legacy.

The Borg have returned in all their horrific glory as a fully functional and challenging opponent to even the most daring of Legacy Captains. Play historical battles involving the Borg with new enemy tactics and a new model.

Complimenting the historical missions derived from material you’ve previously seen in the series, a new and disturbing view of the future will showcase all new and original missions involving the Ultimate Universe’s canon offering…the Ultimate Borg.

Prepare yourself, for a Borg like you’ve never seen before. The Ultimate Borg. A collaborative effort from Derek Chester (the Legacy campaign story author), Mindwipe, and Moonraker.

This was released late spring 2007. The video shows off the actual First Contact Cube, and is my favorite Ultimate Universe video of 2007.

Lots of Battle footage from Derek Chester and myself. I am VERY proud of this production by Phillip Morris. Kudos, my friend.

Interstellar Space Genesis

Interstellar Space: Genesis – Evolving Empires

May 25th, 2022 — Praxis Games’ new expansion pack for Interstellar Space: Genesis, Evolving Empires has launched! Alongside the expansion’s release, players will also be able to update to Interstellar Space: Genesis version 1.4 for free.

Free?

Interstellar Space: Genesis – Evolving Empires is the second expansion to the turn-based space 4X strategy game Interstellar Space: Genesis. This expansion adds two major new features to the game, Evolutions and Minor Civilizations. These features provide loads of new content, 7 new leaders and 2 new music tracks!

If you want to check out Evolving Empires on Steam, please send an email to contact@praxis-games.com, or fill out this simple request form to receive your review copy.

KEY FEATURES

  • Explore new playstyles and evolve your strategies through the introduction of highly asymmetric space culture trees in the brand new Evolutions feature!
  • Discover, survey, and establish relationships with a wide variety of unique minor civilizations and reap their benefits in the new Minor Civilizations feature!
  • Have access to 7 new leaders, one representative from each minor civilization category. These new leaders await the opportunity to put their skills to work for a mighty empire such as yours!
  • Get 2 additional Galaxy map music tracks inspired by the Evolutions and Minor Civilizations.

FREE 1.4 UPDATE

Praxis Games will also release the 1.4 update alongside the Evolving Empires expansion release. All players will be able to update to Interstellar Space: Genesis version 1.4 for free.

The 1.4 update highlights include 3 new leader skills (Surveillance, Metalworker and Curator), revamped strike craft 3D models (fighters and bombers), leader level information, AI improvements, many QoL improvements and tweaks, bug fixes, and more.

Find the full change log here.

Rogue Company

Rogue Company

Top Scientist ‘Juke’ Revealed as Upcoming Character

From big tech company to Rogue Company

ATLANTA – MAY 25 – Today, Rogue Company reveals in a cinematic trailer their new peppy recruit, Juke. She will become the 25th playable Rogue with the next game update, scheduled for June. All details will become available soon.

New Rogue ‘Juke’ – Trailer

In Rogue Company’s first narrative event two weeks ago, Juke’s Gambit, preliminary details were revealed to players. Juke is the woman responsible for the engineering of the world’s first fully sentient Artificial Intelligence, as she used to be the brilliant brains of big tech company Furmi.62. Now that her life’s work has potentially been stolen by Jackal, the Rogues’ rivals, she rallies Rogue Company in search of answers.

On the battlefield, Juke’s distinguishing mark will be her rocket boots. Both on the ground and mid-air, they allow her dodge roll to turn into a dash, propelling her forward in the blink of an eye. This makes Juke the most mobile Defender to date. To secure objectives, she can deploy a laser defense drone standing guard and continuously firing at enemies until destroyed.

May 26, 2022 3pm – All details about Juke will be shared during the Update Show on YouTube.

June 7 – Everyone will be able to unlock Juke just by playing Rogue Company.

Rogue Company graphic