Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is quite outdated. As I have quit work on the comic, refer to the introduction on the further synopsis I posted on the front page. Outdated items, for instance, are that the current latest version of Flash Player and Macromedia Flash is 8, that you can use my characters for whatever you want, that I'm no longer updating and that the chances of me responding to questions about the comic are even more unlikely than before.
I can't see the comics!
I'm having problems seeing the Flash (animated) comics!
Where do you get your sprites and backgrounds?
How do you rip your own sprites and backgrounds?
How do you make the comics, how do you do your special effects?
How do you make Flash movies?
What game is that Crashman sprite from?
Why don't you use those Crashman sprites from Megaman Power Fighters? And why don't you use Bass from Megaman 7?
Can I use one of your characters for a cameo in my comic, or can one of mine cameo in Crash & Bass?
Can I use your characters/sprites?
Will you proofread my comic?
Will Fragile-Minds.com host my comic?
Why is Crashman called "Wily-unit 006" in comic 191? According to the games his number is 13.
How long will you keep on doing this comic?
How often do you update the comic?
I can't see the comics!
This probably means your browser cannot support png image files. I can't use a more browser-friendly image format such as gif or jpg because it would reduce image quality too much. As png is being used more widely on the net all the time, I recommend one of two things - 1) You download the latest version of your browser type, it may support png. 2) You download a new browser type that will definitely support png, for example Microsoft Internet Explorer.
I'm having problems seeing the Flash (animated) comics!
Try downloading them to your computer from the Downloads page, or get the latest version of Flash Player at Macromedia.com. If that doesn't work, go into your Windows configuration and remove Flash, then reinstall it.
Where do you get your sprites and backgrounds?
Some sprites, and most backgrounds, I acquire myself directly from the games. You can find those in the Downloads section. Otherwise, check out these sprite sites: Sprites Inc. or the People's Sprites. For Backgrounds, your best bet would be to visit the Backgrounds section at the Bob and George forums.
How do you rip your own sprites and backgrounds?
You need an emulator for a console (NES, SNES, Sega Genesis) and ROMs for the games you need. Emulators can be found at Zophar.net. ROMs are illegal, so if you want to find a site that offers them for download, you'll have to find it yourself. Note: I won't respond to e-mails asking me for ROMs. Now, you simply play the game, take screenshots by pressing Alt + Print Screen, opening a Paint program (MS Paint, Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro) and use Paste to see the screenshot. Then, just cut out unwanted elements. Most emulators have commands to turn off background elements or sprites.
How do you make the comics, how do you do your special effects?
Making the comic is basically as simple as cutting out paper figures and glueing them to... something. In this case, it's taking a background from a game, pasting the sprites in, and then just adding text and balloons. As for special effects like lighting and some shooting effects, I use Paint Shop Pro and just combine the effects it comes with to create lighting, blurring, and everything else. You can get a demo version of Paint Shop Pro, or it's big brother, Photoshop, from Download.com. If you need help, there's tutorials floating around the web for you to search for, or try asking around on Internet forums. I will probably not answer questions about these programs through e-mail, unless it's a very specific question I happen to know the answer to. But don't hold your breath.
How do you make Flash movies?
Get the program Flash MX 2004 (or an older version) - NOT Flash Player, which just lets you play movies, not make them - (download a trial version of Flash MX 2004 from Macromedia.com) to make movies. The program comes with tutorials and lessons to teach you how to work with it. For more tutorials designed by Flash users, go to Flashkit.com. If you're really stuck I may be able to help you with specific Flash questions, but I won't respond to e-mails like "I've got the program and now I can't figure it out". Only ask specific questions, and try looking for tutorials that may answer your question first.
What game is that Crashman sprite from?
It's an edited Megaman from Megaman 7 on SNES. Nothing fancy.
Why don't you use those Crashman sprites from Megaman Power Fighters? And why don't you use Bass from Megaman 7?
The aforementioned sprites of Crashman are only shown from a side view, which makes them hard to work with and achieve all the kinds of poses I'd want for Crash. Next to that, he's too bulky, even when horizontally resized. He just doesn't have the look for the type of character I want Crash to be. As for Bass, I know that the sprites I currently use (from Rockman & Forte and Megaman 8) are essentially 32-bit, and so they clash with the overall 16-bit style of the comic. And I know that means I'm breaking one of my own Commandments of Sprite Comics. I just like the slightly more serious, more powerful, more "evil" look these sprites of Bass have than the Megaman 7 ones.
Can I use one of your characters for a cameo in my comic, or can one of mine cameo in Crash & Bass?
To be honest, I don't like cameoing much eitherway. Usually the different styles of sprites are pretty obvious, and if the reader doesn't know who the cameo-character is, the comic becomes obscure. Plus, there's often a break in logic or storyline. At this time the only exception I have made and will make about cameos in Crash & Bass, is Comic #200. If that policy changes, you'll know. As for cameo-ing my own characters in other people's comics, the main characters of Crash & Bass are off-limits, meaning Crash, Bass, Frank and Clashman. If you want one of the other characters to cameo in your comic, contact me about it and we'll see. Note that we're only talking about brief appearances here - not letting my characters become permanent cast members of your comic.
P.S. Since Bass's sprites are unaltered, nothing's to stop you from using him in your comic. However, if I see a Rockman & Forte/Megaman 8 Bass in someone's comic making heavy allusions or references to Crash & Bass, I'll certainly not approve.
Can I use your characters/sprites?
If you mean cameos, see the previous question. If you mean permanent cast members to your comic, no. To see what sprites of mine you can use, visit the Downloads section. When and if I approve of a cameo request, I'll send the sprites you need.
Will you proofread my comic?
No. I'm getting too many of these. There are many places to get your comic evaluated, like the Fancomics section at the Bob and George forums. Since I made the Ten Commandments of Sprite Comics, some people seem to think I've proclaimed myself an expert on what a sprite comic should be, which is nonsense. Aside from that, I don't like non-humorous sprite comics, anime, and many other things that exclude me from propery appreciating the majority of sprite comics.
Will Fragile-Minds.com host my comic?
Nope. Sign up with one of the million free site hosts out there, like Geocities or Angelfire. Ask around where other people are hosting their sprite comics to find a reliable free host.
Why is Crashman called "Wily-unit 006" in comic 191? According to the games his number is 13 (ominous?).
The truth is, I forgot about the numbers that the robot masters always get in the game credits. However, I'm not entirely wrong. I intended "Wily-unit" to refer specifically to the robots Dr. Wily had built by himself. This would exclude all the robots from Megaman 1, including Megaman and Roll (and Protoman, he's #000). However, since the numbers in the credits still give the correct order in which the robots were built, that would make Crashman Wily-unit 005. So... I missed it by one.
How long will you keep on doing this comic?
After repeatedly taking long breaks from the comic, I decided to schedule an ending. I'm (very) roughly estimating that the final comic will be around #300. I'm going to do my best to make it absolutely spectacular, and give proper closing to the story.
How often do you update the comic?
At the time I'm writing this, I'm running ahead some 20 comics, so if I'm lucky, every day. However, when work or school starts creeping in on my time and I can't devote all my attention to it, I can get completely out of the swing of things and end up taking notoriously long breaks. Let's hope it doesn't happen; summer's around the corner, and that means plenty spare time.
[ Back to top ]
This comic owes a debt of inspiration to Bob and George, the Comic Strip. Spritesheets provided by Sprites Inc. Crashman, Bass, and all characters from the Megaman videogame series are the creative property of Capcom. All original titles, names and material are copyrighted by Fragile-Minds.com. Nothing from this site may be reproduced without express consent from the creative owners. For more information, contact the author.
