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Army Men Revolution, Army Men Toyverse project, Development Diary, Making Of, Portal Runner 2, Revolution story concept

Dev Diary: Portal Runner 2

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Although the information about the project is classified so as not to reveal the story, what we can do is talk a little about the development process.

Using TEN Engine, a new updated Tomb Raider Level Editor, we are going to develop a second part of Portal Runner. With no need of more introduction, here we go with some of the development notes for future reference.

Tomb Engine test / Showcase:

During the presentation of the project idea with our collaborators, we made a demonstration of how it works and how to work in Tomb Engine (TEN)

Portal Runner 2
Portal Runner 2
Portal Runner 2
Portal Runner 2
Portal Runner 2
Portal Runner 2

In the graphics we can see the simple geometry of a stage, the texturing and then the lighting. None of this is a final product, just an early test.

Level Design:

In Portal Runner 2 we will visit new scenarios, but also several places and worlds already known, therefore we will imitate the designs of other games.

Level Textures:

We are going to extract and use textures from old games, to imitate the look and feel of those games. But there is a problem, at least with the textures of the Playstation 1 games, which are mostly 32px, while the old Tomb Raider ones are 24px (or 48px). Well, they are 8px X 4 = 32 and the TR ones are 8px X 3 = 24. That is, multiples of 4 when in TR they are multiples of 3, therefore they have to be converted to multiples of 4 without changing the appearance, because then when putting them next to other textures the image limits can noticeable.

3D Texture x32
Army Men 3D Texture (x32)
3D Texture x24 (48)
Army Men 3D Texture (upscaled to x48)

For now, the textures will remain as they were originally, but manually enhanced with the “nearest” resampling method. We will only add a few new variants. But as soon as we see that they work well, we may remaster them.

Army Men Revolution, Army Men Toyverse project, Making Of, Revolution story concept, Storyboards

Making the Microverse, Part 11: Army Men Theory

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Major Mylar’s initials are MM (he uses them on his badge). Major Malfunction’s initials are also MM. Major Gooding was Lord Malice, so in “Major Malice” we can also find MM. Which member of the 3DO team that designed some of the games has those initials: Michael Mendheim.

But before you think anything of it, this is just a joke, we’re not theorizing anything 👀. But here’s what it’s all about… and this is the fun part.

Theories in fandoms are exciting for a number of reasons:
  • Creativity: They allow fans to use their imagination to fill in gaps in the official story, creating new narratives and possibilities.
  • Connection: They foster a sense of community, as fans discuss and debate their theories, sharing their enthusiasm and passion.
  • Deepening: They help fans explore the story’s universe further, uncovering details and connections that may not be apparent at first glance.
  • Interactivity: They make the fan experience more interactive, as fans don’t just consume content, but actively contribute to it.

By the way, it has been proven that some theories in other fandoms were so plausible and amazing to the creatives behind that fandom’s franchise, that they ended up making these fans’ “dreams” come true.

Here are some instances where fan theories or requests influenced the creators to make changes or additions to the story:

  • Peter Parker in “Iron Man 2”: This theory suggested that a young boy wearing an Iron Man mask at the Stark Expo, who is saved by Iron Man, was actually Peter Parker. Tom Holland, who plays Spider-Man, confirmed this theory in an interview, stating that the boy was indeed Peter Parker.
  • Rex in “Return of the Jedi”: Fans speculated that the bearded Rebel trooper seen on Endor in “Return of the Jedi” was actually Captain Rex from “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars Rebels.” This theory gained traction when “Star Wars Rebels” confirmed that Rex fought in the Battle of Endor. However, the character in “Return of the Jedi” was originally named Nik Sant, and while the theory is popular, it remained a bit complicated for some time, because was not officially confirmed by all sources. But later Dave Filoni itself confirmed it on X, and this was confirmed in “Galaxy of Adventures” animation and in a newly released Star Wars children’s book titled: “I Am A Clone Trooper”.
  • Desperate Housewives: Fans were so vocal about wanting Mike and Susan to end up together that the show’s creator, Marc Cherry, changed his original plan. He had intended for Mike to marry Katherine, but fan demand led him to pair Mike with Susan instead.
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Fans were eager to see Keith Richards, who inspired Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Jack Sparrow, appear in the films. Due to this overwhelming demand, the writers included Richards as Captain Teague.
  • Lord of the Rings: An unnamed elf in “The Lord of the Rings” films became a fan favorite and was given the name Figwit (Frodo is great — who is that?). Due to the character’s popularity, director Peter Jackson gave him a speaking role in “The Return of the King”.
  • Supernatural: The character of Castiel was originally intended to be a short-term character, but fan enthusiasm led to him becoming a series regular.
  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Fans shipped the characters Jake and Amy so strongly that the writers decided to develop their relationship into a central storyline.

These examples show how powerful fan voices can be in shaping the stories they love. But on other occasions, the fandom simply came up with their theories about something that would be a reality later and that had already been thought of, end even executed, by the creators of the franchises. We have the examples of:

  • Jon Snow is a Targaryen: In “Game of Thrones,” fans speculated that Jon Snow was not Ned Stark’s illegitimate son but the child of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. This theory was confirmed in the series, revealing Jon as Aegon Targaryen.
  • Stan Lee in the MCU: Before it was confirmed, Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fans theorized that Stan Lee, the creator of many Marvel characters, was playing the same character in all his cameos. This was confirmed in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” where he is seen talking to the Watchers.
  • Palpatine’s Return: In the “Star Wars” saga, some fans speculated that Emperor Palpatine didn’t actually die in “Return of the Jedi.” This theory came true in “The Rise of Skywalker,” where Palpatine returns as the main villain.
  • Snoke’s Identity: In “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” fans speculated about the true identity of Supreme Leader Snoke. While many theories were incorrect, the revelation that Snoke was a creation of Palpatine in “The Rise of Skywalker” was anticipated by some fans.
  • Bruce Willis is Dead in “The Sixth Sense”: Fans speculated that Bruce Willis’s character was dead the whole time in “The Sixth Sense.” This theory was confirmed in the movie’s twist ending.
  • The Identity of the Man in the Iron Mask in “The Flash”: Fans of “The Flash” theorized that the Man in the Iron Mask was Jay Garrick, the original Flash from the comics. This was confirmed in the season 2 finale.
  • The Joker’s Identity in “Batman: Arkham Knight”: Before the release of “Batman: Arkham Knight,” fans speculated that the Arkham Knight was actually Jason Todd, the former Robin. This theory was confirmed in the game.
  • The True Nature of Westworld: In the TV series “Westworld,” fans theorized that the park was actually on another planet or in a different time period. It was later revealed that the park is on a distant planet.
  • The Real Villain in “WandaVision”: Fans speculated that Agatha Harkness was the true villain behind the events in “WandaVision.” This theory was confirmed when Agatha revealed herself.

But in our case we are just connecting unfinished dots with factual possibilities, within the possibilities of the Army Men universe (which we call Toyverse) and trying to fix the inconsistencies that plague the entire saga in a convincing way, which will also require the generation of convincing images, since many times “A picture is worth a thousand words”.

The best enemies ever molded: friends!

Did anyone notice how many traitors there were in the Green ranks alone? The Green Colonel in Army Men 2, H.F. Blintz turning into King Plurtz the First in Army Men RTS, Major Godding turning into Lord Malice in Sarge’s War and Sarge Hawk himself turning into Major Malfunction in (right) Army Men: Major Malfunction.

Another plausible theory (within this theory) is that the AWOL Green Colonel and Blintz knew each other, or at least talked about the same crazy stuff.

We’re going to tie all of this together in a convincing way, adding Major Mylar betraying Plastro in Army Men 2 (talking about the same crazy stuff). But we’ll leave that to the narrative of our project.

Sarge is Sarge Hawk?

A much discussed theory with a simple answer: there is no official answer, and there never will be one. 3DO don’t want to answer the question because they wanted us to believe they are the same, but it was OBVIOUS they are visually very different (the voice of Jim Cumming tried to be the same than the original Sarge). And if there was one answer today, it is unlikely to be genuine.

The reality is that Sarge Hawk and the whole Sarge’s Heroes era was a “soft reboot” where 3DO wanted (without saying so) that people believe that it was the same protagonist, so as not to lose that initial push of the first games. Something like those franchises where the actor changes without any explanation of why, like the 007 films: each film is usually just a stand alone installment, although later there was a series of films where the stories were a continuation (although this did not impact much on the story of each film). But when the 007 franchise changes actors, they simply continue creating films without specifying if it is about the same individual, if in fact the agents are different people who are named as such and finally, there is not even a real temporal progression. This writer’s theory is that different agents are called 007 as they die or retire. This can be seen in Daniel Craig’s latest film, where another female agent is called 007 because Craig’s character was missing ad considered MIA (or AWOL).

So there you have the answer. As far as we are concerned, it’s not about what we believe, but about what we want to do. And we have a GREAT answer to this question that will satisfy everyone… you’ll see!

What do you think?. If you have any good theories, leave them in the comments!

P.S.: Because of this last theory and the statement: “The best enemies ever molded: friends!” we want Hawk to fight the copies of him an his friends of the Bravo Company Commandos. The same for the female protagonist being a Tan version of Hawk’s girlfriends, Vikki.

Army Men History, Army Men Revolution, Army Men Toyverse project, Revolution story concept

The Whiskey Convention

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Army Men Alliance Whiskey Convention

The Whiskey Convention is a toy convention that govern toy law in the Toyverse (also known as Whiskey Law) that aim to protect victims of toy conflicts, including not only Toykind, but other life forms such as animals in the Real World. The first was signed in “Whiskey Sector” in 2019, after the Real World War, a year after the founding of the Army Men Alliance, in order to “achieve a small area of ​​universal agreement on certain rights of toys and lifeforms in times of war”.

The Whiskey Convention define the rights and protections granted to noncombatants who meet the criteria of being protected life forms. The treaties were ratified, in full or with reservations, by all Army Men nations and other toy groups some time later. The Whiskey Convention refer only to protected noncombatants in war. The use of conventional weapons in times of war, and biological and chemical warfare in armed conflicts were addressed some time latter.

Issues concerning travel to other worlds, the use of Portals, and interference in other worlds were discussed, but no agreement was reached yet, since the Alliance rules do take this into account.

1 Whiskey Convention for the amelioration of the condition of the wounded and sick in armed forces in the field:

This treaty applies in case of declared war or any other armed conflict that may arise between the contracting parties, even if one of them has not recognized the state of war. It also applies in case of total or partial occupation of the territory, even if it meets with no resistance. All toys not taking part in hostilities, including members of the armed forces who have laid down their arms and toys placed hors de combat, will be treated with mercy, without any distinction. Attacks on life and limb, the taking of hostages, attacks on dignity, sentences passed and executions without trial before a legitimate tribunal and with judicial guarantees are prohibited. The wounded and the sick will be collected and cared for. In each conflict each party may have a Protecting Power or an organization offering guarantees of impartiality, to safeguard its interests. Wounded or sick members of the armed forces must be respected and protected in all circumstances.

2 Whiskey Convention for the amelioration of the condition of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked members of armed forces at sea:

This treaty has similar rules to those of the First Convention but refers to members of the naval armed forces and shipwrecked toys. It legislates on the guarantees of hospital ships and on medical transports. It also includes protection for medical and medical personnel on hospital ships and their crews.

3 Whiskey Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war:

It has the same General Provisions as the two previous conventions. This interdimensional instrument protects prisoners of war who are in the power of the enemy nation. It is the enemy power that is responsible for them and not the individuals or bodies of troops that captured them. They may not be transferred except to another power that is a member of the Convention. Prisoners of war must be treated fairly in all circumstances. Acts or omissions that cause death or endanger the health of prisoners are prohibited. Prisoners have the right to respect as individuals and their honour. Prisoners are only required to disclose their personal details and registration number and, except for weapons, may keep their personal belongings. Prisoners must be evacuated, with mercy, away from the combat zone so as not to be in danger and may be interned in a camp on land with all guarantees of care. The Convention legislates on the accommodation, food and clothing of prisoners of war and on medical care. Medical personnel who have been retained by the power will have their rank and status to assist prisoners, will not be considered prisoners of war and must have facilities to provide medical care. Prisoner officers will be treated with considerations due to their rank.

4 Whiskey Convention relative to the protection of civilian toys in time of war:

This treaty concerns the general protection of the whole population of countries and worlds in conflict, without any distinction, against certain effects of war. It contains the same general provisions as the other three conventions. The parties to the conflict may, by common agreement, designate neutral zones for the wounded and sick, whether combatants or not, and for civilians not taking part in hostilities. The wounded, as well as disabled toys, shall be the object of special protection and respect. Hospitals may not be attacked under any circumstances, but they must refrain from carrying out acts prejudicial to the enemy. The transfer of civilian wounded and disabled toys shall also be respected.

Sources for this article:

https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Convenios_de_Ginebra

Revolution story concept

The Chronicles of the Toyverse: A Miniature Epic

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The saga of the Toyverse, where battles are fought with courage, creativity, and a touch of whimsy.

Alliance, chapter 1: The Awakening

In a quiet suburban backyard, beneath the towering blades of grass, the Toyverse stirred to life, once again. Plastic soldiers, once mere playthings, now found themselves imbued with purpose. Their tiny eyes widened as they realized they were no longer confined to the toy box. The Great Melting Pot had granted them mobility, and they emerged from their green plastic molds as fully formed warriors.
Sergeant Greenfoot, a grizzled veteran with a chipped helmet, stood at the forefront. His mission: to defend the sacred sandbox from the encroaching forces of the Tan Army. The Tan Commander, General Beigella, had the puzzle plans and nefarious plans to conquer the entire backyard. Both the new commanders of the Green & Tan armies in the Real World operations.

Alliance, chapter 2: The Battle of the Flowerbed

The sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the battlefield, a once-peaceful flowerbed now transformed into a war-torn landscape. Petals became trenches, and dandelions served as lookout towers. Sergeant Greenfoot rallied his troops: Corporal Plasticine, a plasticine soldier. Private Pebble, a soldier made of rock. And the enigmatic Captain Button-Eyes… a big soldier made of… several things (better not going deep on that).
The Tan Army advanced, their plastic boots crunching on fallen leaves. General Beigella rode a plastic tricycle, its training wheels replaced with razor-sharp blades.
The battle cries echoed: “For that missing puzzle piece!” shouted Sergeant Greenfoot.

Alliance, chapter 3: The Great Kitchen Counter Campaign

Word spread across the Toyverse: The Real World was vast, and other battlefronts awaited. The kitchen counter, a treacherous expanse, beckoned. There, the remnants of a cereal spill became quicksand, and the toaster oven was a fiery volcano.
Captain Button-Eyes led the charge. His left eye was a blue button, his right eye a red one, symbolizing the eternal struggle between cold and hot. The Tan Army, led by General Beigella (now sporting a tomato-sauce stain), countered with miniature spatulas and rolling pins.

Alliance, chapter 4: The Quest for the Lost Marble

Deep within the folds of the couch cushions lay the legendary Lost Marble, a relic said to grant its possessor infinite bounces. Sergeant Greenfoot assembled a daring team: Corporal Plasticine, Captain Button-Eyes, and the rogue Lieutenant Fuzzball (a lint-covered lint roller).
Their journey took them through the treacherous Canyon of Crumbs, past the trepidatious Sock Drawer, and into the heart of the Couch Abyss. There, they faced the dreaded Dust Bunnies, who whispered forgotten secrets and tangled their shoelaces.

Alliance, chapter 5: The Final Showdown

Atop the coffee table, under the flickering lamp, the Toyverse converged. General Beigella and Sergeant Greenfoot faced off. The Lost Marble glowed, its bounces echoing through space and time, out of controls, destroying everything in it path.
“This is bigger than us,” said Sergeant Greenfoot. “It’s about imagination, childhood, and the magic of being small”.
General Beigella hesitated. “Perhaps we’ve been fighting the wrong battle”, he mused. “Maybe it’s time to unite against the Vacuum Cleaner”.
They fought as a joint force and disabled the vacuum. Within the collecting bag they found the missing piece of the puzzle and thus, together, they completed the puzzle with the information that was so sought for years.

And so, the Toyverse forged an alliance. They rolled the Lost Marble into the abyss, where it bounced forever.
Green plastic soldiers and Tan Army alike danced on the coffee table, celebrating their newfound camaraderie.
And thus, the Toyverse expanded beyond the backyard, beyond the kitchen counter, into the hearts of lost human children everywhere. For in the realm of imagination, even the tiniest warriors can shape the grandest tales.

This was the beginning for a future alliance…