Let's go shopping

I noticed today that Amazon's aStore has upgraded allowing further customization. More specifically, it now allows me to add individual products instead of adding them based on keywords.

As such, I have been busy adding products to SMBHQ's aStore using the old HTML files from SMBHQ's previous store. Now, we pretty much have every existing Mario game in the store, including a few for the Wii (though you can't order them yet).

A few sections of the store (namely Books and Toys & Games) are still based on keywords. Mostly because, there are probably too many to list in those categories and I can't be bothered.

OK, well that's enough for now. Check out the store, you'll be glad that you did.

Oooh, this is nifty.

Wow, I feel a heck of a lot more important, now that I can make blog entries! Hooray for the blog!

And just so this isn't a total waste of an entry...



The official Peachfan cosplay. (Ignore my horridly messy room.)

One more thing...

I should point out that I am NOT reviving this blog because TMK now has one of their own.

Sure, we at SMBHQ jumped on the blogging bandwagon WAY before the other guys did, but that doesn't mean they aren't free to, literally, post their opinions.

I'm sure there's room for more than one Mario fansite with a blog. :P

Weeeeeeeeeee're Back!

After nearly 1 year and 4 months, the SMBlogHQ is back in business.

If all goes well, you should see posts by me, Kyle, and the other staff members.

That's all for the time being, now go get ready for the release of the Wii on Sunday!

That little thing called life

This is an advanced notice to people that, after the next full SMBhq update on August 1, I am going to take a break from SMBhq for about 2 months.

I am going to be enrolling into York University in Toronto (to persue an, eventual, BA degree in Information Technology) and I don't want the stress, that comes from maintaining the site, to distract me during this transition.

Super Mario Mysteries (my main specialty section) will still be updated and, if I have time, there might even be an RPC in September.

But other than that, the site is all Jay's for August and September.

State of SMBhq and Stuff

You may have been noticing that SMBhq is lacking in the update department a bit.

Well here's why.

Kyle Orland has been wanting me to get the era pages ready and I have been trying to concentrate on that. Also, I have been having trouble finding stuff (other than the era pages) that could be updated.

There is also the fact that I tend to be lazy at times (and the fact that I hate it when a website, that I do for a hobby, feels like a job).

There should, hopefully, be something that resembles an update within the next week. However, I will then be heading to Scotland for two weeks and (unless Jay does some updating) SMBhq will pretty much be on hiatus for much of May.

Ch-Ch-Changes

You probably noticed the new, smaller logo for SMBhq.

That is the first sign of the next, and hopefully final, redesign to the SMBhq main page.

This new main page design, which will launch tommorow, is probably my best yet and will probably end up being perennial design for the main page.

Then I can move on to more important things, like the Era Pages.

Super Mario World - The Epic!

If you have a good internet connection, I recommend for you to give this Super Mario World video a looksy.

http://www.lostcreation.com/bluejello/MarioMovie_lo.zip

Disk Space Woes

I've taken notice that SMBhq's files takes up 100+ MB on my hard drive.

On my 40GB Computer that would be no problem, however on my 18 GB Laptop (which I've been using for website work since last fall), with only 7GB free, SMBhq is taking up space that could be used for something else.

My solution is that, as soon as possible, I move SMBhq's files (in fact, ALL my website-related files) onto a USB Key Drive.

That would do 2 things:
1. It would free up some space on my hard drive.
2. It would allow me to work on SMBhq anytime, anywhere (just plug in the USB Drive).

Well, that's enough ranting for today.

Updates, Icons, and Random stuff

Hey guys. It's me, Metal, again. I've been doing plenty of updating at SSQ. First thing, there's enough mirrors to choke a camel, so don't worry about it ever going down. Second thing, a new season just started, and it'd be nice if you tried to join now rather than later. Finally, I updated several story logs, the rules, and added a nice navbar to the site. Check it out when you have time. The new layout for SMBHQ is great, too.

SMBHQ's New Years Resolution

Happy New Years!

That last year featured a lot in the way of rebuilding SMBhq for the future, and 2005 will be seeing more of that.

I will try to get all the era pages up and running by years end. Hopefully we won't be bombarded with too many new Mario games for when it's comes time to do the final (and most difficult) era page.

I'll be going through the 2004 Mario Releases soon and compile a list of nominees for the second Golden Toad Awards. You should expect voting to begin towards the end of the month.

That's all and, once again, have a Happy New Year.

BOTVGH New Hosted Site

SMBhq has recieved a new hosted site in the form of the popular Fan-Fiction site Battle of the Videogame Heroes.

I was negotiating with, BOTVGH webmaster, H Cuz a few months ago, about bringing BOTVGH to SMBhq, though the deal just closed this past Monday.

According to his blog, H Cuz plans to have BOTVGH up and running on the SMBhq server by the end of the year. You should keep checking that Blog for future updates on this subject.

Hello again. I updated a lot of SSQ. The new ad changes seem to work fine... and I've implemented a new code that allows me to change the layout of SSQ with only one file. So when I actually think of some interesting layouts, I'll try them. SSQ should start the new system soon, but it's still under construction.

Ready for a new Era

I'm sure all of you can't wait for the new SMBhq "Era Pages"

I just seriously got started on work on them, and they are going to be awesome.

To make things easier I am going to work one era at a time.

When that era is done and uploaded, I will work on the next era, and so long.

I think this is the best path to go, especially since the first two eras are basically just archives.

Expect to see the page for the "Retro Era" by the end of October.

On Sale Soon: More than just games.

We just signed up for the Amazon.com associates program.

As soon as we get confimation that the application has gone through, I plan on expanding the SMBhq store to feature more that just games.

Through Amazon.com, you will be able to buy Books, DVDs, Apparel and more. This will make for a more complete store.

So look out for the expanded SMBhq Store, coming soon

End of Summer Report

Well summer is coming to and end and it is time to get back it work with SMBhq.

Well, then again, it's not like I ever stopped.

However, in the Fall you will start to see some serious updates, especially with my sections.

A new Mystery should be posted within a month and all the end of the year Mario news should start pouring in.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that I will be taking some night courses at the ol' college this fall. While I will still find time for SMBhq, I might not have time to work on any of the "lengthy" projects (i.e. the SMBhq "Era" pages).

We'll see how things turn out.

Well, it's been a while since I posted here. SSQ has been quite a tricky thing to update... well... more like I'm kinda lazy. Anyways, I'm planning on finishing our update with all of that shiny equipment. If I have time, I'll deal with some stuff pertaining to SSS. Just so you know, I would appreciate it if someone could help me update SSQ. It's a lot for just me, now that we have around 20 people and all. And, well, I'm not surprised Sean Kelly became co-webmaster of SMBHQ. Oh yeah, that reminds me. Sean, please do something about/with the chat thing. It's handy for when I'm using someone else's computer, but lately all the people who show up have the IQ of crazed chimpanzees... and it tends to be tiring, not to mention cause me to get up to about 99 akicks. Well, that's it for now.

I am now co-webmaster of SMBhq.

How did this happen?

Well Jay told me today in AIM that he and Kyle had something to ask me.

We had a chat in AIM, in which I was thanked for my contributions to SMBhq.

Jay joked that I was going to be fired (we all had a laugh at that), and I was then asked to become a webmaster to help Jay (who doesn't really have the time, and prefers NC).

I, of course, agreed and here I am.

Will I be a good co-webmaster? Only time will tell.

The New RPC

Since December RPC has been on the wayside. It's just that I haven't been able to attend each and every week and the times I do show up, no one else does.

However I am looking forward to the first RPC in over 4 months next Friday (May 7) at 7:00 pm EST (I was originally going to have it at 10, but after noticing last week that people started leaving the chat by 9 that it would be best to keep the original timeslot.)

I have retooled RPC to make it more interesting.

First each participant will be assigned a randomly assigned character. This includes Mario characters and (as a new addition) NC characters.

The next new feature of RPC that will probably debut next week is "The Wheel of Plot Twists". After saying a secret word (which I will make before the start of the story), the wheel will be spun which will result in plot twists such as a character change, an item appearing, and, of course, something happening to someone's (censored).

So, make sure to participate in the new and improved RPC. I am sure you will like it.

Camp FUNgi registration has begun!

Head over to the Camp Fungi page to register for SMBhq's online camp.

I'm working very hard to make this a success and hopefully it will.

You have until the end of June to register.