The Download Munkey : Tracking the Treasure Down …

I encountered CamStudio while looking for a freeware or open source solution for creating Flash screencasts to demonstrate the new features of the software products developed at work. For most users, viewing such screencasts beats reading a lengthy user guide or looking through a whole lot of screenshots.

If you’re new to producing screencasts, you’ll be glad to find that CamStudio is very easy to use. After the straightforward installation process, launch CamStudio and change Region > Fixed Region to Region. Click Record, select the screen area to record and then control the recording process with the mouse or keyboard hotkeys (default for record/pause is F8). Below is a short screencast of me capturing a screencast of myself typing in Notepad.

[kml_flashembed fversion="8.0.0" movie="http://www.downloadmunkey.net/download/convert.swf" targetclass="flashmovie" publishmethod="static" width="450"]

Click here to view screencast at its original size.

Of course, unless a screencast is self-explanatory or utterly pointless like the one above, you will need either verbal or written messages to be displayed during your screencasts. CamStudio supports recording audio instructions through microphones or speakers connected to the computer. Alternatively, you can also create screen annotations – see the screencast below. Much more useful, eh?
[kml_flashembed fversion="8.0.0" movie="http://www.downloadmunkey.net/download/annotate.swf" targetclass="flashmovie" publishmethod="static" width="450"]
Click here to view screencast at its original size.

CamStudio records your screen actions into an AVI which you will most probably want to convert to a bandwidth friendly Flash file with the included SWF Producer.
[kml_flashembed fversion="8.0.0" movie="http://www.downloadmunkey.net/download/record.swf" targetclass="flashmovie" publishmethod="static" width="450"]
Click here to view screencast at its original size.

While I use CamStudio primarily for work, I’m sure it can be put to imaginative use for gaming too – creating walkthroughs, feature demos, tutorials, etc.

Download CamStudio.

MORE @ THE DOWNLOAD MUNKEY:
Exporting and Converting Bookmarks with Bookmark Buddy
Foxit Reader vs PDF-XChange Viewer vs Sumatra
Using Sandboxie For Testing New Software

A couple of concepts for Zeno Clash, an upcoming indie FPS – fighting game hybrid by chilean developers ACE Team. I like the concept art for Father-Mother and his/her children a lot, especially straw-hatted Rimat who reminds me of those kungfu shows of old

© ACE Team

While I’m not really an indie game advocate like good old Gnome, I’m always receptive to any FPS commercial or indie with a strong focus on melee combat (and with an intuitive control system, of course ). I haven’t encountered that many melee-oriented FPSes – I still remember early efforts like Raven’s Hexen II, Apogee/3D Realms’ Shadow Warrior and more recent games like Rune and (to a limited extent) F.E.A.R .

© ACE Team

Skulls and voodoo – Paying homage to Monolith’s infamous Blood?

© ACE Team

A fighting game, eh?

And come to think of it, there haven’t been a lot of games developed for the PC with a heavy emphasis on proper melee combat outside the FPS genre either – I’ve played older games like Psygnosis’ Ecstatica series or the hardcore melee weapon simulator Die By The Sword (now available at GOG.com) to more recent offerings like Mount & Blade (Sorry, I just had to mention it again ), Lugaru and Determinance, but that’s basically all I can think of at the moment

© ACE Team

The surreal and wildly fantastic landscape of Zeno Clash is another definite plus too. My all-time game universe is still the one in Shiny’s underrated and unconventional RTS Sacrifice though – a world weird and incredulous yet strangely beautiful.

Check out Ace Team’s official website for Zeno Clash. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they will release a demo once it goes gold

MORE @ THE DOWNLOAD MUNKEY:
IGWB (I) – Mount & Blade
Lost Odyssey X06 Trailer

©NHN Corp

High resolution wallpaper sized concepts for an upcoming Korean MMORPG Tera Online (or Tera Online : The Exiled Realm of Arborea to be exact ) Found these four artworks with a a selection of screenshots (below) and a promotional trailer at the official site several weeks back but they have recently revamped the site and removed the galleries

©NHN Corp

Meanwhile, you can download these wallpapers / concepts from The Download Munkey (no hotlinking please ) which will remain active until the galleries reappear at the official Tera Online site.

Other entries in the Korean MMORPG Wallpapers series:
(IX) Twelve Sky 2
(VIII) Ran Online (乱 Online)
(VII) Kal Online
(VI) Cabal Online & ZerA Imperan Intrigue
(V) Skyblade Wallpapers
(IV) RF Online
(III) Tantra Online
(II) Dragon Raja

MORE @ THE DOWNLOAD MUNKEY:
Archaic Sealed Heat Wallpapers
Warren Louw @ GfxArtist.com

© Cranberry Publishing

Even if you’re not a fan of flightsim lites like Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X, you shouldn’t miss this special Gamerzines supplement for this upcoming game because on top of the preview and interview with the developers, there’s also a chance to win a flight on a real Fouga Magister which served as the first jet trainer for the French Armee de l’Air and several other European air forces in the 1950s and were only replaced by the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets in the Armee de l’Air from 1994.

© Cranberry Publishing

If contests aren’t your cup of tea, there’s also a free preview chapter of Air Combat Manoeuvres from Ian Allan Publishing. Six double page spreads lavishly accompanied by photos and aircraft profiles explain the evolution of modern air warfare through the introduction of technology like jet engines, air-to-air missiles like Sidewinder AIMs to Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs). Other spreads illustrate the operational histories of famous planes like the A-10 Thunderbolt II (aka “Warthog”) or the combat tactics and techniques adopted to counter the various technological advances in air warfare.

© Cranberry Publishing

More sample spreads can be found at the official Air Combat Manoeuvres site. Believe it or not, this 256 page book is actually written for both serious flight simmers and entry-level gamers as a quick primer to military aviation histrory and tactics past and present.

© Cranberry Publishing

Grab the Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X Special Supplement at the Gamerzines site.

MORE @ THE DOWNLOAD MUNKEY:
John Wallin Liberto’s WWII Military Aviation Art
Fighting High – WWII Allied Aviation E-Magazine
War and Game – Military History Blog
Armada International’s Complete Guides

Kerem Beyit is one fine researcher of dragons masquerading as an illustrator (or vice versa). Either way, Kerem’s gallery is one that you definitely should not miss especially if you’re a dragon researcher (or a fantasy art fan).

A set of ten magnificently illustrated dragon heads will certainly grab your attention when you enter his personal gallery at his official website (www.theartofkerembeyit.com) – from the common red dragon commonly depicted in fantasy games and books to a majestic gold dragon.

© Kerem Beyit

My favourite is the black dragon (below) – I just love those glowering eyes and that air of thinly concealed malice

© Kerem Beyit

If you can’t get enough of Kerem’s fantastic dragons, there’s always the freely downloadable wallpapers of these fabulous beasts to grace your desktop in various resolutions from 800×600 to 1600×1200 and 1920×1200.

© Kerem Beyit

Intricate details and stunningly realistic lighting effects are a hallmark of his works and this trio of his latest personal artworks is no exception. Check out the glistening sheen on the armour and ornately decorated shield of the Dark Knight below.

© Kerem Beyit

© Kerem Beyit

And over here, we introduce the world’s finest armoured high heels modelled by this charming half-elf archer, courtesy of Kerem.

© Kerem Beyit

You have to see the original artwork of Dragon Mage (above) in its high resolution glory to appreciate the subtle differences in the fiery glow reflecting off different objects in this beautiful piece – dragon hide and scales, stone outcroppings and of course, the lovely dragon mage and her metal staff.

Other than his beloved dragons, Kerem has also produced commissions for various companies like Jordanian comics publisher Aranim Media Factory. I don’t have the permission from Aranim to post them up right now but you’ll defnitely want to take a look at his intensely dark and broody takes on Richard Lionheart and Saladin in his Jobs galleries.

Check out the galleries or download tutorials, wallpapers and avatars at The Art of Kerem Beyit.

MORE @ THE DOWNLOAD MUNKEY:
Fantasy Art – Paizo Style!
Dan LuVisi’s Portraits of Movie Characters & More!
Dragon Fellow (Movie + Lyrics)
Dungeon & Dragons Source Book Wallpapers
Game Book Covers @ Mithrandir’s Gamebook Grotto