Okay, the 1st Place link (Starschwar and ArchDuke) is up on the episode 1 page.

JLS, if you get the aspect ratio worked out for yours, get me the link and I'll add it to the page as 2nd Place.

This was pretty exciting, even though a technicality prevented us from having a vote-off. All three of you did some very cool work, and I hope you'll be back to battle it out for episode 2!

Here's smbhax's preferred aspect ratio, Ben:

Credits: José Sandoval - musical score, sound design, and voice acting

Original soundtrack I entered, with preferred aspect ratio:
[edit: updated video link]
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOfbRhqUagg

Here is the smbhax0001 version I prefer with only my musical score and effects (that is, my soundtrack minus the voiceover):
[edit: updated video link]
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCdqlBFD-Hg

Here's an alternate voiceover take with 'major corps' pronounced as in the phrase 'army corps,' as opposed to 'major corporations:'
[edit: video removed, no longer applicable]

High quality mp3s of my musical score and effects (that is, my soundtrack minus the voiceover) will soon be available for download from my website, http://www.sandovaljose.com

I appreciate the opportunity to work with the smbhax material and can't wait to see what happens to Vero and Barny.

note about edit: corrected the youtube links

Ooh, you've got me on the "corps" thing, I think. Vero does use it as a plural of the abbreviation "corp" for "corporation," but for some reason I always imagined it would be pronounced like the word "corps." But it isn't actually that word so properly speaking it probably wouldn't be pronounced that way--if you can speak properly about something that isn't actually a word anyway. So never mind! I'll probably just continue to pronounce it wrong in my head because I think it sounds better that way. =D

(EDIT: Hah and the plural of the *word* "corps" is pronounced "korz"--silent "p," spoken "s"--so that still isn't how I was imagining the plural of the abbreviation "corp" being pronounced. Well I suppose the lesson is that I am way wrong and need to learn how to pronounce my own semi-made-up words.)

Your new version is a little less squished, but it's still off--too narrow. The spikes on the asterisk in the A* logo at the beginning should all be the same length, for instance. Here's a comparison chart I made so you can see the difference.

Thanks for your patience.

With the 16:9 option checked in Windows Movie Maker, I processed the video and uploaded it to youtube.

I believe the videos now have the correct aspect ratio.

Below is an edit of my post with the updated links.

AWESOME!!!!!

Gratz to all the authors ef the 2 entries.


Very great jobs, thanx to let the "Sound Dimesion" to this great web comic!!!

J, doing that isn't enough, since the original image files aren't actually 16:9, but a custom aspect ratio. See my post in the A* board about maintaining the OAR. I have instructions on how to work around this. You can also just donwload pre-adjusted images from my photobucket gallery there.

And that was very impressive work, JLS.

Thanks for the listen.

I had done the other step, too (resizing the animation images to 720 x 405) when I posted about the 16:9.

edit:
I'll take some time to trouble-shoot now.
I downloaded starschwar's photobucket images; they have the same aspect ratio and size as my conversions from GIMP.

Another edit:
Thanks for the all the help so far. I'm determined to get the aspect ratio correct.

Hm yah, still a little too narrow. A* is uncooperative!

Don't worry about the "corps" thing! I am a dummy. =P (EDIT: ZOMG you have a Master's degree in Physics!)

JLS, none of your videos so far appear to maintain the correct OAR. Could you do me a favor and post some screenshots of the following:

1. Tools->Option in WMM
2. right click -> properties of the gif files you're using

I may be able to diagnose what's wrong.