It’s epic. It’s fun. And it’s going to bring the world’s many StreetPass groups together in a whole new way.
StreetPass World Tour, a series of online comics starting soon at Mega Pirate Ninjas, tells a wild story that explores the strength of friendship and its ability to overcome great adversity. Inspired by the unique communication features of the Nintendo 3DS, it unites MPN’s eccentric cast of established characters with people representing StreetPass groups across the globe.
StreetPass Network artist Alex Satter, the creative force behind StreetPass World Tour, recently set aside his sketchpad to share his thoughts on the upcoming series.
Without spoiling the fun, can you give us an idea of will happen during StreetPass World Tour?
If you read the prologue comic, as a StreetPass fan you will see a familiar (and threatening) face. That face will also play a large part in the story. The basic premise is that MPN’s Pirate Ninjas will realize where Randy, a floating troublemaker, and Stench, their nemesis, went and devise a plan to get them back. Due to some unforseen circumstances, this will be a lot harder than they originally thought. Something is going to happen to StreetPass groups across the world, which will actually be very dangerous and threaten cities across the globe. That’s where the World Tour comes in as the Pirate Ninjas are following Randy and Stench as they hop from 3DS to 3DS but encounter bigger problems each time they reach a certain destination.
We’ll be introduced to StreetPass DC first and Joshua Lynsen, that group’s founder, will act as a liason between the Pirate Ninjas and the StreetPass groups. Josh will also be very important in the final “act,” but why that is I won’t reveal just yet. Also, there will be a plot twist for a Dubai story thread that will reach a boiling point once we arrive in New York City. And everyone stars as their Mii characters. Whatever is happening in the comic with the Nintendo Network is actually turning 3DS owners into their Mii, so it’s all connected. Pun intended.
You mentioned Dubai and New York City. What cities can we expect to see represented in the tour?
That mostly depends on which StreetPass groups want to join our little crusade. For now, we’ll see New York City, Indianapolis, Washington, D.C., Dubai, Calgary in Canada and I’m in talks with Alexander of StreetPass Germany, so hopefully I can add Berlin to the list as well. If there are StreetPass admins reading this who’d like to have their city represented (including a cameo in the comic as their Mii) please email me at megapirateninjas@gmail.com!
We really want to get a global feel for this “event” so we prefer StreetPass groups from regions that haven’t been represented yet, though I’m working on a way to make sure everyone gets at least a mention and cameo in some form. The main cities will actually play a bigger role in the proceedings and the final battle — which I hope will be as epic as I envision it.
So what is it you hope to achieve with StreetPass World Tour?
Actually, I just hope to create a fun comic that everyone involved will like. That’s the main reason I’m doing this. I also wanted to create a big storyline that will be a bit tighter than the three panel MPN comics I created. I love making those, but I also really like creating big stories that challenge me to be creative. I want to put humor in the story, as the cast of the Pirate Ninjas — especially Randy — really lends itself to that, but I think making the story really big and epic and involving the StreetPass groups in it will make it exciting and fun for everyone involved. Showing that all of these groups across the world are formed because of their love for Nintendo, for their 3DS and StreetPass, and then coming together to fight this huge threat is something that represents a feeling of unity. Which is the basic idea that StreetPass groups are founded on. It’s an idea I love and want to express with StreetPass World Tour.
And having Randy send out “naughty” Swapnotes was also a big selling point for me! Hahaha!
When does the tour begin and how long will it last?
I am currently outlining the story. I know where it begins, I know what sort of happens, and I know where it ends. “All” I need to do is work out the details of what happens exactly and where does this happen. Once that is done, I’ll start sketching and drawing the comic and hopefully be able to have a few comics ready before it “kicks off.”
How long it will last is trickier to determine. I always have one golden rule: “The story dictates the pages, not the other way around.” So that really depends on how well I can play everything out on paper. There will be a prologue that sets everything up and puts the players in place. Then we’ll have a few comics dealing with the Pirate Ninjas trying to figure out the situation and after that we really go off on our world tour. Each city will have a dedicated comic, some larger than others. As stated before, the Dubai and NYC comics will be big due to the events that happen in them. Once everything comes together, we move onto a secret setting where the final act will take place. But how long exactly? Not a clue. I do hope I’m able to keep the story interesting and entertaining for everyone who reads it.
How can people see the tour as it happens?
The comic prologue will be up at megapirateninjas.com first. Then I’ll send all the admins the comic through email so they can post it on their website, blog and/or Facebook page so their audiences can read it as well and learn the basic premise. After that, I’ll post the follow-up comics on the MPN site and mail a copy to StreetPass Network, so the comic can also be put up there. I’m aiming for a weekly release for the comic or, depending on how far ahead I’m able to work, twice a week.
Keep your eyes on megapirateninjas.com for all the latest Nintendo news and every installment in StreetPass World Tour!
