Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Work in Progress / >50% Rule with W.I.P Projects

Author
Message
MikeS
Retired Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 2nd Dec 2002
Location: United States
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 07:52
I'm seeing a lot of projects that really don't have anything to show. While we're all big dreamers here, we also need to be do'ers as well.

So in general, your project should be 50% finished when you post here.

That is just my general rule of thumb that I think could help if you're not sure whether or not to post a work in progress project.

Why you ask?
Well, honostly(at least I've found) WIP posts can sometimes completely change the direction of a project before it begins. You're open to be critized(positively and sometimes negatively) by the community, and before you know it, you're designing a game you didn't intend to design.

Anyone can whip up a game fairly quickly thanks to the simplicity of DBP.

I'm not sure who said it, but something along the lines of "The first 90% of development is easy, but the last 10% is what makes or breaks a game." So lets try to get at least the first 50% of that 90% before we hastily post.

Agree, or disagree? I won't sticky this post yet. It's open to be amended into a final guideline we can use for the work in progress board. Because imho, we don't need threads posted with arguements of whether someone should or shouldn't be posting here. We want to see working concepts, that won't leave us asking those questions.



A book? I hate book. Book is stupid.
(Formerly Yellow)
GatorHex
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Apr 2005
Location: Gunchester, UK
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 08:15 Edited at: 27th Jul 2007 09:08
Agreed, something needs to be done about WIP threads, but maybe 50% is a bit much and hard to measure.

I think there should be an in-game screenshot and maybe a demo.exe (so we know it's not a fake screenshot) or else the thread is locked. Easy to justify and measure.

After all, if you managed to take a screenshot of your game you must have had something that is compiled and running

DinoHunter (still no nVidia compo voucher!), CPU/GPU Benchmark, DarkFish Encryption DLL, War MMOG (WIP), 3D Model Viewer
Aaron Miller
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Feb 2006
Playing: osu!
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 08:16
I think 40% would be better, just because at 50% this place would be a ghost-town, lol! Plus, a lot of times things are added on after the 50% mark, and that sends the progress down a bit... And it is a WIP.

If at 40% there should be a bunch of screenshots in png or jpg format, maybe a video, and a demo in the works. At least then there would be something to show off, and you would show you are serious about the project.

This will definately help the board though.

Yeah, I'm probably gonna get flamed for that post, but I don't really care, I stand by it.

Very good idea though.

Cheers,

-naota

MikeS
Retired Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 2nd Dec 2002
Location: United States
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 08:20 Edited at: 27th Jul 2007 08:22
Maybe 50% is too high, more like a 25% benchmark? I just think there needs to be some clear cut rules, or some sort of standard. Even a low standard would help. I also understand, that we don't want this place to be a ghost town either though. Projects in the past have shown such numbers like: graphics 10%, sound 3%, etc. While these are just estimations, it's hard to be bothered why not to make it 0%.



[edit] My overall intention is to just stop flamewars within a thread over, well, nothing at all. No screenshot, no thread may be another way to go about this.

A book? I hate book. Book is stupid.
(Formerly Yellow)
Aaron Miller
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Feb 2006
Playing: osu!
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 08:25
Well, make sure it is at least 25% complete... They need to have something done, after all.

I think a demo should also definately be in progress.


Cheers,

-naota

Kieran
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Aug 2006
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 08:27
I would say 30% at the minimum, there are too many useless WIP threads these days with nothing to show, I think myself that 50% is too high but no lower than 25%, and there should be screenshots, maybe a demo, a features list and a decent amount of information.

Oneka
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 24th Apr 2004
Location: Hampton,VA
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 08:32
I guess I fall in the line of "Not ready for a WIP thread"

I really do try but between work and life...


Making better games everday!
Oh yeah and just so you know its Oh-nek-a not One-ka!
Aaron Miller
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Feb 2006
Playing: osu!
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 08:35
Maybe age/experience could be taken into account as well?


Cheers,

-naota

Kevin Picone
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: Australia
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 08:36
Disagree - A minimum threshold is untenable.

MaRo
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 1st Jan 2006
Location: Central Europe
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 08:58
25% it's the minimum and I would say that 30% would be much better. The thread in my opinion should have:
- overall description of the game, maybe a bit of story line
- screenshots/videos
- tech demo (but showing a in game level/character or something else but what be in your game) or - what would be better - a gameplay demo
- features list
Some of you could say that posting a demo so early make it a real "ghost town" here, but believe me, I made a few games ( even I don't post here much - I'm just shy ) and I know that it's possible to have a early game demo prepared when you game is even 10% finished, and it's not going to be something that you're going to be flamed right after you post it, becouse the most important thing is that it's working and it's able o play, and it's not just another thread "hey, my game is going to be about SOMETHING and it's going to be great. Post what you think"
dark coder
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Oct 2002
Location: Japan
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 10:13
You cannot gage a % on a project, some large projects may only be 10% done but have way more features than some completed games, for example if your game happened to be huge with tonnes of levels it may take you a year to make all the media but the engine could be more or less doen for those few levels, who are you to say this project is not worthy of a WIP post? At the end of the day there is no set threshold to define what % the game is at unless you plan absolutely everything and know the exact time it will take to produce all media / code and weigh them all out but no one does.

Perhaps if all topics within the WIP and announcements board were set to mod approval first then we would have less problems, however some people will no doubt complain saying they worked 5 years on a project just to have it declined.

Aaron Miller
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Feb 2006
Playing: osu!
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 11:00
Well then, don't gage the percentage on models/media. Just on the engine/game.


Cheers,

-naota

Seppuku Arts
Moderator
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Aug 2004
Location: Cambridgeshire, England
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 11:06
25% or 30% sounds good to me, it'll give people a target to work for, though it is debatable as to how you're gonna know if it's 25%, so really, you can say a 1/3, a 1/4 or 1/2 of your project has to be done in approximate terms.

Though still rises one more problem, we'd have to chuck out Cash's thread for one thing, as it's the engine stage, and mine wouldn't be there for a long time, so I think there should be some flexibility for people building engines for their game, rather than going straight to coding the game itself.

perhaps 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 (whatever length is decided, I like the idea of a 1/4 being done) of the project or engine should be complete (Probably a bit higher for the engine, like 1/2) I think a restriction is a good idea, if someone wants to show their project, it'll give them a goal to work to in order to prove themselves.

Hakuna Matata
MaRo
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 1st Jan 2006
Location: Central Europe
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 11:17
huh, you're right Dark Coder, for some reason there's a WIP board to help people create their games, givin' ideas, telling what's good/bad. Even if you're game is done in like 50% of all you have planned, after posting a WIP you would like to add ideas that others gave you and then make the 50% look like it's only 20% So I'll just stick with - "Your game is ready for a WIP if you have a playable demo"
Cash Curtis II
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Apr 2005
Location: Corpus Christi Texas
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 11:34
Before I begin, I think that the concept of 50% completion has merit. It would improve the quality of WIP posts.

It's impossible for many to quantify the completion of their game. It's easy to throw numbers around like 25%, 30%, 50%, but they are really meaningless. Kevin said it best.

I started posting progress of Geisha House at around 0%. I began with a concept, asked for input, and developed the game from there. With this rule Geisha House would have been locked. With MaRo's suggestion, Geisha House would still be ineligible for WIP posting.

At the same time I do see a need for stricter guidelines. There are essentially none, and junk projects get posted every day.

Perhaps instead of vague self-described progress reports a more substantial indication of development should be required - a video of gameplay. FRAPS is free for evaluation, as is Windows Movie Maker and Youtube. Anyone can post videos. If someone can't be bothered to post a video then they either have nothing to show or lack the skill necessary to make such a game, which in turn means that they have nothing to show.

Bottom line - it's a great idea but in current form won't change anything.


Come see the WIP!
Scraggle
Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Jul 2003
Location: Yorkshire
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 11:59 Edited at: 27th Jul 2007 12:03
Disagree - For all the reasons already mentioned. %Complete is totally irrelevent.

Doodleroids took me 4 hours to write, 2 hours in (50% complete) I had just about scanned in the sketches, so I didn't have a screenshot or even the first line of code.
On the other hand Concentric took me 4 months to complete (672 hours) but I had a good looking screenshot (and could have produced a demo) after about 6 hours ... that's about 1% complete!

So, you can't possibly judge a WIP by how complete it is. Besides, how many people actually read and obey rules anyway?

There is no real way to judge what does or does not qualify for a WIP. Perhaps insisting on a screenshot helps s little. Afterall a cube on a matrix doesn't really qualify as WIP but how many times have we seen it? On the filp side anyone can throw some media together, stick it all on screen and make it look like a Crysis beater but there isn't a single line of code. So, screenies are only part of the solution.

The only way you can police the WIP board is to allow MOD's to use their descretion and lock anything that seems unworthy (but give a reason for the lock aswell, otherwise you are asking for the original poster to post again with a 'why was my post locked' thread) and as my suggestion is what currently happens, I propose a vote of 'No Change'.



Green Gandalf
VIP Member
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jan 2005
Playing: Malevolence:Sword of Ahkranox, Skyrim, Civ6.
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 14:15
Quote: ""Your game is ready for a WIP if you have a playable demo" "


I think that, or something similar, is the only sensible (and fair) criterion.

I agree entirely with Scraggle - "% complete" is a completely irrelevant criterion. A 100% complete demo even if very basic and not much more than a title screen (plus relevant info, plans, etc) to illustrate the basic idea might be all that is needed. Doesn't matter if it develops into something much larger, surely? We want to encourage creativity here - not be hidebound by arbitrary percentage limitations.

Also, a lot of people who want to post here will be relative newcomers to programming and will surely develop their ideas by interacting with other people on this forum. We want to encourage that.

I guess I vote for:

Quote: "The only way you can police the WIP board is to allow MOD's to use their descretion and lock anything that seems unworthy (but give a reason for the lock aswell, otherwise you are asking for the original poster to post again with a 'why was my post locked' thread) and as my suggestion is what currently happens, I propose a vote of 'No Change'."
Zotoaster
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Dec 2004
Location: Scotland
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 15:24
Dont know if this has been posted, but, what happens if your game is completed about 2%, but you have the engine really done up?

"It's like floating a boat on a liquid that I don't know, but I'm quite happy to drink it if I'm thirsty enough" - Me being a good programmer but sucking at computers
draknir_
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Oct 2006
Location: Netherlands
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 15:41
As several people mentioned, quantifying the progress of a project is not only quite difficult, it can also be unfair to those people who really are hard workers and intend to see their projects through. I would say make it an absolute requirement to have a screenshot in the first post, and have threads approved by moderators. (with reasons for those whose posts werent allowed)
John Y
Synergy Editor Developer
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Sep 2002
Location: UK
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 15:54 Edited at: 27th Jul 2007 15:55
Strongly Disagree - I have seen so many people work incredibly hard, and move a simple creation to a a fully fledged app/game. I enjoy watching the progress, and the posters commentary. There are however others who post a sprite on a blue background and then get bored.

What I do agree on is at least 1 form of media, e.g. a screen shot, concept art, video etc. If it is just a sprite on a blue background then thats ok, as long as I see progress along with it. Not everyone is a computer whiz, but as long as they put their heart into it, then they get my support.

tha_rami
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Mar 2006
Location: Netherlands
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 16:02
I say that a WIP should be at least capable of showing any progress, dedication and code/media that clearly shows the game. I once made a post about that in Game Theory, I recall. Few weeks ago or something. I should re-read that before I start contradicting myself.

I've re-read it and my stance is:
Disagree. I can fully understand the rule and actually, I'd love to see it passed (the 25% version), but it's hard to measure and really, I start my WIP's at 5% or something, with a basic concept only. I just write very detailed and add as much as I can. I say instead of doing this, we set up guidelines to what should be in a WIP.

jasonhtml
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Mar 2004
Location: OC, California, USA
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 16:38
Quote: "So I'll just stick with - "Your game is ready for a WIP if you have a playable demo""


im going to have to disagree with that because depending on the way a person codes, they can have a demo for the same game out in different times depending on where they started to make the game. for instance, if a person starts to program physics, combat, or something that can be seen, then a demo can come about very quickly, but if they make the server/client parts for a multiplayer game, the most they will have for their first demo would just be chat. so, going one way or another will give the appearance of having more done than they actually do.

i have an idea for a rule, even though its a bit complex:

a WIP poster should be able to show MULTIPLE(2 or more) screenshots that show GAMEPLAY(that means at least TWO shots that aren't menus, or the sky, ect[unless your game is based on the sky somehow, then thats different]). they should also give at least a 100+ word description of their game. if they can't, they clearly haven't thought this game through.

this would be largely at the discretion of the mods, so this could cause arguing, but it would also force people to post MORE screenshots and above all: MORE content

Deathead
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 14th Oct 2006
Location:
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 16:46 Edited at: 27th Jul 2007 16:47
I think as long as you have a screenshot of your game! Not a rip off a game like serge did but have like the darkbasic or dbpro official Fpsrate...because if i may use serges image...
He has no Fps rate! So that is one mega rip. If it was a dbpro or dbc game it will show the Frame Per Second rate surely.

dark coder
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Oct 2002
Location: Japan
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 16:58
Quote: "He has no Fps rate! So that is one mega rip. If it was a dbpro or dbc game it will show the Frame Per Second rate surely."


Yeah awesome scientific reasoning there many games don't have FPS readouts, they must be fake too!

Deathead
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 14th Oct 2006
Location:
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 17:08
DarkCoder. Sorry I was wrong.
I think that it should have a code snippet of the code they made to make the game. Now that will get little rippers of other games thinking of a code muhahah! +With a demo or images or videos.

optical r
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 23rd Oct 2002
Location: Prime
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 17:10
@ Deathead: But surely slapping an image into a DBPRO app. only then to run with the code to show the fps rate would get around that?

If members such as this Serge person choose to pass-off a game as their own when there is clearly evidence to oppose it then it will only result in their own ban and shameful reputation. I for one don't tolerate plagiarism at all and really hope this matter has been dealt with, considering that I [href]know[/href]http://simcity.ea.com/screenshots.php it isn't his work.

I agree with MikeS's proposal to filter out alot of these no-go or apparently non-existent wip's that have been springing up as of late. However, I think by merely suggesting to members contemplating posting progress that fall short of 50% is a little disproportionate. I don't really see how you can gauge the progress of a project unless you have meticulously planned every significant component of your project and set yourself a deadline.

There is the obvious workaround of post-moderation whereby an individual, namely a mod. verifies an attempted wip post by scrutinizing it and checking for AUP compliance, but obviously is time consuming. Aside from that I'm pretty sure a system like that would have been implemented by now if it were that easy.

My suggestion is that members should tally points from making posts . What I mean by this is a new member would have to post in order to earn points (well, namely 1 point per post) and then 'unlock' the ability to make a WIP post (not a lot of points, but enough to deter the urge of making that dreaded 'the MMO of MMO's' thread). I know that leaves a few unresolved issues and can be a little flawed but it may reduce the number of pretenders from the ones with a little more gumption.

Not much of a solution but more of an opinio. Thought i'd share that with you all


Professional WebDesigns on request! designrjs.com
Deathead
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 14th Oct 2006
Location:
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 17:14 Edited at: 27th Jul 2007 17:19
Not really optical because that would be tight doing that because it takes a day or 2 just to get a post placed in the forums for a new user and to put points on every post! Now to a new user that would be completely annoying like if they really had a w.i.p. title to share with you they are most likely to go crazy for posts and random posts just to post their W.i.p thread. And then this place would be a spam fest. + this might be a tad off topic i think that all programs on the Thegamecreator site like 3dGameMaker should be allowed in the w.i.p. boards without the constant moan of "a t3dgm on a the w.i.p. board "

crighton
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Nov 2005
Location: In your soup.
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 17:50
I think the 25% rule should apply with at least a playable demo, I remember way back when I started on the populous remake(still going, Rome wasnt built in a day(as im learning)), I had 10 million idea's running through my head, but only the experience then(little smarter now I hope) to implement some of them.

So if theres no demo, not even a screen shot then its in no way a work in progress, its an idea.


just my 2 cents.
cheers
crighton

Why are the forgotten always remembered? But no-one remembers me?!
Xenocythe
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th May 2005
Location: You Essay.
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 18:24
Man, I totally made this 50% rule up

No lie though, I made this a rule for myself once I restarted my MO for the third time. Otherwise, you would have seen a WIP post a few months ago.

Alquerian
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 29th Mar 2006
Location: Reno Nevada
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 18:43
I think that WIP posts should just have a pending status while waiting for mod approval. I mean, how often do legitimate programmers post a WIP anyways? I have only posted 2 threads in WIP, where as I post tons on the geek culture and DBP boards.

The point is, determining whether a WIP is thread-worthy or not is a judgement issue, one which can be best evaluated by a Mod. I know that the Mods are busy, but with the growth of the forums comes additional moderation and work.

I for one wouldn't mind awaiting a post approval for my next WIP, as I do not post new WIPs very often.

Visit the Wip!
Xenocythe
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th May 2005
Location: You Essay.
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 18:45
I would say Al's idea is much better. I would love to see that happen

MonoCoder
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Dec 2005
Location: england
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 18:52
Perhaps in addition to whatever you come up with, a restriction on how many WIP threads you can make in so much time?

tiresius
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 13th Nov 2002
Location: MA USA
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 18:53
I think if people read and understand the sticky How To Know if Your Games Ready For A W.I.P Post, then it is pretty obvious whether your project is ready or not for a WIP post. It is common sense. But some people just don't have it, I guess.

We can try to make a hard/fast rule that will weed out the bad ones before they ever take off into a blaze of flames. But I don't think setting a specific percentage is the way to go as mentioned already, it is too subjective.

The forum is a visual medium so at a minimum there should be screen shots. Not only will it keep people's interest but it will help prevent the "idea posts" that crop up once in a while and belong in the game design forum. Screen shots do not mean screen captures of a 3D model in the modeling software. It means the game itself.

A good description of the game should be a requirement. If someone can't write more than 2 lines about their game then what is the chance it will ever go anywhere?

A demo is frosting on the cake, but shouldn't be required if decent progress is being shown (in form of more screen shots or videos).

And WIP needs to be made with a TGC product: whether it is DB, DBPro, DarkGDK, T3DGM or whatever. I'm a little annoyed at the recent posts of RealmCraft, GameMaker, and NG projects. How obvious is it to everyone what this forum is about? People don't seem to care...

With that being said, the above aren't really hard/fast rules (except screen shots and TGC product used)... maybe what we need are more MODs on this forum. Maybe they could be mini-MODs that are just assigned to the WIP board if that is possible. Anal retentive people who are stickler for the rules would be best. I'll volunteer!

I'm not a real programmer but I play one with DBPro!
Alquerian
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 29th Mar 2006
Location: Reno Nevada
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 19:00 Edited at: 27th Jul 2007 19:02
Unfortunately not many newcomers read that prior to posting.

Edit: I agree with Tiresius though, the WIP board does need more moderation.

Visit the Wip!
Deathead
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 14th Oct 2006
Location:
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 19:12
Yeah it does.

Manic
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: Completely off my face...
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 19:22
I'm going to jump on the "how do you quantify completion?" bandwagon, but also say that I'm sure Mike didn't mean it in literal terms.

personally, I think that at the very least, you (the programmer) should be able to play your own game to some extent before posting.

Screen shots should go beyond the usual "here's my terrain, now how do I put stuff on it?" and should show some actual gameplay. Videos are always good too.

I'd say that if someone had their engine made, but no proper models, or maps, it'd be ready for posting. You've proved your concept, so now it's just down to filling in the gaps. Using a demo map or characters would suffice.

I don't have a sig, live with it.
tha_rami
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Mar 2006
Location: Netherlands
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 19:52
I FULLY agree with setting a minimal description count, 100+ words is a great idea. Shots of gameplay, too. More moderation, yes! Definitely. This board seems nearly unmoderated while it does seem to be the one that causes most frustration...

Raven
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 23rd Mar 2005
Location: Hertfordshire, England
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 20:02
This is all fairly retarded.
Work in Progress is just that, there's nothing different between someone posting up their ideas for a game they're starting; to someone who is almost at the beta stage.

Something that isn't complete is work in progress from the moment it's been concepted. That's why we have two boards, one for WIP and one for Announcements.

In announcements, yes it's for saying "I'm working on this and I'm pimping it here to ya'll"

Here though, this is where we can show off whatever the hell we're currently working on, no matter it's state. Although I agree it would be nice to see some more screenshots, and not just cube-on-matrix stuff; that's just a personal pet peeve. Doesn't mean this thinking should be forced upon others.

Ya'll should stop trying to be so damn nazi about content control, most here are young hobbyists after all learning programming for the first time. Back the hell off!

tha_rami
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Mar 2006
Location: Netherlands
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 20:07 Edited at: 27th Jul 2007 20:08
No, I disagree with Raven and a lot, too.

Work In Progress is for WIP's that are not yet quite finished, not like the GT board for "kids to post up random idea's", rip or clutter. This board should be serious and I think content control is the best way. Program Announcements are for finished projects.

I think, at least 1 or 2 gameplay-relevant media (extended descriptions, screenshots, music, video, demo). 100+ words description. More moderators. That should do it. Game Theory is for idea's.

Scraggle
Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Jul 2003
Location: Yorkshire
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 20:18
Today is a momentous day ... it is the first time (probably) in four years that I agree with Raven!

This thread is for Work in Progress and that shouldn't just mean something that is nearly complete. Whilst I agree that it is annoying to see 'cube on matrix' posts it isn't life changing. If you see a thread that you don't believe is worthy of the title 'Work In Progress' then don't post in it, just let it fall of the page, leaving just those posts that should be here.

There really are far to many people on this forum who want things to be 'just-so'. Life isn't like that. You can post rules to inform people what to write here (they exist already) but people will ignore them. That's life.

1) Leave the WIP board as it is
2) Ignore posts you aren't interested in
3) Post in the ones you are interested in
4) RELAX! Life is too short to worry what kiddies are posting about in your precious forum.



MikeS
Retired Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 2nd Dec 2002
Location: United States
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 20:24
Game ideas and intentions can be posted in the Game Design Theory board, I think we're all clear on that.

The percentage rule has been proven to be a flop, and I agree with that.

However, something does need to be done. I have a million ideas for games, but I do not think it necessary to pollute the forum with them.

The main intention though, is what the community has formed as a standard for what is a work in progress. People don't want to see cubes on matrices, many threads end in flame wars.

I also think it's just better to post when you've got your grips on a project, but that's my personal preference.

I like the ideas that are going around, keep discussing; I'm sure we'll come up with something to satisfy most everyone.



A book? I hate book. Book is stupid.
(Formerly Yellow)
tha_rami
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Mar 2006
Location: Netherlands
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 20:47
Well, no, I disagree with Scraggle. The WIP board, for my part, could be renamed to Significant Work In Progress and Game Theory to Game Theory and Concepts.

As it is now, you read 20ish posts about nothing and fail to read the good ones because you spent so much on finding out a thread is stupider then it looks. Then you have the pearl with the mistyped title and what happens? You ignore it, cause you think it's just another one. Then, even more, if you try and ignore them, they start bumping it! Like, whát? Someone with a bad mood flames, and tadaa, back on top. The rules should sharpen to lock such posts. For me, period.

I got better things to do than to read false WIPs and skip the good ones. Work on Wartorn and Seadome, for example.

dab
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 22nd Sep 2004
Location: Your Temp Folder!
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 21:04
How about the WIP boards be a permanent mod approval? So that way, a mod can decide if the user is know to get things done, and if there is enough to call a wip.
wind27382
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Feb 2006
Location:
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 21:28
I know what would fix this problem. game progress should be posted in this thread. with a basic game design document, and a small video maybe 2 minutes of you playing the game. with maybe your concept art.

if you just have a basic game idea than you can post it in another forum. where people can look at your design and help you come up with concepts, and let you know where to go from their.

wind
Bizar Guy
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Apr 2005
Location: Bostonland
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 21:48


Personally I like the idea of a minimum number of words in the initial thread posting. A screenshot is not always necessary (as in text adventures), and new users are often unaware of how to take screenshots of vids. I can't stand it though when people don't bother to describe what they're doing. Even when the game is ready for a wip, you should still be required to describe what it is. Visual media the poster might ask how to get it. I know when I started I had to ask people all sorts of questions on how to post my work.

And while the idea of mod approval makes sense, I would hate to have to wait for any of my wip threads to be proved. Rather, maybe there should be more mods patrolling around here. The best way to do this I think would be to make showcase mods, to patrol the showcase area specifically.


Really though, the wip board is not just for nearly finished games. It's for any project you're working on, that you've put enough effort into (mostly counting coding effort) that you are confident you will work on it.

Alquerian
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 29th Mar 2006
Location: Reno Nevada
Posted: 27th Jul 2007 23:31
I agree that the WIP boards are not for half or nearly finished games. I am not about to stamp a percentage on what I think warrants a WIP. There are probably 5 or 10 new WIP posts each day, out of which maybe 1 is worthy of being an actual WIP post.

I think that initial screening of a WIP will keep the latest Cube and Matrix based MMOs from ever appearing on the WIP board in the first place. Having an initial WIP post filter will also encourage the users who do want to make a WIP to really ensure what they are posting is of interest while raising the standards on what is made. If I were considering purchasing DBPro and went to see what all has been made with DBPro and stumbled across the WIP board, that would instantly turn me off to DBP and all projects which are made with it. In short, incomplete WIP posts give DBP a bad name. Incomplete WIP posts give those of us who actually make worth-while WIP posts a poor public image.

The only way to keep junk out of this board is to have it set for initial post approval. I wouldn't mind waiting for my first WIP post to await confirmation, and I would gladly wait to see new WIPs for a few hours to ensure I am not wasting my time.

Visit the Wip!
Kieran
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Aug 2006
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand
Posted: 28th Jul 2007 01:22
Reading other posts I now agree that a % threshold is a bad idea.

There should be an example WIP thread showing what a WIP should have and it should be pinned.
It should at least have a Name, Description of the Game, Decent Progress, Screenshots, Videos (optional) and a demo (optional).

Because from personal experience releasing a demo when you don't feel your game is ready for one then people start to think your game isn't that great and stop watching the thread etc.

tha_rami
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Mar 2006
Location: Netherlands
Posted: 28th Jul 2007 01:33
If people would just read the rules it would help too. I feel kinda desperate, writing up a huge article on this matter in Game Theory and then find only 4 veterans responding it's a good post . The newbs seemContent-Type: multipart/form-data; boundary=---------------------------102672666496
Content-Length: 1171

Alquerian
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 29th Mar 2006
Location: Reno Nevada
Posted: 28th Jul 2007 01:36
Quote: "The newbs seemContent-Type: multipart/form-data; boundary=---------------------------102672666496
Content-Length: 1171"


What????

Visit the Wip!
Raven
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 23rd Mar 2005
Location: Hertfordshire, England
Posted: 28th Jul 2007 03:22
You know what irritates me, is how Game Theory has become a "I have this idea for a game, ya'll think it's good" rather than the original concept for it where we could discuss theories on game development.

Try going back to the original threads made on it to see what it was used for before newbies over-ran it. That to me is MORE irritating than anything i've ever seen on the WIP board.
Simply because I'd love to rather discuss possibly ways to do new animation, procedural systems, game balancing, etc. within the Game Theory board rather than having nowhere to put it. Because you write about it in GT and suddenly everyone believes you're working on that in a new game. NOOO it's dicussing theories that *might* be moved to a tech demo.. but you can get input from others about other possible ways to do it. It's just that Theory/Proof of Concept .. not bloody "I wanna pimp my new project I want to make" only it seems to have moved to that.

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2024-09-30 00:29:28
Your offset time is: 2024-09-30 00:29:28