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Geek Culture / Are the forums slipping?

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Seppuku Arts
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Joined: 18th Aug 2004
Location: Cambridgeshire, England
Posted: 13th Aug 2012 01:52 Edited at: 13th Aug 2012 01:59
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Aye, people change emails. I have 2 TGC accounts, but only use 1 for the forums and the email address associated with it I've not used for years. The other I just use for my transactions. Many people have duplicate accounts for the main site and it is permitted (as it has been mentioned before and that was the verdict), but you are only permitted to use one account on the forums. It's called sock-puppetry and many forums do not permit it, because it can easily be abused. Generally if you're not trying to use a sock puppet to hide your own identity you tend to indentify yourself. So I think it's fair when you think about it, it stops people hiding behind aliases.

Of course, if for any particular reason you wanted to ditch Old School or were unable to access it, I am sure the mods would be more than reasonable.

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old_School
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Posted: 13th Aug 2012 07:11 Edited at: 13th Aug 2012 07:15
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Obviously im not attempting to break any rules or "duplicate". Just using a newer email, I mean if we can add the new [email protected] back and allow me to use it and not this that would be preffered. This is the one I use only for downloading purchased products but I don't even use TGC stuff anymore I use XNA but thats besides the point. If I broke a rule i'm sorry but might I recomend tighter security if thats the case. I can think of a million ways to get around this if someone was on mod vision or banned. Not a very good setup.

Back to the topic, yes Seppuku Arts there were times I was mislead and mislead others my self due to false information I was feed by form memmbers here and mods. So false information has a "trickal" effect. However, I can reassure you learning industry standard languages is best. Its not my openion its more of a known fact. On flip side I don't honestly at this point have time to post here often anymore anyway because I am now successful and I learned the "right way" and the wrong way to do things. But what works for me may not work for you.

I personally don't use FPSC and I don't think its a good engine. However, it works for others and it works for TGC. From a business stand point its an amazing concept and well marketed. If the product was not decent or at least not marketable TGC would of likely went out of business and no one would use it. So it must be working for someone.
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Kevin Picone
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Posted: 13th Aug 2012 08:19
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Hmmm.. been around here are ages, from the DB classic V1.06->V1.07 time frame. The community hasn't really changed, there's always been personality clashes, the same in everyday life.


Mobile Platforms Are Coming
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Dark Java Dude 64
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Joined: 21st Sep 2010
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Posted: 13th Aug 2012 09:41
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Quote: "there's always been personality clashes, the same in everyday life."
Except I think it's more amplified when the people involved are behind a computer screen and a keyboard.

Your signature has been erased by a signature. Please reduce it to a non negative feedback inducing signature.
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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 13th Aug 2012 11:13
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Quote: "
Back to the topic, yes Seppuku Arts there were times I was mislead and mislead others my self due to false information I was feed by form memmbers here and mods. So false information has a "trickal" effect. However, I can reassure you learning industry standard languages is best. Its not my openion its more of a known fact. On flip side I don't honestly at this point have time to post here often anymore anyway because I am now successful and I learned the "right way" and the wrong way to do things. But what works for me may not work for you. "


Awesome to hear youre trying something different. Hope XNA works out nicely for you. I've tried it myself, excellent set of tools, but as a hobbyist (rather than a professional) I personally prefer my alternatives (DBP, Unity3D & Dark GDK), but as you say, what works for you may not work for me. If you're looking to do something professional, then of course the industry standard language/API/Tool/SDK is best. For hobbyist or heck even indie I don't think it's as important, it's the results that tend to matter - Vlambeer got big on a Game Maker game (I believe it was made in that), the Star Wraith series got big using Dark Basic, Euthanasia got lots of media attention and it's an FPSC title (I suspect that increased it popularity) and Sword of Ahkranox has got a lot of support and interest and it'll be interesting to see how it does when it's release at the end of the year. Of course, they're just projects by TGCers. But if course I think I understand what you're sayng. Stick to what works for you because what works for others might not work for you, but professionally then industry standard tools are better?

I think out of all the discussions that makes a fair conclusion.

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Thraxas
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Posted: 13th Aug 2012 11:46
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Old School even though you don't really have time to post here because you're successful now I'd love to see the posts where members and mods fed you misinformation, so if you have 5 mins spare in your day to post links to those threads that would be great.

What I would find even more interesting, though, is to see some of these new projects you're working on now that you're a success. It would be great to see someone do well...but I'm sure NDAs or some other totally plausible reason will mean you're unable to do it at this time

calm your breasts and stop picking on him.
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Poloflece
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Posted: 13th Aug 2012 17:05 Edited at: 13th Aug 2012 17:08
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Whilst my juvenile ethics are hardly to be considered let alone acknowledged, I think that the very fact we're discussing what we are doing wrong as a community is a very healthy thing. Whilst good people have come and gone, those who are still here are here because they want to stay, because it's a place worth staying. Sure there's the bad with the good but I see the good far outweighing the bad.
In terms of behaviour, this is the internet. People do not have to deal with the immediate consequences of saying something out of line here, regardless of whether or not we further enforce rules or further promote certain ethics, people see the web as a place of borderline outright freedom.
Also, a lot of what's being discussed here seems to only apply to this board, I understand that this is essentially the heart of the forum, but having a look on other boards (especially my home board de la fpsc), there are people gladly and politely helping others and pitching in for the community. As a social community we may face some troubles, but as a game developing community I see that we are still as strong as ever.

Now I'm sure you'd appreciate an apology for the latter pile of hardly literate, potentially cliché and meaningless garbage.
Quote: "From a personal standpoint I made a decision to stop being nice to certain people. "

Quote: "Old School even though you don't really have time to post here because you're successful now I'd love to see the posts where members and mods fed you misinformation, so if you have 5 mins spare in your day to post links to those threads that would be great."


I see what you mean

Poloflece

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CoffeeGrunt
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Posted: 13th Aug 2012 17:09
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Successful at everything but typing grammatically-correct sentences.

Someone who feels the need to return to a place they once frequented, just to say that life is awesome, has a crappy life...
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Poloflece
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Posted: 13th Aug 2012 17:30
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Yeah , tired and no time to proof-read

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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 13th Aug 2012 17:38
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Quote: "Whilst good people have come and gone, those who are still here are here because they want to stay, because it's a place worth staying. Sure there's the bad with the good but I see the good far outweighing the bad.
In terms of behaviour, this is the internet. People do not have to deal with the immediate consequences of saying something out of line here, regardless of whether or not we further enforce rules or further promote certain ethics, people see the web as a place of borderline outright freedom.
Also, a lot of what's being discussed here seems to only apply to this board, I understand that this is essentially the heart of the forum, but having a look on other boards (especially my home board de la fpsc), there are people gladly and politely helping others and pitching in for the community. As a social community we may face some troubles, but as a game developing community I see that we are still as strong as ever."


I agree old chap. To be honest, we actually see these thread occur every once in a while and I think it's a sign that members care about this online community, sure it might just be the internet, but people make friends, enjoy posting and also find it informative.

Don't know what the FPSC community is like, although I own FPSC, it actually is just sitting on my shelf, perhaps as forum president (although I lack any real power) I should edumacate myself.

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Yodaman Jer
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Posted: 13th Aug 2012 18:50
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Perhaps what we need is more things to look forward to - competitions, more InGaCreMo events, and other types of events, just to name a few.

Perhaps we could hold bi-monthly events that encourage people to be more creative and to utilize their time a little more productively? I dunno. It could help a bit.

-Yodaman Jer

Not contributing much of anything useful to the forums since September of 2007.
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rolfy
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Posted: 13th Aug 2012 19:30 Edited at: 13th Aug 2012 20:15
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Quote: "Don't know what the FPSC community is like, although I own FPSC, it actually is just sitting on my shelf, perhaps as forum president (although I lack any real power) I should edumacate myself."

That's a more positive attitude to FPSC than most have around here, what you will find is a game editor with engine that as someone into coding is something you can get yours hands dirty with. Who knows maybe if more of you guy's into DBP etc would take a look at FPSC source you might just learn what can be done with the code your already trying to implement into your own projects and at the same time help out us FPSC users by cleaning parts up that need it.

As for this forum being quieter of late this appears to be the case and it has to be said is partly down to new people being chewed out and driven off, in fact they are a lot less tolerant of this kind of thing over in the FPSC board after a spate of these occurrences. I also think its just what it is, some of TGC's products have simply reached their peak and its now dropping off. New blood is what this forum needs, I know there are users who have been around a long time and its easy to feel that these forums therefore 'belong' to us, I guess we make as good a job of that as the human race has of 'governing' the planet.

I know that people move onto what they consider 'professional' software, the thing is they continue to hang around and always seem to end up putting down TGC products as 'inferior', as if the 'pro' software somehow made them magically better at what they create. This shouldn't be the case, if you still hang here its because you actually like the people that frequent it and maybe you still actually learn something new each day.
I am not saying all are like this but there are a few and when it happens it just kills these forums and makes me feel new users may just think its not worth their while so we gain no new members.

Quote: "I agree old chap. To be honest, we actually see these thread occur every once in a while and I think it's a sign that members care about this online community, sure it might just be the internet, but people make friends, enjoy posting and also find it informative."

Absolutely correct and as this is TGC forums maybe a little more respect to them might be in order, I can understand if someone uses their products and has issues with it but generally putting them down without any more reason than "it sucks!" just doesn't cut it.

To get more members you need to get more users first and to keep those members you need to make them feel welcome.

Awesome! Its one of those threads.
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old_School
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Posted: 13th Aug 2012 20:05 Edited at: 13th Aug 2012 20:14
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Quote: "Old School even though you don't really have time to post here because you're successful now I'd love to see the posts where members and mods fed you misinformation, so if you have 5 mins spare in your day to post links to those threads that would be great.

What I would find even more interesting, though, is to see some of these new projects you're working on now that you're a success. It would be great to see someone do well...but I'm sure NDAs or some other totally plausible reason will mean you're unable to do it at this time "


Sure I can apare a few moments. Sorry for grammar ahead of time as well not my strength. The biggest success came recently when one of my products hit ninth on Cnet. I know Cnet is not super fancy or hard to post products on but the product caught the eye of another publisher. So that pretty much sparked the whole fire. Now that Cnet game though was a pretty small game in my eyes compared to what we are currently working on, sparked the interst of one of our publishers and has layed the ground work for our future. This will also be "Mr. Holmes" last year working at the school. Wee no more kids lol jk.

Currently we have 10 employees and 3 partners including myself running the company, so 13 people and two offices. Currently we have three projects in development. Two of those projects are what we consider large. One of those projects Steam is interested in publishing once it’s completed. The other another publisher is very interested in but where not sure if we can make more self publishing it because it already has a large fan base.

This is Ant Farms 2: http://youtu.be/iV6riw6xfxo This game is huge. It’s mostly a collection of small engines pressed into a single game. Featuring technology system, exploration system, advanced weather system based on your global location, travel system, political system, management system, online chat system, online/offline help system, advanced battle system, war system and more. The fundamentals of the game is very simple, however the game play can get very in depth. To win the game, you ant colony must conquer the entire world or all 7 continents. This is of course the new version of my old game “Ant Farms”.

The original game was very crude in comparison but had a great concept. Since the original we have hired several artists for this version and I’ve obviously learned a lot in the year and a half that’s passed since the original one released. So Ant Farms 2 reflects that heavily and you’re able to see a very well crafted piece of software coming to life. I had expected the demo to release by now but we had to push the data back because personal problems with one of the artist. So production has slowed down, which is not a big deal to me. I do NOT want to rush this games creation. At this point is more of a work of art to me and the others. Obviously hard to grasp the games concept in the video but I hope to share it soon.

As for the other game, it’s called “Inky Devil” and it will not release until next summer. It’s an action game. However, the original version which was written in flash will be available soon on our new website if you want a taste of what the full version game will be like before next summer. Mario has done a fantastic job on the design and provided a great story line for the game. The just of it is you’re a drop of ink from the grim reapers pen and you spontaneously came to life. A lot more to the story but that’s the bare bone basics.

Sorry to cut things short but now I must go to do some more work.
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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 13th Aug 2012 20:14 Edited at: 13th Aug 2012 20:22
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Quote: "Perhaps what we need is more things to look forward to - competitions, more InGaCreMo events, and other types of events, just to name a few. "


I am thinking of considering something as InGaCreMo is a once a year affair. I might start a thread with my ideas and get some input. I might use the 3D Challenge as a model.


Quote: "I know that people move onto what they consider 'professional' software, the thing is they continue to hang around and always seem to end up putting down TGC products as 'inferior', as if the 'pro' software somehow made them magically better at what they create. This shouldn't be the case, if you still hang here its because you actually like the people that frequent it and maybe you still actually learn something new each day."


Sometimes I see this and I also see it outside of the TGC community (heck probably more) I am a member (though not frequent) of a couple of other programming forums and have heard Dark Basic Pro spoken with some negativity. Yes, it has its bugs, yes it's not industry standard and yes it can't do OOP and even GDK limits how useful OOP is, but really and truly, it's just a case of the toolset not suiting them.

It may not be a 'professional' tool like the name may imply, but it is still damn good and capable of achieving amazing results. I would like to see DBP to have OOP added, but then it was one of my suggestions for Dark Basic Elite (and others made it too). But I like to say, only a poor workman blames his tools, with that analogy, you could also argue that tool isn't necessary for every job. I don't think something like Unity3D (like I am using now for Abeyance) is better than DBP, DGDK or even FPSC, because I think there's no fair comparison because they appeal to different kinds of developers and have a different appeal. The way I see it, it's like comparing a low range 3D app like TrueSpace or Carrara to mid range tools like Modo, Lightwave or Cinema 4D.

As for FPSC, although I've barely used it, as none of my project ideas would have suited it and modding the engine to suit them to my mind would have not been worth it. But it is capable of more than people give it credit for. Over the years I have spotted the odd FPSC game(I do occassionally peruse the FPSC Showcase) that does a lot with the engine, including your game Eldora - I remember testing one of your demos a while back and thought it was cool. I remember a really awesome looking and artistic game made for one of TGC's competition years ago, but can't for the life of me remember what it's called. And of course, I am only talking graphically what can be achieved, but FPSC is moddable and I think there's supposed to be some good examples of it (RPG Mod?) and I probably should try them one day.


[edit]
Old School, nice graphical improvements, I think it makes your product a lot more attractive. Reminds me of some old school Windows 98 stuff...but then I guess you wouldn't be called old school otherwise . I could imagine a version of this game on Facebook as well.

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Jeku
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Posted: 15th Aug 2012 08:10 Edited at: 15th Aug 2012 08:21
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Quote: "On flip side I don't honestly at this point have time to post here often anymore anyway because I am now successful and I learned the "right way" and the wrong way to do things. But what works for me may not work for you."


I can tell you now that the "wrong way" is to spam people, and you have sent me countless spam emails with about a hundred people in the To: line. Here's an Email 101 tip for you: BCC. Besides that, I never contacted you or downloaded a product from you, so you clearly harvested my email from these forums and added it to your spam list.

I'm only mentioning this to you in this public forum because I replied to your email asking to be removed, and you ignored it and didn't reply.

Quote: "If I broke a rule i'm sorry but might I recomend tighter security if thats the case. I can think of a million ways to get around this if someone was on mod vision or banned. Not a very good setup."


Care to suggest a way to "tighten" the security loop of signing up with a different email account? Anyone with half a brain could just use a proxy and change their IP address, and it's a little bit anal for TGC to be monitoring IP address changes (especially as many of our users browse from work, home, school, etc.) Feel free to suggest and enlighten. So if there's a way for TGC to intelligently determine a dupe account, I'm all ears.

EDIT:

You might want to consider hiring someone to check the grammar in your game. "Wondering ants find cherries.", "Todays weather will be cloudy."


Senior Developer - CBS Interactive Music Group
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Slayer267
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Location: Non of your beez wax
Posted: 15th Aug 2012 08:39
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Quote: " and it's a little bit anal for TGC to be monitoring IP address changes (especially as many of our users browse from work, home, school, etc.)"


Carnage Productions monitors IPs...

Just in case we need to track

[url=www.carnageproduct.com][/url]
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Jeku
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Posted: 15th Aug 2012 08:44
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Yah, we can see IP address here too. But it doesn't regulate one user per IP address, because a lot of people are using shared IP addresses from school or work. That would be overkill to regulate.


Senior Developer - CBS Interactive Music Group
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CoffeeGrunt
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Posted: 15th Aug 2012 12:28
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Quote: "Carnage Productions monitors IPs..."


Please...you don't get anywhere near the traffic TGC would have to contend with...

Quote: "You might want to consider hiring someone to check the grammar in your game. "Wondering ants find cherries.", "Todays weather will be cloudy." "


While a lot of people are willing to simply yell, "grammar nazi," at such comments, it's well known that bad grammar reduces people's view of your work. Games, fiction, whatever. It can make a good game look like a fairly competent piece by a five year old. I mean, programming is hardly a language type that looks kindly on spelling and sentence logic errors.

Proof readers for grammar are easy to pick up if you're stuck for doing it yourself. At least one of your lucky 13 have to have a good eye for it, right?
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