Sir Lance on 31/8/2003 at 07:07

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Thanks Nightwalker I have finally finished. It was an enjoyable mission Shadowspawn with some cool Avi's but my personal favourite is still Logan's Web as I still rate this one of the best FM's ever.:thumb:

deadman on 31/8/2003 at 19:11

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You said you "used to want to choke" me, but is that a typo and you really intended to say "still want to choke" me? :joke:

As I said in my original thoughts, I think it really sucks I don't love it, as everyone else seems to, and I loved Lorgan's Web. In many cases I'm sure people just handle their criticisms via e-mail or PM (I just choose to do it right here), but I still think many are too afraid of backlashes like yours that they just don't say anything negative or keep it to a very minimum. As others have said, constructive criticism is much more valuable than a "it's good" compliment, or even a well-devised compliment as the author is just getting an assurance of what they are doing right. Which isn't a bad thing, but authors also want to know what they can improve (otherwise they wouldn't give their e-mails or register here, I belive ;)), so in that sense constructive criticism couldn't be a better catalyst for helping authors improve or improve FMs on a whole. If someone whipped up a FM in two weeks and it was really blocky, had improper lighting, horrible architecture, a screwed up room database, and everything else was of that level of development and everyone just complimented them, not saying a thing about possible improvements, how is the author to know they did anything wrong or could improve anything? Another extreme comparison, but some people are that 'in the dark' about things.

I know from the very small amount of time I've spent in DromEd that it takes a lot of work and dedication to make any FM, so above and beyond all criticisms I have I always want authors to know they have my deep respect just for the fact that they brought it all together and made an FM :thumb:. Don't get me wrong on that. But, as I said before, this doesn't mean criticisms still shouldn't be given; i.e., the argument that "they spent a lot of time, so shut up" is about as stupid as thinking if you hit your wife to make her shut up it's the 'right' or only way to solve a conflict. I know Shadowspawn has talent; I've played Lorgan's Web several times and it's a sprawling classic. As I said, I just didn't feel the atmosphere, architecture, texture use (in some places), lighting (especially outside), texts, and just in a general sense. I personally didn't get a chance to see the spider, so all I can say is the other two spawning AI looked silly.

My standards may be 'high' in some respects. But in other ways I seem to be like some weird artist who finds joy in the most illogical of things and whose sentiments aren't very easily explained. When I say it just didn't feel right for me, it's like a gut feeling or intuition, and it is a constant cloud over the rest of my experience, so if it did click with me on a basic level I'm sure the other things would be easier to overlook. It goes without saying, but this is only my opinion! I don't call myself an expert, I said originally that I am no one of importance, hence my words (at least on the subject of an FM's quality) should only be taken with a grain of salt.



Ahh, your response reminds me somewhat of Alexius in some of his passionate defenses. Reading them, I felt that he was somehow calling me inferior when he told me I should draw, paint, write, etc. (as if I couldn't or didn't already), when I wasn't even bringing into question his skills. And again, your argument here is immature and I shouldn't even dignify it with a comment. Feel free to just compliment away and not offer any criticisms when you feel it is warranted, feel free to compliment away even at the mission that was made in two weeks and poorly constructed (the theoretical example above), but know you will be less of a person, less of a contributing member of the community by doing so, and also earn less of my respect. You have to realize it is possible to criticize without insulting, and compliment without meaning 'perfection' (it isn't black and white).

That's what I have to say. I know the level with which I can 'bear' is much less than others, and it may be because I perceive the 'little things' much more (making them 'not so little things' in my mind) that my 'standards' are what they are. You can guarantee if I ever released anything I've been tinkering with in DromEd it would be damn near as perfect as I could get it (not that I am egotistical enough to think I have enough skill or natural ability to do this) :laff:.

Cheers and no hard feelings, (you just don't understand where I'm coming from)

deadman.

deadman on 31/8/2003 at 20:27

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You're something of a comedian yourself, John D. I never told Shadowspawn he failed. It's just that the mission doesn't work for me. The suspension of disbelief isn't there for me. That means nothing other than that. And as for quoting me, you really ought to become a politician or somesuch, because you completely took it out of context, and the quote actually was "I think it really sucks I don't love it, as everyone else seems to, and I loved Lorgan's Web." meaning only that I wish I loved some of these FMs as others did, but it's not something I'm doing. It's just a feeling that doesn't bode well, and the lack of suspension of disbelief for me. We really are in grade school (the school very young kids go to if you aren't familiar with the term; I don't know if you're in america or not), aren't we, with this level of immaturity and name calling :laff:? I treat every FM author with respect, and I apologize if an author feels this isn't the case or that I let myself get out of hand in the past. I don't "talk shit about people"; it seems to be something you excel at though, for all your high and mighty pretensions. I have no intention of turning this into a flame war or getting this thread closed, so let's leave it at that, shall we? It's obvious we'll never understand one another (or maybe just that you won't understand me; I see your non-too-subtly worded arguments, though again, they are misplaced), so let's just do our own thing and 'nuff said, eh?

I guess when it really comes down to it, you'll just have to come to the realization that everyone won't think or feel the same way you do on any given subject. I love The 7th Crystal. This doesn't mean everyone does, or that they 'suck' if they say they didn't like it. So long as they don't flat out insult Saturnine, so long as they offer criticisms to why they didn't like it (or it could merely be "I don't like mansion missions"), they're fine with me. Once someone gets to the infantile level which they just say "you suck" (much like you have, it seems), then they'll get some much-needed schooling from me :thumb:

deadman.

Shadowspawn on 1/9/2003 at 15:34

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The sword drawing motion WAS available, it just wasn't accessible through the normal methods. So I modified the motiondb.bin file (using a hex editor in my compiler) to allow access to it via the motion Misc 3. It was already hooked up to a broken motion (looks like the AI is trying to vault something and the motion was messed up). This will be alot easier once I finish the Motion Database Editor, which I have now resumed work on.

The other custom motions I hacked up using Weyoun's Motion Editor. I modified (and replaced) the "WithTray 0" motions for walking. You can see the effect in the uptown bar when the guard comes in, gets a beer, and carries it back to the bar. I simply modified those motions and replaced them in the "Motions" directory. So I can add the "WithTray 0" tags to the guard when he picks up the beer, and remove it when he sets it down.

So far, that's all the custom motions I've done, but I suspect I'll do more once I get the editor built. The sitting AI, unfortunately, aren't custom motions, but are custom models which I bent into a sitting position. I'd like to take time, eventually, and correctly build a set of "Sitting 0" motion tags in a new motion database. Don't hold your breath on that one.

playwme on 2/9/2003 at 12:02

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ok, guess I am not that bright.
I am trying to get this mission to run.
I have found the newest version of script, and am not sure where to put it.
I have it in my Thief 2 directory, but the misison still does not work.

Can someone please assist?

thanks
brent