exonimus

Apparently the forum messed up and I lost me a two page post. Anyway: Gentlemen, please grab your planners, the planning is done. If you haven't already, pm me your e-mail, I prefer to have at least two ways of getting in touch with you. I'll be creating the required topic in the WIP forum. Please keep an eye on this topic and offer suggestions/improvements/models/ideas/criticism even when it is not your turn anything helps, after all. There are some ground rules, which I'll be laying down in said topic. Feel free to add to those, should they be insufficient. 

Now, the schedule. Please let us know ASAP if you cannot make it/ don't have much time in the period you are planned to have your turn. I have tried to keep everyone's wishes and skillset into account, but this is, of course, subject to change. Another fear I have is that a medium sized map might not get done in such a brief amount of time, but we'll see how far we come.

Schedule:

1.@@MUG-February 18th-February 24th

2.@@TwinHits: February 25th-March 3rd
3.@@MagSul-March 4th-March 10th
4.@@Delta_135-March 11^th-March 17^th

Middle

5.@@MoonDog- March 18th-March 24th
6.@@Szico VII- March 25^th-March 31st
7.@@exonimus,-April 1^st-April 7^th

End

8.@@Pande-April 8th-April 14th

9.@@mrwonko -April 15th-April 21st
10. @@exonimus, @? Depending on what still needs to be done bugfixing wise.

edit: new topic is here http://jkhub.org/topic/1704-the-jkhub-pass-me-around-wip-topic/

And yes, I did comment on your helicopter. I said I loved it and would love to use it when it is in a useable state

Didn't quite get to planning today. It'll definitely be this week, hopefully tomorrow.

I agree with us all having to use one entities file, just to be sure. I presume the updated one is the most logical place to take off. Any other things we should synchronize between the mappers or at least not forget about while we're working on the same file? (aside from the obvious shit like detail, caulking, stuff everybody should already be doing anyway)

Also, I'm loving that as a police vehicle

Agreed. Poll deleted (as I had no idea how to lock the poll, I'm a total forumnoob ) and the winner is clear: moderately sized dystopian it is! I think I have the time to create a schedule tomorrow.

Agreed. I'll leave the poll open for a few more days, although I think we can already clearly see the winner emerging.

edit: and that "no need to panic, magsul" comment reminds me of stronghold crusader. "No need to panic, ratty, no need to panic"

Poll is added. I've picked only two styles since those were the ones most people seemed to like anyway. If you' want an option added, let me know, I'd be happy to. I've also added a question concerning size. Since it, well, matters. Or so they say

@@Szico VII, @@Pande, @@mrwonko, @@MoonDog @@TwinHits @@MagSul @@MUG @@Delta_135 @@Silverfang @@Milamber

Gentlemen, start your voting!

Expect the poll tomorrow

Gotcha. Give me a few more days, I have too much studying stuff on my hands until at least the end of the week.

@@Pande, would you be willing to create a vote topic? I have clue how that stuff works tbh. If not, I'll try to figure it out, but I'm rather busy atm.

Because that would destroy any idea of a unifying theme. Unless the theme would be holodeck, of course. The whole point of this thing is to combine and add to eachother's work and sort of merge our interpretations on a certain theme. It would be kind of weird to have a sort of "yeah we're all doing different shit but we'll just use a teleport/Virtual reality kind of explanation" imho.

edit: although seemless portals would actually be a fun experiment, but that's beside the point

@@Delta_135 could you let me know in which weeks you'll be available?

@@minilogoguy18 I know that. I was referring to perhaps feeling like making (part of) a model that could be used in this map or something. 

Added! Also guys, don't forget to let us know the fastest way to contact you, so we can smoothly transfer the map versions and let you know when important stuff is going on/when advice is needed. 

Mmmmm, bacon!

Already did that! Perhaps you could go somewhere at the start so you don't have to worry  that much about technical detail and just happily create away. The technical details are actually quite simple; everyone gets to hold the map once (or twice, depending on status, time, w/e) for seven consecutive days. In this period, you have time to add and/or change anything you want, creating what you deem to be an interesting take on/addition to the theme. We keep a log file with ideas, notes and problems, so others know where the map is going, know what you originally planned to do, and can see any suggestions or awesome ideas you might've had (as you'll never  get to finish everything by yourself) and can thus continue on your work. The only two rules are: keep the general theme in mind, and try to leave as much of others' work standing as possible. You can certainly modify and improve upon it, and in cases also remove it (most often after discussion on forums with other authors, but this'll guide itself really), but it's not that someone goes "yeah, everything this Szico dude before me did SUCKED, I'ma delete all his work and start over" (hypothetically of course, I'm a major fan ). In addition, as I've stated before, it's a good idea to keep the map relatively small, as time is quite limited and we want detail.

Me too. Is there no way we can bribe you? For example, with that delicious thing that's cooking downstairs and that you posted about in your status update?

This map is going to be so incredibly obscure by the time that it's finished. Good luck! 

That's why we need to keep it somewhat small, I suppose. But duly noted. Mug prefers somewhere at the start, Szico middle, and wonko end. I think I'd also prefer early middle or something.

Mag, is that a yes?

Just tagging the two people who haven't replied to my question yet so I know they've all read this. @@Pande @@Delta_135. If they have no objection, we have to lay down some rules, make a schedule, and then this shit's about to go DOWN!. 

If everyone could give me a time frame on when they'd be available and willing to hold/contribute to the map for a week, preferably somewhere in february and/or march, and april as well, to be sure and to make planning easier. I'd also be grateful if you'd let us know your email (either here or by pm) and the speediest/most efficient method of contacting you. In addition, I'd love to know if you feel like going first (or somewhere at the beginning) somewhere in the middle, or would prefer to be placed somewhere in the end. This of course depends on how creative you think you are, whether you're better at detailing/fixing stuff/scripting etc, or prefer the actual brushwork and designing phase, especially in its early stages. Finally, I'd like to know if you would be willing to have the map for a second (non-consecutive) week, should this make planning easier and should the need arise.

@@Szico VII, @@Pande, @@mrwonko @@MoonDog @@MUG @@TwinHits @@Delta_135 @@Silverfang @@minilogoguy18 (?? you didn't state you'd be willing to help, but one can always try, no? ) and @@Milamber, when would you have the most time to deliver personal criticism?

And at the mods, is there any way we could get you to sticky an eventual WIP (not this) thread, once this starts? This is not because we're cool, but because this would make the process much easier where organizing, commenting and the implementation of eventual ideas are concerned, so people don't have to dig the forums for the thread the whole damn time .

Ouch, what a burn! But could everyone (including the the trollmods, no less) stop raping the topic? kthx.

edit: just for clarity: anyone AGAINST a dystopian/cyberpunk-ish, theme?

I like how everyone is loving this dystopian theme and already has their own interpretation of it. I doubt we'd even need a vote if you guys go on like this!

And why so mean Inyri?  Admit it, you hate us because we're cool.

Loving that screenshot. Also, wikipedia mentioned that Orwell (among others) inspired the bioshock authors! So yeah, underwater, in the sky, whatever. We can go all sorts of creative directions I suppose

Nice try there Wonko. Inyri never said anything about aiding us in our glorious mapping quest though xD

Never played bioshock

But essentially yes, just not underwater I suppose

I did try mapping a couple of times but I just felt too limited by radiant to do what I really wanted so I never got into it. Figured it was better to focus on what I was good at and what I enjoyed.

And we're all grateful for it. I, on the other hand, am at the frustrating point where I can basically figure out a way to do almost anything I please, but I'm severely limited by my own lack of creativity and imagination. How's that for a barrier? 

Anyway. In response to cyberpunk again. I blatantly ripped this from wikipedia:

"Cyberpunk is a postmodern science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life (..) It features advanced science, such as information technology and cybernetics, coupled with a degree of breakdown or radical change in the social order. Cyberpunk plots often center on a conflict among hackers, artificial intelligences, and megacorporations, and tend to be set in a near-future Earth, rather than the far-future settings or galactic vistas (...)The settings are usually post-industrial dystopias but tend to be marked by extraordinary cultural ferment and the use of technology in ways never anticipated by its creators "

Thus, my comparison of nar shaddaa was not that far off: It's basically postmodern (dystopian) earth, lots of technology and glow, but combined with strange technology used in massively creative ways. This means us mappers (and you modelers!) can go all out in being creative and thinking up new uses for old (and new) stuff. In addition, the theme will probably be city-based, as this is where the magic happens anyway. We could even make a sort of deal where each mapper starts at least one new building with an original purpose or whatever.

edit: we could even be more specific and choose a specific city to have some more inspiration and ideas for a building style, since we'd be able to compare to the city in our current and (previous) era's, and move from there. We'd basically ask ourselves the question "how would this city (e.g. Amsterdam. Sue me, I'm Dutch) look in a futuristic, dystopian world?" "What are its defining features, and what would still be left of it in such an era?" etc.

Did I get it about right, wonko?

@@TwinHits, agreed. We'll wait for some more input and themes, and I'd be happy to post reference shots once we get to the voting part. I'm still undecided, but I might well vote for this theme (instead of GOT) as aside from being a game of thrones fan, dystopia's are truly my cup of tea. 1984, brave new world, and the likes.

I'm actually also really digging those cyberpunk pics. I'm just unsure whether the Q3 engine could render amazing gothic style buildings. I know it's really good for more darker, futuristic/(apparently) cyberpunk kind of styles, as they rather resemble the more nar shaddaa/coruscant kind of style in jka. That is, dark, high buildings, lots of glowy stuff. Those cyberpunk pics also remind me of @@Szico VII's Neotokyo for some reason. Also this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoQC0QwYgM4

I've actually seen the first of those inspirational images before somewhere. I actually made a start recreating that room years ago, but lost the file xD

There's more on jkfiles, but that's another story. The review of her map mentioned Nozy being defrosted. Perhaps 'cryogenics', i.e literally the study of how stuff behaves at very low temperatures, but in our case also stuff like freezing people and bringing them back to life afterwards (or whatever our interpretation of that theme might be) is also a decent suggestion? 

Noted! @@Silverfang I'll add you to the list.

@@Inyri, Because you have actually released a map. I know you're extremely criticial of your mapping skills, but I'm confident that given the practice, your maps would've become at least as good as your models. Care for a one-week refresher course, perhaps?

I think the best thing to do is get some more theme suggestions by the participants, so most people are happy with it once we start. I suggest we put it up for vote once most people have replied. The major themes until now (massively summarized):

-ruined/fallout/USSR kind of thing (+escape from butcher bay)

-more archy/curvy/fantasy(lotr/GOT/myst, whatever) kind of style, with the possibility of some futuristic touches

-cyberpunk, although this would require some more screenshots

We can always combine these themes if nothing else, e.g. a curvy/gothic sort of building in a futuristic wasteland.

Seconded! I am currently (since a few weeks) quite the game of thrones addict (watched season 1 in one day). A massive upvote for anything inspired by game of thrones. If we're doing something eyrie-inspired, I totally want a feature where players would voluntarily launch themselves into the keep's central death pit just to enjoy the skybox/sights. But I digress.

What I am worried about is the scale of such a project, though. As long as the level is relatively small, we can spend more time on detailing, but keep the total amount of time spent on mapping at a relatively low level. Not that I'm against a larger scale map by any means, but we do have to consider the implications of scale here.

Same for fallout, although you might have to give some examples of 'escape from butcher bay' theming.