Messages

God just told me that it's a sin [illegal] to post on the AGS forums.

It's anti-Christian.

I've never been a big fan of names like "Creative Studio" or "Clever Design" or anything like that ...

I think, if you have to say you're creative, it steals a little from the over-all image you might be trying to go for.  Not to mention, from my perspective, a name like that actually feels UNcreative. (just read what Lay said ... I agree with him here)

However ... since you weren't looking for crit on the name of your studio, but on the animation, I'll offer up some on that.

The lines moving around at the beginning are not [at all] interesting and take away from the piece.

The water filling the C and then dripping down would work FAR better with just that part (though I'd suggest making the C a more interesting designed font (like was suggested alread))  A few scan-lines could form the C (though done FAR quicker than the opening as you have it now) and then the water fills up, drips down, then ... something.

I don't know ... I think you might have a good start here but, as is, it's not very appealing.

I kind of feel like you never really left

[Andail]

Andail and rharpe - check your PMs for the login information!  And thanks for volunteering!

Pablo, Buckethead, and Trihan - thanks for the input!  I'll notify you when the site is live!

Thanks!

Caine - glad to have you on board!

Oneway - that kind of testing would be invaluable!  I have a few programmers I work with (day job) that are taking a peek at those same areas but one more can only help! 

Check your PMs shortly!  I'm putting a few more things in place before officially opening BETA testing up!

There's still room for more if anybody else wants in!

It's okay guys ... technically speaking (s)he met the rules (albeit a VERY limited interpretation of the rules) with the opening post.

Let's leave off comments on the graphics and just let this go!

Thanks

Most excellent!  Thanks for the volunteers!  Look to your PMs in the next day or two for information on how to get to the site!

There's still room for me if anybody else is interested!!

[What is MindWinder]

Greetings my dear friends!

Some of you are "in the know" about a little web-experiment I've been working on for the last year or so called "MindWinder" (wind rhymes with mind)


What is MindWinder?

MindWinder is an idea I had about a year ago ... it is, in a nutshell, a digital-art contest/competition website.  But it's ever so much more than just that!

The entire site is a point based "community"!  The more you participate, the more points you earn.  The more points you earn, the more you can achieve/do on the site.  You can earn points by entering contests, rating entries, winning contests (1-3 place), referring new members (only if they register), etc.  There's a "rewards" system as well where you can donate some of your points to members, and the like.

Registration is 100% FREE and will always be free.  You will never have to pay a single dollar/euro/whatever to be a member and to take part in site activities!  And here's the best part ... it's FREE to be a part of the community but you can actually win money!! *

There is much more than just digital-art contests as well!  There will be a "fun & games" section too with some online games to play (to start just some fun little java type games but I'm working on some custom-made games as well).  Also there will be "fun" events such as raffles and lotteries and the like.  The first raffle is called the "Ten Times Raffle" where you 'bet' some of your points (you choose the amount) if you're selected (random selection) you win 10x the points you bet!  Stuff like that.  There will be random "prize" give-aways each month (ps3 or xbox360 games, dvds, etc.)

There is also a plan to eventually have an online "store" on the site where you don't have to spend money, but your site points, in order to "pay" for items in the store.

* not all contests have monetary reward for winning, some are just points based.

So why am I telling you this?

Excellent question!  I have FINALLY reached a point where I'm ready to get some people BETA testing this sucker for me!  I thought, what better place to find some beta testers than the AGS community?!!?

So ... this is an open call for BETA testers!  If anybody is interested just leave a reply to this thread and I'll add you to the list and notify you by PM if/when you're selected to be a BETA tester!  I have a set number I want to reach so it's possible (depending on the replies to thsi post) that EVERYbody who volunteers will get the job!

What am I looking for in a BETA tester?

Basically I just want people to use the site and try to break it!  Find errors, bugs, typos, etc.  I have created a forums on the site specifically (for now) for tracking BETA testing results!

Why would you want to BETA test?

Well to help me out I would hope!!   Also, I am trying to create a fun little corner of the web for people to use and have a good time.  So you might actually enjoy it.  All BETA testers will receive a special "title" under their names on the site (you know those little labels that make everybody feel special?).  And lastly, at the end of BETA testing I will be choosing the "Best BETA Tester" who will receive a very nice little prize (keeping it a surprise for now!)

If anybody is interested please let me know and I'll provide you with the link to use to get into the BETA version of the site!

Thanks and I look forward to seeing how this goes!

It's sooooooo awesome and powerful to put down other people's beliefs!! 

I know it sure makes me feel better!!

[The outside scene]

A very nice look to these...

The outside scene:
- The whole scene has a very night-time feel to it with the blue tones ... the character sticks out like a sore thumb!  I'm not really opposed to it ... but he really stands out.  The moon also feels WAY too yellow/orange and stands out too much as well (unless this is intentional I'd suggest toning it down a bit)

- I like what appears to be a little house/home in the tree stump ... that's interesting!

The bar scene:
- The perspective feels a bit weird to me!  The wall (on the right) appears to go straight across (judging by the roof line) and by the baseline appears to go up/back ... maybe the roof line is a support beam or something?

- some objects have shadows and others do not!  It throws off the scene a bit!

- the chandelier ... if it's a foreground shadow effect type object (all black with no details) I'd suggest making the candles black too.

Some good looking stuff ... while not quite professional looking, still very pleasant/fun to look at.

I was going out of my mind watching Pirates of the Caribbean 2, for example.

Good lord yes!  I loved the first one ... the second one bored me so bad I damn near walked out of the theater.  It was so bad that I didn't go to the theater to see the 3rd one.  I just drudged through it at home.

It might have been possible to trim it a bit more, but most of the sequences in the film are either essential to the story or just too damn cool in their own right to remove.

This is, I think, where not being familiar with the source material alters my "take" on the film.  I felt that a lot of the sequences were totally unnecessary and could easily have been trimmed out.  With Lord of the Rings (of which I am extremely familiar with the source material) while I could see some scenes that could have been trimmed, I wanted them in the film.  I would wager it's the same situation with Watchmen fans.

But you knew that it was going to be almost 3 hours long, right? And you know that if you have the drink you'll have to go to the bathroom halfway through, so... maybe forgo the drink this time?

No.

I like to have my beverage while watching a movie.  So why would I give up the drink, thus making myself uncomfortable and taking away some of the enjoyment of my experience, just to avoid making myself uncomfortable when I have to use the restroom 90 minutes in?  Nah.  I'd rather have to "hold it" for a bit and sit through another 1/2 hour rather than not have the drink in the first place.  Doesn't change the fact that [I felt] the movie was unnecessarily long.

I don't mind movies that are three hours long (or longer) if the content feels worthy of the length (Lord of the Rings for example).  I felt this movie didn't need all the extra fluff.  This is, of course, subjective.  Some [fan-boys] probably feel this content was worthy of the length of the film.  I do not.

Also sans-penis was the girl in the black outfit and the bob haircut in the opening credits. Movie needed much more of her and her girl-kissing, crime fighting ways. Much, much more.

Couldn't agree more!  She was captivating and didn't have nearly as much time on-screen as the CGNBP (computer generated neon blue penis).  I found her limited screen time extremely intriguing.  I didn't really mind the over-abundance of the CGNBP.  It wasn't blatant or flaunted, just part of the story.  The only thing about it that bugged me was that every scene with it would cause some idiots in the audience to giggle.  It's a fake penis ... is it really that funny?

[edit]

I have never read (or even seen) the graphic novels so I went in to this movie blind.

So what did I think?

It was WAY too long.

I know the comic-purists will blow-up at this statement ... but there was way too much "fluff" in the film.

The entire prison scene was totally unnecessary.  It was nothing other than showing how bad-ass the heroes are.  It was cool, don't get me wrong, but not necessary for the over-all story of the film.

Almost every scene with Carla Gugino was also not needed (over-all) for the film.  They could still have revealed the "big secret" without taking 30 minutes of un-needed back story of her character.  Not to mention they weren't that interesting (her back stories) and slowed the pace of the film (in my opinion).

All the "relationship" scenes between Dr. Manhattan and Silk Specter were tedious and too involved.  I suspect this was the point, but I found it slow and somewhat boring!

I hate to say it, because he was the most interesting character by far (for me), but the back-story scenes with the comedian weren't really necessary either.

Though:

Spoiler

I loved the scene in the bar is Saigon when he killed the pregnant woman ... as morbid as that was it really showed a different side of "super heroes" that I really dig.  He's not really a good guy ... he's a thug hiding behind a mask of legality who isn't in it to save humanity, but because he's an adrenaline junky who enjoys the killing.  I really like this aspect of the story!

[close]

Don't get me wrong, I love a long and involved story ... but I think, for a theatrical release, the movie could have been every bit as good at 120 minutes as opposed to 180 minutes!  I think a video release version with all the extra scenes would rock!  Sitting at home I'd love that!  Flesh it out ... hell, make it 4 hours long.  I can pause it and get up to have a piss without worrying about missing something!  The story is interesting enough to warrant the length. 

The problem is, from my experience, the average film-goer doesn't have the attention span for that much material and it only appeals to people familiar with the source materials.  For me it's not an attention span thing ... it's that I always get a nice big drink before going in and, inevitably, I have to use the restroom after about 90 minutes!

I know that fans of the novels will not appreciate my statements ... but I'm looking at this from the perspective of somebody who had no connection with the source material.  And as such, these are just my thoughts on the film.

edit - I forgot to mention that I liked it!  It was visually appealing and the acting wasn't too over the top!  I just felt it was too long!

The walk-cycle is very good!

Very fluid!

The only problem I see is that the neck is VERY thick!

[production PSD]

I am bored (at work) and decided to goof-off a bit ...

So I did a paint-over (not really) to illustrate some of my ideas.

DISCLAIMER: I'm a fan of the book(s) and have never seen the TV show versions (only seen the movie that nobody seems to like but I loved).  Anyway... I made this off of how I always envisioned the guide to be (except I kept it 'modular' like you want it!)


- I made it feel like a book that can be closed
- I added in the search box like you want (plus a keyboard)
- I added in some controllers (the + directional pads)
- I added some buttons (next to the controller) to select the top or bottom screens (the up/down arrows) and to enter/select (the left pointing arrow on both sides) and an X/Close button to close the guide.
- I tightened up the displays a bit (margins, alignment, etc)
- I unified the resolutions (I think)
- I kind of mixed high-tech vs. low-tech (the touchscreen keyboard thing and the directional pads) to give it that nostalgic/futuristic feeling
- I added in the two small informational screens (bottom right, middle left)
- I tried to put the directional controls and buttons in convenient locations for handling the guide

Here is the production PSD (~1.5mb) file if you want it to see what I did.

I went WAY over-board with this and it's probably not anything like you wanted to use and/or envisioned.  Or what die-hard Guide fans think the guide looks like!  I just wanted to share my interpretation.

I hope it helps.

Hello Chabiboy!

Please review the forum rules and add at least one more (in-game) screenshot!

Thanks!

I wish I had more time ... I'd love to offer up a paint-over.

Alas, some suggestions will have to do.

1) the red title and blue body copy are very difficult to read (especially when paired like that)
2) this feels too "modular" to me ... for something so technologically advanced as the HHGTTG is supposed to be I don't see it being so 1960s Star Trek tricorder looking (if that makes sense)
3) if you are intentionally making it modular like that ... then the tops/bottoms and sides should align properly ... this is all over the place with things not lining up properly (as was already mentioned)
4) there are "modules" that don't make sense!  What is the bar with the red box at the end for?  It's just sort of hanging there off centered...

If it were me and I was "re-envisioning" the guide ... I'd make all touchscreen with the information displayed via a neat little interface rather than bounded in by boxes all over the place!  Just my take on it

I voted. (too late I know)

Please tell her to move to the Fort Lauderdale area so that I can marry her.

Thank you.

Why can't I come?

Because if there are minors there Nacho's trampoline humping ceases being funny, and becomes a felony.

Yeah ... in lookin' at the location on Google maps it definitely would be a "drive" to any hotel.

I'm [a bit] surprised in how far it is to the beach.  Now I know why the listing (on that website) doesn't give an exact address!!  Still, not a big deal!  In a car it's only a minute or two drive to the beach (and it could be walked as well!  It's nowhere near as long as the hike to the town/pubs in France!) and well worth the lower cost!

As for everybody being under the same roof I totally agree!!  I just meant if there were some that couldn't come 'cause of the limit, to my way of thinking, not staying in the same place (but close) is better than not coming at all right?