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I remember this one time, at band camp, I'd made a game in RPGmaker, and my computer crashed, so I started over, and then I'd been making this mistake all the way along of not separating the files right, so it was 80mb and useless to all involved...

I guess the moral of this story is, read the fucking manual.

But that's unrelated to this thread. What I meant to say was this; I hate when I'm using Photoshop and it freezes, and I have to start over on a picture. Because with background as well, it's not just a case of scripting it over, or colouring it again... You gotta really put something as much originality and flare and style into it as you can, and when you have to do it three times in a row, you sort of lose your zest for life.

As a person with 56k dialup (Not pointing any fingers, but fuck you, Eircom, goddamn lying whores) I hate huge signatures, naturally.

Excessive signatures are pretty useless. I hate them. I say down with signatures. Well, big unnecessary ones, anyway.

[only]

Oh man.

But I don't think Ballyfermot would only offer intensive, proffesional and indeed world acclaimed... Diplomas? They must plan to send us off somewhere else for the degree itself. And they would do that if it meant partial credit.

Guidance Counseller....

Well, I'd help with backgrounds except I have BR to finish, then a small project after BR, and then another large project after. So if you wanna wait about three years, knowing me....

But if you need research done (Or any more of it anyway) then I'd love to help! Or even if you just need concept art of characters or locations, again I would love to do this. But backgrounds would be way too big a thing for me to take on, and it's all I'm really any use at.

And I think you're being brilliant ignoring all the comments made about you. It must be hard to resist replying to such inane comments. I think it's about time these people got a new shtick.

EDIT: Hmmm, if you want, actually, I could sketch the backgrounds. I'd obviously research whatever art style you were taking on, and I could get them done on the train. Hmm, interesting thought. Well, if ya need anything like this, just give a shout

Dear lord, m0ds, I do that so much I practically work backwards! I'm like a lean mean scripting machine, running at full speed... backwards.

Yes, that reminds me. I'm going to back up BR right now. Right this very second.

Thank you.

[lot more concise]

I don't know if I want to just cram everything into a short space of time... I mean, oh man, College is gonna kick ass! But so in San Francisco. But my point is, the Ballyfermot course is a lot more intensive, but also a lot more concise. Dun Laoghaire does clay animation and crap like that I believe, which is something that I wouldn't need. Interesting, but I wouldn't need it.

But I really need to know the difference between Degrees, Bachelors Degrees, Diplomas and National Higher Diplomas. Because I wouldn't want to inadvertantly take the wrong course, and then realize at the end of a bunch of years, I'd only been taking home cookery lessons or something.

I though that version of Maya smelled fishy...

EDIT: *just saw above post*

Sooo... basically, a Bachelors is the one to aim for? After finishing the two year intensive classical animation course (plus night classes in 3D animation) I would then transfer for third year in a different college and do my Bachelors? And if I was very good I'd get an honours in a Bachelor Degree?

Excellent! I think I'm unconfused!

[Dun Laoghaire]

Well I thought it'd be a great idea to take a day of school, travel to Dublin and go to the open day of some of the colleges I want to go to. They're animation colleges... two of them, and I'm torn. Now here's the thing...

Dun Laoghaire
Dun Laoghaire is in a nicer area of Dublin than Ballyfermot, and has an intensive 4-year course covering all aspects of animation including classical animation, photoshop/flash, 3D studio max, other stuff. In the end, you're awarded a Bachelors something or other.

Ballyfermot
Ballyfermot is in a not-so-nice area of town, but it's one of the best three animation colleges in the world. True story. And much to my delight, the course there is endorsed by Walt Disney. My plan would be to take the Classical Animation course, which includes a bit of 3D animating, and then take the 3D animation night classes two days a week.

The Ballyfermot course is internationally acclaimed, and they get loads of Disney guys over to pep talk us and show us neat stuff. It's much more intensive, so it's a 2 year course as apposed to Dun Laoghaire's 4 years. Which is absolutely delighting, because it means I'll be in America by 22. Whoopee! It also means I'll be in America by 22 with a 3D animation course under my belt as well as proffesional classical animation Diploma ----

Now imagine a screech of brakes halting as I freeze. My eyes flash for a moment, and I go backwards over what I just said, repeatingly it silently in my mind.

Cue dramatic pause.

Then...

What the hell? Now I'm confused. So I need you good, helpful, smart people to help me.

What's the difference between a National Higher Diploma, a Bachelors and a Degree? If I do the diploma, don't I have to go on to get a degree anyway?

And which course would you go for, in my position? I'm not gonna make any decisions yet, but it's very important for me and I wanna make sure that next year, I make the right choice. Although the 2 year one is shorter, I will still be taking night classes to make up for material that would have been recieved in the Dun Laoghaire class. And why is Dun Laoghaire so hard to spell?

Okay.. okay...

To clear something up...

Whoever is running the comp, IE me for now, will be the leader. The project leader is trying to get his or her idea across. My job is to make sure it stays RUNNING. The project leader makes sure everybody stays working to his or her deadlines. I make sure it runs to competition deadlines. Otherwise it's like throwing people into the sea with no... arm floats.

And second, well if the styles clash, that's tough. The competition will  state that say, if the project leader has a sci fi, The Dig type idea, right? Well then, the Project Leader has to describe a scene in his or her mind that the artists / animators must design. The Project Leader is the main person that's gonna be pick n mixing, if you catch my drift. It's also his or her job to try and match styles. Although I would have a say in this too, because I'm a control freak.

If it doesn't work out, then definitely it should be revised but I think this way everybody gets max enjoyment out of it, and hopefully a lot of people get to try new styles and most importantly, we'll be learning maybe that working in a team is a lot more productive and successful. Or perhaps the complete opposite. I guess it depends on the team. Some teams may not work, some teams will.

First we have to try the competition and see how it runs. The only aim of the comp this time is to compete for a place in teh final team.

Perhaps next year, we'll start a challenge, where there are six comps in total, six teams, and the winner at the end of the year gets... kudos, or something.


We'll see how it works out before making any long term decisions.

Cha cha cha!

I like that idea very much.

But I have to point out two things to you.

Firstly, the deadline of four weeks only begins when the last competition is run, so that's effectively seven weeks in total.

Secondly, the artists and animators.. surely it doesn't matter what way around they go?

[Project Leader, Artists and Musicians, Animators and Script Writers.]

Okay, here’s the deal.

There are three competitions: Project Leader, Artists and Musicians, Animators and Script Writers. They are held for one week before the submitted material is reviewed by the Project Leader (Or if it’s the project leader, by me. You can forward bribes to PO box 12, Ballyfermot, Dublin 4). The Project Leader and Competition Organizer (In this case, me) will choose the winners for the other competitions.

Once a team is built, work on the game will begin. We will have four weeks to complete the project entirely. The clock starts when the last competition is run.

The team will be compiled as follows:

Project Leader   1
Animators      4   (1 Lead Animator will also be chosen)
Artists         4   (1 Lead Background Artist will also be chosen)
Musicians      2   
Dialogue      2



And now for the first competition....

- Project Leader
The first competition in every new ‘season’. All people that want to enter the competition are invited to submit their storyline/plot ideas. It’s a good idea to include a concise description of your idea, and your characters. It doesn’t need to be rock solid, just interesting and original. No sequels! Unless they’re really awesome sequels. You may submit concept artwork or music or even concept dialogue to emphasise your idea.

Remember, what you want is to get people interested and excited about this. It doesn’t have to be goofy or hilarious; it could be serious either. Don’t ramble on for ages either. Think of these headings as guidelines:

1. Brief introduction to your idea (Two or three paragraphs)
2. Sources of inspiration
3. Concept Material (optional)


You can add more or less information as required, but try stick with them.

The Job of the Project Leader:
The Project Leader will oversee the game production and may contribute to various other areas. S/he will ensure that the artists and other team members realize his/her vision. If people are slacking, the Project Leader has to drag them back on track. If deadlines need to be met, the Project Leader will have to make sure that they are. The game will finally be submitted under his/her name.

So get... writing! You have until Wednesday 12th to get your idea in, so take your time and put some research into something interesting.

And as this is the first time I’ve held a competition, excuse me if it lacks you know, finesse.

[meant]

Okay.

I am contacting the appropriate authorities.

Oops, that was a lie. What I meant to say, was that I will be contacting the appropriate authorities. Right after this intermission.

Everybody submits an idea, and a person is chosen who shows the most imagination and enthusiasm for the project, as well as the best idea.

The other competitions could run okay. I mean it would only be once in a while that this competition would clash with a certain other one.

So who's for it? It may take a long time to get a game together, so I think the competitions should be held on a weekly basis. Perhaps if it was something like art and music they could be run together, since it's unlikely that a person would submit to both competitions anyway.

Perhaps also there should be runners up. From one competition, a lead artist would be chosen, who would set the style and oversee the production of artwork, and same for programmers or whatever.

Say, a Lead for every area and then three 'runners up'.

I guess the following areas would be covered in the competition:


- Project Leader
- Lead Background Artist and three runners up
- Lead Programmer and three runners up
- Lead Animator and two runners up (For sprites and stuff)
- Musician, and one co-composer
- Sound Technician, and one co...er, sound technician.


Let's say we had the Project Leader one first, then Background Artists and Music competition runs together, the Animation and Sound run together, and programming on its own. That's four weeks getting together a team, and say we could set a four week deadline, or more if it's a longer game... whatever.

What about this?

Oh, well then. That's what you get for reading the label.

Okay Beta Test People! I'm gonna send it out to you.... later. Yeah. Later. Like, tomorrow, when it's finished. Totally.



Oh jeeze, you elves. We have no time. We already are supposed to have finished it. We're gonna have to cut some of it.

Cut that part, and that part, and that part.

Now send them the middle and the end.

You live in San Francisco!?

Listen, I need you to do me a huge favour, which has nothing to do with voodoo spells of any kind. Go to Simons Olympia Deli (It's somewhere around 215 Clara Street) and steal me a salt shaker.

Then send it to P.O. Box 11, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Thank you.

Hmm.

Thanks everybody. Definitely, Wacom seems to be the one.

Also, I have a love for things that take power from the USB port. I blew up three scanners consecutively, until I got one that took power from the USB port. Now I can't even blow it up even if I try, and believe me, I have tried.

So, an A6 Wacom Intuos 2, or something? That seems to be the impression I'm getting. Besides, whatever Miez uses, his art is fantastic, and I'm sure that I'll magically get brilliant at art when I get a Tablet. Man, I'm just gonna go "click" and then I'll be able to draw. Didn't you know, that's what happens when you get a tablet?

As for LucasArts... I thought you worked at LucasFilms (Or whatever the special FX studio is called)? We could steal the blueprints for that swanky site they have. Hmmm, the possibilities...

I heard that they also have some of those triangular shaped Day of the Tentacle boxes lying around...

Hmmm...

Welp, I was thinking there yesterday... when I go to college, I'm gonna be needing the following:

1. Wacom Tablet (Mmmmmmm....delicious)
2. Laptop, for those long, commuter train journeys.
3. Lots of funky clothes and some dodgy mates. (Mmmm. Brains.)

Anyway. I figured that all this stuff... all two pieces of stuff... it's gonna cost me a lot. So I'd better start getting it now. Also, what a great excuse for when I ask my mother for $1600!!! "It's to ease the pressure on my freshman college year, mom. I'm only thinking of you."

You see, I have thought very carefully about this.

So the first item on my list just so happens to be a Wacom Tablet. I've wanted one of these for ages, and if there's a reason to work my lazy, no good butt over the summer, this is it. That, and also all the illegal drugs I can buy with the money I earn. Talk about long-term investment!

So what would you guys recommend? Does size matter? What's the best option for me, concerning a Wacom Tablet, and how many of my organs am I going to have to sell to get it?

I have heard good things about the Intuos 2, but I'm not sure what size to get. Obviously, I want the biggest one there. But perhaps this is not even nessecary. Who knows? I could make a living out of drawing postcards. Perhaps, if I got one of the very small ones, I could even use it as one of those awesome little doodling machines. You know, the ones with all the pixels, and it looks really cool, but inside there's all these toxic chemicals? Yes, except inside mine, will be circuit boards and wires!

PS: I am not sure if circuit boards are supposed to go in drawing tablets. I am only guessing, because I do not know much about electronics. But it is a minor detail.

CJ I swear to GOD, you come second only to Tim Schafer.

I love you!

That was so STUPID, I can't believe I didn't see that!!! I went through it a million times!! I even knew it!!! I never saw it!!! Dear LORD.

I've spent weeks trying to figure that out and not mentioning it because I knew it was gonna be something small and stupid like that.

Thanks

It worked

ReleaseCharacterView

I tried this, and it totally didn't work. Besides that, I don't have this problem anywhere else in the game where changing views are concerned. I'm just plain confused now.

Woe.

On the plus side, I did make the cut scene skippable, and the text outside of it skippable. That's a good thing.