Suggestion for a new subforum

    Any thoughts on a possible Game Dev subforum? One that focuses purely on game development articles, presentations, blogs etc?

    Along the lines of this: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=14060

    I didn't really feel it fit Gaming Discussions and thought it may be better placed in an area that could be considered an archive. If you were to come to the subforum a year later, there would be a wealth of posts containing useful/interesting content but also debates and discussions on our own opinions regarding the subjects and wouldn't be lost/mixed in with game specific threads.

    There’s no saying the new board would all be about ‘Gamasutra wankery’ though. The example topic being used is an article on how breadcrumbing was done in Half-Life 2, and I think informative or discussable articles like that are great. And by having a board devoted to design we would also build up a database without opinion articles on games being art, proceduralist, meaningful and full of emotional responses to transcend dated risk/reward models with rich, immersive narrative and story.

    Gamasutra's not all bad, but almost every link I have in my mind that I'd like to post are just personal opinions, blog posts and presentation slides.

    if it's just opinion then i reckon gaming discussion is good enough. i'd be happier seeing forum for debate of game design and principles (such as player cognition/perception, input on puzzle design, methodical breakdowns etc.). i consider those to be the "education" of a level designer. it's not just a designer's job to create a level or world or setting; it's the designer's job to make sure that the player enjoys the level.

    Quote from FrieChamp

    I'm not completely convinced that a subforum is necessary, but we could give it a try and see if the input is worth it?

    Couldn't hurt If it doesn't serve its purpose, then everything can be moved to gaming discussion...

    What about something like IOT (internal Off Topic) or just something "Members Only" if you want closed feedback on something (not necessarily art related but also if you have some kind of beta test)

    Quote

    ":20qdxb0p]I'm against the idea of sub-dividing the forums too much. but, what the hell, why not...

    I don't think it will hurt too much - there are already quite a lot of developers on here, a lot of gaming and self-project talk but not a lot about the industry itself and working methods. I think it could add a lot of value if there's a specific forum for it, provoking people to post what they find and get involved in discussions about it.

    It wont be the most active forum but it shouldn't be starved for content either, there's plenty out there.

    Quote from e-freak

    What about something like IOT (internal Off Topic) or just something "Members Only" if you want closed feedback on something (not necessarily art related but also if you have some kind of beta test)

    I think this is catered for by the current Creative sub forums - if you want a closed beta then you only send it to specific people and get those results via pm or email etc.

    I really feel a specific game dev forum is missing. Even posts such as some recent ones of people asking portfolio advice, level design or environmental artists etc? could have been posted there. But they're lost for me, were they in Off Topic or Gaming Discussion? [Blocked Image: https://migrationtest.mapcore.org/public/style_emoticons/default/mapcore_smilies/emot_shakehead.gif] (rhetorical)

    Most of the portfolio feedback threads were posted in Off-Topic...not an optimal place, but I'm against splitting "gaming discussion" into "games" and "game industry discussion", I thought you meant a game design specific sub forum. I tried to save some of the gems and topics that are repeatedly being brought up in the "superb threads" sub forum of gaming discussion, but must admit that I've been slacking lately with scouting for new additions (link: viewforum.php?f=64 ).

    Quote from FrieChamp

    Most of the portfolio feedback threads were posted in Off-Topic...not an optimal place, but I'm against splitting "gaming discussion" into "games" and "game industry discussion", I thought you meant a game design specific sub forum.

    I do, the above examples were in addition to my original post. I agree it's not an optimal place here, but neither is gaming discussion really. Gaming Discussion can be left as it is, there's nothing misleading about its title and the content found in there. But there is much to be gained by creating an Industry Discussion underneath it IMO.

    Quote from tofu

    So who's in charge of making the final yay or nay? Too many forum admin colours to keep track of =)

    See what happens when things get split into too many options

    Well the problem the forum had before was we had too many boards and not enough posters; this is why they consolidated the 2D/3D boards, removed engine discussion, etc.

    I like games design discussion as much as the next man, but it probably won’t be a massively popular board. To be honest it’s really just a group of us posting in General Discussion and Off-Topic and sometimes noticing someone put something creative in the other boards. And there’s EOT, I guess.

    The ideal system would be thread icons/filters, though I’m sure phpBB doesn’t support them even via addons. And thread ratings could replace superb threads, and then moderators don’t have to make a call on what’s superb, pull it out the board and, bizarrely, lock it to prevent it being tainted by further discussion. What they do on SA, basically.

    Quote from tofu

    So who's in charge of making the final yay or nay? Too many forum admin colours to keep track of =)

    "Donations" can be sent to Thrik's bank account...

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