Posts by 2d-chris

  • The only constant in the world is change

    Yep good stuff, I can see why it's great advise, the difference though is it's usually best to learn from your mistakes. Every skilled level designer I know has gone through stages just like yourself. It's great to try and help noobies with advise like this but there priotities will lie somewhere else. Think of it like teaching nuclear fission before learning elementary science.

    My point is, level design is far more complex than slapping together a map. It's a gradual learning curve. Attempting to understand points like you state when you don't have the knowledge or experience, will confuse the living hell out of anyone.

    Nevertheless good advise is always welcome

  • Deus Ex 1 too slow paced, not memorable enough

    I think you might be jumping the gun there, with what he said

    Your personal opinion even as a lead designer is not always the one you will go with. It's a team effort remember! so all the other game designers should have made their case if they don't agree. With that said, he sure is egging on the fans with comments like that

  • Alan Wake

    Quote from Mazy

    I don't wanna be angry for angry's sake, but I'm finding myself more and more underwhelmed with Alan Wake with each year that passes by. A few years ago it was absolutely mind numbingly gorgeous, so gorgeous that I didn't bother asking questions about what it actually was, today it just looks pretty good. Also people are raving about how the gameplay looks really interesting and different, but theres not really been shown anything yet to indicate that there's an actual solid game here, other than its probably gonna be some kind of adventure game'ish thing.I'm sure its gonna be a great game when its finally released, the guys at Remedy are amazingly talented, but right now they've officially run out of hype for me. They really need to get this thing out before it completely loses its graphical edge.

    /hate

    Yeah, I must be lucky with the fact before now, I've had very little hype. Mainly because somehow I've managed to miss most of it

  • What have you purchased recently?

    Quote from arhurt

    Really... I mean, awesome graphics, story, setting, characters... but the combat is a little lackluster.

    Mino is right, Mass Effect for me is the best RPG game in ... well ... AGES~ The combat is defo the weakest aspect of it, but thats only because the other parts are done to absolute perfection. The combat is better than most 3rd person games I play, that just shows you how good everything else must be

    Nice decks Low, I used to DJ in some local clubs. Used to spin deep tech house.

  • 2d-Chris you should get prepared for Deutschland!

    lol - ok I'm on it!

    "Your first task in setting up a new life in Germany may be going to the Deutsche Telekom to set up phone and Internet services. When you go to the T-Point you will be met at the door by one or two attractive young employees who will ask you what you would like to do, and after you explain to these friendly people your communication needs, they will tell you to go stand in line behind everyone else. These two people could easily be replaced by a sign that says, “Welcome, please take a number,” but that would triple the amount of employees on duty that actually do something for you, which is unacceptable."

    Haha, you know I've worked in retail and was very good at customer service, but the very idea of it fustrates me. If you're right and the customer is wrong telling them so should not be known as unacceptable. Sofar German culture fits mine better than in the UK.

    http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1 ... 95,00.html

    Looks like I'm going to fit in perfectly

  • Left 4 Dead

    You can bet your bottom dolla unreal engine 4.0 will have radiosity Infact I think Tim said so. No matter how much I love TF2, from an engine perspective (and workflow) Source is a little limiting. However, the games that come from it are great. Even though I can count more big hit unreal engine games the last 4 years, I'm sure other people would disagree.

    Workflow = everything and Unreal is the leader. Crysis engine also kicks ass

    But back on topic, L4D is a must buy IMO, can't wait

  • Calling those in the Industry

    I think going into testing or quality control would put you off the games industry for eons. But Wolf is correct in suggesting it as a good way into the Industry, quite a lot of designers I know started there.

    Most importantly, decide exactly what It is you want to focus on, that usually is down to what part of games interests you the most. No job is particually harder than others in terms of time and dedicated devoted to get your skills up to a professional standard. You'll spend 10 years+ as a professional before you might be considered a master at your respective trade.

    Think of this like playing a music instrument, none are "easier" to master and they take many years of practice, lessons and fustration before you score your first gig. People who enjoy a lengthy challenge end up being great at what they do, not everyone is cut out for that

    All the advise in this thread is good, at least from my experiences

    (thought I'd give a more mental approach as the actual technical advise needs no repeating)

  • Selling a game concept to a dev studio

    Going in with a so called home made NDA might seem like a good idea, but I'm quite sure if a big developer/publisher wanted to use some of the design it would be a case of just doing it. Nothing in this world can be original anymore. NDA's are more about stopping people talking about whats going on than copyright or patening.

    You simply can't protect a great game idea, there are always ways around it.

    This is why it's universaly known that if you have a great idea you should do all in your power to get it developed yourself, get the big guns involved and things are out of your control. Unless that is, you have no choice