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Released Games => Knytt Stories => Topic started by: Hmpf on February 20, 2010, 21:59:31

Title: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Hmpf on February 20, 2010, 21:59:31
In fanfic writing and science fiction fandom, a Round Robin is a story that is being written in turns by several authors, usually rather randomly - i.e., someone writes the first part, puts it somewhere where other writers can see it, and someone else decides to continue it, and then someone else continues after that, etc. Basically, whoever feels like it at a time can write a part.

Now, this technique probably wouldn't work so well for a challenge level, as those need to be somewhat more deliberately planned out. However, it could work just fine for an environmental, I think. And there is one tileset that IMO is just screaming to be turned into a proper environmental: Smashy's tundra tileset. Seriously, has anyone ever used that for anything but a very small area in a larger world? Yet it is - potentially - such a very versatile tileset, and a very beautiful one, too! The best use of it that I can remember having seen is in Shawnachu's environmental level Natural. Every time I walk through the tundra/snowy mountain area there I wish it were larger - much larger.

So, why not have an environmental Round Robin based on that tileset? Let's say everyone who participates builds about five screens, and they have to follow somewhat organically from the adjacent areas, and that's it, for rules. Well, and obviously we need to take turns rather than everyone starting at once, because otherwise the parts wouldn't integrate well...

Two more... rules, or suggestions: 1.) Other tilesets may be brought in, but use them very sparingly, and only if they fit in with the tundra tileset in terms of style etc., and 2.) try to push the tundra tileset - I'm pretty sure that's a tileset that will go a loooong way if you push it...

Y/N? Remarks, suggestions? Questions?

Edited to add a screenshot from Natural.

ETA2: see text in italics.
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: minmay on February 20, 2010, 22:24:55
I don't think such a constrained theme is best for a round robin, but this method does seem a lot better than the old community level.
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Hmpf on February 20, 2010, 22:31:43
I don't think such a constrained theme is best for a round robin, but this method does seem a lot better than the old community level.

I admit it's mostly born of my desire to see someone - if necessary, a group - do for that tileset what Kohdi did for Fredrik Andersson's Thin Forest one. I can sort of see the makings of a wonderful environmental in that tileset, but it doesn't seem to exist yet.

Anyway, I'd be willing to try less constrained RRs, too, of course. In that case, I'd just have to make the all-tundra-all-the-time environmental myself. Or badger someone else into doing it. ;-)
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: the Jack on February 21, 2010, 23:48:04
A round robin style collabourative level sounds like fun -- especially if it leads to a nice, LoCP-safe environmental level  ;) -- and the tileset you're suggesting for it looks like a good, versatile choice, from what I can tell. And five rooms seems like a good number for giving each designer a substantial stake in the project, and sufficient room to develop their contribution, without being so daunting that contributors are likely to drop out.

Could you point me to the tileset and/or the level Natural, though? It isn't up on the archive.

I would be honoured to work on a level with you... do you want to wait until there are more participants signed up, or get started?
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Firecat on February 22, 2010, 01:20:07
what its a LoCP?
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Hmpf on February 22, 2010, 03:18:32
what its a LoCP?

See my signature. Lobby/self-help/support group for those of us who are... challenged in the reflexes department etc. ;-)

ETA: the Jack, you're on. I'll take second, if there are no other takers.
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: the Jack on February 26, 2010, 04:49:03
Oh, this thing is eating my head.

I'm looking at putting some non-default music, ambience, tilesets & gradients into the folder. (Okay, so I already made the gradients. Everything else is by Not Me.) Do you want to set a policy on that? Or on custom objects, as I'd really like to be able to use at least CO versions of some of the flowers from the Tundra tileset... not that I've had time to even look up how to make those yet.

You'll be happy to know one of my screens is very water-themed, with unexpected waterfalls etc. -- hopefully I'll be including at least one more with falling water <g> if I can fit it in -- and that one of the two ambience files I have picked out is of running water.  ;)
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: AClockworkLemon on February 26, 2010, 06:27:55
I would  <3 to help out with this! Send me a PM when it's my turn, and I'll get working. would it be OK if I use some other custom stuff?
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Hmpf on February 26, 2010, 21:03:17
I would  <3 to help out with this! Send me a PM when it's my turn, and I'll get working. would it be OK if I use some other custom stuff?

Everyone's welcome to contribute!

And I'm fine with custom stuff, as long as it doesn't turn the level into Randomosity Central. ;-)
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: AClockworkLemon on February 26, 2010, 22:02:13
Koolies, I'm in! 8D
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Razzorman on February 26, 2010, 22:47:32
Five screens? That's like, ten minutes of work. Which is almost nothing. I'm in.
As long as I don't have to work for something, I can do anything. Yay for underachieving. :P
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Razzorman on March 06, 2010, 22:38:16
So, is this thing still going on? It'd be nice to see something in the thread once in a while.
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Hmpf on March 06, 2010, 22:50:00
So, is this thing still going on? It'd be nice to see something in the thread once in a while.

the Jack is working on it, AFAIK.
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: bulbapuck on March 06, 2010, 23:39:22
This sounds awesome :D A great idea!

Can I join?
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Hmpf on March 06, 2010, 23:48:28
Sure! The more the merrier!
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Hmpf on March 23, 2010, 23:34:02
the Jack, any progress?
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: grimwit on March 28, 2010, 23:29:59
*pokes head in*

Um...Can I get in on this action?  I'm getting better with custom tiles. :^^:
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Headgrinder on April 24, 2010, 14:53:14
Ok, I guess I'm in too, but is this happening?  This thread has been dead for almost a month.  How about we start imposing deadlines, just to keep the thing rolling?  Two weeks should be more than enough for 5 screens.  And if you could please post a teaser pic when you've finished your area, just so we know things have forward momentum. 

And one last thing, where can I get the tileset?  It doesn't seem to be in the public tileset collection.
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Hmpf on April 25, 2010, 16:07:00
Well, as far as I am concerned, anyone can join. However, before anyone can continue we'd need to get our hands on the part that the Jack has already been working on!

BTW, I think that, if this should turn into an active project again soon, I'd like to bow out (or take a later place in the queue, anyway), as my life is incredibly busy at the moment and I can't even find the time to work on my main projects, so I have to cull the list a bit. I'd rather focus what energy I may have on Falling Water while this busy phase of my life continues.
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Salmoneous on April 25, 2010, 18:56:16
The Jack has been inactive for almost a month now.
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Pick Yer Poison on April 25, 2010, 19:38:46
Count me in.

And anyone interested in this may also want to take a look at Great Art (http://is.gd/bgx0D).
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Headgrinder on April 28, 2010, 14:11:12
Hopefully it wasn't a breech of etiquette, but I just e-mailed the Jack, so maybe we can get this ball rolling. 

Any thoughts on the 2 week deadline for each entry?  I thought it made since...
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: bulbapuck on April 30, 2010, 10:10:19
Hopefully it wasn't a breech of etiquette, but I just e-mailed the Jack, so maybe we can get this ball rolling. 

Any thoughts on the 2 week deadline for each entry?  I thought it made since...
It makes perfect sence, and it's a good idea.
Hopefully the Jack will come back soon. But if he doesn't, maybe the next person in line can start?
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Feline Monstrosity on April 30, 2010, 16:38:59
Can I take part please? (I've only ever released one level but I have countless unfinished ones!)
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: grimwit on May 01, 2010, 05:40:01
Igh.

I have to pull out of this one.  suddenly, my time, she is taken over by my comic.  No time to make levels for a while.
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: bulbapuck on May 10, 2010, 16:40:53
Can I take part please? (I've only ever released one level but I have countless unfinished ones!)
Of course you can :D the more, the merrier.

I believe someone needs to take charge over this if it's ever to get going.

I have 2-3 extremely stressful weeks coming up, but if no one else volunteers in that time I'll do it.

Also, I'm pretty sure The Jack isn't coming back.. It's been several weeks now. There's nothing to do but to start without him.
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Headgrinder on May 15, 2010, 19:09:51
I'm bumping this.

I would like to see something happen with this.  It just sounds like a good collaboration.  This might be obvious, but I'd also suggest someone start a plot in this thing, and each successive entry has to build on it.  :)  However, if we do that, we might want to have suggestions for a starting plot point so the first person doesn't have to come up with it all by themselves.  Just a thought.

So Bulba, your want to get this thing rolling?  I'd gladly take 2nd, or even 1st if I get some plot suggestions.
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: bulbapuck on May 16, 2010, 01:58:37
I'm bumping this.

I would like to see something happen with this.  It just sounds like a good collaboration.  This might be obvious, but I'd also suggest someone start a plot in this thing, and each successive entry has to build on it.  :)  However, if we do that, we might want to have suggestions for a starting plot point so the first person doesn't have to come up with it all by themselves.  Just a thought.

So Bulba, your want to get this thing rolling?  I'd gladly take 2nd, or even 1st if I get some plot suggestions.

I do want to get it rolling C)p. I can't do anything until 2 weeks from now, but then my summer vacation starts and I will have lots of time. Therefore it may be better if you take 1st, and I take 2nd.

I don't have any plot suggestions though. Not for now at least.
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on June 06, 2010, 15:13:51
This seems like a neat idea... I've experimenting with the tileset and made a few screens and a custom snow blizzard animation. If any of you is still interested on this, I could upload what I made and, if you like it, you may continue from there.

I haven't thought of an idea for the plot yet, but it could be about Juni living on a cottage on the tundra and having to go out in the middle of a snow storm to find something.

Of course, if any of you has already started on this, then feel free to ignore me X)
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: bulbapuck on June 06, 2010, 19:21:10
Excellent C)p

I'm thinking about starting a new thread for this when it actually starts, but it's great to have a starting point!

If you want to you could PM me what you've got (or post it here if you want to) and I'll go 2nd and will start a thread with some rules.

This is happening peeps 8)
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on June 06, 2010, 19:51:18
Ok, I'll upload the part I made and send you a PM with the link. If you think it's good enough, then we can finally get this started :D
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Pick Yer Poison on June 07, 2010, 17:08:21
This is happening peeps 8)

where doing this man

WHERE MAKING THIS HApPEN
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: bulbapuck on June 07, 2010, 20:15:17
I'm starting to work on the level today, will make a new topic tonight or tomorrow, should I post in this board or in the Collaborations board?
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on June 07, 2010, 20:33:07
I think the Collaborations board would be better suited for this, IMHO.
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: RunMan on June 07, 2010, 20:34:11
This project looks very interesting - I will try to make some screens too (I took part in Community Level project)
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: Headgrinder on June 08, 2010, 13:17:21
Who's next after Bulba?  I'll go if RunMan or Poison isn't calling dibs.
Title: Re: Idea: How about a Round Robin?
Post by: bulbapuck on June 08, 2010, 14:20:57
Post in this thread to make it official that you want to participate:
http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=3498.0 (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=3498.0)