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Montgomery Markland

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Posts posted by Montgomery Markland

    Game Writer Question

    in Developers' Corner

    Posted

    Individuals obtain mastery over written expression through practice.

     

    So... write a ****load of stuff. Write everyday. You are a writer if you are writing. If you don't write, you are not a writer.

     

    Write short stories. Write plays. Write screenplays. Write game narrative content for a mod team. Write non-fiction. Write journalistic pieces. Write speeches for politicians or corporate figures. Write for the college newspaper. Write for pay if you can and for free if you can't. Write forum posts. Experiment with different styles. Learn all of the rules so that you can break the rules when appropriate.

     

    Consider your degree options in terms of utility. Most degrees provide little real-world value unless you obtain a degree that establishes some low-level form of credentials or credibility.

     

    Seeking a degree in liberal arts disciplines such as English or history will compel you to become more familiar with the associated subject matters; however, you can compel yourself to obtain the same degree of familiarity without external pressure.

     

    A computer science degree will provide the most utility when it comes time for you to apply for game development jobs.

     

    Try to get published. Start with small market literary publications. Search the web for potential markets.

     

    Find websites like this: Short Story markets and submit your material to the various places.

     

    You'll get probably 1000 rejections for every acceptance, even if you are competent. Ignore that because it's irrelevant, all you are trying to do is build momentum at this point.

     

    Definitely write or design something for a mod team, preferably one that actually releases something.

     

    Combine released mod work with published written work with a comp sci degree and you will turn yourself into a saleable entity. Add in some experience doing QA and you will be in really good shape.

    Mass Effect 2 to appear in GDC

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    This thread is really starting to make me want to play Mass Effect again, but there are too many other games to play right now.

     

    Why are you guys recommending ME? Did you happen to miss Wrath's memo the last 20 pages?

     

    rofl

     

    Nightshape - I don't care if you call me a retard, but you should try and be funnier about it. Also, Hershey's will be the first to go.

     

    Allow me to appoligise in a most humble fashion for being an arrogant idiot. I should have picked up on your humour.

     

    p.s. Hershey's *URGK*.

     

    I'm looking forwards to ME2, ME's story was perhaps the most enjoyable experience I've had since BG 1.

     

    Honestly apologies not necessary. I wouldn't wrestle in the mud with you guys if my feelings were hurt easily.

    man our aliens rpg is going to be so sweet

    in Aliens RPG: Speculation & Discussion

    Posted

    So I just read a years worth of comments about this game and came away with no information on the game other than its "tyte" and some other choice words which havent been used since the 90s. Well thats great but if im going to spend 60 bucks on it im going to need a bit more to go on than that. Some info of any kind would be really appreciated.

     

    I promise it will be awesome.

     

    Sounds tyte.

    How tyte is it now?

     

    7

    Mass Effect 2 to appear in GDC

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    Haha, and I wasn't even the one derailing it.

     

    I'm not so sure of that, buck-o. Anyhow, any ideas? Mass Effect or Left4dead? You clowns can be funny, but you're not so bad at suggesting decent games.

     

    L4D is a must play if you like multiplayer action games at all. It's really an amazingly well done game.

     

    Mass Effect is certainly in the top 10 should-play games of the past two years, but imho, L4D is at the top of that list with little competition.

     

    P.S.

     

    Nightshape - I don't care if you call me a retard, but you should try and be funnier about it. Also, Hershey's will be the first to go.

    Mass Effect 2 to appear in GDC

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    Also, whoever was arguing about outsourcing and stuff... whatever. If you want to outsource your art to a second world country and get poorly optimized meshes with weaksauce normal and spec maps, go for it. Your level designers who ignore aesthetics won't care.

     

    Don't be a tard. If you're not willing to converse about the topic, that's fine.

     

    EA outsource's alot of artwork, I know for a fact they did this with burnout paradise, I also know that if an asset wasn't of a high enough quality it was ditched.

     

    I'm merely commenting on trends and how companies work... Obsidian as an independent developer isn't likely to work the same way as an internal EA developer.

     

    "Your level designers who ignore aesthetics won't care."

     

    I wouldn't say that about a single level designer I work with. Infact I know the extents they're going to.

     

    You got served

    Obsidian podcast

    in Obsidian General

    Posted

    Just podcast your tabletop D&D sessions. :D

     

    This would rock.

     

    We should start a Planescape D&D campaign and record it.

     

    For a very brief time we had two cool PnP sessions going. A D20 Modern thing with the Dark Matter setting run by Nat Chapman and a WH40K campaign using whatever the rpg thing is called for that run by J.R.

    New Dragon Age discussion thread

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    Volourn, don't be a noob.

     

    Graphics in NWN1 were dated.

     

    The game was awesome as a platform for modding, one of the best ever, BECAUSE of the dated graphics (tilesets, etc.). The dated graphics also made the multiplayer/pw scene robust for obvious reasons. Good RPGs have traditionally lagged the pack in render tech (though that's changing).

     

    Half Life 2 was released 2.5 years after NWN1's release. Are you telling me NWN1's graphics are only 2.5 years behind Half Life 2's?

    Mass Effect 2 to appear in GDC

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    If you use biotic powers combat is pretty cool, just like combat in Bioshock is pretty cool if you use your plasmids. Gun-only combat in both games isn't quite up to snuff with games that focus solely on ranged combat and nail it, but that's understandable given limited resources split among multiple combat systems.

     

    Hell, you sound a bit irritated in responding to me. -_- That's no fun.

     

    Dude no worries, I wasn't irritated at all; just being snarky. You have to admit the nazi/straw man joke owned.

     

    Also, whoever was arguing about outsourcing and stuff... whatever. If you want to outsource your art to a second world country and get poorly optimized meshes with weaksauce normal and spec maps, go for it. Your level designers who ignore aesthetics won't care.

    Mass Effect 2 to appear in GDC

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    [ontopic]

    Honestly, compared to 99% of the games that ever graced a video display, KOTOR1, KOTOR2 and Mass Effect are all finely wrought pieces of craftmanship. Do they have their flaws? Sure, but they each entertained a significant portion of their multi-million audience.

     

    This is a personal choice, but I try to not let perfect get in the way of enjoyable. For example, are Superbad or Minority Report classics? Who knows? Were they enjoyable movies? Sure. I liked 'em. I didn't go in with inflated expectations and I feel like I got my money's worth in entertainment value. Enjoying a game is a personal choice. In fact, an individual's preconceptions and expectations probably have as much to do with the enjoyment of a game as the design or any other component.

    [/offtopic]

     

    [sarcasm]

    So, Crusade for truth all you want, but the impact will at best be uncertain in the grand scheme of game design.

     

    I'm glad we skipped logic straight away and went right for the straw men. I would continue this discussion with you, but it's clear you support national socialism so all of your points are invalid.

     

    to: manmonkeyhybrid

    is obvious you not understand "hyperbole." quote burke on evil as legitimizing why you post at codex and elsewhere... but at same time saying that GROMNIR is the one inflating importance o' codex?

     

    In what layer of the Abyss did we sit down and have a discussion about legitimizing why I post at the codex and elsewhere? I explained why I post at various game forums. I could not possibly care less whether you think my reasons are legitimate.

     

    [/sarcasm]

     

    [didactic (okay so this meta tag is pretty sarcastic)]

    In the age of asset outsourcing (something which is becoming more and more common for larger companies), you can't always have this perfect desire scenario of artist and level designer working as one unit.

     

    Feed/Teach Man->Fish

     

    You can't always have good collaboration between well-informed and educated coworkers operating in a professional manner with a communal interest in aesthetic quality when you first wake up in the morning. GET ME MY COFFEE AND A WELL-OILED CREATIVE TEAM COLLABORATING IN REAL TIME WITH THE FORESIGHT TO SELF MANAGE THEMSELVES AND UNLIMITED PROGRAMMING RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEM ALSO I LIKE SOME WHISKEY IN MY COFFEE THANKS!!1111

     

    But if you cultivate that sort of thing, you'll find it happens more than it does not.

     

    People rise to the challenge.

     

    Most people prefer to get engaged in their work product if they are properly managed.

     

    Outsourcing the art with some direction designed to provide consistency and level designers ignoring visuals and aesthetics might suffice in some circumstances, but it's not going to predictably produce quality levels.

     

    I'll end with some mealy-mouthed sentimentalism: People often meet your expectations, no matter how low.

     

    Expect little of people, and you will get little. Expect a lot of people, and sometimes you will still get little, but sometimes you will get lots. The net gain in expecting a lot of people is, therefore, apparent.

     

    [/didactic]

     

    [ontopic]

    All this talk of Mass Effect is going to get me to replay the game I think. I really did enjoy the crit path a lot after the first few hours.

    [/offtopic]

     

    I also used to like Big Macs before I became a vegetarian.

    Mass Effect 2 to appear in GDC

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    You need to edit my quote so that it looks like I provide a link to THE GAME FORUM, when in fact it's really just words being underlined to make it seem like a link, but if you just leave it like that, people will see through my clever ruse and won't start fruitlessly clicking on my linking and get mad for good laughs, I guess all this scheming really did sound better in my head but please edit the quote and then I can edit this post too so that it'll look like we never had this conversation, so people will start clicking on my link that's not really a link.

     

    Anyhow, I liked ME1 enough (particularly the ending) that I'll want to play ME2, but disliked enough elements about it that it probably won't be worth more than a rental or two for me.

     

    Try this link.

    Mass Effect 2 to appear in GDC

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    I sometimes post at the Codex too (lol).

     

    Is Gromnie undermining my credibility as a developer??? :)

     

    (BTW, if you guys want sensible game discussion, join THE GAME FORUM, now with free membership! PSP - plus more! You also get free flash games and contests. Click here[/u

     

    EDIT: Oh, right, right. On-topic. I will rent ME2.

     

    I'll likely buy ME2. I enjoyed the last two-thirds of ME a lot.

    Mass Effect 2 to appear in GDC

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    eh? sure sounded like YOU were the guy building up the codex. reason you post is to bring truth where there is misinformation, 'cause misinformation can become truth? Gromnir is the guy who said that YOU is the guy giving them far too much legitimacy. codex and other boards has very little inherent legitimacy... and only the occasional Developer post can change that reality.

     

    and yeah, you is trying to win. if the other guy is spreading misinformation, you want your truth to prevail, no? is what you said, not Gromnir. don't be afraid to admit that you indulge in a bit o' the adversarial... as a Crusader for truth you better at least be honest with self, no? call it the Marketplace of Ideals or the Adversarial Process or come up with your own spin... not matter. you submit your Truth in hopes that it will win with your silent majority.

     

    ...

     

    you is kinda wishy-washy for a Crusader type.

     

    *shrug*

     

     

    "Also, you cite a bunch of specific examples of people posting things on forums in response to a particular issue or what-have-you. I don't know anything about any of those instances. I didn't work at Interplay or Black Isle. I didn't work at Obsidian when any of these alleged incidents took place, and I don't know anything about them, nor do they have anything to do with me posting"

     

    again, "eh?"

     

    it got plenty to do with you. if you is gonna put on cape and Crusade for truth, you better recognize that there is things you cannot be truthful 'bout. you work for obsidian, and regardless o' your beliefs, you is unlikely to be stoopid enough or naive enough to ignore common sense. correct all misconceptions? HA! am gonna call bs. our examples is specific obsidan examples, so they got plenty to do with you. you work for obsidan, and you not seem like a complete retard. clearly you understand that you cannot dispel all message board generated or proliferated misconceptions. yeah, your limited awareness o' what has gone on at obsidian in the pat means that you cannot speak to the examples we cite above, but neither should any reasonable adult be surprised that such stuff has occurred.

     

    in any event this all complete ignores the original point YOU made. go figure. shouldn't be surprised. folks that complain 'bout logic and hyperbole is often the ones most likely to indulge... 'less you were trying to be ironic with the "I'm not interested in ceding the gaming forums of the world to a cabal of trolls promoting an illogical tyranny of hyperbole." bit. if you were being whimsical and Gromnir took serious, then Gromnir apologizes.

     

    regardless, clearly there is reasons for reasonable developers to not get involved in board posting, and to pretend otherwise is curious.

     

    oh, and just so you know, the silent majority doesn't spend much time at obsidian or codex... yet another reason why a reasonable developer might not feel like joining in to Fight The Good Fight.

     

    your continued contributions will no doubt be appreciated, as is most developer posts.

     

    HA! Good Fun!

     

    You are imputing intentions to me that I do not possess, nor proclaim. You are also spending a great deal of time discussing and claiming what I am. Conversely, I am not commenting on your character or intentions. I am offering my point-of-view and people can take it at face value or not. You are attempting to spin my statements into something they are not.

     

    My primary point is that if the reasonable people (including developers) post objective stuff, then the unreasonable people (trolls) will be drowned out.

     

    I can't force other people to post. But I can choose to either post or not. If I abdicate my responsibility to contribute to a civil society on the Internet, then I forfeit my right to complain when the environment for discourse about game development is suboptimal. I have control over myself. I can't control other people. Therefore, I choose to post, regardless of whether or not some meaningless, frustrated troll flames me.

     

    There are some great quotes that relates to this phenomenon:

     

    "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

     

    Obviously, I am not going to equate trolling and degrading a discussion board as "evil." The analogy is, however, sound.

     

    I also don't have any problem with a lot of nonsense on forums. I read forums because they are funny. But when people say something that is patently untrue, it's worth responding. Also, I don't understand why you are talking like this is all about the RPG Codex. I simply referenced it in support of the idea that a developer from Bioware might post on Rock, Paper, Shotgun.

     

    We can carry on this discussion in private messages if you like.

    Mass Effect 2 to appear in GDC

    in Computer and Console

    Posted

    so you win in a verbal battle with the codex? what has you won? many (most?) o' those you has beaten will not recognize your victory... and even if you does emerge clear winner, that won't stop or slow misinformation one bit. avoid codex and you is ceding mythical territory to irrelevant tyrants. why does you care what they say at codex or elsewhere? plug your finger in dike trying to stop/slow your perceived leaks o' misinformation? heck, is arguable that developers arguing with those midget tyrants is what makes 'em relevant. the fact that gaider and josh and others respond to Gromnir is part o' what makes our posts relevant to many. on the other hand, if we were complete ignored or simply laughed away...

     

    You're treating forums as some monolithic entity. I'm not trying to "win the Codex," nor am I trying to "win" anything.

     

    I don't care about the trolls and rabble-rousers. I care about, in the words of Richard Nixon, the great silent majority.

     

    The majority of people reading on forums don't post and a lot of them aren't even registered. These reasonable folks, combined with the well-reasoned active posters of a given forum, are the people who should be provided useful, objective information to offset the spew of nonsense that oftentimes accompanies game discussions on game boards.

     

    It doesn't cost me much to provide some in my spare time. I'm not attempting to make the Internet safe for my grandmother. I just post what I believe whenever I think posting it is worthwhile. Things aren't any more complex or involved than that.

     

    Also, you cite a bunch of specific examples of people posting things on forums in response to a particular issue or what-have-you. I don't know anything about any of those instances. I didn't work at Interplay or Black Isle. I didn't work at Obsidian when any of these alleged incidents took place, and I don't know anything about them, nor do they have anything to do with me posting.

     

    None the less, great to see you posting and look forward to more!

     

    Thanks and no problem.

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