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Montgomery Markland
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Posts posted by Montgomery Markland
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how to get around console tech limitations
Memory limitations on a console definitely require a more rigorously reviewed and considered level design.
Savvy designers and artists develop sleight of hand tricks to handle particular problems.
Generally, you have to throttle the rate at which data rolls in by stretching the frame-distance a player must travel. Elevators, airlocks, hallway switchbacks, virtual switchbacks all can provide the necessary expansion of frame-distance because all of them slow down the player's progression through the game.
I don't see why a Bioware writer wouldn't post on a given forum. I post on RPGCodex all the time. The dude in question is listed in the Mass Effect credits.
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The best levels a created by those who do both jobs.
No, they're not. Definently not.
It's silly to say which hypothetical level designer definitely designs the best levels, so I'm not going to enter into such a discussion.
On the other hand, as someone who has both designed levels for Aliens and produced levels for Aliens, I would say that it is indisputably true that you are likely to get better results in your levels if you consider aesthetic and visual elements in your design.
Level designers are not toolkit-monkeys, theoreticians or gameplay purists that push grey boxes around in a prototype. Level designers are the rubber-meets-the-road nexus of 100,000 different elements that make up a great level.
The best level designers cooperatively partner with artists to create aesthetically unified sections of game where the visuals and the gameplay reinforce each other.
Where I come from, you better have an understanding of both visual and play aesthetics or I wouldn't want you as a level designer on my team.
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Call of Duty 5: World at War multiplayer
Mainly hardcore S&D
Best in the series since CoD1 for MP but the CoD4 SP campaign was better than this iteration
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Level design absolutely includes aesthetic and visual considerations. A level poor in visuals might be that way because of poor art direction, but it also might be that way because of poor level design. If artists are delivered a level that has not been designed with aesthetic and visual elements in mind, it will be very difficult for them to achieve a high level of visual quality.
I don't really remember Mass Effect well enough to comment on any particular levels, but I do recall being pretty bored for the first 4 hours and enjoying the game a lot for the rest of the time (maybe 8-10 hours of game after that). Part of that was definitely getting into the story and characters more as I played and getting more accustomed to the gameplay, but part of that was probably the level design in the first third of the game.
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I lobbied for
Aliens: Hudson
But was shot down
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XSI... isn't that freeware? Or at least, isn't XSI Mod Tool freeware?
XSI Mod Tool is the free/student version of the XSI software. I've not used the mod tool but its basically a reduced-feature version of the real software. I think there might be limits on the complexity of your exports as well (vert or face count limits or something).
Level designers, environmental artists, character artists and animators on Aliens use the XSI Essentials or XSI Advanced versions depending on what they are working on.
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I don't personally like DRM -- but I don't see anything morally, ethically or legally objectionable about product producers and service providers including DRM in their products.
Producers and providers have a right to dictate the terms of an offer to sell you a product or service. You have a right to reject or accept their offer. Contracts are the basis of markets.
I also think that the issue is not so clear-cut. Public surveillance has pros and cons. DRM has pros and cons. Intrusive counter-measures are deplorable and should be guarded against; acceptable protections are a positive thing. It's a balancing act, there's no absolutely right or wrong answer.
Well-executed DRM that does not overburden the consumer really isn't any different than state-enforced intellectual property laws at a basic level; the main differences are of execution rather than intent or purpose.
Poorly-executed DRM that overburdens the consumer is just as bad as poorly-constructed IP laws that overburden the creators of new intellectual property.
DRM is a tool, just like a hammer or a hacksaw; it can be used constructively and effectively; or it can be used destructively and ineffectively.
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I got a scratch on my CD of Appetite for Destruction and I can't play it anymore
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Hate to break it to you, but it looks like you've been foiled once again by "The Scene"!DRM is a feature of the games. If you had to wear a large stupid metal hat whenever you wanted to play, that's a legitimate fething negative feature.Welcome to the future of DRM:
*Brought to you by the Ministry of User-Friendly DRM
On the second picture is the cracked version for sure :D
rofl
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Waiting a few more heartbeats for meaningful contributions.
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Does Rob McGinnis support the burning of the Reichstag?
support?
i heard he was there, man.
i also heard that he keeps a herd of feral pigs at his house, and if he finds out about anyone breaching the DRM, he feeds them alive to the pigs and then puts the whole thing on youtube.
true story.
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Yet, here we are being imposed DRM schemes and being "threatened" that we won't be getting any more games if we do not comply.
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DRM is a feature of the games. If you had to wear a large stupid metal hat whenever you wanted to play, that's a legitimate fething negative feature.
Welcome to the future of DRM:
*Brought to you by the Ministry of User-Friendly DRM
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what I didn't like was how he underlined the fact that if we didn't buy the module, the whole industry would collapse.
I would like a link to that exact quote please?
actually, his exact words were 'if you don't buy MoW, we'll shoot this dog'.
and he even provided a picture of the dog:
(yes, it's the same dog that national lampoon threatened in 1973. the dog is now very, very old).
This is the best post on an internet forum that I've seen this month.
In honor of this post, this thread should be renamed "Sign that Obsidian supports shooting dogs."
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1) Let me rephrase it: this Obsidian guy is supporting DRM in the sense that he is basically asking us to buy Atari's new product that has a new type of DRM just for the sake of the d&d crpg industry.
He's not supporting DRM, he's pointing out what he thinks is a likely result of low sales for MoW based on people not buying it due to DRM. That prediction has nothing to do with whatever his personal opinion is on DRM (which I have no idea regarding, Rob can speak for himself).
I don't think it's a crazy limb to go out on to say: "If consumers do not buy a company's product the company will likely revise their product offerings" coupled with a declaration as to what you think would be the most likely product offering revision.
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In practice, it isn't any more contrived than carrying 200 rounds in your coat pocket or checking nearby easily-broken barrels/dark corners/baby strollers for the five bullets you need to continue.
LoL @ "checking nearby easily-broken... baby strollers for the five bullets you need"
This is a pretty good point and I especially like the fact that baby strollers are the new barrels.
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I can confirm that gorillas on pcp are great for raves
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The background in the photo is not CG, I don't think. I believe it's a wall from the Ennis House by Frank Lloyd Wright (the house from Bladerunner).
Just because the background is possibly real doesn't mean the human is real, but there you have it.
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Obviously we need to amputate Mitch's leg and give it to the figurine!
We're one step ahead of you
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Obsidian Entertainment got hit by a jolt from the 7.2 mile deep, 5.8 tremblor out of Chino Hills at approximately 11:51 am PST, Tuesday morning.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9...;show_article=1
Everybody is safe and sound, though Aliens environmental artist Mitch Ahlswede's figurine collection took a hit when one member fell from his perch on a computer monitor knocking his leg off (The figurine's not Mitch's leg). The figurine is in serious but stable condition. Mitch is recovering.
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what about crying after getting kicked in the nuts?
i uasually cry when that happens ..... but the last time that happend i was allso drunk and it was a buddy of mine that did it so i was actually crying and laughing .... i dont really know why i was laughing but i was.
lol
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happy bday OEI
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In the sprawling PS3 and PC role-player, loyalty carries a price and no one knows this more than agent Michael Thorton
What? So my 360 dev kit is useless?
I'll trade you your 360 kit for my PS3 kit.
man our aliens rpg is going to be so sweet
in Aliens RPG: Speculation & Discussion
Posted
This game is going to blow your mind