Idea: Modder Assisted Development.

[Phoynix]

There would be no fair compensation, as it would all be done for free, besides credits in the final game many people wouldnt want anything, and the terms would be once submited the work becomes your property.

I beleive if the system was set up right that it would require almost no administration.
You wouldnt be dealing with people directly, only viewing there work and deciding if it meets the requirements for the game.

Lets for example
Say you have a Skeleton and a Skeleton texture and you like some more versions of but which you cant yourselves spend anymore manhours on because there are more important things.

You upload it to the database in say OBJ so almost every single modeling program can open it. It includes the model texture and TXT file that explains what you would like.

Call it Skeleton_01.zip
People get it edit the texture and TXT file reupload it where its prefixed with that persons name.
Example Phoynix_Skeleton_01.zip

You get up in the morning and log on for say 10 mins and simply review them, this is where there would be a bit of development, to change the TQ model viewer to open up the zip, and make both the model/txt file viewable.

You can then decline/accept it.
Where its moved to be used or deleted.

It takes the persons model/texture/name and adds it to a credit file or a declined file.. that everyone can view so they know if there work was accepted or declined.

The only time consuming part would be changing a tool, so it doesnt just view but also renames and moves and setting up a database for access to forum members.

X3 used fan made textures models and scripts in the Expansion X3 reunion, they also released extra content packs containing fan made content.

So even just releasing some models/textures for us to fiddle around with come release fans could have already made some mod content.

Worst cast situation someone takes your lets again say Skeleton model and uses it in there own game.. well he/she is just an a-hole, but if they are going to do it they will do it, hell they will have even pirated the game.

[Kluga]

Originally Posted by Phoynix

I beleive if the system was set up right that it would require almost no administration.
You wouldnt be dealing with people directly, only viewing there work and deciding if it meets the requirements for the game...

...You get up in the morning and log on for say 10 mins and simply review them, this is where there would be a bit of development, to change the TQ model viewer to open up the zip, and make both the model/txt file viewable.

You can then decline/accept it.
Where its moved to be used or deleted.

The problem Medierra stated in his post still stands. There is still time they have to devote to looking through textures. Not to mention that not dealing with people at all would basically mean anarchy. With no direction, the people developing textures won't know what Medierra wants and Medierra has to waste time knocking it back and telling them what changes need to be made, or make them themselves. Either that or use their time writing some sort of brief for people.

[Betrayer]

the worst part would be having to turn down people's hard work when it's not up to snuff. :P

[medierra]

We don't really need help creating texture variations and it is hard to think of many other tasks in development that are as simple and self-contained. Those that are, generally are easy for us to do and don't take much time.

The time we we would spend writing descriptions of what we wanted, posting assets, and then reviewing submissions is probably greater than the time it would take to just make a texture variations ourselves. There is also a risk that time spent on this would yield no satisfactory results, in which case we'd have spent more time than if we'd just done it ourselves to begin with.

Most development tasks either require a high level of expertise in modeling, animating or programming, and / or they involve large, complex, interdependent systems that a person couldn't just work on by themselves without oversight and have any hope of making something we could actually use in the game.

I've talked about this before and there really isn't a viable way to make this work. I don't want to spend a lot of additional time explaining why. I mean shit, I could have made a skeleton texture variation in the time it took to write this!

I do really appreciate the intentions here though.

P.S. Betrayer is also right in that it would be tough telling people this submissions didn't cut it and I'm sure that would just generate a lot of hurt feelings.

[ASYLUM101]

Originally Posted by medierra

I mean shit, I could have made a skeleton texture variation in the time it took to write this!

lol, that's easy. How about a flesh hulk skin variation?

Originally Posted by medierra

P.S. Betrayer is also right in that it would be tough telling people this submissions didn't cut it and I'm sure that would just generate a lot of hurt feelings.

This is one of the things some of my pals hate about blizzard. They have huge contests and drawing things, and they NEVER win, they don't even show up in the roster of the THOUSANDS of submissions they put on the site. (seriously, THOUSANDS) And my buddies aren't talentless turds, one guy is actually a pretty talented modeller/texture artist who has remade huge SC scenes... yet blizzard only accepts WC anime drawings...

[Renevent]

I don't know much about game development...but I do know a lot about development in general. Currently I am in charge of a project remediating our company's infrastructure to comply with PCI standards...it's a pretty large project that involves web sites, 1st party client applications, and integration with 3rd party financial systems. We are using a lot of outsourcing for this project and let me tell you it's TONS of work to manage that. Half my day is checking over their submitted work for the day, creating outlines and design documentation for them, and corresponding with them to make sure they are on track.

We also have a couple guys from the outsourcing on staff here at my company to help with the communication and coordination of everything. These are professionals too who get paid and are working 8-9 hours a day on this project. I could not imagine what it would be like if I had to do this with folks from a community doing it in their free time for free and not committed to our project financially.

Basically I can totally understand Medierra's viewpoint on this...

[eisprinzessin]

Modders will have lots of opportunities to contribute after release. I'm looking forward to the original GD and the modded content.

[Kardiophylax]

Originally Posted by Renevent

I don't know much about game development...but I do know a lot about development in general. Currently I am in charge of a project remediating our company's infrastructure to comply with PCI standards...it's a pretty large project that involves web sites, 1st party client applications, and integration with 3rd party financial systems. We are using a lot of outsourcing for this project and let me tell you it's TONS of work to manage that. Half my day is checking over their submitted work for the day, creating outlines and design documentation for them, and corresponding with them to make sure they are on track.

We also have a couple guys from the outsourcing on staff here at my company to help with the communication and coordination of everything. These are professionals too who get paid and are working 8-9 hours a day on this project. I could not imagine what it would be like if I had to do this with folks from a community doing it in their free time for free and not committed to our project financially.

Basically I can totally understand Medierra's viewpoint on this...

Have fun with that. My company went through the whole PCI compliance deal about two years ago (though its always an ongoing thing).... yeah, it's not a lot of fun on the IT side.

[Renevent]

Heh...yeah it's no fun at all lol. We are wrapping it up though August 9th we roll out the project *crosses fingers*

[Kardiophylax]

Originally Posted by Renevent

Heh...yeah it's no fun at all lol. We are wrapping it up though August 9th we roll out the project *crosses fingers*

I'm guessing you already wrapped up this project? If not, I found this great video that has been quite helpful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfCr4By71U

I'm thinking of sending it over to out IT Security director to catch him up to speed. I think I know more about it then he does now, and we already achieved compliance some time ago.