All aboard to blogsville.

[Charlie Wiederhold]

So a few weeks ago I was working on a community page based around one of my current interests (precious metals investing/history of money). Unfortunately, in the process I found out there were already a couple of communities that filled the role I was trying to fill and I decided it was better to just join up with them instead of trying to elbow in and fracture an already small group of people.

However, I have this fancy $160 vBulletin forum license sitting around doing nothing, and I like the software so much it would be a shame to just let it rot. So now I'm going to put it to work here... and see what comes of it. This will put a little more pressure on myself to provide something interesting enough for people to keep coming back, and maybe even spark up a few choice discussions from time to time. I've also got some pretty cool tech gadgets and games that I've been dying to extol the virtues of to the world (Saitek makes the best gaming controllers... and now the best keyboards!).

I've just now got the software pretty well configured for basic running, as well as making it match the look of the main page. Now I've got to update some of the images to blend in better (or be more custom) and add back in some of the nifty custom code I had in the old forum, such as a MUCH better way of displaying user information when reading threads that reduces dead space significantly. It'll be painfully slow going at first (both in activity and functionality), but that's to be expected. Time will tell if it can be made to justify its own existence eventually.

I enjoyed going back and forth with the gaming community in the Ritual/SiN days and early days of DNF and I miss it to some degree. However I made the assurance that I'd shut the hell up until DNF was done... but not even the most cynical among us could have guessed that it would be THIS GOD DAMN LONG! :) So while this is technically breaking the rules... I don't really care since it was my agreement with myself anyways. I'm still going to refrain from posting on external boards, and will be buying the entire team dinner on principle... but only once the project is complete. In the mean time... while I can't talk about DNF itself (at least not directly or specifically)... I would like to start babbling with people from the gaming community again in some form.

At the bottom of relevant updates will be a link directly to a thread about the update where anyone can say whatever the hell they want. Other than the most blatantly abusive/illegal content, anything goes. Even if you want to call me a good for nothing retard bottom feeding scum sucking algae eater... or variations on such a theme. Jerk.

[dark_angel]

Nice move Charlie!;)

Maybe you can invite other developers from 3drealms to post here, it would be great and interesting:D

[Charlie Wiederhold]

Congrats on being the first new user! ;)

It would be cool to get some of the other 3DR guys around here (or any other developers actually)... but I gotta build up a bit more content/discussion material before they would have any interest. Most of the 3DR guys aren't the posting types though, so we'll see.

[SyntaxN]

hello you...uhm two :)
Would be nice to see some more game devs posting in here...we´ll see.

[Charlie Wiederhold]

Guten Morgen SyntaxN. One step at a time... right now you're seeing the equivalent of the foundation of a house being poured. It'll take me providing a lot more content to bring others in often enough. Or a really controversial update that somehow pisses enough people off that they feel the need to come complain to me about it. That'd work pretty well too. :)

[dark_angel]

Congrats on being the first new user! ;)

It would be cool to get some of the other 3DR guys around here (or any other developers actually)... but I gotta build up a bit more content/discussion material before they would have any interest. Most of the 3DR guys aren't the posting types though, so we'll see.

Thx.

Hopefully when GB decide to reveal Duke we can delve into some nice hot discussions about your work on DNF and the game itself. It is going to be insanity for sure;)

I am sure you have a lot of crazy ideas in your mind that you want to implement in this site, so go ahead... we are all here to support you ( mainly me and Syntax :D )

[SyntaxN]

Guten Morgen SyntaxN. One step at a time... right now you're seeing the equivalent of the foundation of a house being poured. It'll take me providing a lot more content to bring others in often enough. Or a really controversial update that somehow pisses enough people off that they feel the need to come complain to me about it. That'd work pretty well too. :)
Morgen.... *yawns* :)
It´s only the second day, I´m pretty sure we´re going to see much more activity in here when you guys revealed DNF again ;) (who wouldn´t like to talk to a develeoper?)

[Charlie Wiederhold]

dark: Yeah... once the media blackout on DNF does start to lift, it'll be a lot of fun to engage in the speculation game, as well as go into some details about the evolution from what everyone has already seen, to the new content you'll be seeing then.

It'll be helpful to have a couple of extra eyes that can comment on the changes as I flesh the page out more, so I greatly appreciate that. :) It'll be helpful to have most of the kinks worked out before the potential for more traffic hits instead of trying to do it at the same time that people are trying to talk.

SyntaxN: Just like other pages for some of the developers, the main thing I hope to offer up is my own perspective on DNF itself, as well as the games in general. Once DNF does hit the shelves, the thing I look forward to the most is setting up discussions to give tips and answer questions for scripting/mapping in DNF. UnrealEd knowledge will get people past the basics, but after that it's a whole new (interactive) world. :)

[SyntaxN]

SyntaxN: Just like other pages for some of the developers, the main thing I hope to offer up is my own perspective on DNF itself, as well as the games in general. Once DNF does hit the shelves, the thing I look forward to the most is setting up discussions to give tips and answer questions for scripting/mapping in DNF. UnrealEd knowledge will get people past the basics, but after that it's a whole new (interactive) world. :)
Cool, so you can possibly give me some *uber-UnrealED-n00b-who-wants-to-create-more-than-a-room-with-2-lights* tips ;)

[Charlie Wiederhold]

Definitely. I'm actually hoping to start putting up bits and pieces before the game is out to give people an idea of what is possible within the DNF systems, without giving away what we've used them for ourselves and thus spoil the suprises.

An example would be outlining how we setup decorations typically and how users can expand the functionality. Or a rundown of particle system options and how they can be combined. Quicky tutorials covering the new triggers we've added, or how we've changed ones that people familiar with UnrealEd would know.

But, gotta get past the hard part of getting to that stage first, heh.

[yossa]

Charlie Wiederhold posting on the internet? Impossible!

[Charlie Wiederhold]

Charlie Wiederhold posting on the internet? Impossible!
Only in my little protected bubble! ;)

Glad to see ya.

[Langsuyar]

I guess I should make an account. Where's my avatars? I call dibs on Natalie!
Anyway, see you soon. Off to do Thanksgiving stuff.

[Charlie Wiederhold]

Have fun... see you when I get there.

Do you want 20's Natalie or teen Natalie? ;)

[Theseus314]

You guys can take which ever Miss Portman based on age you want. I'm having Garden State Portman. The Portman who reminds everyone of that slightly crazy girl you always had a crush on - but never did anything about. Partially because she was crazy.

Garden State - It's a rather nifty film.

[Charlie Wiederhold]

You mean THIS (http://www.gamingisstupid.com/images/desktops/desktop_11232005.jpg) Natalie?

I agree. :)

I'll probably stick with my "The Professional" Natalie, but I can see making a nice avatar of her expression in that picture. When I get back from Thanksgiving with Langsuyar I'll see about making a nice selection of Natalie avatars. Mmmm.....

[Asmodeusz]

You mean THIS (http://www.gamingisstupid.com/images/desktops/desktop_11232005.jpg) Natalie?

The Duke Enormous Tool is true!!!! :o

:D :)

[SyntaxN]

You mean THIS (http://www.gamingisstupid.com/images/desktops/desktop_11232005.jpg) Natalie?

The Duke Enormous Tool is true!!!! :o

:D :)
uhm, I just saw it :eek:
I´ve to look more careful at his desktops in the future^^

[Asmodeusz]

Yeah :)
Charlie is such a tease.

[dark_angel]

Not to mention VS.NET...

Doing some programming duties Charlie?;)

[Charlie Wiederhold]

Hmmm... I'm not sure what that funny looking program down there does. :P

As for VS.NET... I originally wanted to be a programmer when I got started in the industry (my first job at Sunstorm was actually as a programmer, not a level designer). So I'm always trying to stay fresh and doing some coding somewhere, even if it's just on side projects for my own amusement. It's why I also keep updating my page with new features from time to time, to stay decently fresh on webpage development. I like knowing that if I *need* to, I can fill any one of those roles decently well.

[dark_angel]

That's cool to hear Charlie.

Yeah, you need to keep coding from time to time so the essential ideas remain fresh in your memory!

I actually work as a .NET web developer using C# as my main programming language, but I feel the desire to begin programming a 3DEngine with C# and DirectX9, what do you think?:D

btw, did you had any role in developing Duke's latest engine?

[Parkar]

Definitely. I'm actually hoping to start putting up bits and pieces before the game is out to give people an idea of what is possible within the DNF systems, without giving away what we've used them for ourselves and thus spoil the suprises.

An example would be outlining how we setup decorations typically and how users can expand the functionality. Or a rundown of particle system options and how they can be combined. Quicky tutorials covering the new triggers we've added, or how we've changed ones that people familiar with UnrealEd would know.

But, gotta get past the hard part of getting to that stage first, heh.
Cool, looking farward to modding DNF and the modding discussions. Expect to see me around here a lot once I get my hands on Dukes tool.

[Charlie Wiederhold]

That's cool to hear Charlie.

Yeah, you need to keep coding from time to time so the essential ideas remain fresh in your memory!

I actually work as a .NET web developer using C# as my main programming language, but I feel the desire to begin programming a 3DEngine with C# and DirectX9, what do you think?

btw, did you had any role in developing Duke's latest engine?

I haven't had the chance to play with C# yet at all. Since I got sidetracked with level design and scripting for so long, I'm having to catch up with C/C++ when I can.

Can't talk about specifics of Duke (and what I've done for it) for now unfortunately. :(

Cool, looking farward to modding DNF and the modding discussions. Expect to see me around here a lot once I get my hands on Dukes tool.

You can not possibly imagine how much I look forward to that day. :)

[Micki!]

You can not possibly imagine how much I look forward to that day. :)

I can..! :P

[redchurch]

It would be cool to get some of the other 3DR guys around here (or any other developers actually)... but I gotta build up a bit more content/discussion material before they would have any interest. Most of the 3DR guys aren't the posting types though, so we'll see.

Call it a lack of advertising. I just found out this existed. :-P

BTW, where's the RSS feed on the main blog page?

[Asmodeusz]

redchurch, so you're handling sound design now? I though it was level design ???

Cool you joined :)

[Micki!]

Yeah, Welcome Redchurch... :D
I hope you're being active on these forums, since we ain't many here...

[redchurch]

redchurch, so you're handling sound design now? I though it was level design ???

Sounds.


Yeah, Welcome Redchurch... :D
I hope you're being active on these forums, since we ain't many here...

If I see something that tweaks me to respond, I will!

[Asmodeusz]

Sounds.

Cool. I know some job roles changed some time ago on the DNF team, so it's no surprise.

Anyway, do you think gaming is stupid too? OR you will be a opposing side to Charlies posts? :)

[Charlie Wiederhold]

Call it a lack of advertising. I just found out this existed. :-P

BTW, where's the RSS feed on the main blog page?

Heya Eric!

Joe Siegler was picking on me about the lack of RSS feeds too. I'm lazy and haven't done them. I'll certainly have it going whenever the page is providing a use besides my own little loudspeaker. Until DNF is done though, that sort of stuff is low priority for me.

I want to convert all the front page news updates to MySQL first so I can properly manage it with databases, generate individual pages and archives on the fly (instead of all news being in single giant .txt files), etc. Possibly even just plug into the forum software and make the post in the forum and have it show up on the front page.

[Asmodeusz]

Heya Eric!

Joe Siegler was picking on me...

That's what Joe does best, ;) but seriously 3drealms.com should get a new visual soon!.... Maybe when it's done :eek:

[Micki!]

I actually like 3DR's interface...
They shouldn't change it imo... I'd rather want something like modifying it...
Like an upgraded version of the current look with new features added into it... :)

[Asmodeusz]

Yeah I don't mean a total change. The colors etc. are great, although a bit smoothing, tweaking etc would be great.

[Micki!]

Yeah...
Like what Joe did with the smilies...
before they looked too simple...

[Asmodeusz]

The smileys yeah, something like that, some smoothing, shading and maybe adding some more colors in the range of the ones already used.

[Micki!]

Yeh... They're better now at least...
Which makes me come to tink of, if there would be any change to see new smilies in the updated version... :confused:
We'll see... But i hope the same design is being used, as a modified version...

P.S. Charlie, could we perhaps add the :o smiley from 3DR here too..? I liked it somewhat better...
THis one is more like "sorry" than "whoops"...