Brinnen1, I can respect your position. Most graphical artists, 2D or 3D, are reluctant to waive rights to their work, and understandably so. Two things you should probably keep in mind however, are:
- The artwork being used in this game is never going to be used anywhere else. Ever. By agreeing to the license set forth for contributions or for being on the team, all you're really doing is acknowledging an agreement than you won't at some point release the exact same work for another freeware or commercial product. We'd be very upset to see a normal-mapped Ulbernaut, for example, turning up in somebody's Doom3 mod.
- Closely related to this, we cannot afford to have a disaffected artist decide to be spiteful and pull whatever assets they've already created. If I, for example, decided tomorrow that I was unhappy with PS's direction/management/goals/whatever, I cannot rescind my work and prevent them from using it - which is most certainly in the best interests of the project as a whole.
I'm amazed how suggesting a motivational and rewarding contribution effort by the community that could greatly benefit everyone and speed up the game's development was perceived in such a phobic way by some.
Not phobic at all - as I said in my post, I would be happy to see something of this nature happen, with the correct guidelines set forth. And when the City Contest has ended, we may very well see another of its kind take place, depending on the success of Amendir.
Following that note:
What about the stats of such items? Make them visual or social items only. Implement a new equipment slot in the GUI for social items with a check box to make them visible or invisible. All the stats will be based on regular items of the same type equipped in regular slots and obtained by regular means (quests, loot etc), while the social items can override the visual appearance.
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This could speed up the game development significantly.
You're asking for new features, new graphical elements, and token help from the community. No, this would not speed up development, it would slow things down even more. We're working ourselves to the bone to expand and enrich this world.
Hence the reason for a contest, which could determine "the highest quality art". Anything of unacceptable quality does not have to be included. Besides, beggars can't be choosers -- you're not a commercial team. If you expect commercial quality work, expect to pay. No offense but I would also not call your current in-game art as "highest quality", especially painted tree forest, blurry textures and pixelated "sky". And, according to Fragnetics.com press release history, they helped PlaneShift launch in 2003-2004. According to PlaneShift.it site, the project launched in 2000-2002, and according to some presentation I found on CrystalSpace3D website, it used to be a commercial MUD that started in 1992. It is almost 2009 now, so clearly this is more than just being a "free" project problem.
People come and go, and the game has been in development for years as you observed. Suffice to say, what was considered acceptable quality in 2004 would be rejected under current art requirements. Or have you not noticed the drastic increase in quality between oh, say the Ylian male and the Nolthrir female? I have little doubt that by the time we have all races enabled in-game, several will be scrutinized for an overhaul, to bring them up to par with the rest. And that is only [one] facet.
My point is, (and this goes to the others who brought it up as well), take that particular comment with a grain of salt, and understand that we are holding ourselves to consistently higher standards as development progresses.
What does "go from there" mean? I'm not interested in being on the "dev team", I made a suggestion about contribution contests with several people involved and with respective rewards for the contest winner. Contributors deserve to be rewarded for their contribution work.
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Advised or required? And for what? So that "Winning submission will become the property of Atomic Blue Corporation"? That is not a reward and you cannot expect people to work for free and be basically modern day slave laborers. Where is the motivation? Not only are you suggesting that I'd have to give up the rights to my work but the work would be unrewarded. I'm not a charity and you guys aren't starving children who cannot afford to pay any bills. Thanks but no, thanks.
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That is not a contest, there is no motivation to contribute anything, and it does not list playable race models nor any rewards for what it does list. Are playable race models not needed or about to be finished and released? In either case, if you've made such a "list", the contributors should be properly thanked and rewarded for their work. Otherwise, don't expect any help.
Such a license is ABC's, not contributors', choice, just as they chose a less restricting and more rewarding license for "Apricot" (although they did ask for donations, just to be able to pay the developers).
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According to what I've just read here, being an art developer on Atomic Blue and PlaneShift is a very thankless and unrewarding job, and the only way to contribute anything is to join the "dev team", sign a contract and give up all rights to your work, without getting paid and without any kind of reward, such as a unique social in-game item. One would have to be a very foolish person to sign such a contract.
Hm, I'm sensing a theme. What exactly is it you would like so badly? A pat on the back? A cookie? The praise and adoration of the masses?
For upwards of three years (http://krs.rethan-manor.net), I worked on mods for a single-player game (TES3: Morrowind). I enjoyed the challenge, and savored the grateful posts and praise I received when I put up a RELEASE thread in the forums - the standard practice for announcing a new mod.
...Such an experience pales in comparison to the pride I feel walking the streets of Ojaveda, seeing countless players [using] my work, first-hand. First-person observation, not a chance screenshot someone happened to take from their single-player game. I can say with absolute honesty that I feel rewarded seeing my contributions used in-game.
But clearly, you expect more. You expect us to jump and cheer at the new work you're proposing for us. You expect that we will hold you high above the masses and worship you for your brilliant idea, your unfathomable leadership in guiding us to this holy epiphany you call a "rewarding" contest. Pardon me for not sounding quite so enthusiastic.
Thanks but I'm going to have to decline your offer. :)
I assure you, we are the thankful ones.