Yeah, devs do accept stuff, but they don't have time most of the time, this would have to change. Maybe dev team should look also for people who would care about the contributors, would have time for them and could commit the contributions? Obviously they can't ask Talad every time, but if a dev could check them from time to time, if he detected an unacceptable, contributed mistake, this means that the person maybe shouldn't have the job.
I've offered to do all that work myself. Either they don't trust me to make a decision like that and need someone more "respectable" or they don't want a position like that to exist. I've suggested various means of contribution and offered to do all of the managing and filtering work myself. My website is part of that effort, a place where one can hopefully learn a few skills that can aid them when they want to contribute. That said, its build guides get used more than anything so hopefully all that other work isn't wasted.
Devs really should look for people who would be capable of dealng with the contributors. There is a simple gui fix of mine waiting to be contributed, since almost half a year, yet i don't get a reply it is being contributed and i don't see it in the changelog.
The community really could use a liaison between them and the developers. I wouldn't be much useful for code stuff, just art, but I'm sure there are others who are multi-talented.
I dont blame the Devs for automatically assuming that player contributions will be rubbish, I would guess that they get sent alot of stuff by people who have no idea what they are doing and who think their skills are far more advanced than they really are.
Yep, thats why there needs to be an intermediary between the devs and community. I still think a site, partially integrated with the forums, or at least well interlinked, with one or more people managing it is the best idea.
Maybe people should be encouraged to create personal portfolios of work in the fan art section (as some do) and if a Dev sees something that is very good (some of it is fantastic IMO, and some not so good unfortunatly) then they should poke the contributor in question and offer them a task (something that could be included in game if of sufficient quality). Based on that tasks quality they could then encourage them to apply to be a Dev (encourage with advice and support).
Isn't that pretty much how it is now? It just isn't done much. Besides, it still doesn't address the issue of forum created art = unusable. This is the biggest detriment in my opinion. People who do art find outside criticism useful (and sometimes frustrating), and as such being able to work on your things in the public arena IMPROVES the quality of the work.
Obviously the work they post wouldn't be accepted into the game in itself but it would be a decent stepping stone.
Good art shouldn't only be a stepping stone. Thats saying its useless except for getting developer attention. Besides, all this still leads to people becoming devs. Some of us do not WANT to be official devs, we just want to play the game and contribute on our own time, free of a job. The application makes it seem like a real job. I don't want another job, I want to contribute in my free time. Both should be allowed.
Devs do reply and accept contributions, it's not a closed circle because they want it that way. I suspect most of the time it also happens that they don't have the time to dedicate to reviewing what they get. That's why we need systems built for us so we can contribute - either in game or out of it like some editors. Some contributions do not require editors though, so consider what you want and what you can do...
Well said!
I think that it's a closed circle for another reason - the development model chosen certain parts of the project - which only the director can change.
Nailed the problem right on the head. I couldn't agree more.
Can we get back on creative ideas regarding how to contribute? Induane already talked about a very nice system, I'd love to hear more of that sort. And I bet Xillix would too.
Similar to the method I outlined for art contribution, you could do something similar with the settings portion. A list of tasks, where people can submit stories/tales/quests/etc... with some outline information, and what needs fleshed out. Submissions could be reviewed for quality, or voted on or rated. Higher rated stuff would float to the top and be easier for the settings devs to spot. Have a page for each thing that needs work, and all submissions go below that. It would be necessary to open up more of the story though. Same thing really as for the art, but you can imagine that its easily adaptable for setting too. Lets grow this world together as a community!
and to get into that group is even harder. This impairs greatly the possible contributions the public can do.
Really the fact that its hard/impossible to contribute without being in that "group" is the real problem.
2- Official town cryer, for a fee, the cryer will spread your notice to all in the town. One in each town. for a higher fee your notice can be deliverd to every area, from the Crystal down to the seas below.
This isn't a bad idea but it is also one that could be performed by players just as well
Might be a fun job.
What I thought would be possible is to have a subforum in fan art for Art Submissions. In this section there would be information on the expectations, requirements, and all the other stuff concerning art. I think it has been mentioned earlier that the DEVs and/or GMs are already overloaded with stuff to do, yes and? GMs try to control things that happen in the game and DEVs work on the project. Neither have in their description "Art Approvers". So why not create a new group of art approvers? They would of course need to be familiar with both art and PS and when they see artwork that has some potential, they can just forward it to the art team.
I agree, but I understand this would be tough to do. I'm a settings and art developer for a different game these days so I understand that you feel a bit protective of your work, and when you want something done you don't want to delegate that task to someone only to find out their idea of what you wanted wasn't perfectly accurate. I've learned to bite the bullet though, because no one can go it alone. Being so protective of things sort of makes you a dictator of your self created world, and I'm not certain that thats the best way to build a game where the contributors are volunteers. It also can make you come across as rude or uninterested in what others think - its easy to do.
Its easy to play dictator, especially when you can, but it takes real character to admit you can't do everything alone.
I am all for this portfolio business. Someone start one with their work! I suggest doing it with a single post per portfolio and a separate thread for comments on the porfolios.
As I said above, the fan art section is already sort of like this. A sub-forum for portfolios only wouldn't be a bad idea but it doesn't address user contributions if you are only looking for potential developers. As I said before, not every volunteer wants an unpaid job with assignments and deadlines.
Some good thoughts here. Later posters be sure to read the whole thread as there is extensive thought given to what is already present.
Definitely. Heck I've been with it from the beginning and I'm still having a hard time keeping up. Thank goodness for firefox tabs for quick review!
I would like more ideas here and more opinions I am still looking for a eureka moment that i do not see yet.
EUREKA!! EUREKA!! EUREKA!! EUREKA!! EUREKA!! EUREKA!! EUREKA!!!!!
^ will that do?
I honestly don't think you are going to get that. The policies in place are pretty restrictive and you don't have control over that. Talad and Vengeance seem to be the final arbitrators as far as that goes and I'm fairly certain Talad is not willing to change his policy of art contributions and settings contributions. For a Eureka moment, you need to be able to be flexible policy wise. The problem is the policy, not the ideas about contribution. Given enough discussion and effort that could all be ironed out. The POLICY is the problem, not you, your brain, me, my brain, or any of us. The ideas are good, the available manpower is there. People are willing, but the policy is not. There can be no EUREKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if nothing can change!
