Looking for Someone

[ernieschwitz]

Programming a wargame can get lonely. First of all, you do all the work alone, and when you are done, you really cannot talk to anyone about it, share your successes, or your failures. You have no input and new ideas that don't stem from yourself, and the ideas you do have, that could be good or bad, you get no feedback on.

I have been using a couple of different people on the forums to bounce ideas off of. I have been very happy with the feedback and the ability to share with these people, and it has been invaluable. Unfortunately, things happen, like old age, sudden illness, and so on.

This has meant that recently my productivity has fallen off. I still have ideas, and I have begun implementing some of them. So to help me I am looking for someone to bounce ideas off of, and share my victories, and failures with. You don't have to agree with me. I might not listen to your ideas, but, know that just being there, is something that can help a lot.

[danlongman]

If you need a friend "ernieschwitz" I do not know what I can do but I can tell
you that I got thousands of hours enjoyment from this game. Much of that was
directly from your hard work.

[ernieschwitz]

Thanks danlongman.

Well, not exactly a friend, perhaps more of a colleague or the like. Sure it may develop into friendship, but that is not a requirement. I am not looking for someone that is going to nod at all my ideas and say great, or just says no. I would want a dialogue, which would help me make up my mind, and think of eventualities I had not. Perhaps needless to say, I'd prefer it be someone who already plays GD1938v3, so that they know what I would be going on about. So that kind of experience is preferable.

It's a unique opportunity to have influence on the process, and at the same time, perhaps learning why some things tick like they do.

[ernieschwitz]

... oh and by colleague I don't mean that a person actually needs to know anything about coding.

[GaryChildress]

Doing art for games can be kind of lonely too except when you post the art and get people's direct feedback on it. Maybe as you do your coding you could post screen shots, previews and stuff like that showing off the coding you just performed, along with a quick explanation of what it does. Then people can comment on whether they like the idea or not. Maybe start a thread dedicated to a particular project you are doing and post updates about your progress. It's a good way of getting interaction and feedback and might be a way of feeling a little less like you're all alone in your endeavor. It would also liven up the forum a little and might draw an occasional newbie or bring back someone who had lost interest before. I know I would be interested in seeing some of the techniques used in coding ATG.

[ernieschwitz]

Thanks for understanding. I can only imagine that game design in general has these problems. Graphics however lend themselves a lot easier to people in a thread. Much easier to see the beauty in a perfectly overlapping hexmap (for instance) than a neat 30 line code, that can change hexes into different ones (i.e. weather).

The code I am doing now for instance is not a short one either. It is 200 lines or more. I know it's because I like to think of most eventualities. So all the exceptions get coded in too. I'll however try and highlight some things in the future Thanks for suggesting it.

One of the reasons I would prefer a one on one communication with Someone, is that I wouldn't be overwhelmed by popular demand. Programming and designing is not a democracy. Just like running a nuclear power plant isn't one. I am sure that when it comes to that time where someone needs to press a specific button to make that power plant not blow, that it be someone with knowledge of the plant, rather than decided by an actual vote. Now coding and designing is nowhere near as important as that, but I hope you get the idea.

[Jabod]

I for one would be very interested in following your scenario design ideas, and would not be shy in
providing my opinions of proposed solutions.

I bought ATG a couple of years ago but have only tried to get to grips with it recently. I am most interested in it as a wargame construction kit. Until I started studying the editor a couple of months ago, I had not appreciated how versatile it can be.

Now I am coming to this forum everyday to improve my understanding. I would love to see more discussions of how the editor can be used creatively.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: ernieschwitz

One of the reasons I would prefer a one on one communication with Someone, is that I wouldn't be overwhelmed by popular demand. Programming and designing is not a democracy. Just like running a nuclear power plant isn't one. I am sure that when it comes to that time where someone needs to press a specific button to make that power plant not blow, that it be someone with knowledge of the plant, rather than decided by an actual vote. Now coding and designing is nowhere near as important as that, but I hope you get the idea.

True, one of the more frustrating aspects of doing game art is having people nitpick your work after you spend hours on it, wanting all sorts of changes. So I get the desire to work independently of it. But the attention does kill the monotony and makes me feel appreciated.

[LJBurstyn]

Unfortunately for some of us the biggest critic of our work is our-self. Some coding experience here. More involved in testing (official and unofficial) before I retired. As a retiree I have enough free time to do a lot of stuff. So if you want I believe you already have my email address. And as you know I am somewhat open in my opinions....tack is not one of my strong points (S). As one of my bosses said If I wasn't so good at my job I would have been fired years ago for being so open in my criticism--especially of those who say it is impossible when it really is just hard. And my goal orientated approach over following the official procedures.

[Twotribes]

Sorry Ernie but I am to critical I would just upset you, I am conservative and hate change until I actually try it. But the truth is most of your changes are good.

[ernieschwitz]

ORIGINAL: Twotribes

Sorry Ernie but I am to critical I would just upset you, I am conservative and hate change until I actually try it. But the truth is most of your changes are good.

Thanks Twotribes. I too am conservative in my approach, but I just can't stop tinkering. Sometimes I perhaps tinker too much, but I'll try not to tinker with the bearing beams It's also great that you know your limits. Thumbs up for that!

[ernieschwitz]

ORIGINAL: LJBurstyn

Unfortunately for some of us the biggest critic of our work is our-self. Some coding experience here. More involved in testing (official and unofficial) before I retired. As a retiree I have enough free time to do a lot of stuff. So if you want I believe you already have my email address. And as you know I am somewhat open in my opinions....tack is not one of my strong points (S). As one of my bosses said If I wasn't so good at my job I would have been fired years ago for being so open in my criticism--especially of those who say it is impossible when it really is just hard. And my goal orientated approach over following the official procedures.

Thanks for your offer Larry. I might take you up on it. Sometimes I need a little dose of reality too. The good thing about the ATG engine is most things are possible, albeit, sometimes in very quirky ways that really are too annoying to program... :/

[ernieschwitz]

On at different subject, I have thought about making a tutorial on how to make partisans work... anyone interested in that? It would among other things show how to code it, and all the other steps needed.

[Jabod]

I would be extremely interested in a tutorial on how to script events to form partisans.

[ernieschwitz]

ORIGINAL: Jabod
I would be extremely interested in a tutorial on how to script events to form partisans.

I'll put it on my todo list then