I think I'd gladly have new hardware, but it's just never in my budget.

So I just make do and play mostly older games. Which is fine by me - there are thousands of games!

Prior to this year I hadn't purchased a new complete system or laptop in a long, long time. I just gotta finish building it

There are too many but I always try to look for good story based games that are outside the classic genre or scifi

I am a borderline gamer to be honest. Not that big into modern gaming, in fact I barely know anything about the most popular titles.

I guess I'm just very particular about games.

Not into gaming much myself now a days - just a nintendo fanboi with some popular titles from Zelda, Metroid and Mario. Playing a Zelda title atm back from early 2000s that I never played

I can see that. I mean I've stuck with the classics a lot too or at the very least the games I've played many, many years ago

Maybe I'm just too lazy

Playing a game is a lot easier than modding one

Lot more fun to be had modding IMHO

Yeah modding can be fun, though I think my modding skills are a little dated these days (a bit like my coding skills). I often think about learning something new, I just find it hard to sink my teeth into that something.

So turns out the forum update broke the installation. Had to restore a backup - the database is a day old, BUT the file system is um.. possibly older in parts, not sure, there is definitely some missing data.

And to your question (that is now gone), yes I used to work in tech, but not anymore. Also I'm not a programmer.

File system? attachments?

Are you in tech or IT? or something completely different?

I meant in that sector

Attachments seem fine.

Yeah I use a computer for work.

Definitely in that sector

It's funny how you gave away so little information in that 2nd last comment

That TestScene got me thinking about Lost Souls more I looked at some of the Nightmares' ships. How did aldo even come up with the idea or designs - it's dark! I did see the wiki entry and could see where the inspiration was from but it mentioned the design changed regulary. Would be nice to see some concept art from begining to end

Just don't go assuming I'm somekind of secret agent I just prefer to keep things private as this is an open channel publicly searchable.

I have no idea how he came up with the designs. You could ask the same about any designer. In fact, I could ask myself the same question. How did I come up with a certain thing? No idea, it just happened... actually it bothers me a lot because I feel like it's a talent I don't know how to properly harness.

Also, crap, I have to get root canal treatment..

I'm all for privacy. I think thats why so many people lurk now adays too

Wasn't that the benefit of restricted forum topics?

*categories/sub-forums

I think it's a given that inspiration is drawn from many sources. Obviously sound is a different subject to visual design but I feel with concept art especially storyboard-like work you can guess where some design details may come from.

Ouch at any dental work

I mean, I've done 3d modeling, level building, texturing, animations, voice work, music work, scripting, web design, web coding etc.. but I probably couldn't write a tutorial on any of those things I just poke at things until they work!

Only thing I've not really done much of is writing.

Perhaps I'll amend that at some point..

What software did/do you use for 3d modeling? With level building the software is game/game-type specific right?

I've found there's really handy tips and tricks with most skills, but are not written down anywhere in a single guide thats easily searchable online. A good example is voice work - buying/finding an inexpensive mic, using different materials: to cover the mic to improve recording, on modifying room accoustics. The time of day to record voice work, recommended software, etc. There's a collective wealth of information but the internet just doesn't seem to have it in the one place.

Um.. I have used 3D Studio in the past and messed about with things like Blender. But really I haven't done much game related design for years, except for the odd Descent project. Going back to the very beginning, Freespace is where I started! But that's all long gone now.. I often think about getting back into proper 3D design - maybe via working on some retro-style game that doesn't require hundreds of hours of high poly work. I just don't know where it'd fit into my life.

Yeah, I actually did play around with voice work once about 15~20 years ago. I recall doing some dialogue for Freespace missions at one point. And when I was doing Let's Plays a few years back (instead of longplays) I became aware of those 'special times of day' that worked best for recording. Subsequently that's why I stopped doing them, because it was hard to get a good recording done.

I wonder why books on topics like that aren't published - with the tips/tricks. Save a frack load of time for anyone! Commonsense and practicality is something most humans greatly lack in any useful or tangible way. Sometimes I ponder why half the books I read are just plain crap!

A skill/talent I'd like to have would be able to draw really DAMN good - I'd use it for concept art, storyboarding, DREAMS (this is a big one for me), product design, engineering, etc. The vision!

I think it's because we like to treat these things as hobbies and not work. If you were paid to make things, then someone else might be paid to create a manual with your input .But for hobby crafting etc? I guess only people that want to teach it to others will do that.

There is the danger of turning a hobby into a 'second job' if you're not careful, even with gaming that can be the case. When I played EVE Online regularly I had literal spreadsheets like it was a real job.

Now when I play games, it's very casual and I avoid slipping into that intense kind of play.

And I treat modding the same way, it's very intense for a short time, then it's back to normalcy.

People still write papers for bragging rights. They might not necessarily get paid for it.

For modding to become a job you need to really be good at it. Lets exclude poorly rated games or mods

I guess being crap has its own benefits.. like no one would want to steal it

I don't know. People steal crap sometimes.

I can only dream of being stolen from Except my computer hardware I guess.. or maybe my clothes.. or my eve ISkies..

Fracking Sick Sux 2+ weeks now

Sick sick, flu sick, cold sick, covid sick?