The Future of TT from GG!

[TankerBel]

ima waitin also... and yea smacky cant eat 22 waffles... he just wants ur money
i can eat 12 ego size waffles, but that is with un-immitation syrup so stink says it doesnt count.

[Napalm]

Joe, I'll see if I can compile a short list of the most playable (and enjoyable) maps the community has produced as well as other community developments. I'm pretty sure we have about 400 maps, but I'd be looking for the ones that would easily integrate into what's already in the IA package. There are some classic maps that are playable that used only stock TT content. Monkee Man, Dash, Rooster, Wiz/Triv have all created some really fun places to play.

Just as a side note:
My maps are a bit further than the stock maps as I have added a lot of textures and objects. Most likely not the easiest to integrate into the IA offerings in the beginning.

There have been other game types that have been created. For example the are s few racing games that give players a bit of a different type of gameplay. Just something to consider and broaden the offerings to customers.

Dazzle has created a "Rollerball" game-type with Warfare. Warefare scripted it and Dazzle created it and content fot it.

In any event, if the technical issues on the game side can be rectified, some ideas and offering from the community can be incorporated it could be a nice blend.

There are quite a few people here who can help contribute. This could be a way to up the popularity of the game, increase sales and and breath new life into the community, leagues and tournaments.

Let me see what I can come up with.

I'll contact some of the community leaders.

I will most likely start contacting you via email and post updates here for the community.

[paisano]

@Joe
Awesome update! We should all share what we can about our TT experience. Like Napalm will do. Let's select the best things we've loved about the game.
Every map, element, even skins. Let's update our wishlists too.

[Feathers McGraw]

Joe, I'll see if I can compile a short list of the most playable (and enjoyable) maps the community has produced as well as other community developments. I'm pretty sure we have about 400 maps, but I'd be looking for the ones that would easily integrate into what's already in the IA package. There are some classic maps that are playable that used only stock TT content. Monkee Man, Dash, Rooster, Wiz/Triv have all created some really fun places to play.

Just as a side note:
My maps are a bit further than the stock maps as I have added a lot of textures and objects. Most likely not the easiest to integrate into the IA offerings in the beginning.

There have been other game types that have been created. For example the are s few racing games that give players a bit of a different type of gameplay. Just something to consider and broaden the offerings to customers.

Dazzle has created a "Rollerball" game-type with Warfare. Warefare scripted it and Dazzle created it and content fot it.

In any event, if the technical issues on the game side can be rectified, some ideas and offering from the community can be incorporated it could be a nice blend.

There are quite a few people here who can help contribute. This could be a way to up the popularity of the game, increase sales and and breath new life into the community, leagues and tournaments.

Let me see what I can come up with.

I'll contact some of the community leaders.

I will most likely start contacting you via email and post updates here for the community.

What am I? Chopped Liver (waffles)? Olfactory Mined was perhaps the most beautiful Spooky-ish map I've ever played I may not be churning out dozens of mini-maps left and right like Roo and Napalm did once upon a time, but I think for 2 spooky maps and a remake I've done well =) ... no stock terrains or shapes tho... but with the XPack and McGrawShapes download it's not that bad.

[CB]

^ Don't feel bad,, I rarely get a mention and have of 60 maps and most not just chunks of land.

[paisano]

I've been repremanded for "opening a can of worms" with this thread. I disagree. Whatever.

I've also been asked to not mention "my website" again on here. First of all, it's stupid because it's not MY site. It's the Thinktanks wiki which means anyone can edit it and do what they want with it. I chose the wiki platform for that reason, in order to make it open source and public for the TT community.
I used to have all of these things like the TT player's list, aliases, maps and much more on my own private website on geocities but I wanted to unlock it all and share it with the whole community. Hence, the wiki.

Most gamers and other groups are embracing the power and ease of wiki sites. It allows members to all contribute and collaborate.
The Thinktanks wiki was never meant to compete with PTT2 but on the contrary designed to work with it. There is only so much a site like this can do which is why having a centralized wiki makes perfect sense. It allows members to be a part of the whole experience.

I think the wiki would be a perfect place to document all of the mods/maps. Many of you have already added your work on there but they don't want it advertized on here. I was hoping PTT2 would have a static link to the wiki but now I see that won't ever happen.

Whatever.

disappointed Pai

[Napalm]

Just because I didn't mention everyone's name doesn't mean that I'm not looking to everyone to contribute the most pertinent content.

Personally, I don't think most of my own stuff would qualify, if you think you're maps are one which would translate to IA well, let me know. I think the most likely thing that would happen would be setting up a server and IA would take a look at them. Of course these are only suggestions.

Feathers, nothing personal, I just mentioned maps that came to the forefront in my mind and mentioned the modder who created them.

(Occipital Oasis, Bolonga Pony, etc.)

[jedirieb]

Hey guys,

Some of you might remember me from such movies as "The Times w/o Rogue" starring Dazzle, the banner of Rogue (no, not a banner as in a piece of paper/cloth.) (TYVM Daz, even if it was only 2 weeks.)

Ok, jokes aside, I've come to have my say. After carefully reading the last 11 pages, looking at IA TT (you'll understand if I didn't try to play: cable guys w/lag = dial-up w/no game), I've come to a few conclusions on this, and I hope you'll all bear with me.

1. Lag. No more needs to be said, Joe and GG are working on it.

2. Bugs. See above.

3. Modding/admining/new content.This one is a big one. You want to add a lot of the content we've been suggesting over the years, yes? But first, it would be prudent to add what's already been made. It seems to me (please correct me if I'm wrong) that it would not take too much to adapt, say ACAS or AC's Never-Stopping Download Bar, or maybe Roo's Mods, to the IA TT from the stand-alone TT. You said it yourself that their made from the same engine (TGE?), the same "stuff" is at the core of each. So adapting one to another should be easy.

Going one further, why not ask for help from some of the guys who've actually made these scripts/mods that the community here loves. Assuming they'd agree, don't think of it as them doing you guys' jobs. Think of it as... oh I don't know... getting help from the creators of them. Pardon the pun there, but they did create those mods and scripts. All's it would take would be for you to ask them if they'd like to help add this this and this to IA TT, give them the part of the code they need (or path adjustments from TT stand-alone, or w/e, not as savvy on that as I'd like to be), and let them do their thing. You said yourself that your staff is working at the current bugs (and other games) as fast as they can. So let our community help out.

4. Linux. I'm going to lay this out as plainly and simply as possible (IMO).
Gains: Many of TT stand-alone's modders/scripts/hosters have been on Linux computers. Meaning not only would Linux provide more players, but more players that would help shape IA TT by doing more than just playing.
Losses: Linux is obviously a minority of users, and while it is evergrowing, based on your current data, it is probably not profitable based on resources spent vs. people who buy it on Linux. The factor you have to decide its weight is the modders/scripters/hosters who are on Linux.

5. TT stand-alone community support. Either they will or they won't. Those who will support it see a game with great potential (TT stand-alone) for being modified by the creators of it into something with better features, easier customability, larger community, etc (IA TT). Those who don't support it see a currently poor excuse for an usurper (IA TT) of a game that's done just fine for its community over many years w/o the support of its creators.


Now I'd like to sum this all up, if you will. You (Joe) gave your word that your guys are trying to fix lag/bugs. I believe you. I also believe you when you say that you're trying to implement our suggestions over the years for TT stan-alone into IA TT (if for no other reason than the fact that you guys can only benefit from our support of your new game). However, to gain our support, and even make your game better, it would behoove you to implement existing mods and scripts from TT stand-alone. Heck, if you want even more support, let some of the people we know and trust help modify your game with our mods and scripts. After all, there's no better way for someone to trust a new thing than for said someone to know that they (or someone they trust) have an active hand in it. And as for Linux? Well, I suppose that's your decision to make based on the the pros and cons of it. But I feel I must add that you'll be missing out on some excellent modders/scripters from TT stand-alone if you do.

To the community here... those of you who are supporting the IA TT, good for you. Those who aren't... I think we all know that living through change is hard. To support that change... that's asking a lot. As a teenager, I believe I'm qualified to say that much. I'm not qualified to tell anyone to support change. Which is why I'm asking it. What do you lose by giving IA TT a shot? A little bit of time here or there? Give me a break. Most of us waste so much time on these forums here, its not even funny. If we support IA TT and it succeeds our expectations...well then... I think we all win. If it succeeds, but not to our expectations, or if it fails altogether... this version of TT will still be there. Joe said it doesn't take much to host the master server, and does anyone have evidence to disbelieve this? As long as people keep (slowly) buying TT stand-alone, it'll be here. But if we support and help shpe IA TT and it succeeds... then we've only gained something, haven't we?

Congrats if you read all that.

EDIT: Didn't read your post before posting this one Pai. I'd like to personally thank you for your contributions on this thread here. More importantly, I'd like to than you for getting Joe in here to talk with us. We haven't had this kind of communication with the creators of TT for years, and I believe that its very productive for both sides (users and producers) to have open communications. So thank you.

[TankerBel]

dash you should sell your codes

[paisano]

Hey guys,
EDIT: Didn't read your post before posting this one Pai. I'd like to personally thank you for your contributions on this thread here. More importantly, I'd like to than you for getting Joe in here to talk with us. We haven't had this kind of communication with the creators of TT for years, and I believe that its very productive for both sides (users and producers) to have open communications. So thank you.

Thanks for the kind words and appreciation! I think you summed it all up very well. Yes, we remember you very well. I'm glad you contributed to this conversation. I'm proud of everyone who has done so too. I think communication is a good thing, whether we hear what we want to hear or not. I was gone from the game for over six months and I knew it had been a year or so since I last heard anything officially from GG so I wanted to share what I learned with the gang.

I understand both sides on this issue so I will try to be careful about anything I said or do from here on out. I'm still learning the truth about what's going on behind the scenes with the old standalone game and the new online version. I never realized so much was happening in stealth mode.

Once again, thanks Jedi. I am excited to see what the future brings for TT. No matter where it winds up.