The OMFGWTFYAY FER SAY Thread

[Say]

*coughs*


I was all the way back to page 3!!


so, what's up people? lol

[Jafar]

The moon, the stars, and...*looks up* I think the sky, but I could of sworn it fell yesterday...

[J-ROC]

Things also up: 

-My living expenses
-My blood-alcohol level (although on the way down, as it is morning)
-my hair (still haven't groomed after waking up)
-my curiosity about all things Say

[Say]

Hey James-boy *waves*



Hence this is my thread, I feel the need to vent it up here... I'd like some comments from you guys, as well...

I found this, today
http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/46705

I was a member of the KQIX development team for about 3 months last winter and I have some observations and opinions to share.

Although generally the team was dedicated, inspired, talented, tireless, and friendly, I knew when I left the project that it was ultimately doomed, not because of copyrights and big bad media companies, but because of failed leadership. One must pick one's battles, and if the direction of the development of the 4 or so years preceding my involvement was anything like this last year's, I'm afraid KQIX might not be worth fighting for.

The game's script was mostly written by the head of the project (at the time at least), César Bittar. It is well written, well thought out, and as promised, ties together all of the loose ends and scattered ideas from the previous games. That being said, it was far too ambitious and lengthy for an independent project, even if they were going to release it in thirds as they eventually had planned.

Generally speaking, independent projects succeed when a team is focused like high power lasers on certain goals. Otherwise, progress slows quickly after the whole novelty of the development experience wears off. KQIX was an exception to this due to the abnormally high dedication team members had to the KQ series, so the project was allowed to remain brain dead and on life support, drifting aimlessly along for far too long.

After four or so years of development, I didn't see a single working (or non-working) build of the game's engine. I'd say for just the first third of the game there were hundreds of characters, about 30 unique environments, and a few cinematic cutscenes that needed to be rendered. Although there were plenty of ideas and sketches floating around, at most, the main characters, a few rough environments, and no cutscenes were completed.

The one thing that the KQIX team was exceptional at was generating hype. One of the top priorities at the time was to complete yet another flash animation to shock and amaze the legions of adoring fans on the KQIX forums. Sadly, many people on those forums, who wanted so desperately for this game to be realized, frankly, were duped into believing that more was happening behind the scenes than what really was.

I wish the very best for the team and fans. Although it was a complete train wreck, your passion for the game was genuine, and I hope you can find ways to channel that passion into something more concrete in the future.
posted by guywithnoear at 11:47 AM PST on November 16

Personally, I feel SAD about some mixed emotions some people have when they ran off the team, although on the other hand I'm so glad this person is no longer with us whatsoever, we certainly do not need someone with negative energy and scared of creating the best that he can.

Truth is, it makes me sad as it makes me mad, he has no right to say what he did because he was on the team for 3 months, and he obviously he had no clue what he was up to, even though directors might not be reached 24/7 as some staff believe, there are tons of leads which might assist in absence of the head, which is so absurd he would claim such thing as there's no leadership. Cesar is quite a creative individual and regardless he can only know so much, he seems to be excited and helpful when it comes to ANY department, as a Director who has worked with him before, I can say even though Cesar might know nothing about something specific or technical, he cares to learn and to hang around and to get involved, so it hurts to see someone rant about something apparently he seriously didn't experience whatsoever, which is what we truly are. We wouldn't have been together for so long if we didn't click, and if we had no direction we couldn't have achieved to the point we have, I can't say much but soon enough you will hear what's going on. And on top of absolutly everything... it annoys the s*** out of me, the fact he says that KQIX is not worth fighting for, he was NEVER part of the community, OBVIOUSLY, and apparently he was never part of the team either. Sad so sad, someone who has no idea what he's talking about would go and make such lame references about the game. Seriously.

I can claim on the fact that I have seen and have been there (maybe because I'm a director and I get access to everything? I don't know), we have more than one demo, and demo is not built on sketches or "photoshop" pretty craft, we have finished design AGES AGO and we have moved on GREATLY on the production phase. Hello? we were going to release a freaking part first, yes, it's a lot of work because there are more yet to come, but don't say anything hasn't been done because PLENTY has been done, if we are what we are it's exactly why VU shut us down, and is why VU decided to open up to speak with us... and furthermore you shall find out soon enough. So if we have good standards for being a fan-game, is exactly what has made POS what it is nowdays, I know for personal reasons I don't regret it, and I can claim in behalf of all the other directors that NONE of them does either.

I don't regret it at all, it makes me want to work harder even more. But SAD someone would go and post about it, and I can't even post back cuz I don't have freaking $5 to be able to register in that freaking place... It gets to my nerves, and even worse, people BELIEVING someone like that, who had obviously no true participation whatsoever on what the game really is, and what the community is.

Personally as a fan I'd bite his head off, but as a Director I feel disappointed someone who was on the team would say so, and I wish I could clear that up and feeling unable to do that and it seriously gets to me


RAWR


That was it, that was the end of my rant .

[J-ROC]

*waves back to Say-grrl*

*sees that she's in "murder mode" and backs away slowly*

[Say]

Haha, I'm not in murder mode, it's just that I wish I could CLEAR that up, it's obvious that someone who has been 3 months in the team can't possibly have a fair perspective of it all. I've played the demoS and seen the animations and it hasn't been something that came out of nowhere! so someone who has 3 months in a game is restricted to do what it's told, because it's our trial time frame actually, only directors I believe have access to everything and have seen everything, so this person is just not entitled to say such and I wish I could clarify it but it annoys me I don't have $5 freaking bucks!!

Even CESAR has a hard time keeping up with it all, because he must clear up the server like twice a month due to the large storage of it, he organizes files and whatnot. You can ask NEIL how long it took him to get a hold of the WHOLE perspective of the game, he started working out with me, and all he did was web assingments, then he just moved along cuz he obviously was excellent, he is, and just THEN when he actually got out of TRIAL was that he could unglue his nose from his assingments and actually get along with bigger goals. That's how we work, so it's kind funny he wouldn't even know that himself :-/ (that poster, that is)

[koko_99_2001]

BAH AT THAT PERSON.

*huggles Say and the rest of the team*

[Say]

Actually, if you ask me, I believe KQIX community is by far one of the closest there is in its kind. Because people WORRY about getting together, they CARE about each other, even outside the forum they all chat and have fun together, so it is great. KQIX is so much more than just a game

[J-ROC]

I totally understand what you're saying.  And they clearly weren't a good fit for the team if they don't make it past three months... and when there isn't a good fit, there isn't a shared vision or a shared perception of how things really are.

To me, it just sounded like they expected the project to go at the same rate and with the same vigor that you would find at a gaming company.  It seems people like to forget that this game is done during people's spare time.  And even if you guys haven't worked as fast as other fan-games (I don't know if you have or have not, I'm just saying...), my impression is that you're dead set on producing the best quality game that you can, rather than some half-assed project that's kinda fun for fans but still sucks.  Instead, you're making something that will be a lot of fun for fans and not suck.


That's my take, for what it's worth.

[Yonkey]

I checked my e-mails for "guywithnoear" and found out who this person was.  He was part of the music dept, back before the composers really started working hard.  I think he wanted there to be more direction in that dept, and he had a lot of ideas on how to improve it, but wasn't willing to step up and do anything.  There wasn't a Music Director at the time, so Cesar was handling it.  

I'm not really sure why he left exactly, but I think it was because he couldn't handle the responsibility.  He had problems with the leadership of that department, and rather than trying to solve them, he just complained about them instead.

A lot of work has been done since, and he's probably lashing out because he's not a part of it.  Even the Music dept really took shape this year both in direction and production itself (i.e. music, voices, SFX).  

[J-ROC]

Neil, you're hot and I've totally added you to my buddies list.

[Yonkey]

Neil, you're hot and I've totally added you to my buddies list.

LMAO wtf?   What a random comment.  

Thanks for adding me though!

[Say]

Yeah, but still. Does that entitle to talk about ALL the departments? it's not being very responsible, and as far as I know, music was NEVER involved even in our weekend meetings they ARE now, we have all the great staff that we do, but way back then, only art and programming showed up

[J-ROC]

Well, I guess his commentary would be moreso on the past state of the project rather than the current state.

Ah well, things change and you shouldn't let someone elses ignorance bother you too much.  Just provide a well stated rebuttal and carry on otherwise.

[Say]

Yeah, moving on to much more important matters... I'm eating chocolate cookies

[Rosella]

Mmm, cookiehs. I just had chocolate pudding.

[J-ROC]

I'm in my underwear.  Not eating cookies.

but I have to go get dressed.  T'is my gf's day off, and I must seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee her!

[Say]

I mutts

[J-ROC]

Oh, deadlines.  So silly!

[Rosella]

Bleh, now I'm reminded that tomorrow is Monday.