Re: Poll ideas?

[Erik <br0ke@math.smsu.edu>]

On 21-Jun-2000 Mads Bondo Dydensborg wrote:
> On Wed, 21 Jun 2000, Christian Reiniger wrote:
> 
>> The current Poll is getting quite stale. 
> 
> Yes. I think the results are quite interessting though. I wonder if anyone
> would like to ponder a bit about it, or if the result was wellknown in
> advance?
> 

those results could have been easily guessed from the communication on
forums.linux.com, there's quite a bit of 'I need an artist' there :/

> I personally find it interessting that there seems to be a greater demand
> for graphics artists then for developers. Of course Steven Baker will
> probably tell me he knew this, and it goes well with the fact that any
> project obviously have at least one developer. I also find it amusing
> that only about 5-6 % needs users the most :-)
> 

if you build it, they will come. :)

>> Has anyone ideas for a new one?
> 
> I have ideas for two different:
> 
> 1) "What sound library are you using for your game project"
> 
> Answers could be
> 
> - OSS (/dev/dsp)
> - OSS/Free (/dev/dsp)
> - DSL
> - OpenAL
> 
> etc. I am sure there are more, but I do not know them. There should be
> more then these options.
> 
> 2) "How much does it matter to you that users can compile and install your
>     game on standard linux distributions/installs?"
> 
> Answers could be
> 
> - It was hard to write, it should be hard to compile and install.
> - I always use bleeding edge third-party libraries and expect my users to 
>   download and install these.
> - I use a few common libraries like plib, Crystal Space, etc.
> - Besides my software, uses typically only need OpenGL.
> - I supply all software needed in my tgz file
> - I supply rpm and/or deb packages with all the needed software.
> 
> Well, the answers are not quite like I want them, but maybe someone can
> improve on them.
> 
> Mads
> 
> -- 
> Mads Bondo Dydensborg.                               madsdyd@challenge.dk
> Did you ever notice how at trade shows Microsoft is always the one giving
> away stress balls...
> 

I like both of those suggestions. I'd like to say that I think the polls should
be fairly specific for game development, so not the typical slashdot polls... I
want to see what people think about libraries, what people think about
algorithms, etc. Not who thinks which distro is better or if cmdrtaco is lame
:) I can go to other places for that more generalized stuff. 

Possibly topics with non-programming aspects of games. Gamasutra puts strong
emphasis on the artists and the business. I know most of us generally consider
business people as being evil, but they're still a part of the equation that we
often fulfill ourselves (promotions, policy, choosing licenses, etc.) We could
have polls on license choices, issues on specialization (does your development
effort have someone that just does graphics? promotional/PR? AI? audio
samples/tracks? ...)

Artists are definitly a group we want to attract and support, based on the last
poll. Possibly the poll could be oriented towards art people? Like a "prefered
art: 1) hand drawn/cartoon like  2) 3d photorealistic rendered 3) whatever I
can download for free" type poll? (mebbe coerce a gimp guru into writing
articles on using gimp for games, or blender, or ...)

My personal opinion on the state of linux games is that we have the programming
ability, the game design ability, and the desire. We lack the other peices that
go into games, so we should encourage the people who fulfill these other
peices. Most programmers probably have a mentality that these other components
are less worthy of respect than laying code, but that kind of attitude is not
helping good games get out the door..


(ok, ok, so that deviated a bit from the polls, I still think it's pertinant to
lgdc. So nyeah. :)

        -Erik <erik@smluc.org> [http://math.smsu.edu/~br0ke]

The opinions expressed by me are not necessarily opinions. In all
probability, they are random rambling, and to be ignored. Failure to ignore
may result in severe boredom or confusion. Shake well before opening. Keep
Refrigerated.
        

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