Though this is a message to Sacrush and I should probably be using the Private Messaging system, I wanted to be able to discuss this idea with some people.

I believe that for this episode to work we should put new rules in place:

Levels must be do-able with both Jazz & Spaz
Levels must have decent eyecandy by Sacrush's standards

If these new rules are in place, the levelpack will be much smoother. Tell me if you have any arguements on this. I would also like to remind Sacrush and Xobim that I have sent them the cutscene.
And before you bother to mention it, yes, I double posted.

I dislike rule 3, specifically because you don't need to constantly develop plot. Lets take Half Life 2, early on it is rather plot heavy to get you on your way but then after that you're tossed in a makeshift boat for a long stretch of time without any real plot advancement. This happens later on with a dune buggy as well. Despite those long stretches without plot, HL2 is still one of the finest game stories I've experienced.

EDIT- Also I think proposed rule 2 is already covered by the actual rule 2.

Okay, you have a point on both counts. I'll remove the storyline development rule idea, the other two shall stay.

Originally Posted by Valco

Levels must be do-able with both Jazz & Spaz

Respect Lori with LEVELS

I agree with 2·GJ. Each level should be playable with Lori.

On the story thing the following:
We've still got numerous submissions left. There's enough room for some plot deviation. We can control that quite easily. A bigger problem is the end of the plot. We must be very careful not to let the plot end suddenly in the final level. Every contributor wants to keep the plot line alive, so that their successor has enough room to expand the story. If this remains till the end of our list of contributors, the story will end very abruptly in the last (two) level(s). I think it is best that the group of contributors that are going to work on the end should discuss how they are going to end the episode. Just to make sure the storyline ends in a normal fashion.

Yes I agree with Xobim about the ending stuff.

making the levels playable for Jazz and spaz is kinda obvious and Lori is a good idea too. Also about the EC, it's not my episode it's our episode, so if many people dislike a level or anything someone can always edit it with permission.

Originally Posted by Sacrush

[SIZE="3"]
The Rules:

-The creator can choose the person who needs to make the next level, if the creator is unable to choose somebody or can't get anyone who wants, everybody who signed in to create a level can volunteer.

-If you are creating a level it has to fit the storyline. The level needs
to be of decent quality, if it's below quality you have to agree that I or somebody else edit or even disapprove the level. The level needs to be playable by all characters including Lori.

Or is it new? Anyway you should make this rule into 3 rules, storyline fit, quality thing, and the playble with all characters rule.

Talking about the rules, who choose the the next creator if the last one can't choose and there are two or more colunteers (wich is the only case, if there is only one volunteer he will be the next creator... right?...)

Originally Posted by DoubleGJ

Respect Lori with LEVELS

++

Did you know that it (the thread [my thread]) was supposed to be serious?

If there are more volunteers then one we can choose the one who wants it the most and the one with the most time.

And yes, I just added that Lori rule 20 minutes ago.

Who are "we"?

Originally Posted by Sacrush

People who are in:
- DoubleGJ [Finished his level]
- Olsen [Finished his level]
- Zapper [Finished his level]
- gerard244390 [Finished his level]
- Xobim [Creating his level]
- Sacrush [Willing to make level]
- ThunderPX [Willing to make level]
- Odin [Waiting]
- n00b [Waiting]
- Newspaz [Waiting]
- Birdie [Waiting]
- Dx [Waiting]
- General Hare [Waiting]
- Superjwren329 [Waiting]
- Innocent [Waiting]
- Jam [Waiting]
- Technopauluz [Waiting]
- Snooze [Waiting]
- WerBack3>> [Waiting]
- Marijn [Waiting]
- Kax [Waiting]
- ThunderbirD [Waiting]
- St. Louis [Waiting]

We are.

The first one to ask for making the next level should be chosen. A person should only ask if he/she has enough free time on his/her hands.

Small update:
I put some rock formations in the background, which gives the level more deth. I've got a small holiday next week, and this level will be priority #1 on my todo-list for that time.

What do you guys think of the cutscene now? I still await your feedback.

By the way, is anyone going to do something about Shade's level? It's not possible with any characters, let alone Lori. If we can agree to edit it, I'll be the first one to volunteer if I may. I'll help this project in any way I can.

I still oughta check my level so that it's Lori friendly, I'll resend it to you if I find any bugs.

EDIT:

Originally Posted by Xobim

The first one to ask for making the next level should be chosen. A person should only ask if he/she has enough free time on his/her hands.

I'm not sure if I'm agreeing with him or anything, but I don't think the waiting list is necassery. You should only post here if you can do the level relatively soon, and a lot of the people on the list haven't posted since this project started.

Consider me nothing but a beta-tester, after all.

Whatever.

Also, I'm not really gonna change the rules much more, I think there pretty solid.

About the cut scene, I like it but I don't think there should be cursing even if it's censored. I still dislike the fire coming outta the ship, and I know there is a better solution. Also make him fall on something solid at the ending so it will skip to the next level faster.

Okay, I'm fed up with this. Once I fix the flame, no more changes will be made, and you're fixing them yourself! You and Xobim are extremely picky!

Originally Posted by Valco

Levels must have decent eyecandy by Sacrush's standards.

But you said the levels has to be by my standards.

Originally Posted by Valco

Okay, I'm fed up with this. Once I fix the flame, no more changes will be made, and you're fixing them yourself! You and Xobim are extremely picky!

But I need to be picky. The cutscene has to introduce my level well in terms of storyline.

Maybe it was better to do it by myself after all...

Originally Posted by Xobim

But I need to be picky. The cutscene has to introduce my level well in terms of storyline.

Maybe it was better to do it by myself after all...

Maybe you can edit the text a little, the rest is pretty good in my opinion.

Sorry I got worked up. When I think about it, the pickier you guys are the more experience I get from this to make future cutscenes. Just give me a list of everything you want in the cutscene, Sacrush and Xobim. I won't accept you guys adding anything after that, so think carefully and don't miss anything you were planning on the cutscene having.

By the way, I'm not editing the text unless you tell me exactly what's wrong with it. 'Cause if I make my own descision the answer will always be 'That's not what I asked for' apparently.

Then again, maybe I could change the text a little. 1337 $P3@K comes to mind. Knowig everything about cutscenes however, I'm sure you can translate.

Okay, here's my progress on the cutscene.

- Flames: Complete
- Storyline: Complete
- Crash: In progress
- Possible Glitches: None Present

And here's a breakdown of me 'Lori-broking' my level.

- Possible with Jazz: Yes
- Possible with Spaz: Yes
- Possible with Lori: Barely (I did what I could)
- Possible without taking any damage: Yes
- New easter egg: In progress (Fixing masks)

I'll be editing this post once you have more expectations for me. Once I fix the easter egg in my level I'll send it to you guys.

I think Xobim knows what he want's, so Ill let him handle it from here.

Then I give you no authority over this cutscene's expectations. Glad we've cleared that up. Xobim already sent me an acheingly long list of what I should do. No one will EVER mention this cutscene again until it's done, I've got a headache from working with you guys. By the way Sacrush, change my name on the level designer's list to Valco.

EDIT:

XOBIM JUST GIVE ME THE (-)ING LEVEL!

Rules:
-The level needs to be of decent quality, if it's below quality you have to agree that I or somebody else edit or even disapprove the level.

By participating with this episode you agreed that I or somebody else may edit it so don't play the boss here.

(-)...
You have a point, I've signed a contract. Don't expect much respect on Xobim's side though, he hasn't mentioned a thing I've done good in the cutscene, and essentially made me make two cutscenes for nothing! I did exactly what he told me to do! My patience slips. Why can't Xobim just edit his level instead of putting me through this abuse!

I already though it would be a bad idea if you don't know the next level. Now we got this crap, it will all work out I hope...

At least your keeping this away from yourself. I've been PERSONALLY asked by Xobim not to listen to anything you say about the cutscene.

I'm done the cutscene, I'll give it to Xobim next week. I do have a lot of free time, but I don't care. He likes to waste MY time.

Originally Posted by Valco

(-)...
You have a point, I've signed a contract. Don't expect much respect on Xobim's side though, he hasn't mentioned a thing I've done good in the cutscene, and essentially made me make two cutscenes for nothing! I did exactly what he told me to do! My patience slips. Why can't Xobim just edit his level instead of putting me through this abuse!

Because you asked for it. You wanted to make a cutscene for me.
You said that we have to give you a list with all the things that needed to be edited...

When you made the first cutscene you didn't do what I said. Your cutscene didn't connect to my level (and I explained how my level starts) and it was too short. Then it had the Jazz and carottus problem, but that isn't a real problem to me.
Your second cutscene copied my whole storyline, which wasn't the idea at all. I only gave away my part of the storyline just to let you know why all those things in the cutscene happen.
The level itself hasn't changed a great deal, except for the ship-crashing part. Which was just the player being warped to a ship turned downwards...

From the beginning I feared that this kind of situation would occur. Main problem is the communication if you ask me. I could've explained the situation better, so there would be less chance of things going wrong. If you would've read my PM more carefully, a lot of errors could've been prevented.

Oh, that makes sense. I'll get on it right away!

Don't be so childish, please, Xobim explained himself well and his criticism was constructive enough and nothing personal.

What do you mean? How am I acting any more childish than you are?

Not so far beyond me to see that in this context "Oh, so everthing you do is right and everthing I do is wrong? I get it." is a childish reply.

Make sure to separate beginners/inexperience from amateurs/experience.

Two veterans and a rookie give bad line chemistry.

What are you talking about? Are you posting this in the wrong thread or something?

Dude, I know English and can read his post, which is what I'm reacting on. Is there some part of his post that only you can read? Right, there is not.

Okay guys, cutscene around the halfway point. Why are the people above me argueing?

My name is pronounced with "ij" sounding somewhat similar to "i" in the English word "fine", mixed with "a" from "bane". IPA would be ɛɪ.

Have fun shouting my name in anger at your computer screen. Instead of replying to your post (which made little sense), I'd like to just ask all of you to discuss this a bit more maturely than "mimimi you say I'm always wrong and you're always right".

I really don't understand what's going on, all I see is a 14 year old trying to sound intelligent and an admin with a really screwed up name.

....(-)

This make my community hall meetings look like they are organization freaks.

Valco, Please be a little more humble. "You get a lot more with sugar than you do vinegar"

I don't see why you get all mad Valco, calm down please. Xobim, why can't you just send the level to Valco? I don't see the problem, it would just make things easier.

Originally Posted by Valco

At least your keeping this away from yourself. I've been PERSONALLY asked by Xobim not to listen to anything you say about the cutscene.

First of all: this is one hell of a lie. I asked you to ignore the hints sacrush would give about the storyline only. That's because I haven't told him about the continuation of the plot.

Originally Posted by Stijn

Don't be so childish, please, Xobim explained himself well and his criticism was constructive enough and nothing personal.

Valco is partially right, though. Most of this conflict is based on the PM's we've sent. I repeat the source of the error once more:

Main problem is the communication if you ask me. I could've explained the situation better, so there would be less chance of things going wrong. If you would've read my PM more carefully, a lot of errors could've been prevented.

Another option is that I'm asking too much of Valco, but I doubt that...

Originally Posted by Sacrush

I don't see why you get all mad Valco, calm down please. Xobim, why can't you just send the level to Valco? I don't see the problem, it would just make things easier.

The part of the stoyline isn't done yet (damn character limits!), and I get uncomfortable with the thought that somebody else would accidentaly or deliberatly tell the storyline or distribute my level.
Maybe that thought is exaggerated. And in that case I might as well send you the level too, so you can have a look at it.
What do you think, Sacrush?