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Other => FOnline:2238 Forum => Archives => News and Announcements => Topic started by: AHS-9 on July 14, 2010, 05:22:04 pm
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The FOnline: 2238 development team is pleased to announce the dialog and quest writing competition.
I. The rules
The objective is to write either a dialog-based quest (without introducing new locations or content, with possible exception of some new quest items, providing the graphics exists), or a pure dialog. The involved npcs must be already existing town npcs. Dialogs are expected to be written in high-quality American English. Avoid pop-culture references. There are no special limitations regarding the extent of the quest or size of the dialogs, but keep in mind that quest rewards have to be kept at sensible levels.
II. The tools
Here (http://fonline2238.net/DialogEditorPack.zip) is a bundle containing the dialog editor (with some sample dialogs), a brief manual that should cover most of the topics needed to use it and a documentation of some of the dialog functions that can be used. Enjoy the given possibilities, make use of demand/results. Check for Charisma and Intelligence when necessary.
III. The criteria
Technical points can be enumerated: both pure dialogs and quests are going to be processed by our proofreader. Correct use of demand/results in case of quests (avoiding "continuity errors", resistance to forced dialog closing etc.) will play role.
Non-technical points - there is one - obviously consist of the impression made by the work. It's going to be the most decisive factor, especially in case of pure dialogs.
IV. The awards
No in-game rewards are offered. Instead, in addition to inclusion of the work to the current game content, authors of the best entries will be offered a position in content creation, allowing them to work on quests and dialogs without limitations imposed in this competition, with support of the development team.
There is no particular limit on the number of people that can be "rewarded" - the quality of the work is the only concern. There are no notions of "first place" or "fourth place" in this competition either.
V. Making an entry
An entry for the competition should include all the .fodlg files containing the created dialogs, and one .txt file with at least brief overview of the quest (the more information and background, the better), and npcs supposed to use the dialogs. To submit your work, send an email to contact@fonline2238.net having "[competition] *your_forum_nickname*" in title, with all relevant files as attachments (archived and packed or not).
VI. Time constraints
The competition will run until August 1. After that, we will review all submissions.
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I've been working on New Reno's new quests (Dozens are planned). All the mob crime families are on my schedule, but I only did few so far : if you want to write new dialogue for Mason and James Bishop, PM me before you start please :)
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We can't load/save file if we have special character in path. "Error open file"
->So if another member have this problem move dialog files to the root "c:/" instead of this example "c:/J'aïm€/mêtr heu/dé/z @ccent/partoùt/" or just "c:/é/" :)
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We can't load/save file if we have special character in path. "Error open file"
->So if another member have this problem move dialog files to the root "c:/" instead of this example "c:/J'aïm€/mêtr heu/dé/z @ccent/partoùt/" or just "c:/é/" :)
Or just use english characters only ;)
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For all the ones that will use dialogue editor - you can come on IRC, channel #2238mod, to meet other guys doing the same thing :)
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I've also made such things for the modoc citizens and the slags. If you want to make additional things to it, please stay in touch with me (PM or so ;) )
Also, just a reminder since I find it important:
Avoid pop-culture references.
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+1 Awesome
Can items have dialog's too? Such as Computer Interfaces (for the computers in the vaults), roullette wheels and slot machines?
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Can items have dialog's too? Such as Computer Interfaces (for the computers in the vaults), roullette wheels and slot machines?
Yes, all of them. Note however that their dialogs can't use results or demands that check some npc-side state (as there is no npc to check).
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It's spelled "dialogue" :p
The AmE correct spelling is "dialogue" as well. "Dialog" is just an informal variant used in the US.
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It's spelled "dialogue" :p
Dialog is American english, while dialogue is Brittish english. The former is more appropriate considering the game.
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Dialog is American english, while dialogue is Brittish english. The former is more appropriate considering the game.
Then why do we have kilos instead of pounds ingame? :D
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The kilos <-> pounds change has been made before FOnline: 2238.
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Dialog is American english, while dialogue is Brittish english. The former is more appropriate considering the game.
It is never appropriate, if we don't correct them they shall never learn!
Let the Dialogue competition begin!
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hello.
how can we test the Dialogues / quests? scripting without testing... well it is not easy...
thanks
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That's the drawback of it being the "open" contest. You've got the tools we've provided, and unfortunately, nothing more.
But you know, some errors will only play role if the dialogue will be introduced into the game. So at first, take care about most important factors to prepare good work.
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Well then, I feel very confident here, are we restricted to simply one quest? What if we have good idea's out the wazoo?
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are we restricted to simply one quest?
Not at all, this is a freeform contest. You can also make several entries if you wish (though one good quest is usually worth more than five medicore ones; prefer quality over quantity).
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Hah, all I did is opened the tutorial, took a look at the last picture where a primitive dialouge is completed and did the same without reading all the shit that was wrote there ;D . The Editor looks pretty easy, I just don't have much of ideas to write about. Oh well, time to use my mind again :(
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Is there any deadline?
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Is there any deadline?
VI. Time constraints
The competition will run until August 1. After that, we will review all submissions.
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This proves I'm a friggin genius ::) thx
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Just sent in an epic quest of epic proportions, lemme know if you like it and I might make more before the deadline.
what do you mean no pop culture references? Do you just mean like recent things like lady gaga and bullshit? Or do you mean no references at all, like no vague references to the 50s or old science fiction?
quest I sent had neither but I wanna know for future stuff
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Best would be not to include actual, or historical references at all, so yes.
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For the first time Im proud of this forum. This is such a great idea that you could do it earlier. Anyway Im going to think of new quests straight away! Great job whoever came up with this!!
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Personally, as a player, i'd like to see not only quests here, but also totally useless (from character building point of view) dialogs. Best example i have here is Mr.Depression (http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Mr._Depression) from Fallout 2. Even if talking with him (http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Ocdave.msg) didn't helped you in any way, it probably bring a smile on few players faces. And that's something we still miss in 2238 - for now NPCs are only tools to get stuff/profession/xp :-\
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Personally, as a player, i'd like to see not only quests here, but also totally useless (from character building point of view) dialogs.
Yeah, this used to bother me, but it's an MMO. Most people are in for the xp and the wasteland is harsh. Fallout 2 had a lot of great characters - I loved the Wright family in particular. The fact that in a place like Reno they refused to sell chems, though it was lucrative, made them interesting. And even though they were a crime family, Keith (Oops, Chris) Wright would try and kick your ass if you were a slaver. Interesting bunch.
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Who should I consult about dialogue questions?
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Who should I consult about dialogue questions?
Join #2238mod on IRC.
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What Server?
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irc.forestnet.org
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Yeah, this used to bother me, but it's an MMO. Most people are in for the xp and the wasteland is harsh.
I think for most MMO's this would be the case, but the fact that many of us are still here after almost a year proves that either we just enjoy killing everyone we see or that we actually enjoy the atmosphere and the characters of the Fallout universe. While the former may be the case for some, the latter definitely plays a huge part of this game. But yes, this game does still need more intriguing characters. Hopefully through this contest, we'll get some people who are not only willing to make quests, but to also contribute just to the character dialogues that don't give you anything but entertainment.
EDIT: Question. When submitting a quest, do we specify which NPC it belongs to in the dialogue editor, or do we just specify once it is submitted?
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"Avoid pop-culture references."
So you want dialog that is nothing like the original fallout text? That game was one big pop culture reference, pretty much every character name/dialog/item description/special encounter was a reference to a movie, game or event.
http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Fallout_2_cultural_references
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"Avoid pop-culture references."
So you want dialog that is nothing like the original fallout text? That game was one big pop culture reference, pretty much every character name/dialog/item description/special encounter was a reference to a movie, game or event.
Which was a main point of criticism at Fallout 2.
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Which was a main point of criticism at Fallout 2.
http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Fallout_cultural_references
Criticism from who? It already had a bunch, the entire game is just a hodgepodge of references to other things. I think it was one of it's strongest points.
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http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Fallout_cultural_references
Criticism from who? It already had a bunch, the entire game is just a hodgepodge of references to other things. I think it was one of it's strongest points.
From the community. Fallout 1 was a great game. Fallout 2 in contrast was very good too, but often criticized for his references. I guess the developers want to avoid that FOnline is crowded by pop-culture references like Fallout 2 was.
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And by often criticized you mean no one? I can't find anything but praise for them and not a single reviewer had that as a negative. I'm really starting to think you're just trolling me, if you're going to make broad statements back them up with facts.
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And by often criticized you mean no one? I can't find anything but praise for them and not a single reviewer had that as a negative. I'm really starting to think you're just trolling me, if you're going to make broad statements back them up with facts.
Shall I search every NMA, FalloutNow! and Duck & Cover post for you? There surely are many people who criticized Fallout 2 for his references, believe mo or not...
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How about you simply follow the devs suggestion? The point is to find people who can write quests with interesting plot and who have good writing style, not to find people who need to show the world how smart and funny they think they are. And putting some pop-culture references is a just a cheap way to pretend to be smarter than in reality (and give the player an illusion that he is smart too, because he understood writer's very smart reference to Star Wars and Godzilla).
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How about you simply follow the devs suggestion? The point is to find people who can write quests with interesting plot and who have good writing style, not to find people who need to show the world how smart and funny they think they are. And putting some pop-culture references is a just a cheap way to pretend to be smarter than in reality (and give the player an illusion that he is smart too, because he understood writer's very smart reference to Star Wars and Godzilla).
Referencing things is a comedic tool and a way to pay homage to things that influenced the game. I agree that most of the people writing for this contest wouldn't be able to do it properly as it has to be subtle to be effective but jov it's not surprising you don't understand it since you'd have to know where the references come from. It's not to give the player the "illusion of being smart". Either way you are basically saying that the original fallouts were stupid for having references when that was what made the writing so amazing. For a game made by fallout fans I find it weird that you completely disregard the style of writing and ask people to create new dialog that leaves out the games most prominent style.
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Fallout 2 has overdone pop-culture reference and everyone agrees on that. If you don't know about it, then you know nothing about the community.
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Fallout 2 has overdone pop-culture reference and everyone agrees on that. If you don't, then you know nothing about the community.
so if you didn't like the style of the games why are you even bothering? As for the "community" who cares what some of the fanbase (people on NMA?) thinks, they didn't make the game and probably don't know enough to appreciate the references. The people who made fallout thought that was the way to go and this is a fanmod to the original and should follow the same style. I mean of course europeans aren't going to understand a lot of the references but its not like the game was meant them, europe was always a secondary market. If you aren't even going to try to be like the original then whats the point?
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Thats the best bullshit I've read in weeks.
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Thats the best bullshit I've read in weeks.
That doesn't bode well for the dialog submissions. You should drop the pretenses of it being a fallout game if you're going to butcher it based on what you think fallout should be like.
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Let's change the rules then: Everyone has to add at least one pop culture reference in their dialogue, else it will not be true to a Fallout game and therefore bad.
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As for the "community" who cares what some of the fanbase (people on NMA?) thinks, they didn't make the game and probably don't know enough to appreciate the references.
That this game is created by some members of the same community Lexx is speeking of is probably beyond your reach?
And now please let it be, don't crash this thread here with this stuff.
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so uh can we submit a whole bunch of stuff by august 1st or 1 file ?
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so uh can we submit a whole bunch of stuff by august 1st or 1 file ?
More than one file is allowed, for a quest with several NPCs for example. But quality is much more important than quantity.
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Hey, I can finally make quests which need certain stats (speech, gambling etc.) AWESOME!
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Is it okay if I post my old starter town quests for people to cannibalise? I'll never finish them.
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Sure, the more examples people have the better I think.
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http://www.mediafire.com/?y1nqy6t76j21gc9
That reminds me, these were created using an old version of the dialogue editor. But they seem to work fine.
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Is it possible to create a chain of quests involving a whole new faction or are we only limited to one quest? I'm wondering wheter loosing the reins on my imagination will be profitable ;)
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Is it possible to create a chain of quests involving a whole new faction or are we only limited to one quest? I'm wondering wheter loosing the reins on my imagination will be profitable ;)
Involving factions is not a good idea. Make it standalone instead.
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I'm sorry I missed this contest. I only just discovered 2238, and there isn't enough time to create and submit a quality entry.
I'm a good writer and I "get" Fallout, so I'd enjoy the opportunity contribute if there's ever a need. Hopefully you'll run another contest in the coming months if you lose a writer or two.
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I wouldn't worry about it having to be inside any competition dates. If you fancy trying to write a quest just have a go and submit it
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I wouldn't worry about it having to be inside any competition dates. If you fancy trying to write a quest just have a go and submit it
Outstanding. It's usually not a good idea to submit unsolicited work to developers (or potential employers, etc.), so I'm glad the guidelines here are flexible.
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I hope such kind of contest could be held every month. But Ill work on my quest later as well. Id be a crime to work on dialogs in such a weather ;)
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If anyone wonders, we still haven't got the chance to fully review all the submissions (but most of them) - some "you're hired" emails might still be sent away in near future. An announcement will be posted when every entry is processed.
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Awsome! I can't wait to see who "gets hired."
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The competition is now concluded. Three people (SmoothJesus, Gunduz and SonofaGun) were invited to work with the team.
We would like to thank all the competitors for their contributions and to encourage them to take part in our future efforts to make the game better experience for all of us.