Some of you, particularly those who do programming in real life, may have heard of "hackathons". Otherwise, please read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackathon
Is anyone interested in doing a hackathon right here at MarvelMods, where we whip out a mod together in a cooperative manner?
In general, the duration for a hackathon is usally 24 hours. Since we are from different parts of the world, we are spread across different time-zones. So, it's not feasible to make a brand new mod from scratch cooperatively in the 24-hour period. If we tone it down to 7 days, would anybody be interested?
QuoteCurrently 8 members have signed up:
iammingy
Nowhere Man
fox456
BLaw
Hman360
Dihan
DeeDooo
SuperNatural-Witch
I am simply the organizer of this hackathon. I am not necessarily the leader for making the mod in this hackathon. Please feel free to sign up if you are interested and you think you will have the time to participate in the upcoming 2 weeks or so. I will give people one week to sign up. Later on, each participant will come up with 2 characters that they want to see made into a mod. Then, we will make a poll out of the appended lists. Any characters that have been worked on or are being worked on by any of the participants will be scrapped from the list. The participant becomes the team leader of the mod in this hackathon if his/her character wins the poll.
No addition members are allowed to sign up now...
yeah, that sounds awesome! but what kind of mod do you have in mind?
Ideally, we should come up with one on the first day (at the scene). However, nothing is set in stone. So, we can do it before hand. haha. I suggest that we decide on one character, particularly one where nobody to be involved has made or has attempted to make any progress on it.
I think it would be best if we can get as many people (both modders and non-modders) involved as possible. So, we should first have at least 10 modders sign up. Then, vote for a character. And then, set a date that will hopefully works for every one involved. Finally, we brainstorm about the powers and costumes together on the first day and get to work on the second day.
Count me in. Already thinking about characters I'd like to see made :D
I'd like to give it a try -- if the schedule works out that I can.
Ok, these are the areas of modding that everybody can offer for THE mod.
1. skins (most of the image-editing work)
2. icons/huds/loading screen (less intensive image-editing work)
3. talents (some coding)
4. animations (major amount of hex-editing)
5. powerstyles/fightstyles (the bulk of the code-intensive work)
6. effects
7. 3D models (new meshes, mannequin, boltons, etc.)
8. Ideas for any aspect of the mod listed above.
#7 is not strictly required for the mod in my opinion due to small number of people who can model.
Think about what you can do or what you would like to do. :)
9. voice sounds
10. power sounds
11. menu sounds (if there's a bunch of modders in a joint venture we should make a complete mod)
(?) 12. sim misson
Good points!
We should aim for a bare minimum of 4 costumes, 5 powers, 2 boosts/debuff, and 1 xtreme.
What I'd "like" to do is skin, but since we're under a time constraint plus the fact that I'm a perfectionist, it would be better if I focus on some areas I've had a little success with so far: animations or effects or possibly voice/menu sounds.
Put me on it and I'll make 6 costumes on 1 day +mannequin. I am not shitting you. But I'll only do it cuz it sounds interesting (very) to me. :P
My strenghts would be talents/powerstyle/effects. I won't pick any, I'll just take whatever of these people don't volunteer for.
Hackathon is meant to make the most out of collaboration in a short period of time. The goal is not to make the best perfect mod ever (although it will be great if it is indeed the best mod ever :P).
All ideas and progress for the mod will go in one thread at "Modder's Workbench". This hackathon will serve as a very comprehensive tutorial to making a mod because the topic will discuss everything from brainstorming to getting stuff done. Reading the topic will be like watching a reality show except that we are not staged. :P
I know that we have our own preferences and our preferences may overlap quite a bit. For example, all skinners will want to work on skins for sure. It's true that some of us are clearly skilled at certain aspects of modding. The hackathon would not be enjoyable if you aren't allow to work on something that you really like, right? So, it's best that we spread out the work.
Moreover, it's not sensible that one person work on only one aspect of the mod. If you look at the list above, you should see that some may depend on others while some are totally independent of others.
agreed, but at the same time it's kind of too much for any single modder to work on all the things that overlap. so some modders would have to be avaliable to cooperate via messenger or something of the sort.
Hmmm... using instant messaging is not ideal, but I guess the closely collaborating people can do whatever they want. We don't have to split up the work very evenly, but here is what I think:
We should spent the first 24~48 hours of the hackathon week brainstorming/agreeing what we want to do for the mod. These are the questions that need to be answered for the mod:
Brainstorming Work:
1. Which 4~6 costumes to we want to see skins/meshes done?
2. What are the 5~6 powers and 2~3 boosts and Xtreme?
3. What are the 3 sets of animations to use?
4. Which animation(s) to use for each power/boost/xtreme?
5. What passives?
...
Once we have these questions answered, we can split up the work pretty easily.
Coding Work: One participant will work on one or more powers/boost. That is, he/she will work on the powerstyle/talents/effects for one power. Another participant will work on another power/boost. The third participant will work on another power/boost. You get the idea. We append the code together as we move along.
Graphics Work A: It's the same deal for skins/meshes. One participant work on one or more skin/meshes. Another participant work on another skin/meshes. ... We share them as they are done.
Graphics Work B: Icons/HUDS/loading screen can be done by one or two people as they require little work.
Sound Work A: Power sounds will most likely depend on the powerstyle code. We can gather new sounds from the beginning. If we reuse existing sounds, it is the duty of the participants for "Coding Work" to report what sound files to use.
Sound Work B: Voices is almost independent on everything else. We can build and share them as it is ready.
Coordinator: Gather/Compile all up-to-date code/files as we move along. Build the herostat, packages, etc.
Each participant can work on one or more types of work listed above. Each type of work can be performed by one or more participants. Each participant's roles can change as we move along. Again, nothing is set in stone, the goal is to collaborate efficiently and enjoyably.
Once we have 5(?) modders sign up, we can agree on what each person can do. Then, we pick a start date for the 7 days of hackathon. We can vote for the character to mod before the start date. How does that sound?
Currently 4 members have signed up:
iammingy
Nowhere Man
fox456
BLaw
I am simply the organizer of this hackathon. I am not necessarily the leader for making the mod in this hackathon. Please feel free to sign up if you are interested and you think you will have the time to participate in the upcoming 2 weeks or so. I will give people one week to sign up.
let's just make it so whatever person whose character is chosen will be project leader.
Oh, yes, sure. :)
I don't want people to get the feeling that I will be the one making the final decisions for the mod. It would not be enjoyable if everybody simply pitch in and work for me. lol
oh yeah, I hate when that happens :P
I'll take lead. Like to lead :P
Ok, first order: Nowhere Man, finish my damn Cable. Ok that's it :P (hahahaha /win)
But seriously, Wouldn't mind taking lead. Love modding projects.
I'd love to work on this! Can I take HUDs and Loadscreens?
Idea: [EDIT: Removed. Will be explained later.]
Currently 5 members have signed up:
iammingy
Nowhere Man
fox456
BLaw
Hman360
6 days left for people to sign up, then we begin voting for a start date and the character to mod. Whoever's character get chosen gets to be the team leader.
You are welcome to list the characters that you want to see modded, but please DO NOT discuss about what the mod for the character should have or shouldn't have. Any characters that we list where any participants has worked on or has been working on will be scrapped from the list.
I already know the character I want and it's a gooooood one. But I'm gonna be mysterious and reveal it when the time is right. mwahuahua :P
Yes, I would not talk about it either. In most hackathons, you probably won't know what exactly you will be working on until you get to the scene! It kind of takes away the brainstorming stage if you know what I mean.
I hope your character is not something that I am secretly working on, otherwise... :rofl:
EDIT:
I have updated the first post. Do you think 5 characters per participant is too much?
I think five nominations is a good number. Will all the members of the forum get to vote for their favorite choice?
Yes. I think it should be a public poll.
Just to clarify: 5 characters from 10 modders each = 50 characters to choose from. Isn't it way too much?
haha. 1 from each then? We should all have at least 5 in our mind. :fro:
Agreed. 2 tops.
I gotta think hard. :D
Quote from: iammingy on May 25, 2012, 07:59PM
Yes, I would not talk about it either. In most hackathons, you probably won't know what exactly you will be working on until you get to the scene! It kind of takes away the brainstorming stage if you know what I mean.
I hope your character is not something that I am secretly working on, otherwise... :rofl:
EDIT:
I have updated the first post. Do you think 5 characters per participant is too much?
Oops, I suppose I shouldn't have said mine already...
Quote from: Hman360 on May 26, 2012, 09:47AM
Oops, I suppose I shouldn't have said mine already...
Don't worry about it! :)
5 days left!
Hey guys, there are only 3 days left to sign up.
For those who have signed up, you can nominate up to 2 characters now. I want to make the public poll in "Requests & Suggestions" on the last day (2 days from now).
If you find that the character(s) nominated by another person is one of your work-in-progress, please report here an in-game screenshot of your WIP.
Again, please do not discuss what should (not) go in the mod.
What are your time zones? We should think of a start date for this event!
ok, its 00:13 right now at outpost "N" :P
My 2 characters:
1 - Probably the most important marvel character that hasn't gotten a mod yet: Loki. He's sure gonna be popular considering the hype around the Avengers movie, there are loads of dialogs with him for us to make his voice file, he already has an NPC skeleton to work from, has a model to reskin and his magical powers make it so that almost any idea for the powers is valid. So, he's my definite number 1 choice.
2 - My second choice is Mister Sinister. Also a lot of NPC stuff to work from and great range of powers to use our imagination.
Quote from: iammingy on May 28, 2012, 07:36PM
Hey guys, there are only 3 days left to sign up.
For those who have signed up, you can nominate up to 2 characters now. I want to make the public poll in "Requests & Suggestions" on the last day (2 days from now).
If you find that the character(s) nominated by another person is one of your work-in-progress, please report here an in-game screenshot of your WIP.
Again, please do not discuss what should (not) go in the mod.
What are your time zones? We should think of a start date for this event!
I'm in Eastern Standard Time in the US (UTC-05:00) and currently on Daylight Savings Time.I live in the Eastern Standard Time region in the US, and since I'm currently on Daylight Savings time, it's Eastern Daylight Time, which is UTC-4:00. (Thanks fox456.)
My two:
1. Robin (DC character) could be worked off of Moon Knight and is an important character to Batman
2. Darth Vader (Star Wars) probably quite a bit harder, but would be an amazing character! I actually have plenty of ideas for Vader if he's picked!
My time zone is Eastern Standard Time (America - New York). I believe we are 4 hours earlier than GMT. But, Hman and I are both from Ohio, so it may be 5 hours according to his post.
My two nominations are:
1. Medusa
2. Hellstorm
Quote from: fox456 on May 28, 2012, 08:56PM
My time zone is Eastern Standard Time (America - New York). I believe we are 4 hours earlier than GMT. But, Hman and I are both from Ohio, so it may be 5 hours according to his post.
My two nominations are:
1. Medusa
2. Hellstorm
You have it right, I messed it up because of Daylight Savings Time. I fixed it in my earlier post. Thanks for mentioning that.
Great! :)
So, we've got 3 people on the east coast, 1 on the west coast (myself), and 1 in the Netherlands (Blaw).
I would sign up but I haven't done any modding for ages. I could draw icons and send them to someone else to sort out. All I need is someone to send me the template and give me descriptions of powers.
This is a pretty good idea ^-^ I was actually thinking about doing a similar "modding jam" where everyone would have a certain time to make their own brand new mod from scratch, but this also sounds fun. I'd be glad to help out with whatever I can, though it seems like Blaw has the corner on the skins and if Dihan does the icons I'm pretty much out of a job XD Still if I could help with a power or bonus skins or whatever I'd be glad to.
I could do something else, I don't mind.
I always love what you do with icons so I'm not too fussy about what I end up doing. The point is to make the best mod so I can help out anywhere I'm needed.
I guess we can both do whatever is needed of us then. :P
I'm in,now that I have free time I prefer to do the effects
I like the loki idea...
Welcome to the gang, guys! :D
Please nominate 2 characters now. I want to start the poll tomorrow.
Participant | Character 1 | Character 2 | Preference |
iammingy | Venom (Flash Thompson/Punisher) | Loki | skins, etc. |
Nowhere Man | Loki | Mr. Sinister | talents/powerstyle/effects, etc. |
fox456 | Medusa | Damien Hellstorm | skins, etc. |
BLaw | Green Lantern | Absorbing Man | skins/mannequin |
Hman360 | Robin | Darth Vader | icons/huds/loading screen, voice |
Dihan | - | - | icons, etc. |
DeeDooo | Hulkling | Ares | icons, etc. |
SuperNatural-Witch | - | - | effects |
The team-leader will decide the duties of each participant.
I nominate Hulkling and Ares. Whatever we end up voting for, I can do extra skins on top of whatever Blaw creates and maybe help with a power as well. Whatever I can help with ^-^
Quote from: DeeDooo on May 29, 2012, 07:51PM
I nominate Hulkling and Ares. Whatever we end up voting for, I can do extra skins on top of whatever Blaw creates and maybe help with a power as well. Whatever I can help with ^-^
You already have made skins for Hulkling and Ares. The nominated character should not be a WIP from any of us who have signed up, unless you don't want people to use your skins?
The skins for both those characters would be a lot better with custom models so I do not mind if my skins are not used. I just think they would both be fun additions to the game.
Ok. Good suggestions though! I like Ares. :)
Hey, iammingy, I might also be interested in doing the voice for the character, depending on who it is. I can't make the files, but just recording or obtaining the voice itself.
Added. :)
Please nominate 2 characters now. I want to start the poll tomorrow.
Participant | Character 1 | Character 2 | Preference |
iammingy | Venom (Flash Thompson/Punisher) | Loki | skins, etc. |
Nowhere Man | Loki | Mr. Sinister | talents/powerstyle/effects, etc. |
fox456 | Medusa | Damien Hellstorm | animations/effects/voice/menu sounds, skins |
BLaw | Green Lantern | Absorbing Man | skins/mannequin |
Hman360 | Robin | Darth Vader | icons/huds/loading screen, voice |
Dihan | Darwin | Mercury | icons, talents/powerstyle/effects, etc. |
DeeDooo | Hulkling | Ares | icons, etc. |
SuperNatural-Witch | Tag | Cloak | effects |
The team-leader will decide the duties of each participant.
Tag and Cloak
And I made mr. sinister skins for.Blizz. So that one is out too then.
I wanted to vote for Green Lantern with four different Lantern skins (original lantern, classic, new 52 and some other.) his mod would be unique due to lots of green graphical effects and custom models for those effects. Like Loki he would have one skin (though already done by me) to start with.
A second... mmm. Idk. Hard choice. Gonna think about it. Keeping my choices between a Marvel and DC one. Stupid marvel with unoriginal characters nowadays.
My nominations are Darwin and Mercury. You can also add that I can do talents, powerstyle, effects and anything else involving code.
Quote from: BLaw on May 30, 2012, 01:36AM
I wanted to vote for Green Lantern with four different Lantern skins (original lantern, classic, new 52 and some other.) his mod would be unique due to lots of green graphical effects and custom models for those effects. Like Loki he would have one skin (though already done by me) to start with.
BLaw, I love the Green Lantern idea!
Quote from: BLaw on May 30, 2012, 01:36AM
And I made mr. sinister skins for.Blizz. So that one is out too then.
I wanted to vote for Green Lantern with four different Lantern skins (original lantern, classic, new 52 and some other.) his mod would be unique due to lots of green graphical effects and custom models for those effects. Like Loki he would have one skin (though already done by me) to start with.
A second... mmm. Idk. Hard choice. Gonna think about it. Keeping my choices between a Marvel and DC one. Stupid marvel with unoriginal characters nowadays.
Please make up your mind soon...
Hey iammingy, I was wondering, how long do you plan to have the poll last?
Green Lantern and Absorbing Man. (really lame name haha)
specially in Portuguese, cause the absorbing part is synonym of tampon (the lady type), so he's the Tampon Man :P
ROFLMAO.
Tampon Man is a good choice, BLaw! :)
The poll will run for exactly one week from now.
http://marvelmods.com/forum/index.php/topic,8149.0.html
We should start our hackathon as soon as the poll expires. :)
NOTE:
* If Loki has the highest number of votes, Nowhere Man will be the team leader for the hackathon because he put down his list before me.
* Slot 253XX has been reserved for the character at CCC (http://marvelmods.com/forum/index.php/topic,140.0.html).
Hey, if Vader wins, remind me that I have a bunch of Lightsaber sound effects on my computer.
If Robin wins, remind me that I made a HUD for him earlier.
... and that Robin HUD is sweet by the way!
Thanks!
Quote from: Hyperman360 on June 05, 2012, 10:47AM
Hey, if Vader wins, remind me that I have a bunch of Lightsaber sound effects on my computer.
If Robin wins, remind me that I made a HUD for him earlier.
If either Vader or Robin wins, you will be the team leader. ;)