The Smashmouth Project

[Hooe]

Re: The Smashmouth Project

Cynicism is trendy. Being happy for others isn't.

Nevermind the fact that, at least in my eight (!) years spent visiting this site and Maddenmania, I've seen many, many indie football video game projects get thought up, some even talked about as in development, and then nothing happens, or strange circumstances force the end of the project. The cynicism is justified if you've been around the block in the sports gaming community.

I do hope that TheWatcher is genuine and once he begins releasing more information and media about his project I'll begin to pay more attention. Until then, however, forgive myself and anyone else who might be a bit dismissive, or worse.

[PVarck31]

Re: The Smashmouth Project

You are doing an awful lot of talking with nothing to back it up.

That will be enough. If you can't do anything other than cynically call out watcher, then stay out of the thread.

[MaxMan1000]

Re: The Smashmouth Project

Nevermind the fact that, at least in my eight (!) years spent visiting this site and Maddenmania, I've seen many, many indie football video game projects get thought up, some even talked about as in development, and then nothing happens, or strange circumstances force the end of the project. The cynicism is justified if you've been around the block in the sports gaming community.

I do hope that TheWatcher is genuine and once he begins releasing more information and media about his project I'll begin to pay more attention. Until then, however, forgive myself and anyone else who might be a bit dismissive, or worse.

I've watched many of these football projects, too. Gridiron Glory, 5 different unlicensed CFL projects including the most recent one, 3 other NFL projects where guys didn't have the license but just started developing it anyway. Then there was In Your Face Football. All of those projects except IYFF never even got to prototype, and only the most recent CFL project that fell had a few images.

But in all of the years where I've watched these projects, I've never witnessed one where gamers acted so childishly as they have here. I've only ever seen support and positivity with those other projects, and like TheWatcher said most of those didn't tell you or show you anything at all. Here, all I see is hate and accusations. Gridiron Glory for example, had a community of over 1,000 people and they never posted one pic or one feature! That's the same thing with a number of the indie CFL and NFL projects, but there was never hating like this.

I'm glad a mod stepped in here. Some of you really should be ashamed of yourselves. I wonder if the same people doing this will be big enough to apologize once there is more? My guess is, those people will be nowhere to be found, because they'd rather fall off the face of the earth than admit that they were wrong or be positive and show some support. I don't understand haters, but I know they'll never prosper.

[DickDalewood]

Re: The Smashmouth Project

As PJ eluded to, if you don't have anything constructive to say to TheWatcher about the project being discussed in this thread, then stay out. If you come in here trolling, or bashing the OP, you will get an infraction, period, no questions asked.

[CreatineKasey]

Re: The Smashmouth Project

Nevermind the fact that, at least in my eight (!) years spent visiting this site and Maddenmania, I've seen many, many indie football video game projects get thought up, some even talked about as in development, and then nothing happens, or strange circumstances force the end of the project. The cynicism is justified if you've been around the block in the sports gaming community.

I do hope that TheWatcher is genuine and once he begins releasing more information and media about his project I'll begin to pay more attention. Until then, however, forgive myself and anyone else who might be a bit dismissive, or worse.

That's fine if you don't believe he'll succeed in his vision. There's two ways you can approach the thread in my opinion if you genuinely don't think it'll happen: either encourage him or try to bring him down/milk him for more info.

In my opinion JEM is playing the negative role for whatever reason and it's unnecessary. Yeah, it may not come to fruition, but I'll definitely be here to encourage the guy regardless. It's not like I'm paying him money for this information.

[Cryolemon]

Re: The Smashmouth Project

As PJ eluded to, if you don't have anything constructive to say to TheWatcher about the project being discussed in this thread, then stay out. If you come in here trolling, or bashing the OP, you will get an infraction, period, no questions asked.

So TheWatcher is basically considered a dev for purposes of the rules regarding trolling devs? Cool.

[DickDalewood]

Re: The Smashmouth Project

So TheWatcher is basically considered a dev for purposes of the rules regarding trolling devs? Cool.

No, this thread falls under the same rules of any thread on the OS forums; discuss the topic at hand, constructively and maturely, and without trolling or bashing.

It's pretty simple.

If anyone else has any other questions, feel free to PM me. Now, back on topic...

[Matt10]

Re: The Smashmouth Project

TW...this sounds incredible. I will be watching (and re-reading) this thread like a hawk.

[Valdarez]

Re: The Smashmouth Project

I am curious about one thing. In the first post, you say that the image is taken directly from your prototype, and that it looks real because it is real, based on some new technology your developing.



And then in your arena, you have the picture below which is also from the prototype?



Those look like completely different images/games to me. The first looks like live action capture, and the second looks like typical graphics/rendering that we're used to seeing (still looks good). Why the difference between the two?

[CreatineKasey]

Re: The Smashmouth Project

All I know is that LB needs to get on the squats and deadlifts to build his lower body up. Those calves aren't cutting it

Just giving you a hard time lol.

[TheWatcher]

Re: The Smashmouth Project

@Valdarez... That's a good question. Yeah, they're all still tech prototype shots. The first pic was from a very old build I closed in late March. The second was from a build in early April when I started some more testing with the lighting effects. The third pic is from a build from mid-May where I was testing out some different lighting types with some lighting masks I created which were different than the older builds, so it's definitely the lighting making the difference. The cool thing here is that you get to see some of the way things change and differ at each stage. In fact, I'll let you guys in on something...

In the Smith pic, the AI is working with a line of sight calculation to scan for the runningback. Because it's a still, it looks like the shot was taken while he was moving or preparing for a coming impact. But what really happened in this build, is that for some reason when line of sight locked-on, the LB would stop and freeze. That's since been fixed, but it was funny to watch him freeze and then go into a collision sequence when the ball carrier came into his zone.

I believe I can say now that the technical prototype is 100% complete. So with that, I'm going to talk to Steve soon and see what permission he'll grant me to kickoff the game prototype stage here. I have some polls and things in mind, and I would like some community input. I'll be showing some captures as well as part of that kickoff.

[TheWatcher]

Re: The Smashmouth Project

All I know is that LB needs to get on the squats and deadlifts to build his lower body up. Those calves aren't cutting it

Just giving you a hard time lol.

LOL!

It was supposed to be a smaller/lankier style body type. I can manipulate the size of body parts with my tools. One of the pics I think I'll show for kickoff will be of a lineman, and believe me, he'll have some serious meat on those calves for ya

[Sublime12089]

Re: The Smashmouth Project

Sounds good man, been following since the OP and can't wait. And also LOL @ your new sig

[Valdarez]

Re: The Smashmouth Project

@Valdarez... That's a good question. Yeah, they're all still tech prototype shots. The first pic was from a very old build I closed in late March. The second was from a build in early April when I started some more testing with the lighting effects. The third pic is from a build from mid-May where I was testing out some different lighting types with some lighting masks I created which were different than the older builds, so it's definitely the lighting making the difference. The cool thing here is that you get to see some of the way things change and differ at each stage. In fact, I'll let you guys in on something...

In the Smith pic, the AI is working with a line of sight calculation to scan for the runningback. Because it's a still, it looks like the shot was taken while he was moving or preparing for a coming impact. But what really happened in this build, is that for some reason when line of sight locked-on, the LB would stop and freeze. That's since been fixed, but it was funny to watch him freeze and then go into a collision sequence when the ball carrier came into his zone.

I believe I can say now that the technical prototype is 100% complete. So with that, I'm going to talk to Steve soon and see what permission he'll grant me to kickoff the game prototype stage here. I have some polls and things in mind, and I would like some community input. I'll be showing some captures as well as part of that kickoff.

Didn't realize lighting could so drastically change the look of the image. The 2nd image I posted (your 3rd I think?) also looks a little blurry, which makes it look quite a bit different too. My guess is that it was in motion at the time you snapped it. That blurry affect makes it look quite a bit different from the 1st pic as well.

Interested to see what you are doing gameplay wise. I'm a huge fan of Tecmo Super Bowl, and I never understood why no other football game every capitalized on the broadcast/gameplay view in football. Once football gaming went 3D, the view was gone from football titles.

[celticfang]

Re: The Smashmouth Project

Like I said before, good luck, I'm interested to see where this goes

And I love the side on angle