TFR Guidelines [READ]

[Gors]

This is the Subforum for THE FIGHTERS RESOURCE, a fighting game project involving tVGR members duking it out to see who is the best spriter on the Earth.

This thread serves as guidelines to keep this section tidy and organized. Please read the rules before posting or creating topics.

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1. Who is in charge of the project?
If you said 'Gors'... then you are mistaken. I am no longer overviewing this project despite being its creator, and I am not going to make any more assets for this game at all. I will be looking this subforum daily in order to ensure rules and lock/warn posters if needed, like any mod/admin.

If someone around here is willing to take up as the project's leader, do so. You are encouraged to make tutorial threads for newcomers and discussing gameplay ideas.

2. I am coding this game. What should I do?
If you are the game programmer, make a topic and tell me via PM to sticky it. Those will be known as PROGRAMMER THREADS. This way the game-related updates will be much more accessible, and will unclutter the forum. There can be more than one Programmer Thread, so don't be discouraged if there's one already.

3. I am a character (playable or assist) spriter. What should I do?
If you are a veteran member, You may remember the Smash Bros Project. Basically, create a thread per character. The thread's name must be the character's name. Post updates of said character there. KEEP THE FIRST POST UP TO DATE AS TO EASEN THE LIFE OF THE PROGRAMMER. The thread must include anything related to the character, such as:

1. Fighter/Assist character's sheet;
   
2. Mugshots for fighters;
   
3. Fighter/Assist-specific effects (special sound effects also enter here);
   
4. Music Theme for fighters;
   
5. Voice Clips;
   
6. Gameplay.
   

4. How about Levels?
I will be making a 'LEVELS' thread to roganize the latest Level-related assets. Since this is a grouped thread for ALL levels, I will be using the LOVE THREAD's format for quick browsing, which is:

1. Each post has its own hyperlink. I will be using them to quickly link users to the graphic, increasing search speed and making things much more accessible.
   
2. When updating graphics, make a new post AND edit the original post you made. I will update the list with the links of the first post, so editing it is IMPRESCINDIBLE.
   
3. When showing an entirely new level graphic (a level that didn't exist before), make its own post so I can add it to the list as its own item. It doesn't matter if you are already making another level; making a new post for it will make it more organized.
   
4. Discussing in the thread is open. Feel free to give C+C to help others improve.
   

5. Where do I post the miscellaneous graphics (such as hit sparks, HUD elements, score numbers)?
I also will be making a 'MISC GRAPHICS' thread to organize them all in one place. The organization will works the same as the LEVELS thread. Read above.

6. How about music or audio?
Character themes and voices must be posted in their respective character threads. Music or sounds unrelated to any character must be posted in the 'MUSIC' thread I'll be making. The organization is again based in the LEVELS thread. Use Soundcloud, Dropbox, Copy, YT video etc. to show your music; DO NOT USE THE SITE'S ATTACHMENT SYSTEM. We will shame you and make a meme out of you if you do. THIS ALSO APPLIES FOR GRAPHICS.

This means, I am not the main composer anymore. I'll post the themes I composed soon, though.

7. I have gameplay ideas/I have forum suggestions. Where to post?
If you only have verbal C+C regarding the overall gameplay and mechanics of TFR, post it in the Programmer thread. Suggestions, playtests, debugging goes all there.

General brainstorming/forum suggestions can be posted in this thread.

8. Is this a serious project? Will this be completed?
This project is obviously tongue-in-cheek, but that doesn't keep you away from doing your best. Have fun: sprite, make music, suggest and help each other. The completion only depends on teamwork, so I count on you, guys.

9. There's something missing in this list! How to proceed?
If something is missing in this rules list, send me a PM with the missing content or doubts regarding rules. I'll gladly update and amend this thread as many times it's necessary.

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The rest's all up to you. Good luck, guys.

[Chris2Balls [:B]]

Thanks for creating the sub-forum, Gors! I hope we can reach our goals.
If I were to choose who would lead this project, I'd choose both Mighty Jetters and TomGuycott.

[Omega]

Can anyone who hasn't already been making sprites for their/other characters join in too?

[Garamonde]

Thanks for creating the sub-forum, Gors! I hope we can reach our goals.
If I were to choose who would lead this project, I'd choose both Mighty Jetters and TomGuycott.

I don't feel worthy ;^;

especially since I haven't done much of anything to contribute, despite the fact that I check it all the time

if Tom agrees though, then I'll do my best I guess!!

(btw I'll make my character thread soon)

[Chris2Balls [:B]]

I'd say Baegal if you can't make it. He's done a fantastic job at gathering resources, plus has provided a full character. NICKtendo is another person to consider, as he's quite active, too. It's up to you guys to decide, nobody can do that instead of you!

[Garamonde]

I'd REALLY like to but I feel as though Baegal is much more efficient and professional than me, so I think he would do a better job...

I guess I could be like the vice president or something, lol.

[Baegal]

Thanks guys C:

I'd love to help in any way I can

Currently I'm still editing the reference thread, but in a few minutes I'd like to propose SOME standards (especially with thread names to avoid confusion)

please bear with me!

[Crappy Blue Luigi]

Can anyone who hasn't already been making sprites for their/other characters join in too?

i see no reason for this to have changed from the original thread. join away!

[Baegal]

For consistency's sake, can we have a format for the character thread titles?

I think it'd be best to have the name of the thread be the name that the player will have in game.
For example, I'd name my thread (even though it was made by Baegal) 'Ocks', and 'Ocks' appears on the game's character select screen.
Also it wouldn't hurt to add (PLAYER) or something to denote that the person intends to be a playable character or (HELPER) for helper.

[The Scarlet One]

Can anyone who hasn't already been making sprites for their/other characters join in too?

i see no reason for this to have changed from the original thread. join away!

Another nice guideline would be who CAN join all around.
For instance, I would like to join, but I'm new here and may not work as representative of the SR. (VGR or whatever you want to call it now)

Would there be limits like that, or is this aimed at sprite artists in general?
As the latter it serves as a nice way to get experience animating sprites, on top of everything else. o3o

[[robo9]]

Can anyone who hasn't already been making sprites for their/other characters join in too?

i see no reason for this to have changed from the original thread. join away!

Another nice guideline would be who CAN join all around.
For instance, I would like to join, but I'm new here and may not work as representative of the SR. (VGR or whatever you want to call it now)

There actually is one (or was, I don't know if it's been lost in the shuffle) but it involved the user' age.

However, I have a suggestion on how to handle the newer applicants, especially since several users who meet the requirement at the moment aren't exactly recognizable enough to properly represent the forum. My suggestion is to have a council of like, 5, decide if an applicant is iffy. Something like TomG, Nicktendo, Gors(?), C2B, myself, or other people that would be able to really decide. The five (or however many, preferable an odd number) vote, and if the majority vote yes the person is good

[Chris2Balls [:B]]

I guess we could also have "guest stars" in the roster. If we manage to get a placeholder character or two in the game, with a folder in which we can change graphics and other parametres so that they can be edited, then why not. I haven't looked into this in the case of the current engine, so this is theoretical.

[Iocus]

There actually is one (or was, I don't know if it's been lost in the shuffle) but it involved the user' age.

However, I have a suggestion on how to handle the newer applicants, especially since several users who meet the requirement at the moment aren't exactly recognizable enough to properly represent the forum. My suggestion is to have a council of like, 5, decide if an applicant is iffy. Something like TomG, Nicktendo, Gors(?), C2B, myself, or other people that would be able to really decide. The five (or however many, preferable an odd number) vote, and if the majority vote yes the person is good

This might seem like a bit of a cynical alternative, and I wasn't even going to mention it, but giving it some thought, it isn't really that unreasonable; what if playable eligibility is determined by reputation? I mean, as far as I can tell, the characters with the best reception all have at least 20 rep.

What I'm saying is, rep. score and renown are tightly related. It could be a (mostly) objective way to measure someone's feasibilty (and for people to determine if they will be taken in or not) without having to awkwardly reject people. And since they have no power over their own reputation, unlike with post counts, the numbers pretty much speak for themselves.

I'd imagine an issue or two could arise from this system, but I think it's reasonable overall. Of course, there can be exceptions; if somebody worked hard on a sheet of decent quality, the community could choose to keep it.
It could be like, 5-10 rep or more for helpers, 20 or more rep for player characters.

Idk, just a thought

[Kosheh]

Thanks for creating the sub-forum, Gors! I hope we can reach our goals.
If I were to choose who would lead this project, I'd choose both Mighty Jetters and TomGuycott.

I don't feel worthy ;^;

especially since I haven't done much of anything to contribute, despite the fact that I check it all the time

if Tom agrees though, then I'll do my best I guess!!

(btw I'll make my character thread soon)

I'd actually suggest three people if that's not too uh, InSaNeO on you guys


- One person to keep things organized and in check (Mighty Jetters or Baegal - if we could actually make this person moderator of just this forum if they're not already, would be a very good idea!)
- One person who supervises programming/ties things together (TomGuycott doy)
- One person who has notable experience with fighting games, advanced techniques and game balance to figure out the in-depth game mechanics (I'd have said "me" some time ago or "Tyvon" even longer ago, but now I'd suggest someone like, oh, Tellis for this job, for example
I'd still do it but I'm humble as heck so I'd rather you scope out the other options before asking me)

Spoiler

I actually did a fair amount of character balance for Super Smash Flash 2!!
I made Naruto suck far less, and IIRC fixed some aspects of Sora, but dont tell anybody O_O

They don't necessarily need to have a character in the game in order to work on it since their name will be plastered all over the credits anyway, lol

[Tellis]

- One person who has notable experience with fighting games, advanced techniques and game balance to figure out the in-depth game mechanics (I'd have said "me" some time ago or "Tyvon" even longer ago, but now I'd suggest someone like, oh, Tellis for this job, for example

I'd be pretty down to do that! I've actually been wanting to put together a really comprehensive (like with pictures and screenshots and pretty formatting) of the game's mechanics so there's no confusion over them for people making their characters. Like, it's not super clear with everyone how exactly Specials and Gognios work, or assists work so it'd be nice to just have a post to point at and go "here, look, it's pretty and informative". Of course, that means I have to ask a few clarifying questions. And decide on some hard numbers (how many levels of meter can we have, how many assists, etc.) so there's absolutely no confusion on that.

Also that post will probably have to wait until school cools down a bit... or this quarter ends. Whichever comes first.