Hard Light Productions Forums
General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: mjn.mixael on November 03, 2014, 01:50:45 pm
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This month's theme: Wonder
It's 2014! That means a new screencap season! We're going to do things slightly differently this year. Our many campaigns are filled with emotional ups, downs, and/or lackthereof. So let's highlight that with a whole year's worth of emotional themes. I don't care what's in the image as long as it portrays the particular feeling for the month (and is captured from in-mission).
Screencap Scoreboard:
Ckid - 2
Mpez - 3
AndrewofDoom - 1
tnathan475 - 1
The Hound - 1
Betrayal - 1
Admiral Ralwood - 1
Remember to check out the Wiki article (http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Screencap_Contest) for tips on how to capture the best screen!
Screencap script makes taking pictures much easier! (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=82173.0)
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The Collossus, it doth filleth me with wonder....
Like "How the f...farquad (can we swear? Are we live on air?) did the muthaf....flinger get destroyed so quick...the workmen and women must have been disappointed :(
*Ahem* Anyway...
(https://googledrive.com/host/0B55lERxdJr4FbWRMU1RQU1hNNlU/Image160.png)
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(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-8/10658581_10202827552745716_374317891608172857_o.jpg)
haha success
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:blah: Pesky dev mode ruining every screenshot, no matter, I'll leave this already shown off image here anyways just because:
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/34101645752266695/8092097702ACE190B9D1DD2D97D2B76A1C9DEEB0/)
I do not expect to win with this, I'm just proud of something that took no real effort for it just spontaneously happened >.>
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Hey guys
Is my image blurry or pixelly or is it my slow internet not loading the image up?
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(http://i.imgur.com/1vF57fI.png)
...maybe that will do.
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(http://i.imgur.com/12bWEbQ.jpg)
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and bang, winner is here
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Well, he had to cheat to get that! :P
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Well, to be honest, its not quite fair within the rules set by now on the contest. Many art/model/texurers have an upper hand here, as they have the first hand on the best stuff... which only later normal people will get (eventually)
To add to the matters, I recently see a trope of Blue Planet screenies, winning contests, and overall. There are two types of shots - BP, and not related to campaigns (not a rule though.). To add things, we can pretty much state that the best of HLP are working on BP, which created a dead cycle - same people having same best stuff and posting up BP.
...no offence, no hard feelings, just thats my... sighting of late (loose opinion).
P.S. For any offended people, flame wars, etc. I am sorry, I am not best with ENG around, so I might couldn't write up things like i wanted to - neutrally, no offending.
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No, you are right, there is way too much BP in these contests, it should really be banned for a few months.
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Well actually everyone can make some not bp- related screens and other stuff so... :rolleyes: Nothing stops you and no one else from making something better ;P
But I also have a feeling that bp- related stuff is strongly favoured by many of us. But I'm not going to argue about it with anyone because I just don't care :P.
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No, you are right, there is way too much BP in these contests, it should really be banned for a few months.
Why? No one is forcing people to post BP screenshots. I'll add that this year, there have been two winning screenshots from BP: October and January. So I'm not really sure what you mean by "too much BP".
Well, to be honest, its not quite fair within the rules set by now on the contest. Many art/model/texurers have an upper hand here, as they have the first hand on the best stuff... which only later normal people will get (eventually).
Maybe I'm missing something here. What isn't fair about CKid's picture?
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What I was meaning, is that the skybox he used is a new version of it from BP? (I can't say for sure, but I believe that the BP available for download has no so hi-res version, but got to double-check on that.)
And that was not about CKid, his screenshot is great by all means, I was speaking generally, that some people just have an upper hand here. Lets say, Aesaar (*you) could post up here his (*your) newest Titan, or Erebus here, and would surely bang a win here.
And well, referring to your argument for two winning shots, yea, but see how much BP stuff is posted out there, not only winning shots.
*just noticed that was your post lol.
EDIT:
And don't get me wrong. I'm not looking to point fingers at people, nor offend them.
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Everything in that screenshot is from the BP that you all can download. I am not a part of the BP DEV team and have no access to their work in progress skyboxes, models, effects, or any other goodies that they maybe working on. All I did to get this shot was play Universal Truth and use the screencap script.
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Everything in that screenshot is from the BP that you all can download.]
In that case I just have to apologise you CKid, my bad on this one.
But still, I do think people are over-inspired by BP in this contest a bit.
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Good screens are about way more than one great asset. A modeler would have a hard time winning with just a nice model and no real composition to the shot. To really have an upper hand via assets, you'd need to be able to model, texture, make effects and skyboxes at least. At that point you might as well start composing your screens purposefully.
As for BP, I think it's often used because it's a good looking and well made mod. It comes with great models and beautiful scenery. I'd argue that it gives the unskilled an easy way to create beautiful screens without having to create new stuff. It's easy to make good screenshots with BP as compared to other mods, so of course it's going to be used often.
As for BP getting unfairly judged... I haven't played anything past the original WiH R1. Aside from very recognizable ships used in BP, it's getting harder for me to tell what shots are from BP or not. I'd have a hard time favoring it consistently even if I wanted to. Start posting screens from BtA and then I'll show you bias. :)
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Start posting screens from BtA and then I'll show you bias. :)
The thought has crossed my mind before. :D
It wouldn't be fair though, hardly anyone has access to it.
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I think BP gets used a lot because it's popular, theatrical, and very, very story-driven. You post a screenshot, and most people know the context. For example, Admiral Ralwood's image from the last thread. On its own, it doesn't actually tell you much, but put it in context, and you know what's about to happen. A screenshot from BP tells part of a story, and that provokes an emotion. Most of the BP submissions are like this. It's harder to tell a story without any context.
This isn't unique to BP, and I admit I'm rather surprised by how little of Diaspora or Vassago's Dirge one sees in these threads.
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I wonder if it's "right" to win with something that not everyone has access to. I remember feeling some irritation when Axem won once with assets from WoD that only someone working on the project could have (though this was more than compensated by the fact I had wanted a WoD shot to win and think WoD is badly unrepresented in these contests.)
There's two ways of looking at it I suppose. One is it's an unfair advantage, the other is that it's an earned advantage. But I personally wouldn't feel right using stuff from BtA, regardless of any potential bias since it's mjn's project. If I had access to a different project I wouldn't feel comfortable with exploiting that.
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Well... Mystery Project won two times, but You have no idea what it is so it's not depending that much on the story that it tells. As long as it fits into month's theme, and do it in unusual way, even some random ships with random nebulae may won. Work like this is not common. People prefer to take screenshots in released mods, and there are just few mods as visually pretty as WiH.
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I would really not want to see rules placed on what content is allowed (monthly theme restrictions aside). If someone wants to use the screenshot contest with unreleased ships to plug their mod, they can go right ahead. (Hear that BWO members? ;7) If someone wants to model, map and texture a ship with the sole purpose of winning the contest, well, go right ahead. (I just hope it was worth the effort to win a badge for a month!)
This contest is about showing that FreeSpace isn't just some old game from 1999, its very close to being on par with current gen engines. This is why the primordial rule for the contest is "untouched in-engine screenshots only", and that I think makes the playing field as level as it can be.
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As for BP, I think it's often used because it's a good looking and well made mod. It comes with great models and beautiful scenery. I'd argue that it gives the unskilled an easy way to create beautiful screens without having to create new stuff. It's easy to make good screenshots with BP as compared to other mods, so of course it's going to be used often.
I'm willing to bet that when / if you release BtA, the number of screenshots won by your mod will dwarf anyone else's. BP is quite nice looking, but I do think your mod has the best look I've seen so far in FSO, except perhaps for Diaspora.
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Well shucks. Now I'm blushing.
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Well, keep blushing, 'cause I'm quoting it for truth:
BP is quite nice looking, but I do think your mod has the best look I've seen so far in FSO
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As for BP, I think it's often used because it's a good looking and well made mod. It comes with great models and beautiful scenery. I'd argue that it gives the unskilled an easy way to create beautiful screens without having to create new stuff. It's easy to make good screenshots with BP as compared to other mods, so of course it's going to be used often.
QFT (again! darn it...) BP has a lot of good quality models and both sides of the conflict, which makes it a favourite for me when making screenies. However, the models are one thing, the framing, effects etc. are another.
E.g. if you look at one of my screens
(http://oi62.tinypic.com/synlzr.jpg)
Without the (ingame) effects and with different framing it doesn't look as good.
(http://oi57.tinypic.com/p58k5.jpg)
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love that karuna
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Just a reminder - BP is not only mod with cool assets.
Okay, time for something from me. This month: Earth Defence
(http://i40.tinypic.com/2nk2xaq.jpg)
(http://i42.tinypic.com/14o3ri9.jpg)