Foundry Process

[mibi]

anyone have the cliff notes to the above post?

[AndyDufresne]

How rude of you to ask, if I take the time to answer everything. Kidding, of course.


--Andy

[Samus]

Seriously Samus, perhaps I should give the Foreman position over to you! If you want, I can contact Lack and tell him you’ll be taking over as Foreman of the Foundry.

Woohoo!

Kidding of course, I’m just poking fun at you.

.....dreams........crushed............

It’s nice to see you around, it shows you at least care about the Foundry and the Process as a whole. As for the unprofessional way to run the Foundry, I don’t see myself as being unprofessional at all. Of course, I’m a little biased when evaluating myself. In fact…I think I’ll ask Lack for a raise due in part to how well the Foundry has been moving along! But seriously, I think Keyogi and I are being very professional. We aren’t trying to ruin any maps or hold people back that we don’t like. I really don’t even hate anyone in the Foundry! You’ve all got a little special place in my heart, and I mean it. Every decent poster that has walked through the Foundry, I remember. I must say I do miss the old days of cartographers long gone, but I’m pleased to know that we’ve got many more budding cartographers ready to tear some maps apart and get into the development. It makes me smile, it really does. Seeing our Foundry prosper is one of the best things to see as Foreman. I love the Foundry, and I hope you all know that. I hope it comes across in nearly every post I make here. Next…

I absolutely do NOT think you are unprofessional, this entire post was a great example. Somewhere along the line it turned into the "community bashing on Andy and Keyogi" thread, but you did not turn defensive or combative in your response.

That last bit in my quote there was intended to be more of a "hypothetically, that would be uncool," but I realize now it was poorly worded.

The standards for graphics have gone way up, but as far as I can tell there aren't any standards for playability. As long as the regions have the correct bonus, that's the only required thought to put into how games will actually play out. And since graphical standards now more or less require you to be a graphics designer, map makers who focus on gameplay are constantly berated about how their map doesn't look good enough and told "this map doesn't appeal to me."

Jeez, you again? I’ve a feeling there will be more posts from you… But seriously, standards for graphics easily can rise. Standards for game play are more set in stone. But that doesn’t mean that new things can’t be tried. Jota was one of the best examples of this. Take a look at all the revolutionary and new ideas he came up with? Sharing countries for continents, countries that don’t belong to continents, the +1 bonus, the negative bonus, and the map of all 1 way directions! And look at the other great ideas in the works! San Fran’s Alcatraz island…and the Eight Thoughts map as a whole! There are many others, and I know I’m forgetting some, but you see the picture?

Often I look at new gimicky things a map maker is doing like watching a fashion show. You can talk about how great and innovative it is all you want, but at the end of the day the vast majority of people will go for something more normal.

Also, I must ask, if the last “quote” in reference to what I sometime say in new topics? If it is, you should know I say that quite frequently in earlier development. Not all maps win me over with the first image. I’m Monkey, I like and dislike things. But I am always curious to see how maps can improve and grow on me. And I think I can honestly say I’ve liked every map I’ve put through the Foundry, in some way or another. I may play a few more than others, but each one is uniquely special in my mind. Next…

I don't really have a problem with your candor, but I'm sure you can see how that could be taken by someone who is new to the Foundry. All he sees is that the Foundry Foreman himself just said the idea has no appeal, he doesn't know you say that to everybody. You should probably mention that.

As for your analogy I’d say it is more surely and interesting one!

Nah, it sucked. A farm analogy and I didn't even squeeze in one beastiality reference. I choked!

[Coleman]

For mibi.

Andy's busy and only one person so I don't blame him. But yeah he should be faster about making maps final forge.

Secrets are bad and lead to regret.

What secret? I’m working with peoples right now. Sub-forums be coming. Things be like, 1) in the ides forum for new maps, and then like in 2) a new forum for maps in development and last 3) a final forge forum. Next….

My map been worked on a long time, but no final forge and it makes me sad.

I think it's cause I asked for final forge. Mibi has too and his isn't either.

Sorry for the misunderstanding, but your map is the suck with minor issues. Next…

I spend lots of time on my maps before I post them because I'm god.

WM is god. Next…

I want faster foundry and more mods

One mod at a time @#$ hole. Next…

I think playability should come before graphics.

We should add more stages to development. Like...

Idea
Game Play
Heating (art)
Final Forge
Quenched

I agree, WM is god. Next…

Foundry is old.

Not for long! Next...

I like the process, maybe make more clear.

We working on it foo. Next…

Changes to the process should involve community!

Responding to this is wasting my time, but I did it anyway, wtf? Next…

Look at the bad maps!

Things were different then, now I'm mean. Next…

You're not professional!

I'm a monkey! Next…

Graphics are too important and gameplay is not developed enough anymore.

You talk to much. Neat stuff happens. Next…

I hate stupid nitpicky graphics comments. Comments should be constructive or not made.

There should be guidelins for feedback!

Stupid feedback is generally ignored anyway! Next…

"So, this is how I see the Foundry right now. Imagine and old man on a farm who is using a horse and plow on his field. His sons say "hey pops, why don't you get a tractor?" To which the old man replies "this is the way I've always done it, and it works. Look at the field. See? It works." The sons say "but dad, with a tractor you could do it a lot faster." The old man responds "what's your hurry? Plowing fields takes time." Sorry this was immune to shortening.

Foundry should be faster!

That's harsh! I'll final forge a bunch of things early now... Next…

Phew, thank goodness that's over.

Foundry process is only getting better. I love you all!

I really care about the foundry!

I’m a nice monkey, I really am. I’m just curious…that’s all!

So I say goodnight, Foundry. Now get back to work…

--Andy

[mibi]

thanks coleman. this andy fella sounds like a real jerk! something ought to be done.

[Samus]

LMAO @ Coleman

[boberz]

at least it is too hard to get a map up that is better than too easy i do not think a bad map has mad it onto cc in the current process which in my opinion why it works however it could be sped up.

[Ruben Cassar]

Not necessarily something to do with the foundry process but can a team of cartographers be assembled to work on improving the current maps that are on the site to bring them on a par with the new maps?

A lot of them have grammatical mistakes for the territorial names. I remember a lot where found on the Middle Earth map but no one takes any action.

There are also a lot of cosmetic improvements that can be done to current maps and army centring issues as well. Maybe efforts could be coordinated to contact the original cartographers for permission and then assemble a team to make the upgrades. These do not necessarily have to be major revamps like the one Keyogi is doing for Middle East but for most of the maps only minor updates are required.

[Guiscard]

Nice (long) post andy. I think that should pretty much answer everyones' queries at this point. When we've got sub-forums up and running then that's the time to start clarifying foundry terms like final forge. Nice to see a lot of people are thinking along the same lines.

After that massive post get yourself a crate of bananas and chill out.

[hulmey]

Sniff sniff

[Ruben Cassar]

Sniff sniff

Suffering from hay fever Hulmey? *lol*

[hulmey]

lol

[mibi]

lol

hulmey what is going on with your sig?

[Ruben Cassar]

lol

hulmey what is going on with your sig?

I guess he wants to let us all know that his first name is Simon (in an indirect way of course).

[Nikolai]

So, a couple of pages into this thread, I thought I was going to explode from trying to read the whole thread before responding. And then Guiscard ranted.

Guiscard, for the record, we've clashed in other forums before, and probably will again, but I love your Foundry work, and I appreciate how your reasoning process, unlike that of many on this site, actually involves reasoning.

Pretty much, at this point, you can take everything that he said and put my vote (for what little it's worth - I've gotta make a map sometime) behind it.

Oh, and as a member who came through here a while back, when Andy was still new to the job and people didn't even know what "cartographer" meant, I would like to add that all of you people whining about how antique the Foundry Process is really, really have no clue what you're talking about. Andy has moved the Foundry Process forward at a rate of speed I'm pretty sure I'd be uncomfortable with if it wasn't producing such tremendous results. Please don't let a couple of impatient, stubborn whiners convince you all that this Process is anything short of excellent, as it stands, and steadily improving under Andy's guidance.

[oaktown]

Please don't let a couple of impatient, stubborn whiners convince you all that this Process is anything short of excellent, as it stands, and steadily improving under Andy's guidance.

Agreed. When I started the chinese checkers map in December there were maybe three or four maps that were seriously under development - now there are at least a dozen that are well on their way to quenching and many more that are in the earlier stages (not to mention the sperm donation room map). When something grows that fast there will be growing pains.

The foundry remains my favorite part of this site, and Andy is doing a fine job... that won't stop me from scheming to take it over though... heh heh.

[Guiscard]

So, a couple of pages into this thread, I thought I was going to explode from trying to read the whole thread before responding. And then Guiscard ranted.

Guiscard, for the record, we've clashed in other forums before, and probably will again, but I love your Foundry work, and I appreciate how your reasoning process, unlike that of many on this site, actually involves reasoning.

Pretty much, at this point, you can take everything that he said and put my vote (for what little it's worth - I've gotta make a map sometime) behind it.

Oh, and as a member who came through here a while back, when Andy was still new to the job and people didn't even know what "cartographer" meant, I would like to add that all of you people whining about how antique the Foundry Process is really, really have no clue what you're talking about. Andy has moved the Foundry Process forward at a rate of speed I'm pretty sure I'd be uncomfortable with if it wasn't producing such tremendous results. Please don't let a couple of impatient, stubborn whiners convince you all that this Process is anything short of excellent, as it stands, and steadily improving under Andy's guidance.

True dat...