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Chippit
02-06-2008, 02:18 PM
We've been terribly late with releases recently, and Dev.Mag has unfortunately lost much of the steam we worked up over the last holidays, so I really want to get back to the old schedule, and normalize these releases again. So here goes..

Because the themed issues have worked well in the past, and because it tends to make it easier to have interesting ideas for articles, I want to theme this issue too. This month, we're going to try for articles focused on GarageGames, and the Torque Game Engine in particular.

I'm also open to ideas for a new staple series. We've unfortunately lost Stefan, our Blender article contributor, and I'd like to be able to replace that with something else. It's always great to have a long running article series to keep people coming back. I may decide to pick up that particular series again myself, but it's always nice to have something new.

As always, I'll edit this post to keep it up to date. Unless otherwise noted, articles listed here are up for grabs.

Our deadline for this month is 16 June

News

It looks like I'll be doing this, but I'd still appreciate someone to be a dedicated newsgatherer for us. It'll help in recognizing potential articles too, as well as getting the forum more involved.


Feature

Eric Gooch interview - Fuzzyspoon


Opinions

Still unsure about this one, but since we keep getting submissions, we'll keep using them. So if you had a sudden thought, or have something to say, say it here.

cairnswm

Reviews

On a Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness - If somebody owns and has played this it would be great material for review. Mostly because it's awesome, but also because it just happens to be Torque Engine produced. It's probably pushing the definition of indie a little to request this, but I think it would make for excellent content either way.

Gish - Every time I open Steam I realise that we still haven't reviewed this for Dev.Mag. It may be a bit old now, but since the sequel is in the works I feel we can still pass off its tardiness. (Chippit)

Chronotron (http://www.kongregate.com/games/Scarybug/chronotron) - Cursor*10 was cool, but this definitely deserves a review for taking that idea and making it better.


Design

gGuardian postmortem (Gazza_N)

Mathstermind postmortem - Yeah, I'll also keep poking about this one. (Squid/dislekcia)

Photoshop (UntouchableOne)

School days - I thought Nandrew has a great idea with this last month, so I'm throwing it out here again if anyone wants to pick it up now.
What do you study and where do you go to get a job in the game development arena? I've been receiving a lot of e-mails related to this particular question and I think it's important to address. (Fuzzy)

Tutorial

Torque engine - This could serve as a great Blue Pill article, but we can also put this under design, or merge it with the feature article on GarageGames. (Coolhand? Next month)

Something from Herman Tulleken - He really does have informative articles, so I'm hoping we'll be able to get something from him again this month

irrlicht (Fuzzy)

Popfly (Fengol)


Local - I'm looking at this new section as a place to put all non-feature-worthy but still otherwise interesting local events and information. I feel our local roots are still a strong attracting point, and we're not touting this enough.

Dev Lan - Anything about the Dev Lan would be excellent. Otherwise, even a simple 100 word news article about it would be appreciated.

Comp 18 retrospective - A short piece about any thoughts you may have encountered during the competition, particularly with regards to using pre-made artwork, or maybe something more general about the entries themselves. It would be nice to get it from one of the winners, if possible.


Tailpiece

Something speshul (edge)


Suggestions and article claims, go!

Fengol
02-06-2008, 03:29 PM
I have a small article which I originally gave to Nandrew about the launch of Popfly Game Creator. He asked for some changes which I'll do shortly and post to you.

Tr00jg
02-06-2008, 05:41 PM
Meh... I'll do a mini-review of at least 1 Torgue game, if not more.

Btw, what happened to my adventure game I reviewed? Its still coming right?

Chippit
02-06-2008, 05:56 PM
I'm not sure what Nandrew was planning to do with it, actually. Look for it in issue 22. If it's not there, I'll find out what happened to it.

Tr00jg
02-06-2008, 06:17 PM
I'm not sure what Nandrew was planning to do with it, actually. Look for it in issue 22. If it's not there, I'll find out what happened to it.

Oh yeah, of course. Its in issue 22.

Gazza_N
02-06-2008, 08:31 PM
gGuardian postmortem shouldn't be a problem. ;)

Coolhand
04-06-2008, 07:56 AM
I'll probably have time during July to do something on DigiPen and Torque if you'd like (seeing as how I have some decent experience with both...), but not for this month...

Chippit
04-06-2008, 01:13 PM
I'll probably have time during July to do something on DigiPen and Torque if you'd like (seeing as how I have some decent experience with both...), but not for this month...
It'd be greatly appreciated. It looks like we're going to have something unrelated to Torque as a tailpeice this month, so I may have to save the focused theme for next month anyway.

Tr00jg
10-06-2008, 04:59 PM
So the theme is not focused on Torgue this month. Should I still continue playing Torgue games?

Chippit
10-06-2008, 05:18 PM
Do them anyway. I'll use them eventually, even if it's not for this month. If something feels worthy of a full review, you can do that, otherwise you can write up 150 word half-page reviews; these I can use this month.

Tr00jg
10-06-2008, 06:49 PM
Kewl will get on it soon.

Tr00jg
11-06-2008, 04:42 PM
Okay, I've reviewed Bridge Construction Set (153 words) since I have played it already, but I am having a hard time finding free Torgue Games. What is your policy about reviewing demos?

Bonezmann
11-06-2008, 04:45 PM
hmm, I'd like to do something for the Dev.Mag(If I may)

Since I'm a beginner with gamemaker, maybe something about Gamemaker for Beginners?

Chippit
11-06-2008, 05:25 PM
We've already had a beginner's series for game maker, and quite recently, so I'm not keen on potentially repeating content again.

Generally, I'd prefer if you'd write an opinion piece, mostly just a starter for Dev.Mag. It's our 'initiation', if you will. Pick a topic you feel strongly about, or a thought that you had, and write 300 words on it. We'll work from there.

Bonezmann
11-06-2008, 05:32 PM
Hey, that can work for me. Thanx Chippit. :)

FuzzYspo0N
12-06-2008, 11:30 AM
Ok, the irrlicht series continues, there was miscommunication and i didnt submit part 3, but i have it 99% complete.

Also, the School days one, any takers already? if not, ill bag that up cos i do a lot of looking into college and studying of game dev and artwork locally. it might prove interesting what views can come out of this, maybe i can grab dis on the side and ask him, ET, the others what they think as well and get a nonbiased view.
im keen for the school days one.

GarageGames, i have some contacts there, i will look into this one so long

its nearly deadline guys, move move! ;p
@Chippt. maybe updating the first thread with whats in, whats coming and what to leave out if anyting will help, cos then i know what to hit hard and fast to get it in by deadline.

UntouchableOne
12-06-2008, 12:36 PM
Photoshop tut will be in soon. Just need to add some finishing touches.

Chippit
16-06-2008, 12:32 PM
Thanks to everyone who sent their articles in already. I've also picked up some older submissions that we haven't used yet and were lying unused in the mailbox.

Just a reminder that today is the deadline, and I'm still missing a few submissions here and there. I'm not going to hassle anyone about these just yet, not until I've written my last exam at least, but I'd appreciate it if I can get most of the promised content in by today.

FuzzYspo0N
16-06-2008, 12:50 PM
will send in the irrlicht one soon, finishing up the article side. i shud just send the project files with the zip file? to be put in the "resources" section? the examples come with code and a sample etc :)

Sent :)

Gazza_N
16-06-2008, 12:51 PM
My submission's almost done. Expect it by the end of today.

UntouchableOne
16-06-2008, 11:25 PM
Sent my content earlier today. In rare possibility, let me know if there's any problem... :)

rpgstudio
21-06-2008, 03:07 AM
Cool,

I'm long to wait this edition release, always reading and collect every of them ^-^

FuzzYspo0N
22-06-2008, 12:23 PM
im long to wait? do you mean issue 22? that one took a bit of time cos of good reason,but yea. check the devmag.org.za site if u have all the issues

Bonezmann
24-06-2008, 12:14 PM
My opinion piece is finished, where do I send it to? I know it's past the deadline, but I didn't have that much time on my hands to do it until today :)

Chippit
24-06-2008, 12:18 PM
devmag at gmail dot com

Bonezmann
24-06-2008, 12:36 PM
Thanx, this is my first article ever so let me know what you think ;)

Tr00jg
25-06-2008, 05:28 PM
Just got an email from Introversion regarding Multiwinia. (Looks like the interview a while back did wonders).




Dear all,

We're delighted to announce that Introversion is nearly ready to release the
first view of Multiwinia: Survival of the Flattest to the world! The preview
CD will consist of two, out of the final six, action-packed game modes from
the full title. We've been working hard to put together a funky little box
of Multiwinia-related treats, plus of course a copy of the preview code, and
we'd like to send this promo pack out to you.

If you haven't already done so, please send me over details of the realworld
address that you'd like us to send this out to. We will be sending these
promo packs out around the end of June, with the aim to have final review
code ready for viewing in August. I will be in touch again at that time to
let you know how to obtain your review code.



So yeah. I'm pretty sure someone should preview this for Dev.Mag. Chippit, why not do something similar as with the Aquaria review?

I won't be able to do this (busy with other stuff). Chippit, PM the details to where I must send it.

Chippit
25-06-2008, 09:38 PM
Are you sure you don't want to do it yourself. They are sending it to you.

Tr00jg
25-06-2008, 10:01 PM
Are you sure you don't want to do it yourself. They are sending it to you.

I haven't played Darwinia, but okay. Hopefully it will arrive before the end of the holidays...

FuzzYspo0N
25-06-2008, 10:42 PM
i got a copy of darwinia legally troojg, wanna play it? its epic win :D