DanJW

Yeah, it was a bit obvious really. But now I have idea number 2! Are you ready? Try to look ready then. The User tools should not include rewards. Perhaps they can have a small fraction of the auto-generated rewards, as described previously, but they should not approach the official developer content rewards no matter how large the quest. Next step: user filtering. As noted in the article, volume is a problem when it comes to vetting. The only sensible approach here is the Little Big Planet one, which has user rating and tagging. It's not perfect, but along with 'player education' initiatives it can work. Then the developer live team can evaluate the top rated user content, and each week or month designate an 'editor's choice', lock its content and assign it suitable rewards. Perhaps some kind of in-game prize for the author also. The user vetting is open to vote-rigging as ever, but is mitigated by the developer's choice. This is still quite a bit of work for the live team, as they have to judge the top content and then create more in the form of balanced rewards. Also the system will break down if the smooth running of the game is interrupted, eg the number of players casting votes drops too low, or if the live team is suspended by the publisher. Any other foreseeable problems?

Yes, it was touché; but I was not unaware of the resemblance to Douche. That was my incredibly obscure joke.

0ouché

Combined with "Go To Hell", that will be marketing gold!

Oh, yeah, apparently it is for the DVD only.

Ossk, you're not getting it. You used the numbers in a semi l33t fashion. Instead you should replace a completely random letter so that it makes no sense at all. eg: Dan9é;s In6ern1

My first reaction would be to suggest that while the quest is UGC, the reward is procedurally-generated based on the resources used in the quest. This would be no mean feat and might lead to exactly the kind of 'narrowness' you described. Problems include things like spacing. Travelling a long distance makes a quest take longer and take more effort. SO it should give better rewards. But not if the two locations are near fast-travel points. Another: number of enemies. You could drive up the 'point cost' of rewards by throwing in lots of small enemies. But lots of weak enemies spread out are easy to defeat, whereas exactly the same enemies are lethal in a single swarm that attack together - more dangerous even than a single very strong enemy. I'm optimistic that such as system could be devised, but it would have to be incredibly sophisticated to be both balanced and comprehensive.

I was thinking the same thing Lawrence. Topher's stance makes little sense in that he had probably witnessed more 'residual personality' than anyone else (such as Echo asking to be imprinted). Framing the possibility of residual memories as 'having a soul' was incredibly clumsy and lazy writing, in my opinion, and not conducive to the themes of the series at all. Likewise Ballard's sudden at the end was not something I found credible. I just don't see the character doing that. The final episode was an annoying mix wrapping things up as quickly as possible, while returning to the status quo and leaving other questions open eg

I secretly decided to make the challenge fortnightly, in the hope of some more entries (including from, er, myself). But we should decide on a subject for challenge number 2, yes. Suggestions so far are Brutal Legend and "Idle Thumbs Rythm-Game Play-Along Podcast... Thing".

The whole concept of the show is utterly Frankensteinian. Especially the last couple of episodes, when 'the monster' finally makes his appearance. I thought there were opportunities for some really interesting hard sci-fi and philosophy that were missed, with such subjects as transhumanism and psychology of identity (almost touched on in the mind vs body dialogue in the final episode). Since a second series looks unlikely, we won't get to see that develop (and seeing as Fox are so risk-averse, that stuff would have to be worked in very slowly to avoid "alienating the mass audience" )

This game will make you run to your mummy shouting "waaaa they stole my twitter!" - IGN.com

Mockery isn't a prerequisite. A change in aesthetic might be an interesting challenge though.

We could make the next Box Art Challenge subject be Brutal Legend if you like?

I don't know if it's a learned reaction, but anything posted on deviant art makes me feel a bit 'meh'. I wonder if I saw it on a different background, I would be more impressed. But the Deviant Art colour scheme and layout just seems to exude a feeling of ennui. Anyway, I am still quietly confidant about Brutal Legend. I'm trying to avoid any hype though.

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That... that was beautiful!

I remember that game! I thought it was great too. I was so pleased with myself when I finally managed to kill the werewolf.

Wuxtry!

Nice! Ice broken, cherry popped etc. Good work. A quick bit of research: typical DVD front cover size is 12.94cm x 18.25cm. There is a good selection of templates here (orange links for the PSDs) but do not feel that you have to use any of the ESRB labels and other banners, unless you really want to.

I have a list of all the thumbers who are graphic designers or who have any artistic skill at all. I expect you all to make at least a token effort

Oh go on then

Chris has huge hands! Or maybe it's just foreshortening.

I'll make a thread in the banter forum. edit: http://www.idlethumbs.net/forums/showthread.php?t=6490

Hmm, we could do one game at a time, to make it different. Everyone comes up with their own ideas for, eg Danté's Inferno cover. One game per week? Obviously opportunity for hilarious IGN-quote laden covers as well as nice ones.