Extensions are good, but this is a COMPETITION, so I see no problem with the current restrictions. I don't speak for Circy, but I think that everybody here can make a Mario game without any extensions. The fast loops, I agree, are needed due to the limited nature of MMF... but you can do just about everything else through nothing but the event editor.
I'm no MMF expert, but I've got a nearly dead-on Mario engine, including a rideable Yoshi-esque pet (in this case, Rudolph). So far, I've only used active objects, background objects, and MMF's in-built fastloops. Mario-- er, Santa -- can even change sizes and duck down chimneys (damn you for thinking of that too, Blood Falcon!). I just need to get the fireballs/Christmas-themed projectile figured out, then I'll be ready to add enemies.
If wishes were fishes then we'd all smell like ladies' underwear.
Tigs, I'm not talking about all extentions. Extentions which help users, like fastloop, I'm fine with. Its the other extentions, such as that "make my particle effects for me" extention, or the Platform Movement Object. I'm not saying that those are bad or shouldn't be used either, but I feel that people rely on them too much and should do the meat of the work themselves in the event editor. Other people may disagree or agree, but this is only my opinion.
When I had The Games Factory, I never relied upon extentions because I never used the internet around then. Nowadays, certain extentions are handy, yes, but I don't rely on them. Throw away Directsound 2, I'm not too fussed and don't rely upon it. It's not an essential extention, and neither are half of the others. It's probably nice to have and will no doubt make someones life a lot easier, but I prefer my games to be as 100% mine as they can be. No offense or anything.
Three questions:
1. There is nothing mentioned in the rules about using original music, so I assume the more tone-deaf amonst us don't have to make our own MIDIs?
2. Does the 'no Save Feature features' rule include level passwords?
3. Is there any limits on content such as violence and adult themes?
Oh, and by the way, it still says 'No fastloop' in the list of rules.
1. You don't have to make your own MIDIs. You can use any midis you wish. The criteria for this competition doesn't include music But you can ONLY use MIDIs
2. Level passwords are acceptable
3. Wow... didn't think of that. Preferably no swearing or sexual themes, but I'm not enforcing those rules. But don't think that's just giving you all the excuse for a massive porn-fest
4. Yup, aware of that. Unfortunately I cannot edit or delete any files I upload to TDC... only the higher admins can do that. I'll have a word with Clubsoft about that and see if he can change it.
By the way, in case anyone was wondering, the reason why some of these limitations are strict is because not everyone has MMF 1.5 and henceforth the full use of the extentions. People with TGF won't have the power, and I'm trying to be as fair as I can be.
"people ... should do the meat of the work themselves in the event editor."
Why?
"Throw away Directsound 2, I'm not too fussed... [it] will no doubt make someones life a lot easier"
So I should throw DS2 away just because YOU don't care about it? Because MMF's archaic 8 sample mixing without pan or volume control will suffice for EVERYONE?
Tigs: Because thats just my personal opinion. Just in the sense that you saying that all extentions are good and make life easier is your opinion.
You're the one who said you should throw it away. I'm just saying that I'm indifferent to it. Again, other people might be with me, others might look forward to it.
Stop taking things so personally dude. I'm happy to continue this debate via email or DC Mail, but the topic is twisting away.
I cant remember what drove me to type that much about it, but basically considering that any MMF game uses the MMF engine, none of which is original to the author, I'd have thought you wouldn't mind throwing in something like the Platform movement object either.
I can see why you would take away extensions becuase they might make it a bit too easy to make a platform game, HOWEVER think of it in terms of making it harder doesn't mean that people are going to TRY harder. if something is too hard to do, they might just not do it and we might end up with a ton of games using the default platform movement .
I think extensions are here to help us, the extension developers all work extremely hard just so we can have more power and to have someone say that they are "spoiling" us makes it seem like they are doing something negative!
The thing is, why limit the competion? sure, if you allow extensions you may get a few entries that use the platform movement object, and the particle spray object but shouldn't the entries be judged on their technological innovation as well? Why reinvent the wheel when we could be spending the deadline working on the gameplay and adding cool bosses and new types of AI? Even with extensions making a game still takes work!
You say that TGFers will not have the same advantages and it will not be fair to them, Well to most TGFers I have seen , they think TGF is BETTER then MMF! Surely even with extensions due to the horrible graphics editor, interface, and confusingness of MMF that TGFers will STILL have the upperhand?
In todays world of 3d games with trillions of polygons and realistic physics , I have yet to see one of the modern games that recaptures the spirit of invention, creativity, and fun of the old dos games! Surely if a game creator is good enough even AGAINST the powers of MMF they could STILL make a game that beats them all hands down? it's not the tool but the creator.
On the same point you don't tell an artist what colors to use , if they want to use extensions in order to make their game BETTER then why stop them? Why limit features when they could add to the game tremendously?
This is just my point of view, I do not honestly expect you to modifiy the rules of the compotetion farther, however you did say this was a place for discussion so I am "discussing".