UC System needs an overhaul.

[JSponge]

Hello all...

This is not a thread to whine or an attempt to flame FLS. This is an honest, legitimate issue that I believe needs to be resolved.

The customized flag and sail thing in this game is one of my favorite features. I love little things like this in MMO's... However, the current system is flawed, not due to voting or anything but due to one, extremely frustrating fact: If you're not a graphic artist or image designer, you're pretty much up the river without a paddle

Let me explain myself. I am a truck driver by trade. This game is something I really enjoy and do to have fun, unwind, etc... However, one of the best features is basically unavailable to me because I'm not that well versed in graphic design. I'm not a simpleton, just that I'm not an image designer... might be why I don't do that for a living. I have made several attempts over the years I've been playing this game to make my own flags sails, etc... I am always refused due to things like "anti-aliasing", "texture issues", etc... These are things I just honestly don't understand. I'm not saying there's not plenty of people who do, but here's the thing...

Why is it that FLS cannot add some sort of in-game designer, even if you had to use Burning Sea Points to unlock it or whatever? Many other MMO's have features similar to this (APB: Reloaded springs to mind as one). This would allow FLS to control color pallet, keep copyrighted images out, etc.... Also, it would make the idea of customizing flags and sails a LOT more accessible to people like myself.

Now, I know some of you are thinking, "That would just limit the possibilities for uniqueness." Not so... Here's the solution. You could still "import" images into the game for the editor, which would still need be approved. But if you gave more players the simplified tools within the game, it would at least make things easier to start with.

For example, in APB, I had made myself a car and painted it all up to be "The General Lee" from Dukes of Hazard fame. I had made personalized symbols etc.... This was doable, even though I am, as I said, not an image designer. It just made the system far easier to jump into.

So, I'd like to see feedback from other players, and even the Devs or staff on this...

Thanks in advance, and please don't turn this thread into a flame war.

[JSponge]

Almost forgot... Here were the projects in question. If anyone can figure a way to make these work, even in some variation, it would be great too. I would like to keep the "Clown" theme and want them to look "cool" and sinister", but maybe I'm just on the wrong track. I'm just fed up with this system. I'm sure I've done 7 or 8 things for this and all were rejected. Only thing I ever got in-game was something someone else did for me out of the kindness of their heart...

Thanks, if anyone can help...

[pennduick]

hello

sorry for my poor english

Yes it can be very difficult to do a flag or sail. But if you follow the tutorial you can do it. Yes it's not fun and it's long and difficult but you can, without be a graphic designer. Just dont forget, post on the forum before pass to vote.

A Flag and sail editor (internal or external to the game) should be very cool for rapid design, with image bank, color and all the necessary stuff. But i think the vote system can be a filter for not have a hundred proposal of flag and sail per day (and the difficult to do a sail or a flag is also a good filter, think to that). I think a flag or sail it's a thing that will be think, search, discut with other... not a rapid design will be forget on week later because it finally bored his user.

The perfect thing, i think, it's a flag and sail tool editor, external to the game, but it will be very limited for be creative and personalised. And an picture importation will be fall on the same mystake of "texture" and "anti-aliasing". But it's a first step to democratise flag and sail conception.

For your design, before the technic, for me, it's nice but I think it is not appropriate to the context of the era from 1720. Try to do into the atmosphere of the turn of the century of lights.

for exemple, i search quickly that
a clown in 1810
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...h_Grimaldi.jpg

a harlequin 1671
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ouffons_01.jpg

a fool tarot 1701-1715
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...trump_Fool.jpg

a clown 1600
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Clown_Jig.jpg

exemple of typography 1720
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ers-marins.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...l._perso.).jpg

surely you will find your happiness by seeking deeper into an image search engine.

if you not the time to learn how adapt this stuff to a sail or flag, just do a patchwork of your attempt, and ask help. But don't forget it's very long to do a good flag, same for a good designer. Ask to friend ingame (or outgame), propose help ingame or money in exchange, and be very accurate on your attempt.

I propose this way
1 After search your design do a quick patchwork of what you would exactly on your flag and sail and post it (with "Place this item into reviewing" submit mode") It's the time to discuss : appropriate to 1700? nice? can be approval?
exemple, a graphic designer can work with this
"i would do a flag like this

, from this picture http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...h_Grimaldi.jpg, with in old font "kill a clown"
every element is in place, clearly defined, desired images are sourced, the designer no longer has to adapt according to the desired technical imperatives.

2 when the design seem good, ask help to do with the damn texture and anti-alithing to be approved. (nobody? ask with doublon, or helpgame, or ship gift...)

3 post the final on forum for last look... it's seem good all? and go to vote.


this is my point of view

[kitwilliams]

Very good points made in pennduick's post. Dont forget that there are free programs like Gimp out there that are great tools for making designs. There are several tutorials in the forums for using gimp if you get stuck. You can also ask for help from others.

I am not a graphic designer either, I am a stagehand. With a little playing around in photoshop, I was able to figure out a formula that I can use 90% of the time and get things passed into the game. The key is figureing out a formula that works for you.

Your designs, while nice, are not correct for the time period of the game. But as shown in the previous post, with a little internet searching, you can find images that are correct for the time period.

While I agree easier would sometimes be better, I think FLS has made a great attempt to keep things apprioate for the time period. I have seen some designs that have "slipped" through that should not have been, but that is my opinoin and ultimatly FLS has the final say.

If you feel your designs have been judged incorrectly, you can file an appeal in the appeals thread and it then goes to review from the 2d Steering Committee. Once the committee has come to a decision, that decision is final. If they vote it down, that design cannot come up for another review. But if they vote it in, then it is moved into the game.

If you need help with your designs, let us know and someone on the committee will be happy to help you, that is why we are here.

[Panta]

Originally Posted by JSponge Almost forgot... Here were the projects in question. If anyone can figure a way to make these work, even in some variation, it would be great too. I would like to keep the "Clown" theme and want them to look "cool" and sinister", but maybe I'm just on the wrong track. I'm just fed up with this system. I'm sure I've done 7 or 8 things for this and all were rejected. Only thing I ever got in-game was something someone else did for me out of the kindness of their heart... Thanks, if anyone can help...

Make them work? They're a complete rip off of some album covers. Do you own the copyright?

http://deadjuggalo3d.tripod.com/site...ringmaster.jpg

http://deadjuggalo3d.tripod.com/site...jeckelbros.gif

[JSponge]

Forget this. Can a forum mod lock this? They all got rejected anyhow.

[JSponge]

Originally Posted by PantaIna Make them work? They're a complete rip off of some album covers. Do you own the copyright? http://deadjuggalo3d.tripod.com/site...ringmaster.jpg http://deadjuggalo3d.tripod.com/site...jeckelbros.gif

For the record, I did not know where these images originated. I did a search online for evil clowns and they came up.

[Grutte Pier]

dont give up yet!, while this system is not superfriendly, it allows for a lot of freedom, within the bound rules....
its a letdown that your clowns or evil skulls (the ones that i wanted are not allowed), but allas, theres a certain joy into trying to get into the 1720s mood, do some research(wikipedia!) and make some time appropriate sails...
you can still do a redneck theme if you want, you just have to be really clever about it

for instance, when i did a sail of our national lion from soccer, i instead used a the skull of a lion and put on some manes, piratey and patriotic!

[JSponge]

I appreciate the input, Grutte... Thing is, I get limited time to enjoy as it is. I don't have the time to make "sail-getting" a 2nd frigging job. I run the highway over 60 hours per week on average. That's why I'm saying, they need to make this system more accessible to the "casual" player. As it stands now, I don't have more time to dump into this. I may see if one of my Soc mates would do it for me on Tiggy...

PS: Grutte, how are the Rulers these days? Short Bus, Carl Morris, Sule still around? I used to play with you guys back in the day, but Roberts doesn't fit my schedule for it's prime-time anymore. Been playing spain on tiggy mostly, and actually enjoying myself quite a bit. At any rate, tell those that are still around that Hank says hello. =)