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Author Topic: The CG Nation Content Building Initiative  (Read 7273 times)

Raxx

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The CG Nation Content Building Initiative
« on: May 28, 2008, 04:57:03 am »

First of all, to those who don't know, CG Nation is a site being worked on to replace and enhance what anim8or.org was and will be (trying to utilize past tense for the future). You may find out more information by going to anim8or.org. Feel free to also check out the forums where this event is being held. The rest of this topic is a duplicate of the guideline posted in the anim8or.org forum, but is no less important to us!

You may visit this event directly by going to this url: http://anim8or.org/forums/index.php/board,28.0.html

Unfortunately, you have to register to post, but feel free to ask questions in this topic!

Introduction

Good day ladies, gents, and toddlers. I'm here today to introduce to you the horrifying idea of "work". Ugh, I say, and ugh you may think. Yet we who are building CG Nation have come to the point of development where we have to ask you, the community, to help us out and in doing so become part of its foundation.

Ok, boring intro aside, here's the deal: Here Raxx and TheProducer are, running around in piles of script and code, when we're halted by the realization that a site is useless without content. Well, we already knew we'd need help from others in this aspect, but it's getting close enough to release to where we have to think of content building as part of the site's development before release.

So, we can't run around in piles of script and code and build content at the same time. This is where you guys come in with your ambitious ideas and ideal ambitions.

What We Want?

Simply put, we want what you want. This is the perfect opportunity for you to come forth with that idea for a collaboration, or competition, or whichever whatever and however. Or, if you already have the project started and would like to do it under CG Nation officially, you may through this Initiative as well!

Unfortunately, we have to place some restrictions, or else we'll have topics running rampant and maiming the poor innocent bystanders that could have become active in this Initiative.

Here are the restrictions:

  • Follow proper forum etiquette (for further house-training, read this)
  • Things illegal are not tolerated
  • Try to keep it all within this board that's set aside specifically for this Initiative

Just a few restrictions. Paradise, eh?

Get To The Point

By now you should be confused and wondering what's going on. The opportunity we're providing is this: If you have an idea that you would like CG Nation (anim8or.org for the present) to support, host, officially recognize, or whatever else, you have the opportunity to start it up in a new topic in this board. Now, this means that it's up to you to take charge of it and become the lead-whatever of the group/project/event.

You may go recruiting outside of anim8or.org or .com, or stay strictly within our boundaries. CG Nation, however, is a site for all sorts of CG users, so it's recommended to not stick to a specific application if the project itself is general (for example, don't make an anim8or-specific and therefore -restrictive game project if the game engine it's going to use doesn't specifically require the anim8or file format). Trust me, it'll help the chances of your project making it in the end. This of course doesn't really apply to projects that are based on the idea of using one application to achieve results.

What is "making it in the end"? Simple: if your project looks like it's lasting or has a good stable hold by the time we're about ready to release, we'll help you out and make you a part of CG Nation. There is no guarantee that we'll accept it, but there's no guarantee that we won't, either.

What If I Want To Contribute, But Not In Something So Large-Scale?

This is the other side of this Initiative! We're looking for CG Nation exclusive content. Big projects earn placement in the features/highlights/projects/gallery/competitions/videos/whatever slots, but there are plenty of other areas we need filled. Specifically, tutorials and resources!

Start collecting what you've got and think about what you can make. A simple tutorial on something may help someone, and if it's useful it certainly can be submitted either in your personal--oops, almost said too much there. But we will have a public article system, and if you submit good quality resources in your personal--ahem, we may make special features about it!

Not to mention, if you have nice renders and artwork, have them stored away to submit them to our site gallery for review!

So if you'd like to keep track of your stuff and let others know what you have in store, make your own topic in this board and update it. All topics made in this board will be reviewed for content for the new site.

IMPORTANT FINAL NOTES!?!

Yes, such things exist. So here they are:

We can't all be leaders here ;) If you don't want to lead a project, or failed to get it stable, don't despair. If you are unmotivated and can't think of anything to do, don't despair. If you crave attention but can't find any means to get it, don't despair. Join someone else's project! We hate the lurkers who don't lead or contribute, but we also love them because they might change their mind!

Also, we do have an irc chat room (link is for anim8or.org users--go to #anim8or@irc.irchighway.net otherwise) that usually sits empty. If enough guys idle upon visiting the chat room, I'm sure some conversations can start up and ideas can be exchanged ;)

Some may wonder how they can get a competition or event to be a part of CG Nation if it ends before CG Nation is released. The trick is not to begin the event until after CG Nation is released and accepts it and allows you to host it officially. This means you use the topic to plan, gain support, find prizes or rewards, build momentum, etc.

Another important thing is for you to realize that we are looking for content. Hence the reason for this whole event. However, this is not the only means of contributing. Working on your personal artwork, improving your skills, having fun and increasing your interest in CG are just as important to us!

Very successful projects may receive their own board and moderators.


Got Questions? Comments? Complaints?

We (may) love to hear them! Feel free to post any such thing to this topic, and we'll do our best to answer you. Please refrain from asking things like ("Is this idea a good one?"). Instead, just think about it for a few hours or days or nanoseconds and post it up as a full-blown project.
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spicy

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Re: The CG Nation Content Building Initiative
« Reply #1 on: June 01, 2008, 10:17:55 am »

So this basically where we host our own poject on your board and get people to join and have good fun?
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Raxx

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Re: The CG Nation Content Building Initiative
« Reply #2 on: June 01, 2008, 10:47:00 am »

Yes, though it goes beyond that. Once CG Nation is released, if your project is/was successful then it'll earn a spot in the CG Nation website. Either it'll be hosted by us on its own board in the forum or its own subdomain, or it'll be featured in articles while its progress is made, or if it's content like tutorials and resources, then it'll be placed in the proper areas of the website. It depends on the nature of your project and how far you take it.

It is important to enjoy whatever it is, though ;)
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spicy

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Re: The CG Nation Content Building Initiative
« Reply #3 on: June 01, 2008, 10:52:13 am »

Well it sounds good, I have my own project on the road (See "Space Series Idea" Topic), and that is going to a massive project I am just getting people intrested. Well if I release my first episode I will sure let you know
-spicy
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