Quod Erat Demonstrandum

 It's a given that my posting rate as of late has fallen off. That's not to say I've been gone or the like, I've just not had much to say at present, given my nature to sometimes take a step back and watch things develop. Having been yelled at by several sources at this point about this, I suppose time has come to break the silence and give proof of life once more. I've noticed outside of the occasional sporadic post influx both here and on the TS boards that Cm representation has fallen off and several of our members have gone MIA. Now of course that's a personal choice by many of you and I'm sure you have your reasons.

 

And while it's against our principals and mantra to prune the membership of CM, it does lead one to ask where is everyone, what's everyone up to presently and what direction are we all moving in , in regards to the TS project and any other endevours CM could take part in. I'm guilty of silence and being MIA myself in a way so Im not throwing stones, simply voicing thoughts I've had for a while now. We're only as strong as we present ourselves to be, both creatively as well as communicatively.

 

We have a good cast of various talents and assets within CM and while we are a leaderful group, we need to step up and begin our operations again in regards to the TS project to help move it along. Granted leadership is being discussed on the boards, but discussion and having community members step up to help kep the forum momentum are two different things. I see many of you with a great ability to help leverage the TS Community forward and into better avenues, but only if you actively work and post to do so. Many of us have various motivations for being both involved in the TS project and for being a part of CM. We can only accomplish our personal goals as well as our overall goals if we work to do so. doing nothing garners nothing. Q.E.D. 

Published Saturday, June 16, 2007 1:46 PM by AnjelusX
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Comments

# re: Quod Erat Demonstrandum@ Saturday, June 16, 2007 9:42 PM

Yup great blog.

Personally I took a step back to see who would take a step forward, the illusion of a leaderful group wasn't dispelled unfortunately.

I've also been hyper busy in my personal and work life which has taken me away from TS, but I have been working on "process-y" stuff behind the scenes.

TS right now has to be at a universal low point, regardless of the "new" and "inspiring" systems and proceedures that have emerged and are on the horizion.

Couple that with summer, exams, vacations, members of the opposite sex in skimpy things, and TS falls short.

Basically each of us has to ask, do we want this and why?

I think its easy to see TS as beyond redemption at this point, but on the flip side there is also an opportunity to step up and save not only the day but the entire project.

I don't have a super fuzzy feeling about AB, I just see too much "passing the buck" and too little "massively collaborative".

But AB is a step towards change, and because it isn't super concrete and does have lots of holes it will only necessitate more change.

In my mind this is another day 1 situation with less people, but at least the mentality has changed enough to realize that if the community "owns" the project then ultimately they carry the bag in terms of its success or failure.

So perhaps the most important question is like that hawt significant other that has stepped out of your relationship and cheated on you with your best friend, are you willing to give the tramp another shot?

I'm here, but I'm realistic with regard the opportunity, right now the stuff paying my bills and making me "happy happy joy joy" is coming first, and its up to this community and its direction, to sell me on a different priority.

Sound in CM when you have a chance, muse on whatever you need to float out there.

by adonai

# re: Quod Erat Demonstrandum@ Thursday, June 21, 2007 7:20 AM

I was wondering where to post this, and here seems to be appropriate enough. :)

A couple of points from me:

- As it stands now, I don't see CM working. It thrived when the TS process was extremely open, but with the new direction groups aren't quite as effective. Taskgroup discussions just don't FEEL good for external groups.

- The current framework CM offers is just too complex and ambitious for the immediate requirements of the TS process.

- Following from all of the abvoe - I don't see a point for myself sticking around with CM and dedicating daily/weekly time when there's quite a bit that I wanted to do this summer and haven't really gotten around to doing.

So... You can take this as my 'official' exit from CM. :)

by Naereus

# re: Quod Erat Demonstrandum@ Thursday, June 21, 2007 5:24 PM

later nik, again :p

by adonai

# re: Quod Erat Demonstrandum@ Friday, June 22, 2007 5:34 AM

:)

by Naereus

# re: Quod Erat Demonstrandum@ Friday, June 22, 2007 2:58 PM

Glad to see that I'm not the only one to feel a loss of enthusiasm around the project.  Yesterday, Rusel Demaria asked me to consider the possibility of representing the artists on the project by being a member of the new Advisory Board. I declined the invitation, in part because I think that's unfair for all the people out there who are way more involved and dedicated in all the process.  I didn't deserved this nomination.  For now, I feel a little bit lost and I miss the old days when I only had to check all the requests in my inbox to feel useful.  

by elkhorno

# re: Quod Erat Demonstrandum@ Friday, June 22, 2007 6:05 PM

I also turned down Rusel and AB elk, and I'm sure we aren't the only ones either. In terms of usefulness elk you will always be in demand, whats at issue is the nature of the tasks have changed in such a way where a limited voice can carry the day and "represent" the majority. Even with AB I honestly don't believe this will continue, because the quality of that the message degrades to such a point that the actual tasking becomes redudant. AB unfortunately pulls from the same small active pool, so its unclear really what will change with this additional body. For me I see three potential outcomes, which give us potential hope for a new day, the project commitment ends at prototype or we continue to flounder on with another anchor at our treading water feet.

Ultimately I havent seen an initative that opens our arms to the potential community to date, everything seems to exclude and marginalize and I believe this also has to change.

Perhaps AB can lead this change.

by adonai

# re: Quod Erat Demonstrandum@ Saturday, June 23, 2007 6:50 PM

Ok a little light, plz...

At first i was against the idea of an AB, but as i see it, the AB will serve to do what Rus does now, and what the mods had been doing for the past weeks, creating Tasks, and guidelines, using as a directive the advice that dp and Rus see fit to input on such Tasks, basically it's an administrative position, some people will create first drafts of tasks and people will improve them and complete them with charts, images, text clarity, etc...

The AB will also serve to guide the taskgroups, and try to make the tasks shorter but more intense, so that the design doc can get in better shape. Let's face it we now are on the 3rd month of Design and what we have produced is very little, the kind of stuff that a designer can do in a afternoon, 2 weeks to do a task is just too much damn time, heck I've done entire projects in 2 3 days, so it's time to step it up and put on the turbo.

Off course on paper this is all good and fine, lets see how it works in practice. Most of the tasks now are really boring for artist, because they are mostly system analysis and creation, all text.

Personally my role in the TS project is to help in whatever i can, i don't care if i am on AB or Admin, or Member, whatever... I like the idea of the project, even though the execution is not how i would do it, but i have my own project for that, so, i will learn what i can from TS mistakes and try not to reproduce them in my own project(s).

I must say that i am a bit disappointed for not working with you guys on the AB in case i get appointed to it, i think it would have been allot of fun to work and gettign to know you guys better, hopefully you guys will all join my project PPB and we will do some kick ass game development one day ;)

All the Best,

-Daniel MD

by DanielMD

# re: Quod Erat Demonstrandum@ Sunday, June 24, 2007 2:15 AM

Thats alot of assumption though dan :p

We dont really have alot of concrete detail on what AB will actually be, and I always find playing things by ear and trying to come up with answers as you go along, only gets you so far.

Personally there wasnt enough detail forthcoming for my involvement, not enough focus on necessary skills rather than popularity, but I still hold a candle for its successful function whatever that will be.

by adonai

# re: Quod Erat Demonstrandum@ Sunday, June 24, 2007 3:34 AM

While I was in the same boat on that Adonai, rus managed to actually answer my concerns to almost completely, unfortunately Dan you missed that as it was during the phone conference.

Primarily the AB will function as an aparatus to help keep the community focus during tasks rather then having things carry on as they have been with discussions going vastly off tangent (though usually in a good way) but things go shooting off and the actual deliverables of each task seem to get lost in translation as people seem to want to leap frog too far ahead time and time again.

Maintaining the dependencies map is another peices as well as eventually designing the task forms themselves. There isn't a large amount of responsibilities for the AB.

Mainly it's a matter of it being a group in middle ground between the community and admin that works as a focus and rally point between the two. Like a foundation team to help built a flow of productivity and maintain and cause proliferation of the vision for the project.

However the Ab will not have authority to "take over" or "change" the project, it's more a watchdog group to help guide, motivate, and also arbitrate things as we move forward. At least that's my understanding at present. We'll see how it goes along.

by AnjelusX

# re: Quod Erat Demonstrandum@ Sunday, June 24, 2007 7:52 AM

Hi adonai, AnjelusX.

My comments are based on talks i had with Rus, over the past weeks via skype, on paper all the AB will be doing is administrative work, the actual details of the extent of what the AB will be doing are as far as i know still to be determined, i would guess that if the AB works well more and more work will be delegated to them, so in principle this will not be an hectic job, at least in first glance.

Off course like Anj. "We'll see how it goes along" ;)

by DanielMD