Evolution (Project Cancelled)

[Vascant]

Color me confused. I bought NPC Designer and was really looking forward to getting my hands on Evolution. Are you saying, I'm never going to be able to use/buy it?

Ruined is correct, of course he is also one of the Alpha testers so we pretty much talk on a daily basis. Work and progress on Evolution is constantly moving forward but I am going to change where I update information and such. I will probably handle Beta testing much like I did the Alpha just on a larger scale, personally contacting users who have expressed an interest in being involved. I do promise Evolution will be completed, as intended and on schedule but what I don't promise is a public release. It could end up being a private thing between 30-50 users because I still accomplish my established goal of creating good software. At the present moment I am working with 3 Alpha Testers and have about 3-4 weeks more of coding before I think about increasing that number.

 

[rom90125]

Ruined is correct, of course he is also one of the Alpha testers so we pretty much talk on a daily basis. Work and progress on Evolution is constantly moving forward but I am going to change where I update information and such. I will probably handle Beta testing much like I did the Alpha just on a larger scale, personally contacting users who have expressed an interest in being involved. I do promise Evolution will be completed, as intended and on schedule but what I don't promise is a public release. It could end up being a private thing between 30-50 users because I still accomplish my established goal of creating good software. At the present moment I am working with 3 Alpha Testers and have about 3-4 weeks more of coding before I think about increasing that number.

First and foremost, I'm glad I can still hope to one day see Evolution (via RPGAttitude). With that said, I'm not one for etiquette or refined arguments, so I'll just put it in words everyone can understand....

Forget the Ennies and Forget the judges.

I had no doubt NPCD would be one of the nominations and the fact it is not goes a long way towards showing the biased 'good ole boy' network they have going on here...

I guess I should have seen the writing on the wall when everyone got their panties in a bunch because NPCD had numerous 5-star reviews in a short period of time. They screamed 'foul' without actually looking at the product for themselves. Don't dare question the golden calf, or we'll begin a smear campaign just to show you who really runs the show.

God forbid you actually have a useful product or even a useful comment if you don't have a 1,000,000,000 post count under your name.

The stench from the hypocrisy of it all makes me want to retch. I have nothing but the best wishes for those that were nominated this year. They did nothing wrong and I look forward to purchasing some of their works (in pdf format no less) but my respect for this site has reached an all time low (yes, I'm still waiting for my CS account to be reactivated since the crash. BUSH LEAGUE sht)

 

[schporto]

Vascant,
I'm sorry you weren't nominated. I am a software developer. I am well impressed by NPC Designer. I haven't purchased it, and have only tried the demo (currently running straight from a module). I wonder if the judges missed what it really does (smartly choosing weapons, feats, skills). In the end I agree with you software really does warrant it's own category. But if not enough are submitted they can't. I think the better argument is we need better, and more software.
Thank you for the work you have done. I personally will continue to follow Evolution and hope to see it when you feel it is ready.
BTW - congratulations on the success that NPC Designer has seen. I know that is a good feeling.
-cpd

 

[Vocenoctum]

Forget the Ennies and Forget the judges.

I had no doubt NPCD would be one of the nominations and the fact it is not goes a long way towards showing the biased 'good ole boy' network they have going on here...

I'd second this, don't let the "official stance" of the ENWorld clique stop you from the fans that are here, or a mass release. ENWorld is a site with lots of good folks, but there's more than their fair share of self-righteousness also, so take it with a grain of salt. Concentrate on your fans rather than the noise.

 

[kingpaul]

Going into this, I had one concern.. the huge following that PCGen must have at this point of maturity and figured them to be "the one to beat".

Wow, never considered us as the "one to beat". Of course, I'm on the inside looking out, not outside looking int.

As Paul pointed out, this isn't about any 1 product

Correct. While I'm biased and wanted PCGen to get the nod, I was floored that none did. As has been stated, there are more and more gamers using computer tools (pre-, in-, and post-game).

 

[kingpaul]

My suggestion is that the ENnies create a separate gaming software award category for 2007.

The ENnies have been evolving since they started, with categories getting created and collapsed into others. A separate category, IMBO (B=Biased), makes sense.

 

[kingpaul]

Next year even fewer will enter, given the time it takes to create software some will probably not even dare attempt.

That I'm not so sure of. There's always going to be those that see creating the software as a challenge, and an enjoyable one at that.

I do agree completely about the biased nature of the forums, a while back I tried to promote a seperate forum for gaming software applications but it barely was heard.

I honestly don't recall that happening. I agree with the sentiment.

 

[Vascant]

That I'm not so sure of. There's always going to be those that see creating the software as a challenge, and an enjoyable one at that.
.....

I honestly don't recall that happening. I agree with the sentiment.

Watch, we are currently in a software spike though not entered there were tons of new applications this year. Just like everything else in this world, it goes in cycles.



http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=142251

 

[Vascant]

Forget the Ennies and Forget the judges.

To a point you are correct because thru this I myself have learned that the ENnies are not a reflection of excellence in role playing games, they are simple "What 5 people like". I think one email said it best and comes from a person inside the ENnies, "Perhaps this year's crop of judges was jaded on software, or really focused on tabletop role-playing accessories (hence the flip-mat and minis nominations).". This does best describe the results, the judging panel was biased against software or the judges/ENnies do not view software as a part of tabletop role-playing accessories. I have my current laugh, 5 judges said software and (Biased) NPC Designer are not part of gaming in their eyes and yet I wonder how many nominated products sold 29 (34 now since started writing posts and email replies) copies since yesterday at noon? In retrospect what is success? Is it the thousands of customers who enjoy your work, 5 judges who seemed to have very little understanding of the industry or the ranking your product as compared to others...I got 600+ emails last night (No don't expect a reply) but I did go thru and read some and one said it best, "each week your software saves me countless hours, hours that I can use to spend time with my daughter, wife or gaming more". I have read statements like this before but at this moment, it was what I needed to read because that is success, no product in the ENnies can say they give time back to people every week. It being my 40th birthday yesterday, time suddenly has new meaning from all the old jokes I heard.

 

[andargor]

It is quite clear from the ENnie Nominations that software has very little place in gaming so I am closing this product down from a public stand point. Thanks for the interesting and wonderful experience.

Hey man, sorry that you feel that way about awards and such. You know, they are like the Oscars, and not like the People's Choice Awards.

In any case, don't give up, keep up having fun coding for you and your group, and the benefits to all will come by themselves.

Cheers,

A.