New Housing Tile Sets

[MalagAste]

Ok....

So Maybe it's just me but I'm VERY disappointed in the new housing tile sets.

First off if I'm going to pay for this... It should come with DOORS and FLOORS.... but there are no new doors or floors. Little by way of arches or any other nice parts either.

And maybe it's just me but the "Rustic" set.... looks much like very hideously colored corrugated cardboard.

No new roof tiles either.

Kinda seems half done like most the rest of the tile sets. It's like Ooo heres some cool tiles... but Oh sorry there isn't really anything that goes good with it or looks decent with it.... so... ha there...

But you can get these neat other items... and that's going to make you overlook the fact that we didn't finish these tile sets we want you to pay for!!!!!

Well I for one am NOT impressed.

As an avid Designer and all I'm not very pleased. The Gothic set is very tempting.... but it's missing quite a bit.... and new roofing to go with it and cornering pieces and all like some sort of spires and stuff would have been pretty neat... Nice floor tiles that match the set would have been Even better.... but NO....

I'm hoping I'm wrong and I'm hoping that what's on test IS NOT the "complete" set but .... I am willing to bet that it is.

 

[Viquire]

As an avid Designer and all I'm not very pleased. The Gothic set is very tempting.... but it's missing quite a bit.... and new roofing to go with it and cornering pieces and all like some sort of spires and stuff would have been pretty neat... Nice floor tiles that match the set would have been Even better.... but NO....

I too was hoping for a bit more in the Goth set, more under the oddities section especially. Most particularly it seemed to me there was something amiss in the top section of the arches, like a line of definition under the arch that made it not look like a lofty span. The square columns are actually rather nice and except for the line under the arches they make a nice alternative to sandstone, without the massive breadth of styles to choose from.

 

[Deb]

I was so hoping for the new open stairs in the rustic. And I agree IF
we have to pay for these sets they should definitely be complete.

Hopefully, there is still time for them to complete these before they
go on sale, even though I still do not think we should be charged for
partial packs.

 

[MalagAste]

I too was hoping for a bit more in the Goth set, more under the oddities section especially. Most particularly it seemed to me there was something amiss in the top section of the arches, like a line of definition under the arch that made it not look like a lofty span. The square columns are actually rather nice and except for the line under the arches they make a nice alternative to sandstone, without the massive breadth of styles to choose from.

I know. I was seriously hoping for more if this is something they want me to spend money on. Obviously they either think that I don't care about content or they think that the nifty "additives" like the planter box, which since you can't gather resources from them I feel are completely useless..... Or the Training dummy and that locked down bag of sending.... Also totally useless... I mean the training dummy fine... but it only takes you to 60...... I'd rather go to 70.

And the box unless it worked both ways to and FROM your bank..... seems rather worthless. I can use a Bag of Sending and get the same result. It's not anything really "new".

So I'm just going to put this out there... If you want/expect us to spend money on these tile sets...... Make them more complete and flesh them out more. SERIOUSLY. And make the rustic look more like wood less like an ugly color of cardboard. I'd like to see just what you are basing that set on. Quite frankly I think besides the stairs which DO look nice... but don't have enough to offer..... that set is UGLY.

I guess I was also hoping for "smaller" versions of the big stained glass window.


Oh and one more thing while I'm on the subject of tiles... and new stuff. I love the new training dummy, the bench,..... all that save one thing..... That alter... When I saw that in the other thread it looks at though it's "floating" in space.... the edges of it are "choppy"... Looks as though it was cut out of a magazine (by someone in kindergarten) and placed into the game.... TOTALLY looks "wrong"..... and off. Needs cleaned up.

And is that supposed to make me think of a pentagram? Because whatever that is on the Alter..... again.... BAD.

 

[FishinFool]

Frankly, they are hideous.

Yes, the gothic looked promising at first - but the lines are all messed up. There are some hard lines in the sections that should not be there and the lack of extra blank wall tiles with alternating brick patterns makes them look downright amateur-ish.

Some of the walls are thick on one egde at the top and thinner on the opposite side for no apparent reason. They do not have any depth chage on the bottom so it almost gives an Escher-esque appearance.

The rustic is just flat out bad, and with the post in practically every piece it looks odd.

A couple of the staircases are not bad, however Im trying to figure out what is with the 2 that have the narrow stair with the flat runner down the side. Does not look right at all.

I wasn't aware you cant gather resources when using the flower bed - but that pretty much kills any usefullness of it at all. Getting any plant to the point you can freeze it into deco mode does not take much effort at all. What's the point?

The chest does seem 100% pointless.

I couldn't find the adv. dummy in any of the crafting menus - was curious to see if it's a new graphic. But I ran through all of the other "new" craftables and I'm not impressed with any of them.

As is, I wouldn't pay more than 1.99 for each of pack - if I could even be bothered.

 

[Uvtha]

Very much agreed. The Gothic looks -ok- but incomplete (doors and floors), while the rustic simply horrible, and consists of what? 6 wall pieces?

No way I would pay for these.

 

[canary]

The UO standard for years has been 'whatever is easiest to do, just do it and get it out the door'.

Heck, Draconi himself has provided anecdotes for such things.

It's pathetic and quite telling of the desire of the UO team to make and deliver quality product.

edit: you know what would be REALLY cool? Finishing the outstanding tile sets in the game. But heck, god forbid they revisit such things.

 

[Sevin0oo0]

It's pathetic and quite telling of the desire of the UO team to make and deliver quality product.

Quality doesn't mean 'good'. Quality to who? Someone in that studio set the specifications of what was to be produced, if they met them, then it was a 'quality' product. Might want to ask the Producer about why his ideas are like they are, for it to all make sense.

I'm also wondering that the items might be cheaper than you think - we're not used to buying packs all the time, they may just be priming us for a more regular pimping of items and content.

 

[Gheed]

I was hoping the rustic set would have dock floor tiles and the stairs like the stairs in the new mag inn. I agree the custom tool needs to be fleshed out to complete tile sets.

Also regarding the rustic bench, does in not face North or West? Is it only South and East facing? I've seen this a lot in the new types of chairs. Its kind of disappointing if you want to put down a table w/a certain style of chairs all around it. Or just two chairs facing each other, if you wanted to create an area for a couple folks to sit down and chat.

 

[Crysta]

Having the option of rustic and gothic foundations would be nice too.

 

[Lorddog]

for the stained glass they need to add 3 tiles of all full length stained glass with one for each side. that way if you wanted to make a 3-story or 4-story glass window you could.

 

[Deb]

Not to add more fuel to the fire, BUT would a developer or anyone from
Mythic please explain why the housing tile sets are incomplete?

And not just the new ones which we have to pay for but all of them.

I was on the fence about buying the 2 new tile sets for all of my
accounts, but unless they are completed for the first time in over
13 years I will not be upgrading.

 

[wee papa smurf]

I too am disapointed

 

[Woodsman]

I'm disappointed, would have liked foundation styles, doors, and floors as well.

If they are cheap enough I'll consider it, but I'm on the fence because of what I feel is missing. When I say cheap enough, I'm talking $2.50 - $3.50 tops, because some of this really should be just another patch for everybody.

 

[Aran]

Don't like it? Don't buy it.

 

[Flutter]

I have to agree. If you are going to charge something by way of a "booster" or expansion there's got to be more to it than this.
There's a lot of cool gothic stuff that could be added. Animated tiles and floor tiles.

The rustic stuff doesn't look rustic at all. Think little house on the prairie style stairs. Loft levels. New fences. Dirt floors.

There are people who love this sort of thing. People who design this kind of thing in their spare time, during their lunch breaks etc. Is there no one like that on the Dev team? You'd think they'd have TONS of ideas...

 

[Trebr Drab]

All the other stuff aside, what I don't get is how the gothic stuff doesn't match or go real well with anything existing. And changing the color of the stone in that art would seem to be a simple thing to do.

 

[Lorddog]

can someone who didnt buy the theme pack use said items?
if they buy a house that already has the tiles on the house can they keep the tiles?
if they buy/loot a deed for the flower bed or chest can they use them?

 

[Laisidhiel]

What?!! No open stairs? For me, that was the whole attraction. I've been waiting to install the open stairs in my grass shack. Well, that's a very big bummer. I wonder why they didn't create new floors and roofs to match the walls? It all seems a little incomplete...well, totally incomplete. And I'm bummed out.

 

[TheGrimmOmen]

for the stained glass they need to add 3 tiles of all full length stained glass with one for each side. that way if you wanted to make a 3-story or 4-story glass window you could.

The large stained glass window is a "Rose" design, and doesn't led itself to a variable height very well. Also, given that houses can only by 4 stories tall, I figured a window that covered 3 of them would be tall enough for most folks.

But I like what you said about a customize-able stained glass window. I'll keep that in mind!

-Grimm

 

[TheGrimmOmen]

What?!! No open stairs? For me, that was the whole attraction. I've been waiting to install the open stairs in my grass shack. Well, that's a very big bummer. I wonder why they didn't create new floors and roofs to match the walls? It all seems a little incomplete...well, totally incomplete. And I'm bummed out.

Yes, the open stairs created some technical issues that required us to create solid versions. We still have the open stair pieces, so we can re-add once we can resolve those issues.

-Grimm

 

[PitrGri]

It will look great on the main building of Magincia... thank you.

Keep up the good work and I bet you have roots now... you must be like one of those old Ents at EA... HAR HAR!

 

[olduofan]

Yes, the open stairs created some technical issues that required us to create solid versions. We still have the open stair pieces, so we can re-add once we can resolve those issues.

-Grimm

Thanks Grimm

keep up the awesome work

 

[Deb]

Yes, the open stairs created some technical issues that required us to create solid versions. We still have the open stair pieces, so we can re-add once we can resolve those issues.

-Grimm

This is great news


After playing around with the tiles...they definitely need to be finished.
Need the open stairs and doors for the rustic.
Need the doors for the gothic.

Maybe add 5% storage increase. The theme packs are just incomplete.
I think they are nice looking just need the additional pieces. Not sure
why this would be so hard to add.
I like the stain windows in the gothic. The rustic is ok, but really does need the extra pieces.

 

[Anvil of Crom]

I must be in the minority, but i am looking forward to the new house tiles. Plan on buying and using both Gothic and Rustic sets.

They look fine to me.

Maybe some people get a kick outta b****ing about everything before trying it out. Must suck to wake up everyday like that....

 

[MalagAste]

Grimm .........

What of Floors, Doors and Foundations?

My guildmate and I both would LOVE an Arched Door set to come with the Gothic tiles

Two arches that come together... and then one smaller arched door... I think it would be sweet.

Floors..... need floor tiles to match the walls... I'd settle for recoloring the small red bricks and/or the sandstone tiny bricks the new wall color. That might look good.... Adding some accents that are the color of that nice looking pillar would be nice too.

And a Foundation to match the sets..... this is something we have REALLY wanted for a long time.


The sets just seem extremely "incomplete". And I still do NOT like the color of those rustic tiles... something more "brown" and wood like might be better.

Anyway Just saying.

And if Cal Biffed you like I told him to...... hehe..... you had it coming. Get back to work.

 

[Martyna Zmuir]

Maybe some people get a kick outta b****ing about everything before trying it out. Must suck to wake up everyday like that....

These are on TC1 to be tested, and have been for over a week. These people know what they are talking about.

 

[TheGrimmOmen]

It will look great on the main building of Magincia... thank you.

Keep up the good work and I bet you have roots now... you must be like one of those old Ents at EA... HAR HAR!

Haha! Calling me OLD? "...and I'm not old, I'm 37!!" - Python

Yea, I got a few EA roots. Very proud that those are all UO. But there are two that have bigger roots than me! But as for artists, I'm like Methuselah or something. ;-)

Thanks for the kind words. We'll keep striving to do our best.

-Grimm

 

[TheGrimmOmen]

Grimm .........

What of Floors, Doors and Foundations?

My guildmate and I both would LOVE an Arched Door set to come with the Gothic tiles

Two arches that come together... and then one smaller arched door... I think it would be sweet.

Floors..... need floor tiles to match the walls... I'd settle for recoloring the small red bricks and/or the sandstone tiny bricks the new wall color. That might look good.... Adding some accents that are the color of that nice looking pillar would be nice too.

And a Foundation to match the sets..... this is something we have REALLY wanted for a long time.


The sets just seem extremely "incomplete". And I still do NOT like the color of those rustic tiles... something more "brown" and wood like might be better.

Anyway Just saying.

And if Cal Biffed you like I told him to...... hehe..... you had it coming. Get back to work.

I totally understand what your saying, and lemme see if I can address some of your points:

Floors, Roofs, and Foundations:
Yes, those things would be great- no argument there. The thing is, I have to provide a recommendation of art tasks that Design ultimately relys on to do thier job. This list is simply an evaluation of risk vs reward weighed against available time and resources. Based on that evaluation, we decided to pass on those things at this time. Keep in mind that the Gothic set alone has over 60 pieces- I don't know of any customized housing set that comes close to that.

The arched doors and doorways I would have loved to do. Only thing is, I felt that arched doorways that were the same scale as the existing doors would just not have the feel that they should unless they could be larger. I hear that your telling me that you'd like to have them anyway?

I might have to edit this response later because I'm writing it here on my iPod, which is terribly small, so expect edits and autocorrect errors, sorry.

As for he biffing from Cal, I'm not sure I could have distinguished the biffing you asked for versus the daily biffings I get from him (I can only hope we're interpreting "biffing" in the same way)

Thanks for the post, and the good points.

- Grimm

 

[Fayled Dhreams]

...

I have to provide a recommendation of art tasks that Design ultimately rely on to do their job. This list is simply an evaluation of risk vs reward weighed against available time and resources. Based on that evaluation, we decided to pass ...

- Grimm

*throws up hands*

risk vs reward ...


oh yeah, Robot Chicken; Chrilaxx

ain't even gonna bother calling shenanigans ...

 

[Martyna Zmuir]

Floors, Roofs, and Foundations:
Yes, those things would be great- no argument there. The thing is, I have to provide a recommendation of art tasks that Design ultimately relys on to do thier job. This list is simply an evaluation of risk vs reward weighed against available time and resources. Based on that evaluation, we decided to pass on those things at this time.

*grumbles about agreeing with Fayled*


I will call shenanigans.


Risk v Reward. Really?


You're a graphic artist on a video game, the only "risk" you might face is from outputting lousy art. *coughs*


The "reward" from outputting complete tile sets in terms of customer goodwill and the potential financial success of these boosters should weigh rather heavily.


And seriously now what do you do all day? You could literally throw together a few foundations and a couple floor tiles in a matter of hours. Since UO players accept substandard work anyway, you could even simply recolor existing art to "match" the rustic or gothic sets.

Keep in mind that the Gothic set alone has over 60 pieces- I don't know of any customized housing set that comes close to that.

And yet it is still incomplete.


*golf claps*

The arched doors and doorways I would have loved to do. Only thing is, I felt that arched doorways that were the same scale as the existing doors would just not have the feel that they should unless they could be larger. I hear that your telling me that you'd like to have them anyway?

Lame.


Since 'larger doors' wouldn't fit with anything else in UO architecturally (aside from the new windows), this smacks of an excuse.


People want new doors. They want new foundations. They want complete art assets, especially if they are going to be charged extra for them.



Don't foist these on us and call it "good." We have enough incomplete house tile sets as it is.

 

[MalagAste]

If we didn't want these things Grimm we wouldn't make posts like this one.

If it weren't important to us we wouldn't say anything.

It is very important... It's important to "we" your customers... "We" Those who play the game and those who pay for the game.

I know it doesn't seem like that much but floors, doors, roof tiles and spires... Foundations have been mentioned since the dawn of AoS.

Finishing sets is important. I know we are asking for quite a bit... but really as Martyna said ..... Heck I'm happy if you just recolor something to match.

I know it's a pain... but it is imporant..... and YES I would like the door... and I know it would be better if it could have a "larger" one.... but could you do an arched one that would require both doors? I know it would look dumb if you only used one door but making both doors come to an arch would be nice... or one smaller arched door is fine.... I just like doors that match.

I can't tell you how important it is to put out the BEST work you can do. I know you all have a deadline and all... I'm aware that corporate probably doesn't care about content... they likely care only that you are putting product on the web to buy at a specified time.... but we the players CARE about content. We the p(l)ayers wish for completeness...

Do we not deserve the best we can get? After 13 years of loyalty to UO and dedication do we not deserve it?

I know it don't seem like much but at this point it would seem to me that loyalty and commitment is at an all time low... dissatisfaction and disappointment are at an all time high...

Putting out something that the players feel is incomplete in my opinion will only add to the dissatisfaction and disappointment. Something that I believe we all can ill afford.


That's my point of view. Take it for what it's worth but I have been a loyal player for many years... invested more than I care to know in UO... and still run more accounts that the average bear... But even I am becoming disappointed and well... frustrated of late... But before each of the expansions and even the mini expansion of HS's had GREAT selling points... this one.... not so much, and sadly Grimm this one lands squarely in your lap.... being one of mostly new art... and little else.

Oh and for the record:

To "Biff": The action of slapping someone in the backside of the head using the flat of ones hand in a slightly upward motion... Forcing the victims head forward slightly and mussing their hair (if they have enough hair to muss).

 

[RaDian FlGith]

I totally understand what your saying, and lemme see if I can address some of your points:...

Grimm...

Just a couple of points:

1) Tilesets in UO remain strangely incomplete or inappropriately rendered. You need only look at the SA tileset and where strange graphical issues arise on certain facings to see this. In addition, things like doors that have only one way to swing open are a bit strange since you're just reusing the same door graphics to depict the way in which they open and close -- this is a technical issue, not an art one though, so you sort of get a pass here.

2) Foundations based on wall types... seriously? Okay, here's a shortcut. Take a full wall piece for each of the pieces you need to make a foundation out of, and then, you know, cut it from the top part down so that the "top" of the foundation already exists, and voila... foundation. This also has the effect of making the foundation tile up into the next wall piece -- providing of course it's not like the red gradiated gargoyle wall that doesn't stack on itself because it doesn't tile vertically).

I could go on ad nauseum about this, but we all know old tile sets NEVER get fixed. There has been ONE case of an adjustment to a tileset, and that was making the Crystal tileset garish instead of completely garish. How long have the staircase railings been in the system with no sensible way to use them? Again, more of a technical issue, but there are plenty of graphical issues that remain unaddressed in older tilesets.

So when people are asking you to complete old tilesets, it's not because we don't think there are reasons not to complete them, or that you could come up with a way to do them, it's simply because one they're in the game, they are NEVER, EVER adjusted, added to, revised, or in any way fixed.

 

[MalagAste]

I'd like to know Do you all need a Visual????

I could make a HUGE visual for you detailing what needs added to tile sets to make them "usable"...

I still say come spend the day with me... I'll show you everything that needs your attention.... and then some.

I would LOVE to get a hold of a DEV and show them the things that just aren't right. From Technical issues to art issues...

Heck I could take someone around to each of the cities and show you the 100's of things that are wrong/missing/unfinished or just plain worthless and in need of help.

There are tiles missing in Nu'Jelm's Palace... There are a dozen or more missing in Doom... There are corner tiles missing on loads of buildings.

Am I picky? Maybe.... But shouldn't you be? You are DEV's... Do you not take pride in your work? Do you not want to put out the best product you can? Do you not want to fix it?

I hate hearing how you just don't have time... That's BS in my opinion... I don't think it would take anyone that long to put in missing tiles... to fix and add what's been missing...


Before we can move forward we really need to go back and fix things that seriously need attention.

You've NO idea how many old players come back and say things like ..... "OMG they haven't fixed that yet??? Good grief does that still not work???" How many of them blow off UO because it's still buggy, broken and unfinished.

Lets do this tile set RIGHT from the beginning... don't think to add stuff later because we all know that's NEVER going to happen. Please.

 

[RaDian FlGith]

Well, I stand by the suggestion that if the DevTeam doesn't have the time to do some of this stuff that they should pay some of us to make the fixes. Some of us are skilled in artwork and could make the necessary changes to the files and provide them with the updated graphics that they could just plug into the game.

Or pay someone to go through the game and make a list of missing tiles and what exactly it is that's missing and where it's missing from.

I mean, yeah, it's little stuff, but... you know, it's also the flavor and environment of the game.

 

[Fayled Dhreams]

Well, I stand by the suggestion that if the DevTeam doesn't have the time to do some of this stuff that they should pay some of us to make the fixes. Some of us are skilled in artwork and could make the necessary changes to the files and provide them with the updated graphics that they could just plug into the game.

Or pay someone to go through the game and make a list of missing tiles and what exactly it is that's missing and where it's missing from.

I mean, yeah, it's little stuff, but... you know, it's also the flavor and environment of the game.

heh! yeah ... it is indeed "puzzling" ...
all I can figure is some sort of "copyright - patent" issue, deep down in the IP description.

Kinda like the *ahem* artist ... that sued the Hangover2 movie over ownership of the Tyson tat ...

Technically ... they wouldn't even need to pay for the art/effort ...
Put a website up and pick the "best" efforts ...
embed into an update ... Done!
*shakes head*

it's not like the "artists" are gonna sign their cobblestone tile
or embed a keylogger into the graphic

maybe they fear the "subliminals" that >could be< artfully concealed ...

Just saying ...
I suspect that yourself and Saphrenia(sp) >would< be able to "tune" quite a bit of the art ...
merely as a Hobby ...
the "reward" being:
"See that son/daughter? I drew that back in aught'leven !!"
*beams*

 

[MalagAste]

I must agree...

And it can't take that much "tech" time to slap that into the game.

I can't see the harm in allowing the fans to do it... besides they let some of us redesign banks for them...

Why not let us clean up art.

I wish they would let me fix all the missing tiles in my spare time. If they really wanted I could go around and make a list with the Inside UO tile Numbers and everything spelled out for them.... I'd take screen shots of each spot... and send them in...

I just want things fixed.

 

[Laisidhiel]

Yes, the open stairs created some technical issues that required us to create solid versions. We still have the open stair pieces, so we can re-add once we can resolve those issues.

-Grimm

Well, that's very good news. Thanks, Grimm.

I do hope they flesh out the tile sets and add nice floors and roofs. Seems like the right thing to do.

 

[Viquire]

I am however very happy to hear that the art in the EC is on the front burner this year.

"...and I'm not old, I'm 37!!"

At least no one called you woman. Skirts, plaid or not, can be confusing.

Hope you get to down a Guinness over the weekend.

Do we have a stout in the current brewing system? Hmmmmmm, someone should look into that.