Summer projects?

Jan 8, 2011
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Who has a mapping project they plan to work on over the summer? If you have a project, post it here!

I'm going to make a payload map set atop an offshore oil rig. The only reason I want to do this is to have a big, epic, raining fire explosion at the end.
 

Freyja

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Jul 31, 2009
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Well it's winter, but I just plan on working on serenity, well, remaking it completely under a different name,

And portal 2
 

Terwonick

L6: Sharp Member
Aug 25, 2010
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I'm actually getting a new computer in a week or so. It'll be good enough that I can actually play TF2... But my old one ran hammer just fine so I have 3-4 half-done maps that I plan on finishing :)
 
Mar 23, 2010
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I'm fixing tf2.
 

Rexy

The Kwisatz Haderach
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Dec 22, 2008
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I have decided to learn to use the Unity engine, and I would like to start introductory lessons on learning a programming language.

Also zig, and strange will continue in development.
 
Jun 19, 2009
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I have decided to learn to use the Unity engine, and I would like to start introductory lessons on learning a programming language.

Also zig, and strange will continue in development.

Whatever you do, don't start with Python. It makes things too easy, and it's better to start with something that has more learning value (in terms of algorithm design) like C++ or Java.

Edit:
My summer project is rotating with this Orthopedic surgeon named Dr. Grant.
 
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Rexy

The Kwisatz Haderach
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Dec 22, 2008
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I was going to ask about that--I was considering talking to my brothers, both of them work in software as programmers.

Unity uses javascript, C#, so I'd like to learn something compatible, as naturally it would have a functional use. http://unity3d.com/unity/engine/programming Anyone who is in the know give me more info (helljumper included)?
 
Jun 19, 2009
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I was going to ask about that--I was considering talking to my brothers, both of them work in software as programmers.

Unity uses javascript, C#, so I'd like to learn something compatible, as naturally it would have a functional use. http://unity3d.com/unity/engine/programming Anyone who is in the know give me more info (helljumper included)?

I learned a little Actionscript 2 (it has the same syntax and semantics of JavaScript) a couple years back before actually going more hardcore into a programming language which was Python 3. It was a bad decision on my part because Python 3 is so user friendly, that you get used to making slight errors that normally would cause programs to fail with "more advanced" languages.

Python is extremely nice because it does allow for some more intuitive things (like reading files--in python you can literally read a text file line by line, whereas in Java you have to make due with a while loop). I recommend starting with Java (not to be confused with JavaScript)--it's actually very closely related to C and C++ which will be beneficial if you decide you want to use C++ instead (the source engine is based on C++, I'm fairly certain).

I'm not an advanced programmer myself, although I did take a few classes on program algorithms and basic programming. I wouldn't base all your decisions solely on my advice--hopefully someone here who is more affiliated with multiple programming languages can help you out a little better.
 

grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
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Mar 4, 2008
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@Hell Jumper: when i had some experience working on a zombie mod for HL2 i had a number of conversations with the project's lead programmer which leads me to believe it is in fact C++.
 
Jun 19, 2009
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And with rexy posting, thats reminds me I'm going to teach myself 3dsMax and modeling also... maybe photoshop if I get my hands on it...

Outside of TF2 land I'm working on my cooking skills.

Rexy.jpg

~Rexy
 

tyler

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Sep 11, 2013
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rexy you should learn python and ruby on rails and a couple web languages beyond html/css, like javascript and php

all simple, and my boyfriend makes 70k a year + stock options for picking up a few languages in his spare time over six months

granted, we're both geniuses, but hey you're not so dumb
 

MrAlBobo

L13: Stunning Member
Feb 20, 2008
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Anyone who is in the know give me more info (helljumper included)?

I have a fairly strange track record for learning programming languages. Scratching the surface of c++, then java, then c, then c#, then c++ in more depth.
As for something to start with, C# seems like the obvious choice. Looks like the only unity language thats...an actual language <_<.
I never tried python, but C# is certainly the easiest ive used.
I just find it...off that their claiming scripting languages running on top on .net can be almost as fast as native c++.

@Hell Jumper: when i had some experience working on a zombie mod for HL2 i had a number of conversations with the project's lead programmer which leads me to believe it is in fact C++.

Yes, hl2 is on C++, got that from the guy behind synergy. Also this: http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Category:Programming
Doesn't say it explicitly, but alot of the articles refer to c++.
 

grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
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Mar 4, 2008
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Something i found peculiar was reading a bunch of HL2 mod C++ code, it all made a remarkable amount of sense; maybe this was because i understand a lot about the Source engine to begin with, though i also understand that actually applying it is another matter. I'm hoping that if i were to get into it the fact that i understand it will make things a little easier in applying it.

Now that i've finished uni i'm stuck between applying myself strictly to level design (using several game engines), learning a modelling program or HTML+another coding language.

A computer tech friend told me i could pretty much master HTML in 3 months if i wanted to. I know the resources can all be found for free online. I've had http://www.w3schools.com/ bookmarked for nearly a year now.
 
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Jun 19, 2009
812
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Something i found peculiar was reading a bunch of HL2 mod C++ code, it all made a remarkable amount of sense; maybe this was because i understand a lot about the Source engine to begin with, though i also understand that actually applying it is another matter. I'm hoping that if i were to get into it the fact that i understand it will make things a little easier in applying it.

Now that i've finished uni i'm stuck between applying myself strictly to level design (using several game engines), learning a modelling program or HTML+another coding language.

A computer tech friend told me i could pretty much master HTML in 3 months if i wanted to. I know the resources can all be found for free online. I've had http://www.w3schools.com/ bookmarked for nearly a year now.

Wow, thanks for linking that site... I might fiddle around with web design in my spare time near the end of the summer :thumbup:
 
May 2, 2009
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I'm planning to make my cp map, learn some basic skills in Autodesk Mudbox, 3DSMax (mostly for rendering maybe) and dunno what else. Actually I should learn to draw human faces as at the moment all my humans are bold and look like :|

Should also get deeper with SolidWorks and Illustrator :O
 

Psy

The Imp Queen
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Apr 9, 2008
1,706
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Use C#, Rexy. It's cool and easy to get to grasps with if you already know a bit about OOP, based on what I've learnt over the past week or so.

Oh and I'm also learning Unity. I have a pretty cool game idea which can be easily expanded. (No. It's not Ducks with Afros with Bazookas.) That'll take up a chunk of free time hopefully.