Post by Vyse on May 9, 2009 1:10:30 GMT -5
The sheer number of textures available can be rather overwhelming, especially for newcomers. Sifting through the seemingly endless lists of lackluster textures to find the gems often feels like a chore. I want to make this process at least a little easier.
What I have in mind is a texture review site. Just like one for games or gadgets or books, but we review textures. The team would be comprised of maybe five or six members: one from every more-or-less prominent hacking team (ESH, SS, and KC spring to mind), with the remaining spots available upon application for members of smaller teams and/or veteran forum members. Note that the main focus of creating the reviewing team is not to form a group of the "best" but one that represents a variety of tastes and art styles.
The site would function as follows. At least twice a week, three or more reviewers would pick a texture from all of those available. (IMO, any texture posted for the public to see and use is also fair game for critique.) The texture would exemplify (or prove the need for -- negative reviews will be posted as well) at least one of several characteristics that makes a great texture: attention to detail, style, creativity, simplicity... I'll iron out the details if this idea gets enough positive feedback. Each reviewer would then write up a decent, thought-out critique, scoring the texture on each of the above-mentioned criteria as well as an overall score. Naturally, due to the nature of the reviewing team, different reviewers will give radically varying scores to the same texture. The beauty of it is that readers are presented with a variety of well-expressed opinions on what makes a texture good (or, to another person, not good).
"But Vyse," you say, "won't something like this just lead to bitterness and inflated egos?" Probably, but those would be due entirely to the immaturity of the people expressing them. The list of positives far outweighs that. First, the reviews shine a spotlight on textures that are truly outstanding. Second and more importantly, they encourage more work of the same quality -- the reviews effectively set a standard that doesn't really exist in the community now. I believe that, overall, reviews would strengthen and improve the texture hacking community as a whole.
Go ahead and post whatever feedback you have. If, after a few days, I feel like it's a good idea, I'll look into recruiting members and setting up a site.
What I have in mind is a texture review site. Just like one for games or gadgets or books, but we review textures. The team would be comprised of maybe five or six members: one from every more-or-less prominent hacking team (ESH, SS, and KC spring to mind), with the remaining spots available upon application for members of smaller teams and/or veteran forum members. Note that the main focus of creating the reviewing team is not to form a group of the "best" but one that represents a variety of tastes and art styles.
The site would function as follows. At least twice a week, three or more reviewers would pick a texture from all of those available. (IMO, any texture posted for the public to see and use is also fair game for critique.) The texture would exemplify (or prove the need for -- negative reviews will be posted as well) at least one of several characteristics that makes a great texture: attention to detail, style, creativity, simplicity... I'll iron out the details if this idea gets enough positive feedback. Each reviewer would then write up a decent, thought-out critique, scoring the texture on each of the above-mentioned criteria as well as an overall score. Naturally, due to the nature of the reviewing team, different reviewers will give radically varying scores to the same texture. The beauty of it is that readers are presented with a variety of well-expressed opinions on what makes a texture good (or, to another person, not good).
"But Vyse," you say, "won't something like this just lead to bitterness and inflated egos?" Probably, but those would be due entirely to the immaturity of the people expressing them. The list of positives far outweighs that. First, the reviews shine a spotlight on textures that are truly outstanding. Second and more importantly, they encourage more work of the same quality -- the reviews effectively set a standard that doesn't really exist in the community now. I believe that, overall, reviews would strengthen and improve the texture hacking community as a whole.
Go ahead and post whatever feedback you have. If, after a few days, I feel like it's a good idea, I'll look into recruiting members and setting up a site.
