The Dink Network

I just started a crowdfunding campaign for a powered up 3-D printer. So now I want to tell everyone about it, and I felt that writing a DMod that features the machine would be awesome. (Yes, I realize that that is a lot of effort for a small group of people, but I like this group of people, so I do it anyway.)

However, I didn't use my editor for a while and now the libraries it uses have changed a lot, so it doesn't work anymore. That pissed me off, so I decided to move away from those libraries and use a web browser for the interface instead.

That is not what it sounds like; I'm not moving it into the cloud. I'm making it such that you use a browser to open files from your own computer and it can edit them. It will not use the internet and will work fine while you are not connected to it. You will still need a Python program to turn the result into a DMod, but I'll probably be hosting a service for that on a web site. So then you can finally all use my editor.

Anyway, this is delaying the creation of the DMod quite a bit, so I fear it may not be done in time for the campaign. Because that has started today, and runs only 50 days. So I thought I'd post something about it now anyway. If you're interested: Here it is.

Anyway, I'm supposed to hype the DMod itself, not my editor and certainly not a personal manufacturing robot. So here is some information on the DMod:

It is set in the original game's universe (and I plan to reuse its map), just before the original game starts. Dink's mother is the protagonist and she tries to help Smilestein with his farm problem. Martridge effectively gives her a wish. In the intro, the item she chooses isn't effective so she returns home and gives up. Then there's an alternate history where she instead gets an Athena (the machine we're selling). That's where the intro ends. In the game, she uses the Athena to solve the farm problem, only to find out there is more behind it and she solves that as well.

Of course the mystery of how the house caught fire will finally be solved, too.

Comments about Athena, me editor and this DMod are all on topic in this thread. Also feel free to tell others about any of them, especially Athena.

> Of course the mystery of how the house caught fire will finally be solved, too.

It was printing something and caught on fire? I've heard that it can happen to 3d printers if you're not careful.

It was printing something and caught on fire? I've heard that it can happen to 3d printers if you're not careful.

Was she printing fire? Wait... Can you print fire?

I bet this dmod will be a 3d printed ad.

It was printing something and caught on fire?

Maybe. I'm not spoiling that part.

I've heard that it can happen to 3d printers if you're not careful.

That is true, although I've never seen it happen, nor heard of it happen to anyone. But there are temperatures involved that are high enough to set things on fire, so that can happen if you are exceptionally sloppy (or if you do it on purpose).

Was she printing fire?

I told you, I'm not going to spoil this!

Wait... Can you print fire?

The Athena in the DMod will be able to print some things that cannot be printed on the real one. If I want it to print fire, it will be able to do that.

The real one could be modified to lay down something flammable and then ignite it with a laser, for example. Does that count as printing fire?

I bet this dmod will be a 3d printed ad.

You mean a 3-D printer ad? I pretty much announced it as such, so that's no secret. But even though the machine has a prominent role in the story, my primary purpose here is to make it a nice DMod, showing off the machine is only secondary. That's why I make the DMod-Athena more powerful than the real one; it makes for a better storyline.

Hey, we should start printing 3d printers. Then they could become affordable.

Hey, we should start printing 3d printers. Then they could become affordable.

That's a brilliant idea! It's so good, people have been doing that for a while. In fact, many parts of Athena are made on a 3-D printer.

Affordable depends on your definition of course. Ten years ago, 3-D printers cost at least half a million dollars. Athena is $650. That's still not pocket change, but it does make it literally affordable in that many people can now afford it. In fact, it's not even really expensive for a hobby.

Dude, you can turn off your marketing mode here. I don't think whatever bosses you have will really care too much about marketing spooky newfangled technology to a bunch of weirdos on a quiet message board about a 1997 game.

Probably not a whole lot of selling to do.

Dude, you can turn off your marketing mode here.

I thought I was just responding to your comment. What made it look like marketing?

whatever bosses you have

I don't have any; I started the company with two others.

Probably not a whole lot of selling to do.

Indeed. The advertising value of this effort is minimal. But I have trouble coming up with good ideas for DMods, and this seemed like a good one. And minimal advertising value is still better than none.

When people make a story, they write what they know about.

Best of luck, Shevek

I'm glad that the interest in making dmods lives on. Someone should start a new list of who's making what and when they are expected to be finished.

I'm looking forward to playing "Ridge Conspiracy". That's still going to happen, right?

I'm looking forward to playing "Ridge Conspiracy". That's still going to happen, right?

It's not abandoned, for what that's worth. Although saying that I'm working on it might also be a bit much. The estimated release date of late 2014 is definitely somewhat optimistic.

But I still tinker with dmods occassionally, so there's a real chance I'll finish it at some point.

Translation: "Nope."