COTPATD - The Book?
So, I've been thinking about something lately. Shortly after Tim finished COTPATD, I told him that he should release what he wrote as a physical paper book. Not that a publisher would be interested (the target audience is a bit too niche, haha), but there's quite a few self-publish print-on-demand solutions out there. It isn't too difficult (you can do it with something like Microsoft Word, as I did for DinkC Reference and a book for Carrie's Dam Beavers comic).
Alas, he wasn't interested, and said "Y'know, if I'd thought I was writing a book I'd have tried to write it better than I did."
I still like the idea of having a copy of COTPATD in book form, as a reminder of what I, Tim, and everyone else here has worked on over the years.
I'm thinking about spending some of my vacation time around Christmas to create the book. Formatting it, performing minor grammatical and other fixes as appropriate. If it goes well, I could have it available for purchase for the minimum price (with no profit going towards me, as with the DinkC Reference) if other people want a copy.
Is that crazy? Should I just leave this alone? Should I get permission from Cocomom? Would anyone else here want a copy?
Alas, he wasn't interested, and said "Y'know, if I'd thought I was writing a book I'd have tried to write it better than I did."
I still like the idea of having a copy of COTPATD in book form, as a reminder of what I, Tim, and everyone else here has worked on over the years.
I'm thinking about spending some of my vacation time around Christmas to create the book. Formatting it, performing minor grammatical and other fixes as appropriate. If it goes well, I could have it available for purchase for the minimum price (with no profit going towards me, as with the DinkC Reference) if other people want a copy.
Is that crazy? Should I just leave this alone? Should I get permission from Cocomom? Would anyone else here want a copy?
I'm really not sure. On one hand, Tim did say he wasn't interested and it would seem a little wrong to go ahead and do it anyways when he has no say in the matter, but on the other hand, it would be cool if it was transformed into an actual book. Then we don't have to load huge pages and read through them all and it's always nice to have a physical copy of something to look cool on a shelf or something.
Probably see what Cocomom has to say about that idea. I don't know if Tim would be absolutely against it or if he just didn't think his writing was good enough and would've been happy anyways if there was a book form of the project.
Probably see what Cocomom has to say about that idea. I don't know if Tim would be absolutely against it or if he just didn't think his writing was good enough and would've been happy anyways if there was a book form of the project.
Not crazy at all, I think it's a beautiful idea. I'd get a copy for myself, provided that shipping wouldn't end up costing many times more than the book itself.
As long as it's non-profit, I don't see any kind of moral problem... However, asking Cocomom or Tim's wife would be classy, as they knew him better than anyone here and should be able to give a better handle on how he would've felt about something like that.
As long as it's non-profit, I don't see any kind of moral problem... However, asking Cocomom or Tim's wife would be classy, as they knew him better than anyone here and should be able to give a better handle on how he would've felt about something like that.
agree asking them and its a really awesome tribute to someone who did a huge amount for tdn - nice one Dan such a great idea - need help just yell i love formatting
i would also happily pay a little towads it and be happy if u used it to pay forum hosting costs - i think cocomonkey would have loved that idea. He was all for supporting this forum
i would also happily pay a little towads it and be happy if u used it to pay forum hosting costs - i think cocomonkey would have loved that idea. He was all for supporting this forum
I like that idea, but also agree that asking Tim's family first would be the best thing to do.
If I had the money spend, I know I'd get a copy.
If I had the money spend, I know I'd get a copy.
I think it's an amazing idea, but I agree that you should try to ask Cocomom first. Maybe we could even send his family a free copy, if they'd like. I'd be willing to chip in for something like that.
It would make me very happy to own a physical memento, both of this place and of Tim.
Edit: Didn't mean to say almost the same first sentence as you, Striker, haha...
It would make me very happy to own a physical memento, both of this place and of Tim.
Edit: Didn't mean to say almost the same first sentence as you, Striker, haha...
I concur with everyone else. Ask the family and do it with their permission. I'd purchase it! Great idea redink.
While you're at it you should make the DinkC Reference book available again, I want a copy of that too!
While you're at it you should make the DinkC Reference book available again, I want a copy of that too!
Although i never spoke to Tim much, i have just read his crazy tim reviews on my two dmods... I hadn't even known they were there... I fail to put into words how it made me feel to read for the first time his reviews on MY own dmods, and to know that he wasnt around anymore... I for one would love to read more from him. But yes of course, asking his family first is what should be done.
I would purchase it. Heck, I'd even pay for Scratcher's copy!
I'm gonna be devil's advocate here and say that it would be difficult to make it into a physical paper book that would work well as a book and that would be enjoyable to read for someone who isn't familiar with Dink and modding (such as Coco's relatives). You'd need to do stuff like writing a preface and epilogue and quite a few other things that would take quite a lot of work.
The main problem is that you've got a huge bunch of articles full of external hyperlinks that are in many cases needed to give context to what has been written. Obviously in a book format you'd either need footnotes or some sort of reference in the back to help people understand what's going on and in many cases it's going to be too difficult to convey meaning that way such as in the case of YouTube video links.
The alternative would be to make a sort of "best of" collection which sort of shapes a narrative.
My ultimate fear is that if it does go ahead it might end up being half-baked and incoherent or potentially no different to just printing out of the forum threads.
The main problem is that you've got a huge bunch of articles full of external hyperlinks that are in many cases needed to give context to what has been written. Obviously in a book format you'd either need footnotes or some sort of reference in the back to help people understand what's going on and in many cases it's going to be too difficult to convey meaning that way such as in the case of YouTube video links.
The alternative would be to make a sort of "best of" collection which sort of shapes a narrative.
My ultimate fear is that if it does go ahead it might end up being half-baked and incoherent or potentially no different to just printing out of the forum threads.
I don't see any of that as an issue except for the hyperlinks. I don't know what Tim put in there that wouldn't make any sense without the links, but if it's something like a reference to a movie or whatever, it should be fine.
Really cool idea. I'd totally buy it if I wasn't living in Romania. Who knows. Maybe if will ACTUALLY be released, I may get my hands on it. I especially wanted to get my hands on DinkC a few month ago but the link wasn't available anymore. If you still know where I can buy it, then please, direct me to it. Imma buy it in a second.
i would love a copy of the book if it is made so, seriously reading tim's stuff really took me back in time of dink's history.
I hope you would conisder releasing a digital version as well
I hope you would conisder releasing a digital version as well
A page/pages where everyone who wants to can write a message to cocomonkey thanking him or giving their appreciation to him might also be nice. Probably either put this in the preface or the epilogue. Or alternatively, put one or two between each chapter and at various places throughout the book.
@toast
understand your fears. I do agree that the book would need an epilogue and a preface but I'm not sure if they would require as much work as you think they would. The youtube references would be a bit tricky to do, but you could probably find a way to just remove them entirely, or just make a footnote for it and provide the footnote links at the end of each chapter. This wasn't intended to ever be a book so making it into one will have some drawbacks like that, but I still think it would make a good book.
@redink1
I can try to put it into a book format for you if you'd like.
@toast
understand your fears. I do agree that the book would need an epilogue and a preface but I'm not sure if they would require as much work as you think they would. The youtube references would be a bit tricky to do, but you could probably find a way to just remove them entirely, or just make a footnote for it and provide the footnote links at the end of each chapter. This wasn't intended to ever be a book so making it into one will have some drawbacks like that, but I still think it would make a good book.
@redink1
I can try to put it into a book format for you if you'd like.
I think Meta has hit the nail on the head here. Absolutely.
Did that fish and pancake just talk?
I had thought about back then suggesting to coco about making COTPATD as a dmod , it would have been a mega dmod with dink being able to visit various screens from the memorable dmods through a yearly timeline
along with books in the game containing a short version of his reviews.....
along with books in the game containing a short version of his reviews.....
I put together Chapter 1 (1998) into a word document (using a valid book size, margins, and the like), and I would appreciate any feedback you folks might provide. This would be the interior of the book (the cover will be done separately).
redrecondite.com/COTPATD_Ch1Preview.pdf
Here's my current thoughts on things I'd like to improve:
- Make Table of Contents look better.
- Pointless has a lot of empty space on its last page.
- Gray box appears on Page 14 in wrong spot (doesn't show up in Word, just in PDF).
- Pages 45 and 46 don't have a chapter title in their footer.
redrecondite.com/COTPATD_Ch1Preview.pdf
Here's my current thoughts on things I'd like to improve:
- Make Table of Contents look better.
- Pointless has a lot of empty space on its last page.
- Gray box appears on Page 14 in wrong spot (doesn't show up in Word, just in PDF).
- Pages 45 and 46 don't have a chapter title in their footer.
It looks good despite the fixing stuff you pointed out. It'd read really well in book form.
Fantastic. Tim was a very talented writer and saved his best project for last.
The cover should be ridiculously overly cool. Something like this.
You should hire an artist and tell them to just "do whatever you want as long as it involves lasers, Dink Smallwood monsters, a cyborg dinosaur mount, and a Dink who looks so chiseled and hot that he rivals Handsome Squidward and give them that picture as a sort of template.
You should hire an artist and tell them to just "do whatever you want as long as it involves lasers, Dink Smallwood monsters, a cyborg dinosaur mount, and a Dink who looks so chiseled and hot that he rivals Handsome Squidward and give them that picture as a sort of template.
Read through it right on the new year , this is awesome redink i really liked the community response put in , hope there are more of that put in as well.
Its amazing how coco managed to play through them all and yet managed to remember the details very well
Its amazing how coco managed to play through them all and yet managed to remember the details very well
Wow, what a legacy. It looks sexy as duck.
It's a nice tribute project for Tim. But gotta admit, I find it really hard to go back and read any of the COTPATD, knowing what happened after it.
At first, it itched me little bit that some pages where columnar followed by some single panel pages, though this does make sense with including the images. But, on reading your comment of there being to large an empty space on the last page of the "Pointless section", I paused.
I think there is an irony in that the blank space speaks more than anything that could be padded in there. Perhaps the true message behind pointless, and even Tim's own negative comments about it, is that it really isn't pointless at all. His work does inspire us all to desire more from ourselves, and especially when reading his own wish that he could have achieved more than he felt he was capable of, describes exactly my beginnings in the music industry. In a way, Tim isn't all that different from Dink, in the grand scheme of things.
I will say that I was partially present during some of this time, I was originally alerted to the Dink phenomena during it's Beta testing period, not so much from a programming perspective but from a player perspective, although my background is largely in the IT/financial sector. Yes, I had lost count of the number of fingers pointed at me for sending emails from my BB, while most people where still evolving from rotary to touch-tone landlines. It was the first time I had heard the term, "Beta-Banger", and it was an awesome experience.
At the same time, I think many of us grew on a personal level, in the same ways that Tim speaks of here, in that we begin to realize that we aren't the center of the universe but we can become a beneficial, albeit tiny, piece in it. We can find a place for ourselves, once we realize that our initial desires may be merely stepping stones to our real purpose. I believe that Tim has made a more than reasonable contribution to TDN, definitely larger than he realized, but in the lives of many others as well.
This is amazing so far, Dan. I feel honored to have been a small part, or at least a witness to, some of the growth of the phenomenon, which is Dink.
Mm.
I think there is an irony in that the blank space speaks more than anything that could be padded in there. Perhaps the true message behind pointless, and even Tim's own negative comments about it, is that it really isn't pointless at all. His work does inspire us all to desire more from ourselves, and especially when reading his own wish that he could have achieved more than he felt he was capable of, describes exactly my beginnings in the music industry. In a way, Tim isn't all that different from Dink, in the grand scheme of things.
I will say that I was partially present during some of this time, I was originally alerted to the Dink phenomena during it's Beta testing period, not so much from a programming perspective but from a player perspective, although my background is largely in the IT/financial sector. Yes, I had lost count of the number of fingers pointed at me for sending emails from my BB, while most people where still evolving from rotary to touch-tone landlines. It was the first time I had heard the term, "Beta-Banger", and it was an awesome experience.
At the same time, I think many of us grew on a personal level, in the same ways that Tim speaks of here, in that we begin to realize that we aren't the center of the universe but we can become a beneficial, albeit tiny, piece in it. We can find a place for ourselves, once we realize that our initial desires may be merely stepping stones to our real purpose. I believe that Tim has made a more than reasonable contribution to TDN, definitely larger than he realized, but in the lives of many others as well.
This is amazing so far, Dan. I feel honored to have been a small part, or at least a witness to, some of the growth of the phenomenon, which is Dink.
Mm.
This looks fantastic and I would absolutely buy a copy.
I changed from using Microsoft Word to trying to figure out how to use LaTeX, and have been stuck in that area for a couple weeks. I do intend to finish it within a month or two.
I changed from using Microsoft Word to trying to figure out how to use LaTeX, and have been stuck in that area for a couple weeks.
If you need any help with that, feel free to ask.
If you need any help with that, feel free to ask.
I changed from using Microsoft Word to trying to figure out how to use LaTeX
Ooooooh. Just don't use that Computer Modern font. It looks so old and stuffy.
Ooooooh. Just don't use that Computer Modern font. It looks so old and stuffy.
What the duck am I missing out on?
Is Latex super good?
Is Latex super good?
Is Latex super good?
If you are a programmer, it is. It's a way to describe your layout in a way that is more like a program. The two main benefits of it are that it is easy to make a (large) document look consistent, including in figures like graphs or musical scores (things that are almost impossible with other ways of editing) and that it is very good with mathematical formulas.
If you don't use formulas and don't care about things looking sloppy, you don't need it. Otherwise, it's worth learning.
If you are a programmer, it is. It's a way to describe your layout in a way that is more like a program. The two main benefits of it are that it is easy to make a (large) document look consistent, including in figures like graphs or musical scores (things that are almost impossible with other ways of editing) and that it is very good with mathematical formulas.
If you don't use formulas and don't care about things looking sloppy, you don't need it. Otherwise, it's worth learning.
I haven't said this before, but I am willing to pay significant shipping to get one of these to New Zealand, assuming I have the funds when this finally becomes available.
I've felt rather guilty about having somehow come out on top against his clearly better d-Mod in the silent d-mod contest just prior, and seeing his reaction to that happening. I know it's stupid, but having just come out of nowhere and doing that has left me feeling like the straw that broke the camels back, and personally at fault for what happened.
On top of that, in the days between the end of the contest and Tim's final post, he helped me greatly with improving Silence, aiding me track down and solve all the bugs that he'd found, as well as the ones that others had pointed out. Finding out he was gone just prior to the update coming out was especially crushing; I'd wanted to thank him in the release thread for all his help, and let people know how nice he'd been to me, and suddenly it felt wrong, like I'd used him, and run him dry...
It's a small sentiment, but one the would comfort me a lot, to own a paper copy of what is possible Tim's greatest legacy on this site. It's strange to think someone I've never met could ever make such an impression on my life as he has, even if I only knew him for a few weeks.
I've felt rather guilty about having somehow come out on top against his clearly better d-Mod in the silent d-mod contest just prior, and seeing his reaction to that happening. I know it's stupid, but having just come out of nowhere and doing that has left me feeling like the straw that broke the camels back, and personally at fault for what happened.
On top of that, in the days between the end of the contest and Tim's final post, he helped me greatly with improving Silence, aiding me track down and solve all the bugs that he'd found, as well as the ones that others had pointed out. Finding out he was gone just prior to the update coming out was especially crushing; I'd wanted to thank him in the release thread for all his help, and let people know how nice he'd been to me, and suddenly it felt wrong, like I'd used him, and run him dry...
It's a small sentiment, but one the would comfort me a lot, to own a paper copy of what is possible Tim's greatest legacy on this site. It's strange to think someone I've never met could ever make such an impression on my life as he has, even if I only knew him for a few weeks.
i missed the page is a 404 error sigh i cant push my walker that fast it clacks too loud when it hits the ground...
Status update:
I went back to Microsoft Word. LaTeX seemed interesting, but didn't support the WYSIWYG-goodness that I crave (i.e. without a lot of work, you can't place images in specific places).
So far have everything imported and formatted through the end of 2005 (probably need to go back and tweak some things, but it looks nice now), and it is at 583 pages so far.
I went back to Microsoft Word. LaTeX seemed interesting, but didn't support the WYSIWYG-goodness that I crave (i.e. without a lot of work, you can't place images in specific places).
So far have everything imported and formatted through the end of 2005 (probably need to go back and tweak some things, but it looks nice now), and it is at 583 pages so far.
This is gonna go right with all my Encyclopedias. Will probably be the biggest book there by the sounds of things.
through the end of 2005
and it is at 583 pages so far.
.________________________________________________.
and it is at 583 pages so far.
.________________________________________________.
So, does that mean there will be multiple volumes?
Possibly; it looks like Amazon/Createspace supports up to 828 pages, and there's a decent chance that the rest will fit. I also still need to go through and fit some additional pages in (like where moving a screenshot can make two pages fit on one page).
Well... I'm done importing everything, it is sitting at 991 pages.
And it looks like I didn't fully read the page limits before, and the max number of pages for a color print is 480 pages. With all of the screenshots, I was thinking color would be worth the extra cost... hey, I haven't checked how much this thing would cost yet. I can do that.
Hmm.
480 color pages is $34.45. So, if it was split into two volumes, it would be $68.90 total.
480 black and white pages is $6.61. If this was also split into two volumes, it would be about $13.22 total.
At those prices, would anyone else want color over black-and-white?
I'll also try to see if there are any other Print-On-Demand services available.
And it looks like I didn't fully read the page limits before, and the max number of pages for a color print is 480 pages. With all of the screenshots, I was thinking color would be worth the extra cost... hey, I haven't checked how much this thing would cost yet. I can do that.
Hmm.
480 color pages is $34.45. So, if it was split into two volumes, it would be $68.90 total.
480 black and white pages is $6.61. If this was also split into two volumes, it would be about $13.22 total.
At those prices, would anyone else want color over black-and-white?
I'll also try to see if there are any other Print-On-Demand services available.
colour plz.
also, the duck? you took months for half of it, then in like a day got the other half done?
could you direct me to the nearest time machine/portal?
also, the duck? you took months for half of it, then in like a day got the other half done?
could you direct me to the nearest time machine/portal?
Well... I'm done importing everything, it is sitting at 991 pages.
That's impressive.
That's impressive.
write 9 pages of irrelevant shit about turkey breeding just so it can be a nice, 1000 milestone thingy.
Geez. Sorry to say there's no way I can afford 70 bucks US atm. Could definitely fork out 13 though. There's no way to have black and white v colour on demand as well?
At those prices I would stick with black and white to be honest.
If you have to do all one or all the other, then black and white is probably best for most people. But if it can be a combination of either, I'm willing to pay the extra for a color one.
900 pages? That's insane! I didn't expect it to be anywhere near that beefy. Of course, the bigger the better, as the size gives the work a certain gravitas.
I think it needs to be in colour to do justice to the screenshots. I would also prefer a single omnibus over two chunks, although I could live with that.
I think it needs to be in colour to do justice to the screenshots. I would also prefer a single omnibus over two chunks, although I could live with that.
I don't think having it in colour really matters. What matters is that we can read his awesome reviews. I think it's better without colours if that means that more people are willing/able to get it then.
BTW I'm still really sad that he ain't around anymore....
BTW I'm still really sad that he ain't around anymore....
Could there also be a special (much lower) price for a .pdf or .doc version of the file? Some of us are on tight budgets.
let's have every possible format - colour, black and white, hard cover, paperback (with colour and black and white versions), red version, blue version, collector's editions, ancient tome-style, pdf, movie, comic, manga, tv serial, tv show, mickey rooney reading it to a kid, slideshow in the style of plumbers don't wear ties, musical, broadway musical, play, shakespearean play, lecture, audiobook, audiobook with christopher walken reading it, point and click adventure game, fmv game, game where each dmod is in logs you pick up or unlock or whatever, national address, international address, un meeting, stand up routine, flip book, and a version for htc vive and oculus rift of which each version listed before are also available.
the vr audio book versions would simulate it being read to you by christopher walken who is your dad. he even calls you sport and makes dad jokes that make you cringe
the vr audio book versions would simulate it being read to you by christopher walken who is your dad. he even calls you sport and makes dad jokes that make you cringe
that's what happens when you're the ruler of time and space.
As well as the aforementioned mediums, I'd like it chiseled onto a series of stone tablets.
BTW I'm still really sad that he ain't around anymore....
You're telling me. I feel terrible that I was absent for his entire time here...
BTW I'm still really sad that he ain't around anymore....
You're telling me. I feel terrible that I was absent for his entire time here...
Any digital versions would be 100% free.
That(free electronic versions) is very gracious of you. I know you must put a lot of time into all the the Dink wonder and joy that we all depend on here on the DN.
You are too kind.
You are too kind.
Even the physical book's content would be entirely free, the only thing you're paying for would be printing and shipping.
This is a work of love and it's appreciated.
This is a work of love and it's appreciated.
and the format and fact that you can now stick a physical version on it on a shelf.
danish, will the book cover be supreme
danish, will the book cover be supreme
The PDF looks great so far, Dan. I hadn't noticed that you had uploaded a preview of it 'til just now.
Thanks for making the digital version free, will it be in the cbr format ? aka comic book reader , i am starting to prefer that one over pdf these days.
cant wait for this
cant wait for this
you've gotta draw a panel for all the stuff tim said first.
I think that the digital version looks great too. Thanks for making the preview available.
The preview looks awesome. I am going to be editing up the rest of the Let's Play of Malachi the Jerk I did with Tim soon. Unfortunately a lot of it is laggy, as we used the wrong method to record over skype, but I don't care, it's still gonna get done.
laggy in what way? i have this 2 or whatever hour long project i'm trying to do which is from over two years ago and there's this clip where if you sync one part, another is 15 seconds apart.
...that just shouldn't happen, so it's probably a glitchy anomaly in the fabric of existence.
...that just shouldn't happen, so it's probably a glitchy anomaly in the fabric of existence.
That's good news. The playthrough for Malachi was always the biggest unfinished one for me.
Laggy as in, we used the wrong method to capture the gameplay footage and send it through skype, resulting in it using most of my system resources and lagging the gameplay in the footage. It's still watchable though.
"laggy in what way? i have this 2 or whatever hour long project i'm trying to do which is from over two years ago and there's this clip where if you sync one part, another is 15 seconds apart."
That is usually caused by inconsistent frame rates and can be easily repaired. Download a software called virtualdub, there is an option in there that will scan the clip for audio sync issues and fix it automatically, then you can re-save it.
"laggy in what way? i have this 2 or whatever hour long project i'm trying to do which is from over two years ago and there's this clip where if you sync one part, another is 15 seconds apart."
That is usually caused by inconsistent frame rates and can be easily repaired. Download a software called virtualdub, there is an option in there that will scan the clip for audio sync issues and fix it automatically, then you can re-save it.
it shouldn't have anything to do with the frame rate. the project files are a bunch of clips from a game and i have a separate, uninterrupted audio file i'm trying to match the clips with. thing is, in one of the clips, it is impossible to sync the whole thing. it's seriously like some sort of unnatural occurrence.
one part has me reacting to dying for no reason. sometime later, i give a warning that a platform is about to drop. if one of those parts is synced to a point where it makes sense and seems accurate, the other is like, 15 seconds apart. other clips aren't like that. if there's a part where i can match up a reaction to the game footage, it works somewhat well. but that one clip...it's like it should be extensively studied because there's something wrong with its existence as a whole. there some temporal fluctuation that happens somewhere where 15 seconds of time are thrown off balance.
and there's no way that i'm 15 seconds too late or too early. there's just something wrong.
one part has me reacting to dying for no reason. sometime later, i give a warning that a platform is about to drop. if one of those parts is synced to a point where it makes sense and seems accurate, the other is like, 15 seconds apart. other clips aren't like that. if there's a part where i can match up a reaction to the game footage, it works somewhat well. but that one clip...it's like it should be extensively studied because there's something wrong with its existence as a whole. there some temporal fluctuation that happens somewhere where 15 seconds of time are thrown off balance.
and there's no way that i'm 15 seconds too late or too early. there's just something wrong.
I just saw this thread..yeah, I know, I'm slow. Chapter 1 looks really good. I was just thinking about cocomonkey yesterday, wishing I had talked to him more. I really enjoyed it when he reviewed all the dmods, it was fun and there were so many things I had forgotten.
So, how is the digital (and/or print) version coming along? I'm looking forward to it.
It is going fairly slow. I'm on my second pass of editing (fixing spelling mistakes, making things fit on pages better, finding 'extras' to fill in empty space, etc), and I'm at page 150 of 950.
OK, just know that you have a grateful fan base waiting for this "publication".
And thanks for all of your hard work on it.
And thanks for all of your hard work on it.
I would love a digital copy once this is finished. It would be great to read through Tim's great work once again.
he's probably actually turning this into an opera
I call dibs on being the fat lady with the Viking Helmut, it's my destiny to perfect that part. You can play the wolf in the story, Kris can be a tree.
You just feel like the part, you seem to have the soul, the spirit to be a true wolf. Kris would love to be a tree anyway, there's fire involved, he gets urinated on by a wolf (you) and he gets to stand there, personally, I'm jealous.
well, magicman did tell me to do some spirit animal test or whatever and i got a wolf, so.
alright. i'll be a penguin. how do we start
alright. i'll be a penguin. how do we start
We have to wait for Redink to finish drafting the scenes and for Kris to get the correct measurements for his tree costume. He can be an ash tree, he might turn to ash anyway so it will just speed stuff up.
> I still like the idea of having a copy of COTPATD in book form, as a reminder of what I, Tim, and everyone else here has worked on over the years.
I like that idea too!
> I'm thinking about spending some of my vacation time around Christmas to create the book. Formatting it, performing minor grammatical and other fixes as appropriate. If it goes well, I could have it available for purchase for the minimum price (with no profit going towards me, as with the DinkC Reference) if other people want a copy.
Hey, regardless of price (or the electronic free version you mentioned), I think it may just be that this tome would be considered priceless to the obsessed few that haunt this website of the Ancient RPG game we all know and love.
> Is that crazy?
Perhaps. But I think there is some genuine interest.
> Should I just leave this alone?
Well, if you ever hoped that the proceeds would begin to defray costs for the generous amounts of time and money you put into the DN, then the answer is probably "Yes".
> Should I get permission from Cocomom?
Ummm. I dunno. :@
> Would anyone else here want a copy?
Well, I'd say that many would, but what did you find out when you asked. Do we assume that all respondents here might want one, or is that too optimistic?
I like that idea too!
> I'm thinking about spending some of my vacation time around Christmas to create the book. Formatting it, performing minor grammatical and other fixes as appropriate. If it goes well, I could have it available for purchase for the minimum price (with no profit going towards me, as with the DinkC Reference) if other people want a copy.
Hey, regardless of price (or the electronic free version you mentioned), I think it may just be that this tome would be considered priceless to the obsessed few that haunt this website of the Ancient RPG game we all know and love.
> Is that crazy?
Perhaps. But I think there is some genuine interest.
> Should I just leave this alone?
Well, if you ever hoped that the proceeds would begin to defray costs for the generous amounts of time and money you put into the DN, then the answer is probably "Yes".
> Should I get permission from Cocomom?
Ummm. I dunno. :@
> Would anyone else here want a copy?
Well, I'd say that many would, but what did you find out when you asked. Do we assume that all respondents here might want one, or is that too optimistic?
did cocomom ever say anything about this idea, motherducking wizard?
I haven't asked cocomom yet; I'll ask once I get a preview copy printed to see if it is even going to work.
Here's a new COTPATD preview:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0crqgsklxag5tjm/COTPATD.pdf?dl=0
1998 through 2002 have been through two rounds of edits (making things fit on pages nicely, inserting related information in the empty space after some D-Mods, making sure footer titles match the page title, etc.).
I still need to go through 2003 and later, so after around page 337 expect much more empty white space.
So, for pages 1 through 336, is the remaining white space on some pages really evident? Does anyone have any ideas of other things I could use to fill in the void?
If you have any other feedback, please let me know.
Here's a new COTPATD preview:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0crqgsklxag5tjm/COTPATD.pdf?dl=0
1998 through 2002 have been through two rounds of edits (making things fit on pages nicely, inserting related information in the empty space after some D-Mods, making sure footer titles match the page title, etc.).
I still need to go through 2003 and later, so after around page 337 expect much more empty white space.
So, for pages 1 through 336, is the remaining white space on some pages really evident? Does anyone have any ideas of other things I could use to fill in the void?
If you have any other feedback, please let me know.
Nice work, really impressed by this. I've only skimmed through it until 2002, but there is some (hopefully constructive) feedback I can give.
Firstly the whitespaces aren't really problematic, having a bit of whitespace in a book isn't too much of a problem most of the time anyway, and most of it is filled up well. The only pages where it was noticable were 143 and 159. The latter is a bit difficult as the whiteness is mostly caused by the very white screenshots... It definitely looks better than the part after page 337 in my perspective.
Furthermore I spotted some problems with the interviews (pages 316 & 329). Skull did a couple of interviews between 2010 and 2014 which were published by sparrowhawk and myself under Dinker's view. These are cited as being by me and sparrowhawk, even though we only published them. Also the interview on page 316 is placed in 2002 while it was actually 2014.
Also I'm not yet 100% sold on the grey blocks used around supplementary text. Firstly I think the black border should run around the entire thing, not just the sides, and secondly when a block spans multiple columns it should be a single block. Multi page blocks should probably be cut up into smaller blocks if possible.
Keep up the good work, I am definitely interested in reading through the entire document when it's ready!
EDIT: Also don't forget page 326
Firstly the whitespaces aren't really problematic, having a bit of whitespace in a book isn't too much of a problem most of the time anyway, and most of it is filled up well. The only pages where it was noticable were 143 and 159. The latter is a bit difficult as the whiteness is mostly caused by the very white screenshots... It definitely looks better than the part after page 337 in my perspective.
Furthermore I spotted some problems with the interviews (pages 316 & 329). Skull did a couple of interviews between 2010 and 2014 which were published by sparrowhawk and myself under Dinker's view. These are cited as being by me and sparrowhawk, even though we only published them. Also the interview on page 316 is placed in 2002 while it was actually 2014.
Also I'm not yet 100% sold on the grey blocks used around supplementary text. Firstly I think the black border should run around the entire thing, not just the sides, and secondly when a block spans multiple columns it should be a single block. Multi page blocks should probably be cut up into smaller blocks if possible.
Keep up the good work, I am definitely interested in reading through the entire document when it's ready!
EDIT: Also don't forget page 326
Incredible effort, Dan. I'm really impressed.
where's neck row manta ray, simon
October 31st 2016, 08:01 AM
JustaGhost
It's coming out tomorrow. Don't you know?
Like CC3?
BTW: Like others I'm really happy that you did this RedInk!
I really liked Tim's thread. It was the first thing which caught my interest, when I was my first time on the DN.
Does anyone else want to go with Tim and play every D-Mod that's released?
Like CC3?
BTW: Like others I'm really happy that you did this RedInk!
I really liked Tim's thread. It was the first thing which caught my interest, when I was my first time on the DN.
Does anyone else want to go with Tim and play every D-Mod that's released?
The current 69.5 megabyte COTPAD.pdf is wonderful, and I count myself among the members of our community that are very grateful for your efforts here (and in the Dink Network generally too!).
However, I do have a few suggestions:
1) On the cover page, use a dual title and give yourself some credit too, like this:
The Dink Smallwood Anthology
or
Crazy Old Tim Plays All the D-Mods
Written (mostly) by Tim Maurer
Edited by Dan Walma
Special thanks to: (various interviewers, etc.)
2) Make the index into a series of links into the body of the text so that one can jump to a section of interest. (Note that if you have already done this that the links do not work in either xpdf or the evince document viewer under Ubuntu Linux 14.04.)
However, I do have a few suggestions:
1) On the cover page, use a dual title and give yourself some credit too, like this:
The Dink Smallwood Anthology
or
Crazy Old Tim Plays All the D-Mods
Written (mostly) by Tim Maurer
Edited by Dan Walma
Special thanks to: (various interviewers, etc.)
2) Make the index into a series of links into the body of the text so that one can jump to a section of interest. (Note that if you have already done this that the links do not work in either xpdf or the evince document viewer under Ubuntu Linux 14.04.)
the physical version should have links to the dink network that you can click, too.
It's looking really great so far Dan
the physical version should have links to the dink network that you can click, too.
I actually like this idea, but put an asterisk next to each link and then clarify at the end that the asterisk means the link may not work in real life.
I actually like this idea, but put an asterisk next to each link and then clarify at the end that the asterisk means the link may not work in real life.
Make the index into a series of links
In case you're not familiar with how to do this, since you said you had to learn some LaTeX: if you \usepackage{hyperref}, it will do it automatically for you.
In case you're not familiar with how to do this, since you said you had to learn some LaTeX: if you \usepackage{hyperref}, it will do it automatically for you.
This is looking really nice, thank you for putting so much effort into it! I hope everything will work out for a physical copy.
Will pick up this bible when it's done! Thanks for putting in the hard word editing it, Dan.
Man, Tim really put his soul into those write-ups. Still breaks my heart when I think about the whole situation.
Man, Tim really put his soul into those write-ups. Still breaks my heart when I think about the whole situation.
As a member of the DN that has been downloading for more than a decade but only recently (this year) opened an official account, can you tell me what is meant by "Still breaks my heart when I think about the whole situation." (assuming that the topic is not too sensitive)?
One day last year he either decided deliberately to jump in front of a train or attempted to recklessly cross the tracks for whatever reason which led to his demise. It was all very sudden and unexpected and it shocked many of us quite deeply considering we come here every day or so.
Seems he had had persistent health issues for a long time though and had attempted it before.
Seems he had had persistent health issues for a long time though and had attempted it before.
but only recently (this year) opened an official account,
but..you haven't been around for longer than that?
edit: you totes have
but..you haven't been around for longer than that?
edit: you totes have
(to yeoldetoast)
Hmmm. I can understand how distressing that must have been for all. I suppose it is a reminder that whatever we may think, the DN (and all online communities really) are rather shallow affairs. We never really get to know people well, but rather the limited projection of self that they want us to see and/or imagine.
To some extent, this is even true of RL of course; there are many way in which we will never know the truths that people hide.
Thanks for explaining.
Hmmm. I can understand how distressing that must have been for all. I suppose it is a reminder that whatever we may think, the DN (and all online communities really) are rather shallow affairs. We never really get to know people well, but rather the limited projection of self that they want us to see and/or imagine.
To some extent, this is even true of RL of course; there are many way in which we will never know the truths that people hide.
Thanks for explaining.
(to Skurn)
Hmmm. Ah yes, you are correct in that I actually opened account near the [December 17th 2011, 12:55] posting that you seem to have brought to my attention. It is just that I have done very little with the account until this year, being virtually invisible here. I had forgotten about that 2011 and also my later [May 25th 2015, 13:27] post.
Hmmm. Ah yes, you are correct in that I actually opened account near the [December 17th 2011, 12:55] posting that you seem to have brought to my attention. It is just that I have done very little with the account until this year, being virtually invisible here. I had forgotten about that 2011 and also my later [May 25th 2015, 13:27] post.
We never really get to know people well,
oh yeah?
oh yeah?
I was reading this on mobile during a long bus journey from office and man time flew by so quickly this is just awesome, i pray sometime in the future i will have this in the real hard book format its worth having one in this lifetime.
You have done a amazing job redink1 putting the interviews, community comments along with the review, looking forward for the full book releases.
You have done a amazing job redink1 putting the interviews, community comments along with the review, looking forward for the full book releases.