Tomb Raider Level Editor Resources

2004-04-03 15:40
MrNiceGuy	Tips on effective reviewing!
Staff Member 977 posts	Now that the review competition is up, I figured it's good to have a slight idea on how to effectively review objects and outfits. Here's the routine I follow when reviewing: 1. Download an outfit or object that you think looks nice. If you download one you don't like, it will be harder to make a good review. 2. Take a close look at the meshes and textures in the outfit or object in Strpix. Check that there's no missing polygons or badly placed textures, and check how the meshes are built up. 3. Open the outfit or object in WADMerger, and add it to your WAD. Use an original WAD for testing, I prefer tut1 because of the completeness of it, you can test almost every move Lara has, except the crowbar and torch animations, which I test in coastal (be sure to backup the original WAD first!). Be sure to take notice of which objects that are in the outfit's or object's WAD, and ensure nothing is missing. 4 (for outfits). Test the oufit! Look how the meshes fit together, and make sure there's no ponytail- or skin_joints problems. Take a close look at the textures, and attempt to use every of Lara's moves to see if the outfit suits them. Especially do this if the outfit has a custom Lara object, or special meshes! 4 (for objects). Add the object to your level, make sure it's set up correctly, and place Lara in the same room as it (unless you need an item or something else from earlier in the level!). Output the level, and test it! Look at the meshes and textures, and make sure the collision works, and that the object animates and sounds correctly (if it's supposed to). 5. Review the outfit/object! Write down what you think about it, and try to tell as much as possible about it, so people will know if it's worth the download. Feel free to post your own suggestions and comments here, and start reviewing! Thanks for the sig, Keith! Me likes!

2004-04-24 23:27
Silent Viper
Registrated Member 417 posts	a good idea ,to write something like that down,hopefully people will end with one-sentence reviews,but also it should be added,that people should write a short part ,DESCRIBING the category(quality,originality,textures,meshes,animations) and than giving the reason for why you rated it,and let things like custom-meshes and animations out (click on none),if it doesn't have anything like that (like if you were going to review a lara outfit with rounder breasts and hips,but same textures,than click on the ranking for textures on "none",to ensure,that you review custom-textures right, OPEN THE WAD IN STRIPX,and look at -the size of the texture (a 256x256 texture ain't very comfortable for the useres,thats what's downrating the useability,as you can't use it in levels with a big wad,also it does lower both,the quality and custom-texture ranking if the texture is too big) -if camouflage or detailtexture,look how often it's used,or if there are more of this kind,so that the outfit ain't 1 plain texture on any single polygone -if the texture is a MSPaint-Work with two pattern look,or if it is a perfect photorealistic photoshop creation with shadows and so on ... The Silent Admin

2004-08-22 00:10
MrNiceGuy	Update!
Staff Member 977 posts	Some updates on effective reviewing! Useability rating: I have noticed that a few people tend to rate the useability rating wrong. The useability of an outfit/object basicly describes if it can be used in a wide variety of levels, or if levels have to be made to fit the outfit/object. So, don't rate an outfit's/object's useability depending on how many types of environment it can be used it, because it's IMPOSSIBLE to create an outfit/object that fits EVERYWHERE! So, f.ex: downrating a shorts outfit's useability because it won't fit into arctic environment is not correct use of the useability rating. So, instead, concentate on whether an outfit/object can be used in more than 50% of most levels, or if it fits into only 1-10% of most levels. The amount of bugs can also determine the useability of an outfit/object, you won't want to use a very buggy outfit/object. But, of course, if those bugs are not too noticable and/or fatal to the overall outfit/object, it shouldn't affect the rating. The point of reviewing: Well, I think some people don't really know what reviews are for, so I'll tell everybody now: Reviews are for telling people who need an outfit/object for their Tomb Raider level(s) if the outfit/object is worth downloading and using in their level(s). Simple as that. Hope this helps improve you reviewing skills, and that I enlightened you in any positive way! And good luck on your reviews, everybody! Thanks for the sig, Keith! Me likes!

2004-08-22 09:41
Golden Dawn
Registrated Member 232 posts	Thanx for the tip with the usability! I must say I understood it wrong, sorry I always gave specialized outfits like catsuits winter outfits and so on a 8, because that are not casual outfits, so I gave your assasins catsuit a 8 in usability( i didn't ment to be mean, I tried to be honest, I really like your catsuit), Mr.Niceguy. I made a fault, you can delete this review and I will redo it and all my other reviews that give the impression, that I made a fault. Sorry! BUt I put the usability down, when a object has bugs. P.S.: it would be cool, if we could change the ratings, too, not only the text. I have just a little question: how to rate the usability of new characters? Last edited by Golden Dawn on 2004-08-22 09:53

2004-08-22 14:36
MrNiceGuy	New review!
Staff Member 977 posts	Ok, I guess we can put it that way instead, then you can rate an outfit's/object's useability independently of the amount of bugs on it. @ Golden Dawn: You want to change the review? Sure, I always though it was a bit downrating, so I'll delete it so you can redo it. Can't wait to see it (I love to get reviews)! EDIT: How to rate a new character's useability... Well, that wholely depends on if that character fits well into Lara's realm. Of course, if you f.ex. used Sonya Blade, you could create a level that fits with HER story, but she also fits into plenty of TR levels, therefore I rated her a 10 in useability. Last edited by MrNiceGuy on 2004-08-22 14:48 Thanks for the sig, Keith! Me likes!

2004-08-23 19:37
Golden Dawn
Registrated Member 232 posts	Sorry that you had the impression, that I downrated this outfit, but I saw lots of reviews wich were overrated in my eyes, so I tried to stay as honest as I can. I think some people downrate/overrate objects, when they like or don't like them. You see this on the Timmy outfit. I know it's very...I don't want to be mean, but it's ugly. Lots of people downrated the originality, although it's the only one of this kind, so it deserves a 10 in my eyes. ..and the new characters' usability..I don't know Sonya's character, I never played mortal kombat, so I have no picture of her and I don't know how similar she is to Lara. I think 6-7-8 are the best ratings for new characters. Last edited by Golden Dawn on 2004-08-23 19:41

2004-08-25 12:25
Golden Dawn
Registrated Member 232 posts	Thanks for the comment! I always try to be fair, so I changed my review. I was the first one that reviewed it and after I read the others comments I saw that I underrated the originality and so I wanted to change it. But it would be better, if we could chande the ratings without deleting the whole review. Would not take so much time

2004-10-23 05:42
EssGee
Registrated Member 22 posts	Hi folks The above guidelines are very helpful. Thanks. After receiving a couple of review reports I think I understand what you want from reviews now and have adjusted those reviews accordingly. I'll try to support each of the main categories with some useful text and will continue to make positive suggestions if I think its valid. For me as a level builder - Useability is the key; if it ain't working properly than its not going to be useful to anyone. So my main focus for testing and reviewing items is to report on their functionality. I hope my input is useful. Blah Blah Blah - Talk to the Hand mesh

2007-06-27 14:28
tr king
Registrated Member 528 posts	I think we should keep updating this forum to remind some present users and new users how to review. I see so many "oh, nice!" no explanation, didnt even download, and everything is rated 10. NO-ONE can get a posotive 10 in any review. all the time is see some people just going 10 10 10 10 10 10 for all categories. It's not how to review. Here is a prime example. http://www.trsearch.org/Review.php?action=getreviews&dbitem=2439 Quote (ILove Plasticine @ Bad Reviewing): 10 10 10 10 10 10 I like! Good work!! They obviously don't even know what they are doing, becuase that Table doesn't even have any animations. And animations was rated a 10. Last edited by tr king on 2007-06-27 14:34 IF two individuals strive to be perfect, in the end they will be exactley the same.

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2004-04-03 16:47
Michiel
Administrator 1321 posts	Good ones, I'll stick it here forever

2004-04-24 23:04
MrNiceGuy	Addition to the above...
Staff Member 977 posts	I think I should add that it's not wise to review if you're in a bad mood, or tired, as it will affect your review severly (i.e. very much). Try to stay in focus! Thanks for the sig, Keith! Me likes!

2004-08-22 00:18
Keith
Registrated Member 767 posts	And: Don't give bad reviews just because you don't like the colour of the outfit or the style. If you don't like wintersuits or something then don't review that. Review something you did like. Don't let your own personal taste get in the way of giving a fair mark. Last edited by Keith on 2004-08-22 00:19

2004-08-22 12:37
Michiel
Administrator 1321 posts	Useability is not for bugs. Quality is about the bugs it has. It has a 10 by default and for every bug take a few points of, how much depends on the size of the bug.

2004-08-23 21:07
MrNiceGuy	My comment!
Staff Member 977 posts	Thank you for the kind review Golden Dawn! I posted a small comment on your review, I think you'll like it! Thanks for the sig, Keith! Me likes!


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2004-08-22 00:24
Silent Viper
Registrated Member 417 posts	Also don't put an outfit on the SE if you are just hot on the TOP10 or soon comming Hall of Fame, there will ALWAYS be bad reviews in such an authors opnion. The Silent Admin

2004-10-22 12:05
Sorata	Good work
Registrated Member 73 posts	You've created some good infos for creating reviews, Mr. NiceGuy. I'll try to follow theese rules. Good work!!! Sorata Last edited by Sorata on 2004-10-22 12:09

2004-10-22 15:49
MrNiceGuy
Staff Member 977 posts	No problem! I hope we can set up a seperate page on the Rules area with rules and restrictions for reviewing some time, but I'll have to crawl before the mighty administrator before that can happen. Thanks for the sig, Keith! Me likes!

2004-12-13 01:30
GeorgeMaciver
Registrated Member 4 posts	Just thought I'd pop in to say thank you for your brilliant night sky Mr Nice Guy. It certainly added something unique to the atmosphere in The Mutant's Demise. Thanks again and thanks to all you wonderful object makers without whom we wouldn't have a TR world to enjoy. GM

2007-06-27 15:36
ILove Plastiscine
Registrated Member 6 posts	Quote (ILove Plastiscine @ 27-6-2007 15:31): sorry ( I am french, my english language is bad) sorry