My first instinct was to laugh and think *yeah right*. But when I think back to when I played tfl a lot people were making maps with TFL and the tools weren't even public. Using hex editors and all the crap that was a pain the ass. But look at some of the things that came out like Ferrex's Raisin Barn using that all red map to make you blind, or Keep Across that had little castle things before M2. Remember that first WW plug-in for TFL on the balin level made by... shit what was his name... el bastard or something like that?
When everything started to go to crap after m2 came out and the gameplay sucked so much many people left the community and dissappeared. Then the unthinkable happened - project magma. You nutty bastards stole m2s units and put them in tfl. That was pure fuckin genius - just no other way to describe it.
Then bungie.net was murdered. Wow, I couldn't believe how many people were msging me on icq and aim for games via tcp/ip after that. Soon after, Marius.net and Playmyth.net were born. Unbelievable - i didn't think it was possible. Since then there's been a ton of maps, you guys actually managed to fix bungie's horrendous bugs in m2 - not only that, but you also fixed your own bugs and put up with everyone's whining. This also included a series of updates, cabon/OS X support and OpenGL. The tools are better then ever now.
I think the Myth Community has gone through the worst.. and each and every time you guys surprise me and comeback stronger then ever.
So now when i think back to that *yeah right* - i know i'd be a complete fool to doubt this community. I mean it's been 10 years.
At the very least I know some of you guys practically have phds in mapmaking, scripting, solid gameplay mechanics - not to mention the dedication to stick with and do anything.
Take me for instance.
Back when tfl came out, I couldn't even draw. I did some map making, but all the hex editing and what not bugged the crap out of me. I got a hold of bungie's tools for tfl but at the last moment people decided not to give me the password to unlock it. Then m2 came out, I finally finished my map - i never realesed it, but it was fun to make.
Now in my free time I can do stuff like this in photoshop:
Check out this for the full version of what i'm working on:
http://www.christophercoggins.com/WIP/orc_bm_00.jpg
I'm still painting the lighting and detailing it, but I think it shows you what i mean.
I can also paint textures and skins from scratch.
Like take a look at this skin I made for a quake 3 model back in 2000.
http://www.christophercoggins.com/cjc_bw_...._01.jpg
And here are the flats at actual size:
http://www.christophercoggins.com/cjc_bw_....ats.jpg
If you want to see more of my work you can check out my site - a lot of the stuff is outdated, but some of it is still good:
http://www.christophercoggins.com/
Now, I'm not saying I'm Craig Mullins or anything like that. And besides, artists are a dime a dozen - good programmers with free time and an interest the project - now those are hard to find.
Who knows? Maybe there are other long-time lurkers or fans of myth or helll...just anyone who would be interested as well.
