Post news Report RSS Still Going

This is a short news post aimed at making sure everyone knows we are still in development.

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Still Going

As you can see, NovaCor is indeed still in development. It may be 3rd on the list, but is a close runner up to Skyrim. Much of the TF2 time is spent idling, but I do have a renewed fondness for the game. That comes and goes over time, like a bad girlfriend. I have had a lot of questions lately as to what exactly is happening with the Mod, as we have not been as forthcoming with updates as we were in the past.

Well, we are still developing NovaCor. There has, however, been a noticeable slowdown. A few factors lead to this. One, I live in the Midwest. Winter is supposed to be my slow time at work, as I work in Construction. Unfortunately for NovaCor, this winter here has been extremely mild, keeping me very busy at work - nearly as busy as I am in peak seasons. hence, I have much less time to work on development, and many times after work, I do not feel the 'zest' for getting right to work on the project.

Thats not saying I dont want to work on NovaCor, so do not interpret it that way. I have been focusing the majority of my efforts on making a storyline thats really well put together, as all I had in the beginning was a basic overview of what happened and would happen during the course of the Mod. Now, with mapping at a certain point, I think I really need to hash out the finer details of the story so that we can accomodate the mod's events in each map.

Speaking of mapping, the focus of my efforts in Hammer have been retexturing and rebuilding older maps for the most part. The quality of older maps just does not fit with the most recent Labwork images, and a very noticeable jump or drop in quality is evident. We really need the mapping and overall design to pull together into one finely meshed experience, not something that appears cobbled together from several 'eras' of mapping. Some of the older models also need to be reworked to fit the newer models' quality.

Tech WIP Update

Our modeller has finished another gun, as well as revamped some HL2 models for use in NovaCor. he was able to do things i wanted from the beginning, but had no knowlege on how to do so, and so never included it into the Mod - until now.

He has modelled the Headcrabs into Spiderbots, and reworked the Combine Soldiers into NovaCor Troopers. Both of these are major strides forward for the Mod. He has also completed the heavy Assault Rifle, which we are only awaiting completion of the animations on now.

Robot

elite soldier

pulse rifle



Our animator is busy with schooling and Skyrim, but he is still with us and doing little things here and there. I cant fault him for being busy with Skyrim; it is an awesome game and very, very addictive!

So theres our news post. I hope all of you can be patient and know that we are dedicated to finishing this Mod. Development will have its ups and downs, but we will not abandon NovaCor.

Post comment Comments
Mkilbride
Mkilbride

(buried)

Skyrim...

Taking away from development time. You guys don't want to become professionals, I take it?:P

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bXmMusic
bXmMusic

Who the **** are you to say that? Your half-wit comments are getting on my nerves.. I see you comment on every ******* mod, yet i don't see you productive. I understand if this is a joke but I'm pretty sure you've ****** off almost every single mod dev out there hahah.

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AdrianL1996
AdrianL1996

(buried)

He's a professional game developer, fool. He works at Rebellion and developed Aliens vs Predator(2000 and 2010)

Your an idiot for assuming that a video game is a viable reason not to get work done. When you have a family, and work in a competitive industry needs to get done, your saying a video game is a good reason not to put food on the table or keep your mind in the right place?

Deadlines need to be met, **** needs to get done, and us mod developers and game developers need to keep it together.

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

Says the teen who has no clue what its like to have to maintain a 5 person household and keep your head in YOUR FULL TIME JOB NOT A ******* FREE MOD.

Ahem. Sorry about that.

Seriously - we arent professional developers, we dont set deadlines, and we dont put food on our table with this project.

If this was my full time job, it would see the type of commitment and dedication that I apply and am well known for at my real world job. I am their go to guy, I never turn down work, I do the very best I can and have worked 20 hour days numerous time for them. If I were getting paid for this and did not have to worry about my current career, things would be 100% different.

But this is NOT my full time job. I do not feed my family with this, and I most likely will never, ever see any income from this project.

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JohnnyMaverik
JohnnyMaverik

On this project they're modders, not professional devs, if they were working on a commercial project I'm sure they'd spend less time playing Skyrim and more time developing and I'm sure when they are working on commercial projects they do, but in modding you have no deadlines, you have very little to no expenditure, and the worst thing that can happen is you get tired of the project and never finish it.

If playing some Skyrim keeps them happy while still spending time working on the mod now and again, I'd rather that than them force themselves to work on it, fall out of love with it, and never finish it.

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

Thank you. Its amazing to see such ranting about what I do with my free time, and just as refreshing to see others who understand the difference between Modding and Professional Game Development.

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

We are not professionals, and we have lives that include school and full time jobs. We cant be 'all work all the time'. If developing games was my full time job, I would still come home and play Skyrim. If I could spend 8,10 or even 12 hours a day on my Mod and still have time to play my favorite commercial titles, I would. But I am an adult. I have a full time job that may keep me out of the house for 12 or 14 hours a day. I need to have fun like everyone else.

Developing games is NOT my full time job. So what little free time I have after taking care of the household is split between Modding, family activities, and yes, once in a while, I like to actually play a game.

I dont think you guys understand being 31 years old with a full time career and family to take care of, and all the odds and ends that need to get done inbetween. Im not some teenager who has all the time in the world to spare; my free time is at a premium and hard to come by.

So, I am developing a Mod. Does that mean I am not allowed to play games; that I must work 10 or 12 hour days at my RW career, then come home and instantly start plugging away on NovaCor until bedtime?

Think about what you are saying here. You are telling me that I am not supposed to play games now, only develop. And what happens when summertime rolls around? Should I not take the family on camping trips or go fishing because its something recreational and not including working on a FREE MOD for you to play?

I think enjoying myself by playing one of the best titles out there is a great reason to not have made progress. I am not a machine, and I am not getting paid for any of this. I am a human being, and sometimes, I like to just have fun.

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Paulisdead18
Paulisdead18

Well, there goes literally all respect and/or admiration for you. To think I thought you were just a guy who liked promoting mods and helping others out so they could feel like the work they did was worth it, and that someone appreciated everything they did for making their mod. Looks like you're just some stuck up kid who believes everyone making a mod should sell it or something, and everything you did wasn't really to genuinely be courteous to other modders, but just so you could play the mod yourself, and hope that it goes commercial or something.

That being said, get lost. Oh, and agent00kevin, great job on your mod so far, and here's to hoping that you'll eventually finish it after dealing with things in your personal life. Just have fun with it, and don't listen to people like Mkilbride.

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

Thanks for your support! We are still doing things, just less of it within the SDK. Really, looking at the time spent inbetween the two, Skyrim only has 1.9 hours over SDK anyway. Thats not much; its close enough to call it even. Especially given the fact that Ive been modelling, writing the story and doing layouts on graph paper. So, sure Im not giving 100% of my PC time to the Mod, but its not like we just totally shut down to play Skyrim :D We are humans, and enjoy a good game. Thats part of what makes us want to Mod.

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Paulisdead18
Paulisdead18

Good to hear. Nice to see that modding for you is fun, instead of some burden. It's good that you found a balance between the two, because sometimes, you just gotta take a break for a little bit, and that's exactly what you are doing. Bravo, you've effectively managed your time so something like this mod doesn't consume your life, but you are still working on it and paying attention to it at the same time.

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ZaliaS
ZaliaS

All you morons who just wasted the time to flame the **** out of this dude are ******* retarded beyond reasoning. He was making a joke, chill the hell out man. Can't see the little ":P" to indicate it?

Maybe try reading the text in more than one way next time.

Dumbasses...

On a lighter note, awesome progress so far with NovaCor. Looking forward to seeing more in the future.

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

I think most if not all of it was aimed at Joker. Although I might add, Mkilbride does indeed have a reputation here for degrading people in a 'nice' way. I didnt take it as a joke either; its kind of like saying someone is fat and ugly and stupid with a smile on your face. Its still an insult, and still meant to be degrading.

And while I appreciate your support, calling them names is worse than anything any of them did here; you saw it, recognized it was wrong, then did it yourself too.

Please guys, I think we all know where we stand with those two, lets not turn my news post into a flame war. I never thought the news would take such a turn - I was genuinely surprised to see Mkibride and Joker here flaming me and my team for relxing a little bit.

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bXmMusic
bXmMusic

Keep this up, Kevin. I understand how modding goes. Haha, believe me. :P

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

Thank you. I wont quit, and Im thankful that some people understand :D

Reply Good karma+2 votes
8472
8472

Jeez, keep it calm up there, gents! Modders can have lives and fun too ;)

On the mod front, excellent job, agent00kevin! I particularly like the crab-robot--will we get to team up with it for a level or is it going to be an enemy?

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

I hadnt planned any teamwork with the crabbot, but it actually wouldnt be hard to add a mission involving one...thats a good idea and you may see it in the final product. :D

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AFellowStalker
AFellowStalker

*Lecough* Q.Q

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

Now that Ive responded to the comments, id like to point out that things are indeed still getting done. While time in the SDK is down, you dont do everything in the SDK. The majority of SDK time is spent solely on mapping, which is a small fraction of what all goes into making a Mod and/or game.

So please, before anyone else rants, read the entire news post, and realize that we are indeed still progressing. The majority of the work we do is actually outside of the SDK. In the grand scheme of the project, mapping time vs time spent doing everything else will always be lower - you just dont write your story in the SDK, you dont model in the SDK, you dont compile within the SDK, you dont texture, code, skin, script in the SDK.

We have more things to show, and in reality, the only thing that is down on production is mapping. Why? As the news post states, layouts and storyline really need to be completed - in their entirety - before you make all of the maps. Now that Ive got the general theme and aesthetics down, its time to dig in and work on the story and 'what-happens-where' aspect of the Mod.

So please, calm down, read the news, soak it up, and realize that the amount of progress getting done is pretty much the same as before, its just in different areas.

Thank you,

Kevin M

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[FH]Gorgutz
[FH]Gorgutz

Well then... interesting little debate.. Anyways, i'm glad to see a post that this mod is still being worked on! You and you're team are doing a great job. :D

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VIOLATION
VIOLATION

I am in love with the new models. I don't care how long this mod takes. I'll be here watching and waiting until the end. Keep up the great work guys!

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

Thank you :)

I am astounded at the turn this post has taken, but I suppose it does bring to light an interesting question: How much dedication is required for a free product? When do you take a break, if ever?

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Mkilbride
Mkilbride

Wow.

That's...all I can really say.

And...I'm no developer or anything.

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

Im guessing Joker's reply is what set most of it off. Ill honestly say that with the experience I had with you before, I didnt exactly take it as a joke...but the I read Joker's post, and the sh!tstorm ensued.

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

And this is what happens when you reach into every Mod you can find and berate it.

People stop liking you.

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shadowflar3
shadowflar3

Well I wouldn't take kindly if someone who I count on with something said he wants to finish Skyrim first. TBH the VG industry and ModDB needs people that are addicted to MAKING games, not playing them.

In my book (not that it should matter to anyone else) hobbyists are only good for the world after they release something. Some actual, playable material that provides people with experiences. It's sad so much of ModDB ends up dying. People get excited with all kinds of stuff, like DBZ or RE mod for HL and it has some really pathetic prospect but the authors keep lying to themselves and lying to the general public about how things are going swell and they have an idea about what they are doing.

NovaCor seems to do fine and I can't see anyone thinking they were dying.

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EVIL_WEVIL
EVIL_WEVIL

Wow, I have to say I'm surprised how this news post turned out, so let me just state some facts about why I've not been able to do much work on the mod recently.

1. I have been busy with school work.

2. I have been very busy with my Certificate 3 in Basic 3D Animation, I have one month left to complete a rather large assignment.

3. I do have a life so excuse me if I want to hang out with my mates or play a game once and a while.

FYI I haven't even touched skyrim for over a week. I'm lucky if I've had 4 hours of game time through out the entire week.
I have still been getting mod work done. I'm shocked to see some people think we have should no lives and dedicate our entire life to working on a mod.

Don't forget, we do this for FUN and for FREE. So please show a little respect for us.

Now to everyone supporting us I would like to thank you for being patient and understanding about the progress slowing a bit.

Also @shadowflar3 No one said anything about finishing Skyrim before working on the mod.

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shadowflar3
shadowflar3

No one said that anyone said that.

At the same time you stress how you only do this for FUN and for FREE but still you imply how good and brave you have been for getting the mod work done instead of the hanging out and gaming. So is it just a fun thing or has it already become an obligation?

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

You have to realize you guys are telling us that we should not do anything other than work on the Mod. This is so very ridiculous. Do I enjoy Modding? Of course. Thats why I do it. I also happen to enjoy playing games. I didnt play anything for 15 months straight, and rarely did anything with friends.
Where does it end? Should I not watch movies either, because that time could have been spent working on the project? Maybe I should not take the dog for walks, because I enjoy that too, and he does have a big backyard. Maybe I should quit camping and fishing, because those are recreational activities too, and would be taking away valuble Modding time.

How do you think people who Mod got into it? They enjoyed playing games first. Thats not something that just goes away.

What gets me most is you guys thinking you are in a position to tell me how I should run MY life and MY project. Who the **** do you think you are? STFU and GTFO if you dont like it.

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shadowflar3
shadowflar3

Why such a rage storm, I wasn't even talking to you? I hope your sensitiveness in the matter isn't speak for something.

I also hope you know it is you put yourself out there. This page and the news and the images are about you. It is not my (or whoever says something you don't like) ego that is being built here. All these nicknames flickering by have little meaning to anyone.

I have no reason to try to impress you or other people here. I am sure that most mods here on ModDB post their stuff only to get those "omg cool *drool*" comments. So in fact I am fairly sure I only make some people hate me more when I say some of the things that need to be said. But I'm willing to sacrifice how people feel about me (or the string of letters that is my username) if I can just provoke a desired thought in the developers.

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

You are posting in MY news post and everything you said pertains to the subject of my News.

So yes, you are indeed talking to me. And you have no right to tell any of us how much time we should spend or not spend on our project. No one does.

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shadowflar3
shadowflar3

And that's the part you want to address in my post? Very well.

I haven't said anything of the sort to anyone. You are welcome to quote me if you accuse me of something.

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EVIL_WEVIL
EVIL_WEVIL

I never implied that at all, I haven't been gaming or hanging out often not due to the mod, its due to having loads of school work and my cert 3. Which is clearly more important right now than modding.

Oh and you said this: "Well I wouldn't take kindly if someone who I count on with something said he wants to finish Skyrim first." Implying that we want to finish skyrim before working on the mod again.

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

It doesnt even matter what he says. We have the support of the true fan base, thats clear. These other guys are just trying to further inflate their egos by trying to tell us how we should do it, and what we can and cant do with our free time if we want to be Pro Devs like them.

Its really quite laughable.

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shadowflar3
shadowflar3

@ EVIL_WEVIL Just as you have your own opinion of what I am implying, I may have mine on what you say. Very well.

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Mateos
Mateos

Reading some comments here makes me feel a bit guilty having a map for a year to finish >.>

The games/mods released earlier always had troubles, so let the devs finish their studies, which are more important than a mod... Studies are now, mod have all the time to be finished, reworked, updated. People should be HAPPY to have a sign of life after some time without update, and what, "Stop playing and put all your time on it, you should act like pros OLOL"...

And f*ck Karma, down me if you want.

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

Thats part of the problem with the negaivity in this news post...all these guys see is 'I want to enjoy some of my free time playing games too, not just making them'.

I, like every other person who mods, has every right in the world to spend his or her free time as they choose. Should I choose to spend 100% of my free time Modding, thats fine. Should I choose to spend 65% of it Modding, whats the difference? Im still working on a project with little to no prospect of pay. Theres no difference between me camping or fishing or hiking in the summer as there is in me deciding to take it easy for a couple months to relax and enjoy myself with a game.

I simply thought it might be nice to inform the players who actually care about the Mod what exactly I was doing with my time, as a courtesy. I wasnt looking for approval, much less for those few who rarely if ever post anything good, and instead troll about, waiting for the opportunity to pump ther egos up by telling someone else that they are doing something wrong.

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Mkilbride
Mkilbride

Hmm.

I seem to exhibit the ability to create raw flaming debates. Trolls wish they had my ability to do what they like to do without even trying to troll.

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

Some people have to try; others, its just comes naturally.

Reply Good karma+2 votes
Pelk
Pelk

This mod looks really kool. Yeah not all of it is perfectly fresh, but it's a mod. It is being made as a hobby, and that is what I love. We need more people that create. More people that do things for the joy of sharing and making other happy. I am personally tired of all the money grubbing corporate greed. I love this mod because it is a mod, it is a hobby, it is an idea. Like most every mod that has had blood and time poured into it. As per the flame war it doesn't matter who a comment comes from. It is the meaning behind it, and the meaning behind this one is keep up the good work!

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

Excellent post :)

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AncientT
AncientT

Man your mod is getting awesome dude :)

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

Thank you!

It wont be a groundbreaking title chock full of cool features, but we hope to bring people a fun, nostalgic Mod with a few innovative touches to it. Kind of a throwback to the golden days of FPS gaming :P

Reply Good karma+2 votes
Mxthe
Mxthe

Well that was a fun read...

Mod looking nice, I like the SCI-FI yet not cheesy feel.

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

It certainly is...and a long read at that. It seems to be a very...sensitive subject.

And thank you :)

Reply Good karma+1 vote
Juicyfruit9
Juicyfruit9

I realise I'm a little late to this party, but does no one else find it more than a little ironic that people complain about work not being done because of games (like skyrim) getting in the way. After all, when this mod comes out, what are they going to do? Play the mod. Taking away from their own "development time" surely... I like to play games and learn from them. If no one on this site had played a video game before, surely the mod quality would be a bit ******. Take all the time you need, the mod looks great. :)

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agent00kevin Author
agent00kevin

Thank you for your support :D

Its the same 3 every time...I listen to most of the trackers, especially a certain few who will post things in a mature manner and offer good, practical ways to imrpove. Those kinds of comments I encourage; I want to make this a good, fun mod and I need all the opinions I can get.

I dont expect blind praise; but I do expect a certain maturity and helpfulness from those who post criticism. Otherwise, its just trolling :)

Just posted screens today; I still work on this daily, I just enjoy some gaming in between. Forcing progress is never a good thing :)

Reply Good karma+1 vote
thecooldude498
thecooldude498

Ok to many comments to read xD, but anyway your all mod should be a movie!
I mean it's amazing as it is so far, i can see that soon games will turn into movies, just like many books have.

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