The 110 Commandments of Plug Making (add your own)

109.01) Practice make perfect.
Despite what people say about vaporware it is a good idea to do a small plug-in or two for experience before you begin your big project. Just don't hype it or, if it is really terrible, even distribute it.

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Signed,
Brian Schack
"DOS Computers, manufactured by millions of companies, are by far the most popular, with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans, on the other hand, may note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans, and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form."
--The New York Times, November 26, 1991 (also quoted in MacAddict 4)

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Originally posted by Anon:
**109) While working on the plug, have a documentation system set up running alongside whatever you are working on that works for you. Something where you can keep track of spur of the moment ideas, oddities or temporary things that you may want to go back and check on, and other things of that nature. It'll save you a lot of time in the end. Also, should you ever have a semi-complete plug that you no longer have time for, heaven forbid, that someone else will pick up and complete, it makes their lives a lot easier if they have a good resource of what's been done and what has yet to be done, and all sorts of other helpful tid bits.

My personal technique has five documents running concurrent to all work that I do. A progress log, a companion to the progress log, a story board, a bug list, and a to-do list. My system takes a lot of time to use and isn't very effective for most people, but for me it's a life saver since I can keep track of everything that is going on and can readily pick up a plug I haven't worked on in a long time.**

108b note 1) I have four three-subject spiral binders, about five pads of graph paper, and several loose-leaf pieces of paper which I scribble on whenever inspiration hits me. In no particular order, of course. So when I get back to plug-making I go through what I have and connect the dots. By forcing me to review often the plug becomes more and more streamlined.

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"Get with the krizapee taste of Rocket Fuel malt liqueur. Rocket Fuel's got the upstate prison flavor that keeps you ugly all night. So when you wanna get sick, remember: Nothing makes your feet stank like Rocket Fuel malt liquer. Damn! it's krizapee."

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Originally posted by Ellmist:
**109.01) Practice make perfect.
Despite what people say about vaporware it is a good idea to do a small plug-in or two for experience before you begin your big project. Just don't hype it or, if it is really terrible, even distribute it.
**

I think you're slightly misunderstanding the concept of vaporware. Vaporware plugs aren't small plugs made to experiment; there are actually few of those around...
Vaporware is the group of "i never made a TC before but i've got this great concept! It's going to be great better then Frozen Heart! I haven't got a map yet, i don't have any ships or missions or governments yet, but it's going to ROCK! ps. does anybody know where i can download resedit?" plugs out there.

Oops i've got one of those under development myself... well i never made a plug before but i've got some great ideas! It's going to rock! I don't have any outfits yet but... you get the concept 😛

s

ps. rebelswin, i've currently got about 30 pages of universe sketches, story outlines and mission trees (f)lying around my desk so i think i know what you're talking about 🙂

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(This message has been edited by Sarcas (edited 12-13-2000).)

i feel your pain. well... actualy i simply contribute to it, but i'm sure it's all the same. 😉

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why

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Originally posted by Sarcas:
I think you're slightly misunderstanding the concept of vaporware.

Actually I thought others would flame, critisize, complain, warn, etc. because they think I am promoting vaporware. I was trying to clarify things so others wouldn't misunderstand the concept of vaporware. Instead you misunderstood me.

PS: Did anyone understand that?

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Signed,
Brian Schack
"DOS Computers, manufactured by millions of companies, are by far the most popular, with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans, on the other hand, may note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans, and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form."
--The New York Times, November 26, 1991 (also quoted in MacAddict 4)