Black Sand Studios Update

[[MyIS]Spawndemon]

There is a new update posted today over at the Black Sand Studios (http://blacksandstudio.com/) website. Here's what they had to say:

Black Sand Studios has another small update for everyone. We would like to welcome the BrickField mod. Every one should be quite familiar with those little colorful bricks and they are bringing them to the battlefield. You can visit their site here (http://www.Brickfield-Mod.org)

However they are not the only modification that recently joined the team we would also like to welcome the IDF-Fight For Independence mod. This mod is set back a few years between 1967-1973 with the conflicts Israel has endured including The Six Day War. You can find them here (http://idf.planetbattlefield.gamespy.com/idfmod/)

Lastly the Conspiracy of Nod (CoN) mod also has joined the team recently. The CoN mod is based on the futuristic battles between the Global Defense Initiative and the Brotherhood of Nod. Once again you can find them here (http://www.conspiracyofnod.com/tdcon/)

We are also happy to let you know that the studio has 10 modifications now in total. They are all progressing nicely and the updates show the corporation that is going on inside. BSS is now inviting every one to go ahead to register and join the forums. In case you haven’t visited the site here is the URL (http://www.blacksandstudio.com/)

Great to see more teams a part of the group. To learn more about BSS, click here (http://blacksandstudio.com/).

[HaVOCK-ElEEt]

out of curiosity, how do you guys decide who gets into BSS?

If I wanted to start modding, could I join up? Is it an invite only type group?

[CATIA]

Sounds like a great idea. Any plans of having POE, FH and DCon team on BSS? (forgive me if i'm stepping on anybody's toe)

[slayerdarkcross]

(For HaVOCK-ElEEt) We decide as whole whether or not to accept a team. (2nd Question) If you wanted to join the studio you would have to apply and would be asked to show some examples of work after that we would decide to let you in or not (there is alot at risk in the studios content). Only one mod has been denied access to the studio I believe. (For Catia)We do not choose the mods that go into the studio. We are approached by the teams asking for help or support.

Look at the IDF team roster
IDF Team :
Mod Management: <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="50">http://idf.planetbattlefield.gamespy.com/idfmod/modules/team/is.jpg</td> <td width="150">SPYKER
</td> <td>Yotam Sade </td> </tr> </tbody></table>
2D and 3D Artists: <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" width="50">http://idf.planetbattlefield.gamespy.com/idfmod/modules/team/is.jpg</td> <td width="150">DeflectionDrive</td> <td>Gill Kochetkove</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Website Coding: <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" width="50">http://idf.planetbattlefield.gamespy.com/idfmod/modules/team/ger.jpg</td> <td width="150">Vestalis</td> <td>Markus Gubitz</td></tr></tbody></table>
They are not a large team but have asked for support from BSS

[petemonster29]

I love desert style warfare.....it's gonna be cool he he.Assaulting the Golan heights with t62s.....blowing the egyptians back across the river with f4s should be neato.

[[3MD]A|Pvt.iTrek]

good to see theyre getting toghther to work.

[kysterama]

I'm also curious. What does that mean getting "help and support?" Do you guys share each others content or something? From what I understand these 10 mods are still seperate mods, but I'm kinda hazy on what Black Sands means on a daily basis for each of these mods? Are they required to fulfill duties for the other mods?

[Justito]

I think they try to dont make overwork, making all teams do same models.

And if they have new success they share and that way they help each other.

[Osis]

we share content, we help with modding, Or we share manpower.

If somebody is sick of WW2, for example he can model Vietnam or Iraqi stuff . ;)

Anopther point is top develop gamemodes, features or something else- ;)

OPK get some help from PR with a feature. some guys talking about destroyable objects.

So it´s easier to develop in a closed team. And nobody need 5 new written supplyline gamemodes. ;) So one do this job, and every team can add this.

but sure, sometimes it work, sometimes not.

Another aspect are stresstests for the mods, other teams and betatester are invited to test other mods too.
Most teams have a lack of "good working" tester.

And the best tester is somebody who develop, so you can get more then a bugreport, best case is final solution for a partner. this saves time and manpower and raises the quality...

[=DNC=SYSEX73]

Its really tough to get everything you want done in a MOD. We work for free, and most of us don't have any support or help from EA/DICE. Try reverse engineering a system when the original developers wont even answer a single question, lol.

BSS is obviously helping some great MOD's get their goals accomplished. That is a good thing.

[Sir. Tasty]

I have a feeling they will be very big after alot more mods get released.

[coldmist]

BSS should have a 'FAQ' in the table of contents. With such basic comments like "how does it work", it implies that a FAQ is needed. (BTW, I didn't know what it was either, and couldn't figure it out from their website.)

[boots555]

I love BSS! Think its a great idea to help one another reach the goal of completing their mod. I know this will speed up the process for everyone.

[ExitChicago]

Great - Maybe now we will see some good mods come out before this game turns into yesterdays news.

[Jblankster]

w00t i get to test brickfield too now!!!

[DkMick]

Why don't some of these mods merge up? You have 10 mods in your "studio" now. I can't see 5 mods getting players, much less 10.

[Osis]

Only, PR, OPK and USI released Version atm. EOD and BGF will follow soon. ;)

To merge some mods will be possible, but that is something that have to be developed slow.

Never forget: this is a hobby, there are peopel who worked months or years on their project. And it´s not so easy to bury your own project. ;)

[wolfi]

Thanks for the comments guys. The website is still WIP so expect an FAQ later on.

[(EoDDev)TrahnLee]

We all co-exist to have fun. Like me for example. I do the majority of the coding for EoD. However, I have done several coding projects for USI. Vehicles, weapons, etc. When they are short on man power and need a hand. We help them.

When we are short and need something.. They help us. I am not ashamed to say that EoD has several vehicles in it from USI and some from IDF. We have some static objects from PR and USI. In return. We have given them some of our content and given some to the other mods within the Studio.

Perfect vehicle example.. We in EoD needed a BRDM. USI had a nice BRDM and Gaskin models. Jar was just so busy working on other content.. I approached him and offered to code them for the use of the BRDM. I set the vehicles up and coded them. In exchange.. They got completed vehicles that just needed to be tweaked slightly to their mod game play standards and we at EoD, got a nice BRDM to use within our mod.

It saved them alot of time, freed up some manpower and everyone was happy.

It is just a good mod community thing.

[guedoe]

Very well put Trahn :)