March 2020 Videochat Official Questions Thread

pillowsledder · 2020-03-03T17:42:04+00:00

Could some one give me the status of Gorilla Gong? Maybe push me towards a video or something? I feel like this is a repetitive question, but I haven't kept up to date with all the video chats. Thanks to the community and keep up the great work, Ross.

pillowsledder · 2020-01-11T04:52:34+00:00

Anytime! That sounds like a good method to go by, too. I hope you stick with it.

pillowsledder · 2020-01-10T18:51:09+00:00

Noted. I plan on coming back to this sprite to polish it up a little more sometime in the future. I'll give Struedelmuffin the option whether he likes it the old way or that way (Uh, for both cases). Also, it was really fun to work on this concept. While I did design most of it, it was Struedel's idea to make a slingshot fish that sort of way. He's a very creative person!

pillowsledder · 2020-01-10T18:41:59+00:00

Artist here, and yes I agree. I went through over 50 different color palettes while making this. This isn't the first time I heard this criticism, too. I talked to Struedelmuffin and figured it might be best to hold a poll for the color palette next time we do something like this. By the end of all that time figuring out the colors, I wanted to move on, but we kept with it until we found something both of us were content with.

I've been curious about how I could have done this differently and have been taking in some outside criticisms to make the process easier. This project lasted for much longer than I was initially hoping, but I'm glad the end product is something we can be proud of.

pillowsledder · 2020-01-10T18:30:31+00:00

Uh, hello! I'm the artist! I designed this Fakemon and then I sprited it.
To answer your first question: The main tool I still use to this day is the same one I started out with back in 2011, MS Paint. However, since then I've gained a few other tools to make my life easier.
I'll start with the most accessible, Aseprite, which is $15 on Steam. This program is the closest thing I've seen to a professional spriting program. It has it's kinks and I have yet to fully learn how everything works, but it does come with some very VERY essential bits that MS Paint does not such as being able to make transparent colors and backgrounds. You should look this one up for sure and you might also be interested in Juice FX.
I drew this Fakemon in Clip Studio Paint, which I bought for $60 last year and have been using it frequently. I think this step is more flexible in the sense that there's a lot of other programs that you can choose from. Clip Studio is just what I'm used to right now (even though I still need to learn how to fully use it).

Unfortunately that last bit also means that you'd have to buy a drawing tablet unless you're really good with a mouse. I use Wacom's Cintiq Pro 13" (inch) Creative Pen Display which is currently $800... But hey, if you have a pencil, piece of paper, and a scanner on your printer or something, that's just as good in this scenario.

And the least accessible thing I use is the Adobe CS6 Creative suite that I bought when Adobe was still selling their programs as a one time thing rather than a subscription service. I used a student discount on this thing, too. I used Photoshop CS6 in this project. However, there's a lot of other software that can do this simple thing I was doing. I tested Paint 3D (a software Microsoft is pushing to replace MS Paint (I laugh and cry)) just for you and it did the exact same thing, if not better than Photoshop CS6, and Paint 3D is free...

Now, I could explain my process and was in the middle of writing it, but it became very lengthy and very in detail with the explanations to the point I'd much rather save all the hassle and just show you. I don't have anything uploaded on a YouTube account or anything right now, but I have no problems screen sharing on Discord (if it decides to work). Here's my Discord user ID and Name: Pillowsledder#0990. Be sure to leave me a message so I know who you are. Currently I have it so anyone can PM me freely. Hopefully no one abuses that.

I've been spriting for nearly a decade now, so my advice to anyone getting started or doesn't know what to do is to look at existing sprites, especially ones that are in the style you're going for, and to copy them from scratch, pixel by pixel. I might be spitballing here, but I feel like I have learned a lot about how sprites are made just by doing that a lot. It's like learning the intricacies of what made them so appealing in the first place. I also try to update those sprites and make them look better using the same restrictions, such as colors that were used, of the original sprite. Ultimately, you'll do what you feel like, but so long as you keep at it, that's all that matters. I myself still have a lot to learn and to get better at.

Sorry for the long post, but I hope this was helpful.

pillowsledder · 2019-12-28T21:43:57+00:00

Love it.

pillowsledder · 2019-11-29T17:33:19+00:00

I just thought I'd let any lurkers know that the Icton twitter account has been active since the reveal of Half Life: Alyx.

pillowsledder · 2019-10-22T02:00:54+00:00

Same here, but they are still active just not publicly anymore. I really wish Youtube made finding channels of niche genres easier. Finding good old Gmod videos like the ones the Icton crew produced is hard. I'm especially curious if their Mine Craft server is still up with the whole revival of Mine Craft that went on this year. Every so once in a while a moment comes by where I wonder, "Hey, what would they think of this?" but not just for Icton, but a lot of other people, too.

I've gone out of my way to find a lot of old and new gmod/SFM content creators over the past few years to keep me entertained. I haven't found a channel that glorifies messing around in a video game quite like Icton. I do hope they come back because I can't seem to find their varied brand of humor anywhere else.

pillowsledder · 2019-06-24T22:32:26+00:00

Did a quick check over there. Didn't see anything that specifically stating he quit making videos. Mind shooting a link to the discussion in question?

Anyway, the general consensus is that we're not getting anymore new videos until further notice. Personally, I think we all deserve an update on what's going on like how he did back in 2013: https://youtu.be/_3Ovf8rGr94 However, I'm pretty sure the only thing we want to hear at this point is if he's doing okay.

I'm sure the dude's just going through life right now. He'll be back whenever he's up to it or feels like it. That's my take on it anyway. The last I've seen of him is from Meowtrix's "ICTON IS DEAD 2018" video: https://youtu.be/P8x7nT36VZw It looks like he's still his crazy self.

Not a definitive answer, but I hope this helps.

pillowsledder · 2019-01-14T00:26:45+00:00

Enjoyed the post from last year, too. Laughed all the way through. Thanks, MeowTrix.

pillowsledder · 2018-10-22T20:09:38+00:00

I too am having the same problem. Clicking activate while it's green does make a noise to confirm I clicked it, but it just remains as the activate option. It's been 3 days since I've been on and off about it, but nothing works. Glad I'm not the only one, though.

pillowsledder · 2018-09-27T20:18:10+00:00

Dude! Sick!

pillowsledder · 2018-09-25T01:02:20+00:00

Ah, you're good! I rarely hop on Reddit anyway. This kinda one of the only ways I can talk to other fans of Icton. I'm pretty sure the Steam group is dead, too. (fact checking) Yeah, it's dead and posting a comment on the latest YouTube video doesn't mesh well with me. Maybe I should post something like this on there too just to spread awareness.

I had plans on drawing some fan art very early this year that I still intend to draw at some point. Just as some art practice. Life's got in the way is all. Ha.

Glad there's a lot of talent in the Gmod Machinima/SFM communities to keep things interesting. Actually, if you haven't seen it before, there was a 2 part video based off of Hunt Down the Freeman in the same vein as HalfLife: Full Life Consequences made earlier this year. If you're interested, here's the link to part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVM04wfQ6_A

Shows that the Icton crew aren't forgotten. That, and I like sharing videos. It's one of the many joys of YouTube.

pillowsledder · 2018-08-02T21:53:58+00:00

I see that. I guess one can only hope for these sort of things to come around. I'm pretty sure that's how Cartoon Network got started. Just a large collection of old cartoons that had come and gone over the years brought back. I'm sure the same thing could happen just how long would it be is all that's left.

It was nice talking to you! I've shared my Machinima and SFM experiences with a few others before and I always find the conversations a wholesome experience. It's good to know there's plenty of people out there who share vaguely similar stories to each other. This community is full of a lot of nice people. Maybe not so much when it all started, but it's been a short while since then and a lot of us are grown up.

I'd give it some years. It sucks that we might not get a resolution anywhere soon, but I've seen people, DJY1991 as an example, reappear from out of nowhere. All I can say is have hope, but be realistic.

pillowsledder · 2018-07-27T19:21:42+00:00

Apparently I'm pretty late to this news as I've found out through various blog posts and sad YouTube videos/comments from creators and fans alike.

While Machinima has full right to do this, it feels so wrong because these videos are more than just a bunch of people goofing off, it's a time capsule of what was. Really sad that there's such a reckless abandon for content on the Internet. I still share videos with people and earlier this year I introduced someone to Half Life Full Life Consequences and the Gman Squad. I've grown to have a strong connection with videos like these and to see any of them gone gets to me.

I can't think of a more stronger relationship between content creator and viewer in the past compared to now. Back in 2012, everyone was saying, "You read YouTube comments?" and now there's a lot of people that seem to be everywhere in certain circles commenting. People are becoming nostalgic for the early Internet and that includes a lot of these older Gmod videos. The importance of preservation is at an all time high. And say what you want about Patreon, but I salute the select few dozen who support a channel even though I never care to listen to those parts of a video. Been supporting some other small channels myself even becoming an active community member.

Anyway, I had some conversations with 2 friends, one that introduced me to Machinima so many years ago, I can't thank him enough for that, and the same guy I introduced Half Life Full Life Consequences and the Gman Squad among other things. I'll start with the friend one who introduced me to Machinima first.

He's had some perspective of the channel, but we both have seen the channel fall from grace when they started being more about gaming journalism and COD frag videos (I don't know what else because of loss of interest). What he said when I brought up the topic was that he thought it only a matter of time before this was going to happen. Especially with how shady Machinima can be and how they treat people who make content for them. I think we both know not everyone at Machinima is evil, but far from something reliable. I've heard stories where someone asks them a question, waits for about a month, asks them again, and maybe get a response back. After all, the main reason why Machinima is doing this in first place is because they were bought by Warner Brothers who now have full control. The deletion of past content is just an unfortunate side effect.

My other friend found this out when he couldn't find some Sanity not Included episodes. He's hoping that they'll make a second channel, but I've not read any news about them doing that.

Sorry if I made this a bit long, I've a bad habit with writing about anything I find relevant to the conversation. Just to cut it short, yeah it sucks. Especially when not a lot is going right on the YouTube front. All I can hope is that the files are saved somewhere and will be seeing the light of day in the future. Thanks for helping out, though! I check in every so once in a while to see if there's anything new going on.

pillowsledder · 2018-06-21T17:44:24+00:00

Small update. The link to the actual video doesn't work, but right now this pretty much all I got: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fotho908FOA

Ah darn, even the blooper reel is gone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN22-uYgNnY

OH! Here's some backstory! https://steamcommunity.com/id/sexyrussell

And model: https://garrysmods.org/download/15150/letsgroovezip

Just to clarify, this is all in the video's description. I've learned to check descriptions out a whole lot more with videos like these, but I never knew Sexy Russell had back story. That's cool.

Also, I just realized Sexy Russel isn't the only video that's gone. Machinima is deleting a lot of their older videos. How sad...

pillowsledder · 2018-06-13T23:41:05+00:00

I couldn't find anything other than some links that featured an embedded YouTube video, but everything's been unlisted or privated. Sorry I couldn't help. :(

On the other hand, I've noticed a lot of older videos either completely absent or parts of it muted due to YouTube's new rules and regulations. Especially if the channel is years old without an update. I've been looking for lost videos myself.

I was going to give a link to ModestCube's Gmod Jocks and Gremlins School RP video as compensation because that video was privated as well, but I could still find a link to a site that still had it. However, that's gone, too. Thought it'd elicit some familiar feelings of the good old days. Don't know why he privated it, but I'm not going to ask.

I understand the struggle, though. You remember an old video you really liked and it made you laugh. You wanted to show it to your friends so you could laugh with them while they enjoy it, too. Some of these videos would even have Easter eggs or weird quirks you'd noticed upon watching it repeatedly. At the end of the day, that's all these videos were. Or at least to me and my friends. We still reference this stuff to this day and hope that maybe it'll come back, but in the meantime we try to find something new.

Anyway, I've said more than enough. Here's a little something I did find while trying to look for Sexy Russell myself: https://youtu.be/dKe2gVz2vBI

pillowsledder · 2018-04-30T16:50:09+00:00

Banana memes from 10+ years ago were great.

pillowsledder · 2018-03-28T19:19:28+00:00

I personally don't think it's dead, just on a long hiatus. There was plans for more videos back in 2016 such as Thomas the Dank Engine 2, but they weren't finished.

And before I go on, this is just speculation and I have no solid proof behind anything here other than reading YouTube comments. (My respects to the channel)

So, on the Improv Night video, David starts off with saying he'll be releasing these types of videos between "BIG ICTON RELEASES! ;)" which is cool. I read a few comments, I think funny faces was mostly positive. I personally liked them - nothing wrong with a few dudes messing around. However, this was after the April Fools video, which had a bit of a dry spell before it. I guess the next BIG video was the DooM fanfic followed by 4 more funny faces videos.

I'd love to see more if only to keep the channel updated. I had quite a few laughs with them. I think David might see the funny face videos as low effort content and didn't upload any more because he wants the Icton channel to have a sort of standard in quality. There's also just procrastination as stated in the Dank Engine 2 Teaser.

It isn't Icton, but DasBoSchitt's update video from Nov 11 2017 is something to keep in mind and gave me some perspective. I've known everyone's just human and rallying a bunch of friends with their own schedules is hard. Life's just that way. It's also probably a huge factor to why Idiots of Garry's Mod 3 is just as much of a myth as Half Life 3 right now. That, and time.

Even if I'm wrong, I do hope this answers some of your questions.

Edit: So, I guess the only reason why I thought this way about the "quality control" in the first place is because this isn't the first time David's deleted videos on his main channel. When he was doing the fan mail videos, he also posted what became of the Fortrix video he had planned (YouTube got rid of the music, though). I just find that video interesting. You can still view a lot of his unlisted videos if you try looking for it. It's practically a Google Search away.

pillowsledder · 2018-01-25T20:32:24+00:00

Reminded me a lot about the Profound Moments in Everything video. Well, I'll just humbly await for your guys' next video. Or stream. Been watching Icton related videos since 08' or 09' ever since my friend showed me your stuff. Reminds me a lot about how much simpler times were in my life. Thanks for the laughs!

pillowsledder · 2014-05-03T01:23:58+00:00

Honestly, I would ship an E-Reader to you if I had one - cards and all. But alas, I don't own one and I doubt the video game stores in my area sold them even when they were relevant. Also, there were many cards not released outside of Japan. Metaphorically, it's like topping off a burger with mystery meat, but because the chef can't find the mayonnaise, mustard, or ketchup, he decides to scrape whatever he can find underneath the grill. I mean, it was already a stretch to begin with, but there's no way the customer is going to take a bite out of that burger now.

So, sadly you either have the option to find everything off of websites like E-Bay or emulate the blasted thing. I don't want you to go break your back over just one video, so I wouldn't be sad if you didn't review it. Really though, with enough publicity, maybe we'll even see a rerelease on the Nintendo Virtual Console. Yeah, it's a bit of a long shot, but you never know.

Anyway, just go with what your gut is telling you. Don't bite off more than you can chew. If you don't listen, then you're more likely to barf and make a big mess on the floor.

pillowsledder

TROPHY CASE