18 replies to this topic

[Jobo]

I'm frankly disappointed that a consistent, public IRC channel hasn't been created for development within the GameMaker IDE yet.
One of the most helpful ways of communication when learning a new IDE, a new programming language or how to create graphical assets, is usually not the forum. It's the IRC (Internet Relay Chat) channel. But why?...

You are not always logged into a forum when you're on your computer. It's an annoying size. You have to keep your browser open, you have to remember not to close the tab and last but not least, you have to refresh the page and maybe even look under "My Content" to see if there's anything you can help with or respond to.
Wow, what a time consuming task that is! Especially if you check back every 15 minutes.

Say Jobo, why are you telling me that the forum is bad to use?
Oh I am most certainly not saying the forum is bad to use, please don't quote me for that!
I am just saying there's a more viable solution presenting itself; an IRC channel.
You open your IRC client (I personally prefer Pidgin), log into the channel (you can store it as a quick-access item) and there you go. You're ready to converse with a farm of people all using GameMaker just like you.
... And the best part is; you don't have to wait more than at maximum a few minutes for a reply!

Now you may think "but then my post counter won't increment, will it? " and to that I can only say: psch!
---

I'll be around the IRC chat more than I'll be around the forum here, and I'll be online all the time (except when I'm sleeping, if you don't mind).
I'll reply as fast as I can! Even if it's just a friendly chat

Now to the sticky business...
IRC channel: #gamemaker-dev @ irc.freenode.net

The topic for #gamemaker-dev is: Game creation and general help using
the GameMaker IDE by YoYo Games | Official docs at <http://wiki.yoyogames.com/> | Forums at <http://gmc.yoyogames.com/> |
Don't ask to ask, just ask! | Use pastebin to show code <http://pastebin.com/> | Don't be rude!! | Ask and you shall receive!

It would be excellent if we could keep this topic near the top for everyone to see (especially novice and intermediate users of GameMaker), and if you're an experienced GM user, please come around.
I personally find this to be a much better way to help people. It all comes down to personal preferences though.
I highly encourage using an IRC channel. It's just more help-friendly than a forum.

I hope to see some of you around, and if you need help, I'll be on the IRC channel! (#gamemaker-dev)

PS: What are your thoughts on this? I would love to hear both negative and constructive criticism.

[Robert3DG+]

http://talkwith.thegmc.com

[oopl.x.beast]

It's unofficial but it's been stickied in the off-topic section for a while now.

[TheSnidr]

An official IRC channel has been suggested many times, but has not, and most likely will not, be created. As has been mentioned earlier though, there is an unofficial one, and it is running and pretty much constantly active.

[Jobo]

I know about a lot of these "alley" IRC's that's been going around, but frankly... Well. They're browser-related too, not very published / out there, and I was even on this Mibbit one earlier today. It's anything but efficient, I'd even stretch it as far as to say the forum is better (or just as good) as this one.

Another issue is the fact that only about 1-3 (?) % of the users of GameMaker know about this aforementioned "IRC".
It's not there to help people, it's more there as a local pub GM users can attend after a hard day's work, if you catch my meaning.

It's just as bad as a forum. I hate having too many things open at once. Especially browser tabs.
IRC clients have this fancy element of blinking whenever a message is made, so I know when to respond to something directly. If not, I can just open my neat 400x350 window and check, or even keep it open in the background.
Not to mention private conversations, better design / chat layout, and whatnot.

I've used IRC's a lot in my time, and it's a preference of mine.
As I said; personal preferences

An official IRC channel has been suggested many times, but has not, and most likely will not, be created.

It's an awful shame, as it's the best possible solution and it takes absolutely nothing to run.

Edited by Jobo, 30 June 2012 - 06:35 PM.

[Robert3DG+]

IRC clients have this fancy element of blinking whenever a message is made, so I know when to respond to something directly.
Not to mention private conversations

Mibbit does both of those.

You can also connect to #gmc using any client you want. The link gives mibbit for people who don't know about IRC. Many of #gmc's member use xchat or whatever they like.

[makerofthegames]

It is, however, not really used exclusively (or inclusively) for GM-related things. It's really just general all-around talk.

[pqp239]

It is, however, not really used exclusively (or inclusively) for GM-related things. It's really just general all-around talk.

But, people do ask questions about GM related stuff too. Theres always quite a few people in the channel so if you ever had a question I'm sure some one would respond... eventually.

[TheSnidr]

The channel is often used for GML-related questions and programming techniques. I don't really see the need for an official one, giving YoYo more on their hands, when we already have a fully functional one with lots of helpful members. I'm pretty much always logged in while browsing the net.

[Jobo]

It is, however, not really used exclusively (or inclusively) for GM-related things. It's really just general all-around talk.

Exactly. As I said;

It's not there to help people, it's more there as a local pub GM users can attend after a hard day's work, if you catch my meaning.

I don't really see the need for an official one, giving YoYo more on their hands, when we already have a fully functional one with lots of helpful members.

Yeah, it's great. The thing is, it's not going to help anyone as long as no one knows about it.
So while it's a fine solution for the very limited crowd of individuals who use it to talk about cupcakes, rainbows and yesterday's blog input, you're basically doing nothing to promote it. Its intention is not to help people, it's to chat. Simple as that.

I want an IRC channel (too bad they refuse to make an official one... sigh) to help people. Like you do with any programming language.
It's a way faster method for getting help, and it's way easier to manage than a forum.

Edited by Jobo, 01 July 2012 - 09:02 AM.

[chance]

I want an IRC channel (too bad they refuse to make an official one... sigh) to help people. Like you do with any programming language.
It's a way faster method for getting help, and it's way easier to manage than a forum.

Why not just make one? You can name it anything you want -- even "official one".

But I'm skeptical it'll be easy to manage. You'll spend your time banning trolls, and reprimanding members who discuss non-GM topics. You'll have no time left for helping anyone.

Edited by chance, 01 July 2012 - 09:48 AM.

[Desert Dog]

Why not just make one? You can name it anything you want -- even "official one".

But I'm skeptical it'll be easy to manage. You'll spend your time banning trolls, and reprimanding members who discuss non-GM topics. You'll have no time left for helping anyone.

..and that's what this topic is. #gamemaker-dev, his new chat.


Bit confused about this topic. Is it for discussing whether YYG's should make an official one, or is this about your IRC, Jobo?

[Jobo]

YoYo Games aren't going to make an IRC - they have not shown any interest in it nevertheless - so this is my attempt to establish a public IRC channel for GameMaker users who want quick access to qualified help and advice.
However, if it was to somehow encourage YoYo Games to create an IRC channel - that would be just as good.
So my anser to you, Desert Dog, is that this topic is an attempt to create a public IRC for, as said before, anyone who needs help or wants to help users of our beloved GameMaker IDE with game creation and general issues using the IDE.

Why not just make one? You can name it anything you want -- even "official one".

But I'm skeptical it'll be easy to manage. You'll spend your time banning trolls, and reprimanding members who discuss non-GM topics. You'll have no time left for helping anyone.

First of all; I did . Secondly, if that's what it takes to establish an IRC for GameMaker users, so be it. But rest assured that I'll still have time for helping even if a 1000 morons entered. Else I'd just op someone who's craving for power to kick/ban them all so I won't have to...

Edited by Jobo, 01 July 2012 - 11:08 AM.

[chance]

Sorry, my comments were very ambiguous. I realize you've made a chat room (this topic). I was referring to the challenge of trying to maintain an official "GM-discussion-only" chat room.

[Jobo]

I wouldn't make it that strict. But if you've ever been in an android development IRC, C/C++/C# IRC, web development/design IRC - whatever - you'd know what I want to have established for GameMaker.
It would simply be a giant upgrade from constantly using this forum which is slow when it comes to getting answers.

[digitaldeath]

I wouldn't make it that strict. But if you've ever been in an android development IRC, C/C++/C# IRC, web development/design IRC - whatever - you'd know what I want to have established for GameMaker.
It would simply be a giant upgrade from constantly using this forum which is slow when it comes to getting answers.

I went to #gamemaker-dev today. There was nobody there.

[creativebunch]

The current gmc irc gets quite a few gml questions, if I'm there I make sure to try and help and so do lots of other active users. Our conversations about cupcake frosting are how we fill our time in between answering questions. I can guarantee your users and moderators will want to converse with one another during the times there is nobody needing a helping hand, and if you rule that they must only talk about GameMaker related topics then they will have to go to a more conversation friendly irc... Say for example #gmc

So why not just come over to the current one, answer any questions people have and help get the word about #gmc out there so we are as noticed as you would like.

p.s. Sorry for down-repping you, I was trying to see who did it and ended up doing it myself ._.

Edited by creativebunch, 22 August 2012 - 10:14 AM.

[Jobo]

I went to #gamemaker-dev today. There was nobody there.

Of course there's not, this thread is months old and I was the only one using it for the first month (edit: almost the only one). Then I quit trying to help people haha

p.s. Sorry for down-repping you, I was trying to see who did it and ended up doing it myself ._.

No hard feelings

So why not just come over to the current one, answer any questions people have and help get the word about #gmc out there so we are as noticed as you would like.

Actually, originally, that was because I didn't know I could open it through an IRC client (and because it's virtually unknown) I might drop by sometime.
I still think it should be promoted a lot more though. 20 users are not a lot.

Edited by Jobo, 22 August 2012 - 02:58 PM.

[creativebunch]

Woah, I didn't even notice how old this was. But yes, please do come by some time and I'm hoping the rdc will bring in some new people.