Am I getting too atobish?

[MattKestrel]

Yes that is a word. See this map for details.



Opinions?

[TribulatioN]

Just a wee bit.
But your style is clearly recognisable as GTM.

[otters]

ERROR 303: PHRASE 'too atobish' CAUSES GENERAL LOGICIAN FAULT, PLEASE TRY AGAIN


No, you're not. It's still very GTM.

[a happy song]

It's just little things like the mine placement and door use. The overall feel, though, is completely GHM.

If you stopped using object themes and patterns that appear heavily in my maps I wouldn't be able to make a connection at all.

[otters]

That map is more Yahoozy than atob.

[a happy song]

It's nothing like yahoozy.

People are getting at what I mentioned: the use of auto doors to guide the laser, the auto doors with tiles on top (see here), and the mine motif. It's nothing important, really, but it's going to be noticed and commented on by some.

I know these shapes are fun to use - I'm finding it difficult to break away from them myself - but if you want rid of the comments then just don't use them as heavily any more.

[Rikaninja]

I see that it has similar mine placement but I really don't check out atob's maps that much to make a stable decision. But I think it is still GTM in your style ;)!!!

[Condog]

Omg, the resemblance is uncanny! It's almost like GHM is atob!

*gasp*

Seriously though, its not that reminiscent of atob. Sure you use some the same concepts, but trees and tiles do not an atob-map make.

[SkyPanda]

You're always going to get complaints and negative comments like that if you map in practically the same style that another mapper is consistently using. Your options are basically to either weather the criticism, wait until the style isn't used any more, or try to make your maps disimilar.

the things atob mentioned:
-auto doors with tiles on top
-mine motif

None of these are derivative if you use them in isolation, but the problem is that you're using many of them in the same map, with the effect that on the whole the map does end up nearly identical to the style that atob is currently using. If you really like mechanics and placement like these, i'd suggest you use only one at a time in a map, and try to fill the rest of the map with your own wonderful stuff.


edit:

Even if you wait a year and come back to these, you're still going to receive the same comments (if my maps are being looked at still, that is) as these particular styles were born in my maps. Just the same if you borrowed a heavily used motif that any higher profile author created and used heavily.

It's an option because people are more likely to say "hey, this reminds me of so-and-so's maps, good work!"
As for the mine motif, well after time, so long as you're not still using it, there won't be any comment and it can be used freely again.. at least until another author comes along and uses it consistently, and then the comments start up again.

[sheganican]

seriously? no.

even so, i got too shortshifty a while back for three maps and i didnt make a big deal outta it.

just get it out of your system and eventually your 'atob' maps will become worse and worse (or maybe thats just me)

dont worry about it. i steal concepts all the time.

like the tree thing.

[a happy song]

wait until the style isn't used any more

The real trick is to come up with your own styles and object motifs.

Even if you wait a year and come back to these, you're still going to receive the same comments (if my maps are being looked at still, that is) as these particular styles were born in my maps. Just the same if you borrowed a heavily used motif that any higher profile author created and used heavily.

Your best bet really is to come up with something by yourself that really makes your maps stand out as products of your own imagination. Be that in terms of style, play, or both.

All authors get labelled with one of three:

1) Generic
2) Like author x
3) Unique

Which one would you prefer to be tagged with?

[epigone]

I hardly see the connection at all.

[MattKestrel]

Kk, thanks for the feedback guys, it was surprisingly useful :)

[Radium]

I think so. Try to ignore his style completely and go for something completely different that fits you.

[crescor]

Who's atob?

[NicNac14]

not really.. I havent had time to play any of ur maps recently soo.. I cant say but it doesnt seem so.. and i should know..

[a happy song]

and i should know..

You should?

[NicNac14]

sorry.. let me finish that..
... and I should know that 'cause I've have played most of GTM's recent maps and really loved all your maps.. also I have played alot of Atobs in secret and worshipped them in a semi-hindu viking way..
no resemblence except they both give me orgasms whenever I play...
thats why..

[crescor]

they both give me orgasms whenever I play...

Then you must find a wife that looks like an N-map later..

[NicNac14]

haha lol..

[MattKestrel]

Okay, this is getting annoying now. I made this map completely from scratch with some ideas I pieced together at school, and it's accused of being an atob map. I never thought about his style once during making this, surely that makes it a GTM map?

[Pheidippides]

Okay, this is getting annoying now. I made this map completely from scratch with some ideas I pieced together at school, and it's accused of being an atob map. I never thought about his style once during making this, surely that makes it a GTM map?

Judging by the thumbnail, it doesn't look much like an atob map at all. People are overreacting about supposed style-stealing, it happens all the time. Every few months or so, an episode like this will show up where everyone debates over style and talks the subject to its death. In the end, nothing comes of it and things go on as they always have. That is, until someone shows up with a map that about 5% resembles atob's most recent work.

[a happy song]

It's mainly because you're adamantly refusing to drop the mine motif that I created. Just drop ALL aspects that you lifted from my maps and move away from them entirely and you won't have a problem.

I'm not sure what's so difficult to grasp about this...

[Condog]

It's mainly because you're adamantly refusing to drop the mine motif that I created. Just drop ALL aspects that you lifted from my maps and move away from them entirely and you won't have a problem.

Okay, now that I have a problem with. Just because you 'created' something first doesn't mean you own it. Once you create something, it becomes part of the community. It's unfair that someone is copping flak for using a certain mine pattern.

GTM, stop getting worked up over this. If people think your copying atobs style, big frigging deal. Obviously you like atob's work and look up to him as a mapper, its only expected that you'll derive some aspects of you maps from him - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Just try branching out a bit and experimenting with different ideas. Personally, i enjoy your maps. And no enjoyment is lost just because they bear a resemblance to atobs.

[a happy song]

It's mainly because you're adamantly refusing to drop the mine motif that I created. Just drop ALL aspects that you lifted from my maps and move away from them entirely and you won't have a problem.

Okay, now that I have a problem with. Just because you 'created' something first doesn't mean you own it. Once you create something, it becomes part of the community. It's unfair that someone is copping flak for using a certain mine pattern.

Hey, I'm not being precious about any of this. GTM is complaining that people are calling his style too similar to my own and I've offered an obvious solution, that's all.

Remove the aspects that directly reference my maps and people will lose their ammunition.

I'm more than happy for the guy to emulate what I do. He's the one that will have to learn to deal with people's opinions about that.

Also, seeing as the aspects are entirely superficial (door use, mine motifs, auto doors with tiles on top) and could be replaced with designs that have nothing to do with me while retaining pretty much the exact gameplay, it seems a little pointless to continue copying if the backlash makes him uncomfortable.