What's the deal with Zero Tolerance?

[ShawnV]

ZT is one of the most talented coders I know, super nice guy and for his age he has generated a truly amazing body of work. I am definitely glad to call him a friend.

_V

[Zero Tolerance]

I like debates, but when people are debating over you it feels weird, but who knows. Sorry if I wasn't supposed to bump this thread, oh well.

Did I leave? For a while yes, but I like popping back when it's least expected. (Keep your eyes open...)

Can I support my modifications? Unfortunately not (note the difference between "can't" and "won't").

Thanks for everyones input though

Oh and, this isn't a ghost nexialys

- Zero Tolerance

[Shazz]

Originally Posted by Zero Tolerance

I like debates, but when people are debating over you it feels weird, but who knows. Sorry if I wasn't supposed to bump this thread, oh well.

Did I leave? For a while yes, but I like popping back when it's least expected. (Keep your eyes open...)

Can I support my modifications? Unfortunately not (note the difference between "can't" and "won't").

Thanks for everyones input though

Oh and, this isn't a ghost nexialys

- Zero Tolerance

Your still alive

[Distance]

Lucky for you.. I can't get rid of him lol

*runs away*

Originally Posted by Zero Tolerance

Oh and, this isn't a ghost nexialys
- Zero Tolerance

hey, it's not my birthday, why in hell are you here today ?!...

[mlomenzo]

I totally agree. Anyone can write, it is the follow through that counts. That is where he is still a kid.

[magnus]

Originally Posted by AuroraStorm

I realize it's hard work and very painstaking to have people constantly asking you questions and then having to explain things over and over again but that's what happens when you create a product for others to use.

Actually, that's the big misconception. Releasing a modification, free nonetheless, does not entitle the users to support of any kind. Any support you do receive is out of the kidness of the author's heart, not out of obligation.

I really like that the vBorg staff added a checkbox when posting a modification stating whether or not the modification was supported or not. It's just a shame none of the users pay attention to it.

I support my modifications as well as I can. However, I'm not going to buckle down for hours and try to find out why 1 or 2 people are having compatibility issues. For that level of support, the hack would almost have to be commercial.

Sorry...no disrespect to any of you coders but sometimes I get frustrated to near tears with the non-existent to the rude responses for help I get sometimes to where I just give up with trying to integrate a hack...with some of the hacks, if they look like they're gonna be too difficult, I don't even bother because I know I'm gonna ask a lot of what seems to be dumb questions and they're gonna get impatient...

Like I said above, the majority of authors are willing to assist to a reasonable extent, it's just that unfortunately many of the users here believe hack authors are here at their disposal to be called upon on a whim.

Also, hacks grow unsupported over time. Generally, the best time to get support for a hack is within the first few weeks it's been released. After that, things generally tend to calm down and problems more or less plateau. When users later on start to randomly discover/install the hack and have problems, the author has by that time either started developing/supporting a newer hack or sort of faded off to do other things, which is to be expected.

I can speak for all the authors here, but I know when I first develop a hack I'm extremely intimate with it's workings, hooks, etc. However, over time and especially once I've started working with newer hacks I slowly become less intimate with what I did with the previous hacks and that makes supporting them hard. Especially if they're hacks I no longer us on my own forums.

Authors need to be cut slack, too.

[Inferno Tech]

What people don't seem to realise is that ZT spends hours supporting his paid hacks.

He has released more hacks than just about anyone else on vb.org - and has released more popular ones than anyone else (most HOTMs) So it's impossible for him to support them.

At the end of the day, you are geting something for FREE, to also expect the authors time for free, and then actually have a go at them when they can't give you it? Thats just plain rude.

How about we come to your house, and force you to fix something you gave us as a present for hours every day? Somehow i doubt you would be up for that.

I totally agree. Anyone can write, it is the follow through that counts. That is where he is still a kid.

Exactly how does not having enough time to support things you give people for free make you "still a kid"? I can show you hundreds of coders who do the same thing. Would you prefer it if he just didnt release free hacks at all?

If anyone can write, go code RPG Inferno. I *DARE* you.

Until you can code the things he can, and release the amount he has, keep your amateurish observations to yourself.

I haven't seen one coder in here who releases the same amount and quality of products as ZT critisice his support policy. Not a single one. It's not coincidence that the people who ARE doing it have no idea what it entails.

- Iain "Decado" Kidd

[Paul M]

Totally agree, although I might dispute this line

and has released more popular ones than anyone else

[Inferno Tech]

*tuts*

Jealousy is unbecoming of you Paul!

XD