Getting Ideas

From TheBestCaseScenario

[edit] Intro

Different people get different ideas from different sources. The most common sources of ideas are movies and games, but once you’ve picked a theme, where do those vital ideas come from? Most mods come under one of these categories:

[edit] Themed Mods

When choosing a theme, there are a variety of methods.

[edit] The Inspirational Method

Probably the most common method, this is where something (be it a movie, a video game, music, etc) inspires you to make a case mod that ties in with the themes or styles. Some of the best cases made were made with this theme in mind. When getting ideas for this type of case mod, then you have to look through the film, or replay the game. Pause at vital parts and take photographs/screenshots, and then somehow work them into your computer’s case. For example, in Paul Capello’s Doom 3 mod, the exterior of the computer was modeled around the exterior of the buildings in Doom3, and it is considered one of the best custom computers. Where you can, take elements that you can recreate, especially elements that are related to what you’re doing, or if there’s a way that it can tie in with the computer theme. Some of the best custom computers are designed this way.

[edit] The Commemorative Method

The commemorative method is where a computer is based around a real life object, such as a classic car or similar. These mods are becoming increasingly popular, especially where Muscle Cars in particular are concerned. For this type of mod, distinguishing features of the object are recreated or restyled in order to make the computer seem similar to the object in real life.

[edit] The Keyword Method

Less common is the keyword method, used by many modders-but a method that doesn’t give out features to the modders easily. The method works by the modder taking some keywords that he/she likes, such as darkness, military, rusty, etc. and then builds his/her ideas around them. The keywords don’t even have to be actual keywords, they can be photographs or something similar.

[edit] The Literary method

Sometimes, when reading a novel, a modder will take a creative idea in the book and apply his own artistic twist on it. These mods are uncommon, but when they are discovered, are usually very interesting, mainly because the modder is not restricted in the same way as they would be in the ‘inspirational’ method.

[edit] The Nostalgic/Tribute Method

The nostalgic or tribute method is where a modder decides to make a computer that commemorates a theme, or tributes to a particular style. This differs from the commemorative method in that it isn’t a particular object that is being recreated, so as with the literary method, the designer has more room for artistic license. As Terry Pratchett says in ‘A Hat Full of Sky’, “It ain’t what a horse look like-it what a horse be.” These mods are usually very inventive and clever.

[edit] The Model Method

One of the strangest styles of design, the model method attempts to, instead of styling itself on an item a la’ the commemorative method, the model method aims to exactly recreate an item, or attempts to use the computer case as canvas for the modeler's talents. Sometimes, this includes making replicas of real life objects with exquisite detail.

[edit] The Canvas Method

This is primarily for painters; it involves nothing more than a paintjob mod. Uncommon, and difficult to perfect, these mods are often considered some of the most difficult to get perfect.

[edit] The Retro Method

The Retro mod is making your computer look like a piece of much older technology. These are becoming more common as time passes, and in particular, people like to put media centre computers into older games consoles or older stereo receivers. The Hardcore modder will stop at nothing to ensure every detail is perfect.

[edit] The Steampunk Method

Steampunk is a branch of modding that focuses on what could have been. An artform in itself, steampunk usually deals with 19th century items infused with 21st century computer equipment. These mods are both aesthetically pleasing and extremely functional.

[edit] The Un-themed mod

Unthemed mods don't follow a particular method, and go where the fancy of the designer takes them.

[edit] Pimping

Pimping is the art of taking your computer, and then recreating an episode of pimp my ride with it. Open up the sides, put in some lights, and in general, make the computer look ludicrously cools. These mods are usually made with interestingly cut shapes and lights to make their impact, and with many modders, this is an idea excuse to put a window in just about everything.

[edit] Stealthing

Is the opposite of pimping-it involves making a computer look as simple, sleek, and seamless as possible. Stealthed computers usually look very professional and out of all types of unthemed mod, look the least like computers. After all, that is the point of the stealthed mod.

[edit] Sleeper

The sleeper mod is perhaps the most interesting. With a sleeper mod, the user will try and fit a computer into a real life item, say a clock, or an older computer, but will endeavor to disguise the computer as the original item with as meticulous attention to detail as is humanly possible. The result is computers in NES's, computers in Radios, computers in all sorts of cool stuff-all computers that the casual observer would never know existed.

[edit] The Gimmick

Gimmick mod are built around a particular gimmick, or a strange idea. Some ideas include an ant farm in the side window, and a computer that dispenses mountain dew. These mods are often talked about, sometimes started, and rarely completed. The ones that are completed are usually very interesting. As the mod is usually built around it’s strange gimmick, there is often little attention paid to the rest of the computer. Some modders, however, spend a long time and a lot of effort trying to make each and every part of the computer into a gimmick, and tend to be respected and admired for the work they put in.

[edit] Outro

Now that you've decided what sort of mod you want to make, I'd advise going on and reading some of the other design notes. They can help you to actually follow through with your ideas, instead of them becoming a shelved project. I hope this helps.

-DaveW