Starting a real company
by Edwin Ramos · in Technical Issues · 09/25/2002 (4:10 am) · 4 replies
Hello,
I am currently in the process of starting a game company.I have been involved in games for 4 years now (modding) and have decided I want to take the next step.I do fully understand how hard it is to make games.As well as understand how hard it is to code an engine.I know it deal's with a lot of trig,vectors and so on.Basically stuff I am not versed at.I myself know a little of each area of game making,I know mapping,modeling,coding,music,texturing.But I am only an "expert" with mapping/modeling.
I do however have a team to help me.The problem is that I only have 2 coders to work on an engine.So I am looking for help all over (which brought me here).I take this most seriously and want to make a name for myself in games.I really have no other choice,it's either games or the army for me :(
I have a lot of things set up already,I have modeling programs,a large (quality) texture library,texture programs,uwv programs,a slew of plugins for 3dsmax,compilers and a humble but good team consisting of 2 coders,3 modelers,2 mappers and 2 skinners.Also I have the help of my friend's sound studio and music/effect's expertise.
This is in no way an "amateur" project or a "mod".Although I have learned all I know from modding,I must take the next step towards getting a career in games OR paving my own path as a small company.You can look at this as a garage band or starving artist sort of thing.If your good and you make something the people will enjoy,all you need to do is work hard to get it done.If I form a team and actually get this engine going,then make a game that is fun and can sell (which I WILL),the people on the team all have a place at our "company".Think of it in this sense,if you have heard of the new company reakktor the developers of neocron a mmorpg that at least in my opinion is great,then you know that their company started in much the same way as I am trying to start this.Perhaps it started with a few college friends that were all good coders and made an engine,but nonetheless it started with an ambitious team working on their own engine.Then you have all the examples of the "old-school" teams that are now multimillion dollar company's like epic and id software.All started by "dreamers" who knew there tech well ;)Then there is people that went from mod to retail such as counterstrike,tactical ops,die hard nakatomi plaza and so on.
I am stating these things to get the people who want to work in games thinking.If your just a programmer who does not care about games then fine,but I am looking for people that have a deep interest in games and would like to work in them as a career.If you are one of these people then I urge you to give this some thought.Without your help and the cooperation of the team as a whole we can't get anywhere.So if the whole think fails,it is the fault of people being lazy.I want to avoid such things as that and not have to worry about people quitting like is done on a mod team,this is not a recreation or hobby this is your future.I urge you to give it serious thought before you say "yes".
Until an engine is made and a game is shipped or the engine is licensed,we are nothing more than a group of idealists.But what I am basically asking here is for people with a little experience in C++ coding ( you don't have to be a pro,pro's usually want to be paid up front and are skeptical).You just need to know enough to assist my 2 main coders.Knowledge of vectors and calculus is a plus,and anyone extremely good at math is most welcome.
Anyone interested please respond to my email address Geist_MDS@hotmail.com (I have a more private one but that I wont post public)
Of course constructive criticism and questions is also welcome,but I hope at least a few of you would like to get in on the ground level of this project and help it to take off :)
thank you,
Bronze
I am currently in the process of starting a game company.I have been involved in games for 4 years now (modding) and have decided I want to take the next step.I do fully understand how hard it is to make games.As well as understand how hard it is to code an engine.I know it deal's with a lot of trig,vectors and so on.Basically stuff I am not versed at.I myself know a little of each area of game making,I know mapping,modeling,coding,music,texturing.But I am only an "expert" with mapping/modeling.
I do however have a team to help me.The problem is that I only have 2 coders to work on an engine.So I am looking for help all over (which brought me here).I take this most seriously and want to make a name for myself in games.I really have no other choice,it's either games or the army for me :(
I have a lot of things set up already,I have modeling programs,a large (quality) texture library,texture programs,uwv programs,a slew of plugins for 3dsmax,compilers and a humble but good team consisting of 2 coders,3 modelers,2 mappers and 2 skinners.Also I have the help of my friend's sound studio and music/effect's expertise.
This is in no way an "amateur" project or a "mod".Although I have learned all I know from modding,I must take the next step towards getting a career in games OR paving my own path as a small company.You can look at this as a garage band or starving artist sort of thing.If your good and you make something the people will enjoy,all you need to do is work hard to get it done.If I form a team and actually get this engine going,then make a game that is fun and can sell (which I WILL),the people on the team all have a place at our "company".Think of it in this sense,if you have heard of the new company reakktor the developers of neocron a mmorpg that at least in my opinion is great,then you know that their company started in much the same way as I am trying to start this.Perhaps it started with a few college friends that were all good coders and made an engine,but nonetheless it started with an ambitious team working on their own engine.Then you have all the examples of the "old-school" teams that are now multimillion dollar company's like epic and id software.All started by "dreamers" who knew there tech well ;)Then there is people that went from mod to retail such as counterstrike,tactical ops,die hard nakatomi plaza and so on.
I am stating these things to get the people who want to work in games thinking.If your just a programmer who does not care about games then fine,but I am looking for people that have a deep interest in games and would like to work in them as a career.If you are one of these people then I urge you to give this some thought.Without your help and the cooperation of the team as a whole we can't get anywhere.So if the whole think fails,it is the fault of people being lazy.I want to avoid such things as that and not have to worry about people quitting like is done on a mod team,this is not a recreation or hobby this is your future.I urge you to give it serious thought before you say "yes".
Until an engine is made and a game is shipped or the engine is licensed,we are nothing more than a group of idealists.But what I am basically asking here is for people with a little experience in C++ coding ( you don't have to be a pro,pro's usually want to be paid up front and are skeptical).You just need to know enough to assist my 2 main coders.Knowledge of vectors and calculus is a plus,and anyone extremely good at math is most welcome.
Anyone interested please respond to my email address Geist_MDS@hotmail.com (I have a more private one but that I wont post public)
Of course constructive criticism and questions is also welcome,but I hope at least a few of you would like to get in on the ground level of this project and help it to take off :)
thank you,
Bronze
#2
Lets put it this way, Torque is a GREAT opportunity for guys in your position to get past the "technology" requirements hurdle, and straight into producing a game.
The only limiting factor is that you really need to identify a strong market for your game or be VERY good at polishing it to get it known.
Making your own "tech" is great, but remember, ID and Epic spent the best part of a century doing 2D scrollers and such BEFORE they went for the tech route. And youre going to be competing against them (AFTER they have another 10 years of experience).
Pick your battles.
Phil.
09/25/2002 (4:56 am)
If youre in that situation, why not simply license torque and get on with a game?Lets put it this way, Torque is a GREAT opportunity for guys in your position to get past the "technology" requirements hurdle, and straight into producing a game.
The only limiting factor is that you really need to identify a strong market for your game or be VERY good at polishing it to get it known.
Making your own "tech" is great, but remember, ID and Epic spent the best part of a century doing 2D scrollers and such BEFORE they went for the tech route. And youre going to be competing against them (AFTER they have another 10 years of experience).
Pick your battles.
Phil.
#3
09/25/2002 (11:58 am)
Phil: A century? Carmack's not THAT old, I hope. :)
#4
09/25/2002 (1:21 pm)
I agree with Phil, while making your own engine would be cool, your time could be better spent if you leapt the hurdle and moved on. 
Torque 3D Owner Ted Southard