Metal vs. Flesh
by Bryce · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 11/04/2004 (2:38 pm) · 69 replies
This is a game where a war is taking place on a distant planet, where humans fight machines. There are androids, which are the robotic soldiers, WMGs, a.k.a. Walking Machine Guns, and at the end of the game, you face Blitz, who is a trigger-happy freak who has 3 legs and 5 gigantic machine guns mounted on him. What do you think of this idea?
#2
11/04/2004 (3:58 pm)
Aww...Com'on. Doesn't it sound cool? Im pretty sure that its going to be the next killer game. 
#4
Edit: I just read your profile and saw that you're only ten(I was thinking you were a bit older-your grammar is a lot better than some of the teenagers that post on the site). In that case, keep hope alive :) If you're that young and interested, then what you should probably do is find a part of game development that you like and learn about it, such as programming, art, etc. There's free tools available on the net to help you with that, as well as tutorials and books you can get and buy for this purpose.
11/04/2004 (4:30 pm)
Bryce: Not to take your hopes down a notch, but it really does sound like 1000's of other games around...Edit: I just read your profile and saw that you're only ten(I was thinking you were a bit older-your grammar is a lot better than some of the teenagers that post on the site). In that case, keep hope alive :) If you're that young and interested, then what you should probably do is find a part of game development that you like and learn about it, such as programming, art, etc. There's free tools available on the net to help you with that, as well as tutorials and books you can get and buy for this purpose.
#5
11/04/2004 (4:51 pm)
I am reading the book 3D Game Programming, All in One. I am being educated. I do think that my game will be as popular as Lore and Thinktanks(in the garagegames community, of course) or better yet, Halo. What kind of game are you guys making, anyways? I would like to make fun of it, also. 
#6
First your idea is very vague. with no details on exactly the kind of game it is, its features e.t.c
Second if you post your idea and ask for opinions your bound to get some negative criticisms.
its not making fun. its making an opinion.
what makes it a killer game ? becuase it has robots ?. Flesh it out a bit and then come back and post.
11/04/2004 (4:56 pm)
Make fun of it ? huh ?First your idea is very vague. with no details on exactly the kind of game it is, its features e.t.c
Second if you post your idea and ask for opinions your bound to get some negative criticisms.
its not making fun. its making an opinion.
what makes it a killer game ? becuase it has robots ?. Flesh it out a bit and then come back and post.
#7
11/04/2004 (5:18 pm)
I hope this is a joke. Surely no one is this... yeah, you're thinking of the right word.
#8
11/04/2004 (7:09 pm)
Heh im with you Eli.. im hoping its a joke also :\
#9
Hey, I see nothing wrong with the idea, except that it's not terribly original, but then, neither are half the games out there.
11/04/2004 (7:29 pm)
LOL... Are you really 10 years old??Hey, I see nothing wrong with the idea, except that it's not terribly original, but then, neither are half the games out there.
#10
11/04/2004 (8:16 pm)
*must not comment at this time*
#11
It's in html, but you could just write the same stuff in a text file if you don't know html.
One important part of a game that isn't really mentioned much in my template is the storyline. You'll really need to elaborate upon it. In fact, it's a good idea to have a complete script.
...
The reason people are making these comments is because they've tried to make games themselves. They understand how hard it is. They aren't trying to put you down or anything like that.
When they said that your game was like 1000s of others, they were trying to help you out. Try not to get defensive about it - every once in a while, people start flame wars when one person thinks he was insulted by someone else. Though some people find that entertaining, it doesn't get games made.
Alot of people post ideas here - look at some of the old posts in the Game Ideas forum. There's lots of ideas, and most of them are good. Unfortunately, that's all they are - ideas.
A full design document would be much better, but, realistically, no one's going to pay much attention to you unless you have a playable demo or can provide art/music resources for a game. There's so many people here who want to make games that it's hard to decide who's serious and who's just fooling around.
Everyone wants to be the person who has ideas that are made into games. So what usually happens in the game industry is that the people who have been there the longest take those jobs over. Since you don't work for a game development company, you can do whatever you want.
What you have to keep in mind is that creating games is a JOB. It is nothing like playing games.
But don't let that stop you. By trying to create games now, you will (if you work hard enough) develop the skills necessary to do so. All else being equal, trying to make games now should be an advantage for you later on.
Don't expect to just create the next blockbuster game in your free time. Huge teams of people work for YEARS to create your favorite games. You can still make games - you just have to be realistic about it. When people start talking about how their game's going to be the next big thing, that suggests that they grossly underestimate the difficulty of constructing a game.
There are 3 "main" game creation skills: programming, artwork, and music composition. Learn one of those 3 skills.
There's other skills too, such as game design and story writing, but it's alot harder to produce something concrete that shows people you know what you're doing.
One thing I would suggest is that you try using programs that let you design your own games. You usually can't sell games you make with those programs, but you can get valuable practice. I'm sure you can find some free ones with a websearch.
Edit: It sounds like you're trying to do something like that with Torque. I don't know whether or not that's possible - you might want to ask about it somewhere on the forum unless you've already seen something indicating that it is.
11/04/2004 (8:36 pm)
The problem with your idea is that it's only one part of the idea for a game. Try creating a design document. I posted a free design doc template at www.fletchergames.com/articles/designdoctemplate.htm. The template's far from perfect, but writing about all the things it mentions will bring you that much closer to bringing your game to completion.It's in html, but you could just write the same stuff in a text file if you don't know html.
One important part of a game that isn't really mentioned much in my template is the storyline. You'll really need to elaborate upon it. In fact, it's a good idea to have a complete script.
...
The reason people are making these comments is because they've tried to make games themselves. They understand how hard it is. They aren't trying to put you down or anything like that.
When they said that your game was like 1000s of others, they were trying to help you out. Try not to get defensive about it - every once in a while, people start flame wars when one person thinks he was insulted by someone else. Though some people find that entertaining, it doesn't get games made.
Alot of people post ideas here - look at some of the old posts in the Game Ideas forum. There's lots of ideas, and most of them are good. Unfortunately, that's all they are - ideas.
A full design document would be much better, but, realistically, no one's going to pay much attention to you unless you have a playable demo or can provide art/music resources for a game. There's so many people here who want to make games that it's hard to decide who's serious and who's just fooling around.
Everyone wants to be the person who has ideas that are made into games. So what usually happens in the game industry is that the people who have been there the longest take those jobs over. Since you don't work for a game development company, you can do whatever you want.
What you have to keep in mind is that creating games is a JOB. It is nothing like playing games.
But don't let that stop you. By trying to create games now, you will (if you work hard enough) develop the skills necessary to do so. All else being equal, trying to make games now should be an advantage for you later on.
Don't expect to just create the next blockbuster game in your free time. Huge teams of people work for YEARS to create your favorite games. You can still make games - you just have to be realistic about it. When people start talking about how their game's going to be the next big thing, that suggests that they grossly underestimate the difficulty of constructing a game.
There are 3 "main" game creation skills: programming, artwork, and music composition. Learn one of those 3 skills.
There's other skills too, such as game design and story writing, but it's alot harder to produce something concrete that shows people you know what you're doing.
One thing I would suggest is that you try using programs that let you design your own games. You usually can't sell games you make with those programs, but you can get valuable practice. I'm sure you can find some free ones with a websearch.
Edit: It sounds like you're trying to do something like that with Torque. I don't know whether or not that's possible - you might want to ask about it somewhere on the forum unless you've already seen something indicating that it is.
#12
*edit: fixed Steven's name. I should use copy-and-paste versus my own obscure spelling mechanisms.
11/04/2004 (8:44 pm)
Steven Fletcher has just posted a message that answers most new questions in a very concise and polite manner. It should be a resource that we could simply point to, add to, and kill "flame" or "troll" messages to. It was an excellent post that killed my "common" thoughts on replying to such threads out of horrible habit.*edit: fixed Steven's name. I should use copy-and-paste versus my own obscure spelling mechanisms.
#13
11/05/2004 (6:46 am)
Yes, i am really 10. I just wanted to respond to one of the previous posts to say that the robots arent what make the game cool. I'm basically reffering to the sound effects, graphics, and gampelay. I just started yesterday and so far so good. One of the key features that i have implemented is the collisioon detection. each player has multiple damage areas. I you get shot in the chest your health will go way down. In the head, you die instantly. Heck, you can even shoot a robot in the shoulder to make his arm fly off. I've never seen that in any non-modified Torque game.
#14
11/05/2004 (6:50 am)
I am thinking of saving up and modifying the Torque Game Engine to get the best features.....do you think i should? 
#15
11/05/2004 (1:23 pm)
I'd say you are off to a good start, especially considering the book you are reading.
#16
So what if his game design is like 5000 other games out there? If it's what he wants to do then we should support him.
After all, there are 5000 other games out there like Half-Life and even that one was a lot like other games.
There's been a call to arms to create more games with Torque. So maybe we should be more supportive, and help people fulfill the challenge.
What's the chance that he will just abandon it? Pretty good. Should we still support him? Yes.
If we don't have anything good to say, we shouldn't say anything at all.
11/05/2004 (1:34 pm)
Man, I'm starting to think that a lot of people around here are getting a little gruff.So what if his game design is like 5000 other games out there? If it's what he wants to do then we should support him.
After all, there are 5000 other games out there like Half-Life and even that one was a lot like other games.
There's been a call to arms to create more games with Torque. So maybe we should be more supportive, and help people fulfill the challenge.
What's the chance that he will just abandon it? Pretty good. Should we still support him? Yes.
If we don't have anything good to say, we shouldn't say anything at all.
#17
11/05/2004 (1:49 pm)
Thanks, Charlie. That was very considrate. :-)
#18
Thanks for posting all that help. Certainly a good template you made there.
Bryce,
Good luck, hope you succeed.
11/05/2004 (1:55 pm)
Steven,Thanks for posting all that help. Certainly a good template you made there.
Bryce,
Good luck, hope you succeed.
#19
All flying vehicles except for the helicopter are equipped with ejector seats.
The main rotor of the helicopter can be damaged by collision or shot off.
AI buddies follow you wherever you go and fight when necessary. You can tell them to wait, follow you, cease fire, attck, and so on by pressing keys.
Availible vehicles are the dune buggy, tank, helicopter, F-36 Sparrow aircraft (I made up the name for this one), and more.
Like in the game Lore, there are going to be homing missiles that lock on to your target.
There are weapon pickup, recoil, and reload animations for the player and weapon.
When a gun is out of ammo, the attached clip will fall out of the gun.
Global and team online chatting and multiplayer game play (What you expect from Torque. I love this game engine :-) )
If you have played Halo 2 and are farmiliar with the daul-weld (hold two weapons at once), this is availible in this game. The game also inspired me to mount turrets on railings and vehicles.
The sun rises and sets judging by the time of day, and the sky gradually changes from a dawn image to afternoon to sunset to night.
Indestructible Armor can be mounted on the chest and limbs of the player to help out in battle.
This is all i can think up right now. This has all been done without
modifying the engine. Pretty cool, huh?
11/12/2004 (5:09 pm)
I just wanted to tell you about some of the cool features of this game...All flying vehicles except for the helicopter are equipped with ejector seats.
The main rotor of the helicopter can be damaged by collision or shot off.
AI buddies follow you wherever you go and fight when necessary. You can tell them to wait, follow you, cease fire, attck, and so on by pressing keys.
Availible vehicles are the dune buggy, tank, helicopter, F-36 Sparrow aircraft (I made up the name for this one), and more.
Like in the game Lore, there are going to be homing missiles that lock on to your target.
There are weapon pickup, recoil, and reload animations for the player and weapon.
When a gun is out of ammo, the attached clip will fall out of the gun.
Global and team online chatting and multiplayer game play (What you expect from Torque. I love this game engine :-) )
If you have played Halo 2 and are farmiliar with the daul-weld (hold two weapons at once), this is availible in this game. The game also inspired me to mount turrets on railings and vehicles.
The sun rises and sets judging by the time of day, and the sky gradually changes from a dawn image to afternoon to sunset to night.
Indestructible Armor can be mounted on the chest and limbs of the player to help out in battle.
This is all i can think up right now. This has all been done without
modifying the engine. Pretty cool, huh?
#20
Unless you are a very experienced programmer, that will be a very overwhelming project. I've been programming for years now, but since I'm new to OpenGL programming.. I am lost when I look at the Torque source.
Start small, and work your way up. Since you're only 10, you have a long time to get good at this stuff... no reason to rush into the advanced topics without mastering the basics.
11/12/2004 (5:30 pm)
Quote:I am thinking of saving up and modifying the Torque Game Engine to get the best features.....do you think i should?
Unless you are a very experienced programmer, that will be a very overwhelming project. I've been programming for years now, but since I'm new to OpenGL programming.. I am lost when I look at the Torque source.
Start small, and work your way up. Since you're only 10, you have a long time to get good at this stuff... no reason to rush into the advanced topics without mastering the basics.
Associate Joseph Euan