Yet another MMO project (but read anyway) :P
by Tony Richards · in Jobs · 11/01/2006 (5:36 pm) · 21 replies
What I can do:
Most if not all 3d art
Most if not all C++ programming
Some Torque scripting
All web hosting of the project (20mbps otherwise unlimited bandwidth dedicated server with 2x 100gb HDs)
Some game design
What I cannot do:
2d art / concept art
Sound
Music
What I need help with:
Some of the 3d art
Artistic congruency (i.e. an art director)
Some Torque scripting
Some game design
Full disclosure:
Have I made an MMO before? No
Have I finished a game before? No
Do I want to lead this? My philosophy is lead, follow or get out of my way... if you want to lead, fine, if not, make sure you're willing to follow. If you're unwilling to do either, go away. This is a group project, so if you don't work well with groups, don't bother. If you want to lead but you're not qualified, please don't bother either... I'm not looking to put together a team that's 100% inexperienced. I've been programming and doing 3d art for over 20 years, but it's not been in a game setting. Although I don't need the programming experience, I do want the game development experience as part of the team.
My proposal:
Put a few like-minded developers together for 90+ days to compete in Dreamer's $1000 competition and win it.
Theme: Medieval time, magic, swords, etc
Art type: Relatively realistic, not purely realistic, but not cartoonish like WoW... but honestly I'm open in this respect.
Game type: TBD, but obviously MMORPG
Everything else, we'll have competing designs, a vote within 30 day on the final design, then 60 days to complete the project.
I'm not intending on coming up with a new game type... just a fun indie game in the MMO arena.
All contributors will be equal owners in a LLC or LLP.
Within the first 30 days we'll all come up with multiple game concepts, then vote on the combination that is the most fun... at this point you're either in or out, and hopefully you'll be in since we're all voting on "most fun" and not "my way or highway." Also within the first 30 days we'll come up with the company charter, etc.... for the most part the charter will be limited to a single game where all contributors have equal but separate ownership of everything they contribute, and they all agree to not compete with the partnership for 90 days after leaving the partnership.
I know, I know, too much legalease, but guidelines have to be set up front so everyone knows what they're possibly getting into.
I'm not proposing a game produced by a committee. We'll elect the final art director and game designer within the first 30 days and what they say are final... but I'll do my best to eliminate scope creep if possible.
Thoughts, ideas, comments are welcome... flame away :P
Most if not all 3d art
Most if not all C++ programming
Some Torque scripting
All web hosting of the project (20mbps otherwise unlimited bandwidth dedicated server with 2x 100gb HDs)
Some game design
What I cannot do:
2d art / concept art
Sound
Music
What I need help with:
Some of the 3d art
Artistic congruency (i.e. an art director)
Some Torque scripting
Some game design
Full disclosure:
Have I made an MMO before? No
Have I finished a game before? No
Do I want to lead this? My philosophy is lead, follow or get out of my way... if you want to lead, fine, if not, make sure you're willing to follow. If you're unwilling to do either, go away. This is a group project, so if you don't work well with groups, don't bother. If you want to lead but you're not qualified, please don't bother either... I'm not looking to put together a team that's 100% inexperienced. I've been programming and doing 3d art for over 20 years, but it's not been in a game setting. Although I don't need the programming experience, I do want the game development experience as part of the team.
My proposal:
Put a few like-minded developers together for 90+ days to compete in Dreamer's $1000 competition and win it.
Theme: Medieval time, magic, swords, etc
Art type: Relatively realistic, not purely realistic, but not cartoonish like WoW... but honestly I'm open in this respect.
Game type: TBD, but obviously MMORPG
Everything else, we'll have competing designs, a vote within 30 day on the final design, then 60 days to complete the project.
I'm not intending on coming up with a new game type... just a fun indie game in the MMO arena.
All contributors will be equal owners in a LLC or LLP.
Within the first 30 days we'll all come up with multiple game concepts, then vote on the combination that is the most fun... at this point you're either in or out, and hopefully you'll be in since we're all voting on "most fun" and not "my way or highway." Also within the first 30 days we'll come up with the company charter, etc.... for the most part the charter will be limited to a single game where all contributors have equal but separate ownership of everything they contribute, and they all agree to not compete with the partnership for 90 days after leaving the partnership.
I know, I know, too much legalease, but guidelines have to be set up front so everyone knows what they're possibly getting into.
I'm not proposing a game produced by a committee. We'll elect the final art director and game designer within the first 30 days and what they say are final... but I'll do my best to eliminate scope creep if possible.
Thoughts, ideas, comments are welcome... flame away :P
About the author
I am the founder of IndieZen.org, a website dedicated to the Indie 2.0 Revolution where a number of Indie game development studios and individuals collaborate and share a suite of custom built open source game development tools and middleware.
#2
11/01/2006 (6:03 pm)
I'm totaly willing! I'm a decent torque scripter, but little experience (several attempted games by my self, but none finished). I'm willing to follow and I understand c++ basics. I can't meet on location and would like some share of the prize or any revenues from the game. I know just about everything to a minor degree and I'd love to get working on this as soon as possible.
#3
2) Equal among all members, and honestly, for the experience, I'll forgoe my share... I'm not in it for the prize money.
3) Absolutely, you keep everything you contribute. Seperate but equal ownership means that everything you contribute can be used by the game and those that stay with the LLP / LLC, but they can also be used by the person that contributed it.... in other words, whatever you contribute, you can keep, but you cannot keep it from being used by the LLC / LLP for the one game that it's publishing. Other members cannot use your work outside of the partnership without your permission. Obviously this will be difficult to strictly enforce... I hate people that join a team simply for the purpose of stealing artwork / code, but it happens. My hope is that this won't happen and I'll do my utmost in preventing it... hopefully everyone on the team will contribute enough that the point will be moot.
4) My dream would be to publish it on Dreamer's web site and possibly more, and share the profits equally among all developers. I'm willing to contribute more than my fair share... if most people who join have this attitude then we're bound to succeed.
11/01/2006 (6:07 pm)
1) Absolutely not... Wiki, forums, SVN, VoIP, etc is all we really need... and I can provide all of that.2) Equal among all members, and honestly, for the experience, I'll forgoe my share... I'm not in it for the prize money.
3) Absolutely, you keep everything you contribute. Seperate but equal ownership means that everything you contribute can be used by the game and those that stay with the LLP / LLC, but they can also be used by the person that contributed it.... in other words, whatever you contribute, you can keep, but you cannot keep it from being used by the LLC / LLP for the one game that it's publishing. Other members cannot use your work outside of the partnership without your permission. Obviously this will be difficult to strictly enforce... I hate people that join a team simply for the purpose of stealing artwork / code, but it happens. My hope is that this won't happen and I'll do my utmost in preventing it... hopefully everyone on the team will contribute enough that the point will be moot.
4) My dream would be to publish it on Dreamer's web site and possibly more, and share the profits equally among all developers. I'm willing to contribute more than my fair share... if most people who join have this attitude then we're bound to succeed.
#4
One last question. . .how many hours a week do you want each team member to commit, or will this be discussed during the charter creation?
Let me have a cigarette and a drink to think. . .
11/01/2006 (6:14 pm)
Money is a wonderful thing, but I'm doing what I'm doing in life because it's what I love. It's about passion and experience. I want a project that has a design, a team, and a deadline. One last question. . .how many hours a week do you want each team member to commit, or will this be discussed during the charter creation?
Let me have a cigarette and a drink to think. . .
#5
11/01/2006 (6:17 pm)
Well, I'm still in school so I'm willing to commit as much time as I have because I enjoy programming and have been learning how since a very young age. I can't commit to anything, but I can get things done one piece at a time. And am I automaticly accepted, or do I need some kind of resume?
#6
11/01/2006 (6:18 pm)
Whoa, when is the deadline for entries? Did I read the rules for the contest wrong? Is this due in 15 days?
#7
I know not everyone can commit to 16 core hours, but hopefully everyone can commit to 4 core hours + 12 additional solo hours per week.
This is required for the team to succeed.
11/01/2006 (6:22 pm)
I'm hoping each member can contribute a minimum of 16 hours per week, and some of this must be during core hours, which will be determined during the first couple of weeks. Core hours means you must commit to being online, in IRC or some other means of online communications and actively working on the project. I know not everyone can commit to 16 core hours, but hopefully everyone can commit to 4 core hours + 12 additional solo hours per week.
This is required for the team to succeed.
#8
11/01/2006 (6:25 pm)
I will do my best, but I'm afraid I cannot be to reliable. Things can pop up and I expect to have about and hour or two on weekdays.
#9
The team must submit an entry within 10 days... this puts a slight damper on team creation at this point, but nothing horrible... I can submit a generic game idea within the next week that will mostly accommodate what I've posted here... Medevil based MMORPG swords, magic, etc game using the MMORPG kit (except using my own zoning, multi-server and database code because it's better than MMORPG Kit :P).
Other than that, we have 90 days (89 now) to complete the game... or at least mostly complete the game... something playable would be nice, something polished would probably be impossible, but if you read the fine print, playable is necessary, but polished is not.
11/01/2006 (6:32 pm)
From what I understand, the MMOKIT 1.5 was officially released yesterday 10/31/2006, which means that the competition officially started then.The team must submit an entry within 10 days... this puts a slight damper on team creation at this point, but nothing horrible... I can submit a generic game idea within the next week that will mostly accommodate what I've posted here... Medevil based MMORPG swords, magic, etc game using the MMORPG kit (except using my own zoning, multi-server and database code because it's better than MMORPG Kit :P).
Other than that, we have 90 days (89 now) to complete the game... or at least mostly complete the game... something playable would be nice, something polished would probably be impossible, but if you read the fine print, playable is necessary, but polished is not.
#10
11/01/2006 (6:33 pm)
So, 9 days to get them entry information. That's rough. I can set aside more than 16 hours a week for development. But this thing has to get rolling
#11
I'll set you up with an account on my Wiki and we can start hashing out game ideas.
Also, join IRC on the irc.maxgaming.net #fractureduniverse.. I'm Sgt Flame.
One rule that might be a stickler... we each have to own TGE and MMOKIT... Not a problem for me as I plan on purchasing MMOKIT within the next few days. If you don't own MMOKIT right now, don't worry... I can fund a copy for a few people within the next 90 days, but I cannot fund anyone that doesn't already own TGE 1.5.
[edit]Weird post fixed[/edit]
11/01/2006 (6:42 pm)
Lets get started. Anyone interested, send me an e-mail: Linterra at gmail dot com.I'll set you up with an account on my Wiki and we can start hashing out game ideas.
Also, join IRC on the irc.maxgaming.net #fractureduniverse.. I'm Sgt Flame.
One rule that might be a stickler... we each have to own TGE and MMOKIT... Not a problem for me as I plan on purchasing MMOKIT within the next few days. If you don't own MMOKIT right now, don't worry... I can fund a copy for a few people within the next 90 days, but I cannot fund anyone that doesn't already own TGE 1.5.
[edit]Weird post fixed[/edit]
#12
11/02/2006 (5:33 am)
I've sent an e-mail to you, Tony.
#13
I've gotten some good responses so far... keep 'em coming. I have three definates and two on the border... all programmers so far. I'd really like a 2d artist to join if possible..... any takers?
11/02/2006 (6:55 am)
Excellent...I've gotten some good responses so far... keep 'em coming. I have three definates and two on the border... all programmers so far. I'd really like a 2d artist to join if possible..... any takers?
#15
11/02/2006 (11:18 am)
This should be archived in TDN as the real way to collect a team. I wish I wasn't so busy. Good luck!
#16
Thanks again for all the responses... I'm impressed with the GG community and the resources available for creating a great team in such a short notice...
I'll post the team's progress on my blog... laterz
11/03/2006 (8:57 pm)
Yay, got everyone we need now... offer closed unless you know me or another member personally.Thanks again for all the responses... I'm impressed with the GG community and the resources available for creating a great team in such a short notice...
I'll post the team's progress on my blog... laterz
#17
It would have been nice, though, to get a response of some type saying you weren't interested. In case you somehow never actually received my e-mail, I was offering to help with music and sound.
In any case, no hard feelings and good luck.
11/05/2006 (7:14 am)
I'm glad you found a team you're happy with.It would have been nice, though, to get a response of some type saying you weren't interested. In case you somehow never actually received my e-mail, I was offering to help with music and sound.
In any case, no hard feelings and good luck.
#18
11/05/2006 (11:14 am)
Hrm... I sent you an e-mail... assumed you were with us. I'll send again.
#19
11/10/2006 (6:24 pm)
I can do your website for free and i can do concept art but im not the best im learning 3d modeling and c++ programming my email is aaronbukowski@gmail.com
#20
Also I'ld love to hear more of your zoning and db code, if it's superior I'ld like to include it stock.
I'm always open to new ideas.
Regards,
Dreamer
11/29/2006 (7:41 am)
Did you ever request some forum space over at MyDreamRPG.com?Also I'ld love to hear more of your zoning and db code, if it's superior I'ld like to include it stock.
I'm always open to new ideas.
Regards,
Dreamer
Employee Michael Perry
ZombieShortbus
1) Do you need people to be on location? Or can you have a team member working remotely?
2) What will be the split of the prize?
3) Can team members keep code they engineered for future projects? (you mentioned it, but I have to have a clear cut answer on it =) )
4) Any plan for the game after the contest?