Who's alive in this part of the world?

#41 I've always liked RTS games. So when I left my old job to go indie, of course I had to try writing an RTS game. My project is _Orcs vs. Martians_.

OVM is meant to incorporate and highlight the gameplay aspects of RTS's that I like best. Which are, mainly,:

* a flexible random map generator (I love not knowing what the map's going to be)
* terrain that can have a big tactical impact, if you know how to use it
* nearly-unlimited research upgrades
* pretty scenery
* and of course, exploration through the fog of war

I've culled a lot of other features to keep the game simple. OVM is meant to be very easy to learn.

My hope is that OVM will appeal to two groups of potential customers:

(1) white-collar workers who, although busy at work, are gamers at heart, and would like something they can play on their lunch hour that doesn't give them a headache
(2) the more sophisticated kind of casual gamer, who might like to try an RTS, but doesn't want to be bothered with learning complex tech trees, building dependencies, and dozens of unit types

So there you have it, my whole game design and business plan in a single post! :)

#42 Haha!! Nice to read you, Geom! Thanks for your post, I see you participate on the census, so thanks for that too. I always follow you blog. Impressive work you have done, and your focus its very, very intresting, an RTS for casual gamers? thats courage! ;)

When you have some time you could talk to us about your random map generator design. I read somewhere that you need betatesters? just make the call :)

Besides, if you found the time, leave your opinion about the new RTS Blog ;)

#43 Thanks Novak! I'm glad you're stirring the pot to get the RTS kit community to be more alive. I hope the survey gets good participation, I for one am curious to learn more about who is doing what with the RTS kit.

I actually got started on my random map generation algorithm by reading a paper written by the authors of Tribal Trouble, and then experimenting from there.

You know, I will take you up on the beta tester offer! I promise it will be fun and will take very little time! I don't have a set release date right now, but it should be in about a month or so. I'll give you a shout!

#44 Anyone want easy port to 1.5.2 that doesnt require afx heres a resource, go to the end of the page and download the link

Here

edit:hope the link is working now

#45 Thanks Brian, I see it already on the thread you link.

But this is not the place for announcements, maybe you could post something on the thread about the RTS blog?

#46 Well since I'm finally using the RTS kit again, I thought I'd go ahead and post.

My project isn't really an RTS. Its an online turn based table top war game (think old school BattleTech, HeroClix, Star Wars minis, Warhammer, etc). I have the kit ported to 1.5.2 and now I'm gonna try to add in AFX. Anyone have some advice on that? ;)

#47 I use www.scootersoftware.com for the Merge AFX fun :)

Nice to see a RTS blog forming! and more people here.. hello!

#48 Beyond Compare rawks. WinMerge is a cool, free one as well.

#49 So Ringo how is the VKit coming along with GG? I was really interested and hyped about getting it when I found it aftering getting the RTS Kit. Of course as the world would have it as I was reading it was the same day they put the stop to you selling it.

So disapointing. I am hoping it opens soon. Also for those interested in learning about my project I will be creating a project post and a call for a script/programmer or two.

So Novak I am enjoying seeing you stir the pot some. It is helping get this forum up and moving some.


Thanks,
Nick

#50 Made an update to my vkit here...

www.garagegames.com/mg/forums/result.thread.php?qt=62048

#51 Sorry for adding the N in Rigo. Thanks for the update also. I can't wait till they answer you and either you sell it again or create it as a plugin. Jolly good show sir.

#52 Hi, I'm fairly new here. I just bought TGE 1.5.2 about a month ago and the RTS Starter Kit a little bit after that. I have a number of ideas for RTS style games similar in philosophy to what Geom appears to be doing. Basically, simple enough to play over lunch (or in roughly 30-45 mins), start to finish. Little or no resource gathering, small numbers of units, small maps, quick technology updates, semi-random scenarios, etc. I'm just getting started, so I have a long way to go.

#53 Well Derry, I already say hello to you, but its great to know about your ideas: great ideas!
BTW, thats what happend when we communicate: we discover other peoples plans and ideas, and cooperate, even if the cooperation its just about knowing of others on the same path we are.

Its good to see fresh ideas, but overall, new energy. Again, welcome Derry!


P.S.: When I came intrested on game develpment, I was thinking that much of indies surely want to do their own clones of the tipical games/genres. Nevertheless I late found that its exactly the opposite: the new ideas are comming from here, while the big corps are focusing themselves on remakes of their well-known products.

#54 Hi Derry, it's interesting to hear that someone else is thinking about a "lunch hour RTS".

I guess we'll find out if there's a market for such a thing. I think there is. As an older gamer myself, I know a number of other guys who are still gamers at heart, but due to work, family, etc. they don't have much leisure time. A traditional RTS is hard to fit into their schedule, but a simpler, shorter one might fit the bill.

And another reason simple is good is, anything that reduces the ridiculous amount of work it takes to write an RTS, is a good thing!

#55 Just got the RTS Kit today and the Engine itself a few days ago, I have been waiting to buy it for a while.... Had money from work (Pay day:P) so i purshased it for my new Indie Team.

#56 Nice to meet you Flame! Which are your plans? What do you expect from the kit?


Edit: Here we are trying to give some better communication to this RTS community-inside-community. I invite you to participate! from blog comments to resource creation any contribution is welcome. Here take a look at the RTS Blog, and fill the census ;)

#57 Hi Guys,

Not sure exactly what to say here, but putting my name down on the register. RTS/FPS Squad Based MMO fun loving game on the cards here.

LoL its not like I am putting the goal a little too high at all ;)

The first weekend with RTS kit has been fun, hoping to be able to find all the goodies that have been made since it was released.

#58 Welcome Anthony. Good, another mix man! hows exactly your idea of FPS/RTS?

Always good to meet new people in this far away RTS lands ;)

We are making some progress here. With some of the boys we are trying to make noise and movement, so, feel free to say your opinion or participate at will.

#59 Hello ppl,
ok.. Novack linked me to this thread...
I'm currently working on my graduation project at the American University in Cairo.. we're doing a university simulation game (some sort of a mixture between The Sims: University and SimCity).. we're calling it SimU.
We've got almost 2 months for the completion of our project, so I don't think we'll finish more than a prototype for the game, though I see we're doing some good progress.
It's usually me, Khaled, who posts using this account, although any of my teamates can login and post using this account.

#60 Hi Khaled! Nice to meet you (I knew, that "SimU Group" was a pretty weird name... ;)
Im from Argentina, so for the most part, the people on this forums live really far away from me, but I think I never knew before someone from Egypt, so its a priviledge to me :)

You project sounds very intresting, intelligent use of the RTS kit. When you (or some of your team mates) have the time, you should publish some screenshots.