The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Everything Else => Topic started by: AtomSmasher on November 19, 2008, 02:22:51 pm
-
Anyone have any good game ideas that are not too complex? I'm looking for a new project which can realistically be finished in 6 months to a year (working in my off-time). My first idea was to create an Advance Wars type of turn-based strategy, but it's not exactly an innovative idea and it would be nice to make something geared more toward arcade play. Does anyone have any ideas on a new take of a classic arcade game, or really any new idea which would be fun to play? Also, 2D games are probably best due to my limited artistic ability and having never made a 3D game.
Here's the rundown of why I'm looking for a new game idea. I have a degree in computer science, but haven't done much programming since I graduated 6 years ago. A number of months ago I decided to get back into programming and initially I started creating simple web applications in ASP.Net, which was kind of interesting, but not really, so I picked a relatively simple game to copy in order to do something a lot more fun and challenging. The game I made a copy of was Desktop Tower Defense, and it took about a month to get the majority of the coding done, which was also largely a learning process. It's still not finished, but all thats left is adding some features (such as more turrets and enemy types) and balancing the gameplay. Since all of the real programming work is done and it's just a copy of another game, I decided to move onto my next project instead of finishing this one, which no one would want to play anyways since the original is available for free online. (Attached is a screenshot of the game if you're curious, but please note I am not an artist :P )
So now I'm looking for a project that is a bit more innovative and a bit more complex. I was planning on just making this on my own, but I suppose if anyone else feels like they want to join in then feel free to let me know. I'm planning on writing the game in C# utilizing the XNA library (so the game could even be played on the 360 once it's finished), however I haven't worked in a programming team since college, so the planning stage would probably be pretty rocky (unless you have more experience with larger projects then me, in which case you could always take lead). Of course artists and sound people will also be very useful eventually.
-
Might be best to start by writing a game in a genre you already know... don't try to innovate so much in your first attempt. Write a game like a platformer that has solid level design but standard mechanics. Get it right, get that tweaking/debugging/design experience under your belt, and then work on something a little more outside the box. Jumping right to a new concept might be less effective in the long run because you'll be missing some common tricks and tips.
-
Hhmm... that's a toughie. Most of the games I would like to see are 3D or pseudo-3D. Haven't looked at or considered any 2D ideas. One thing I've always wanted to see is Tanktics redone without the tedious micromanagement component and better trackball control.
An online version of Combat perhaps? I had a lot of fun playing Combat as a kid.
-
Might be best to start by writing a game in a genre you already know... don't try to innovate so much in your first attempt. Write a game like a platformer that has solid level design but standard mechanics. Get it right, get that tweaking/debugging/design experience under your belt, and then work on something a little more outside the box. Jumping right to a new concept might be less effective in the long run because you'll be missing some common tricks and tips.
I understand your point, but even if I was going to make a platformer, I wouldn't want to make a Mario clone, I would want some small twist to make it a bit different then other platformers. I'm not expecting to create something completely innovative, but just something with a slightly new take on a classic genre. The reason for choosing the game I'm currently contemplating on making (a turn based strategy game somewhat similar to Advance Wars) is that it's in a genre I know quite well, has fairly simple graphics, is complex enough to be a real challenge, but is simple enough that I actually am capable of completing it. I actually have a number of game ideas that I think would make great games, but I also know they would be a bit more complicated then the scope of the game I'm currently looking to make. The hard part is finding a good small to medium sized project.
-
An online version of Combat perhaps? I had a lot of fun playing Combat as a kid.
Wasn't a dude here already working on that recently?
It would be cool to see a remake of super mario bros with some cofigurable options to change the game... the ability to adjust gravity... or the time limits, or maybe with added enemies and new levels.
-
An online version of Combat perhaps? I had a lot of fun playing Combat as a kid.
Wasn't a dude here already working on that recently?
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=75435.0
*edit* Heh, just noticed I talked about my Desktop Tower Defense clone in that thread which didn't get much further then drawing a background image and a couple enemies (with no AI) until I picked the project up again about a month ago. I also talked about Dark GDK, but I had to rewrite the whole project into C# and XNA because I found out the Dark GDK sucks at animating more then a couple sprites at once. Anyways...
-
Maybe something that will net you some pocket money.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/iphone-application-the-diy-developers-1024448.html (http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/iphone-application-the-diy-developers-1024448.html)
-
Maybe something that will net you some pocket money.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/iphone-application-the-diy-developers-1024448.html (http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/iphone-application-the-diy-developers-1024448.html)
Well if the game I make is good enough to make money, then I could sell it on the xbox 360 which recently starting allowing independent developers to sell games made with XNA, but my goal with this project is mainly to gain more experience and have something snazzy on my resume, not to make money.
-
An online version of Combat perhaps? I had a lot of fun playing Combat as a kid.
Wasn't a dude here already working on that recently?
I really had no idea. Combat was something I played only long enough until the NES hit the market. Then I never really looked back.
It would be cool to see a remake of super mario bros with some cofigurable options to change the game... the ability to adjust gravity... or the time limits, or maybe with added enemies and new levels.
I was thinking the same thing with some of the play mechanics from the NES version of McKids (The Genesis version is a wholly different game). The gravity flip/flop added a whole new realm to the Mario-like game. Too bad McDonalds killed the marketing on this game.
-
What about a game that is side view, and you control a "gun" on the left side of the screen that shoots bouncy balls of different weight and bouncyness (either random or based on the level). The goal would be to bounce the balls off of the floor, ceiling, obstructions, etc to hit randomly appearing goal spots of differing point value based on how hard they are to hit. Have the goal spots dissapear and move to a new location every 5 seconds or so (or even have ones that slide back and forth, so that timing as well as bounce accuracy would be part of the challenge)
Simplistic game, but has the potential to be addictive, esp if you had a level editor that people could use to make their own maps. It would also be a good exercise is making an accurate physics engine that includes gravity and elasticity.
-
What about a game that is side view, and you control a "gun" on the left side of the screen that shoots bouncy balls of different weight and bouncyness (either random or based on the level). The goal would be to bounce the balls off of the floor, ceiling, obstructions, etc to hit randomly appearing goal spots of differing point value based on how hard they are to hit. Have the goal spots dissapear and move to a new location every 5 seconds or so (or even have ones that slide back and forth, so that timing as well as bounce accuracy would be part of the challenge)
Simplistic game, but has the potential to be addictive, esp if you had a level editor that people could use to make their own maps. It would also be a good exercise is making an accurate physics engine that includes gravity and elasticity.
Sounds kind of like Peggle except with bouncy balls and disapearing targets. Thats not a bad idea. Actually some sort of variation of Peggle might be a good idea. Maybe add a bit more depth to it somehow, kind of like how Puzzle Quest added a lot more depth to Bejeweled gameplay, although I'm not sure how.
-
What about a game that is side view, and you control a "gun" on the left side of the screen that shoots bouncy balls of different weight and bouncyness (either random or based on the level). The goal would be to bounce the balls off of the floor, ceiling, obstructions, etc to hit randomly appearing goal spots of differing point value based on how hard they are to hit. Have the goal spots dissapear and move to a new location every 5 seconds or so (or even have ones that slide back and forth, so that timing as well as bounce accuracy would be part of the challenge)
Simplistic game, but has the potential to be addictive, esp if you had a level editor that people could use to make their own maps. It would also be a good exercise is making an accurate physics engine that includes gravity and elasticity.
Sounds kind of like Peggle except with bouncy balls and disapearing targets. Thats not a bad idea. Actually some sort of variation of Peggle might be a good idea. Maybe add a bit more depth to it somehow, kind of like how Puzzle Quest added a lot more depth to Bejeweled gameplay, although I'm not sure how.
Ah I have never played peggle. the only time I have ever heard of it is from Zero Punctuation. Did peggle have gravity? I got the idea from when I was a kid and tryed to bounce a bouncy ball into a cup from across the room.
-
Ah I have never played peggle. the only time I have ever heard of it is from Zero Punctuation. Did peggle have gravity? I got the idea from when I was a kid and tryed to bounce a bouncy ball into a cup from across the room.
Ya, peggle has gravity, it's kind of like Plinko from The Price is Right. Basically theres a canon on the top of the screen which shoots out a ball that bounced around off of targets, deleting the targets it hits at the end of the round. You only have a certain number of balls, but gain an extra one if it lands inside the moving container at the bottom or if you reach a certain number of points.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6F3SkxCmq0
-
Peggle owes me a lot of hours of my life :D Very addictive.
-
i have no suggestions about genre etc, but if you design a game for mobile devices, you could see several things happen. one would be the satisfaction of being about to polish to perfection before you run out of steam. two would be you could make some money from it. dont forget us little people when you make it big though ;D
-
I've always wanted to write a street hockey game based on the way we actually used to play as a kid... varying arenas. One a beaten up tennis court with the poles still there, another a sidestreet, a third a youth center that was half decent but had rusty fences all around it. Standard stuff all kids encouter... the couple kids who can skate but weigh nothing... the ones who can't skate but have 75mph slapshots they can't control... the one kid who never brings skates... ball goes under the fence, net easily dislodged, occasional fights. I think it might be best done for a 16 bit console but with a much higher amount of memory than Genesis games so you could add in a lot of Baseball Stars type functionality along with Super Tecmo Bowl stat tracking.
-
How about a tower defense game? Different mazes, different types of towers. I play Tower Defense games a lot on Warcraft 3.
-
A ChadTower defense game would work. ;D
-
New version of Scorched Earth?
-
I've always wanted to write a street hockey game based on the way we actually used to play as a kid... varying arenas. One a beaten up tennis court with the poles still there, another a sidestreet, a third a youth center that was half decent but had rusty fences all around it. Standard stuff all kids encouter... the couple kids who can skate but weigh nothing... the ones who can't skate but have 75mph slapshots they can't control... the one kid who never brings skates... ball goes under the fence, net easily dislodged, occasional fights. I think it might be best done for a 16 bit console but with a much higher amount of memory than Genesis games so you could add in a lot of Baseball Stars type functionality along with Super Tecmo Bowl stat tracking.
Cool idea, but I know absoultely nothing about hockey or hockey games.
How about a tower defense game? Different mazes, different types of towers. I play Tower Defense games a lot on Warcraft 3.
Take a look at my first post ;D I made a tower defense game, but a more complicated one then most (to make at least) because the enemies don't follow a given path, their paths are dynamically created as you add new turrets to block their path. Also, if you look at current flash games, Tower Defense games have got to be the most common type of game currently being made. I see a new one every week or two.
New version of Scorched Earth?
Worms was a really good take on the genre, I suppose I could make something similar to that. (I was addicted to Worms 2 back in 1998 or so)
-
Ah I have never played peggle. the only time I have ever heard of it is from Zero Punctuation. Did peggle have gravity? I got the idea from when I was a kid and tryed to bounce a bouncy ball into a cup from across the room.
I tend to think of bouncing quarters into cups of beer. I was challenged to make a pitcher once. Poor football dude.
An online version of Combat perhaps? I had a lot of fun playing Combat as a kid.
Wasn't a dude here already working on that recently?
Yeah, Pongo. I've been wondering where's he's been.
How classic are you thinking?
-
Cool idea, but I know absoultely nothing about hockey or hockey games.
Well, that's my group of friends, but there has to be something your group did a bunch of times with a lot of idiosyncracies that you look back on fondly. That would make a pretty good game if done with care, I think.
-
Well, that's my group of friends, but there has to be something your group did a bunch of times with a lot of idiosyncracies that you look back on fondly. That would make a pretty good game if done with care, I think.
For some that might turn into an NSFW kind of game.
-
Well I did some searching around and decided to go a different route. I joined a team of people who are going to work together to make a game. It looks like there's 10 people total in the team, which includes programmers, artists, writers, and hopefully a sound guy (although I'm not sure about that).
We're just starting out and I've only talked to the guy organizing the group so far, so it could be I'm the most experienced one in the group, but we'll see how it goes. It looks like we're going to start small, which is a good thing, and probably make an action platform game (we haven't decided yet).
Our first step is to come up with a name for our team, so I guess I get to see the maturity level of everyone in the team by their submissions :)
-
Our first step is to come up with a name for our team
NSFW!
-
Well I did some searching around and decided to go a different route. I joined a team of people who are going to work together to make a game. It looks like there's 10 people total in the team, which includes programmers, artists, writers, and hopefully a sound guy (although I'm not sure about that).
We're just starting out and I've only talked to the guy organizing the group so far, so it could be I'm the most experienced one in the group, but we'll see how it goes. It looks like we're going to start small, which is a good thing, and probably make an action platform game (we haven't decided yet).
Our first step is to come up with a name for our team, so I guess I get to see the maturity level of everyone in the team by their submissions :)
not saying this isnt good, but rayb has found a perfect candidate for a game to make
thread (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=87023.0) :cheers:
-
How about a game where you are a parent, and the object is to stop kids playing video games and do housework?
On the theme of Mappy.
I'm sure it will be top seller for the parent Nintendo DS market. ;D
-
Well I did some searching around and decided to go a different route. I joined a team of people who are going to work together to make a game. It looks like there's 10 people total in the team, which includes programmers, artists, writers, and hopefully a sound guy (although I'm not sure about that).
We're just starting out and I've only talked to the guy organizing the group so far, so it could be I'm the most experienced one in the group, but we'll see how it goes. It looks like we're going to start small, which is a good thing, and probably make an action platform game (we haven't decided yet).
Our first step is to come up with a name for our team, so I guess I get to see the maturity level of everyone in the team by their submissions :)
not saying this isnt good, but rayb has found a perfect candidate for a game to make
thread (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=87023.0) :cheers:
You're right, that would've been a perfect candidate, but hopefully this team I'm working with will turn out well. It looks like we have a pretty well rounded team with 3 programmers (including myself), 1 writer, 1 music guy, 1 sound effect guy, 1 game "tester", 2 game designers (1 who has already worked in the entertainment industry for a while), and 1 artist. However we do need another artist if anyone here wants to add some experience to their resume ;D
Anyways, we're having a meeting this week to come up with the idea for our first game.
-
Um, let me rain on your parade and let you know in advance that it won't work out. I won't go into all the details, but I'll gladly share my experiences with you via PM. Let's just say I've seen this sort of thing a million times, and without a lead visionary, you're already doomed. Game design by consensus doesn't work. A team that size without even an idea yet to energize everyone, doesn't work. I'd also do an age check of everyone involved too. I've seen SO many teams get together and never get past the easy parts, like a NAME, a website, and a couple art mock-ups.
;)
-
Um, let me rain on your parade and let you know in advance that it won't work out. I won't go into all the details, but I'll gladly share my experiences with you via PM. Let's just say I've seen this sort of thing a million times, and without a lead visionary, you're already doomed. Game design by consensus doesn't work. A team that size without even an idea yet to energize everyone, doesn't work. I'd also do an age check of everyone involved too. I've seen SO many teams get together and never get past the easy parts, like a NAME, a website, and a couple art mock-ups.
;)
A couple years ago I tried this type of thing before...twice, and both times we had a very clear vision of the game we wanted and both times were a huge disaster. The biggest problem was that our goal was to create the next great game to be able to compete with big name titles (such as today I see many teams looking to create the next Fallout 3). Everyone got overwhelmed with the amount of work they had to do, so everyone else gave up after a month or so. That's actually why I have confidence that this may actually work, we're going to start with a fairly small game, something I could create by myself if given enough time (excluding the sound and artwork).
One of our other programmers seems to have about similar experience to myself (a degree in computer science and a bit of programming experience, but not much in games specifically) and I know the sound and art people we have are all currently in college in their respective fields. I'm still expecting some of the people to drop out once they realize how much work will be involved, but as long as we keep our goals reasonable, we should be able to reach them.
Also, I thought I'd mention that one of the projects I worked on a few years ago even got mentioned in a small blurb in PC Gamer magazine, which was pretty cool, but the project still died a couple months after that.
-
Also, I thought I'd mention that one of the projects I worked on a few years ago even got mentioned in a small blurb in PC Gamer magazine, which was pretty cool, but the project still died a couple months after that.
Mine got me interviewed in Game Fan magazine. ;D
-
What are the Programmers capabilities?
Are they good with complex algebraic formulas and able to depict physics applications
correctly? (IE: could easily program a game of Pool without any help of any sort)
Do they have ANY programming experience with GOOD artificial intelligence?
(Fast action based game.. not a slow moving rpg style AI)
Are there Any programmers who have had the power to actually finish a single game?
Sound FX man: Any experience with synthesizers making his own sounds instead of
simply using existing wavs and modifying them?
Music Composer: Links to good game compositions? The likes of Ghouls and Ghost...
where there is actual emotion in the piece? Or is this another so called
"Beat master", who simply mixes some samples and makes some droning, souls-less
Techno backing?
Leader?
Lets say you could get everyone to agree on a Title, and even a game type. Now,
what happens when you say you want it to do "This"... the other guy wants "That",
and everyone else wants something different as well?
Money?
If the thing takes off.... and actually makes money... Tons of it. How is that going to
be split up? Is there an NDA? Contracts?
The biggest problems Ive had is to do with Programmers who thought they could
do something... and fudged it as best they could... but couldnt hack it to the level
of profession playability.
For example... The AI in the Black Marble in MM. Its aggressive as hell... times its push just right... can think ahead... yet, its not too easy, nor impossible, to get by him. Anything less... there might as well not even by a black marble in the game.
Simple addition/subtraction will also not get the job done right. Formulas must
be much more optimized and thus complex... for realistic movements, AI, etc.
From the Perspective of an Investor... I would ask to see a programmer, or
group of programmers that can show me small demos of each element needed to make
a good game... such as the example of the AI for the blackie - in a small 2d demo.
I have plenty of great ideas... In fact, I think I have a really great small game idea
that could be very huge. But, I dont want to give it away for nothing. I dont want
to bastardize it... and I dont want to have it partially done... where it gets to the
point that the programmers realize that they simply cant make it playable because
they lack the advanced skills needed to pull it off.
-
Are there Any programmers who have had the power to actually finish a single game?
The biggest problem I find with programmers isn't whether they can do the math, AI, or even the "power" to finish the game. The problem is that there are so few freelance programmers that A) have a reasonable (or potential for) understanding of the language within the established construct and B) have enough time to dedicate to the project so it doesn't take them six weeks to add/alter/update four lines of code.
Anyone who can meet those two basic requirements are already working on other projects or can only be retained with money. Something most garage projects severely lack.
-
Right now I know little about the rest of the team, what I do know is that the other main programmer already has a degree in computer science and if his courses were anything like mine, then he took several courses in advanced math, physics, AI, etc. and took a couple large project classes where you work in small teams to create one large project throughout the semester.
Regardless, being one of the programmers myself, I'm not too concerned about all of our programmers being incompetent :P
*waits for joke about how I will probably be the only incompetent programmer on the team*
-
I have plenty of great ideas... In fact, I think I have a really great small game idea
that could be very huge. But, I dont want to give it away for nothing.
This is where we differ. You want to make a game to make money, while I want to make a game to have fun and gain experience. I'm not expecting to make a dime on our first game and am actually hoping we'll be giving it away for free. The entire point of our team is to get people who have never made a game before to get together and start making them.
-
Actually, when I said Programmers, I was speaking about you as well. Honestly,
I have no clue as you how adept you are, and what you are capable of.
Computer science could be business databases. Do you still remember what you
learned considering the lack of use and time passed?
As for making money.. thats not my main motivation. My main motivation is to make
some of the best games ever produced. 'New Classics'. And in doing so, it Would
and should make money. That money would then be used to fund a new way of life,
where making games is a day to day reality... not a part time waste of time.
I dont know about you... but if you popped a piece of gold out of your butt... I dont
think you would just hand it out to everyone for free. Especially considering the
efforts that it took to get it out :P
If you really think you are going to produce substandard Poo... then that is what
you will get. I dont think that way... as I dont waste my time designing and making
Poo.
Im not trying to be insulting... tho Im sure it can be token that way. Im just a
very realistic and critical person. As it may seem that Im very hard on others... Im
just as hard, if not harder on myself and my own works.
-
Everyone thinks they have the next great game idea. The problem is, ideas are a dime a dozen, it's the implementation of them that matters. So Xiau, start learning to code, or donate your idea via Creative Commons or GPL. Otherwise the concept could die with you.
-
Xiaou2, You'll notice I said "first game" should be released free, not every game we ever create from now till the end of time. Our overall goal is to get into the gaming industry as our full time careers (it's even in the mission statement of our team) and the best way to do that is to get noticed and the best way for a small nothing team to get noticed is to get their game into the hands of as many people as possible and the best way to do that is to give it away for free. If the game happens to be fantastic, then it'll go out to much more people.
Odds are our very first game won't be all that great (and may even suck), which is why it's called a learning experience. Anyone who thinks the first game they create is going to become a "new classic" does not have even vaguely realistic expectations. I have no delusions of grandeur (unlike some other people here ;) )
-
Everyone thinks they have the next great game idea. The problem is, ideas are a dime a dozen, it's the implementation of them that matters. So Xiau, start learning to code, or donate your idea via Creative Commons or GPL. Otherwise the concept could die with you.
An Idea may not be worth much... if its a simple idea. However, a Great idea can
be worth Billions.
Plenty of people implementing Crap... which loses millions, or losses millions of
potential.
As for learning to code... my mind doesnt work like that sadly. However, if it did,
I probably wouldnt have as creative and artistic of a mind. Its Very rare that any one person is an expert in two very different fields.
It takes all kinds to make the world go round.... and to make the best of the best... you dont want a person who is So/So doing everything. You want the best Artists doing the Artwork... and the Best programmer doing the programming..ect.
Xiaou2, You'll notice I said "first game" should be released free, not every game we ever create from now till the end of time. Our overall goal is to get into the gaming industry as our full time careers (it's even in the mission statement of our team) and the best way to do that is to get noticed and the best way for a small nothing team to get noticed is to get their game into the hands of as many people as possible and the best way to do that is to give it away for free. If the game happens to be fantastic, then it'll go out to much more people.
I know a guy who made a few partially playable DEMO's, and made a good impact.
However, once his Full game was released, it sold Very well... and is very well known.
In fact, if you look around, new game Demos spread like wildfire around the net.
Good ones always stay out on top, very visible to the public.
Send a full game to a few key reviewers... and that can skyrocket your responses
and team recognizability/sales.
If you were browsing the game sites... and saw a new game that looked really
cool... How would you know if that was their first game or their tenth? Would you
really care? You give a demo a try... and if it Rocks the house... you get the full
version and support the teams efforts.
I Do however think that price should be very affordable. People who overprice
their software are just persuading many to pirate, or not bother with it.
Also, lets say the game is incredible... and no sales are made. Then comes a big
company who snaps the game concepts up, makes slight modifications here and
there... and makes a 5 million on your teams hard works. How pathetic would you look?
A good game is worth paying for... and there is no need to give away all the cookies
to make people realize you have something special. All they need is a little taste.
(Demo)
In addition, giving away something from free only serves to devalue it, and
devalue the team. People would slap their foreheads stupefied if a great game
was not given any money in return. (In fact, there are people who would gladly
Donate to a project in the hopes that it would be competed.)
One team spent years working on a game called Eternal Daughter. Its all over the place, free for anyone to play. Yet, it was Worth paying for. In fact, if the Authors had put a mid-game popup requiring purchase... I would have reached into my wallet happily (so long as it was reasonable). What did it get them? Im sorry, but none of the further future efforts really come close to E.D. Not only that... but because its free,
people will assume its crap. The major sites wont even place it on the top
spots either... because its old news that they feel everyone probably knows about
already. I was actually very lucky to find it myself... and that was years after it
had been out. Being that I was hunting religiously for games... may have been the
only reason I found it.
I also know a good guy who was foolish enough to sell his first game to a
publisher for less than a grand... which was basically free. If he would have
hung in there... he would have had the +$100,000 profit instead of that swindler
getting rich. Maybe he is happy with what he feels was good exposure... but Ill
tell you what... he would have gained that exposure all himself and then some,
as well as pocketing enough cash to fund many more large projects.
Odds are our very first game won't be all that great (and may even suck), which is why it's called a learning experience. Anyone who thinks the first game they create is going to become a "new classic" does not have even vaguely realistic expectations. I have no delusions of grandeur (unlike some other people here Wink )
Ive been designing games all my life actually. And while I know Ive had some bad
ideas in my past.. Ive gotten to a stage in my development where I can tell when
something is going to be very good, should it be carried out to its intended potential.
Experience isnt delusion. Just as the artists who has oil painted fantasy art all their
lives knows he can create a fantastic work. The artists doesnt sit there thinking
"Man, this is probably going to suck". He has a vision, he knows how to achieve it,
he believes in it... and he does it.
Ill close in saying this...
Look at the freeware games given out at something like Remakes.org and
even many other sites. Some of these are top notch. Yet, nothing has become of
them. A copy means little. A crappy effort, shows a team that makes crappy games.
Hows that going to help make any positive impact?
You dont get people riled up over hamburgers. You get then fired up over
a tender mouth watering fillet minion... and even the Smell of it will drive them wild.
-
Ive been designing games all my life actually.
Heh, so have I, but unlike you I don't count it as experience unless the games actually get made.
Feel free to continue crapping gold until you make your fortune, and I'll continue trying to have a good time instead of worrying about money.
Honestly I was hoping you were going to avoid this thread as I've seen your modesty about your game development skills in past threads and frankly anyone with a holier then thou attitude irritates me.
-
Regardless, being one of the programmers myself, I'm not too concerned about all of our programmers being incompetent :P
*waits for joke about how I will probably be the only incompetent programmer on the team*
That feeling will go away real fast after the first refactor and you start dipping into the other programmer's code. Either you'll develop a seething hatred for the incompetency of the other programmer or your competency will grow in leaps and bounds as you witness new coding tricks.
-
And once again Xiau2 launches off the deep end...
AtomSmasher: I hope you don't consider me one of those "holier than thous" you mentioned. But I do have 15 years of game related experience under my belt... ;)
-
Regardless, being one of the programmers myself, I'm not too concerned about all of our programmers being incompetent :P
*waits for joke about how I will probably be the only incompetent programmer on the team*
That feeling will go away real fast after the first refactor and you start dipping into the other programmer's code. Either you'll develop a seething hatred for the incompetency of the other programmer or your competency will grow in leaps and bounds as you witness new coding tricks.
Hehe, very true. Actually I just got a very good sign from the other main programmer, he sent me a document titled "Coding Standards and Best Programming Practices" which covers things like naming conventions and standardizing code across a team. I'm really glad thats one of the first things he's thinking of and I'm equally glad that one of the first things the document says is don't use Hungarian notation :) I've only glanced through the document so far, but it looks pretty similar to the notation I already use, so it won't require much for me to adapt to it.
-
AtomSmasher: I hope you don't consider me one of those "holier than thous" you mentioned. But I do have 15 years of game related experience under my belt... ;)
No, I was strictly refering to Mr.X with that statement.
-
Regardless, being one of the programmers myself, I'm not too concerned about all of our programmers being incompetent :P
*waits for joke about how I will probably be the only incompetent programmer on the team*
That feeling will go away real fast after the first refactor and you start dipping into the other programmer's code. Either you'll develop a seething hatred for the incompetency of the other programmer or your competency will grow in leaps and bounds as you witness new coding tricks.
Hehe, very true. Actually I just got a very good sign from the other main programmer, he sent me a document titled "Coding Standards and Best Programming Practices" which covers things like naming conventions and standardizing code across a team. I'm really glad thats one of the first things he's thinking of and I'm equally glad that one of the first things the document says is don't use Hungarian notation :) I've only glanced through the document so far, but it looks pretty similar to the notation I already use, so it won't require much for me to adapt to it.
Is this it? (http://bluntedge.net/blog/post/Coding-Standards-and-Best-Programming-Practices.aspx) Interesting, Hungarian and CamelBack were one of the first things ever grilled into my head in my early school days. I almost always stick to CamelBack, but Hungarian seems to vary on what environment I'm in.
Never really noticed Hungarian was falling out of favor. I was always noticing that two or more programmers can't ever meet on the same standards. TBH I wouldn't give a flying ---fudgesicle--- if variables and functions were in German with Japanese prefixes and French Sigils as long as it was consistent. ;D
-
I've always wanted to write a street hockey game based on the way we actually used to play as a kid... varying arenas.
The street arena should include the added challenge of having to carry the nets to the sides without getting hit when a car rolls through.
-
Is this it? (http://bluntedge.net/blog/post/Coding-Standards-and-Best-Programming-Practices.aspx) Interesting, Hungarian and CamelBack were one of the first things ever grilled into my head in my early school days. I almost always stick to CamelBack, but Hungarian seems to vary on what environment I'm in.
Never really noticed Hungarian was falling out of favor. I was always noticing that two or more programmers can't ever meet on the same standards. TBH I wouldn't give a flying ---fudgesicle--- if variables and functions were in German with Japanese prefixes and French Sigils as long as it was consistent. ;D
Yup thats the one. The Pascal and CamelBack notations are the ones I was originally taught and the ones I always used. We learned Hungarian briefly in one of my classes, but I never really used it or liked it.
-
A tip from a veteran:
http://games.greggman.com/pages/self_documenting_names.htm
-
Heh, so have I, but unlike you I don't count it as experience unless the games actually get made.
Feel free to continue crapping gold until you make your fortune, and I'll continue trying to have a good time instead of worrying about money.
Honestly I was hoping you were going to avoid this thread as I've seen your modesty about your game development skills in past threads and frankly anyone with a holier then thou attitude irritates me.
Not everyone has a sports car and nice big cozy house, as well as a good
paying career such as would seem via your self absorbed/boasting website. :P
Its a lot easier to have fun when you actually have the money to burn to do so.
Im the typical underdog, with very little going for me, that could end up living in a
cardboard box, unless I can use one of the only talents I have to pull me out in time
before things get really bad. Maybe if I was born with a brain that had good
memory retention, and worked a lot better period... Id have something to at
least fall back on. Sadly, that is not the case, and unless science has some
revolutionary breakthru, Im stuck with "486 inside".
Also... making a game is hard work. Ask Anyone who has made anything
significant. Its one of the reasons why I couldnt get people to stick around on the
MM project. They get all excited about things... then they realize just how much
sweat equity that they have to put in, and its Quitten time.
They also are going to want to do things their way. Which isnt always the
best way. Their way is somewhat more fun to them... any other way is
too much work. I cant tell you how many artists sent me some very horrific
substandard crap that simply wouldnt even match the games look. Or
an animation that looked awkwardly unrealistic. Or ideas for a game that
would have wrecked it completely.
I do have a certain joy in creation, but make no mistake...
Its strenuous hard work.
And finally, I could list here pages worth more experience in Design, Building, and Art..
than you could probably list in 'partially programmed' efforts. Ive spent years
locking myself in my room entire day/night, several days a week, for months at a time, straining my brains for ideas, designing and drawing concept sketches.. and falling
asleep with pencil in hand amongst the many scattered filled pages of material.
Its not to brag. Its simply truth through accumulated efforts.
That of course doesnt even list partially working Demos Ive had made with
others... or the direction of Marble Insanity.. for which I directed and designed
pretty much all the artworks... including doing a bunch of art myself (such as the
actual marble graphic itself). (Much of which isnt on the site itself, which I also
had made..)
Annoying as I may be to you... does not mean that I do not have game designs that
really are revolutionary. I could be modest, and tell you that Im Ok... and that
wouldnt change a thing. The proof is in the pudding. You see the design... and then
you would know for sure.
But as said... Im not going to hand over a design that I fought with for weeks worth
of efforts, coming from years worth of previous efforts... all for nothing. And Im sure
as hell not going to watch my design get stolen by some big company... watch them
ruin it by poor implementation... and watch them get rich and take extended
vacations while I bust my *** just trying to keep my beat up car from dieing all the
while living with relatives cause of instability of funds/jobs... and wondering how the
hell Im gona come up with the $10,000 to fix my worsening (painful, as well as ugly) crooked teeth and jaw that need to be broke and pushed backwards. And thats
just the start of a long list of growing troubles that seems insurmountable, and are
getting very Urgent in my aging life.
Anyways.. as stated.. I dont even know if you are capable.. so Im very far from
begging you to program my game(s).
-
Not everyone has a sports car and nice big cozy house, as well as a good
paying career such as would seem via your self absorbed/boasting website. :P
Its a lot easier to have fun when you actually have the money to burn to do so.
You mean the website that hasn't been updated in 2 years that doesn't show that being in the real estate industry I'm now driving a Saturn Ion and have $20 left in my bank account after paying my mortgage each month without knowing if I'll get enough work to pay my bills next month? Ya, I need to update that site.
Sorry, but this is as far as I read of your giant post, so it's the only paragraph I'll be responding to. I've learned from past experience its not worth my time to continue reading any further then that.
*edit* against better judgement I did skim through the rest of you're post and I'm glad I did because it was hilarious. The self-rightous insanity reminds me of reading the TimeCube webpage. Good times.
-
Sorry, but this is as far as I read of your giant post, so it's the only paragraph I'll be responding to. I've learned from past experience its not worth my time to continue reading any further then that.
Ive found that on any web forum post that if the topic wasnt of intense interest to me and the person did not form the introductory paragraph in a compelling way, that I simply speed read through it (or dont if it is an overly long one). I have nothing against "Mr X" (love that nickname for him, reminds me of Brand X) but it is sometimes difficult to read through his posts... It would be nice if Mr X was more concise, but you have to admit that he atleast uses paragraphs... :dunno
-
But as said... I'm not going to hand over a design that I fought with for weeks worth
of efforts, coming from years worth of previous efforts... all for nothing. And Im sure
as hell not going to watch my design get stolen by some big company... watch them
ruin it by poor implementation... and watch them get rich and take extended
vacations while I bust my ***
Then your game will not get made. Ever. (Unless you teach yourself to program or partner with someone).
It is paranoia to think your idea is so golden and obvious that anyone could or would take it and make a mint. The fact is most established companies are too risk averse to even try ideas from within their own ranks. Independants are more interested in their own ideas, than somebody else's unproven concepts. Take a look for example at Kyle Gabler's experimental games: http://www.experimentalgameplay.com/ (sorry, site doesn't seem to be working right now). Anyways, he releases Tower of Goo something like 2 years ago (for FREE). Everyone raved about it, and then you'd think that there would be a dozen or so clones of the idea, but no. NONE. He then releases "World of Goo" (2 years later), a full fledged independant release, priced at $20 (PC, $15 on Wii). Accolades all around.
All he did was partner with one programmer. He handled the art, game design and music. The programmer coded and was there to "knock heads" with on design ideas or problems.
If your ideas and creativity really is on par with Kyle Gabler's, then just do it. You will be too brilliant to rip off. On the other hand, if your idea is so simple that it can easily be ripped off, then... that says a lot about the idea. But even then, there are ways to protect yourself; Contracts and Non-Disclosure Agreements for example.
Here, do some reading: www.indiegamer.com
-
I've read of a similar thing in writing, where a person will hoard their idea for a story, or maybe (conversely and perhaps perversely) try to hawk it to a published author. It's generally not the idea but how it's done.
-
Ray,
What I meant was that I will not give my designs over without an NDA being
signed firsthand.
I have paired myself with programmers before... yet sadly, this hasnt worked out
well due to the programmers lacking in abilities... as well as conflicts in design goals.
(IE: Programmer wants ideas really badly... then decides that his ideas should be
installed instead)
As for brilliance being ripper off... While it may have worked out for some... its not
always the case for others. New gameplay methods are only New until released
in the wild. Then they become fair game for others to copycat.
If you have a good team behind you, and can get work done well before anyone can
attempt a copycat.. then your golden. However, if you release the info too soon,
and others with complete and well funded teams take note... You may have just
wasted a lot of time and efforts.
Anyways... Im taking a break for a bit. Gathering the strength needed to take the
plunge back into design mode again... and finish this one up.
When its completed.. which shouldnt be too long.. Ill consider my options a bit more
aggressively than in my past.
Btw - You have some nice artworks on your pages.
-
...."just trying to keep my beat up car from dieing all the
while living with relatives cause of instability of funds/jobs... and wondering how the
hell Im gona come up with the $10,000 to fix my worsening (painful, as well as ugly) crooked teeth and jaw that need to be broke and pushed backwards. And thats
just the start of a long list of growing troubles that seems insurmountable, and are
getting very Urgent in my aging life..."
If life is getting this tough for you maybe it's time to get a new career? One with benefits to get your teeth fixed. Taco Bell is always hiring.
-
If I had the brains, I probably would have had a career.
Taco bell. Yeah, umm... sure buddy. Are you like 8?! Fast food work isnt a career. Its a part time first job... or a last resort before walking the streets with an empty cup.
Even some of the best jobs Ive had...didnt carry dental. The ones
that did... didnt pay for crap, and didnt pay for such things unless you were
a kid that was under 12. They consider such things "cosmetic" unless maybe its life threatening. Probably wouldnt even consider the TMJ forming, unless its already at a state of extremity.
Im not crying. Life is tough, and there are a lot of people out there in worse
positions than me. I simply wont give my hard work away for free..
especially when I REALLY need it to pull through. And really, I do deserve to
succeed for all the hours Ive put in over my lifetime.
-
I had a dream a few nights ago about a Wii game that doesnt exist (I was playing it on a Wii in the dream, even though I have never played one, odd) and thought it would be a good idea of a dual trackball (or trackball and joystick) cab.
Basically, the "playfield" was a 3-d "ball of string" or similar. You controlled an orb/ball that could move along the string, and when two parts of the string were close enough and you had a special power up, you could jump to the other part of the ball of string. The objective would be to catch up with these little sparkles that moved along the string (that could also do the "jump" depending on what the AI told them to do). Once you caught up with one, you would press and hold the button and proceed to "fish it off the string" and catch it (this aspect of the game would be similar in controls to a fishing game, where you had to constantly "fight" with it).
The controls would be simple. Left trackball to move your ball, right trackball/joy to rotate the 3-d ball of string and a button that did dual duty as the jump and pull/fish button. Simple little game that would be easy to code and could be addictive.
-
.... You controlled an orb/ball that could move along the string, and when two parts of the string were close enough and you had a special power up, you could jump to the other part of the ball of string. The objective would be to catch up with these little sparkles that moved along the string (that could also do the "jump" depending on what the AI told them to do). Once you caught up with one, you would press and hold the button and proceed to "fish it off the string" and catch it (this aspect of the game would be similar in controls to a fishing game, where you had to constantly "fight" with it).
It's almost like some of the tracks in Kirby's Air Ride. At some points in the game, the track will switch (or have alternate routes) to rails that "lock" the racer onto a particular course. When the rails travel parallel and are close enough to each other, the racer can jump to different tracks.
I think you've got an interesting idea. It would be something I would give a try if the illusion of speed was kept up. I would think it would be pretty boring if the game just plodded along as you traveled around looking for sparkles.
-
I thought everyone might like an update about what happened and whats going on, especially since I have some exciting news (more on that later).
The team I initially joined with to make a game started off pretty good and we had a great group of people with only one exception...the leader. He was dragging his feet at every chance possible, talked in a demeaning way to people for no reason, and shortly after he missed the first meeting without giving a single excuse, everyone who was at the first meeting quit and formed a new team.
Our new team quickly decided on the type and setting of game we were going to make and let our designer figure out the details. After a couple weeks he had a nearly completed design doc, and the rest of us then got started creating the game. We've currently made good progress on the game engine, have a couple music tracks finished, and a fair amount of concept art completed. Things are going well.
That brings us to last week where I got an unexpected phone call from a local game company who want to hire me. You see a few months ago I had applied at their company and completed a programming test, but they were between projects at the time and not hiring. They said they would keep my resume and test results on file and contact me when they were hiring again, so I figured I'd never hear from them again (I think we've all heard the "We'll keep your resume on file" line before). Well, I was wrong and last week they let me know that they just signed two new game contracts and are hiring again.
I just got confirmation from the company (www.wayforward.com) that I'll be starting work as a Junior Programmer this coming Monday. :cheers:
The bad news is that I'll be making less money then I am now and will have to work a second job on the weekends (which will actually be my current job with a reduced workload), but I figure this is something I've always wanted to do, so a little hard work to get my foot in the door should be worth it. This also means I'll have little time to work on my other game project since I'll have little free time, but I've let them know I'll still do what I can. Since the mail goal of our team was to gain experience to be able to get a job in the game industry, they all seem to understand and are wishing me luck.
Now I can't wait to see what the first professional game I'm going to help create is going to be. Let's just hope it's not Barbie Princess Adventures ;D
-
Yesterday was my first day at the video game company and it was pretty surreal to have virtually every conversation within earshot to be about video games, star wars, battlestar galactica, etc. So far it looks like it'll be a great company to work for and should be a pretty awesome job ;D
-
Congratulations. Your job, which now pays less, will not be to "make a game" but to code some little "cog" in the game-making machine, like for example, maybe your job will be coding up the functions that handle loading graphics. Wheeee!!!
Let me know when the disillusionment settles in.
;D
-
Heh, ya I know I'll be working on smaller stuff, but we'll be using engines that are already competed, so I'll mostly be doing gameplay and graphical stuff. For example I might do something (this is an exact example they showed me of something I'll likely be doing) like getting a fire effect to play right and do damage correctly (it's all hand drawn 2D animations, so it's just a matter of manipulating the animations and variables).
Anyways, they have done a large number of forgettable titles, but have also done a few really good ones (like Contra 4). Now that I've seen the games they're currently working on, they have a couple new ones that look really good as well. They're also starting to take advantage of the downloadable games and making their own original IP, such as LIT (and another one coming up I'm not sure I can talk about), which all look pretty cool. Of course they also have one I'm not real excited about.
Regardless, it's all very cool :) Its always nice to have an office job where I can work whenever I want, as long as I put in 8 hours a day, can wear whatever I want, and can relax playing ping pong, foosball, or playing video games in the lounge ;D
-
Congratulations. Your job, which now pays less, will not be to "make a game" but to code some little "cog" in the game-making machine, like for example, maybe your job will be coding up the functions that handle loading graphics. Wheeee!!!
Let me know when the disillusionment settles in.
;D
Well I got my actual assignment today and was switched off of the initial project I thought I would be on (it's still in the design stage, which is too early in development to need programmers), and I've been handed a big load of responsibility. Looks like I'll be solely responsible for 2 minigames in an upcoming 3D Wii game (I know what your thinking, a minigame collection is exactly what the Wii needs right now). Okay, so technically I'll only be making 1 and a half since the first one is already half done, but I get to use the half finished one to learn the engine and how everything works. The programmer I'm taking over for is leading up a new game they're starting, so he's also walking me through what he's done so far.
This is far more responsiblity then I expected, but it's also far cooler then I expected ;D
Good times.
-
Looks like my beloved (IE picked on) AtomSmasher is looking at a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- wagon that not only carries ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- but is also MADE of it...
Atomsmasher; please ask for payment daily, and in cash. I do hope the best for you, but I have this niggling little feeling that you just got ---fouled up beyond all recognition--- in the long term. Best of luck.
-
Looks like my beloved (IE picked on) AtomSmasher is looking at a ---Cleveland steamer--- wagon that not only carries ---Cleveland steamer--- but is also MADE of it...
Atomsmasher; please ask for payment daily, and in cash. I do hope the best for you, but I have this niggling little feeling that you just got ---fouled up beyond all recognition--- in the long term. Best of luck.
Heh, why do you think that? This company has been around for over 15 years and had some actual hits over the years. (Contra 4 is the highest rated DS game made by an independent developer). I also overheard that we currently have so many projects going that we had to turn down a Batman DS game because we wouldn't be able to devote the resources to get it finished on time. Tommorrow our company is being interviewed for the Nintendo Channel on the Wii.
Theres one upcoming game that I really want to talk about because it looks awesome, but a search online looks like theres only been speculation that this game is in development, so I'm probably not allowed to say anything about it. Let's just say I have no worries about this companies immediate future....and if for some crazy reason it didnt work out, then I can easily go back to my old job.
Also, I said that I'd be working two jobs, but I didn't mention that the other job will only take about 4 hours a week in order for me to be making more then enough to get by. My old job (real estate appraiser) pays really well, but business has been so slow for so long and with upcoming legislation killing the last of our business (although lawsuits have already began to overturn this legislation), it was a good time to jump ship to another profession. I just figured out how much I made last year and it looks like I'll be making slightly more as the low paid programmer then I did last year, so the extra work I'll be doing will mainly be so that I can start paying off my credit cards instead of watching them continue to rise.
-
Despite what I said, congratulations. :cheers:
-
Despite what I said, congratulations. :cheers:
Heh, no worries. And thanks ;D
Today I got to show off what I've got working so far and then shared a few ideas on ways to make the minigame I'm working on more fun (and more of a challenge), and they liked my ideas, so now I'm working on the improvements I came up with 8)
Tommorrow should be a bizarre day, the Nintendo TV crew is going to be here all day and they're bringing a fog machine.
-
Update on Pony Trot Trot Step Adventure?
I'll pitch it at the next meeting ;D
-
Update on Pony Trot Trot Step Adventure?
I'll pitch it at the next meeting ;D
At least you'll get a PA pitch.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/1/9/
I'd rather play this one though.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/5/26/