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Message
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Jon Lambert Administrator
Vaporware Master
Registered 19/12/2004
Points 8235
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31st January, 2009 at 17:15:52 -
Over the life of this site, I imagine that it has been suggested many times that a bunch of people get together and make a game, a large game. A TDC project of sorts. Every time this is suggested as of late, the idea is shot down immediately as an instant failure, as something that would never work. Lack of communication, clashes of ideas or clashes of minds, some would do more work than others, the list goes on. Now it seems to me that this shouldn't be completely impossible. In fact, it seems to me that this should be very doable. Remember that there are huge companies making games all the time with many different people. They're bound to clash at times, but they get it done. You may be saying, "They're a company, which means they're all in the same room together." Yes, that may (or may not) be true, but that doesn't make it impossible to do without seeing each other. Many other forums are doing this right now.
http://mfgg.taloncrossing.com/index.php?showforum=59
http://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?showforum=44
Both Mario Fan Games Galaxy and Sonic Retro are working on community projects, with Sonic Retro working on three at once! Here comes your second point, "They have every idea what they're doing. Those are fangames, so there's not really much place to conflict on what to do." That would be partially untrue. Sure, making fangames is easier to consensus on because they have formulas to follow, but there are still the facts that they can't meet each other and have to communicate entirely by internet, and there are still creative decisions to make.
What we would need to do here to successfully make a community project seems obvious to me:
1. Create a forum section for this community project in the main forums, or create a project page.
2. Designate a leader, someone who can keep the project organized and keep everyone on track.
3. Begin to make a series of community-driven decisions about the project, including genre, story, graphic style, etc.
4. Audition members of the community to join the staff in areas like engine programming, story, graphics, and music.
5. Make threads for these special areas, including a general thread for the project as a whole.
People would collaborate, pick the best in the community to make decisions and create material for the game. Everyone in the community would be allowed to comment on posts of material for maximum input and criticism. Those that abuse others about their material or whatnot can be warned and perhaps locked only out of the project forum, as opposed to all the forums. With this project, everyone would be allowed to submit material, as it is likely that no one person is going to want to do the whole of their area by themselves. We can use completely original properties or original properties of the members here. NO FANGAMING. This way, it can forgo traditional complaints and critique associated with fangames, all ideas will have the possibility of application, and it could potentially be sold or otherwise attract attention to the site. Also, having everyone working on different things could allow those that don't use click products to feel they have a reason to be here, and thus entice new users.
There will be a certain order that things will have to be done in, in order to minimize the amount of decisions that clash. The project will begin with a discussion of what genre of game to develop, RPG, Puzzle, Fighting, Action, etc. Then will come discussion of the format, whether it is platforming, top-down, isometric, or whatever. After these critical decisions are made, the general tone of the game and features will be developed. The engine will be developed and people will be able to make decisions about programming. The story, graphics, music, and areas/challenges/levels will be decided upon and created. Throughout the entire process, everyone will be able to comment on development of the game and give ideas. Assuming we all don't kill each other or give up, this should actually work...
Any complaints about my idea? I'll see if I can't work around any potential problems. Comments, questions, concerns, anything you want to say about this?
Sandwich Time!Whoo!
JoyCheck & KeyCheck Widgets
For easy implementation of customizable joystick and keyboard controls.
http://www.create-games.com/download.asp?id=8364
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Jon C-B I create vaporware
Registered 23/04/2008
Points 237
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31st January, 2009 at 18:10:01 -
I think your idea sounds pretty good Jon! I think it would be awesome to have a community game, even if I didn't contribute.
n/a
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Cecilectomy noPE
Registered 19/03/2005
Points 305
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31st January, 2009 at 18:21:53 -
n/a
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aphant
Registered 18/05/2008
Points 1242
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31st January, 2009 at 19:42:26 -
Not going to happen, don't waste your time, it's impossible to do, etc, etc...
EDIT: What seemed obvious to you seemed obvious to me, when I suggested doing something like this. Only my draft plans had more emphasis on using the new DC chat (or IRC in general), or MSN/AIM conference conversations.
Edited by aphant
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W3R3W00F Drum and Bass Fueled Psycho
Registered 08/11/2008
Points 374
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31st January, 2009 at 23:40:18 -
"Not going to happen, don't waste your time, it's impossible to do, etc, etc... "
If we never even try again, then you would have proved a point. We MIGHT not do it, we MIGHT get lazy, we MIGHT start arguing, we MIGHT run into a nasty bug or 2- or 3- or alot more... But we CAN do it. Keep your head up, dude. We can't do it unless we take to some co-operative collaboration. Jon is right. We should do it, and the last thing we need is for someone (hint hint) to drag it all down.
We should do it.
An old and washed up once-kid
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tetsuya_shino
Registered 12/08/2004
Points 491
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1st February, 2009 at 07:03:49 -
Honestly, I think the best way to go about something like this is edit a game that is already finished, and have like a TDC mod/version. That way you're really only have to worry about inputting all the different artwork.. and maybe doing a little recoding if some characters are bigger or smaller then the ones found in the oringal game... hmm
n/a
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aphant
Registered 18/05/2008
Points 1242
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1st February, 2009 at 07:15:15 -
Originally Posted by ωξяξW○○F"Not going to happen, don't waste your time, it's impossible to do, etc, etc... "
If we never even try again, then you would have proved a point. We MIGHT not do it, we MIGHT get lazy, we MIGHT start arguing, we MIGHT run into a nasty bug or 2- or 3- or alot more... But we CAN do it. Keep your head up, dude. We can't do it unless we take to some co-operative collaboration. Jon is right. We should do it, and the last thing we need is for someone (hint hint) to drag it all down.
We should do it.
Where was such spirit when I tried to get something like this going a week ago?
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OMC What a goofball
Registered 21/05/2007
Points 3516
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1st February, 2009 at 15:29:05 -
Originally Posted by Adam Phant
Originally Posted by ωξяξW○○F"Not going to happen, don't waste your time, it's impossible to do, etc, etc... "
If we never even try again, then you would have proved a point. We MIGHT not do it, we MIGHT get lazy, we MIGHT start arguing, we MIGHT run into a nasty bug or 2- or 3- or alot more... But we CAN do it. Keep your head up, dude. We can't do it unless we take to some co-operative collaboration. Jon is right. We should do it, and the last thing we need is for someone (hint hint) to drag it all down.
We should do it.
Where was such spirit when I tried to get something like this going a week ago?
Don't take it personal. That happens a lot around here. Things don't get noticed, and then in a bit when someone has the same idea, it gets noticed then. Dunno why it is, but it is.
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Knudde (Shab) Administrator
Crazy?
Registered 31/01/2003
Points 5125
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1st February, 2009 at 18:58:06 -
Originally Posted by tetsuya_shino Honestly, I think the best way to go about something like this is edit a game that is already finished, and have like a TDC mod/version. That way you're really only have to worry about inputting all the different artwork.. and maybe doing a little recoding if some characters are bigger or smaller then the ones found in the oringal game... hmm
I call TDC playerworlds server.
Craps, I'm an old man!
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Jon Lambert Administrator
Vaporware Master
Registered 19/12/2004
Points 8235
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1st February, 2009 at 22:07:19 -
Does anyone else have any input about this project? Yes, it would be easier to mod an existing game, but that doesn't really allow for the greatest of customization or uniqueness, and it wouldn't really promote the site or MMF2 as much as it would to make a new game from scratch. That would undoubtedly be more difficult, but more exciting as the project grew, and more rewarding if and when it was finished. Anyone out there want to give a good point to defeat this idea, because when you do, I'll try my hardest to make that point moot. Someday I do hope to start a project page for this.
Adam Phant, I do remember when you tried to start a similar project. In fact, I was the second person to post, and first to say yes. Your idea of MSN chat doesn't work if people don't have an MSN account, and you can't expect everyone to make one just for this. The IRC chat might work if we made our own room, but only 1-1 private chat is allowed. Using a project page would allow everyone to post in the public forums and private chat in the private members-only forums, which should be easy and good enough.
Anyone else want to be positive or negative about this? In Adam's thread about this now two weeks ago, he quoted Muz in saying:
Originally Posted by MuzLol, you can't ever put a massive clickers together to make a big game. If they ever stop fighting and choose a leader, that leader is in a rut on how to control an untrained, unprofessional group, that works only in their spare time. And the more people you have on the project, the more people will disagree with any direction it's going.
In other words, there will never be a Daily Click game. Prove me wrong
In this case, I think that I ought to be leader at least at the start, since I would have been the one to start the project anyway, and I know what I'm going to do. If I ever fail you all as leader, I will just step down and work as a staff member or spectate. Just because we are untrained and unprofessional doesn't mean we can't work together. Arguments don't have to happen and when they do, moderators or the leader could come in and sort it out. It isn't as hard as it seems. Look at the Sonic 2 HD project on Sonic Retro. They have many people working together and argue quite a bit (or at least they did, before they worked it out.) The disagreement about the way it's going shouldn't happen because my idea was that we all come to a consensus first on what to do, where everyone either likes the idea or doesn't mind the idea. Then whoever wants to complain is being irrelevant because we all agreed already.
I'm thinking that I will start this project sometime this week, and I don't plan on letting it die anytime soon. I just need a little more support to get motivated to start it.
Sandwich Time!Whoo!
JoyCheck & KeyCheck Widgets
For easy implementation of customizable joystick and keyboard controls.
http://www.create-games.com/download.asp?id=8364
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aphant
Registered 18/05/2008
Points 1242
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2nd February, 2009 at 00:44:19 -
Originally Posted by Jon Lambert Your idea of MSN chat doesn't work if people don't have an MSN account, and you can't expect everyone to make one just for this. The IRC chat might work if we made our own room, but only 1-1 private chat is allowed. Using a project page would allow everyone to post in the public forums and private chat in the private members-only forums, which should be easy and good enough.
An IRC channel can easily be setup to be both private and secure. However, IRC also has the nasty drawback of being subject to timezones, while forums do not.
I'd be willing to help on such a project, though.
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tetsuya_shino
Registered 12/08/2004
Points 491
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3rd February, 2009 at 13:20:42 -
Well, I guess the first step is for everyone to agree just what kind of game it would be right?
n/a
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Sketchy Cornwall UK
Registered 06/11/2004
Points 1971
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3rd February, 2009 at 16:38:30 -
If you're gonna do it, do it!
Don't just talk about it for a while and then forget about, like the rest of the people who start these threads do.
Start yourself a new Project page, and a "Registry of Interest" forum thread for people actually willing to help, to come forward and state their preferred genre and nothing else yet - none of this discussion on whether or not the project is doomed, etc. If people aren't going to help, they can just keep quiet - the problems have been discussed many times alreday.
Edited by Sketchy
n/a
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Jon Lambert Administrator
Vaporware Master
Registered 19/12/2004
Points 8235
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3rd February, 2009 at 21:32:03 -
All right then Sketchy, I will. Oh, wait, I just did.
http://www.create-games.com/project.asp?id=1458
All right, everyone! Here we go! Let's get this project on the road!
Sandwich Time!Whoo!
JoyCheck & KeyCheck Widgets
For easy implementation of customizable joystick and keyboard controls.
http://www.create-games.com/download.asp?id=8364
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Gamemaker2010
Registered 22/10/2008
Points 31
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4th February, 2009 at 02:53:17 -
sounds awesome. I am not very good with mmf2 but if you need a tester or something low skilled give me a shoutout i would love to be a part of this.
Whats a goon to a GOBLIN?
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