Well if it's a platformer how limited will the moveset be and would they have items? From there people should submit character art that everyone could put a vote to. After that a story could be made revolving around the character.
Minigames are a possibility, but not in the sense that everyone makes one and we put them all together. I also agree with aphant. The idea is to have a high-quality project with people in place to make decisions, assign/manage tasks, and keep it on track. Everyone contributing in their own way is great. And in fact, separating it a bit in a smaller way like having those customizable characters or maybe multiple characters is definitely possible. But on the whole it will be one project.
Originally Posted by nim I think the community project has a chance now. OMC is organised enough to pull it off. If it doesn't work this time...
I appreciate that! However I wasn't going into this expecting to be in control. Who knows, I might help direct in some manner (or even centrally, depending on how gung ho people aren't ), but I think it would be great if a dedicated and skilled non-admin member headed up the project. I'd be thrilled to administrate until the plan and team is in place, and then take a contributing role! Also looking at some things coming up that might keep me from directing a big project. Dunno yet though, so whatever is needed of me.
Got some good results so far! Top genres are RPG, Platformer, and Adventure. The lowest count in skills is 6 for online coding. An interesting thing came up in the comments section at the end of the survey. Someone thinks we should make a game with a funny storyline. Can't say I'm opposed.
I think a good start would be to make something simple, but not small. Maybe a platformer with multiple levels. If you have a group, one person could do the engine one person could sketch level design, one person could link the level design to the story, and so on. You could even get people doing luxury things for the game, like coding a tutorial or deathmatch feature. If you're making a RPG, you could have someone test out whether the game is balanced. And certainly have one team member dedicated to just game design.
Just don't work on anything fancy, like 2.5D platformers or RPGs with full modding. Get it out as simple as possible.
I'm a little opposed to the mini-game idea because you don't actually create a "game". The result would be worth less than the sum of its parts, and you won't learn as much from the experience.
But it would be interesting if you had one group agreeing to make a collection of mini-games and another group working together towards a big project. Then we could see which is a better idea
Disclaimer: Any sarcasm in my posts will not be mentioned as that would ruin the purpose. It is assumed that the reader is intelligent enough to tell the difference between what is sarcasm and what is not.
Unless someone already has an online engine made that's being way too ambitious. Based on the past completition record of these type of group projects you want the odds in your favor. Any online multiplayer idea just isn't realistic. That's something you think about after you have a game worth making online.
I voted RPg, Adventure, and Platformer (I don't think a fourth one).
I think the best idea would be to make this a browser game (specifically flash) so it can be easily playable by people who aren't in the "Indie Community" and could also be palyed by other operating system users (Mac?).
I'd work on anything if it was browser based, and anything even if it was. But don't expect me to be fully involved in this, I chose "Somewhat involved. I'll offer my skills when I can." in the participation section of the survey. I'll be involved when I have time, but since my schedule is tight this summer I can't devote my entire time.
Originally Posted by Yami Unless someone already has an online engine made that's being way too ambitious. Based on the past completition record of these type of group projects you want the odds in your favor. Any online multiplayer idea just isn't realistic. That's something you think about after you have a game worth making online.
It depends, really. Anyone good at coding online stuff could do it without too much effort.. after all the only game submitted last time was an online one. But if you don't know how to do it yet, it's just too much work. Online games aren't simply "I'll code the engine THEN I'll do the multiplayer".
Disclaimer: Any sarcasm in my posts will not be mentioned as that would ruin the purpose. It is assumed that the reader is intelligent enough to tell the difference between what is sarcasm and what is not.
I think the main point behind my mini-game suggestion was basically to prep us in case of failure. As Jon Lambert mentioned, it may not be the best strategy, but it's always a huge disappointment to TDC (and clickers in general) when a project doesn't get to completion, or even to a point where we could release it as abandon-ware.
We don't have to go with the mini-games, but I thought it would be the easiest way to convert a game that falls apart half-way through into some type of final release.
I don't know that an online multiplayer game is the best option (that's up to the team), but Muz is right. It's not being way too ambitious, especially when there are people whose job is to code the online portion.
I've closed the survey. We got a good 60 entries. Here are the results:
Would you be interested in contributing to an official community project at The Daily Click?
Yes - 31
No - 2
Depends - 25
That means we probably have the amount of skill necessary.
We're trying to figure out what type of game the project should be. Please check the genres you would be interested in contributing toward.
Platformer - 41 (69.5%)
Adventure - 37 (62.7%)
RPG - 34 (57.5%)
Sidescrolling Shooter - 29 (49.2%)
Overhead Shooter - 20 (33.9%)
Shmup - 15 (25.4%)
Puzzle - 14 (23.7%)
Racing - 11 (18.6%)
Then 3 entries for Beatemup, a couple of mentions for rogue-like, and combinations of several genres.
Do you think the project should be online? E.g., an MMO of sorts, a racer, shooter, etc.
Yes - 11
No - 17
Maybe - 32
Should the game be flash, java, or vitalize or downloadable?
Either - 21
Embeddable - 10
Downloadable - 28
Please check the skills you would be willing to contribute with.
Graphics - Sprites - 25 (42.4%)
Graphics - Interface, UI, Logos, Larger art - 18 (30.5%)
Graphics - Conceptual, Design, and/or "promotional" art - 19 (32.2%)
Coding - General - 23 (39.0%)
Coding - Online - 9 (15.3%)
Sound - Music - 10 (16.9%)
Sound - Sound effects - 7 (11.9%)
Design - Ideas and/or prototyping - 40 (67.8%) (Surprised this wasn't 100%)
Coordination/Directing - 15 (25.4%)
Bug Testing - 36 (61.0%)
Also two writers, and a cutscene animator.
Most everyone seems confident they can stick to the project. 9 considered a central role (Which is odd, since 15 wanted to direct), 33 would like to be somewhat involved, 15 when they can, and 2 are banned from being in the project.
I was going to post a nice graph to prevent information overload, but they told me I had to pay for that, so phoo on them. So now that we have an idea of where the project might go. Looks like the most popular option is a downloadable platformer that's not online (just generalizing here), and all of the listed skills should be able to be filled.
Next step is selecting the leader(s) of the project and compiling ideas. Once the game concept gets to a certain point, however, the decisions will be up to the people in charge. Otherwise it will fall apart. That doesn't mean no sharing of ideas, it just means once it's final, it's final.
Since there are a lot of people interested, it may be best to take the discussion to a project page forum. Still waiting to see if we can use Jon Lambert's, so until then, feel free to discuss here!
I'd also like to know who all might be interested in leading the project. You can post here or PM me, but I think in the end the decision should be voted upon.
EDIT: Sephirenn, your suggestion was a good one. All input is valued. Right now it's just a matter of deciding what will and won't work.
I guess people just don't like beat-em-ups any more.
Oh, well. Another gonra I've always thought was very under-represented was the Platformer/Adventure. Ax Battler for the Game Gear. For those of you who might not be familiar it's where you have a JRPG type overworld and towns but when you go into a dungeon or a random encounter it's a platformer. So it would have some Adventure elements like being able to talk to people, having a small inventory and such but wouldn't be a full blown RPG.
Also, having a good method of communication for the group in essential. I think we should have both a forum and a chat system. So we can talk in real time when we can but can also be able to leave messages when necessary. Some people live in completely different time zones after all.
"Oh, my god! A lightning monster just ripped out this poor woman's eyes, and your mocking her shrubbery!" - The Spoony One
I'll recommend that we use Skype along with a forum. Its group chat feature is nice. Though I suppose MSN or AIM could work too. But everyone should be on the same one.
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Edited by OMC
