It's been a while (some images)
by Robert Janes · 10/28/2007 (4:17 pm) · 8 comments
It's been forever since i've posted a Blog on GarageGames, but checking the blogs and gallery has always seemed to fit into my daily routine; along with checking GameDev.net and JoeIndie.com
So, where do I start? I purchased Torque many moons ago; a young grasshopper I was, to development anyways. To this day I still toy with it but never to pursue an actual project - though I really do enjoy the TorqueMMOKit and I'm guilty of buying several content packs - just because they look so damn good!
I recently started a new job as a Senior IT Technician with a local company called Dovico (www.dovico.com). We create Time Management software, it's actually quite useful for game development and cheap as well! I use it on my own project (which i'll divulge further in this blog), and for the most part my daily tasks have absolutely nothing to do with my title. I've spent the last several weeks creating reports using Crystal Reports 9 and building a CRM Frontend in C#. Wee.
Over the years i've had a million and one ideas for a game; some good, some bad. I admit, most bad. Like most people who had no idea on the actual steps for developing a game, I had created a lot of half-assed projects that never saw the light of day - or saw the light of day only to be tossed aside as I conceived another "brilliant" idea. *Snicker*
Being a long time fan of David Michael's games; Artifact and Paintball NET, when he decided to release "The Indie Game Development Survival Guide" book I decided to do what I did best, nothing. You thought I was going to say I bought the book, didn't you? Maybe this paragraph is just a great way to do some cheap advertising for David.
I kid. I bought his book and couldn't put it down, which became really bad when I was trying to drive. I learned alot from this book; about creating a game from start to finish. Mind you, I really didn't start following his advice until a few more "failed" projects.
It was about a year ago when I decided to get, "serious". Maybe it was because I'd really like to have a finished title and something to be credited for, or maybe it was because I met Shauna - the woman who decided to give this nerd a chance at a relationship, which conveniently worked out for me, because she was a professional graphic artist and I got free artwork. (Score, both figuratively and litterally)
We sat down and decided to really wanted to make a game. We weighed our options; we could aim high and try and make the next World of Warcraft; or aim...realistically and do something physically doable, affordable, and find our own niche in the gaming world. We were both major fans of Online Games, so we figured we'd attempt one of these, which again worked out great because I had some great Client/Server code from a previously..unfinished project. I guess it wasn't a complete failure.
We decided to go with something two dimension, mostly because it was the least time consuming (boy, did we misjudge - a year later and we're still prototyping). We wrote down the features of our favorite games and decided upon what we wanted to base our game on. Next we looked at graphics, how were we going to design the graphics, what style etc. The planning itself went on for months.
We started actual development at a rapid pace, spending countless hours doing graphics, programming, scripting, you name it. Mind you, lately with both of us working full time jobs, development has really slowed down. We put in 15-20 hours a week in on the project.
Our final goal is to have something mid 2008, hopefully. We aren't looking for a "get rich quick scheme", more to build a nice online community, make some extra income and really acquire a decent fan base for any future games. Oh yes, there will be more!
We'll be showing a prototype or small demo at the Toronto Independent Game Conference in January of 08.
Well, that's all for now, I guess i'll start posting more often!
Here's a few sample screenshots from a while back.
So, where do I start? I purchased Torque many moons ago; a young grasshopper I was, to development anyways. To this day I still toy with it but never to pursue an actual project - though I really do enjoy the TorqueMMOKit and I'm guilty of buying several content packs - just because they look so damn good!
I recently started a new job as a Senior IT Technician with a local company called Dovico (www.dovico.com). We create Time Management software, it's actually quite useful for game development and cheap as well! I use it on my own project (which i'll divulge further in this blog), and for the most part my daily tasks have absolutely nothing to do with my title. I've spent the last several weeks creating reports using Crystal Reports 9 and building a CRM Frontend in C#. Wee.
Over the years i've had a million and one ideas for a game; some good, some bad. I admit, most bad. Like most people who had no idea on the actual steps for developing a game, I had created a lot of half-assed projects that never saw the light of day - or saw the light of day only to be tossed aside as I conceived another "brilliant" idea. *Snicker*
Being a long time fan of David Michael's games; Artifact and Paintball NET, when he decided to release "The Indie Game Development Survival Guide" book I decided to do what I did best, nothing. You thought I was going to say I bought the book, didn't you? Maybe this paragraph is just a great way to do some cheap advertising for David.
I kid. I bought his book and couldn't put it down, which became really bad when I was trying to drive. I learned alot from this book; about creating a game from start to finish. Mind you, I really didn't start following his advice until a few more "failed" projects.
It was about a year ago when I decided to get, "serious". Maybe it was because I'd really like to have a finished title and something to be credited for, or maybe it was because I met Shauna - the woman who decided to give this nerd a chance at a relationship, which conveniently worked out for me, because she was a professional graphic artist and I got free artwork. (Score, both figuratively and litterally)
We sat down and decided to really wanted to make a game. We weighed our options; we could aim high and try and make the next World of Warcraft; or aim...realistically and do something physically doable, affordable, and find our own niche in the gaming world. We were both major fans of Online Games, so we figured we'd attempt one of these, which again worked out great because I had some great Client/Server code from a previously..unfinished project. I guess it wasn't a complete failure.
We decided to go with something two dimension, mostly because it was the least time consuming (boy, did we misjudge - a year later and we're still prototyping). We wrote down the features of our favorite games and decided upon what we wanted to base our game on. Next we looked at graphics, how were we going to design the graphics, what style etc. The planning itself went on for months.
We started actual development at a rapid pace, spending countless hours doing graphics, programming, scripting, you name it. Mind you, lately with both of us working full time jobs, development has really slowed down. We put in 15-20 hours a week in on the project.
Our final goal is to have something mid 2008, hopefully. We aren't looking for a "get rich quick scheme", more to build a nice online community, make some extra income and really acquire a decent fan base for any future games. Oh yes, there will be more!
We'll be showing a prototype or small demo at the Toronto Independent Game Conference in January of 08.
Well, that's all for now, I guess i'll start posting more often!
Here's a few sample screenshots from a while back.
About the author
#2
Most of my projects in the past were because I was aiming way to high and had very very high standards.
If we focus on games or applications that are within our reach we would see a lot more games out there on the market.
So instead of trying to make the next big hit 3D online game. We thought, why not just do something we know we can complete? There is always a market or an audience out there, we are just targetting one a little smaller. There are still plenty of people in the world who enjoy the retro style 2D games, so we aren't worried about not attracting an audience.
I'm doing some small studies now on what kind of 2D Online Games are out there, where they've gone wrong and where they're succeeding so we can build on that.
I'm not too familiar with the marketing or publishing side of the business though, my idea is to release the game under our own small business and spent a bit each month on advertising. Though i'd love to see a boxed version; because of our choice of game it may never happen, but i'd love to learn more about successful marketing a game, so feel free to leave some sites or comments on doing this.
10/28/2007 (5:54 pm)
Indeed, Most of my projects in the past were because I was aiming way to high and had very very high standards.
If we focus on games or applications that are within our reach we would see a lot more games out there on the market.
So instead of trying to make the next big hit 3D online game. We thought, why not just do something we know we can complete? There is always a market or an audience out there, we are just targetting one a little smaller. There are still plenty of people in the world who enjoy the retro style 2D games, so we aren't worried about not attracting an audience.
I'm doing some small studies now on what kind of 2D Online Games are out there, where they've gone wrong and where they're succeeding so we can build on that.
I'm not too familiar with the marketing or publishing side of the business though, my idea is to release the game under our own small business and spent a bit each month on advertising. Though i'd love to see a boxed version; because of our choice of game it may never happen, but i'd love to learn more about successful marketing a game, so feel free to leave some sites or comments on doing this.
#3
10/28/2007 (6:36 pm)
I don't know too much about marketing either. I know you might be able to get some digital distribution off of Valve's Steam. Vigil: Blood Bitterness got on and I hear Valve is trying to get as many indie acts as they can. Of course Garage Games may be able to help as well, good luck. 
#4
10/28/2007 (7:23 pm)
Try GameTap Indies. 
#5
EDIT: Ahhh now I see them - looks great. Nice work. I love theses types of games. I'm playing Last Scenario right now.
10/29/2007 (4:45 am)
Erm... no images????EDIT: Ahhh now I see them - looks great. Nice work. I love theses types of games. I'm playing Last Scenario right now.
#6
10/29/2007 (6:34 am)
I too am a fan of DavidRM's games -- though I never got much into Artifact, I was more a PBN kinda' guy. (I'm curious to know who you were on there). Thanks for the blog post, it was a nice writeup!
#7
Try refreshing the page, most likely just something with the webserver, images should be working.
@ Clint:
I was ZombieLeader/ZeaLot on Artifact
I had Robert, Zombie, ZombieLeader on PBN and a few others using PBTerm
Ah Long ago! Long Long Ago.
10/29/2007 (8:09 am)
@ Andy:Try refreshing the page, most likely just something with the webserver, images should be working.
@ Clint:
I was ZombieLeader/ZeaLot on Artifact
I had Robert, Zombie, ZombieLeader on PBN and a few others using PBTerm
Ah Long ago! Long Long Ago.
#8
10/29/2007 (10:47 am)
Excellent blog. I love the chat spam. And the equation made me chuckle. Good luck to you both! 
Torque Owner Dracola
People should pay attention to that little piece of wisdom. This is the way you can tell a project that is going to fail and one that has hope.