Fresh Meat!
by Rhonda Smith · in General Discussion · 07/31/2002 (4:18 pm) · 8 replies
Sooo...I posted in another forum, and now suspect that I picked the wrong one :)
I am brand new to this industry, completely green. I've in and out of the gaming community for a long time, but this is much further 'behind the scenes' then I've ventured before.
What I have is a good idea, alot of time, and some capital to invest in it. What I need is advice and information.
Anyone have any website reccomendations perhaps I could check out? A good place to start other then here? I can't program to save my life, failed Java twice and didn't even bother to try to learn anything else after that. My fiance is a 3D artist, animator, that sort of thing...but has never tried to port his stuff over into a game..so we are still left with a big question mark over our heads.
Most of my online projects are actually porn, but that is boring now, and I'm looking to expand my love of design, writing and gaming, into making this game which is spinning around in my brain, into reality. I am not adverse to hardwork, long hours, or paying those who have skills I don't. I want to learn....I just don't know where to start. Any suggestions would be MORE then welcome...and anyone looking for work, please contact me, but speak slowly and use small words *winks* I'm a little slow sometimes :)
I am brand new to this industry, completely green. I've in and out of the gaming community for a long time, but this is much further 'behind the scenes' then I've ventured before.
What I have is a good idea, alot of time, and some capital to invest in it. What I need is advice and information.
Anyone have any website reccomendations perhaps I could check out? A good place to start other then here? I can't program to save my life, failed Java twice and didn't even bother to try to learn anything else after that. My fiance is a 3D artist, animator, that sort of thing...but has never tried to port his stuff over into a game..so we are still left with a big question mark over our heads.
Most of my online projects are actually porn, but that is boring now, and I'm looking to expand my love of design, writing and gaming, into making this game which is spinning around in my brain, into reality. I am not adverse to hardwork, long hours, or paying those who have skills I don't. I want to learn....I just don't know where to start. Any suggestions would be MORE then welcome...and anyone looking for work, please contact me, but speak slowly and use small words *winks* I'm a little slow sometimes :)
About the author
#2
I do have -some- skills, they just aren't very impressive compared to what I've seen out there. Aside from the design/writing/creative dev aspect, I do have some skill with graphics and things like that. I am a very visual person. I'm certainly not a graphics expert, but above average I would say. I think your right, that is a good start for me, and I'll start improving on that skill and applying it more to games then webdesign.
Bleh, look at my sentances on this post...I really can write, honest--I just have the feeling I am in over my head here, and that makes me nervous.
As for the project, I will have to write up a detailed synopsis offline and then post it here under my profile, I'd hate to write it here in my current state of mind, it would look really lame.
While the pirating thing was an issue with me, it wasn't as big of an issue as ignorance. I know what the game interface will look like, I know the story line, I know the genre...things like that, but what I don't know is the vocabulary. I don't want to write a synopsis and have someone come by and go 'wtf is she on? this makes no sense, you can't have a etc. etc. etc.' See where I'm going on this? However, I will do what I can and trust everyone here to point out my oopses, hopefully nicely.
I am willing to pay to get this done, my original plan was just to license a game and run the server etc. in order to get some more expirience in the field, however, since the investment on that runs to about 20k, I figured I would rather try to develop my own game then simply host someone elses. Not saying I -want- to spend 20k on this idea, it's good, but I don't know if it's THAT good LoL
The problem keeps coming up to the fact that I can't program, thus, whoever were working with me and doing the actual programming would have to be trustworthy, and able to explain stuff to me without talking down to me....but I'm getting ahead of myself now aren't I?
07/31/2002 (6:34 pm)
Thank you for replying to both of my posts :) I always hate first coming to any forums...everyone knows one another and everything..well you know.I do have -some- skills, they just aren't very impressive compared to what I've seen out there. Aside from the design/writing/creative dev aspect, I do have some skill with graphics and things like that. I am a very visual person. I'm certainly not a graphics expert, but above average I would say. I think your right, that is a good start for me, and I'll start improving on that skill and applying it more to games then webdesign.
Bleh, look at my sentances on this post...I really can write, honest--I just have the feeling I am in over my head here, and that makes me nervous.
As for the project, I will have to write up a detailed synopsis offline and then post it here under my profile, I'd hate to write it here in my current state of mind, it would look really lame.
While the pirating thing was an issue with me, it wasn't as big of an issue as ignorance. I know what the game interface will look like, I know the story line, I know the genre...things like that, but what I don't know is the vocabulary. I don't want to write a synopsis and have someone come by and go 'wtf is she on? this makes no sense, you can't have a etc. etc. etc.' See where I'm going on this? However, I will do what I can and trust everyone here to point out my oopses, hopefully nicely.
I am willing to pay to get this done, my original plan was just to license a game and run the server etc. in order to get some more expirience in the field, however, since the investment on that runs to about 20k, I figured I would rather try to develop my own game then simply host someone elses. Not saying I -want- to spend 20k on this idea, it's good, but I don't know if it's THAT good LoL
The problem keeps coming up to the fact that I can't program, thus, whoever were working with me and doing the actual programming would have to be trustworthy, and able to explain stuff to me without talking down to me....but I'm getting ahead of myself now aren't I?
#3
So Welcome to GG!
07/31/2002 (7:22 pm)
This community is actually very friendly and always welcomes new members. So Welcome to GG!
#4
1. Writing up the ideas for your game. Then, run it by a few people here to see what they think. That way, you will have something understanable and perhaps even impressive for any prospectives 'employees' (coders or artists that you find that might be willing to help out)
2. Go onto the IRC channel (under the community section to the right, it says "Chat (IRC)". Click it. :), and just talk with the people there. You will learn alot about gaming, the community, and torque just by being there for a few days. Plus, you might meet some friendly people that would be willing to read your ideas for your game. I go by the name "Raistlin" there.
3. Start making something, art, models, a nice website, whatever, for the game. If you have something to show, people will be much more interested in joining you, and you might attract someone who already has torque.
07/31/2002 (7:30 pm)
I would start off by:1. Writing up the ideas for your game. Then, run it by a few people here to see what they think. That way, you will have something understanable and perhaps even impressive for any prospectives 'employees' (coders or artists that you find that might be willing to help out)
2. Go onto the IRC channel (under the community section to the right, it says "Chat (IRC)". Click it. :), and just talk with the people there. You will learn alot about gaming, the community, and torque just by being there for a few days. Plus, you might meet some friendly people that would be willing to read your ideas for your game. I go by the name "Raistlin" there.
3. Start making something, art, models, a nice website, whatever, for the game. If you have something to show, people will be much more interested in joining you, and you might attract someone who already has torque.
#5
$20,000 is both very little to develop a game and at the same time alot more than most indies have to spend on one.
A few mistakes I had in the past were things such as not *realy* knowing the engine limits, putting too much faith into middleware--which turns out wasn't needed anyway--and having great models that just could not be used without excellent, if a bit pricey, software to bring down the poly counts.
I would think the $100 for Torque would be a good investment for you just so you can have access to some of the user forums that others cannot. Either way, you might also consider just "modding" the Realm Wars demo to get to know the engine better and do some proof of concept, or tech demos or whatever. In theory, you could probably do your whole game by modding RW, though you wouldn't be able to customize the engine itself (like if you wanted to add shaders, for example) and RW doesn't always have the latest Torque version.
Make any sense? ;-)
07/31/2002 (8:53 pm)
If I may throw in a few tidbits:$20,000 is both very little to develop a game and at the same time alot more than most indies have to spend on one.
A few mistakes I had in the past were things such as not *realy* knowing the engine limits, putting too much faith into middleware--which turns out wasn't needed anyway--and having great models that just could not be used without excellent, if a bit pricey, software to bring down the poly counts.
I would think the $100 for Torque would be a good investment for you just so you can have access to some of the user forums that others cannot. Either way, you might also consider just "modding" the Realm Wars demo to get to know the engine better and do some proof of concept, or tech demos or whatever. In theory, you could probably do your whole game by modding RW, though you wouldn't be able to customize the engine itself (like if you wanted to add shaders, for example) and RW doesn't always have the latest Torque version.
Make any sense? ;-)
#6
07/31/2002 (9:12 pm)
Except that its kind of hard to mod RW, or anything for that matter, without knowing how to program. :)
#7
I was talking more about the graphical end of it... level creation and such. At some point one would have to learn at LEAST the scripting (or get someone who does know).
And of course the game can't be published without the license.
07/31/2002 (9:20 pm)
LOL... Yes, I was talking more about the graphical end of it... level creation and such. At some point one would have to learn at LEAST the scripting (or get someone who does know).
And of course the game can't be published without the license.
#8
I'm working on a website now, but it's just a baby, so I don't want to show any URL's...anyone seeing it now would run away screaming rather then help me.
I've already gotten one email in response to my posts here, I take that as a VERY good sign. *crosses fingers* I think you'll see me around here for quite a while, asking all sorts of annoying questions :)
07/31/2002 (11:06 pm)
Thank you thank you :) I appreciate all the help. Been reading everything I can for the past while, and my head is spinning, I don't think I'm actually absorbing much of it, but eventually it will all make sense :)I'm working on a website now, but it's just a baby, so I don't want to show any URL's...anyone seeing it now would run away screaming rather then help me.
I've already gotten one email in response to my posts here, I take that as a VERY good sign. *crosses fingers* I think you'll see me around here for quite a while, asking all sorts of annoying questions :)
Torque Owner Josh Albrecht
Do you have any skills other than writing and designing? It helps to have some kind of skill, whether it be at making models, animations, textures, maps, music, sound effects, or coding (but that's obviously out). When you have a skill, everyone else can see that you are actually doing something. A leader that just "designs" isnt very inspiring, but one who is constantly producing things is. If you dont have any other skills, I would suggest learning one. Animation for example isnt anything terribly difficult, it just takes practice. And pratice only takes hard work and time. :)
If you DO have another skill, I would suggest that you start creating your game, and once you have something to show, start asking for help every place you can think of. If you are willing to pay (as you implied), it shouldnt be terribly difficult to find people to help out.
It may be difficult to find someone to program the game, since most programmers tend to design and make their own games. However, you may be able to find some when people start realizing that they cant find enough artists, their idea doesnt work/is too much work, etc. If you cant find anyone here, post on places like www.gamedev.net to find coders, though they will have to buy the torque engine themselves.
Good luck. :)
By the way, what exactly is your idea? (it would make people interested if it were good, and trust me, its not good enough that anyone will steal it. There's tons of free ideas here. :)