Free MMORPG Forums

Darkhell153

There's a way to even the playing field though arieas.

Option 1. Limit the Engine!
We vote on a FREE engine or game library that can be used, it must either program with a common game language (like C++, Python, Java, or Perl). That way we can make sure that nobody's tearing up the contest with Torque while everyone else is using Crystal.

Option 2. Limit the models, animations, and graphics allowed!
Not the best idea, but the judges present a list of free or sponsered models to be used in the game. Contestants download and are only allowed to use those particular models and graphics. I don't like it because it would limit people a little too much.

Option 3. Limit the members per team!
Obviously someone with a degree in game design will most likely lose to some hobbiest with who studies C++ on the side...but then again there are also people who are just genius programmers, being able to not follow the rules taught can open many new doors in the world of programming. But either way, hobbiest or professional if you limit the number of team members it's never going to be an entire development team against 2 people.
If we limit the team members to 3, that means they have to have knowledge in programming, level design, animation, modelling, graphic art, and game concept. The more you limit the number the more multi-talented people have to be, professionals often aren't so we take most of them off our playground.


Just some hints, I've been through a lot of game development forums searching for ideas, tutorials, engines, etc. and I really like seeing the results from GIAD contests ^_^ this particular list is paraphraised from several posts in the Realmcrafter forums, just to give credit.

P.S:
I'm currently working on a model pack that'll include props like Gravestones, Buildings, Obelisks, and anything else I feel like putting in, maybe even some furniture. If this contest goes through it'll be completely free for the first prize winner.

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ASNZern

Ummm, I don't like the idea of ppl submiting idea of the games they want to make. Most ppl have absolutely no idea what it's like to think thru a game design.

No, that's NOT game design at all.

And for 'one team designs, another makes it real', that's usually problematic as well >_<" Ranging from the thinkers don't understand what's the 'limit' the makers can do, or willing to do; makers disagree with the gameplay the thinkers design; and the thinkers whining the makers not making progress, and the makers whining the thinkers are picky, and ... and ... and ....... so on.

Yeah...... I joined a few of this kind of 'we gonna make mmo' groups already <_<'


Anyway, it seems we have unbalanced number of ppl here.

Numbe of Designers (or so they self-claim) > Number of Artists (or so they call themselves) > Number of Programmers (or so they think they are...


BTW, I do 3d modelling. Not very great, but not so bad I hope. I self-study so it might not suit for game graphic. My texturing skill sucks badly though...

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lothia

Team project or free lessons that you advertise in the different sections. Make a basic game plan like having a Space Invaders game release in 3 months (a starting from no knowledge to that).

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ASNZern

Who's going to teach then

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Darkhell153

youtube!

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Eriond

Before we start thinking about doing this frequently, let's get the first contest down, and see how it goes, so yeah, a lil' adventurous I think . But still! Not a bad idea.

Dunno about limiting the engine or anything, but I really would prefer for this to be 2D. It would just make things so much easier, and a lot more accessible to a novice.

You're right. There's always 10 idea people for every person who does actual work. (Not to demean the writers out there! Good writing is the cornerstone of good game design (portal ))

I still think we should do it, but have a bunch of guidelines and constraints for idea submissions; and screen them before we get people to vote; narrow it down to realistic submissions only. I wouldn't mind helping people modify their design documents to reflect a more realistic title.

However, I do really like the idea of voting on design documents, and then having a group design it. As long as they're simple games, and we have at least a few programmers who know basic math and a simple graphics library, we could do this without too much of a problem.

As for the 3D model pack; it'd be great if you wanna contribute that! It'd provide another incentive, which'd be really good

I think 3 months is a little long for space invaders, but yeah. Something like that. But I really do like the idea of voting on a simple design document first.

Also; does this mean I have your permission to advertise/sticky this, at least for a few days, in some of the other sections, when it's all ready to go?

I can help out. I've got links to tons of tutorials, and I can help people if needed. Maybe we could hold some sort of tutorial thing on IRC, and people can ask questions if they want to.

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firesnowball

Sounding good so far...

NoodlePowa

Who will be judging, and what will the prizes be?

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Eriond

Well, prolly me. Of course

And I'm sure we can get some other people, maybe some of the other mods, or something; you don't have to have real development experience to judge though, so it could technically be anyone.

I dunno. We'll see how it goes down the line. We might just do an overall vote, and screw the judging, I mean, the community should prolly judge over a panel.

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NoodlePowa

What if you have both?

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