Want to make an MMO

[oscarian]

I've begun some mental wankery (ideas stage) for a project that is meant to be the documentation of a new gaming concept, with in-depth SWG/Ryzom style crafting, skill tree based progression of talents, mechwarrior battles, cyberpunk (the RPG) underculture, and some sub-elements such as in-client arcades where you'll be able to play old favourites like Galaga and Bubble Bobble (and of course, Space Invaders).

I've had some expressions of interest from some of the TOGers involved currently with the Rift division, and I'd just like to know if anyone else wants to get involved/take a look at/think about/know about/criticise/fantasize about the overal gaming concept, and once we're done with a segment I'll release some fiction written by a couple of volunteers as an audio book (with music and sound effects done myself), whack it up on a website somewhere, make post or three on some MMOG forums, and see where it goes from there.

I'm currently considering targetting Funcom as a potential endgame manufacturer for making the gaming world and client (which will be a rather new concept that may change some people's ideas about gaming clients), so if we have any Funcom employees who like to keep up with crazy guys with pizza and beer coming up with new concepts for ideas and some fan fiction and maybe some art to decorate it, please feel free to send me a PM and I'll include you on my mailing list when I get one.

Cheers-
/Oscarian

[Jangulorr]

I think the best game would work similar to this model ...

A combination of All the X-Com games excluding Enforcer.

Battles in Space in Warships defending Outposts and assaulting Outposts.
Combat on Land in the woods, deserts, small towns and above Sea Level Bases.
Submerged combat in the Oceans and Ocean Bases.
Air to Air combat to shoot down Aliens ships and vise versa.
Defending a large Metropolis and actually defending the streets and building interiors from infestations.

You would have many things to consider. Character development would start in one general area ... Aircraft / Spacecraft or Solo Character for 'Melee Combat' in Bases, Buildings, Undersea, Cities and typical geographical terrain.

It may be kind of rough and confusing ... but I currently have no clue where the papers are that I typed up for this games I had previously began designing. Only on paper though. lol

This is the general idea though. Exciting aint it?

-Jangulorr

[Drac]

Unless you can make the game yourself don't ever expect to get it made for you.

Not trying to discourage you in any way, but consider that every single game development company is full of hardcore gamers who all have just as many ideas as you do, probably more so. They make games for a living after all so their entire life is games, games games. Ideas for games are sadly worth nothing because everyone has hundreds of them, players and developers alike.

Even if you have a good idea, it's a lot to ask of any company to make a game from it. For an MMO you're talking multiple millions of dollars, several years of development, massive infrastructure and support equipment with servers and sales managament, marketing and promotion ect...

Also, your current idea seems like just a bunch of other people's ideas smashed together. I'd love to see a Grand Theft Auto like game where you can also travel back and forward in time and see the city change in those different time periods and drive all those different period cars and be involved in all the different period gangs the stuff. Might sounds like a great idea, but GTAIV took thousands of people years to make (I know artists who worked on the project, they described it like an Asian sweat shop for 3D modelling), making GTA IV three or four times over for a single game would just be ridiculously unfathomable. Even mega-companies like Blizzard have limits.

So, when you design a game you need a team to make it, and you need to know your teams strengths, play to them, and build the best product you can quickly that captures the players interest. Once you have those initial ideas you start building prototypes to test then re-design and re test, all the while the whole development team is adding in their own game design ideas, experience, perspectives and so on. After a few months you might have something to commit a bigger team to. Theory crafting an idea for a game with no real boundaries and no way to prototype might be fun, but thus far no currently released game has every actually been made that way.

If you're deadly serious about making your own game then I'd say the best way to do it is to get your hands dirty and learn how. Download Unity or Unreal Engine or get a copy of Crysis and start modding to build your prototypes.

[Jangulorr]

Its all fun and games aint it?

I know there's a lot when it comes to making games. Past my abilities by far, I have looked into it and had even had a couple Game Design Books that I was trying out and such. I had learned to make a window and a popup. It was kinda cool.

As for the gfx design ... the crap that Unreal uses is over complicated and I could not figure it out. I loved 3D Studio Max R4 ... which is exactly what I was using when designing things in High School. Which by the way ... my teacher thought I did such a great job that I should submit something to the 'Iowa Hawkeyes' (I graduated in IA).

Perhaps I am just dense when it comes to the 'new' programs that assist with 3D development. I will admit it. But I tried to figure out Unreal SDK and gave up after a week or so of tinkering. It's beyond me and would need to attend design classes to grasp that knowledge.

Anyhow, there is no real need to analyze my posts as you did. So, please ... don't do so again. I never asked for that 'book' ... and I was not requesting assistance in making my 'ideal' game.

Rawrg!

I have known and completely understand how business models work. Fear not!

-Jangulorr

[Drac]

Sorry, occupational hazard.

I teach game design and concept development at University and encounter a ridiculous amount of students with their head in the clouds dreaming up unrealistic mega games and epic one-man MMO projects. The doom & gloom spiel makes a good opener to seque into discussions about smaller and more creative game ideas.

Don't let me spoil your fun though.

Oh and you might enjoy this: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/vide...-Game-Designer

[Kess]

Don't worry about Drac mate. Thats the exact same negative nancy comment I got from him when I posted a similar thread about a game I'm working on. hahaha!

Its not all doom and gloom though mate. Remember that everything ever created in this world all started with a single mans idea

You go for it mate! No matter how hard it may be, or what other people say. Dream big.

Theres enough negativity in the world stopping people from doing what they want to do. Don't listen to it! Dream it and make it happen!

[oscarian]

I'm happy to hear from anyone with any kind of constructive input. I've taken a little break from brainstorming while I celebrate my upcoming birthday (long celebration).

/Oscarian

[Drac]

Originally Posted by Kess

Don't worry about Drac mate. Thats the exact same negative nancy comment I got from him when I posted a similar thread about a game I'm working on. hahaha!

Its not all doom and gloom though mate. Remember that everything ever created in this world all started with a single mans idea

You go for it mate! No matter how hard it may be, or what other people say. Dream big.

Theres enough negativity in the world stopping people from doing what they want to do. Don't listen to it! Dream it and make it happen!

Kess, I am not being negative, nor was I when I posted in your thread. I never said "give up" or "don't bother trying". I'm simply saying that, if you're really serious about making a game then going from "I've got a great idea" to having something playable or generating interest is no easy task and I offered advice on different ways to do that based on my experience in the games industry.

Again, watch this video, good starting point: The Escapist : So You Want to be a Game Designer - know what you're getting yourself into, build a team willing to suffer through that with you, brain storm, prototype, make some videos, get some websites up, get noticed etc....

But hey, if you just want to wander off into the clouds dreaming big without paying any attention to how games are actually made and produced then by all means, knock yourself out. I wouldn't say you'd be serious about making a game by doing that though because it would seem a tad foolish to not learn every little last thing you can about the industry you want to break into.

If saying that upsets you and you think that makes me a "negative nancy" then so be it, but I worry for any designer, in any industry, who seem hesitant to step outside their comfort zone and experience new challenges.