VB.NET Hobby Project : Multi-User Online NetHack & Zelda-Like Game

Hi Everyone.. I've been thinking more and more about writing a multi-player online game similiar to the game NetHack (AKA Moria on the PC). The idea is to build a graphical version of NetHack using tiles, and then expanding from there. The final version should play like NetHack and look like Zelda. I've written some stuff in VC++/MFC and DirectX, but this project is being done with .NET. I will be using VB.NET, but modules could be written in C#. At the moment, I am working on an "old-school" type of Telnet BBS system. This system has the usual message-boards and BBS mail. Also, I've written a custom HTTP server that will tie into the game database for viewing players, stats, etc. I have extensive internet programming experience. My game design experience is probably classified as amateur at best. I had one game published in a magazine way-back-when in 1988 - a space-invaders type game written in Apple II 6502 assembly. It was published in the October 1988 issue and won honorable mention in their $10,000 international programming contest. What I'm looking for is 1 or more people that want to develop a game, using VB.NET, as a spare-time hobby. The idea is to build something fun that we "creators" will enjoy ourselves. Here's a run-down of some of the major points of the game as I envision it: (1) NetHack-like game (2) Graphics/Tiles instead of Text (3) Multi-User and Real-Time (4) "Top" Level (where user enters the game) is "above ground" and contains "shops" and places where you can buy/sell items, a bank, a bar/social area, player directory (town office?) etc. (5) Top level has multiple entrances to distinct underground dungeons. (6) Top level has an area for player houses. Each player gets a house where they can store personal items. Maybe also things like a desk where the user has options for creating and reading mail from other players. (7) The ability for players to "dig out" their own dungeons. Perhaps costing a certain amount of gold to purchase a plot of land in the game and gold for various elements of the map (a door costs 5 gold, a door with a lock 6 gold.. ?) To re-itterate, this is a PURE HOBBY PROJECT, and I'm looking for anyone that finds it interesting and wants to develop specifically in VB.NET. I have not yet investigated the use of DirectX with VB.NET. I am sure it will be possible and/or easier to do in time. But this game also isn't really graphics intensive, so GDI+ should be just fine. Thanks, // CHRIS [added] The game-play itself wouldn't be a perfect mimic of NetHack, but the idea is to get a similar visual interface to the dungeon etc. Probably the Nintendo game Zelda is a more accurate picture of what I would like to accomplish. [edited by - win32mfc on October 13, 2003 4:42:52 PM] [edited by - win32mfc on October 13, 2003 4:45:35 PM]