New Team

Read the sticky in the Help Wanted forum about the posting format; you need to use it here. [cool]

What exactly are you planning? I can't tell what kind of work you need or what kind of game you're planning to create from your post. I'm assuming you want to create an online game (and I'm assuming that means multiplayer via the Internet).

You should probably include more details, unless you haven't planned anything yet.

EDIT: Added link.

From the few shreds of information you put in your post, can I assume that you're goal is to create an MMO? You're post is very ambiguous so I can guarantee that you're not going to get anybody interested.

"... then don't waste my time."

That's rude. You definitely won't elicit help from anybody because you haven't given any evidence to show that you're worth their time.

So far you've basically stated that you want to form a team of dedicated individuals to create an MMO. Great -- so does everybody else. What's in it for them? Money? Experience? Your wrath?

If your project goal is to create an MMO and you have mediocre programming skills, you seriously need to rethink your project goals. I'm involved in a large-scale long-term MMO project myself and the only reason I can do that is because I've been programming little programs and examining and playing with the source code to many GPL'd games like Quake. I've also been part of a number of different groups trying to create games -- most of the groups failed because of a lack of experience. MMO's are not simple projects and are absolutely out of a beginner's reach.

You may want to consider, instead, joining another project that is already established. Learn from them what it takes to create a team and build a game. You may even be able to find a team developing an MMO that could use your help. I would suggest you join my team but we're already top-heavy with programmers and not enough content developers.

After you've been part of one (and I recommend more than one) team, you can consider starting a project of your own. I would recommend a non-online game because the requirements for an online game are so much larger (and more challenging) than an offline game. My team, for instance, opted to create an offline version of the game first and later build the online portion just because of the immense task of creating at the very absolute least TWO programs -- the Client and the Server. In our case, the design calls for seven separate programs all working together over a network. That's no easy task and can scare away even the most experienced programmers.

Long story short, I think you're aiming a little too high. Scale back a bit, perhaps join another project before you start your own. Don't make the same mistake that dozens of other posters make and doom yourself to failure.

I hope this helps. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you good luck!

[Edited by - leeor_net on October 17, 2008 8:22:48 AM]

Quote:

Original post by Nexrus Compensation: Right now I'd like to just get a group of people together that are dedicated to this. Get the ball rolling and then talk about money. Of course I would be willing to compensate toward any expenses we encounter.

I would advise that you qualify this statement because your team could encounter serious expenses down the road. Are you going to pay for all of it yourself? Do you have enough money? If you're going to fund this project yourself, what about payment to the crew? You mentioned talking about money later, but in my experience its always best to discuss the terms (like money, expectations of work and responsibilities, etc) upfront. Also put this down in a contract. Why? Because if you don't have a signed contract (and you're not paying for the assets created by the team) then your game doesn't own those assets.

I once worked on an MMO project that refused to do contracts (against my wishes). I worked with the team for 1.5 years and wrote a complete soundtrack for the project as well as a large amount of SFX. I had been "promised" payment when the game launched but then the team missed 10 consecutive deadlines. It was at this point I left the project and took all of the audio I had created with me. All of it! The leader protested and claimed he could use me but then was speechless when I said:

Show me where I signed a contract. Show me where I signed away any of the rights to any of the content I created. Show me where you've paid me.

He couldn't and I kept all of the audio. There was no way I was going to stay with a team that missed that many deadlines and there was no way I was going to let him keep my work for "free" when I had been promised a set fee once the game was launched.

Moral of the story: Set up your terms now. Trying to do so later is not only messy, it can be dangerous for your project and for the team.

I hope that helps out!

Nathan

Are you only looking for form a team, or could you be interested in joining an existing one as well? *hinthint*

Quote:

Original post by Nexrus Compensation: Right now I'd like to just get a group of people together that are dedicated to this. Get the ball rolling and then talk about money. Of course I would be willing to compensate toward any expenses we encounter.

According to your post it sounds like you will pay the people on you team, if that's not your intent then that will lead to some misunderstandings especially if people join up and expect to be paid, if it's a freeware/shareware can you post it?

Quote:

Original post by The_Colonel Quote: Original post by Nexrus Compensation: Right now I'd like to just get a group of people together that are dedicated to this. Get the ball rolling and then talk about money. Of course I would be willing to compensate toward any expenses we encounter. According to your post it sounds like you will pay the people on you team, if that's not your intent then that will lead to some misunderstandings especially if people join up and expect to be paid, if it's a freeware/shareware can you post it?

He's going to find his team and get started on projects THEN talk about compensation.

Exactly. I just want to get a team together to throw around ideas and get the groundwork for something - figure out what we all want from this game then start to look for coders, music, etc.

You might want to post some possibilities first, so people know what type of game you want to make (Story Wise. Fantasy, Sci Fi, etc.) So you get the right people.

PMed ya!

Quote:

Original post by Nexrus I've been involved with online gaming for about 10 years. As time goes on I get more frustrated with each new game I try. I still remember the feeling of playing my first online rpg. I've always wanted to get a team together and start from scratch and build something that can give me that feeling again.

Now just to be clear, I am not trying to be an ass here...If this is your reason for creating a game of real magnitude, I think you should not start. Creating a game, because there is nothing you like to play will not be enough motivation to finish it, and will probably only frustrate you more.

If there is really nothing out there that you like to play, in the hundreds of games that come out every year, why do you think you can create something you will enjoy? Maybe you should just stop playing games (for a while), explore new things that can give you the same rush you had 10 years ago? It might be creating games, but if I am honest with you, you might get some small rushes, but building games is mostly very hard work :D.