Free Beer! maybe!

Post by **Joose** » April 12th, 2006, 10:22

OK, thats probably a lie. Anyway....

As some of you are vaguely aware, I keep making forays into making a web based MMO. Trouble is, its a shitload of work, and I keep getting distracted by less daunting things.

However, I have a Cunning Plan™. If I were to get some help in this project, it would serve the double bonus of making the thing seem less daunting, and also for it to be less liable to be put on the back burners.

For those that dont remember/were not here for the brief burst of creative detritus that was "Haxxors", heres a brief summary of the idea:

Web based game client, so people can get on and play wherever, kinda like urban dead. Its all based around hacking, and is set at some undefined point in the future. For those of you with a bit of knowledge of how hacking works in the real world, fret not, this is going to be kinda hollywoodised, with most of the work done with programs. These programs do stuff like attacking systems, shielding the player etc. Unlike most MMO's, you wont have an avatar as such, just a collection of hardware and software that you will have access to. The main aims in the game is to get more access to better software and hardware. This will be done by breaking into companies, either off your own back or as a job for a rival company. Although there wont be "levels" as such, in the early game this will all be done in relative safety, against computer controlled opponents, with the worst punishment for failure simply being not getting paid. At higher levels, you risk losing access to stuff, getting fined for illegal actions and going up against other players. There will be opportunity for crafting (kinda) and there will be some relatively unique concepts (The results of players actions will automagically create new missions. For instance, if you steal software, a mission to recover it may be generated).

Right, so thats the general idea, now, what do I want from you guys? Help. I need people who can code (php, mySQL and flash, probably), draw pretties (both interface stuff and...well, anythign really), and make nice words (for descriptions of stuff, mission text etc.) Oh, and also to come up with the actual game mechanics. I'll be doing mostly everything, but any help anywhere would be greatly appreciated.

Basically, im not going to be too much of a Nazi over it; the only rules I will set are:

1)I reserve the right to not use your ideas. I'll listen to all of them, and give them due thought, but ultimately, if I dont like it, its not going in. Tis my baby, after all.

2)If you suddenly dissapear for a week with no warning, dont be surprised if what you were working on has been given to someone else. Im not saying you cant go on holiday or anything, just tell me so I know you havent buggered off forever.

3)The same goes for if you keep saying you will do something, but never actually do it. Its been the bane of the tournaments, im not letting it happen here.

And thats it, really. Any help would be appreciated, no matter how little. Any takers?

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » April 12th, 2006, 10:24

*looks around*

Anyone fancy a cod2 tourny?

Post by **Joose** » April 12th, 2006, 10:25

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:*looks around*

Anyone fancy a cod2 tourny?

Lateralus · Post by **Lateralus** » April 12th, 2006, 10:32

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:*looks around*

Anyone fancy a cod2 tourny?

This sounds like a fun project Mr Joose, but I have nothing to offer in the way of skills I'm afraid! I could maybe do some writing, but that would be it. Also, I can't do anything for a while cos I'm trying to focus on my dissertation for the next two weeks, then I'm away for a couple of weeks after that.

And nawty Berk - trying to tangentise the thread in the first reply! Tsk tsk tsk

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » April 12th, 2006, 10:35

Lateralus wrote:

This sounds like a fun project Mr Joose, but I have nothing to offer in the way of skills I'm afraid!

That, best i can offer is some hosty space really.

And nawty Berk - trying to tangentise the thread in the first reply! Tsk tsk tsk

it was more a herding cats that don't want to be herded comment

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » April 12th, 2006, 10:44

Will help if I post a picture of a sea sponge?:

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » April 12th, 2006, 10:46

Yes, yes it will.

Lateralus · Post by **Lateralus** » April 12th, 2006, 10:46

And so it begins!

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » April 12th, 2006, 10:49

Some fucker's admin powers SPLIT TIME.

Post by **Grimmie** » April 12th, 2006, 11:05

Writey bits, drawy bits, and mechanicy bits for me.
The Grimmie from Del Monté say YES!

Stoat · Post by **Stoat** » April 12th, 2006, 12:11

I can help with the codey bits* and drawy bits.

*I say help. I really mean press buttons wildly until something works how it should under very specific conditions.

wyrd · Post by **wyrd** » April 12th, 2006, 12:15

ooo...

this sounds interesting, me and a friend were going to knock out an "adventure arceology" web based MMO, but it never came to pass

i can do flash, a bit, PHP quite well, and most things in MySQL.

Post by **Dog Pants** » April 12th, 2006, 13:16

Writey bits I can definately do, it's a speciality of mine. I may be able to help with the graphics too. MySQL makes me want to fish my brain out through my nose with a spork.

Post by **Joose** » April 12th, 2006, 14:24

Yay!

Like I said before, any help will be good help, and the text side of things is something where there can't be too much. The more content in a game like this, the more immersive and therefore more fun it is.

mrbobbins · Post by **mrbobbins** » April 12th, 2006, 14:37

I'll quite happily be an alpha or b3ta tester,

Drawing and coding skills sadly lacking, but I am good at pointing out what's wrong with stuff!

Woo Elephant Yeah · Post by **Woo Elephant Yeah** » April 12th, 2006, 14:41

mrbobbins wrote:... but I am good at pointing out what's wrong with stuff!

Sounds interesting, and I'll do my best to provide forums and so on for creating/pimping the thing.

Lateralus · Post by **Lateralus** » April 12th, 2006, 14:46

Since there seems to be a reasonable Urban Dead following I'm guessing that would be a good place to start the <strike>spamming</strike> promotion.

How did the latest recruitment drive go?

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » April 12th, 2006, 14:55

On a more helpful note; like MrBobbins I could get involved in testing if it's needed. Other than that the only other skills I could offer are unix/linux sysadmin and scripting, which you probably dont need.

Post by **Joose** » April 12th, 2006, 15:02

spoodie wrote:On a more helpful note; like MrBobbins I could get involved in testing if it's needed.

Well, not so much at first (you cant really test something thats just wibbling around the inside of my brain

), but once something more substantial is put together, much testing will be needed. So yes, hurrah for testers!

And dont let lack of skills put people off helping. Even if you code worse than a small rabbit, and have the artistic skills of a blind man, you all play games, so your feedback/ideas on the initial design of the game will be most usefull

Woo Elephant Yeah · Post by **Woo Elephant Yeah** » April 12th, 2006, 15:03

Forum created as requested by Joose.