A Community Project Options

[Kaust]

I've been talking this over with some of the staff and so far they all seem pretty keen on the idea.
Its basically what the title says, a game that is built by the community for the community. Participation can be anything from spriting and faceart to just mapping out a town. Everything a game needs to be completed, RRR Needs You
(There was also the suggestion of Rev Points for participation, though that hasn't been confirmed).

So basically this post is to establish who would be interested in such a project, what engines you have access to (could always download a demo of another if we end up using one you don't have) and really just any ideas, suggestions or questions you may have.

[vvalkingman]

Well, I'm down for it any particular idea of what kind of game it is? Brief story to go off of? Or is this ground zero and we can just start shooting ideas out there? lol

[WanderingWordsmi...]

This sounds like a good idea, but the only skill I could contribute to this would be writing. Still, it sounds interesting on the surface of things.

[amerk]

I'd imagine somebody will have to run the project, implementing everything into the game, while others contribute maps, events, and what not?

[vvalkingman]

We should just have a dropbox or something. Create folders for each participant to throw something in. Like a map, an event system, or other forms of intellectual property. I don't mind heading it up unless one of the staff was going to do that. Just let me know. About the storyboard and gameplay, I'm sure we'd need to have some sort of discussion about a theme. Just a little more structure and I think we could have a very interesting thing going here

[Kaust]

Spot on amerk, and yeah vvalkingman I was thinking the dropbox system myself.

I didn't want to be too dominant with ideas to start off. First I want to hear what people would want and be excited about, otherwise it just seems like I'm making the community implement some preconceived project plan. But you're right, at some point we'll have to draw a line in the sand and follow it.
Initially I thought of having a sort of 'heads of department' system, just for quality control and such, depends if this really ends up with that much attention though. I don't mind being the guy that handles and implements it all, but maybe something of this potential scale should be handled by someone a bit, y'know, better

[vvalkingman]

Agreed. I'd like to offer whatever I can to the project. I just offered heading it up because it didn't look like anyone was, haha. Figured with alittle more structure we'd be able to attract more people *shrug*

[Cleril]

I'm good with using resources not made by me. My main issue is just not having the time to deal with the demands this sort of thing entails. I'd be able to drop box things, if there was a request for writing, music, or design ideas I'm up for those kinds of things.

As for the main theme of the game, we'd have to decide if we wanted it to be dark, happy, or some kind of mix of the two. Basically, what tone will the game have at the end (note, I said end, contrast is very good for deriving emotion).

[amerk]

One of the better sides of VX were all their horror game themes, but they also made comedy games using Ralph (poor guy).

I'm making my own sort of community game, with a theme of noobs trying to take over RRR. The base of operations happens to be at AMerk's Treehouse. The world sets on one small island called Shitty Island, and they travel along meeting several staff members. While one comm project would be great, if it's easier to do, we could have a few smaller one man projects as well.

I do plan to leave the game open so people can use my ideas and maps, but the game uses SwapXT, so that would only be possible if I inform people specifically which swaps to use for which maps.

[Kaust]

@vvalkingman: Yeah, you're probably right about making it look like a more serious affair. When I posted this I just wanted to know if people would actually be interested in contributing.

@Cleril: We haven't got any ideas yet, I was hoping more people would say what they wanted rather than just suggestions. You scoundrels and your manners.

@amerk: I get people have their own projects, for the community and for themselves, I just figured if 50 members dropped off a map Bam! 50 maps. Couple of people make a custom sprite, got our main party. I don't expect too many members to take it seriously, just drop something in the box now and then. Also...
...I better be in your game >:]

[kayden997]

Lol, good luck on organization. I would like to help, but then again 1000 people could do my job and probably better (or worse).
Also, what about potential vandalism? How would you control that?

[amerk]

@vvalkingman: Yeah, you're probably right about making it look like a more serious affair. When I posted this I just wanted to know if people would actually be interested in contributing.

@Cleril: We haven't got any ideas yet, I was hoping more people would say what they wanted rather than just suggestions. You scoundrels and your manners.

@amerk: I get people have their own projects, for the community and for themselves, I just figured if 50 members dropped off a map Bam! 50 maps. Couple of people make a custom sprite, got our main party. I don't expect too many members to take it seriously, just drop something in the box now and then. Also...
...I better be in your game >:]

*** quickly checks his resources ***

Yes, I have you down as one of the sprites Penguin never made. I'll probably use CharCreator as I'm no spriter, but I'm going to try to get all current staff in, even if it's a small part. Some staff in there (like Redd) have left since, but it'd be too much work to go back and rework everything, but I'll definitely try to get all current staff in as well.

I'm not a great mapper, but I may drop a few I've created for my game into the comm project for others to use, once a drop box is set up.

[bulmabriefs144]

You have my permission to steal any common events/monster party events from my game (that was most of my original work besides mapping which was just ok), but my art kinda sucks (unless it was predrawn my art talent lies in editing/color-swapping rather than freehand art). As for active work, probably not, but I wouldn't mind posting stuff.

Vandalism would have to be controlled by having one member take all the submissions and organizing them then posting them on their (password-controlled) site, like Mediafire. I can organize things, so we know who is doing what, though.

Let's find out, by people volunteering what they wanna do. We need the following (people can double up, or multiple people can volunteer, this is a loose guideline).

Game Producer: (The person in charge of organizing submissions into one game, and then posting it. Limit one person.)
Game Director: (The person in charge of concept, plot, and artistic effects, like a traditional director. Also limit one person, mainly due to the "too many cooks" principle.)

(Ideally, the director will take the various ideas together submitted in bits, and send them to the producer, who will package them as a game. Also, I'd strongly recommend Install Creator as it puts together a self-extracting package. Even better, the producer is the director, and simply takes submissions, organizes them, and reposts them as a package.)

Next, we have the roles that can be doubled up.

Artists:
Writers:
Mappers:
Coders:
Battle Editors:
General Submissions:
Other: (Musicians, scripters, and specialized experts)




This post has been edited by bulmabriefs144: Mar 18 2012, 03:28 PM

[kayden997]

Game Producer: I, because I am a highly organized person (I found that ironic, being a mod at the spam topic)
Other: I as 'cutscene' editor (unless that goes with mapping)

[Albino Parakeet]

Depending on the engine, I could attempt to become a mapper.

Preferred Engines: RM2k, RM2k3, RMXP

This post has been edited by Albino Parakeet: Mar 18 2012, 04:28 PM

[Kaust]

Damn, should've dibbsed that, oh well. You'll have to manage events anyways, you'll be implementing everything xD
I'll act as a sort of jack-of-all-trades I guess, just dropping stuff in as I come up with it. I dont really have a specialty and I sorta imagined most members would go down this route anyways.
Can I act as director? I don't want to be too disconnected from this.

[khachuchrian]

wow! sounds amazing and i think its a great way for People to see what each other is capable of doing so i would like to help out although im just a lowly Composer but i will try my best!

[amerk]

Damn, should've dibbsed that, oh well. You'll have to manage events anyways, you'll be implementing everything xD
I'll act as a sort of jack-of-all-trades I guess, just dropping stuff in as I come up with it. I dont really have a specialty and I sorta imagined most members would go down this route anyways.
Can I act as director? I don't want to be too disconnected from this.

Well, technically this is your idea, so I'm okay for you to direct. I've got too much going on in my life right now to take control of anything, but I'd like to offer whatever assistance I can. My thoughts on this, Kaust, is to first start a forum somewhere where people can toss their ideas for a story dealing with the community (I like the hybrid dark comedy theme Cleril mentioned earlier). Then take those ideas and form them into a logical story. I do a crapload of writing on the side, so feel free to PM me if you want to discuss further once things get going.

Once you have a sort of tale in mind, then break down into a planning stage of what you would like (ie., puzzle game, rpg, length, areas to visit, etc). Then we can start having people throw out artwork and maps and battlers. Being a community game, I'd say if you have battles, don't make them overly difficult, but we will need to a way to make them fun. A lot of community projects usually stay with RTP to make it easier for people to contribute, I say do the same, but maybe come up with an agreement on what you want for TileE.

You'll probably be putting this together, but we can all talk about events and how to code them if needed.

Anyways, that's my thought on how to man this.

[Vexus]

I could maybe lend a hand on mapping depending on the game's theme and size you want your maps to be. (Depending on the size it can take me hours or days. Say a map of around 100x100+ could take me between few hours to 2-3 days to finish, this depends on my imagination at the moment I'm creating it.)

I used only rpg maker xp, I don't have any experience with the other rpg makers.

This post has been edited by Vexus: Mar 18 2012, 06:42 PM

[bulmabriefs144]

Game Producer: I, because I am a highly organized person (I found that ironic, being a mod at the spam topic)
Other: I as 'cutscene' editor (unless that goes with mapping)

I guess I'm directing the project right now in a sense, but more or less I wanna gradually hand the game direction over to the writers and the producer. So, ummm... (Oh, kaust wants to direct) I'm call what I'm doing now, as brainstorming... I'm the "development team."

Game Producer: kayden997
Game Director: Kaust
Artists: shinyjiggly, Titanhex (possibly some mapping for these guys)
Writers: vvalkingman, kaz (seems like, anyway)
Mappers: Albino Parakeet, Vexus
Coders:
Battle Editors:
Composer: khachuchrian
General Submissions: Maybe me...? And some other ppl.
Other: Me (development team), kayden997 (cutscene editor)

-----------------------------
I'd prefer it if we kept it here (even if that makes this thread super-long). Okay, as part of development, we need to talk about a few things (which is where the director comes in, I just organize and ask questions).

1. What genre of game? (Puzzle, typical RPG, gothic RPG, strategy, horror, epic, etc)
2. What is the basic plot? What are the hero's goals?
3. Who are the heroes? What are they like?
4. What are the villains like? Are there villains, or is it like a No Evil Whatsoever (see the thread earlier) setting?
5. What type of battle type is it using (side scrolling, faceup nochars (Earthbound), lufia style faceup with chars, etc)
6. What battle features are we using (limit breaks, hp using techniques, etc)
7. Are we using scripts or just normal code? For that matter what engine are we using?
8. What features does this game have (day/night, weather, seasons, party changing)
9. In terms of party are there developed characters, or is customization allowed (or as a compromise, is there a job system like final fantasy V)?
10. What about the world around? What is the setting? For that matter, is the game in a small world where you're expected to be somewhere, or is it a Wide Open Sandbox?

Okay, aside from adding people to the list, my work as developer is done. You guys need to agree on this sorta stuff.

This post has been edited by bulmabriefs144: Mar 19 2012, 04:24 PM