Any Video Game Design Knowledgable People Here?

[Yamori]

I'm like, the grand high emperor of coming up with awesome video game concepts and ideas, and would love to pursue this some day in the future --- but I know very little about what one would have to do to actually get a project like this started.

Does anyone have any advice, such as what sort of people to look for as business partners, and approximate costs in making a game (Stylistically speaking, fighting/shooter playstation 1 level graphics with a cartoony style [ie marvel vs capcom])?

[DESX]

http://www.gamedev.net/

http://www.gamasutra.com/

http://www.flipcode.com/

[DESX]

whoops forgot I also recommend checking maya out proly the easiest program out their to help you get started.

http://www.aliaswavefront.com/glb/eng/p ... Id=3900009

[Tikker]

I'm like, the grand high emperor of coming up with awesome video game concepts and ideas, and would love to pursue this some day in the future --- but I know very little about what one would have to do to actually get a project like this started.

Does anyone have any advice, such as what sort of people to look for as business partners, and approximate costs in making a game (Stylistically speaking, fighting/shooter playstation 1 level graphics with a cartoony style [ie marvel vs capcom])?

too bad you pissed off all the LoS blizzard people when you ebay'd!

[Yamori]

I'm like, the grand high emperor of coming up with awesome video game concepts and ideas, and would love to pursue this some day in the future --- but I know very little about what one would have to do to actually get a project like this started.

Does anyone have any advice, such as what sort of people to look for as business partners, and approximate costs in making a game (Stylistically speaking, fighting/shooter playstation 1 level graphics with a cartoony style [ie marvel vs capcom])?

too bad you pissed off all the LoS blizzard people when you ebay'd!

Err, I really doubt anyone is holding a grudge about that 5 years later.

Blizzard is a great company, but they'd have nothing to do with my ideas I'm sure. What with their "good taste" and all.

The only people I could imagine being interested in my ideas might be Rockstar Games (the GTA people). But from what I've read there are slim chances of that happening, they aren't really friendly to outside ideas.

[Tikker]

I'm like, the grand high emperor of coming up with awesome video game concepts and ideas, and would love to pursue this some day in the future --- but I know very little about what one would have to do to actually get a project like this started.

Does anyone have any advice, such as what sort of people to look for as business partners, and approximate costs in making a game (Stylistically speaking, fighting/shooter playstation 1 level graphics with a cartoony style [ie marvel vs capcom])?

too bad you pissed off all the LoS blizzard people when you ebay'd!

Err, I really doubt anyone is holding a grudge about that 5 years later.

Blizzard is a great company, but they'd have nothing to do with my ideas I'm sure. What with their "good taste" and all.

The only people I could imagine being interested in my ideas might be Rockstar Games (the GTA people). But from what I've read there are slim chances of that happening, they aren't really friendly to outside ideas.

I still dislike you, but I'm better at holding grudges than most =P


That being said, coming up with the IDEA for a game is easy

building the mechanics, rules, lore, etc for a game is the hard part

[KaiineTN]

I beg to differ. Well, if you want something to sell, make it look good... If you want something that people will love, then it's all about the idea, going with it, adding to it, and proper implementation of it. That, by far, is the hardest part. There are very few games out there with a story that just grabs your attention from the start, for me anyways.

The only option if you don't go for a great story is intuitive fun action that doesn't seem too repetitive. Mega Man and Sonic, etc... Graphics for those by today's standards are horrible, yet I find those games more fun and involving than most.. Why?

[mappatazee]

Graphics for those by today's standards are horrible, yet I find those games more fun and involving than most.. Why?

Because good graphics don't make a game better?

[Harrison]

They certainly do to a degree.

[Yamori]

I still dislike you, but I'm better at holding grudges than most =P

I think you take imaginary computer world stuff too seriously. :D

Unless you dislike me for different reasons, which is your priviledge I suppose.

-

Anywho, Kaiine is right.

Games are getting more sophisticated each year, yet 85% of the stuff they churn out is BORING.

The programming / graphics work may technically be the "hardest" part - if you are using labor as a frame of reference, but most of the games these days are rehashed and unoriginal. The entertainment industry is desperately lacking good content. A good idea is worth many many millions.

[Gidan]

That being said, coming up with the IDEA for a game is easy

building the mechanics, rules, lore, etc for a game is the hard part

I will second this. Comming up with the original idea for the game is easy. Creating the entire storyline and building a game around that story line are hard, then actually making it all work in a computer system is the hardest part.

Think of it like a book or a movie. You can have the best idea for a story in the world. However if its put together in the wrong way it will be a flop. The same holds true with video games, if its not done in just the right way its not going to work, this is all based on the software design.

[Yamori]

Oh, and thanks very much for the links DESX, they're great reading.


Gidan:

I think it depends. There are definitely game where the structure and design are the dominant aspect that make them great games. Starcraft comes to mind - the dynamics and excellent multiplayer capabilities definitely made the game the smash hit it was. Counterstrike is another example.

But there are just as many games that are successful primarily because of the innovation, originality, and novelty. IE: Grand Theft Auto, Super Smash Brothers, Mortal Kombat 2, ect.

[Tikker]

Oh, and thanks very much for the links DESX, they're great reading.


Gidan:

I think it depends. There are definitely game where the structure and design are the dominant aspect that make them great games. Starcraft comes to mind - the dynamics and excellent multiplayer capabilities definitely made the game the smash hit it was. Counterstrike is another example.

But there are just as many games that are successful primarily because of the innovation, originality, and novelty. IE: Grand Theft Auto, Super Smash Brothers, Mortal Kombat 2, ect.

this is where you completely have no idea what we're talking about


Do you have any idea how hard it is to balance a fighting game like that?
That's what I'm talking about when i talk about the underlying mechanics



It's one thing to say "ok, let's make a fighting game, Disney toons, vs WB characters"

compared to "how do we balance Mickey's Ear flap attack to Daffy Duck's spit attack?"

[Yamori]

Gah, thats not what I'm saying. I understand that the underlying mechanics are tons of work. You obviously have nothing if you only have a good idea but no real underlying structure.

I'm saying, game mechanics alone don't make blockbusters (the exception being some internet multiplayer games) - mechanics aren't necessarily what makes the $$$. Most new games look nice, but most new games are forgotten in a year.

Mechanics are a lot of work and money, but it is not the uncommon element in the game designing world. There are a lot of production companies and programmers/artists out there.

A good idea, on the other hand, is gold - if it's developed anyways.

[brinstar]

make a game where you have to throw tacos at people and collect sombreros and the final stage is the moon

[Yamori]

make a game where you have to throw tacos at people and collect sombreros and the final stage is the moon

I'd actually love to get a team of flash designers together and make a site with a bunch of crazy games like that.

Mr. T versus the godless socialist zombie hordes and what not.

If that ever happens I'll send you an email. XD

[Tikker]

Gah, thats not what I'm saying. I understand that the underlying mechanics are tons of work. You obviously have nothing if you only have a good idea but no real underlying structure.

I'm saying, game mechanics alone don't make blockbusters (the exception being some internet multiplayer games) - mechanics aren't necessarily what makes the $$$. Most new games look nice, but most new games are forgotten in a year.

Mechanics are a lot of work and money, but it is not the uncommon element in the game designing world. There are a lot of production companies and programmers/artists out there.

A good idea, on the other hand, is gold - if it's developed anyways.

'

I know what you're saying, I'm just disagreeing with you


neat ideas are fine, but mechanics is what makes a good game

[10sun]

That game where you roll around as a ball and get bigger and bigger as you pick shit up is pretty damn fun and the graphics suck cock.

[Zanchief]

I still dislike you, but I'm better at holding grudges than most =P

Well from what I hear people LoS aren't crazy about some fledgling that spend 10 days in the guild taking their guild name and stealing a popular character name he had nothing to do with for extra leet cred in WoW.

But I could be wrong.

Just don't apply to blizzard either, cool guy.

[Narrock]

I still dislike you, but I'm better at holding grudges than most =P

Well from what I hear people LoS aren't crazy about some fledgling that spend 10 days in the guild taking their guild name and stealing a popular character name he had nothing to do with for extra leet cred in WoW.

But I could be wrong.

Just don't apply to blizzard either, cool guy.

I know some original LOS people irl, and I happen to know for a fact that most of the LOS members didn't even like Tikker after he got admitted into the guild.

[Tikker]

I still dislike you, but I'm better at holding grudges than most =P

Well from what I hear people LoS aren't crazy about some fledgling that spend 10 days in the guild taking their guild name and stealing a popular character name he had nothing to do with for extra leet cred in WoW.

I had more time in LoS than most people (there's probably only a dozen folks who had as much/more time)

I used Stampi in beta to stalk Draed with, for shitz and giggles (you know the guy who played stampi in EQ)
He got a giggle out of it, and the name just kind of stuck


I took the LoS guild tag in WoW with a placeholder twink so someone else couldn't (there was a crew of people taking a bunch of old EQ guild names early on in doomhammer)

[Tikker]

I still dislike you, but I'm better at holding grudges than most =P

Well from what I hear people LoS aren't crazy about some fledgling that spend 10 days in the guild taking their guild name and stealing a popular character name he had nothing to do with for extra leet cred in WoW.

But I could be wrong.

Just don't apply to blizzard either, cool guy.

I know some original LOS people irl, and I happen to know for a fact that most of the LOS members didn't even like Tikker after he got admitted into the guild.

That's fine

No one liked you in CoA either, what's your point?

[Gypsiyee]

Mindia, I'd wager that at this very moment in time, more people dislike you than have disliked Tikker in all of his years on this earth.

[Narrock]

I still dislike you, but I'm better at holding grudges than most =P

Well from what I hear people LoS aren't crazy about some fledgling that spend 10 days in the guild taking their guild name and stealing a popular character name he had nothing to do with for extra leet cred in WoW.

But I could be wrong.

Just don't apply to blizzard either, cool guy.

I know some original LOS people irl, and I happen to know for a fact that most of the LOS members didn't even like Tikker after he got admitted into the guild.

That's fine

No one liked you in CoA either, what's your point?

HAHA nice try dipshit. There was about 15 out of 40 regulars who didn't like me, and I didn't care anyway. It was a shit guild and everybody knew it.

[Narrock]

Mindia, I'd wager that at this very moment in time, more people dislike you than have disliked Tikker in all of his years on this earth.

The "people" you claim who dislike me don't mean a damn thing to me. They are extremely insignificant and if they don't like me it has no negative effect on me whatsoever. So stuff that in your crack pipe.