Content creation

[lolninja]

Hey, I've recently been working on some tools to help me create content for my planned game.
My current project to is write a level editor, using canvas I have been able to product quite an impressive interface, although it lacks complete functionality I am able to draw maps quickly, once drawn the maps can be processed to allow me to calculate the distance from any point on the map to any other. Although there is still loads left to do on the back-end, namely generating complex bitmaps to depict the geometry, and render off a copy of the maps so I can import them into google maps.

This got me thinking, is writing tools to aid in the creation of content important to you? or would you much rather focus on writing games rather than tools to help make games further down the road?

I mainly ask because I have a habit of over-engineering a problem to the point that it loses all value, because its taken months to write something that saves a couple hours a month.

[Nox]

My worries are exactly the opposite - I want so much to progress with game that I'm not willing to spend my time creating administrative interface
(as I want to be the only creator) and I fear it'll bite me in future (e.g. when I'd want to have moderators...or to speed my own work (but I'm not sure
it will really speed it up and not slow down, same as you) )
...however I don't have any completed running project, so I would appreciate advice as well

[Pdquinn]

In my experience running game teams (ultimately failing at it, but learning valuable lessons, gee whiz!) you have to balance tool creation and content creation. Sure in the long run having a set of tools to streamline content creation is dandy, but spend to much time in the beginning working on those and there is a lack of focus on the actual game.

Why I try to do is balance between the two. This is easier to do with a larger team, where you can have some folks work on tools and others working on content or engine.  For a smaller team, find your priorities, how important is it you get the game fully functional in a timely manner. 

If you spend all your time on tools, you could risk loosing interest.

[lolninja]

For a smaller team, find your priorities, how important is it you get the game fully functional in a timely manner. 

If you spend all your time on tools, you could risk loosing interest.

I think this is the main think I need to think about, so far my priorities have been to write code that is challenging on an intellectual level, hence the mesh based navigation system that I've written which uses A* to find the optimal path through the 2d mesh, and I now think I need to start working out what I need my code to do, and how is the best method to accomplish that goal.

Since starting work on developing a browser game I have stopped and started a fair few times, implementing challenging components then giving up and restarting 3 months later.

I will finish this editor, but I will also be cutting a few of the planned features, and try and get it functional sooner rather than later. Then I can start thinking about how to integrate my map system into something that resembles a game :S

[Pdquinn]

I'm thinking a modular system would be your best bet. Lay some framework for the game. Get it to run with basic functionality but create so it can be easily modified by adding modules or removing it. This way you can create your tools after you have the basic game up and plug them in with updates later on. If it doesn't work, or doesn't fit your needs remove it until it does.

Legend of a Green Dragon is a good example of this.

[lolninja]

That does sound like a good idea, but I've already invested a large number of hours implementing the path finding system that I feel I have to finish this one element. With the map editor complete I will have a good % of a simple game working, as in you will be able to pan around a map, and workout how long it takes to get from any location to any other in a few milliseconds.
Once I have the mapping system down, I will then look into implementing a modular system, as this will allow me to test out what works, without much time being spent on development.

Also with a fully functional mapping system I can finalise my graphical requirements, and look into commissioning some tile-sets.

Thanks again for your input, your are right in saying that I need to implement a more bare-bones system, them flesh everything out once I have proven it to work, and I will follow this advice once my level editor is complete, at which point I will upload a video of it in action, and some example maps

[Pdquinn]

Thats basically all I'm good for, is really good ideas.
I have minimal programming knowledge and I cannot draw.

[lolninja]

Hey, its been a while but I have gotten a pre-alpha demo of my map editor working for anyone who is interested. Its still buggy, and its feature set is very limited, but its working

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7j8_rySt_Y

The idea is once the editor is more complete, I will be able to use my mesh based path finding system to make some semi real-time PBBG , though it'll likely be a strategy game, rather than a Zelda clone, simply because writing an mmo that functions over http is a tad hardcore for my web first game project.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skM8Jbb6ABk


Hope you enjoy

edit...
Just wanted to add that I have moved a load of blog content over to my new domain, dropped my OSS Fuzzy-State Machine code and uploaded some videos of my works in progress. My new blog can be found at http://httpmmo.com/.