Prototype from a beginner

[Sunchaser]

Hello,
for anyone interested, I set up a functioning prototype of a game I am building with some basic features.
It's my first attempt at creating a game, so I will gladly hear your feedback.

I would like to build a game where playing level is somewhat difficult (but not impossible) and so attract players who like a challenge.

The game is nothing new at all, it is a classical medieval RPG. However i want to introduce skills and a crafting system so players can decide to be a fighter, a merchant or a thief (etc), by deciding to improve some skills.

Making money will be very difficult and the best equipment will not be found in normal shop but it must be crafted by other players, thus creating demand.

Some notes:

- Up to now, a player can only explore the world, fight monsters, collect items and sell them. Design is still ongoing.
- English can be bad, it's not my native language. Luckily my wife knows English very well, hopefully she will help me
- Game is not balanced now, and i have not much experience in balancing, i hope to find someone that will help me
- Graphic is another issue, I am not a web designer, I will have to search for some artists.

The prototype is located at http://www.sunchaser.it

Gateway login/pwd: guest/1234
You can enter - as well - with the user guest/1234

Bye,

-- Sunchaser

[travo]

For a first attempt, this is pretty good. Alot better than my first

Here are my thoughts:

I got this when attacking:
"Mimi at A Dog with for 6 damage! (0 HP left)"
It should probably be "Mimi attacked a dog, dealing 6 damage! (0 HP left)"

I like your navigation system, how you actually move around, rather than just you are in this town, you are in this forest, etc.
I think it would be cool if you changed the way you move. Try to make a nice compass image or something, and change it so the page reloads with ajax to minimize the wait time. Also I think a map could be nice, even if it is another window rather than on the screen, just to make navigation easier.

Keep going, your doing good so far

[Sunchaser]

For a first attempt, this is pretty good. Alot better than my first

Here are my thoughts:

I got this when attacking:
"Mimi at A Dog with for 6 damage! (0 HP left)"
It should probably be "Mimi attacked a dog, dealing 6 damage! (0 HP left)"

Thanks, i will fix it

I like your navigation system, how you actually move around, rather than just you are in this town, you are in this forest, etc.
I think it would be cool if you changed the way you move. Try to make a nice compass image or something, and change it so the page reloads with ajax to minimize the wait time. Also I think a map could be nice, even if it is another window rather than on the screen, just to make navigation easier.

Nice idea, although I am not expert in ajax by now. Because the game is written in a MVC framework, i guess i can plugin another view engine quite easily. You are right about the map (i already plan to do it), I wonder it there are already some rendering script around to adapt...

Keep going, your doing good so far

Thanks

[Sunchaser]

I fixed a little problem with the redirection when the player was dead, now it's possible to explore the world again.

[KingMonkey Throughout!]

Reading your Terms of Service, I would say that they were okay HOWEVER i suggest you review these.

"Information given for an account MUST BE CORRECT. If you give your first name as 246, then we will contact you to correct it and if you do not, or we see you being called and responding to a different first name then you have broken this agreement and may be terminated at will."

"Basically, we own your account."

"You must be 15 years old or older. No exceptions. If we find out about you being younger, you WILL be deleted. "

"- The Game Management may decide at any time that you are a problem and are hindering game play for the majority and may remove you from the game."

"You will be deemed a problem if you continually: disobey staff orders and game rules, often engage in verbally abusive arguments in chat and/or mails and forum, or anything else we decide we don't like. This is purely subjective, so don't piss us off. We won't make any heat of the moment decisions, so don't worry about that. Any deletions will be cold, calculated, surgical removals. Don't become a cancer and we won't have to remove you. "

Some of the points above are "too aggressive" and if you want users to abide by them, you must make them user friendly. Other points, i believe i wouldnt Sign up to the game because they are Aggressive, "Nasty", and down right rude.

By the way that was before i logged in!

"Error: The requested address '/room/search' was not found on this server."

A good attempt for a first go! Keep trying and good luck!

[Forgotten]

Some of the points above are "too aggressive" and if you want users to abide by them, you must make them user friendly. Other points, i believe i wouldnt Sign up to the game because they are Aggressive, "Nasty", and down right rude.

I agree. You have to find a way to say all of that without coming right out and saying it lol.....But I would say 90% of the players you get won't read the TOS(or atleast that's been my experience.)

[Sunchaser]

Thank you very much for the feedback. I agree, some of the TOS should be reviewed, i got them from a game i am mantaining, but they were already set up by the owner.

Hmm, after reading them carefully you are right, some of them are really rude. Now they are like a placeholder, for sure i will change them.

About the error, thanks, I will fix it. ATM i am adding a map display system and an ajax chat, because i am designing the skill/trading system and so i can add only things that are not dependent on that design.

I am thinking about creating an internal forum, but I am delaying it because i hope someone will create if for me as a cakephp component  . I know i can integrate an already existing forum, but i am not sure atm it's the best decision.

[jannesiera]

I am thinking about creating an internal forum, but I am delaying it because i hope someone will create if for me as a cakephp component  . I know i can integrate an already existing forum, but i am not sure atm it's the best decision.

You could, also as a place holder, integrate an already existing forum for now. And then make you're own forum when you have more time / less important stuff to do.

[Sunchaser]

Hello, I released on http://www.sunchaser.it module 0.3 of my game prototype.

User:Test/1234

It's a first time attempt to design a game, and it is for now just an experiment. It's not balanced and i have still to make a lot of design decisions. I am not working a lot on it as I am busy with another project, but I am posting a new version because in this community there are many experienced members that can give useful feedback.

The game is a classical RPG where people hack and slash monsters, solve quests, explore the world, trade items etc. Players will be able to follow different paths: warrior/mercenary, trader or thief by deciding which skills to train. Armors, items and Weapons will be crafted by players, although some basic items will be available in city shops.

Module 0.3 contains some communications addons (chat and forum), Mines, Bank and a Market. Mines can be rented in the Major Office. Once a mine it is bought, a player can dig to find steel ore that can be sold in the Market. Mines, Market can be found on the Map.

Feedback, suggestions etc, are of course appreciated.

[Hypemaster]

It would be nice if you have an overview of where you are atm in world on the page itself instead in a popup. Just bit hard to imagina where i am on the map. Overall a good start.

[Sunchaser]

You mean I should put the map directly in the screen?
I did not do it to avoid querying the db each time, in this way the db is queried only when the player ask for the map... any suggestion?

The red spot on the map show where you are, if you keep the mouse on the tile it gives you some info on the place.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Hypemaster]

Well, i would ask for it each time anyway. I like to know where i am. And it is only 1 query i think. So geuss no big deal.
I also found a bug when i click [search room] in City of Carvahall - Alchemy World: Error:  The requested address '/room/search' was not found on this server..

[Sunchaser]

Thanks (i have to remove the link), search is not working yet

[Crazy-T]

Hello, I released on http://www.sunchaser.it module 0.3 of my game prototype.

User:Test/1234

It's a first time attempt to design a game, and it is for now just an experiment. It's not balanced and i have still to make a lot of design decisions. I am not working a lot on it as I am busy with another project, but I am posting a new version because in this community there are many experienced members that can give useful feedback.

The game is a classical RPG where people hack and slash monsters, solve quests, explore the world, trade items etc. Players will be able to follow different paths: warrior/mercenary, trader or thief by deciding which skills to train. Armors, items and Weapons will be crafted by players, although some basic items will be available in city shops.

Module 0.3 contains some communications addons (chat and forum), Mines, Bank and a Market. Mines can be rented in the Major Office. Once a mine it is bought, a player can dig to find steel ore that can be sold in the Market. Mines, Market can be found on the Map.

Feedback, suggestions etc, are of course appreciated.

Might want to fix the message system, can read other peoples mails/messages

[Sunchaser]

Thanks, will fix it in the next module.