PBBRPG Game Concept

[oddedd]

Right so here we go. I have no programing knowledge at all but am pretty happy I could learn without a problem. So I am hoping that posting my concept on here will generate some interest and advice, and maybe even some support that will spur me on and drive me to actually do it. And you never know maybe even a programer will like it enough to take it on and I'll just learn as we go, and fund it.

Firstly, I am not ashamed to name my game mechanics inspiration as Cantr and Faery tale online as I think they are amazing and the kind of game I would like. However as for genre, Cantr is very neutral and a strange mix of tech levels and FTO is very fantasy, and I would like to try to bring some science fiction to the table. The majority of pbb scifi games are on too great a scale for my taste, where you play some space commander and create a massive empire to conquer other peoples massive empires, (please if I'm wrong tell me what game I've been missing!) If you could bring some space travel, and space mining, flying and such things to a game that is about characters and individuals, I think it would be simply amazing. However this presents alot of challenges as to how exactly you program and work in futuristic items such as communications, computers, flight, space travel, etc into a game like this. But I beleive with enough discussion and some outside the box thinking it could be pulled off.

I would still like to include some lower tech style elements so you have sections similar to firefly, where you have people riding around on hoarse back with spaceships cutting about! I think computers electricity and high technology elements should be availible in sucha game, but they would be as they are in the real world, difficult to manufacture and electricity to power them would have to be generated.

Anyway I dont want to go into too many details yet, please tell me what you think, thanks,

Edd

[Barrikor]

I say go for it  

I've never played Cantr or Faery Tale Online, but I've seen Firefly, (awesome show btw)

Since you are new to web programming you'll probably want to create a web site or two first, so that you get the flow and understand how the different languages work and interact with each other.

Oh, and welcome to the forum 

[oddedd]

Thanks for thar Barrikor, I don't know why but I was expecting negativity in response to that post. I dont even know where to start though to be honest haha, I fancy doing that though, I'm going to give it a go!

[dbest]

Write all your ideas on a piece of paper and lay it out infront of you. See what you think works and what will not. Chop the ideas till you are happy that what you have in front of you will be a game that will be played and enjoyed.

For developing the game, you could start from here:
http://buildingbrowsergames.com/tutorials/

Before that, get a good grip on HTML, PHP (or any other server side language) and a bit of CSS.

[oddedd]

*BUMP* So I'm still interested in this and done a lot of planning but not alot learning of mysql or perl like I should be! Is there anyone out there wanna come aboard?

[BlackScorp]

perl?? wtf?? learn, php, mysql, javascript, take a look at frameworks, which has already basic functions like regestrations, and stuffs.. using frameworks is everytime the best choise on new projects;) but it requred programming skills

[Nox]

*BUMP* So I'm still interested in this and done a lot of planning but not alot learning of mysql or perl like I should be! Is there anyone out there wanna come aboard?

I'd say start small, keep your design as a vision and create a design for something, that follows the vision but is very small in scale, containing the core mechanics. That will allow you to focus on what matters and keep away from doing something too big, overengineering, feature creep and other similar stuff.
(what dbest suggested is also good)

As for languages - while I share BlackScorp's dislike for Perl I realize it's rather subjective, however PHP is certainly more popular and common for development, so I'd suggest the languages he mentioned as well.

I'm sure you can find a lot of tutorials on the web ... did you take a look at the link dbest posted?

Not sure if I'd advise using framework while not knowing the language first ... never tried that...

[Chris]

but not alot learning of mysql or perl like I should be!

I call this being a masochist People who don't love coding but insisting on making computer games for a reason beyond my comprehention. To make a browser game you have to code, catch bugs, fix broken things. That's what it is about. If you don't love doing these things then you don't make computer games. You could make boardgames for example (no coding required at all!) Learning to code just because you are "supposed to" is a weird concept to me. Making games is not fun enough to be worth it.

Let's face it, we on this forum are abnominions, the freaks of nature who were unlucky to be born with a perversive desire to put strange symbols and numbers on notepad in a twisted way that makes things appear on a computer screen. If you can avoid this sad fate I strongly recommend it

[hiigara]

but not alot learning of mysql or perl like I should be!

I call this being a masochist People who don't love coding but insisting on making computer games for a reason beyond my comprehention. To make a browser game you have to code, catch bugs, fix broken things. That's what it is about. If you don't love doing these things then you don't make computer games. You could make boardgames for example (no coding required at all!) Learning to code just because you are "supposed to" is a weird concept to me. Making games is not fun enough to be worth it.

Let's face it, we on this forum are abnominions, the freaks of nature who were unlucky to be born with a perversive desire to put strange symbols and numbers on notepad in a twisted way that makes things appear on a computer screen. If you can avoid this sad fate I strongly recommend it

You almost make me want to commit suicide.
I remember when I was a kid, those things that appear on the computer screen made feel like I was king of the world.
Programming games is about giving some of that happiness to the next generation.
And if you look it from a cold business perspective, I am pretty sure some of these kids will give me money if it means that their character will have a sword capable of whacking the other kids in a duel.

[Chris]

but not alot learning of mysql or perl like I should be!

I call this being a masochist People who don't love coding but insisting on making computer games for a reason beyond my comprehention. To make a browser game you have to code, catch bugs, fix broken things. That's what it is about. If you don't love doing these things then you don't make computer games. You could make boardgames for example (no coding required at all!) Learning to code just because you are "supposed to" is a weird concept to me. Making games is not fun enough to be worth it.

Let's face it, we on this forum are abnominions, the freaks of nature who were unlucky to be born with a perversive desire to put strange symbols and numbers on notepad in a twisted way that makes things appear on a computer screen. If you can avoid this sad fate I strongly recommend it

You almost make me want to commit suicide.
I remember when I was a kid, those things that appear on the computer screen made feel like I was king of the world.
Programming games is about giving some of that happiness to the next generation.
And if you look it from a cold business perspective, I am pretty sure some of these kids will give me money if it means that their character will have a sword capable of whacking the other kids in a duel.

? I don't understand anything you wrote. I can't find nothing about business or money in this topic... I was simply trying to say that if you are a programmer you should love to code.

[hiigara]

? I don't understand anything you wrote. I can't find nothing about business or money in this topic... I was simply trying to say that if you are a programmer you should love to code.

I thought you were discouraging him from writing games. I was trying to say that people write games for fun. And it's not such a weird hobbie, cause if you are good enough it can be a job like any other.

[Chris]

? I don't understand anything you wrote. I can't find nothing about business or money in this topic... I was simply trying to say that if you are a programmer you should love to code.

I thought you were discouraging him from writing games. I was trying to say that people write games for fun. And it's not such a weird hobbie, cause if you are good enough it can be a job like any other.

Oh. I too was trying to say that people write games for fun But I don't agree it is not a weird hobby, it is a very weird and abnormal one. The thing is that many players like PLAYING games and think they would like MAKING them too, while in fact these two things have not much in common, those who play games usually would hate making games. I was saying that you should not jump into conclusion that you like MAKING games too soon, because you might end up frustrated. It is not a hobby for everyone. Not everyone would enjoy making games (even if they love playing them). Trying to make a game if you don't really like making games (which usually, but not always, means liking coding) is a total nightmare.

[oddedd]

well you are right, Im not sure Im cut out for coding, but I think the prospect of playing my own dream game is worth giving it a shot, and anyway, if you love it so much, why dont you do it for me :-P

[oddedd]

oh and
www.squareonegame.com

[Chris]

but I think the prospect of playing my own dream game

There is a good old rule, "thou shall not play games made by you". You make games for others to play and for yourself to code. You don't make games your yourself to play. The rule is tripple true for multiplayer games. Making a game for yourself to play is a straight road to frustration, despair, unfinished projects and degenerated design.

if you love it so much, why dont you do it for me :-P

Well... And what kind of game you would want to have been made?

[Barrikor]

well you are right, Im not sure Im cut out for coding, but I think the prospect of playing my own dream game is worth giving it a shot, and anyway, if you love it so much, why dont you do it for me :-P

Programs and games evolve (or devolve) as you write them, your dream game is the goal but the finished product will be different since it will change along the way due to obstacles and new ideas.

The only way for your dream game to exist is for you to write it yourself. (Also you might have to go through a couple versions ex: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, to reach it - adding new features with each version)

[Sim]

I'm about to add my game thing =)

[oddedd]

Well I strongly disagree with you not creating a game for yourself, and know successful examples of this happening, such as cantr. Sure if you're gOing to write a story etc it'll never work, but my Plan for this game is simply a framework rather than a story etc, so it'd work just fine! After all this if anyone would like more info or want to help me code this please email me on eddhessen@gmail.com