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| 3 MAY 2003 at 5:10pm |
Steve IncePrivate Detective
Posts : 571
Joined: 7 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | I can't speak for other developers, but because we develop all our own games we aren't really looking for other people's stories. Heck, we don't even have enough time to develop all the ideas we currently have...
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| 3 MAY 2003 at 5:18pm |
StammerGuild Master
Posts : 3894
Joined: 5 JAN 2003
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Steve Ince (3 MAY 2003 5:10pm)
I can't speak for other developers, but because we develop all our own games we aren't really looking for other people's stories. Heck, we don't even have enough time to develop all the ideas we currently have...
You don't have the time? Why? Who is 'pressing' you?
Resistance is not futile, we're gonna win this thing, humankind is too good, we're not a bunch of under-achievers! We're gonna stand up, and we're gonna be human beings. We're going to get fired up about the real things, the things that matter! Creativity, and the dynamic human spirit that refuses to submit.
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| 4 MAY 2003 at 2:55am |
JasonIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 6
Joined: 9 DEC 2002
Status : Online | Steve:
Thanks for taking the time out to respond. I understand where you are coming from, but I guess I have issues if your model is the industry standard, in that by comparison, in the film world, you might not work for a studio, but if you have a solid script (and one hell of an agent) you can still have a hope of getting it produced. Let me go one step further and make it slightly personal. Are you saying that because I can't draw or program I won't be able to get a job at a gaming company and therefore won't be able to pitch an idea for a game? I think it's important that a writer understand the medium and the technology, but I think more important are plot, character, flow, etc. Too many times I've seen games that look great but are lacking as games or have cardboard characters with plots riddled with cliches.
The above is not meant to be a rant, but more to explore what my options are (I don't think I can afford to quit my day job ).
Cheers,
Jason
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| 6 MAY 2003 at 1:05pm |
Baron_Von_UngernIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 41
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Sorry to disapoint you but unless you're a well known writer or have at least a couple of published book at your credit, it's very unlikely that any developper will even want to take a look at your proposal.
First, they already have plenty of ideas provided by their own game designers. Second, it would be very difficult for an outsider to write something who meet all the requirements of the project (budget, technology, etc.). Third, legally speaking, it's a risky business for a developper to accept external proposal.
As for getting a job in the industry, you don't absolutely have to know how to draw or even program. Some companies hire game designer on the sole basis of their capacities to write good story. Go ahead if you think you have what it takes.
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| 6 MAY 2003 at 1:49pm |
JasonIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 6
Joined: 9 DEC 2002
Status : Online | Thanks. I appreciate the information and the encouragement.
Jason
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| 6 MAY 2003 at 8:46pm |
SCiVPrivate Detective
Posts : 671
Joined: 22 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Jason, I've seen several ads which didn't require any programming or art skills. What they usually do ask for is some concrete design ability and understanding of most parts of development (you have to know what you can ask the programmer to create).
For instance, and apart from the actual story, they ask for a worked out system for RPG's (on paper). That includes balancing weapons, adversaries, puzzles etc.
I think, though I am no developer, that being able to think of those type of things is far more important than being able to write a story. Since it's those other things that make the actual game work.
I'm certainly not saying that the story is unimportant, but I'm sure there are far more people out in the market who can write stories, than people who can design a well balanced game (heck, even Westwood has problems with this).
Playing: World of Warcraft / Monkey Island SE&&Reading: Worldwar: Upsetting the Balance - Harry Turtledove&&Watching: Repo! The Genetic Opera
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| 22 AUG 2003 at 3:24pm |
YakumaeIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 13
Joined: 20 AUG 2003
Status : Online | So in other words, even if one of us (a non-industry person) comes up with an idea... we have no hope of seeing it developed?
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| 23 AUG 2003 at 11:20am |
papillonSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 340
Joined: 3 JUL 2003
Status : Online | well, if you come up with a "cool idea", your chances of getting a big company to buy it off you (or even take it for free) and making a game out of it are near-nonexistent, yes.
however, if you can present a full detailed script of your game, there may be little indie people (like the sort reading this board!) who are willing to work on the project.
But it has to be more than just an idea. If you come up to me and say "I want to make a game about a virus that infects humanity and turns women into anthropomorphic rabbits" my response will be "That's nice, tell me when it's done." I have a million game ideas, some of them already in prototype, sitting around, and no matter how interesting your vague proposal sounds, it's not much use to me.
Write me up a full branching story with complete dialogue and puzzles, and I'll be more interested in working on it with you. (Your grammar and spelling don't have to be perfect, mind, I'm capable of editing.)
The more talents you have, the more likely you are to find people interested in collaborating with you.
[url=http://whineaboutgames.blogspot.com]I Whine About Games[/url]&&&&[url=http://www.hanakogames.com]Anime Games[/url]
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| 23 AUG 2003 at 3:05pm |
YakumaeIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 13
Joined: 20 AUG 2003
Status : Online | Would we (could we) post those sort of things here? If, let's say, I do write out an idea with dialogue and puzzles and everything except the graphics, could I post it here? Or at the least post the "bare bones" of the game for someone to hopefully go in with me on seeing this game become reality?
I guess what I am concerned about, is that I see a lot of people on here talk about creating their own game, from their own ideas, using different free engines and that is nice and all, but what if you wanted to make a real game. That would actully be published by a company and sold to the public. Is it really possible to do that here? Is it really possible to find someone to work with you?
I know I am asking a lot of questions, so forgive my newbieishness ^_^
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| 23 AUG 2003 at 8:48pm |
Agustín CordesGuild Master
Posts : 5696
Joined: 23 OCT 2002
Location: AR, Buenos Aires
Status : Offline | I guess you could start a thread and telling the overall idea of your game but then discussing the details in private with the interested people. I wouldn't advise you to post parts of your script in a public forum because of two things: people that might eventually play your game would see it and others might 'steal' some ideas/puzzles. Better get to know the interested people and share your script with them.
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