Designing a game...

I really have this craving for generating my own game, however I lack both the determination, programming skills, and computer generated sound skills... and perhaps the art skills (that's all you need for a game, really) however E can make good art for it that very closely resembles a Nintendo GAME BOY COLOR... Which would also be easy to generate sounds and programming for. So if you have the necessary skills and equipment for any of the following jobs and are interested in designing a computer video game, or if you have some ideas for the game itself, please post here!

We will need the following:
[1] Director (most likely me) - lays out the plot, explains how the game is going to be, keeps up with the general design of the game, etc.
[1] Co-Director - keeps track of everything the director does so that the game isn't a one man show.

[2 or 3] Graphics Designers (again probably me) - generates picture files for every object in the game (if we are doing 16 bit style graphics like GAME BOYs have, each object that takes up more than one space like buildings will be broken up into pieces. Also, animation will require at least two pictures to get a good flowing or at least believable movement).

[2-4] Music Designers - write and compose computer generated music to fit the gameplay. this job may be the most difficult and will likely require high amounts of idea input.

[2-4] Sound Effects (SFX) Creators - generate sounds to match the events of the game, such as rumbling of thunder, clashing of swords, firing of guns, etc.

[2-?] Scriptors - write out the dialogue that will exist in game for the programmers to implement as text or the voice actors to record.

[???] Voice Actors (IF ANY -- until the general idea of the game is created, it is unknown whether dialogue will exist in it. Most GAME BOY games are known to use text that appears across the screen with sound effects like bleeping as opposed to voices) - record a vocal version of scripting for various characters

[2 or 3] Programmers (there's the slightest chance i will do this as well...) - uses the graphics, music, SFX, and scripts (whether textual or vocal) to animate the video game and everything that happens in it; generates the animation by making the animated picture set appear in order. There need to be at least 2 in order to keep track of programming flaws and bugs. This may be the hardest job besides music designers

To me this sounds like an AWESOME idea, however I worry that we don't have the tools to do this or even the ability to pass legal restrictions in order to make the game useable in public (this forum counts as legally public)... But my approach is let's team up and give it a try!
 
sorry for the double post and self bumb but
I'm craving a project to work on and the closest thing i have to designing a video game is Morrowind's Construction Set... but that isn't teamwork...
I'm sitting here anxiously awaiting another post and unable to stop craving the awesomeness of the ideas i have x_x

we could make a CHRISTIAN game together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just want to make one ASAP o_o"
 
beep, bop, beep, sqweak

Amicus Dei of [FoG];230344 said:
To me this sounds like an AWESOME idea, however I worry that we don't have the tools to do this or even the ability to pass legal restrictions in order to make the game useable in public (this forum counts as legally public)... But my approach is let's team up and give it a try!

It sounds like a awesome idea because I've dreamt about the possibilities of making video games daily for about 20 years :) . However the Gerbil is a notorious slacker so I cannot offer any help in the way of the working on anything :p . If I were to make a game it would probably be on my own, for personal reasons. However I've done A LOT of looking around and accumulated a lot of web sites that deal with making games and provide free resources. So in that regard here are some links to all the tools you need to make a game. Most are to free open source programs or resources that you can legally use to make a game so no problem there :) . Please understand while they appear ok on the surface I have not thoroughly checked all these sites for content. I am sure there is at least a little cussing in a couple of the secular ones.

For 3D content creation:
Blender is a free modeling program with which anything you make with it is yours :) It also has it's own game engine included with it. There are several video tutorials on it available on it on the internet as well.
http://www.blender.org/

For Free Textures:
http://www.cgtextures.com/

For 2D content creation:
I haven't done much searching as I use photoshop. However some on the forums use Gimp which is free.
http://gimp.org/

For Coding and Game Engines:
A free C++ compiler.
http://www.bloodshed.net/devcpp.html

Or you could use the free Microsoft visual express editions. The problem with this is unlike the other programs listed here you cannot use the content produced by these programs in a commercial way. However once you actually made a game you should be able to purchase the full appropriate program and recompile your code without much trouble. I personally hate Visual C++ Express (C++ is the language I would suggest learning), but, it works with many game engines as some compilers are incompatible with other game engines.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/

This site documents many of the free or low cost open source game engines available and has much more information too.
http://www.devmaster.net/engines/
In particular I find Crystal Space a interesting possibility.
http://www.crystalspace3d.org/main/Main_Page
Also I know Garage Games sponsored a Christian game developers conference at some point so someone at the company may have Christian views IDK. However their programs cost money.
http://www.garagegames.com/

Sound:
I've got a lot more links to sound free effect sites, but, often the license is unclear to me. This site appears to allow you to use it's sound effects in any work as long as you credit the author somewhere in your work.
http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/index.php

As to music I use Tracktion. Which was at one point licenced for free, however, the time has long since passed on that offer. I do know a lot of places that have music making content VSTs etc. but, you will still need a editor to house them. So you are on your own here.

As to a few suggestions:
I never actually posted here so I don't know what the people are like, but, a Christian game making forum exists.
http://www.christiancoders.com/main.shtml

For a first game I think a choice based game would probably be the easiest to do and most effective for time spent. Similar to all the the dating games out there, but, without the immoral content which they all pretty much have. You'd only need the program to have a couple text buttons to choose from and call the appropriate picture when pressed, something even my programming skills could probably do.

You may want to make a post specifically asking if some people have content they don't mind you using. I know one person that writes some music and while it may not be specifically made for your game it may be appropriate and free!

I am pretty secret about my game ideas, but, I have no problem if you just want to talk general game creation stuff. You should note my experience is pretty small in technical areas though :p The only program I claim any proficiency in is Photoshop 7. Anyway those links should keep you busy for quite a while :) Just ask if you need more.
 
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For 3D content creation:
Blender is a free modeling program with which anything you make with it is yours :) It also has it's own game engine included with it. There are several video tutorials on it available on it on the internet as well.
http://www.blender.org/

Just as a note, Blender has a bit of a steep learning curve. If you've never used it, you WILL have difficulty with it and will most likely get frustrated with it. I've been using it for a few years, teaching myself how to use its many functions, ever since around version 1.33 I believe. It has grown SOOOO much since then, and every version brings about new features. The game engine is quite cool however it is one of the many parts of the program I have yet to truly explore. A good game does require a bit of coding as well as knowledge of the event editor and animation scripts.

May I suggest that if you are really serious about making a game, you should try some basic java based games or visual basic games to familiarize yourself with some basic coding, then move on to a more complicated system like blender.

Good luck.
 
There is a world of difference between 2d and 3d programming. Also I really hate the syntax of VB and Java because it takes too long to interpret human wise.

For a start you can try a text game, all you have to do is develop the math for replacing characters in a 2 demension array and "rendering" them to a text block.

I like C++ because I took it in school. I am slowly learning c#/mono (as it can be deployed in linux/windows/osx with little difficulty) but it is very class based and may be a bit confusing at first.
 
java is class based and not confusing...

hmm...
I was thinking something more of an adventure game like Zelda and Mario...

I do NOT want world based or sidescrolling like Mario (barf), but it may be hard to apply the super complex puzzles and the shear volume of things you can do in Legend of Zelda x_x...


We need to get some ideas going as to what kind of game we're making...

I'm thinking 16 bit so that it's easy to imagine, draw, put together, and animate. Give me some ideas!!!
 
I know: we could make a game about SoE, lol.

Here's MM:
MM.jpg

hehe, and here is a compilation of a few Zelda things that i copied from Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages on my GAME BOY:
Zelda16-bitfigures.jpg

the boy in the grass is huge because i didn't actually count pixels and draw it to size, i just roughly expanded him to meet the size for something i was going to do with him (legend of zelda fansite forum that i ultimately never made...)
 
shameless self bump/double post (wow i'm really getting good at this, aren't I?)

BTW: The two reasons I made a character for MM instead of all you others are:
1) I have a model for making her character (her avatar), but no model for anyone else's
2) I am her minion and would otherwise get no cookies and starve to death (although this reason wasn't thought up until i was thinking about choosing another character when struggling to make her wand)
 
I used to know a really awesome design toolkit for 2d zelda like games. It was really neat and fairly painless to design stuff. I will try and figure out the toolkit sometime...
 
could you connect we with this toolkit you've found? rofl.

I'm bringing in any of my guildies who wish to participate with me in this, but I've told them to keep it strictly to guild chat and this site so HOLY and various other people don't launch a full-scale invasion of CGA and pillage the site to death.

I've created my two main characters (in the same order as listed above the picture in my signature):
arrows.jpg
whitehotmonk.jpg


if you like the legend of zelda and pianos then have some delicious legend of zelda music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7dMIESM_p4&mode=related&search=
WARNING: do not go to the site he dedicated it to (not a Christian friendly area)! x_x
however it's great music :D
 
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i have a head of stored up ideas and i really want to make a game(or 2 or 3) but, i don't think that's what God has for me, even if it is in my free time. (which was a big bummer and i stuggled with that idea for a while).,
 
I can do lots of different voices :)

*insert strongbad voice here* like its so easy, I simply need to hear one, *switches to jim carrey* Annnd it just *sean connery* Flowsh rright out shimply
 
Amicus Dei of [FoG];230358 said:
sorry for the double post and self bumb but
I'm craving a project to work on and the closest thing i have to designing a video game is Morrowind's Construction Set... but that isn't teamwork...
I'm sitting here anxiously awaiting another post and unable to stop craving the awesomeness of the ideas i have x_x

we could make a CHRISTIAN game together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just want to make one ASAP o_o"

lawl, I tried TES: Construction Set. I failed miserably >_> <_<


[2-?] Scriptors - write out the dialogue that will exist in game for the programmers to implement as text or the voice actors to record.

ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US
 
Let me know if/when you need help, i'll fill in as much as possible where needed, i love doing this stuff...i taught myself by hacking/editing freeware..

Edit: I'll do whatever except for Director/co-director...i'm bad at running the show...i like doing the background work...i have a good evil voice too..maybe it has something to do with one of my fav quotes "Power corrupts. Absolute power is kinda neat"
 
May I suggest that if you are really serious about making a game, you should try some basic java based games or visual basic games to familiarize yourself with some basic coding, then move on to a more complicated system like blender.

I'm very familiar with Java and I'm a quick/efficient learner for anything systematic or logical (especially on computers, thanks to GUI)...

C$ said:
lawl, I tried TES: Construction Set. I failed miserably >_> <_<
O.O" TES: Construction Set is the most user-friendly game editor in the world... It has everything in the game set out for you that you need (unless of course you want to make new or make changes to old graphics and sounds... in which case you'll need 3DSMax for .nif files or a high quality microphone and quiet environment for sound).

I use the Construction Set so often... I used to use it to cheat when I found out about the command prompt (press ~)... So now when I want to add items or finish quests or even kill things immediately i player->additem or Journal ____ __ or ____->setHealth 0. I use the TES: CS for actual new aspects of the game (I'm currently working on a new guild for the protection of Vvardenfell's society based in Balmora [my favorite Vvardenfell town <3] and I need a .nif editor if I'm going to expand on the Heather Armor idea I have...)

sdenotter said:
I can do lots of different voices :)
As can I, however I can make up voices better than I imitate other people's (I'm good at that, too :p )

ajmucha said:
I'll do whatever except for Director/co-director...i'm bad at running the show...
Yeah I'm not powerhungry but if I don't get a head position or at least some substantial influence in a major project I tend to dislike the outcome... Especially when I'm rejected and the outcome is bad for all of us (5th grade we did a class game/project that lasted months and we lost because they disregarded me and chose the most obvious trap situations thinking there was no chance of losing...)

Yeah we need to get some ideas flowing... and some positions enlisted.

Anybody not occupying a position in this project can supply input freely (I highly recommend it so that the outcome pleases you all and I don't have the deciding factor on what it is).
 
Let's get this show on the road, please. lol.
I'm thinking of a simple, level based, 3d game, in which you select a character and attempt to achieve a goal. If anyone has played Diner Dash, this is a good example of what I'm thinking of. Only in our game, we're not going to be waitors/waitresses, and we can choose a character, each of which have their own advantages/disadvantages.

Links:
Graphics:
Blender Downloads Page (3D graphics program) and Blender Tutorials Page I recommend starting with Noob to Pro - it's pretty long but you won't be remotely good without it. Then perhaps do one of the texture tutorials (I think UV texturing's tutorial is more comprehensive).
Photofiltre Downloads Page This is a great, free, 2D graphics editor that is the closest thing to Photoshop for $900 less!

Programmers:
JCreator Downloads Page Download JCreator LE to write Java programs here.

Music:
Finale Notepad Download Page I use Notepad to write music. You can use it for up to 8 instruments and it plays the note when you write it so you can hear if it sounds good or not. It has playback abilities.


If you know links to free downloadable programs that are better than these and won't give your computer viruses or adware, feel free to let me know... these are just programs I use all the time that I find very useful.

P.S.: this thread is my haven for double posting i guess... that probably means nobody is interested...
 
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The problem I have is when you realize that you need several hundred lines of code just to get a 3d environment where you can move around in. I don't have the time and I don't think people are willing to invest in what is necessary to achieve this.

And don't use java, it is sloooooooow. You don't just pick tools off of a tree and throw them into a basket and pray they mesh together.

Try going to source forge and searching for "Game Engine" and find 3 or 4 that look promising then look what file formats they use.

Also before a game is even considered to go into the programming stage you need a clear storyline and some concept art or you will be thrashing around doing alot of redundant work.
 
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