Recruiting For A Player-Developed Partner Planet Project

[mastermesh]

Engines: Tourque engine (cheap, can create webbased 3D games), RealmCrafter(even cheaper)

Yes, torque is cheap to start out, but it gets pricey later on. I do like it though and use it myself for some projects that I'd like to work on, might be working on now, or in the future someday. http://www.torquepowered.com/products/torque-3d

Truely free alternatives, like Crystal Space do exist. I am somewhat interested, but do not know that I can put in too much of the time needed to do truly outstanding work, at least in the 3d area. However, there are possibly some areas in other realms that I might be able to help having several thousand photos on Turbosquid, a BFA in Studio Painting, and a Minor in Theater. I used to do a lot of indie 3d stuff several years ago, but gave up on it over time due to being tired of doing a lot of work with little or no pay. I might be willing to try to find some free time to help, but make no real promises about how much I can help.

First things first... Get together a SOLID plan. Focus on key areas and how you can get the entire plan together to a stage of completion that is realistic and possible. In other words, SET DEADLINES and stick to them. My advice to anyone who really wants do this sort of stuff is to make it easy for all involved (use freeware when possible - devcpp, eclipse, etc. instead of Microsoft Visual C++ or .net, etc. (even though ultimately that stuff might be needed since MA seems to use Visual C++, and a lot of proprietary M$ stuff)), make it organized, know what your goals are, plan to stick to this for a LOOONG time. Average normal video game development time for real professionals is 2 years or more sometimes. Do you think amateurs working in spare time, not 40 hours a week like the pros, can really accomplish the same level of work in a similar timespan - yes, it is possible, but plan on giving credit where credit is due, giving people incentives to work for you (regular paycheck does help give some incentive), etc. Storywise, there's lots and lots of possibilities.

First thing first... gather as much info about what tools you plan to use and post tutorials and links to where people can get the software and how to use the software. This can become a learning tool for all involved... and sticking to cheap or free software will help get people involved. Don't force people in to paying for the newest version of Adobe Photoshop, Premiere, Lightwave, Maya, Zbrush, 3d Studio Max, etc. before even allowing them to join, costing them tons of money to even come in the front door of a project like this.

Get your ideas together more solidly. Perhaps you could join forces with Project Moderna, which is the same type of project really. Lots of little projects like this out there are going to split the community. Get one project going, not a bunch of little ones that will never be completed since they all drain the resources of one another through competition. Working together usually gets way more done then working against one another - that's true for just about anything, and has always been my theme and goal in EU.

 

[sky west]

Too much negativity, Sky West. I know business is important, but so is every other aspect of the Planet, and there is some stuff we should get done before securing investments. We aren't expecting any money right here in the first few days of this huge undertaking. Having some of the product ready to show off isn't going to hurt us.

Im just trying to appeal to your sense of reality. I dont want to be negative, but if thats how you see this then I wish you all the best securing an investment with a scrapbook of artwork and a 3 page storyline.

 

[J. Mandrake]

Yes, torque is cheap to start out, but it gets pricey later on. Truely free alternatives, like Crystal Space do exist. I am somewhat interested, but do not know that I can put in too much of the time needed to do truly outstanding work, at least in the 3d area. However, there are possibly some areas in other realms that I might be able to help having several thousand photos on Turbosquid, a BFA in Studio Painting, and a Minor in Theater. I used to do a lot of indie 3d stuff several years ago, but gave up on it over time due to being tired of doing a lot of work with little or no pay. I might be willing to try to find some free time to help, but make no real promises about how much I can help.

First things first... Get together a SOLID plan. Focus on key areas and how you can get the entire plan together to a stage of completion that is realistic and possible. In other words, SET DEADLINES and stick to them. My advice to anyone who really wants do this sort of stuff is to make it easy for all involved (use freeware when possible - devcpp, eclipse, etc. instead of Microsoft Visual C++ or .net, etc. (even though ultimately that stuff might be needed since MA seems to use Visual C++, and a lot of proprietary M$ stuff)), make it organized, know what your goals are, plan to stick to this for a LOOONG time. Average normal video game development time for real professionals is 2 years or more sometimes. Do you think amateurs working in spare time, not 40 hours a week like the pros, can really accomplish the same level of work in a similar timespan - yes, it is possible, but plan on giving credit where credit is due, giving people incentives to work for you (regular paycheck does help give some incentive), etc. Storywise, there's lots and lots of possibilities.

Yeah, it's definitely going to take a long time. But I'm not sure about the whole freeware thing. Blender, for example, is a great 3D program, but I don't know if it can really output models in a format that CE2 can read. I know for a fact you have to use a user-made script to import it. I guess we could get someone who knows Python to make an exporter? I don't know, I'll look into that exporting thing, there might be a way. We'd love the help of a talented artist such as yourself, too. And I do intend on using the payment method Nirfu described (hours = shares,) I just need someone who is more familiar with such a method to help manage it. I don't know if donations are going to be viable, though they might help. I guess the one area I do really need to elect a true leader in is finances, having someone with experience there is one place that could make or break it all for us. It'd have to be someone pretty dedicated to such a project. We'd also need some contracts and stuff to make sure nobody runs off with the money. I'm truly lost in all of that, and I'm sure I could spend years learning it. I just need someone who knows how to handle that kind of stuff to hop on board and commit some long term attention to the project.

EDIT: PPM is going for a more educationally themed planet, I think. If our paths HAPPEN to cross in that sector, yes, a merge would probably be best. But it's also best not to group everyone up in one project and have no consensus as to what we plan on doing.

 

[trance]

Im working on leveldesign, modelling buildings and machines. Im skilled in Torque 3D, also i have a good understanding of the cry2 sandbox. Maybe i be interested in join the team. Some poor programmer skills also available

 

[ruslan]

Now, the question is can you be a player and a developer simultaneously?

 

[mastermesh]

One thing which I think both your project and Post Moderna could do, is ask for information... Ask MA questions. Ask Neverdie Studios questions. Ask Crytek itself questions. Ask as many questions as you can. Learn as much as you can. Share you knowledge with your team and everyone in general. Knowledge is power, and it seeks to be free!

Here's just a simple little google I did:
http://www.google.com/search?q=crye...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

and just the first couple of hits on that tells me there's a modding community, with lots of tutorials
http://maxedgaming.com/tutorials/kb_categorie.php?id=2

A manual http://doc.crymod.com/AssetCreation/frames.html?frmname=topic&frmfile=index.html which shows exporter plugins for xsi and 3ds max...

a few more google searches tells me .obj might work for textures and .fbx might work for transferring animations out of blender in to 3dsmax or xsi... Collada file format might even work for some stuff...

and yes, blender plugin might actually exist already http://www.crymod.com/thread.php?threadid=16955 - no idea if it works for ce2 or just ce1, but it's a start in the right direction... and gives you the contact of who made the first plugin so maybe you can talk them in to helping you in the future, either with paid or freebie work to help with the project...

Also, supposedly there is a free sort of xsi for developers? http://forums.luxology.com/discussion/topic.aspx?id=39758

Do start reading over at http://www.crymod.com/board.php?boardid=188 when you get time. You also might look for every free video training or just plain ol text tutorials you can find on whatever software you do decide to have the team work with... http://www.cgtalk.com and http://www.3dbuzz.com might be two places to start some conversations...

ONE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY big problem a lot of indie developers have is that they start gigantic projects like this and bite off far more then they can chew... then get a lot of others involved, and eventually the projects die out due to lack of interest, burnout, or just plainly not enough real leadership that has planned things out in a way that can get people who want in involved and out...

One thing you might also look in to is how the folks over at http://www.massanimation.com/ have done what they did... They put several BIG projects together, asking for community help from places like facebook, and they have had lots of support and help. Maybe you could team up with someone like that to help out, or just learn what they did that worked and why, and how you can use similar techniques... Asking over here, in ef, where the actual participants exist probably isn't the best place to ask for a lot of help for 3d animation stuff. It is helpful from the fact that people dedicated to EU live over here... but looking for folks that know the 3d packages, game engines, etc. are not likely to live here too much, or are only here in little spurts now and then and don't completely live over here all the time... a few other places I can think of looking for help might be http://www.mattepainting.org, 3dlinks.com, and if you hone in on whatever packages you really want to work with, each package has it's own forum and community around it.... newtek.com for lightwave, blender.org for blender, etc.

 

[J. Mandrake]

Im working on leveldesign, modelling buildings and machines. Im skilled in Torque 3D, also i have a good understanding of the cry2 sandbox. Maybe i be interested in join the team. Some poor programmer skills also available

Awesome, I'd love to see some nice levels and buildings in the game, maybe like old beacon missions but a bit more varied

Now, the question is can you be a player and a developer simultaneously?

We may need to make separate accounts. I don't think MA lets us edit the looting system at all, so we will probably still be allowed to play, just not on our "working" accounts.

One thing which I think both your project and Post Moderna could do, is ask for information... Ask MA questions. Ask Neverdie Studios questions. Ask Crytek itself questions. Ask as many questions as you can. Learn as much as you can. Share you knowledge with your team and everyone in general. Knowledge is power, and it seeks to be free!

Sounds good, I'll ask as much as they're willing to answer!

Edit: Also, I've already thought about looking into places like GA and PolyCount. I just thought I'd get some players during the initial idea phase, I know it will be helpful to look outside of the community here when we get down to the technical aspect of it. Adding "someone who knows how to operate a server" onto list of things I need. Right below sleep.

 

[mastermesh]

I also think you should seriously look in to a cvs setup so you don't have people overwriting one another's files all the time... and get a server that can handle all of that, ftp, and enough space to do whatever needs to get done.

 

[Nirfu]

I also think you should seriously look in to a cvs setup so you don't have people overwriting one another's files all the time... and get a server that can handle all of that, ftp, and enough space to do whatever needs to get done.

For cvs take a look here:
http://www.nongnu.org/cvs/#introduction

A free soft and also links to other cvs softs.

 

[remontoire]

Yes, torque is cheap to start out, but it gets pricey later on. I do like it though and use it myself for some projects that I'd like to work on, might be working on now, or in the future someday. http://www.torquepowered.com/products/torque-3d

Truely free alternatives, like Crystal Space do exist. I am somewhat interested, but do not know that I can put in too much of the time needed to do truly outstanding work, at least in the 3d area. However, there are possibly some areas in other realms that I might be able to help having several thousand photos on Turbosquid, a BFA in Studio Painting, and a Minor in Theater. I used to do a lot of indie 3d stuff several years ago, but gave up on it over time due to being tired of doing a lot of work with little or no pay. I might be willing to try to find some free time to help, but make no real promises about how much I can help.

We know which engine the planet will use and that will be Cryengine as implemented by and wrapped in Entropia Universe. Otherwise its not a planet but a separate and different game.

 

[Karmic]

Well, if you know anyone willing to invest half a million into a team that has nothing to show yet, let me know. I think that anyone with a large amount of money is going to want to be shown at least a bit of what they'll be getting first. I know that we'll be contacting potential investors before we get too far into this, but for now, I'd just like to go ahead and get a bit of a foundation for this project to be built on.

Oh dear, Business plan first, then investors, then hiring. Once you have a solid business plan you can solicit funding from any of your local Angel investment groups. I don't know where you are located so I can't help you there but having been through it a few times I can tell you it can be rough. The problem with hiring first then getting funding later is you can't pay your workers, generally the amount of time someone will work for free with the promise of unlikely payment later can be measured in weeks.

 

[Nirfu]

Becoming a Planet Partner

Visit http://www.entropiaplatform.com/ and read up on what you need to be a partner. Maybe link to that URL on your site.

There is no text book definition of a Planet Partner. However, to successfully create and maintain a planet, a Planet Partner should have a long-term perspective, a creative mindset and a secure and stable economy for marketing, personnel and planet operations.

Each Planet Partner must have a unique concept to increase the diversity in Entropia Universe and must contribute with a new market, rather than just utilizing the existing end user base. Furthermore, there is no acceptance for concepts and content of gambling, a pornographic nature or any other concept that MindArk deems inappropriate or that is illegal.

Planet Partners with strong unique ideas, ability to bring in new customers and with sufficient funds for planet content production and marketing have a high probability for a quick return of investment.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Planet Partner, please contact us here.

 

[NightwolfAA2k5]

I'll be interested in joining once a Business Plan and Concept are drawn up, until then...

If you need help writing one, I'd suggest a google search.

For example, a search a couple years ago gave me this example. Only really applies to Australia, but for other countries you may have to cut and paste where applicable.

 

[Divinity]

Leave The Project And Play The Game

Kindly do not take it personally but based on what has been said here and the way you are going about things, my recommendation would be you leave the project and concentrate on your game itself.

The concept of a project does not make a project success, ( though is an integral part of the process) but implementation of it does.

This is not a high school project which you can start without much thought. ( Coming to think of it even my high school project was well thought of in advance)

The First prerequisites of a healthy development project

A PLAN. If you dont have that , thats doomsday from the start.

Apart from that you dont have the resources or the structuring as yet.

My apologies if i come off strongly, but really hate seeing people waste there own time and others developing half baked ideas. Most of these projects never see the day of light and eventually cause a terrible feeling for all involved.


So the way i see it

1. You either organize yourself and your concepts into concrete POA ( Plan Of Action)

OR

2. Concentrate on playing the game.

 

[Pirx Danford]

I have difficulties to get my head around the concept of a community project, which at the same time shall have commercial merits.

To set this up in a fair manner will be a shitload of work.
I suggest you take a look at the way the apache software foundation is organizing its certified projects, maybe read this for starters
http://www.h-online.com/open/featur...ation-at-Apache-No-Jerks-Allowed-1025691.html

Good luck!

 

[jjmatrix]

Subscribing (here and on forumotion ); indeed, this is a major undertaking, however I don't really understand some of the negativity. A lot of people fail to realize that behind ANY product there are people... just like us.

WIth hard work, anything is possible.

 

[Oleg]

Oh dear, Business plan first, then investors, then hiring. Once you have a solid business plan you can solicit funding from any of your local Angel investment groups. I don't know where you are located so I can't help you there but having been through it a few times I can tell you it can be rough. The problem with hiring first then getting funding later is you can't pay your workers, generally the amount of time someone will work for free with the promise of unlikely payment later can be measured in weeks.

A good business plan is based on good research.

This thread = research, not recruitment.

 

[Pirx Danford]

A good business plan is based on good research.

This thread = research, not recruitment.

Uhm... thread title = "Recruiting For A Player-Developed Partner Planet Project"

Eh? Eh!

 

[XeroX2]

hmm I should be able to do some 2D concepts... I`ll register and see what I can do.

 

[Wistrel]

Unfortunately I can only be blunt on this. It isn't going to happen.

Sorry but from what I've seen so far I'd happilly bet money the most this project will ever acheive is a disused forum

Sorry...

Wistrel

 

[XeroX2]

Unfortunately I can only be blunt on this. It isn't going to happen.

Sorry but from what I've seen so far I'd happilly bet money the most this project will ever acheive is a disused forum

Sorry...

Wistrel

well... it`s true ofc... but if you don`t try you have lost the slim chance to suceed.

 

[Wistrel]

well... it`s true ofc... but if you don`t try you have lost the slim chance to suceed.

try harder then

 

[Oleg]

Uhm... thread title = "Recruiting For A Player-Developed Partner Planet Project"

Eh? Eh!

1. I didn't make the thread title.
2. I read more of the thread than the title.

He's just asking who might be interested, but from some of the responses here you'd think he was drawing up a legal corporate structure and lauching a public share issue.

 

[Pirx Danford]

1. I didn't make the thread title.
2. I read more of the thread than the title.

He's just asking who might be interested, but from some of the responses here you'd think he was drawing up a legal corporate structure and lauching a public share issue.

1. I know, you are not the thread starter
2. Me too and for me it is recruitment what is going on here, which is not a bad thing at all, some people might say its bad but a community project needs a community to get started in the first place.

Well the responses here are due to the fact that planet partners need to have some several million dollar deep pockets...
I am really puzzled how this and a community project will fit together.
But that I am skeptical does not mean I do not wish the best luck in this.

 

[remontoire]

1. I know, you are not the thread starter
2. Me too and for me it is recruitment what is going on here, which is not a bad thing at all, some people might say its bad but a community project needs a community to get started in the first place.

Well the responses here are due to the fact that planet partners need to have some several million dollar deep pockets...
I am really puzzled how this and a community project will fit together.
But that I am skeptical does not mean I do not wish the best luck in this.

It could be a mutual company with both the designers and players with deposits having a share and vote and receiving a portion of the decay pot.

 

[J. Mandrake]

1. I didn't make the thread title.
2. I read more of the thread than the title.

He's just asking who might be interested, but from some of the responses here you'd think he was drawing up a legal corporate structure and lauching a public share issue.

Sorry if I haven't been too clear on my plans, this thread picked up more steam than I had predicted it would I didn't really want to be the person paying for the project, I had just set up the forum because interest was expressed in another thread by some users, and now everyone seems to be expecting that I have a few million dollars to throw around on day one. For now, I had only intended on drawing in a few of EU's creative minds to help work together on a planet. Many people were asking about business plans, and I really don't have too much experience with that kind of thing. I intend on talking to people who know what they're doing before anyone makes anything official.

 

[matthew]

well... it`s true ofc... but if you don`t try you have lost the slim chance to suceed.

Very true, we dont know untill we try

and its all good fun anyway.

 

[Karmic]

My post was not to say it couldn't or shouldn't be done. Just that I'm not sure if the threadstarter has the correct mindset yet. Making this post is a constructive and good way to get some ideas and people to help a little, but you don't need to concentrate on making something first. Having some storyline work and some 3d concept art is fine but that's not what is going to get you investors. By all means add what you make to the plan, but don't concentrate on making something now for the sake of having something, concentrate on the plan and recognizing what it is going to take in terms of money, creativity, time, and personnel to get it done.

If you want I can freehand draw your projected income statement, they all look the same

 

[J. Mandrake]

My post was not to say it couldn't or shouldn't be done. Just that I'm not sure if the threadstarter has the correct mindset yet. Making this post is a constructive and good way to get some ideas and people to help a little, but you don't need to concentrate on making something first. Having some storyline work and some 3d concept art is fine but that's not what is going to get you investors. By all means add what you make to the plan, but don't concentrate on making something now for the sake of having something, concentrate on the plan and recognizing what it is going to take in terms of money, creativity, time, and personnel to get it done.

If you want I can freehand draw your projected income statement, they all look the same

We're currently discussing the target audience and profit model in the forum, which I have now made viewable only to members, save for one board, which we will use to keep the public updated for now. This is to help increase security, if only a bit.

 

[sky west]

http://www.entropiaplatform.com

Lets do some reading between the lines:

There is no text book definition of a Planet Partner. However, to successfully create and maintain a planet, a Planet Partner should have a long-term perspective, a creative mindset and a secure and stable economy for marketing, personnel and planet operations.

Better bring a shitload of money and other resources to the table, else don't bother.

Each Planet Partner must have a unique concept to increase the diversity in Entropia Universe and must contribute with a new market, rather than just utilizing the existing end user base. Furthermore, there is no acceptance for concepts and content of gambling, a pornographic nature or any other concept that MindArk deems inappropriate or that is illegal.

We know what we can do with this platform(sarcasm mode on), you will have to do better. And hands of our player base, go find your own.

Planet Partners with strong unique ideas, ability to bring in new customers and with sufficient funds for planet content production and marketing have a high probability for a quick return of investment.

We want more money and more players, now get to work!