Requesting Help: Steampunk Idea
By
calligo,
Posted on: 2009-05-21 08:57 in Multi-Media Fan Creations
I thought there was already a Steampunk-themed MMORPG in the works.
Neosteam by Atlus Online just hit Beta. However it's less Steampunk and more Steam-work Veneer over generic fantasy.
-Rachel-
That's not the one I was thinking of; I'll have to see if I can't find the site.
Gatheryn?
http://www.mindfusegames.com/
It's a nice game, I imagine... But I'm looking and hopeing for something a bit more polished, graphically, with some pretty radical abilities.... Something along the lines of CoH's versatility and interest. Rather than Anarchy Online, if you catch my drift?
-Rachel-
That's not it, either. It was something rather new, either just entering the final stage of development or recently released.
You say you want something more graphically polished; what sort of a budget and time line are you looking at for this project? And do you already have your investors ready?
Current Budget: $0.00
Current Investors: None
Time Line: I'd need a budget and a team to figure that out! =-3
Hence why I'm asking for help from people on the forums. Someone might know someone with a bit of dosh lying around they'd be willing to sink into the game, after all. Or be willing to work pro-bono at the start until we can find a production company to pitch to and let them foot the bill.
-Rachel-
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Hence why I'm asking for help from people on the forums. Someone might know someone with a bit of dosh lying around they'd be willing to sink into the game, after all. Or be willing to work pro-bono at the start until we can find a production company to pitch to and let them foot the bill.
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There's two very different scenarios you're rolling into one, there.
If you intend to pitch the idea to an existing publisher, you shouldn't need too much help or cash for development. You shouldn't need to do any real coding or design, as it would all likely be changed by any company that picks it up anyway. Unfortunately, in such a scenario the game would cease to be yours, and most likely anyone willing to take up the idea would go in directions you wouldn't want to pursue. If you can find a company to undertake such an investment in the first place; new MMORPGs are hardly a booming industry, and companies would be wary of undertaking such a project even if the economy were in a healthy state.
The second scenario, seeking like-minded individuals from various communities to get the idea off the ground, is going to have to be a professional undertaking to even meet the quality of graphics and gameplay exhibited in games such as Gatheryn. You'd have to form a company in order to obtain funding, including hiring employees to fulfill the basic necessities. You or another leader in said company would need a business degree or at least practical experience to even get meetings with most prospective investors. And even if you could get meetings with these folks, you still have to convince them it's a worthwhile investment; the same issues with trying to find an established company to foot the bill also apply here.
In short, an MMORPG title with even last-generation capabilities and functions is anything but a casual undertaking.
I actually have no business experience. No diploma or degree on my wall. Nothing.
But I'm dedicated to seing this game become a reality.
There's a lot to be said for interent presence, as the last election should clearly show. If I can get the game's core engine in working order I can hype it from a website. Heck, even really good artwork from some of the fine members of this comunity as 'Concept Art' can get it noticed by millions of people.
By touting the main city as a copy of San Fransisco I virtually guarantee that the Steampunk Scene located there (which is the largest in the US by the way) will support the idea almost unanimously.
It's a massive undertaking I'm willing to dedicate myself to. And I'm willing to walk into a board meeting without a degree to tell a development company why they should invest in my game which, maintaining true to the Steampunk aesthetic, will draw in an almost completely untapped market on top of stealing closet Steampunk fans from other games as well.
=-3
-Rachel-
I don't mean to shoot down your dream or anything, but here's one example of how much it costs to produce an MMO.
That's right, it cost $103 million to produce Tabula Rasa, RIP.
So, if we're talking a "cheap" MMO you're probably looking at $10,000,000 to produce. Do you have any sort of credentials, like a degree in game design? You'll definitely need at least something to even get a company to meet with you.
I'm well aware of what it can cost to produce an MMO. I'm also well aware that my complete lack of Degrees puts me into a bad place when it comes to the financials of the whole deal.
However I'm also aware that I'm not going to be the one putting the game together, or making the artwork fantastic. I might not even be in the board meeting pitching the game to the Production company.
But I'm willing to work with others and turn my dream into a reality. That's why I'm looking for Coders and artists and investors. People who have the expertise that I -lack- to help turn the images and concepts in my mind into a truly fantastic MMO.
-Rachel-
I appreciate your dream, but I think you have to realize there's another step. You don't simply say "My dream is a Steampunk MMO, I want others to do it."
Go to college, get an appropriate degree, meet people in the industry (networking and such), then start working on getting your dream running.
Asking for free help in an MMO forum isn't going to get your dream made.
You're definitely right in that, Lightslinger.
But I can't afford college. So I'll have to make do with careful study of various books Ghost Falcon has already suggested for me.
If all else fails I'll just be an organizer and creative writer for the game itself. Working on system balance and the world. All the talent is floating out here on the internet. Sometimes all it needs is a lens to shine brightly.
Hopefully I'll at least be able to be the lens, channeling other people's talent into focus.
-Rachel-
It's good that you're devoted to the concept, but Lightslinger's remarks are golden in this case. As is, you lack the know-how, the credentials, the funding to drive such an undertaking. You're not going to be able to take this anywhere until you obtain some of them yourself, and ultimately you're going to need all of them to succeed.
You have a dream; it's a start, but nothing more. Now you need to work toward achieving that dream on a personal level, before you'll be able to marshal others to follow you and bring it to life.
Basically, you've got to get "something". Right now you have nothing and you're asking for others to join you.
Hm, maybe you could start a small website? Name it "steamproject.com" or something like that. Set up a message board and get people discussing a steampunk MMO.
If your website was able to attract considerable attention you may be able to get some talent together to work up some concept art.
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showflat....=0#Post13519443 >.>
Three there. One who contacted me solely by PM.
And these people responded during work and school hours on a weekday. How many people frequent these forums at these hours?
So of that population slice at least 4 believe inmy concept if not my ability. And I'm currently attempting to organize and gain more. Meanwhile I'm currently reading Game Development Essentials: Online Game Development by Rick Hall and Jeannie Novak. I'll continue reading it until I'm ready for the next book on my list.
The Funding I can't change. The Know How I can change (and am trying, thanks to Ghost Falcon's suggested reading!) The credentials... Nope. Can't do anything about that without years of work, which I don't have to spare.
So I'll work with others who have the credentials. And struggle to learn while I organize and prioritize. Feedback will be my number 1 source of information on game structure itself.
And hopefully we will find an investor or twelve. =-3
Everyone's got to start somewhere. And not everyone has to start at the same place to reach their goals.
-Rachel-
*Edit* I picked that book first 'cause of the Cover Art. =-3
I'd like to apologize for becoming so defensive and frustrated so quickly.
I realize what I'm up against. I know the challenges and walls. I know the hoops I'm going to have to jump through. It's not a question of whether I'll have to but -when-.
And I'm up for the challenge.
But I'm already taking your advice on the forums. And already looking at other places to link to and from. I'm gearing up to call the Edison in the hopes of contacting Abney Park and getting word to them whiile also asking the permission of the owner to use his Steampunk Club as a possible location in the game.
Who knows where this will take me. Even if I fail miserably at getting the game produced I'll have tried, and had a heck of a wild ride in the doing. =-3
-Rachel-
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And hopefully we will find an investor or twelve. =-3
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I'll tell you right now, you've got a long way to go until you'll find those investors. I'm a business major, with the same training and knowledge as those you'll have to convince. I'm also a gamer, a fan of steampunk, and a pushover when it comes to matters of another's dreams. And you've managed to convince me of only one thing: this project is a non-starter.
You mentioned being the lens that will shine brightly, the one to bring those qualified for a such a project together. My advice is to forget such a concept. Yours' is the face of a fan, not of a developer, not a leader. You are in a worse situation then not having credibility; you'll actually hurt the project by attempting to be a part of it in such a capacity. You could change this if you put in the time, but you said that such time is something you don't have.
You'll find folks that think this is a great idea. But without your own credibility, they'll just be fans as well. You won't get the individuals you need to pull this off.
I recommend attempting to find someone like-minded within your existing circles, perhaps someone from the Bay area steampunk scene, who already has the credentials for such an undertaking. Convince him or her to take point on this. You can help them, but that individual needs to be the guiding light.
In any event, I do wish you luck; I hope I'm proven wrong.
I hope so, too, Agent!
But that's kinda exactly what I was saying >.>
That I want to get all the people together and point them in the right direction. That I'd find someone with the appopriate credentials and hand them the idea to run with. All I'm doing right now is trying to get people together on the idea to get it started. Included the one who'll be the head of the Dev team. 'Cause it won't be me unless this thing goes on long enough for me to get some degrees. =-P
Just 'cause I'm not the lead Dev doesn't mean I can't have my dream fulfilled. =-3
-Rachel-
Since it's impossible for me to know anything about you other than what I see on the internet here, I can only judge your writing and your tone. Both of those are not up to the standards that will move me to invest thousands of hours to do free work for you.
You really need to learn how to spell and speak in a manner that's more professional in order to convince me that you can effectively lead a group of people.
Also, I want to hear about plans and solid information from you, so that I join thinking that you have a direction to go in. At the moment, this sounds like you're grasping desperately at straws with no real inclination of where or how you're going to get this done.
As someone who's worked on fan projects before and as an artist, I want nothing to do with this right now.
http://www.virtueverse.net/wiki/Massacre_Melanie -the original Fire/Dark Corruptor -
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=115217
The Guide to BURN
For concept artists, you should be looking at Conceptart.org or CGtalk.com.
I would also suggest getting a subscription to gamedeveloper magazine and possibly attending the Game Developer's Conference if you can afford to.
Blacklisted
"I'AM SATANS FAVORITE CHILD!!"
If you would prefer for me to type in a manner appropriate to a professional I can easily do that.
However, I find that by addressing people with my own foibles and human errors (I.E. colloquial spelling of words or inappropriate conjunctions such as Kinda as opposed to Kind Of or Sort of) I can more readily offer a personality to which people can apply positive qualities. Something quite difficult to do using a text based medium, otherwise. As all text reads identically without inflection or emotion.
At least that's how I've always looked at it.
But by all means. Take a look at the work we've got online in
this conversation.
-Rachel-
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For concept artists, you should be looking at Conceptart.org or CGtalk.com.
I would also suggest getting a subscription to gamedeveloper magazine and possibly attending the Game Developer's Conference if you can afford to.
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Thank you kindly! I'll definitely be following this advice!
-Rachel-
If you're as dedicated to this idea as you say, you should be dedicated enough to earn up some money to pay for some artwork and whatnot so you have something to pitch. You're not going to find an awful lot of people willing to throw money and all at you with just an idea.
Dedication takes grueling work. Even taking on a part-time late-hour job for the fundage to get this thing brought to life. As has been mentioned before.... game development is SERIOUS money. And it can SERIOUSLY lose money.
Basically, if all you can rely on is the charity of others, what exactly are you putting in?
Just the core concept, communication, direction, and dedication. I'll get a late night job for artwork money if need be, but right now what I'm looking for is people even interested in the idea.
If you're willing to put down commissioned artwork for a Steampunk game then by all means post about it in this thread. But I don't want to pay money to people who don't have an interest in the game itself, and are only doing the pieces for money.
-Rachel-
Hey, everyone! I know I'm not a frequenter of this particular forum aside from occasionally posting in a 'Free Arts' thread a request for the Constable...
But I have a very interesting request that might be a bit of a shocker for some of you (due to my sheer audacity) But here it is.
I would like help on creating a Steampunk MMORPG.
I don't have money (pretty much at all!) to pay for various commissioned pieces. I don't have a lot of experience with different artistic styles, and I certainly have no talent with artistry or coding. Thusly I'm sending out a general call for aid in my endeavor.
I'd be looking for a variety of talent. From landscape artists, to animators, to engineers, Character Artists, coders, systems designers... Everyone you might possibly need to create an MMO. I've sent several PMs to Dev Team members and the Moderators in the hopes that they can help me connect to a financial backer and game design team. Now I'm asking all of you for your help and interest in this project.
Thanks for reading this, even if you don't intend to help or simply can't due to other concerns!
-Rachel-
*Edit* OH! And someone who can handle HTML and webhosting issues. I'm -really- confused by it! >_<