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[Endorya]

But to implement an idea in the game, a designer needs to be able to code, no? Or at least understand your code. Otherwise they're just idea people.

No, you will need simply to understand the game's editor and how it works, the editor is flexible but has limitations of course. So once you understand it you can come up with your own ideas, no coding will be necessary (at all). I'm building this editor exactly so that anyone can transmute their thoughts directly into the game via the editor.

Through it you can create your own items, creatures, attributes, places, triggers, texts, skill groups, skills, actions, spells, dialogs and even change planet settings like humidity, temperature, wind, precipitation, storms etc.

[Endorya]

But to implement an idea in the game, a designer needs to be able to code, no? Or at least understand your code. Otherwise they're just idea people.

Actually, that's pretty much what a designer does.

Taken from wikipedia:
"Game design is the game development process of designing the content and rules of a game in the pre-production stage[1] and design of gameplay, environment, storyline, and characters during production stage. The designer of a game is very much like the director of a film; the designer is the visionary of the game and controls the artistic and technical elements of the game in fulfilment of their vision.[2] Game design requires artistic and technical competence as well as writing skills.[3]"

No coding skill is required from a designer, though there is nothing against having a designer who also possess coding skills. Unless you are referring to early video gaming from 1970s, where game designers were indeed the lead programmers.

[freeformschooler]

Well shoot, sounds fun. I'll try to hit you up on skype and get more details on the game's structure.

[Dansmithers]

Hmmmm...
Keep a spot open for me.

[Endorya]

Well shoot, sounds fun. I'll try to hit you up on skype and get more details on the game's structure.

I'll gladly share them with you! With some screens as a bonus

[Endorya]

Hmmmm...
Keep a spot open for me.

Sure thing.

[mastahcheese]

This actually sounds totally awesome, I've been making stuff with the Gamemaker program, and while it's great and all, it doesn't really let me do the more extravagant ideas I've had. So yeah, I'll try to help in the ideas department, and if you can run it with just the mouse, I'll playtest your editor like crazy.

[Endorya]

This actually sounds totally awesome, I've been making stuff with the Gamemaker program, and while it's great and all, it doesn't really let me do the more extravagant ideas I've had. So yeah, I'll try to help in the ideas department, and if you can run it with just the mouse, I'll playtest your editor like crazy.

Now that's the enthusiasm I'm looking for! I guess I will welcome you aboard then.

[For all those interested]
I'm from GMT -0 and I'm usually available from 19:30 to 00:00 within this time zone. Please, share your time zones and available time with me. Once I brief you all, and if you actually want to be part of it, there are already assignments you guys can help with

Thanks for showing interest! Maybe this time I can finally gather a party that will allow us to build something wonderful.

[Dansmithers]

I'm from MST (Mountain Standard, Denver Time), available from 10:30 to 1:00 PM

[GlyphGryph]

So you aren't so much designing a game, as designing a game editor?

Hmm. Still, it doesn't seem to offer anything particularly interesting Cataclysm isn't already doing or moving towards. I wish you luck though, and will watch the project with interest should anything come out of it. But first a few questions:

Will this be open source? Do you have the code repo up anywhere? You've got several things marked as done, so I assume those things are implemented - why aren't you sharing them? Have you any experience leading a game development project? What games have you made previously? How will those who assist benefit? What's the development model? etc. and so on.

Basically - relevant details please.

[coolio678]

So you aren't so much designing a game, as designing a game editor?

Hmm. Still, it doesn't seem to offer anything particularly interesting Cataclysm isn't already doing or moving towards. I wish you luck though, and will watch the project with interest should anything come out of it. But first a few questions:

Will this be open source? Do you have the code repo up anywhere? You've got several things marked as done, so I assume those things are implemented - why aren't you sharing them? Have you any experience leading a game development project? What games have you made previously? How will those who assist benefit? What's the development model? etc. and so on.

Basically - relevant details please.

While obviously I can't answer the rest of the questions, I think he's making an editor so then he can get other people to help him with making a game. It is kind of a unique scenario, but it is still working towards a finished game. (Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.)

[Endorya]

So you aren't so much designing a game, as designing a game editor?

By developing the editor I'm developing the game.

Hmm. Still, it doesn't seem to offer anything particularly interesting Cataclysm isn't already doing or moving towards.

I've never played cataclysm but from the feature list I read in wikipedia, boy it covers only about 15% to 20% of my project foreseen features. But then again, that list might be quite resumed. But if you want to make a feature contest out of this, I'll gladly participate in it and don't get me wrong if I immediately say you will loose.

I wish you luck though, and will watch the project with interest should anything come out of it.

Thanks. If I get the right persons to work with me, this project's future is very bright. Otherwise I will definitely need luck.

Will this be open source?

There is no plans for that. At least in a foreseeable future.

Do you have the code repo up anywhere?

In my 3 hard drives, dropbox and livedrive. But they are all private.

You've got several things marked as done, so I assume those things are implemented - why aren't you sharing them?

First I want to see what kind of interest does this project awakens without being influenced positively or negatively by screenes. The time will come for those. Anyway we would have screenies already if there were an attachment feature in this forum / my account.

Have you any experience leading a game development project?

Do table game developing and card game count? Then yes, otherwise no.

What games have you made previously?

if by games you mean a fully developed game which others are playing (I'm excluding, Tetris and Arkanoid like games for obvious reasons), then none, if you mean games that reached alpha state but that weren't released to public, then a 2 games.

How will those who assist benefit?

That's something I will only discuss with those I feel to be fully committed with the project. Those who are helping through interest only or mainly through interest are definitely not the kind of person I'm seeking.

What's the development model?

I'm really not sure what do you mean by that.

etc. and so on

and on...

Basically - relevant details please.

That's a bit saying that all the basic stuff wasn't given away because somehow I missed. What might be relevant for you might not be for me or others, so I wouldn't put things like that. But then again, we are free to say whatever we want and I believe you were talking at a personal level so its cool.

[Endorya]

While obviously I can't answer the rest of the questions, I think he's making an editor so then he can get other people to help him with making a game. It is kind of a unique scenario, but it is still working towards a finished game. (Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.)

Yes, that's about it. But the key point is that the editor is serving mainly as the game designing unit, as features that are still being polished will be completed as they get inside the editor, along with their classes, functions and variables. This classes will actually be the same used in the game's main EXE.

[Endorya]

Ok... the infamous screenies of my work:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ryuei1b5gf3dw1z/Screenies.zip

Please, the map generation screen is part of a previous version which I discarded, pay only attention to the world map presented in it.
I will also provide a link in my opening post.

[GlyphGryph]

So you aren't so much designing a game, as designing a game editor?

By developing the editor I'm developing the game.

Well, I was under the impression that what you were doing here was primarily building the editor yourself, and trying to bring other people on develop the game. Sort of the EchoBazaar model, where you're trying to build a platform and sort of a flasghip instance to go along with it. If so, that's pretty cool. I have to say your edit addition to the first post is actually more useful than most of the rest at giving people an idea of what they'll be getting into, so good move with that. ^_^

Hmm. Still, it doesn't seem to offer anything particularly interesting Cataclysm isn't already doing or moving towards.

I've never played cataclysm but from the feature list I read in wikipedia, boy it covers only about 15% to 20% of my project foreseen features. But then again, that list might be quite resumed. But if you want to make a feature contest out of this, I'll gladly participate in it and don't get me wrong if I immediately say you will loose.

Active development. We'll see. If you're really dedicated, though, you probably will - Cataclysm wasn't ever really intended as a platform with a roguelike built on it, it's just gradually becoming that over time and has lots of other concerns. Since you're building from scratch, with that goal specifically in mind, I certainly hope I lose such a contest. Because that means you're succeeding.

How will those who assist benefit?

That's something I will only discuss with those I feel to be fully committed with the project. Those who are helping through interest only or mainly through interest are definitely not the kind of person I'm seeking.

Generally one has to earn commitment and incentivize any sort of dedicated interest. This sort of attitude is... not attractive. It might not be your intent, but it feels a bit like you're trying to keep it secret so that you maintain a position of power in later negotiation. And also like you're trying to get something for nothing. I'm assuming that's not your intent, at least for now, but I figured I'd let you know how it looks. I'd very much question whether I'd trust any level of commitment from someone offering it for such a thinly defined project (ad it is, right now, thinly defined) , for someone who doesn't have much in the way of reputation to build on. You might get some people who are enthusiastic... but who's enthusiasm fades once they see what's actually involved. And you'll miss out on the people who'd actually be an asset to your development team, because they dismissed the offer out-of-hand. Maybe this will work for you, but it doesn't seem an effective way to get results. In fact, you've even mentioned that this is a problem you already have, in your original post! The way you're pitching this, people with a bit of spare time are those who you're likely to get interested, because you haven't really given much of a reason for anyone else to get involved. For all someone reading your first post knows, they'll be putting in long hours of effort for absolutely nothing, and you'll retain full rights to everything they create. That's not a lot of incentive, and it would be good to disabuse people of such thoughts early on if possible.

Have you any experience leading a game development project?

Do table game developing and card game count? Then yes, otherwise no.

Sure, they count! Since you'll be programming this as well, they don't count towards your qualifications there, but they do support your ability to lead a small team, understand and implement mechanics and systems, and carry a project through to completion, which is arguably much more important. Could we have links?

Also:
What systems will you be developing for?