[Help Wanted] SciFi RPG Seeking Programmer

[NayusDante]

Looking For:
As we (Factory Eight) are strongly considering the Irrlicht engine, we are seeking a programmer familiar with its workings and capabilities. This position involves working closely with me and the other team members to tweak gameplay and make design decisions. This involves good communication and collaborative design.

Gameplay Description:
Third-person RPG, turn-based battle system, open-ended exploration, Oblivion-esque, console-style platforming, console-RPG character stats and growth.


Team name:
Factory Eight - an independent, collaborative team.


Project name:
The Seldon Chronicles: Iria 2983 (Tentative title)


Brief description:
Genre: Action-Exploration-RPG
Visuals: Stylized, anime-inspired, uniquely shaded.
Target Play Length: ~10 hours if focused entirely on main quest. Lots of side content.
ESRB Estimate: T or M; Strong Violence, Suggestive Themes, Mild Language.

Story Summary: As a confused mercenary without a past, you are confronted with the task of saving the world you have awoken in. This world is inhabited by robots whose masters died in the last millennium, leaving them alone to decide their own fate. Some of these machines view you as a messiah to their dead world, while others see you as a threat to their sovereignty. The best hope for their world lies in the words of a strange prophet who mysteriously appeared around the same time as you, who speaks of purifying the planet for a new life cycle.


Target aim:
Freeware (Windows)



Compensation:
No pay offered
Full credit given



Website:
Factory Eight Homepage

Development Forums

2983 Information Page


Contacts:
Sean: nayusdante@gmail.com


Additional Info:
Current Schedule:
-Story Finalized - End of May 2008 (DONE)
-Design Document Completed - End of June 2008 (Extended, "When-It's-Done)
Content development proceeds from July 2008 until completion and testing.


Feedback:
ANY


Concept Art:

[xDan]

I'm liking the concept art! Do you have any 3D art to show us?

Feedback: ANY

That guys head is too small, or his body is too big. The woman however is perfectly proportioned. The big toothed thingmabob reeks of awesomeness. The robot looks quite grumpy The space-elf too, but I suppose he would if he just crashed his ship.

P.S. I declare you insane to have such an ambitious project yet release it as freeware.

[lostclimategames]

your server seems to be down, no images are showing, nor am i able to navigate to your page.

Edit: works now... not sure if it was just a temporary outage, or if you had to fix it but if you did, thanks.

[christianclavet]

Good presentation! You could check for current engines being developped based on IRRlicht on the forum to start your project.

[NayusDante]

Good presentation! You could check for current engines being developped based on IRRlicht on the forum to start your project.

If you could name a few that are far along, I'd be very grateful.

And thank you all for your comments. Criticism is always considered and welcome.

[christianclavet]

Wow! That depend on your gameplay objectives! Check the project announcement thread for current RPG game projects.

There is our project: The First KING, a Hybrid FPS/RPG (Third/First view switchable) that should be able to create games for FPS or/and RGP games. The current engine is developped on Linux, but should be easily portable on Windows (perhaps mac also). A Level editor for it is also developped. It's in very early stages.
http://irrlicht.sourceforge.net/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=24568

On the current project that I know, there is also CONFINED that should also be a FPS/RPG (Not sure if the cam could be Third or single view or both) and a editor is build-in. Also in very early stages.
http://irrlicht.sourceforge.net/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=29130

There is also PEAKEngine. A multi-genre game engine
http://irrlicht.sourceforge.net/phpBB2/ ... sc&start=0
Not checked it yet.

IRRFrame that is a Framework to start a game project.
Here is the link:
http://irrlicht.sourceforge.net/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=29082

RPG Builder from DGEN, started in 2006. Should have lots of feature, the thread images feature an editor.
http://irrlicht.sourceforge.net/phpBB2/ ... c&start=30

The source for Alpha Foundation. There seem to be a MDL loader in there for Neverwinter models. I've checked the link to the download and it still work as now (august 2008)
http://irrlicht.sourceforge.net/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=19815

You should find a lot more if you dig a little the forum. So you could build a prototype to test your gameplay while the programmer is building the engine to your specs.

Have you started the concepts docs for the levels. What will be the settings for the levels of the game?

EDIT: I've had to practice concept art, so I created this characted based on your. Take it if you'd like it. (Taken some liberties on the colors and opened the vest)

[NayusDante]

Have you started the concepts docs for the levels. What will be the settings for the levels of the game?

The game takes place on the planet Iria, a world whose inhabitants passed away long ago. Their machines, however, live on. The actual game environments are vast and baren landscapes, cities retaken by the robots, mechanical "hives" of the Scavengers, underground research facilities, abandoned and deteriorated cities, and even a border-dimension separating this world from the afterlife.

We don't have a specific list of locations yet, but we do have an outline of the entire story. My strategy is to first build the game world (outside terrain areas) upon finalizing an engine, then place the plot-specific locations, and finally spend a while adding side-quest areas and extra content.

As for concept art, we have people on specific tasks, but I do appreciate the effort. Your design is definitely a bit different from what we're going for, but good nonetheless. We ARE, however, looking for character modelers. Here's another sketch of the same character (Seldon) to give an idea of how he should look in the game:



I haven't had a chance to look at those engines yet, but I'll definitely be testing them out tomorrow. Even with a good engine to start with, I'd still want to have a dedicated programmer to properly integrate the elements that we're looking for.

[christianclavet]

My strategy is to first build the game world (outside terrain areas) upon finalizing an engine

Yeah. That's good. But take the time to do a "block" version first to test the gameplay, so you'd not have to redo lots of props if playing it is too dull. By block, I mean rough shapes representing your items (that will be later datailed), so you'll not loose time if you figure out, it's not looking as you thinked.

That's a good approach as characters take much more time, because they need to be also rigged, animated, and require much more work on the gameplay mechanics from the engine.

[rogerborg]

100% agree. The game should be playable, engaging and fun with placeholder graphics. Billboards of your concept art are a good compromise.