Hi, William, cool to see your project.
Brief Description
The project is basically a 3D Java based real time strategy game. I would hope the game would be similar to games like Settlers 4 / StarCraft / Warcraft 3 but with a unique layout and maybe an improved control system. The project is still in a pre-alpha stage where only basic elements have been investigated. The structure of the game is still in a planning stage so any new recruits would have a big say in the design and implementation of the project.
That'ts the kind of thing I like.
Target Aim
At the moment this is a freeware endeavor as we are hosting the project on SourceForge as open source. My opinion is that this project is for fun and should give a good learning curve for future projects. I would hope with a strong team to produce something professional.
Good Thing
TM...
Technology
J2SE, Xith3D and XML. That’s probably a good start for now until the requirements are finalized but I’m sure the list of required libraries will increase. There has also been interest in including mobile device technology to allow some sort of plugin into the RTS using a mobile device. There maybe a possibility of this depending on the skill set of the developers.
Interesting , the mobile idea, though seems a bit complicated to me.
Help Required
Programmers - I think for a project this size we need about 5 programmers in total. We currently have 2 including myself so an additional 3. Programmers should have a good knowledge of the Java language (some 1.5 knowledge would also be beneficial). Knowledge of 3D game programming would be great but isn’t required as this is meant to be an education project to build understand of how to write a 3D RTS game.
Well, I must here present myself a bit more. I do myself work on a RTS game, which is called Stratagem Engine.. what's unique with it ( well, not anymore
) is that it's Xith3D-Java-powered, open-source, that it was made by me (and a few others), and it's entirely configurable via .xml files. You can see a rough screenshot
here. (A lot of things have been rewritten since then, though the graphic style hasn't changed, it will only be improved through time).
So I think I can say I have a good knowledge of the Java language (1.5 features included) and 3D programming (I have begun with OpenGL/Glut/C++ then moved on to Xith3D/Java).. Also I took time during my work on Stratagem to put up a game production pipeline with my artists, which means that I can provide you a way to easily load your models modelled and bone-animated with Blender in Xith3D, for example (and believe me having models loading to work is often a painful job, though now Xith3D makes it easy as a pie).
Now the problem is, as you may have noticed, I'm already on a project (quite similar to yours), BUT I'm willing to spend some time at least helping you (if you want, of course) and why not implement some parts of the system (maybe we can share some code ?)
But I have to warn you : managing a team is everything but easy... You probably better chances getting your game done with 1-2 programmers than with 5 (though if you manage 5 coders very well, that can be really efficient. But most of the time you'll end up making schemes and writing docs that no-one reads
) At least that's what I experienced.
Artists - A lot of work needs to be done on 3D and 2D graphics both for menu systems and for in game. We are looking for anyone available to design menus / characters / buildings / scenery or even just art work for the project. We currently have a 3D designer interested in the project who is modeling a few ideas as well as a 2D designer who currently designing the games logo.
Now that's where I come handy. On MagicSpark.org we have group of artists which have not-so-much-work for Stratagem right now. Unfortunately (for you) they're mostly french-speaking (well, they also speak english acceptably). You can reach them on
http://www.magicspark.org/ or just tell me what to tell them, or set up forum space somewhere for you project (recommended) or ask us to make an English-speaking section on MagicSpark.org (which would have many benefits, I bet).
Concept Writers - We currently have a basic plan for the game and a small story to link together a single player but I’m quite happy for new members to have their say and change elements in the game as long as the overall group agrees.
Team Structure
Currently there isn’t really a team structure. I started this project last year and one of my course-mates joined the project a week after I pitched the idea to him. If any, I would say I was leading developer so all questions should come to me.
Does that mean that you're the one with idea ? That's good because, in Stratagem, designers and lead developer are different persons. So the lead developer (me) has to ask designers what they want, and they're not always very clear about it.
Well, maybe we can talk further by MSN (I added you as a contact).
