New web-based SW MMOG... calling all developers!

[ElevenThirtyOne]

Hey Guys,

Props to this site. Rebellion is probably my all time fav SW game ever.

 

I'm putting together a team of developers to begin work on a new web-based SW Massively Multiplayer Game. The tentative title for the game is Star Wars Galactic Civil War (SW Galactic Civil War) and takes place in and around Episode IV: A New Hope.

 

The game is heavily influenced by Rebellion as much of the game play is similar but more immersive.

 

SW Galactic Civil War will allow thousands of players over the Internet to co-operate, compete and co-exist; taking on a role within the galactic civil war, as part of the Imperial Empire, Rebel Alliance, Hutt Crime Syndicate or as a neutral privateer. It will be a game where every action (militaristic, political or economical) can affect the balance of power within any given sector of space and ultimately influence the outcome of the galactic civil war.

 

I'm looking to put together a dedicated team of programmers, developers and just SW fans to work on this project. The time demands wouldn't be more then a few hours a week as we all have other responsibilities.

 

Types of skills we need:

- ASP, PHP, Javascript, .NET programming

- SQL Database experience

- Graphic Design skills

- FLASH programming and/or animation ability

 

Check out some screenshots:

http://www.eleventhirtyone.com/interface01.jpg

 

http://www.eleventhirtyone.com/interface02.jpg

 

http://www.eleventhirtyone.com/interface03.jpg

 

http://www.eleventhirtyone.com/interface04.jpg

 

http://www.eleventhirtyone.com/interface05.jpg

 

http://www.eleventhirtyone.com/interface06.jpg

 

Here's a snippit from the current proof of concept document:

Players begin SW Galactic Civil War by joining one of the three major factions or by becoming neutral. Each player, essentially, will be a commanding observer, while not existing in physical terms in the game, they will command and control ships, fleet, ground units, combat teams and instillations. The game is played by giving missions to individual or groups of units; whose orders can range from exploring space, mining resources, smuggling illegal goods to such missions as pacifying a system, establishing a base and sabotaging a facility. Like any other real-time strategy game, micromanagement is key to SW Galactic Civil War.

 

SW Galactic Civil War is a real-time strategy simulator using a concept of “compressed real timeâ€

[BadSamaritan]

Simply put: WOW. This game has a level of commitment needed that is astounding. You are going to need a very dedicated team to even attempt to pull this off. But by the looks of it, you have a very good start already.

 

But you did mention privateer. Does this mean I can just be a pirate, and pillage the spacelanes as I see fit? Or would I still have top be part of a faction? If I could be a straight out pirate, I would quite every other game I play just to play this game.

 

Sadly, I cannot help develope the gamedue to a severe lack of usefull computer skills, unless you need people just to offer thoughts, and perhaps point out parts of the game that will take away from the overall funability of the game.

[Jahled]

FM!

 

Count me in! I'm crap at everything you listed but photoshop I guess, email me if you need examples of stuff. Sounds exiting!

 

jahled@madasafish.com

[kaja]

Holy burning Gizkas That looks great!

 

But you spelled the A-wing's name wronge, it's no Leah, It Leia.

[Aenivae_Ikeda]

Lucas Arts will shit themselves

[ElevenThirtyOne]

Thanks for the positive feedback guys - much appreciated!

 

We can use as many peoples to as we can get. Even if its just on a conceptual design level, for sure. If you want to help - we'll find a place for ya.

 

The snipit I posted probably doesn't give a total understanding of the scope of the project. you can download the Proof of Concept Document, as it currently stands (which is somewhat out of date) here: http://www.eleventhirtyone.com/SW_GCW.doc

 

BadSamaritan, you are correct with regards to being able to be a privateer. SW: CGW, aims to be a wholy and complete simulation of the galatic civil war as we know it from canon (films) and most of the EU (expanded universe). Players can literally play any aspect of all the factions involed. Even within a faction, ex: Empire players can opt to act like a rogue or start insurrections even within their own faction. Ingame this would be played out as faction players making their facilities private (only they can use it) not communicating and interacting with other same-faction players, hording funds and building secret bases and armies outside the faction-known / controlled space. As a privateer or neutral you can go it alone or group up wiht some other neutral players and start your own mini faction... start wars, make alliances, build contruction facilities and space docks to produce your own fleets OR if your more interested in commerce... you can start a mining, harvesting, refining business or start a galactic shipping business.

 

The posibilities are really endless and I know for me that it and was always one of my goals. To design the system to be as immersive, deep and albeit complex as players want to get. They can enjoy just the more obvious levels of play or go really deep into the game if they should choose to do so.

 

Kaja, my bad on that spelling mistake! Those are just sample players anyways. They're names actually wont be shown ingame.

 

We'll be setting up a website and forum soon to get organized with regards to this project.

[Jahled]

Big and violent:

 

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QQCfAkcT53Vt*g!VQJPNLYWmD9mso22aAVUx3i02o8C*aguL15K6PeGrfQViyh9QMhbLQVclA0CneW!ErqqBk0X1oyYQBVaGIeCqyDy1KSU/Here.jpg

 

 

 

..E's got the card somewhere.....

 

>System body by the Ninja-master, La_Forge!

[bobandrubert]

um could I be a tester?

[kaja]

If this ever get's finished...

 

PLEASE TELL ME, WILL BE FREE????

 

I will do anything in my power to help, short of 3D...

 

Give me a task And I (Hopefully) will do it!

 

As I've said for many other projects, I have Hours of free time.

 

So, Give me A task

[ElevenThirtyOne]

lol u guys are hilarious.

 

Seing as LucasARts own all the gaming rights to SW - this game will be absolutely free to play. Its a game made by fans for fans.

 

If any of you guys are interested in helping, no matter in what capacity, post ur email addys.

 

Also if you know especially, programmers who are big SW fans - pass this info on to them. Or re-post my original post in other forums or sites.

 

We need to get the word out!

Thanks!

 

Oh yeah if anyone wants - feel free to read the whole doc, link in my last reply, and post some feedback - love to hear your ideas.

[bobandrubert]

starwarsfan11@gmail.com I could help brain storm ideas and I could be lead tester! other wise I can't really do much.

 

http://forums.totalbf2.com/showthread.php?p=55281#post55281

[Evaders99]

Wow, those are great screenshots. If you can make thumbnails, I'd be happy to post news on our site (and to save people on the forums too, hehe)

 

Is this in-game with the engine running? Or just conceptual?

 

What language is the main application done? VB.NET, C#?

 

I handle mostly scripts, PHP, ASP, JavaScript - webpage things. Most of my application work is done in VB 6, however I am looking for the right project to jump into .NET.

 

You probably don't need the hosting, but if there any resources we can offer to help this project come to completion, just tell us.

 

 

(Btw, "Imperial Empire" is kinda redundant isn't it? I suppose its "Galactic Empire" hehe)

[kaja]

Luker@regandesigns.com

 

I'll be happy to help.

 

No good at coding, but I have some skills in photoshop.

 

But, don't you think this game will run a little slow, if it's on the internet?

[ElevenThirtyOne]

No I haven't done any REAL game engine design and or testing just yet. Just some feature proto-types at this stage.

 

Kaja, The game will actually run quite fast. In essence the game isn't REAL TIME... more like simulated real time. For example, when you click a system to bring up that "page" it makes a request to the Db to ask for the info of that system, the ships present etc. Then closes the Db connection. After say 30 secs it will refresh if you are still on that page.

 

We still need to figure out EXACTLY how we are going to handle this type of enging design to make it as quick as possible, perhaps using some kind of hash table, XML stuff or something. Basically we want the game to VERY FAST no matter how many simultanious players there are at once.

 

Due to the fact that this game is Massively multiplayer it has to be internet based, obviously.

[ElevenThirtyOne]

Evaders99, I know a decent ammount of ASP, Jscript etc... .NET would be a pretty sweet platform to do this in. It would be fun just to work on a .NET project let alone something a la SW. Are you offering your abilities in any way?

 

SW GCW thumbnails:

 

http://www.eleventhirtyone.com/logo.jpg

 

http://www.eleventhirtyone.com/interface06sm.jpg

[Aenivae_Ikeda]

gottrunks_god_of_death@msn.com

 

While I have no experience in coding or designing I can do some very interesting things in photoshop, so I can be good for concept designs and photoshopping images, etc. Nothing major, and also I don't have a full version of Adobe Photoshop CS so I am limited in my abilities, and that my computer restarts after the demo has been open for more than 20 minutes. But so long as I save every 15 minutes or so the image I am working on, then I will be able to produce material. Also I should be getting the full version in a month or two, so then I could pump out things rather quickly. I don't know how much help I can be of now, but if you think I can do stuff then feel free to e-mail me.

[Aenivae_Ikeda]

Also, I've been telling everyone I know about this, so there will be some more responses to the thread soon!

[Aenivae_Ikeda]

Shit I am so excited that I am posting without putting everything down. Sorry! Anyways I can go to elftown and post some stuff, and I have a friend who knows a punch of programmer kids, I'll try and get in contact with them. Also I will contact both my uncles, one who has a degree in art and all that jazz and the other who is a kickass coder, scripter, etc. God this is going to be awesome. Man I am so excited I can hardly sit still.... WHEEEEEE :D

 

BWAHAHAHAHAHAAH sugar high and excitement, yippe yee and golly gee!!!!!

[Evaders99]

Conceptual eh? Still very cool.

I wouldn't be able to lead programming, given my time constraints. But I definitely would like to play a major part in development.

 

Personally, I think an effort like this would require a true "real-time" server/client application model. Skip the PHP steps and go straight to a client connecting directly to a server. Will reduce all lag and avoid unnecessary clients requesting updates to the server.

 

I'm all for a Windows server, if someone has the right hosting, it would be perfect for developing on .NET.

 

I've done client/server with a basic chatroom model in VB 6. But haven't done it in .NET. I'm inclined to go .NET if someone will lead the effort. Otherwise my personal preference would go VB 6.

[Lord_La_forge]

Well good luck with your project!

I'm a Graphic Designer. If you need one, just brief me. I don't have any 3d skills though.

http://www.laforge.atw.hu

[Mad78]

I have 3d skills so if you need any 3d stuff just drop me a line mad78.1989@gmail.com Edited May 15, 2005 by Mad78

[Darktrooper]

I don't have any mayor skill, but that's only for the time being. I'm going to attend Northface University in UT starting this July. I can help after this year. The only thing I can offr now is a lot of free time.

[bobandrubert]

I have posted this around the web: http://realitymod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1086

http://forums.totalbf2.com/showthread.php?t=3522

http://1stforcerecon-forum.tk/

http://www.penguin-mayhem.net/pds/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=12638#12638

[bobandrubert]

I got someone from the totalbf2 site:

 

Hey, I just read over your Proof of Concept Document and I think your game looks really professional and fun to play. It almost deserves to be pay to play.

 

I would love to help in any way but I have no real skills. I could be a tester or help with public relations/advertising. I have experience in both fields. I would be willing to donate some time aswell.

 

I'm a StarWars fan so this game is very appealing to me.

 

My email is allanbalanda@hotmail.com Msn is same. I also have ICQ.

[ElevenThirtyOne]

Great replies guys. I gotta sift thru all of them and get back to everyone.

 

Nice to hear everyones excited... too bad we dont even have a beta yet

But we will ... eventually.

 

From just a conceptual point of view there is alot of work, like essenbling full lists of SHIPS, ground units and facilities from SW canon and SW EU. My proof of concept doc has lists I came up with but there is some stuff missing for sure. If anyone feels like doing some research you can start there. Our objective it to be AS throughout in this department as possible since in essece to add a ship to the game would be as easy as entering a new record in the database with its stats, and tossing up an image.

 

Aenivae_Ikeda, love your enthusiasm.

 

Evaders99, since this is a web-based MMOG ... but with a FLASH front end, I have no experience with full REAL TIME connection. Tho I know it is possible... we would just need a sweet programmer with that. My original vision was for pseudo-real time due to knowing that quite well.. tho for a player they would never notice.

 

WRT hosting I have a hosting company I work through and I have lots of space, bandwidth and Database stuff ready to go.

 

Mad78, Thats sweet u got some #d Skillz... I experiemented taking fan-made models and putting them into Swift3d to make them VECTOR based. I had some pretty good results. They planwas to take the VAST library of fan made sw models and import them into flash, with they permissions of course. Those ships / facilities we dont has models for we would make them ourselves....

 

Thanks for all your props guys... I'll be setting the official SW GCW wesite / forums to make discussion and recruiting easier on us.