Etiquette for non-programmers who want to make a game?

[Raptor177]

Well, this is my first ever post 'round these parts...

Anyways, I'm an artist, however I can't program, but I have a dream of making an RTS game, and I can make the art and textures. If you want to build up a team, what's the general etiquette and norms here on how to ask people to join your project?

[Petah]

Why not start with helping out an existing project with modeling (such as BAR or Zero K)? This will help you understand how to actually get assets into a game, and also start building a rapport so people in the community would more likly help you.

[Raptor177]

Why not start with helping out an existing project with modeling (such as BAR or Zero K)? This will help you understand how to actually get assets into a game, and also start building a rapport so people in the community would more likly help you.

I see, I see...

Well, in that case, do you know any hangouts where Sonic fans 'round these parts meet?

[Silentwings]

If you want to build up a team, what's the general etiquette and norms here on how to ask people to join your project?

Ask on these forums. But realistically if you are hoping to get people to join "your project" then you should show some of your work. Coders are generally in just as short a supply as (good) artists :) The #moddev channel is the general channel for game development.

edit: You could also look at mapmaking (http://springrts.com/wiki/Mapdev:Main); in Spring the same maps are shared between many games.

[SinbadEV]

As a fellow with a long track record of "doing it wrong" I have a few ideas (that might still be way off base).

Rule 1: There are two types of people: People with ideas and no skills and people with ideas and skills... people with skills aren't sitting around waiting for ideas.... but they might be sitting around looking for an artist to share the work load.

You claim to have skills and ideas so you are halfway there... somehow you'll need to find someone willing to trade a part of their idea control for your skills.

Rule 2: Don't poach... if you come to the SpringRTS forums you better be looking for help making a SpringRTS game.

Rule 3: You can't just be an artist.

Art for games built on the SpringRTS Engine require a certain amount of "code friendliness"... you might not be willing to learn to "program" but you'll need to figure out how to script animations (or at least how to convert assets to compatible formats and rig models for scripting) if you want the assets you create to be useful.

Rule 4: Prove you can do stuff:

Make some units and get them to show up in SpringRTS... this is kinda the baseline for "competence" that people expect from collaborators.

OR

Offer to help on an existing project... build up some goodwill that you can later barter for help on your own project.

Rule 5: Don't piss off the game developers

Just saying, don't do it man! If you have the privilege of having someone tear you a new one take it as high praise... they just ignore people who aren't worth their time.

[Raptor177]

Ahh I see... this information has been quite useful.

Well, these early stages are just for me to understand the community first, and if I'm to help out around here, does anyone know where there are Sonic fans around here? That question will make sense later on...

[Jools]

Well, this is my first ever post 'round these parts...

Anyways, I'm an artist, however I can't program, but I have a dream of making an RTS game, and I can make the art and textures. If you want to build up a team, what's the general etiquette and norms here on how to ask people to join your project?

Just out of curiosity, and because we had a discussion about what it means to be an artist: do you own a Mac?

[Raptor177]

Well, this is my first ever post 'round these parts...

Anyways, I'm an artist, however I can't program, but I have a dream of making an RTS game, and I can make the art and textures. If you want to build up a team, what's the general etiquette and norms here on how to ask people to join your project?

Just out of curiosity, and because we had a discussion about what it means to be an artist: do you own a Mac?

Nope. PC, and I only use Photoshop CS5, but anyways, back to that question again...

[SinbadEV]

I'm a huge Sonic the Hedgehog fan but that's not going to help you because I'm just a parasite who hangs around the forums trying to seem important.

Also, also.... if you are planning on making a game based on an existing Intellectual Property in any sense other than "in the spirit of" you are instantly alienating a significant subset of qualified contributors... just putting that out there to temper expectations.

[Raptor177]

I'm a huge Sonic the Hedgehog fan but that's not going to help you because I'm just a parasite who hangs around the forums trying to seem important.

Also, also.... if you are planning on making a game based on an existing Intellectual Property in any sense other than "in the spirit of" you are instantly alienating a significant subset of qualified contributors... just putting that out there to temper expectations.

Uh... what do you mean? Wasn't there that Gundam RTS made on Spring?

http://sharkpuppet.com/sorry-sega-sonic ... -the-fans/

Just saying...

(P.S. got any of your other friends here working on something?)

[SinbadEV]

Uh... what do you mean? Wasn't there that Gundam RTS made on Spring?

There "was"... note the use of past tense and lack of GundamRTS sub-forum in the projects area. (Also, it's not the entire community that feels this way... I mean the "main games" are still using names, scripts, assets and game play ripped from Total Annihilation)

[Raptor177]

But what do you mean "you are instantly alienating a significant subset of qualified contributors"?

Anyways, if there is any more info or tips on how to navigate through the community, please feel free to post and help any other newcomers :)

[SinbadEV]

But what do you mean "you are instantly alienating a significant subset of qualified contributors"?

Many of the people qualified to help you will avoid helping you because they don't want to waste their efforts helping someone who's project is likely to get an orbital C&D... you know what... I don't need to explain it, you'll see for yourself since it seems like that's the road you're heading down.

[Raptor177]

But what do you mean "you are instantly alienating a significant subset of qualified contributors"?

Many of the people qualified to help you will avoid helping you because they don't want to waste their efforts helping someone who's project is likely to get an orbital C&D... you know what... I don't need to explain it, you'll see for yourself since it seems like that's the road you're heading down.

I can see your concern, but in this case it's very unlikely as shown by evidence.

EDIT: Oh you're that guy that drew Sonic with the buster sword...

[SinbadEV]

EDIT: Oh you're that guy that drew Sonic with the buster sword...

Correction: Tried to draw Sonic with a buster sword and then realized inking and colouring was hard and gave up.

[Raptor177]

BTW, how many posts minimum until I can send PM's? Would it be okay if I just emailed you Sinbad?

[SinbadEV]

Would it be okay if I just emailed you Sinbad?

... but then you would have my email.

You could look me up on Google+... https://plus.google.com/113468888266441429026/posts

[gajop]

You are an artist.. so do art, upload screenshots and your project details. If what you do rises interest, people might come. Alternatively post your background work, and if that's impressive enough, you might get some attention.

[PicassoCT]

I'm a huge Sonic the Hedgehog fan but that's not going to help you because I'm just a parasite who hangs around the forums trying to seem important.

Also, also.... if you are planning on making a game based on an existing Intellectual Property in any sense other than "in the spirit of" you are instantly alienating a significant subset of qualified contributors... just putting that out there to temper expectations.

actually you are as close to a community manager as we got.. :)

to be honest, if you are a artists.. start out as a map-maker. Its relatively easy, you will impress a lot of people when you release one that is good and you get to learn some internals. I started out that way.

Also post art:

Oh and learn lua.
http://luatut.com/introduction.html

http://www.compileonline.com/execute_lua_online.php
(@Devs: Imagine if we had such a online-edit-knorkes-tutorial mod and then play this game-page)

and here is a spring game, you can drop into your spring installation for some test modification and fall back if something fails:

http://springrts.com/wiki/SpringTutorialGame

If you have tech questions - you are welcome. Join #mapdev or #moddev in spring-IRC to get them answered even faster.

SinbadEV is right, we do Coops around here - that means we do trade of skills of equal value.

Make a Unit in the Tutorial Game that says : "I deserve help, cause i lifted a finger." every time it moves.

[Raptor177]

to be honest, if you are a artists.. start out as a map-maker. Its relatively easy, you will impress a lot of people when you release one that is good and you get to learn some internals. I started out that way.

Also post art:

Oh and learn lua.
http://luatut.com/introduction.html

http://www.compileonline.com/execute_lua_online.php
(@Devs: Imagine if we had such a online-edit-knorkes-tutorial mod and then play this game-page)

and here is a spring game, you can drop into your spring installation for some test modification and fall back if something fails:

http://springrts.com/wiki/SpringTutorialGame

If you have tech questions - you are welcome. Join #mapdev or #moddev in spring-IRC to get them answered even faster.

SinbadEV is right, we do Coops around here - that means we do trade of skills of equal value.

Make a Unit in the Tutorial Game that says : "I deserve help, cause i lifted a finger." every time it moves.

...how do you know who I am? You worked for EAW RTS didn't you?

Anyways, I'm mainly a 2D artist, and though I'm not very proficient at 3D modeling, I'm handy with texturing. However, if I'm to help around the community, I want to know the right folks first, perhaps you guys know anyone I might be interested in?

(P.S. Is it possible to have a shooter in Spring or does the engine limit that? And what about physics? I've heard that Spring technically works like a 2D plane, so are jumping units possible?)