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Geek Culture / The challenge begins for me ...

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Fallout
22
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Joined: 1st Sep 2002
Location: Basingstoke, England
Posted: 21st Apr 2005 05:32
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I'm finally starting up my plans for my games dev company now. I have a bunch of text books, the DX9 SDK, VC++7.0 and a lot of coffee. No more DB games for me. I'm spending the next 14 months learning DX part time and developing my own libraries, and then I'll start work on my first professional product. I even have investors on the cards, so I can go full time!

I'm still gonna use DBPro for rapid prototype development, as it's great for that, so I may well still drop prototypes on the forum for people to check out and give me feedback on.

Anyway, I'll still check out posts now and again. Keep up the game dev and keep dbpro alive.

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Ace Of Spades
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Location: Across the ocean
Posted: 21st Apr 2005 05:37
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Great Job, thats awesome! Can't wait to see what comes of you.

Good Luck
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Hawkeye
21
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Location: SC, USA
Posted: 21st Apr 2005 05:42
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awwwWWWWWW RIGHT! You're doin' it, mate! How many days until the hl3 release?

Good luck and all of that, and here, have some extra coffie on me -

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Megaton Cat
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 05:56 Edited at: 21st Apr 2005 05:57
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You're joking right?

Once you get this thing of the ground make sure to call me.

EDIT: Where will you find funding for this company?

My cat! My cat is on fire! Dear god someone help!
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David T
Retired Moderator
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 06:00
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Quote: "You're joking right?"


That sorta occured to me too. Started a pro game dev company, and you don't know C++ / DX yet (not having a go at your personally, just seems an odd situation!)

So, what are your plans for the future? What sort of games?

Facts are meaningless.
You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true.
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Megaton Cat
21
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 06:10
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Quote: "So, what are your plans for the future? What sort of games?"


What I had in mind also. Surly you aren't quittin' your day job?

My cat! My cat is on fire! Dear god someone help!
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Ace Of Spades
19
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 06:12
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Quote: "Surly you aren't quittin' your day job?"


Quote: " I even have investors on the cards, so I can go full time!"


Well if it's full time, he is not using his time elsewhere, therefore...he should be quiting his day job.
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Briere
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Location: Amherst New York, United States
Posted: 21st Apr 2005 06:19
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rofl, i hope you have A TON OF COFFEE AND A FEW YEARS!

you wont just lean dx and c++ in a few months.
Unless you already know alot of dx and or c++. Even then you wont have any social life at all.
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Megaton Cat
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 06:21
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@Apolloed:
Quote: "I even have investors on the cards, so I can go full time!"


My cat! My cat is on fire! Dear god someone help!
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Fallout
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Joined: 1st Sep 2002
Location: Basingstoke, England
Posted: 21st Apr 2005 06:30
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Hello skeptics. I know several C syntax languages, plus OO inside and out. C++ nope! DX nope! Which is why I have given myself over a year to learn them. Plenty of time, and very attainable.

I have no intention of ever competing with the big boys in the FPS world. My first project will be an RTS because they're technically more simple and there is a clear niche for a decent RTS (the vast majority are tedious garbage!).

My girlfriend is about to get her 1st in Computer Animation and Visualisation, so she'll be my modeller / animator / cutscene, plus concept artist. Really looking forward to this aspect of it as her work is incredible.

I've got a couple of investors - the sure thing being my old man who is willing to invest (good bloke! ). I also have two consultant friends who are currently working for EDS (stupidly) with me who are interested in investing down the line when I move on from learning to drawing up my business plan.

I've come to this decision having worked in IT, contracting and programming and it's absolute crap. Not for me. I yawn 24hrs a day. This is the only way I'll combine all my passions (games, music, sound, graphics) together, and make money, without being bored to tears in front of .NET all day. So basically, it's not a whim. It's make or break as I have nothing else I'd be happy to do, so I'm gonna channel everything into this project.

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Dazzag
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 06:50
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Good luck Fallout. I know *exactly* what you mean. A decade of working at what you used to love, making other people loads more money, does change your attitude somewhat. Hopefuly I'll have your bottle one day.

Oh, and I'll buy your game. Assuming I like RTS's by then, and I've played the couple of dozen games I bought (but not opened) in the last few months.

And 14 months, when you have worked in IT for years (plus expect interesting childhood of programming), a good knowledge of the syntax (although that should be the least important - ask anyone who has been around a while) already, and someone else who can do all the graphics? Plus have no pressure on money, and can work full time? Should be a piece of piss. That comment on it being too hard with that sort of backup obviously have low self esteem. May not work out, but I see no reason why it doesn't have a very real chance of working. Just make a good game!

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
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billy the kid
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 06:52
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Well good luck. I just recommend getting some help on the programming side once you are able to pay other people. And also I would suggest trying to find and use as many free or relatively cheap libraries as you can. Dont go down the road of inventing the wheel over and over. Trust me, you wont get anywhere.
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soapyfish
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Location: Yorkshire, England
Posted: 21st Apr 2005 07:05
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The best of luck and all the best with your future projects.

Quote: "I have a bunch of text books, the DX9 SDK, VC++7.0 and a lot of coffee."


Check out thinkgeek.com for all your wake-me-up needs and don't forget to keep us all updated.

Just out of interest, roughly what expense are we talking for a bunch of text books, the DX9 SDK, VC++7.0

Good luck again.




Formely play2kill

thanks for taking the time to read this sig.
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BatVink
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 07:23
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Best of luck to you

BatVink
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Philip
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Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 21st Apr 2005 07:30
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Best of luck to you Fallout.

If in due course you have a decent looking prototype product, get in touch. I may be prepared to contribute towards funding, subject to seeing prototypes, business models, plans, etc.

Philip

Cheer if you like bears! Vote Conservative and save the Country!
P3.2ghz / 1 gig / GeForce FX 5900 128meg / WinXP home
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Fallout
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Location: Basingstoke, England
Posted: 21st Apr 2005 08:13
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Thanks for some of the more positive comments. Still a long way to go before the cogs start turning. The learning curve starts first, which will be a large chunk of my free time, but eventually I'll actually start a bloody game!

Quote: "Just out of interest, roughly what expense are we talking for a bunch of text books, the DX9 SDK, VC++7.0"


Not much. I've got 2 text books at £60 together, and a few on the wishlist. Don't see much point picking them all up at once as I intend to go through them front to back. Should cost me just over £150 for the books, the SDK is free, and I get free Microsoft software as part of an academic alliance program. That'd be the main expense that I've managed to side step. I can't use it for profit though, so I'll have to buy a license as and when I have a product and some interest in it.

@Dazzag

Thanks for the words mate. I don't think it'll be a piece of piss, but I don't think it'll be half as hard as people make out. My main challenge is to get through the dull bits of learning to get to the fun bits. I can't envisage anything being too technical to understand. I think it just takes the right attitude, a decent text book, and perseverance, to overcome each problem.

As for making a good game, that I will! I'm a really picky game player these days. I'm sick of the same old thing, and 95% of games don't do it for me anymore. The last thing I want to do is make a run-of-the-mill remake, so I'll be looking for something original, innovative and involving. I miss the feeling off emmersion and involvement I used to get from games. These days a lot of games seem to miss that special touch, that cool factor (makes you feel bad-ass to play it) and subtle touches that make the characters and environment feel rich. None of this requires stupidly complex graphics or programming techniques ... it just needs a good well thought out design and concept. I'm sure I can do that.

@Philip

Thanks for the potential proposition. I intend to drop some prototypes online in the future, so if the time comes and you like what you see, anything is possible.

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Dazzag
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 08:25
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Quote: "so I'll be looking for something original"
Good to hear it, but don't get too wrapped up in making the ultimate cool game. I mean everyone wants create a game of such impact and originality as, say, Black and White, but unless you have a tonne of time and money, then I myself would focus on decent fun games, but not necessarily great innovations, or even anything above really fun and playable really. Whatever pays the bills basically, until you can make the showstopper basically. Just my opinion, but once you have the skills then will be tempting to cash in a bit to get a decent position to do *exactly* what you want.

Either way, should be loads of fun.

Sigh. Time for bed, then another day of specs and business software. Git

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
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MikeS
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 10:42
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Go for it Fallout! It'll be a long and hard journey, yet since it's your passion, there will be plenty of fun along the way. The basics of C++ can easily be picked up in a solid weekend of programming having already BASIC programming knowledge. You've got two books for guidance as well, so you'll learn plenty of new things. Just keep yourself organized, inspired, and make sure you're having fun along the way.

I hope you do come by with some prototypes after a few months.



A book? I hate book. Book is stupid.
(Formerly Yellow) My Art
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fasdfsdaf
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 11:10
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Good luck. And did I understand correctly that you'd be programming in DirectX? I've seen a great book around: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1931841098/qid=1114045757/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-8352863-1776947?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

It sounds like you're not aiming for an rpg/fps, but this would still have the basics.

Anyways, goodluck with the business.

[me]"My throat froze!"
[other person]"Force quit it next time..."
A.K.A Death Stalker
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BearCDPOLD
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 14:18
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Sounds like a blast, Fallout, good luck!

Crazy Donut Productions
Current Project: A Redneck game
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Raven
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 14:39
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What I would more strongly recommend is actually taking a less direct route, and learning C++/DirectX (which actually C++ is already starting to be phased out of many development houses in favour of CSharp) in a limited capacity.

Develop your games using Dark Basic Professional, but use C++/DirectX in order to enhance what you require of it.

Currently there is more than enough there to provide you with a platform that would allow you to develop a professional title if you so choose to. While bugs can be frustrating at times, throwing a backup in a DLL and using that instead of developing a lengthy work-around often comes out time-saving and more stable.

It also provides you with a better spring board. You are FAR MORE likely to hook a publisher of any worth, if you take the time to get a library of games that are enjoyed by a wide audience than having a technical understanding to compete against the big-boys.

It's just a suggestion, and probably not likely you'll take it, given very few people ever do listen to me. Instead most prefer to find flaws in whatever I write, but believe me I understand fully the work involved in doing something like this.

A publisher doesn't give a **** what you develop your title in, provide it runs relatively bug free, and is fun to use. They're never going to have your source code, so it doesn't matter one lick if you've programmed in in ASM or Super Visual Professional Language Brand A*... provided they have something that works.

Taking the route of always constantly pushing forward new titles, while at the same time using the extendability of a language to learn and understand new things is the best route.
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Van B
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 22:10
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G'luck Fallout, hope everything goes to plan.

I'm inclined to agree about RTS games, there are a lot of cruddy titles taking up shelf space right now, something original would certainly be refreshing.


Van-B

Quote: "How could I condescend you?, you don't even know what it means!"

Van-B's mom.
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Drew Cameron
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 22:20
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That's where Firewall comes in

Good luck Fallout, hope you include your cool music in whatever game you make

Dumbo and Cool - 50% complete today!
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Hawkeye
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Posted: 21st Apr 2005 23:11
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Quote: "Good luck Fallout, hope you include your cool music in whatever game you make "

VERY good point. Good sound, music, and gameplay is always second to kick-arse graphics.. By the sound of it tho, you've got ALL four parts of it going.

Again, good luck

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Fallout
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Posted: 22nd Apr 2005 00:52
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Glad most people think its a goer. I'm pretty confident it'll all work out. As for the music, I'm looking forward to writing a sound track for one of my games. You can be sure I'll go ALL OUT on the sound effects and music.

Sound is always really under done in games, I think. Watch a horror movie without the sound, and it's about as scarey as your nans knitting (obviously terrifying if you have to wear it, but completely tame if it's not for you). That shows just how fundamental sound is to an involving game. I'll be going for complex proper beefy weapon sounds, really involving ambient sounds, appropriate entertaining dialogue, and emmersive but not distracting dynamic music. Really looking forward to this part of any title I make.

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Hawkeye
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Posted: 22nd Apr 2005 02:54
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Yeah, I remember reading in one of my old game programming books about this dude who was playing Trespasser. He had the sound turned up REALLY HIGH and it was scaring the heck outta him.. and his dog So he turned the sound off and kept playing.. and then loled--without the scarey raptor footsteps they looked like baloons bouncing around! All the scarey tension was gone...

Always remember--the fear of something is always greater before you find out what it is. With proper sound effects, a bag of popcorn exploding can make you jump outta your seat

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Megaton Cat
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Posted: 22nd Apr 2005 04:33
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Sound effects aren't that big of deal for me...I even usually play Halo multiplayer without the sound (out of fear of awaking my mother) and it's just as fun as ever. (Although sometimes audio effects are critical, in order to hear granades "plop" behind you)

My cat! My cat is on fire! Dear god someone help!
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