[TOD75]

appended from posts at www.igdn.com

Greetings,
I am looking for people who are interested in working on designing a dark fantasy style MMORPG. This will be a labor of love, and at this point a hobby. My plans are to start designing, and building a public fan base of the game. Working closely with the public to design a game that until now hasn't been done. When I talk about dark fantasy. I am referring to influences such as the Thomas Covenant Series,Michael Moorecock's Elric,and Corum,Clive Barker's WeaveWorld,and and Francis Hubert's Conan. We are looking to create a mature focused MMORPG emphasis on role-playing. That being said we are looking for writers, designers, and artists. If this is something that peaks your interest please e-mail me @ inquebis@aol.com. We are looking for people who are
talented,but may not have the exposure in the industry, and are looking to get their foot in. Serious inquiries only. We plan on approaching investors, and publishers.
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post 2
This is a dark fantasy MMORPG.
What is dark fantasy? Dark fantasy is a genre that has a grim, and mature setting.
Often dealing with horror, isolation, often-futile odds to win against evil, and almost always at great cost. The Hero is more often an anti-hero type figure. Dealing with inadequacies, afflictions, and vices. Raven Loft by Wizards of the Coast setting by Wizards of the Coast would be a prime example of dark fantasy. We want to create a game that is gripping,and intense. We are not looking to please everyone. This game is focused on a mature audience that is looking for Role-playing rich features,and a world setting that you can't help but be drawn in.

Here is the premise of the game:

The world is in turmoil. The great god Dieous has just given all his power, and left (or so it seems) to a mortal high priest who sought him out to listen to the pleas of the masses. Dieous is a god of creation. He sees everything as equal. He banished, and destroyed most of the gods that plagued this realm. This caused religious upset. The gods could no longer be sensed.Discension, and anarchy plagued the land. The mortals had been used to the machinations, and promises of an eternal reward. They were lost without them.Only Dious was left, and he would not listen to their pleas. Min’tar the high priest was consumed with overwhelming power he could not hold.He expelled most of the power from his eyes gouging deep gashes into his face. Greedily he tried to hold onto the escaping power. Portfolios of vanquished gods falling upon the realm of Kathos. War,Death,Chaos,Nature,Magick and many others falling to the realm below.Waiting to be found, and possessed., Possessing a tear would make the possessor a god.

I think you get the idea. These tears can be found by anyone. They literally become a demi god, or a major god. Depending on the portfolio of power you find.
Not only do you have mortals becoming self-made gods, but you also have plagues that have sprung up across the realm. Demon cults have begun to emerge (Yes you can join these cults as well, and even lead them). The new Gods can amass followers (Players, and NPC a like). Find lost artifacts, and vie for more tears. We give the players the tools to create all the intrigue, and excitement. Of course what creators of mayhem would we be if we didn’t include the old gods resurfacing to establish their place in the divine hierarchy?

We want to focus on the following:
Magick system: Magick in the game will permeate everything, and everyone. All items will have mystical catalytic properties. We want magick something strived to be mastered. Mages are to be respected, and mayhap feared. Even gods tread with care when evoking the tethers. Magick should be like an art. Magick is an art that takes discipline, and practice to become proficient. It should enhance the game. It should not be for example; a weakly veiled 200 points of damage swing wrapped up in a fireball from a character named SmallFry.

The game will be over 18. We want mature themes, and subject matter. Provocative entertainment is our mantra. People can be dismembered, and blood will flow. For those who don’t have the luxury of powerful healings may be interested in fresh corpse grafts from Flesh Doctors who have become quite popular of late due to the realm entrenched in war.

Powerful artifacts that have their own agenda. Owning one, and tapping into its power can be a challenge into itself. Some are from the banished, and dead gods themselves!

From what I have seen on this forum people our intelligent, and civil. I welcome criticism, and feedback, but I encourage people who are intrigued to work on a project like this to contact me. Please have something serious to bring to the table. I have contacted investors already. I need a working demo, and business plan.

I am looking for:
2d artists
3d Modelers
Writers
Designers

Also I am looking for these following skillsets. These would make a great addition to the team.
Strong occultic background (Enochian,Hermetic,Shamanism,and Wicca focus helpful)
Anthropologist/Archeologist(heavy emphasis on the Roman Empire age, and Baylonian age a plus)
Cryptography
Psychology
Linguistics
Economist(Person with background or interest in imaginary economies)
Tabletop game designer


I will add more to this thread in the future.I thank you for taking the time to read my post. Email me at inquebis@aol.com for furthr details.

Regards,
Xavier

[Ninkazu]

This is what you sound like:
"Hi, make me a game. Thanks."

Also, Mark Grenham (Kyper) is making an MMORPG called Dark Fantasy, and he already has a publisher.

[TOD75]

Greetings,
You are mistaken if you think I will not be contributing anything to the project. Yes I consider having strong investor relations to be a good reason for designers, programmers, and anyone else who has talent, to want to join my team. I am a systems engineer for a major medical company, and I am not without my own technical skills. I plan on taking a strong role in design, and coordination.

I am not looking for anyone to "make me a game". I want to be part of the process. I admit my methods may be a bit unorthodox, but I have gotten pretty far with the way I do things.

I thank you for posting your observation. I hope I have cleared up this misconception.

Regards,
Xavier

[Bjorn]

Interesting game idea. I won't be joining though, for time reasons but mainly because I like games that are more simple and not Soldier of Furtune type realism (talking about severing limbs). I do like the gib stuff seen in Unreal and Quake games though, but then not the 1st person viewpoint, I prefer a top-down view.

[valderman]

Skimming through the OP, I've come to the conclusion that this looks a lot like the standard "hi i haev teh great idea 4 a gaem, i need artist, modelers, sound ppl, writers and designers plz join my team!!!!11 u wil be paid if we get publishd kthxbye!!" post from the GameDev forums.
Although your project does have some kind of design document, it isn't nearly enough to show off to people if you want them to join your team.
_________________
http://www.weeaboo.se

[Bjorn]

I don't like seeing requests for help almost always be punished by being talked down the drain because people think they recognize some pattern of newbs requesting help for already doomed projects. Also, requests like these are rather rare here so it's not like it's getting annoying already (for me, at least).

Edit: Though I think the Projects / Screenshots forum is not the place to put help requests because it's rather a place to show achievements or respond to them. Then again, we don't have a seperete help request forum so I'm leaving it here.

[Sirocco]

[Bjorn]

Yeah, me neither. TOD75, you've told a lot about the theme but not so much about intended technologies and gameplay. Maybe you are waiting with that because you think other people might have interesting input on them, or it just depends on the skills of the people that offer help. But you can make that clear too. Sorry if I have missed this part in your message.

[Jihgfed Pumpkinhead]

I have a couple of questions as well.

Are you looking for long-term commitment only, or do you have use for people who only have time to create a small aspect of your game?

Also, like Bjørn and Sirocco, I'd like a little more information on what exactly you're doing. Backstory's nice, but only gameplay and technology will give us an idea of what you're really attempting. Right now, I don't even know if you want to implement it through a browser or a stand-alone program. I suspect that's why Ninkazu and Valderman were so cursorily dismissive.

Similarly, more information on what you expect from a "writer", "designer", of "2d artist" would be appreciated. I can't tell if by a 2d artist you mean a pixel-artist or not, nor whether by writer you want someone who can do scripting, or not.

The idea does sound interesting, though, and I'm looking forward to your reply to these questions.

[TOD75]

Greetings,
Thanks for the feedback. You are right.I have checked the other posts in gamedev.net, and since I don't have a publisher, or not a developer myself this post appears to be like all the rest. I am not sure how I can communicate all this without sounding like I am boasting. I have ability to make connections. I already have a rapport with a friend who has access to corporate angels, and investors. I tried something in the past, and the only thing stopping us was a demo. I had an investor say, "Show me a demo, and I can get you the 10 million." Due to poor choices in partners, I couldn't get them to create the amount of content needed to proceed. The head writer blocked any content I wanted to add even though he himself was failing to produce more content. I tried to bring other writers in, and he blocked them as well. Since the company was formed with them, and I had basically 2 ineffectual partners who at this point were crucial to the design stage. Had I just gotten rid of them, which would have been hard since they were friends, and preceded without them. Had the game gotten published I could have been at risk with legal repercussions if they so chose to come after the company. I decided to close down the company and walk away and recollect myself.

I have learned much since then. I really feel that I have something worthwhile to contribute to MMORPGs besides putting in seat time and playing them. I realize making a MMORPG is a huge undertaking, but it’s not like making a time machine. Its been done already. Having said that I am doing this in stages.

1. Setting will be developed concurrently with the design doc. (Writers, and artists need at this stage)
2. Website, and forum will be created
The forum will be used to create a fan base, and be a great way to find more talent. Also shows the investor(s) the demand for the game you are creating.
3. D20 supplements will be created based off the setting
Even if we don't get past this stage we accomplish something.
4. At this point great momentum has been created.
By now the team should be filled out, and working on a demo. I may have already secured the capital needed to go right into development.

So why should a programmer, artist, or anyone join my team?
1. Well a major one is that they like the idea of the game.
2. If they don't have a job in the industry, and want to get in. This would be a good way to sharpen their skills, and be a part of something unique, and will go some where.
3.Some people who are published writers, and artists wanting to work on the project have contacted me. I will know more after the holiday weekend.
4. I already have proven success. May not be related to the game industry, but even though its still a risk, It more of a calculated one. I am not a kid with an idea. I am a man with an idea, and the wisdom, and resources to do it. I have proven succeses.
My proven successes:
1. I own my company (Freight Brokerage).
2. 5 years as a consultant to a major medical company. I have been involved in engineering of 10 major medical products.

I could go on about my salary, and my houses, but I think I have shown I am successful. The question is can I be successful in the game industry?
That remains to be seen.

Other than having a publisher, getting paid, or having an established team already what else do people want who want to work on a MMORPG?
If you can help me answer this I can address those concerns.

I see that more have replied with some very valid questions. I am pressed for time at this point,but will write more later this evening.

Regards,
Xavier

[BigManJones]

Well after reading over your two more informative posts I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what the technical specs for the game are intended to be. MMORPG tells me client/server programming will be involved but nothing more.

Whats the intended platform? What API's will be used? What is the minimum spec targeted for machines to run on? What will the delivery method be? Online or a retail cardboard box? What is the user interface? Did you know these projects take 2+ years for full time profession teams of 40+ developers/artists/sound teams complete at a professional level?

You should be aware the this site focuses on console style rpgs (ie SNES games such as the Final Fantasy series). Also by focusing on an 'adult' oriented game it seems that you are unnecessarily limiting your user base. You're providing a bit of information but no where near the detail that indicates you are serious about this project.

Finally, its easy for anyone to come around and talk about shipped products and successful companies. During the day I work at a MAJOR financial software provider. I could imply that I'm a lead develper on a multimillion line software application, but guess what my job really consist of? Scripting DB2 apps on an IBM mainframe. So, you need to come with quiet alot more information and verifiable references if you want anyone to take you seriously. Trust me, we've all seen this NUMEROUS times before, to the point its a common joke (see the references to gamedev.net for proof of this)

EDIT: to me an established, professional website is a verifiable reference, I think he referenced a freight company or something above, thats a good place to start.

[Jihgfed Pumpkinhead]

Is there such a thing as verifiable references on the Internet? Anyway, I, at least, don't care about any of that. TOD75 mentioned a lot of reasons why a developer/whatever might want to help out with a game, and only the first holds water with me: because I like the game idea, and think it would be nice to help out. What exactly the game idea is, is, I think, what he'll be getting to next.

[TOD75]

[Jihgfed Pumpkinhead]

Alright, that's better, thanks for the info.

First things first,

[BigManJones]