My school recently started an independent study program and I can now write a game for credit. I have limited programming experience in C++ and OpenGL and have not worked on a project before. I was wondering if anyone could give my a ruff time frame on a simple rpg with graphics similar to the original Link for Nintendo and only 2-3 levels. This would be a lot of help since I have to have my deadline set in two weeks. Thanks

That really depends...

How much art are you doing yourself? Will they be rips or originals? If you''re doing all of it, will you want different tiles for each map? How many character sprites and frames of animation are you doing?

What about sound effects/music? Are you gonna rip them or make your own?

Is this a solo project or a group project?

Is plot an actual element because if so, you might want to do some simple storyboarding, etc.

There are way too many factors involved to give anything near a rough estimate. The best I can do is guess: if you''re working solo with original graphics, ripped sfx/music and the small semblance of plot that could be fit into three levels, maybe you can do it in two months (that''s being generous).

Sorry I couldn''t be of much more help.



-Goku
SANE Productions Homepage

Im running a project called Open Zelda, you might want to look at it as it is relevant to your project.

www.openzelda.co.uk

Thanks. It is me and maybe one other student. I just needed to make sure that it would not take more than a year or so. I think I will try to keep as much original as possible. openzelda sounds a lot like what i am trying to do only mine will be a lot shorter. So by next Septermber would leave me plenty of time right?

Start planning now after you get that done write as fast as possible, if you''re not done by next September then you''re screwed, but if you''re done before September you can tweak it and refine it and add improvements with whatever time you have left.

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- outRider -

Yes... don''t make it a matter of either finishing or not finishing. Get the engine up and running right away, and only then start adding all the enemy graphics and story elements, etc. so that you could, if you needed to, hand in a working copy at any time. You should be able to spend the last several months just adding new graphics, story elements, side quests, etc. without changing the overall functionality of the game. It will take a lot of the last-minute pressure off since the game is essentially a complete product months before you turn it in.

-Ironblayde
 Aeon Software

The following sentence is true.
The preceding sentence is false.

Again thanks for the help I started to review what I read on OpenGL its been about a month and a half. I am thinking of buy Game Programming Gems since it is the only development book I have found that uses OpenGL.Do you know any others??

"Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome."
- Samuel Johnson

YES!

OpenGL SuperBible 2nd edition. I don''t have it but it has some good reviews. Search on Amazon.com for OpenGL SuperBible and you will see in the list of books also bought, something like OpenGL 1.2 Third Edition, OpenGL Something (Third Edition) anyways. It has better reviews from people, plus there is a reference companion to it. I''d look into both of those books if I were you.

-Blackstream

Thanks. I have been looking around and the most recomended books for OpenGL I found were the SuperBible, Programming Guide, and Referance Manual. I also want to get the Game Programming Gems because it cavers the entire proccess and uses OpenGL for graphics plus I need the AI stuff. I think I have another student working on the project with me. He is incredibly smart but has no programming experiance. Well I gave my self till Sept. 14 2001 that should be engough time to make it and write the report on my activities. Again Thanks for the help.

"Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome."
- Samuel Johnson