Oh, of course. I'll have something to fall back on, if it doesn't work out. But I'll try hard to make it work out. And by that I mean I'll learn a lot and be good in my field. Right now, I can't take any classes. My high school doesn't have any. But I hang out in the computer lab after school and do some work there so I can ask the computer teacher, since he knows C++.
In college, I'll just do all the work I can to learn a lot.

As for the game... I guess I can share a little. As you know, it's an MMORPG. It takes place in the future. I haven't determined a year or anything yet, but it's a time where space travel is basically just as common as travel between countries is now in real life.
Each player takes on a role of a character. You own a ship and a crew. Or, you're part of a crew on a ship. =P
There are many different ways you can go in the game. These are just a few examples: You can act like a merchant, travelling from planet to planet and using the economy to get money. Buy low, sell high. Y'know. Kinda like stocks.
Or, you can choose to be more of a space pirate. You can pillage other ships, and merchant ships are good targets if you can find them. When it comes to pillaging, I have a complex system planned out. This part is kind of the essence of my game, so I don't really feel like letting that out. You don't choose what to be, really. Like, when you make a character, you don't select "Merchant" or "Pirate" or anything. You just take on the role of a merchant or pirate through your actions.
And this is important to keep in mind. Those are just two examples of what you can act like. Don't think this is just some "Pirate vs. Merchant" game. Heh, they're just 2 examples.

Now, I know you're probably thinking "Well, that's been done, and besides, it's not even that great of an idea."
But I just gave you a VERY brief overview. Keep in mind, I have about a year's worth of notes... I have complex systems down, but I don't want to share them. (I know, I know... It might be better to, but I will later with a tighter group). And since I didn't share those systems, my game seems pretty lame. But the systems are what makes the game very unique.

I know that this is possible, if only with some luck. I have run a MUD (text based MMO) for 5 years, and I am now currently in the process of finishing the design specification, and my business partner with the business plan, for a fully graphical MMORPG.

However, the only reason I got this opportunity was that this guy could see all my ideas in a working game (albeit a text based), he knew I had most of the skills and knowledge required to handle the job (Creative Director).

I didn't get fast tracked by this either, it has taken atleast 2 years for us to get to a point where we've actually created the company and are able to aquire funding.

You're worried about losing your ideas by putting them out here, you're more likely to get screwed over when attempting to make it for real. Unforunately.


Good luck!

Well, this is kinda different from that. You made an actual game (text, but still a game.) I'm posting on forums. I'd feel much safer if I made a simple version of the game, like text.

I'll keep that idea in mind. When I'm better at programming, I might make one of my projects to start putting my MMORPG idea into action with a simple text version of it. Like you said, it is good to get your idea out there. That is a much better way than posting it on forums, even though some may respond saying "It's still okay to post it here." I just feel weird giving away too much information on forums.

It's always nice to see people with broad long term plans. Shows me that at least some of today's kids have their feet planted in solid ground instead of having their heads in the clouds.

Just a word of advice, which you probably already know, life throws you strange curve balls at times. 10 years ago, I thought I was going to go to college, get my PhD, get married, have kids and get a teaching position, but that was 10 years ago. Thhings change along the way that make you choose options that you really haven't expected.

So, its good to dream, but also have a few back up plans when you need to try and stay alive. You really never know what may happen. I personally believe that success and failure is only sepreated by a single choice, thought, or action. Who knows, maybe by the time you get into the industry, everything had already shifted and MMORPGs are either too rampant that they've gotten boring or some other medium had come along to supercede MMORPGs. Or maybe the game industry may die altogether and become one big mass media thing where everything had converged.

I personally believe in the scenario from the .hack anime series where someone wrote a deadly computer virus that ends up killing people causing everyone in the world to shift to a high security OS where only 1 game exists on it, thus ending all game development as we know it and people play only 1 game. lol :D

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Original post by Lucky Ace Card Well, this is kinda different from that. You made an actual game (text, but still a game.) I'm posting on forums. I'd feel much safer if I made a simple version of the game, like text. I'll keep that idea in mind. When I'm better at programming, I might make one of my projects to start putting my MMORPG idea into action with a simple text version of it. Like you said, it is good to get your idea out there. That is a much better way than posting it on forums, even though some may respond saying "It's still okay to post it here." I just feel weird giving away too much information on forums.

PM me if you want any help with looking into MUD codebases (online text based rpgs), or any help on getting started with it. I'm no grand master, but I've turned down my fair share of coding positions on MUDs by now.

Okay Boruki, thanks for the help.
I still feel I'm far from ready though. Learning C++ is going kinda slow for me right now, but it'll speed up once school actually starts and I can talk with the teacher again.
I'll remember your offer so I might be able to get something going. =) Thanks a lot.

So... another multiplayer Elite game?

What do you mean by Elite game?

And remember what I said... From the description I gave, it just seems like any other game. I didn't share the aspects of it that make it unique.

Sounds like a graphical version of trade wars, sounds cool, keep working at it those kinds of games are always fun.

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Original post by Lucky Ace Card Okay Boruki, thanks for the help. I still feel I'm far from ready though. Learning C++ is going kinda slow for me right now, but it'll speed up once school actually starts and I can talk with the teacher again. I'll remember your offer so I might be able to get something going. =) Thanks a lot.

I learnt to program by making the MUD I mentioned before. Get a compiler, get the code, and fuck about. Simple as that.