Who wants to design vaporware (neverware)?

[Stormwaltz]

In the next few weeks, I'll gain a private secure forum (not here) for discussion of a personal MMORPG design that's been on my mind since 2004 or so. It's unlike any MMG out there, yet comfortably familiar to many games you've played. Mysterious! Anyone interested in participating, post here or PM, and I'll make sure you get a link when it's ready.

This is completely unrelated from my day job. In fact, I'll never even look at the forum from my day job. I'm pretty sure there are clauses in my contract that would allow them to try to claim my work as theirs, if they know it exists.

CAVEAT EMPTOR: Part of registering for the forum will require you to agree that if I use any of your suggestions, and by some miracle the game actually gets made, you can't sue me for it. In turn, I won't claim your ideas as my own, and would try to convince the hypothetical publisher to include your name the credits. Basically, you're a volunteer designer, and you know what they say about volunteering, Billy. Okay? Okay.

[Mrbloodworth]

I would be down for this, but my plate is really full ATM. =(

[Yegolev]

This is tempting except I'm aware of how crazy some of my ideas are... then again, if you like crazy ideas, I'm your huckleberry.

[Pennilenko]

I would be interested. No problems agreeing to or signing any privacy junk and release rights to ideas.

[tazelbain]

I'd be more comfortable if the goal was to make it ourselves (an extreme longshot) because as far making a design and finding a publisher to make it has 0 chance happening with a MMO.

Now if there was someway to "prove" the design is good these publishers would have some reason to listen.

[DLRiley]

What about designing a super low bugdet/no budget browser based mmo ala runescape. Present that as the prototype for your batshit crazy ideas and then give it to publishers.

[Stormwaltz]

I'm comfortable with the idea that no one ever make this game (though I'd love it if someone does). It's too radical a departure from proven models. While basic gameplay resembles popular titles, there are too many novel ideas knitting them together. After 10 years in the industry, I'm pretty sure no one would risk money on it.

At the same time, this is a game I've been designing in my head since Ninth Domain fell apart in 2004, and the IP conceit dates from a visit to a P&P gaming store in 2002. It's my attempt to fix everything that vexes me about modern MMG design, from the Monkeysphere to the neglect of Explorer types. I tried to put together a low-budget version of it, once up on a time. It was like having an idea for a rock opera and trying to express it as a jingle.

This is for my own enjoyment, and the enjoyment of others with similar tastes. I need and want feedback, people to point out the flaws I'm blind too and suggest solutions I've haven't considered.

[Sheepherder]

You mean we can sate our voracious neckbeards?  I'm in.

[DLRiley]

I don't really see the problem unless your vision is extremely detached from 99.99% of people capable of breathing. Unless I see it, I don't really believe that a pnp inspired, explores are the man game can't be ported with about the same horse power as whatever paper mache made runescape.

[Pagz]

I'm in, although I'm more of a lurker here then anything else. Suggestions from a layman? 

[schild]

If you've only invited people here, why don't I just make you a private subforum that you're a mod for and we'll only invite people you ask for?

[Stormwaltz]

I've invited people from other places, friends in the industry, guild-mates, that sort of thing.

Also, it'll help a friend test his secure forum code. :P

[squirrel]

I'd be interested - sounds like an engaging project with ZERO deliverables - perfect!

[Yegolev]

Yes, I'd say the complete absence of responsibility was the main thing that attracted me to this project.

[gryeyes]

Why not,at the very least it will be interesting pud wankery.

[Cheddar]

Please sign me up.

[Stormwaltz]

Just to keep everyone in the loop, I should have home internet next week, after which this will get rolling.

[Yegolev]

Hoping mine comes back as well.  I have been warned I might have to boil water, so and all that.

[UnSub]

I'm very comfortable with theorycrafting and pretending to know better than everyone else, so count me in.

[AutomaticZen]

No internet would provide me with much sadness.

[FatuousTwat]

Sign me up. I will most likely just lurk, but something might catch my fancy.

[Stormwaltz]

Home internet gets hooked up Tuesday October 6th. >.<

That's assuming Verizon can get me the 7MBps I'm paying for. I checked the little box that says if they can't provide it, the installation gets canceled.

[AutomaticZen]

Home internet gets hooked up Tuesday October 6th. >.<

That's assuming Verizon can get me the 7MBps I'm paying for. I checked the little box that says if they can't provide it, the installation gets canceled.

My FIOS has topped out around 3MBps on multiple torrents.  Might theoretically get higher, but I've never seen it.

[Stormwaltz]

My FIOS has topped out around 3MBps on multiple torrents.  Might theoretically get higher, but I've never seen it.

IIRC, Verizon throttles torrents.

[Stormwaltz]

The Verizon DSL that was supposed to start working yesterday did not, in fact, start working yesterday.

Still in a holding pattern until I can get them to fix their shit.

[schild]

Aren't you in Maryland?

Why are you getting DSL?

[AutomaticZen]

Aren't you in Maryland?

Why are you getting DSL?

Verizon doesn't have FIOS everywhere (didn't have it at my last apartment) and the only other option is Comcast. 

Storm would probably rather go with DSL than deal with Comcast.

[Cheddar]

IIRC, Verizon throttles torrents.

Verizon has never been accused of throttling.  Thats all I am saying on that one.

[schild]

Aren't you in Maryland?

Why are you getting DSL?

Verizon doesn't have FIOS everywhere (didn't have it at my last apartment) and the only other option is Comcast. 

Storm would probably rather go with DSL than deal with Comcast.

Unless comcast has gotten worse in the last couple years, I used them for 6 years with nary a problem. It wasn't the fastest cable, but it was a lot better than godforsaken dsl.

[Yegolev]

IIRC, Verizon throttles torrents.

Verizon has never been accused of throttling.

Until now...?

[Stormwaltz]

Storm would probably rather go with DSL than deal with Comcast.

I've heard more negative stories than good, and I don't like the fact that Comcast is the only cable broadband option here. Monopolies are unamerican and whatnot. Not to mention that if you're getting broadband with no cable TV, Comcast increases the price of service by $15 a month, and they charge $3 a month to rent a modem, while Verizon's comes free.

Also, the 5-7 Mbps Verizon DSL isn't too different from the 6-9 Mbps cable I had in Edmonton for four years.

Factoid: the average broadband connection speed is 17 Mbps in France, and 49 Mbps in South Korea. In the US, the average broadband speed is 2.1 Mbps (source).

America: fuck yeah.

[Yegolev]

It's because Socialists share their network connections.

[Pennilenko]

It's because Socialists share their network connections.

Fuck yeah Socialism.........wait what?

[Stormwaltz]

Back in business. I've pinged my connection speed, on to ping the guy who was going to help me set up the forum.

[schild]

Man, it's nice to not be in DC anymore.