27 replies to this topic

[Dave]

The original concept for this project was a simple democracy simulator that could be conducted in a forum environment with little to no additional programming code. I outlined it about three years ago, which--now that I've said it--makes me feel like a slacker. Months later, I started playing some browser-based combat game (medieval fantasy) I'd stumbled across on the web. The diplomatic elements of the game were solely dependent on the players--they could choose to use diplomacy via the forum or not. It was interesting because although it was technically a combat game that rewarded fighting, there was also a way to 'win' without fighting and simply 'leveling up' your player account peacefully. The game had its flaws, but its level of complexity was deeper than it appeared on the surface. It was all coded in php and I dumped the democracy simulator project in favor of a more 'click' oriented combat game.

PHP, it turns out, is not...um...I dunno. I know my strengths; I know my weaknesses. I know PHP falls among the latter. Instead, I started looking for a coder or two to help.

In the meantime, I revised the game design to incorporate a balance between diplomacy, combat and economics. You can be successful doing one and not the other two. There are some aspects of the game you can do alone. For others, you have to operate in concert with other players to achieve success. It is intended to be fully integrated with this forum, i.e. you sign up once and play here. If you want to post and not play at all. That's fine too.

That's a vague description, but it'll do for now. I finally found a coder who's excited about it. This thread will track the progress, be it a stunning achievement or cataclysmic failure.

Programmers and graphic artists who are interested in contributing to the project should click that link to email me or just post somewhere in the forum.

[Chad]

Nice

[Bacony Goodness]

Sounds awesome. Right now I am learning how to code in C Sharp so I can make XBLA games.

[Dave]

A few weeks ago, I found a programmer to work on the project, Kemal. I had met him a few years ago and never knew he had coding skills until I lamented to a common friend of ours about my inability to find a competent English-speaking coder.

The best part of having Kemal on board is his passion. He's as excited about this as I am, and he has suggested a lot of things I didn't dare dream of for v1.0 of the software.

That's the good. The bad is that the laptop he's working on quit. New laptop, but the keyboard simply quit. It's now out being repaired, but this has added a small delay in the project's progress.

[Chad]

Unacceptable.

[Dave]

Totally. I mean, just because I want to be able to throw a laptop down the stairs repeatedly into a bathtub of magnets, I don't see why it should quit working.

[Chad]

Well I'm glad we're on the same page. Someone should write a letter.

[Dave]

"a letter"

Thank you. I'll be here all week. Please tip your waitress.

[Deb]

I just sprayed masticated scorched peanuts all across my monitor...

[Dave]

See? Even game development can be fun.

The other issue I'm having is with my host. Currently, they're running PHP 4 and mySQL 4. Since PHP 4 is no longer supported, I'd like them to be running PHP 5 and mySQL 5.

After two queries, I haven't received an affirmative on my request. I'd hate to have to change hosts, but I have one lined up that is PHP 5 ready for the same (eh, probably a little less) price. I'd rather not do this because it means at least 24 hours that my sites will be down for the DNS settings to propagate (and it's a headache for me as far as transferring the files), so I hope my host understands.

[Dave]

I'm taking some php, mysql courses starting very soon. They will either enable me to help with the coding or they will taunt and frustrate me with their gibberish. I'm leaning towards the latter.

[Deb]

Jesus, Dave.

Good luck with that...

[Chad]

php is one of the many tools of the devil.

[Dave]

Jesus, Dave.

Good luck with that...

Spot on analysis. I'm doomed.

php is one of the many tools of the devil.

[Dave]

Well pluck a duck.

Due to some personal issues, Kemal has not had the time to work on my silly dream so he has had to bow out.

I am, once again, back to square one.

And once again I toss out this link in vain hope that there is some programmer type person who might be interested in working on this with me. That's right, I said "with me" not "for me." I finally have some low-level skills in php/sql to wield in this direction.

So the good news:
* I designed an 'entity relationship diagram' using the flowchart tools in Excel. This is pretty cool. It gives me a better understanding about how the data will be handled in the database. I can start writing select/insert/update queries in a DB.php file.
* I still have my 30+ pages of design documentation detailing step-by-step what should happen for each component and each php page of the game.
* I'm still handsome.
* I have plenty of beer.
* I don't have to worry about registration, earning ducats from posts, clan membership. That's already handled thanks to this robust forum software.

[Deb]

LOL I loved the good points.

I wish I knew more so I could lend a hand.

I know of people who could help, but like most people on the internet, it starts off great guns, but then interest is lost and you're left in the lurch again.

[Dave]

Ain't that the truth. Thanks anyway.

[realflux2]

So any news on this intresting project of yours? I've got some coding skills...and I might be able to help...just maybe since my timetable these days are packed! But you can msg me with your current status, and what sort of coding tools you may be using.

[Dave]

Forum integration is, to me, a key aspect of the game, but at the moment I'm struggling with it--particularly a feature that would need to start its own thread in order to keep a public log.

[Deb]

This is starting to sound very very complicated....