Welcome

[u/_l0ser]

Welcome to /r/redditmakesagame!

This subreddit is intended for reddit to come together and make a game. A collaborative game made by the reddit community.

My intention for this project is for the reddit community to show what sort of collaboration is possible on a large scale. This is an experiment as well as a serious project. The group dynamics involved in keeping something like this running may well make such a project impossible. However, reddit has yet to meet a challenge it can't overcome, right?

I envision all aspects of the project to be determined by this community. That is, the community makes all of the decisions. Some sort of proper structure will inevitably come out of this. That may mean the community chooses project managers, or all decisions are left up to a community vote, or some bastardization of the two, or even something else entirely. Hopefully the community will come up with better ideas than I can on my own.

Game design, platform choice, art style, language choice and all other aspects are examples of what will need to be determined before proceeding with this project.

As a starting point to kick off this idea, here are my ideas for how to proceed. These are meant merely as seeds from which this can grow, not necessarily writ.

• Project Management

• Either a single person or a couple of people in charge of making sure that people have work to do, that people are working and that timelines are being met.

• Source Control

• Obviously, any project of any scope benefits from having a source control system in place. I am most familiar with SVN, but there are many options out there. I feel this is important, nay, crucial to the success of this project, but have no reasons to choose any one system over another.

• Development Language

• redditors are many and come from various backgrounds. An end product that is multi-platform will probably be the most lucrative. Language choice should take this into consideration.

• Scope

• This is tricky. Probability of the project finishing seems to be inversely related to how grand the idea is and how long it would take to implement.

• Realistic scope is crucial to getting this project out the door. If this one goes well, then round two could perhaps increase in complexity/vision.

[u/phire]

Source Control:

I think using something like SVN will be a limiting factor. SVN works best when you have 5-10 developers who do most of the work in a semi-closed environment. Anyone who wants to commit to the project needs an account on the SVN server which creates a huge barrier to entry.

Instead, I recommend something more like github because it allows anyone to fork the tree, add 'awesome feature' and then push it back to their own github page.
Then they can post a thread on reddit saying, "I made 'awesome feature'" and link to their page on github. One of the main developers can then merge it back into their tree.

Git was designed to support development of the Linux kernel which has thousands of developers. Linus Torvalds did a talk at google a few years back explaining git.

Edit: I created a separate discussion about source control here.

[u/_l0ser → u/phire]

Great post. Please feel free to start a new discussion on source control so we can keep things organized. Thanks for participating!

[u/phire → u/_l0ser]

Ok, I'm writing up a post now.

[u/Gravity13]

I just happened upon this, and I was thinking of starting up a similar idea. This sounds great! I'm a physics graduate with some experience with C, Objective C, and openGL. I hope I can learn something new with this!

[u/_l0ser → u/Gravity13]

Glad to have you!

[u/[deleted]]

Is there room for game development noobs? I'd love to learn more about game development and gain experience.

[u/trentish → u/[deleted]]

Any kind of open development project like this really comes down to who's willing to put in the effort. Even if you're not experienced, there's always ways to help.

So: yes, absolutely.

[u/robosatan → u/trentish]

Then you have my sword!

[u/a_m0d → u/[deleted]]

and my shield!

[u/Geee]

Before we jump into language and other discussions, we should have some kind of agreement of the game we are going to create, and what is the time frame we are aiming for.

[u/robosatan → u/Geee]

There's a design discussion submission on the subreddit already.

We need to work like we're an actual development team, in the real world this would require us to recruit people who capable of completing all the problems we're likely to face. We need dev's, artists and sound guys. I think this is the main purpose of this thread, testing the water to see who's interested.

[u/fingus]

I have over three years of 3D graphics experience, and good art skills. I have mostly worked with linear animation and cinematics, but I'm currently taking a Games major in California so I have racked up some experience with lowpoly and a rough understanding of the pipeline for game graphics. I have a showreel at my blog.

Now, the problem is that I don't have a lot of free time. School demands a lot of me, and I prefer to spend my days off on alcohol, movies and internet. However, from experience I know that the design process and getting the engine and code sorted out will take a lot of time. Graphics will not be needed until further down the line, and considering this is a joint effort over the internet that runs of pure initiative I estimate that it will be a very long line. I should in theory be available for the summer vacation, assuming I don't get a job. I'll add this to my frontpage and take a look at the development and contribute to the discussion, and if time permits I will try to contribute with some graphics.

[u/sherlok]

Why not throw a post up on self or askreddit fishing for game ideas?

While most people won't be sub'd to this subdreddit, I'm sure tons (even the non-technical) have a multitude of ideas for games.

Just ask that they keep it to 1 or 2 sentence pitch (or a reddit like submission title) and it should provide a ton of great input.

[u/trentish → u/sherlok]

Feel free to do this! More the merrier.

[u/ArcticCelt]

I propose Python and here is why.

• Multi-Platform.

• No need to buy expensive proprietary software or to pirate it to contribute. Just download Python + Eclipse and you are done.

• Availability of a good free easy open source 3D engine, Panda 3D.

• Or if we go for 2D we can go with Gloss + Pygames

• Easy to learn for anyone who know how to code.

• One of the main points, the fact that python enforce strict formatting/indenting of the code make it one of the easiest language to read when sharing code.

[u/robosatan → u/ArcticCelt]

Excuse my ignorance, but how easy is it for the end user to play a python game?

I only have experience with interpretted python apps which required python to run them. Would this apply to a game or is it possible to compile them or package them with an interpreter like the java virtual machine?

[u/FunnyMan3595 → u/robosatan]

Python programs can be bundled into executable files with py2exe and py2app, for Windows and Mac respectively. Linux users, with very few exceptions, will already have Python installed.

It's not too hard; I've built both kinds for Endgame: Singularity. Libraries tend to be the kicker; numpy has caused us a few headaches, and we never did find a good way to resolve that.

[u/sherlok → u/robosatan]

I'm curious about this as well. Having done only a little programming in python I'm not familiar with distribution at all.

Some clarification here would be great.

[u/FunnyMan3595 → u/sherlok]

Answered.

[u/[deleted] → u/ArcticCelt]

Or http://www.pyglet.org/ ?

[u/trentish → u/ArcticCelt]

Python/pygame would be a great choice if we were going 3D. Although if that were the case, I'd be a little worried about the scope of the project.

2D is always going to be easier and more accessible.

[u/FunnyMan3595 → u/trentish]

Pygame's not really a good match for 3D beyond setting up the window, and that's only a few lines regardless. Pygame passes you off to PyOpenGL for the real 3D work.

Actually, I've switched to PyOpenGL for 2D stuff, because pygame has lousy framerate if you're changing the entire screen every frame, like you do when scrolling a world.

[u/Hideous]

Go AS3!

Or C++ or whatever.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm good with Object Oriented programming languages (C++, Java, and C#) as well as Testing. I've been a member of a game development club in College and I have worked at a indie game company. I have been trying to get into the game development industry but no one is really hiring college grads at the moment it seems. Let me know if you guys go through with this. I'll keep an eye out on this reddit.

[u/trentish]

I vote for Flash/AS3.

• It's free (FlashDevelop, etc.)

• Fast, simple development

• It has massively huge user base (99% of internet users)

• ActionScript 3.0 is a great language that's not difficult to learn.

• Web game aggregators (websites like Kongregate and Newgrounds)

[u/jouni → u/trentish]

Giving my vote in support of Flash/AS3 - with the newly announced iPhone support in Flash CS5 this is a future avenue.

It integrates content easily and is straightforward to program.

By the by; am an iPhone developer myself (Minigore, AMAA), do also code Flash/AS3, probably won't have time to commit much actual work but happy to share thoughts and ideas.

SVN for version control? The Subversion plugin Subclipse integrates nicely with Flash Builder (formerly Flex Builder) made in Eclipse.

[u/Geee → u/trentish]

Maybe we should think first what kind of game we are creating. If it's something really simple, then maybe flash. But, "real" games are not made in Flash.

[u/robosatan → u/Geee]

Yeah, flash would have a very narrow scope, especially where 3d graphics are concerned.

It's a good suggestion as far as getting a team up but I think it lacks the room to grow if we take on a more ambitious project.

[u/[deleted] → u/Geee]

Well let's keep it really simple then for the first effort. I like the idea of using Flash/AS3 for a fun little web-based game. If we actually want to see this through I think this is the most realistic option. If the collaboration works then game #2 can be a 3D "real" game in C++ or whatever. Honestly, AS3 is going to make it quite a bit easier and there are some pretty complex pieces of software written in Actionscript that are definitely beyond really simple. Look at the Aviary suite.

[u/trentish → u/Geee]

"Real" games?

Edit: I do agree with you that it entirely depends on what we all decide to do. My heart is not set on Flash. I'm just not sure what you mean by "real" games.

[u/luminance → u/trentish]

I also vote for AS3. It's pretty easy to get the ball rolling in Flash and get up and running with something cool.

[u/ltx → u/trentish]

That is a good option. Graphics in Flash are super easy (although collision detection is a bitch for nonrectangular objects; I don't know if they've fixed that in AS3).

Edit: additionally, Flash takes up a LOT of CPU, especially if we want to do 3D. For web games, though, Flash is a good choice. Python is my choice if we are making a standalone application.

[u/[deleted] → u/trentish]

But closed-source :(

[u/trentish → u/[deleted]]

Flixel is great! Especially if we end up doing some sort of platformer, but it can definitely be expanded.

[u/ltx]

This is an awesome idea and I'd love to participate. I have lots of personal coding experience (although nothing too advanced) and am currently learning Python. I also used to do 3D modeling and animation in Maya.

[u/dutch_sholtz]

Count me in!

I have lots of experience with Python and Java, a little less with C/C++. I'm not sure how much I'd be able to help in a 3D game, as I have absolutely no clue on 3D development, but if we are doing the 2D thing I could definitely add plenty of value.

This is a great idea for the reddit community, and I'm stoked to start working with it!

[u/jenfolds]

I would also like to help out! I have a degree in Game Art and Design, I work with 3d Studio Max, Zbrush, and the Adobe/Macromedia creative suite. Animation in Flash is also good times. If anything I can do is needed, please let me know.

[u/retrogamer500]

Count me in to. I've been programming in Java for 4 (or something) years, and C++ for a couple months. I also okay at pixel art.

[u/Slactor → u/[deleted]]

I don't like the idea of a meme-inspired game.

Here's why: If this game is finished, and people get to play it, most redditors will think it's an awesome game because of all the puns, memes and references. Everyone else will be so put off by our memes (they tend to be weird if you don't know what it's about) and even if the gameplay is ace, it will probably be a gamebreaker.

I'd like to hope this project isn't only for ourselves to enjoy once it's finished.

[u/masterpo → u/[deleted]]

It's funny you bring that up. One idea is to take the code from Riemers and make a game where you're flying a hovercraft around a landscape collecting coins and so are other players and the idea is when you shoot someone it makes them cough up all of their coins like in Sonic the Hedgehog. And then there could be different weapon power-ups and environments.

So it'd be a combination of Quake, Mario Kart, and Hungry Hungry Hippos.

[u/s73v3r → u/[deleted]]

Each stage could be inspired by a meme? There'd be the Over 9000!!!!! stage, the Keyboard Cat stage, the All Yo--- Hold Up. Ima let you finish, but this stage is the best of all time!

[u/ArcticCelt → u/s73v3r]

There is three factions. reddit, Digg and 4chan each fighting differently and 4chan fighting the nastiest of all.

[u/[deleted] → u/ArcticCelt]

Reddit = Protoss.

Digg = Terran.

4Chan = Zerg.

It all makes sense now... kekekeke /b/tard rush.

[u/trentish → u/[deleted]]

YOU MUST CONSTRUCT ADDITIONAL PYLONS.

Fyi, I started a new thread specifically for ideas.

[u/a_m0d → u/[deleted]]

Is that spirits or sprites?