User Created Content Game.

[kobejonez]

OK so Ive been thinking about Little Big Planet a lot recently and I think its a fantastic idea. The 360 at the moment has nothing like this, and I would like to change this. So I fired up XNA and sat there mostly scratching my head and then banging it on the wall, I don't have a clue how to write C#. So I've been thinking how could I bring this idea forward.And I realised that I need help to develop it. M$ will undoubtedly be crying out for a LBP rival and therefore there is a gap in the market, so I'm suggesting we design a game and present it to M$ and get it made. A discussion on the viability of this idea and a brainstorming session would be invaluable. So who's with me?

[_Chris_]

I'm down, pity i so far know like nothing about games development...a shame indeed seeing as thats what i want to do with my life, but i will do anything i can to help!i really should get started with college, training and such. While we're on the subject, anyone involved in games dev that wants to give ma a few pointers on how to get started? would be much appreciated:)

[storm]

Lol, always funny to see people think they can just start making a game, without any prior knowledge whatsoever. Oh, the ignorance..

Making a game requires skills in a lot of different areas, such as programming, modelling, texturing, animating, level-design, physics, networking, just to name a few. You can't learn any of those in just a couple of afternoons, let alone all of them. That's why development teams are made up of people with different skills; it's impossible for one person to master them all. You've got your engine coders, network coders, tool coders, level designers, texture artists, sound designers, and a lot more.

I suggest you start out by trying to create a mod for some game, like half-life or quake. There are a lot of tools available that can help you with it (level editors, modelling programs, graphics programs) and most (recent) games have a helpful mod community. Create some levels, models and textures and try to write some scripted sequences. You could also join an existing mod team, but you'll probably need to show some proof of your awesome skills.

Once you've created a nice mod and you feel that you know what it takes to create a game, start learning a decent programming language (read: C++), but start with the basics first. Programming a game is about the most difficult thing to do, because performance is very important. In order to code an efficient game engine, you'll need to know all the ins and outs of C++. This takes time (years probably), and you'll probably find it to be very boring. Once you know C++, come back here :P

[nofear360]

I used to want to develop games but ever since I downloaded that XNA Beta program, I've realized how incredibly hard it is to make a game, even a simple 2D sidescroller! It was then that I knew I needed to find some other way to break into games industry. So I've decided to study management (I'm also interested in maths and business) and then after I get the degree and some years of experience, I'll apply for a manager job at some development studio. Thumbs up for my super duper plan :P

[Studley]

The main benefit of XNA is that it actually gives you a method of deployment to the 360. It was heralded as "an easy way to create games for the 360", but what it actually means is "an easy way for existing programmerfs". Yes, there is a huge learning curve, if you want to start to learn programming then the last place you should really be starting is on something as inherently complex as a 360 game.

Incidentally, there are some third-party plugins for XNA which make things easier, e.g. TorqueX (http://www.garagegames.com/products/torque/x/), which is available for free if you're a subscriber to the XNA Creators Club.

For what it's worth, I'm an XNA member but I've not really had time to do much in the way of building games yet. I've got the basic framework working (e.g. drawing graphics, moving objects, making the freakin controller vibrate), but I need to find some free time to start programming.

[nofear360]

I couldn't even get a 2D sprite to show on the panel :(.

[Sc0tty2h0tty17]

I have decent knowledge of C++. I took 2 years in high school and 2 in college. Unfortunately I majored in aerospace engineering and don't have the faintest idea of video game design. I'll help out if you are serious with this but I gotta warn you that without programming knowledge it will be extremely difficult. 8)7

[kobejonez]

Lol, always funny to see people think they can just start making a game, without any prior knowledge whatsoever. Oh, the ignorance.

I think I explained that I hit a brick wall when I tried coding a game. And I realised that my skills do not lie in this area. But far from having prior Knowledge I have owned a PC(although not necessarily IBM/086) most of my life and have been trying to understand programing for 26 years and enjoyed Games for 27 and a half years , What I was trying to say was Lets Create a UCG for US the 360 community here on ICG as a cross section of 360 users and take it to Microsoft as by the gamer for the gamer ALA Lil Big Planet.
I'm going to keep reading replies and edit and respond to everyone.

I couldn't even get a 2D sprite to show on the panel :(. I Hear ya brother!! Although I did stumble across a BASIC 3d graphics routine on the amstrad CPC along the lines of
10 for a=10 to 100
20 draw a,2,1
that was my first and only ever successful attempt at programming my dad developed it though never beyond BASIC.


I have decent knowledge of C++. I took 2 years in high school and 2 in college. Unfortunately I majored in aerospace engineering and don't have the faintest idea of video game design. I'll help out if you are serious with this but I gotta warn you that without programming knowledge it will be extremely difficult. Well I could understand it if I had someone that knew how to do it explained slowly how it worked. But if you know how to program then game programing would surely working be no more than working out what needed to be done and then working out how to do it.

[max2663]

only curry (out the main users of this site) possibably would have the skills to even start to comprehend the skills required to make a gome although good i dea kobe

[Chris]

Lol, always funny to see people think they can just start making a game, without any prior knowledge whatsoever. Oh, the ignorance..

Making a game requires skills in a lot of different areas, such as programming, modelling, texturing, animating, level-design, physics, networking, just to name a few.

Not one person does all of those things on ANY dev team. You're expected to know a general knowledge of most of them, but in no way does anyone expect you to be able to be an expert in all. You focus on one area.

The design people have nothing to do with the technical people for one.

[Studley]

only curry (out the main users of this site) possibably would have the skills to even start to comprehend the skills required to make a gome although good i dea kobe

Hurrah, a challenge :+

...Unless you don't consider me a main user :(

[storm]

only curry (out the main users of this site) possibably would have the skills to even start to comprehend the skills required to make a gome although good i dea kobe

Booh, you're underestimating us! :(

I have a bachelor's degree in Software Engineering and am currently following a master program in Game and Media Technology. About a year ago I coded a multiplayer 3D racing game in C# using DirectX. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to work on a game at the moment, although I considered becoming a member of the XNA Creator's Club. But you need a credit card for that ;(

Not one person does all of those things on ANY dev team. You're expected to know a general knowledge of most of them, but in no way does anyone expect you to be able to be an expert in all. You focus on one area.

The design people have nothing to do with the technical people for one.
Did actually you read my entire post?:
That's why development teams are made up of people with different skills; it's impossible for one person to master them all. You've got your engine coders, network coders, tool coders, level designers, texture artists, sound designers, and a lot more.Though, it is possible for 1 person to create a game. Hell, the game I mentioned above was made just by myself. It just didn't have any fancy models, textures or sounds. There are even some XBLA games in development by 1 person.

[JasonA]

I made a commodore 64 game when I was 14....lol does that count.
But yeah a user content created game would be good on the 360. Im sure when the PS3 version of Little Big Planet whatever it's called is released, some 360 rival by some other developer is bound to happen depending on the success of Big Little Planet.

[Chris]

Did actually you read my entire post?:
then your post conflicted itself.

Making a game requires skills in a lot of different areas, such as programming, modelling, texturing, animating, level-design, physics, networking, just to name a few.
(But not by one person, unless of course you're trying to create a title by yourself)
You can't learn any of those in just a couple of afternoons, let alone all of them. That's why development teams are made up of people with different skills; it's impossible for one person to master them all. You've got your engine coders, network coders, tool coders, level designers, texture artists, sound designers, and a lot more.
I agree. In the end you don't need to know everything about everything. (aka programming, modelling, texturing, animating, level-design, physics, networking, just to name a few.)

[kobejonez]

Im sure when the PS3 version of Little Big Planet whatever it's called is released, some 360 rival by some other developer is bound to happen depending on the success of Big Little Planet.

What I'm saying is why don't we put our heads together and come up with some ideas/designs and try and develop them from there.

[Curry]

Once you know C++, come back here :P
Hi.

[Sc0tty2h0tty17]

Hi.

cout << Yep me too.. << endl;
//wow I suck

[Curry]

You forgot to doublequote the string constant, hence generating a compiler error, I expect a 'Unknown variable yep on line 1' ;)

[Studley]

10 PRINT "I know programming languages too!"
20 END

[max2663]

ok so maybe people on xboxic could make a game but i only knew that curry was anything to do with computers occupation wise

[Studley]

I'm a tester for a living. Business software and web applications rather than games, but you never know what the future might bring...

[max2663]

err studley appearing in my birthday cake???

[Studley]

Who knows, if times get hard... ;)

[max2663]

you'd do that for me anyway wouldnt you???

[JasonA]

you'd do that for me anyway wouldnt you???

He'd have to beat me to it first - nothing is as good as my nail bomb chocolate surprise...

[_Chris_]

He'd have to beat me to it first - nothing is as good as my nail bomb chocolate surprise...
He will still make pointless posts about it..

[JasonA]

He will still make pointless posts about it..

:D

Max needs a blog or something... god when I was 14 the last thing I'd be interest in is pointless posts...

...everyone thought I went through too much tissue because of hay-fever!

[_Chris_]

:D

Max needs a blog or something... god when I was 14 the last thing I'd be interest in is pointless posts...

...everyone thought I went through too much tissue because of hay-fever!
We all used that excuse;)

[Ivan Joidherpus]

He will still make pointless posts about it..
This is like saying the sky is blue. We all know it is, just the same, we all know the max will make a dumb/retarded/pointless/strange post.8)7

[Lotus 111s]

I know absolutely nothing about programming but i would guess this is a far harder game to make than a normal one. With user created content you must have so many unknown variables that accounting for it all in gameplay must be a massive headache. For all anyone knows LBP could be a damp squid (bloody hope not) with no one really enjoying whats being made.

Well best of luck with this.