   [MMO] Faldon
Team name:Illusory Studios is a very small indie developer. Since we only have one game, our URL now just leads to the game site: http://www.illusorystudios.comProject name:Faldon. I have started another introduction GameDev Thread on the announcement forum.Brief description:Faldon is a straight forward, classic style online RPG. It is an isometric view, 2d game. It has been around for ages. The programmer & his brother have been working on it off and on as a pet project/hobby for the past 13 years. So, to game developer enthusiasts, if you want to get an idea of how long it takes to single handedly program an MMO in your spare time this is it.Though it has been through many stages in the past, the recent work has been a more thoughtful, more serious. In the past 8 months it has become less of a hobby, and more of a goal to refine it into something more unique, charming, and fun.Target aim:The game is free to download and play, with an optional premium account upgrade. The goal is to refine the game, make it better in most all aspects. Realistically, we're down to earth and would really like to just carve out a modest niche in the massive online MMO world.Compensation:Currently with server costs, there really isn't much revenue to speak of. It takes a certain type of commitment & enjoyment to work on a game for free. I've been working on Faldon as a hobbyist/enthusiast for roughly 10 years. So I am not going to be vague and tell you that we're possibly going to be making X amount and you will receive Y. At this point we're looking for talented, game development enthusiasts, that just want to gain experience, get credited with the work, or just have fun with the process.My vague, but serious answer to the question of compensation would be: Yes, if the following 2 criteria were met: 1)If the team member were to get deeply involved with the project, providing a fair share of the game assets.2)The game becomes more successful in order to allow compensation.Technology:This is coming from the game's artist (me), I have much less understanding of the code aspects, so please keep that in mind. :PWe're targeting mid-low range PCs, the minimal requirements for the current game client aren't terribly demanding. (I don't have exact specifications at the moment.) The new game client requires a little more system requirements, but also takes advantage of things like multi-threading. The overall system requirements are fairly low, offering very a broad inclusion.Code:- The server is written in VB- The client in C++- Other game development tools are written in C#Art:- Most all of the graphics are done in Lightwave. - Some post work with GIMP.Sound:- I have done a little bit of work in Audacity.- Some have been bought, some just recorded with a mic..Talent needed:Artist/Animator: We need someone who can animate (and hopefully model), creatures & animals, big and small. Or, other game animations like spells, effects, environment animations.Sound Effects: In the new client we have the ability to play sounds for many different actions. There are sounds for picking up and dropping various items, ambient sound loops, sounds for creatures, and so on. However, we're steering away from music.General Artist: If you have worked on an isometric or 2d game before, perhaps you're familiar with creating walls, decorations, or level elements.For these positions you can work at your own pace, have a great deal of freedom over creations as long as the sounds/artwork are consistent with the game's style. Experience is a plus, but we all have to start somewhere.Team structure:Programming, Lead Design, Owner: Zer, been on it about 13 years. (he has coded every aspect of the game, top to bottom.)Artist, Design consultant: Me (Master Wu), been on it about 10 years.We also have a few game masters that map edit, and script.Don't be turned off by they long time duration here, since for many years it has been a part-time hobby (the programmer started around age 12 or 13). As I explain in the thread here, the new serious development has occurred fairly recent, and is moving quickly.It is a very small team, but look at the results. We get things done. :)Website:This is the current game: http://www.faldonrpg.comThe game is functional, but it is rather old. We are now working on a updated game client.And again, for more information on the game project I have posted this Thread on Announcements.Contacts:Please contact me with any inquires or comments here: wu@faldonrpg.comI would love to hear from someone :DAdditional Info:I encourage anyone interested to review some of the work in progress on the new game client, as well as maybe downloading and checking out the old game. I know there are lots of people on this forum looking for team members and very few posting to help. What we've got here is a nice start on a game, one that is already fairly established with somewhat of a foundation. It is now a matter of renovating, refining, and generally making the game better in all aspects.Recently, we have done a significant amount of new development & work. Including: a new web page, setup a new server box, designed and implementing a new GUI, various other game enhancements.Feedback:Any and all feedback welcome! :)[Edited by - Master Wu on May 13, 2010 11:48:46 PM]
  I added a few more development updates to my annoucement thread.;  Finally, an MMO with potential and it looks pretty good. I support you guys all the wayI had one inquiry: Why did you go with VB for your server?   ;  Glad to hear you like it! :DGood question, many people find the VB server strange. The reason is originally (circa 1996-7) the game client, the server, and all development apps were coded in VB. Over time, the game client was recoded in C++, and the server was just refined, debugged, and built upon. Now, the game client is on yet another rewrite. The server has always taken a backseat to the game client's development, but has been refined over the years. We talk sort of a Soviet approach on the server you could say.So, at this point we have this dependable, yet relic of a server. The programmer had considered redoing it in C#, but decided to keep it around for the foreseeable future.   