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P.D and Shareware has always been a consistent source for new and innovative titles...
Of course, its also been the primary source for rehashed, half baked, badly written nonsense, but alike the Playstation owner in the face of imminent GC and X-Box launches, we'll forget about them for the moment and concentrate on our successes...
Although awareness of shareware and PD has increased at almost the same rate as the influence of the internet into our individual lives and collective consciousness, it was already developing a strong presence in the late eighties, early nineties, when the most popular ways to get PD was either through a direct dialled BBS or more commonly ordering from dodgy Ads from the back of computer mags...
One of the primary driving forces behind the increasing popularity of P.D. was games development (I even had a dabble myself, with my AMOS wonder 'Egg-Blasters') ... notably, utilities were also popular, however, since P.D utilities pre-date commercially sold software, and since this is going to be about games development, I'll leave forget about PD utilities for the moment...
Anyway... PD Games increased in popularity, and influence steadily, boosted enormously, as I’ve already said, from the Internet being accessible to the general public. Even, creating its own heroes, of sorts, of whom EPIC Mega games and of course id seem to be the most famous.
There was, I remember, much speculation at the time of computer software being sold solely over the Internet, and that software being held on a physical medium would become a thing of the past. However, since this was also the time when people speculated the internet would do away with all other form of communications, and that humans would live solitary lives sitting at the computer 24hrs a day, never to see the sun, I think that it can be chalked up as another case of the media talking rubbish and another reason never to believe anything you read, and to publicly, and vocally mock anyone in the media as loudly as frequently as possible. :)
Point is, and there kinda is one, that there were a lot of people writing their own games...
It was different to the early eighties, which is why I'm purposely missing it out and starting in the early nineties, it was possible then for one person to write a hit title, more importantly to note, it was possible for one person to write a titles that for the time, represented the state of the art. Partly because no one knew if gaming would last, partly because no one really knew what was going on, and where if anywhere, it was going. As the years passed, it seemed to die down as companies started to get formally formed, things started to get professional, and people started saying talking about the death of the bedroom programmer, and the need for teams to write a valid contemporary title.
By the time P.D. games were at their peak, many people were writing in teams... At the very least, there was a guy who just did the graphics, another composing the music and sound effects, a couple more writing the code...
Thing is stuff was actually being done, people were working together to write the code, and games were being produced, although, by this time it was more shareware than P.D.)...
We were at the beginning of the time where the popular press, and popular option started to consider games development solely to be the domain of professional developers, that games were too complex, graphics too advanced, music of too high a quality for the humble public to be able to develop titles of suitable quality without the required budget and time to back them up, an opinion which they stuck to during, despite and since the successes of Doom, Duke Nukem, etc.
Then (like in the eighties?) things moved on, the shareware/P.D. successes, including Epic and (most notably) id became 'professional' businesses, they started selling their games on CD through Activision, the worlds first third party developer (it was also at this point, that the playstation & co. became the toys that all aspiring international bright young things were required to own).
Anyway, time moved on, but things didn’t, consoles remained the dominate force in gaming entertainment, the popular press and popular opinion continued to state that games can now only be developed by companies with huge budgets, and that the humble member of the general public cant write software to compete without a huge budget and years of development time.
Although it seems, games are the ONLY form of popular entertainment were this is considered a valid point of view... every couple years, musically, cinematically, literally (okay that one doesn’t work as well, but you get the idea), there’s some home made movie, or album which was written and recorded in the basement, novel written in the spare time which is a huge success and helps propel the industry forward with new ideas, fresh momentum, and another cash cow to milk...
Its an easy excuse to allow people to have opinions and complaints about the lack of originality of games, how quality is being sacrificed for cash, how games should have been written, and what someone should write...
As a side note, to notice the popularity, of predicting the death of the PC, even the popularity of promoting its demise as a gaming machine, (within these forums!) though take note, after its demise, as you sit in front of your TV screens, with the next EA Sports franchise sitting in your console, there will be little left for the amateur developers work with.
However, back to the point... We need people to be cutting their teeth as early as possible, people who have had the freedom to try things out, take risks with new ideas, see which of them work, which fail and to have the time to understand why, without having to worry about budget constraints, release dates and potential profitability of a title. P.D and Shareware is how the vast majority of the most popular developers got going today, British developers especially, and they site it as the reason for their success.
There doesn’t seem to be the same strength in P.D. games development now as there used to be, and although there seems to be more people with options of how games should be, there are very few who are actually doing something about it, without which, the gaming industry, and the gamer will suffer sorely and be much the worse for it.
Of course, its also been the primary source for rehashed, half baked, badly written nonsense, but alike the Playstation owner in the face of imminent GC and X-Box launches, we'll forget about them for the moment and concentrate on our successes...
Although awareness of shareware and PD has increased at almost the same rate as the influence of the internet into our individual lives and collective consciousness, it was already developing a strong presence in the late eighties, early nineties, when the most popular ways to get PD was either through a direct dialled BBS or more commonly ordering from dodgy Ads from the back of computer mags...
One of the primary driving forces behind the increasing popularity of P.D. was games development (I even had a dabble myself, with my AMOS wonder 'Egg-Blasters') ... notably, utilities were also popular, however, since P.D utilities pre-date commercially sold software, and since this is going to be about games development, I'll leave forget about PD utilities for the moment...
Anyway... PD Games increased in popularity, and influence steadily, boosted enormously, as I’ve already said, from the Internet being accessible to the general public. Even, creating its own heroes, of sorts, of whom EPIC Mega games and of course id seem to be the most famous.
There was, I remember, much speculation at the time of computer software being sold solely over the Internet, and that software being held on a physical medium would become a thing of the past. However, since this was also the time when people speculated the internet would do away with all other form of communications, and that humans would live solitary lives sitting at the computer 24hrs a day, never to see the sun, I think that it can be chalked up as another case of the media talking rubbish and another reason never to believe anything you read, and to publicly, and vocally mock anyone in the media as loudly as frequently as possible. :)
Point is, and there kinda is one, that there were a lot of people writing their own games...
It was different to the early eighties, which is why I'm purposely missing it out and starting in the early nineties, it was possible then for one person to write a hit title, more importantly to note, it was possible for one person to write a titles that for the time, represented the state of the art. Partly because no one knew if gaming would last, partly because no one really knew what was going on, and where if anywhere, it was going. As the years passed, it seemed to die down as companies started to get formally formed, things started to get professional, and people started saying talking about the death of the bedroom programmer, and the need for teams to write a valid contemporary title.
By the time P.D. games were at their peak, many people were writing in teams... At the very least, there was a guy who just did the graphics, another composing the music and sound effects, a couple more writing the code...
Thing is stuff was actually being done, people were working together to write the code, and games were being produced, although, by this time it was more shareware than P.D.)...
We were at the beginning of the time where the popular press, and popular option started to consider games development solely to be the domain of professional developers, that games were too complex, graphics too advanced, music of too high a quality for the humble public to be able to develop titles of suitable quality without the required budget and time to back them up, an opinion which they stuck to during, despite and since the successes of Doom, Duke Nukem, etc.
Then (like in the eighties?) things moved on, the shareware/P.D. successes, including Epic and (most notably) id became 'professional' businesses, they started selling their games on CD through Activision, the worlds first third party developer (it was also at this point, that the playstation & co. became the toys that all aspiring international bright young things were required to own).
Anyway, time moved on, but things didn’t, consoles remained the dominate force in gaming entertainment, the popular press and popular opinion continued to state that games can now only be developed by companies with huge budgets, and that the humble member of the general public cant write software to compete without a huge budget and years of development time.
Although it seems, games are the ONLY form of popular entertainment were this is considered a valid point of view... every couple years, musically, cinematically, literally (okay that one doesn’t work as well, but you get the idea), there’s some home made movie, or album which was written and recorded in the basement, novel written in the spare time which is a huge success and helps propel the industry forward with new ideas, fresh momentum, and another cash cow to milk...
Its an easy excuse to allow people to have opinions and complaints about the lack of originality of games, how quality is being sacrificed for cash, how games should have been written, and what someone should write...
As a side note, to notice the popularity, of predicting the death of the PC, even the popularity of promoting its demise as a gaming machine, (within these forums!) though take note, after its demise, as you sit in front of your TV screens, with the next EA Sports franchise sitting in your console, there will be little left for the amateur developers work with.
However, back to the point... We need people to be cutting their teeth as early as possible, people who have had the freedom to try things out, take risks with new ideas, see which of them work, which fail and to have the time to understand why, without having to worry about budget constraints, release dates and potential profitability of a title. P.D and Shareware is how the vast majority of the most popular developers got going today, British developers especially, and they site it as the reason for their success.
There doesn’t seem to be the same strength in P.D. games development now as there used to be, and although there seems to be more people with options of how games should be, there are very few who are actually doing something about it, without which, the gaming industry, and the gamer will suffer sorely and be much the worse for it.
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Your Honour wrote:
> Anyway, after doing a little bit of research, I'm going to download
> the demo of DarkBasic sometime this week, not sure when - probably
> won't be 'til about wednesday, so look out for the next YH game - in
> stores soon!
>
> :-D
What's the latest on this, YH?
> Anyway, after doing a little bit of research, I'm going to download
> the demo of DarkBasic sometime this week, not sure when - probably
> won't be 'til about wednesday, so look out for the next YH game - in
> stores soon!
>
> :-D
What's the latest on this, YH?
Your Honour wrote:
> What's all the stuff you're doig with Java?
Heres my most recent example...
http://www.fuji-image-service.fsnet.co.uk/
Its not up to much, but at least its a start?
Theres a few (3) other games I've got stuck on my harddrive... And a couple more on the way...
> What's all the stuff you're doig with Java?
Heres my most recent example...
http://www.fuji-image-service.fsnet.co.uk/
Its not up to much, but at least its a start?
Theres a few (3) other games I've got stuck on my harddrive... And a couple more on the way...
-----------------------------------------------------------
Your Honour wrote:
What's all the stuff you're doig with Java?
-----------------------------------------------------------
lol... nothing yet... I was supposed to have started it Last week, but Ive been procastinating instead :)
Like I say, I havn't touched it since '98, and I've never used it to create a Windows program... I figured Tetris is small enough to complete within a reasonable time frame, but big enough to properly re-aquaint myself with the language...
After which I was intending to knock up some cheesy muliplayer (frst to 40 lines, top score within a time limit) rubbish, just to give me a chance to play with the network/Internet facilities...
There are a few titles I'm looking to develop after Ive got Tetris sorted out, but I figured I'd better see how everything gets sorted out as it is before I start moving on :)
Your Honour wrote:
What's all the stuff you're doig with Java?
-----------------------------------------------------------
lol... nothing yet... I was supposed to have started it Last week, but Ive been procastinating instead :)
Like I say, I havn't touched it since '98, and I've never used it to create a Windows program... I figured Tetris is small enough to complete within a reasonable time frame, but big enough to properly re-aquaint myself with the language...
After which I was intending to knock up some cheesy muliplayer (frst to 40 lines, top score within a time limit) rubbish, just to give me a chance to play with the network/Internet facilities...
There are a few titles I'm looking to develop after Ive got Tetris sorted out, but I figured I'd better see how everything gets sorted out as it is before I start moving on :)
No worries mate.
I had a quick look at the demo last night, and you can only run the demo 60 times before the evaluation expires.
60 times!?
Christ, the first tutorial uses 2 of those times up!?
Anyway, I've got an idea for a game, well, more a game I remember from the Amiga that I want to do. Not sure how long it will take, but I'll put it up for download as soon as it's finished.
What's all the stuff you're doig with Java?
I had a quick look at the demo last night, and you can only run the demo 60 times before the evaluation expires.
60 times!?
Christ, the first tutorial uses 2 of those times up!?
Anyway, I've got an idea for a game, well, more a game I remember from the Amiga that I want to do. Not sure how long it will take, but I'll put it up for download as soon as it's finished.
What's all the stuff you're doig with Java?
Your Honour wrote:
> Shanks, I've got a bit of an idea creeping in.
How about we both get
> ourselves a copy of DarkBasic (I just downloaded the demo at lucnh time) and
> have a play around.
If we get anything half decent we could stick it on the
> 'net for other people to download.
I'm not talking about major storyline
> based games, but easy arcade style games. Essentially the old "Beat your
> high score" style thing, like tetris, asteroids, space invaders type
> game.
Whaddya think?
I would man, but, as I say, I desperatly need to crack on with reaqainting myself with Java... especially leanring to develop apps in a Windows environment...
However, flipping through my Java in a Nutshell, there does seem to be an inordinatly large number of Netwroking options (surprise, surprise), so I'll see what I can do to converting the Tetris to a multi-player, internet game??
(Ive downloaded the demo anyway, so I'll have a go at it once Ive finished with Java anyway)
Sorry I couldnt have been of more use man.
> Shanks, I've got a bit of an idea creeping in.
How about we both get
> ourselves a copy of DarkBasic (I just downloaded the demo at lucnh time) and
> have a play around.
If we get anything half decent we could stick it on the
> 'net for other people to download.
I'm not talking about major storyline
> based games, but easy arcade style games. Essentially the old "Beat your
> high score" style thing, like tetris, asteroids, space invaders type
> game.
Whaddya think?
I would man, but, as I say, I desperatly need to crack on with reaqainting myself with Java... especially leanring to develop apps in a Windows environment...
However, flipping through my Java in a Nutshell, there does seem to be an inordinatly large number of Netwroking options (surprise, surprise), so I'll see what I can do to converting the Tetris to a multi-player, internet game??
(Ive downloaded the demo anyway, so I'll have a go at it once Ive finished with Java anyway)
Sorry I couldnt have been of more use man.
Shanks, I've got a bit of an idea creeping in.
How about we both get ourselves a copy of DarkBasic (I just downloaded the demo at lucnh time) and have a play around.
If we get anything half decent we could stick it on the 'net for other people to download.
I'm not talking about major storyline based games, but easy arcade style games. Essentially the old "Beat your high score" style thing, like tetris, asteroids, space invaders type game.
Whaddya think?
How about we both get ourselves a copy of DarkBasic (I just downloaded the demo at lucnh time) and have a play around.
If we get anything half decent we could stick it on the 'net for other people to download.
I'm not talking about major storyline based games, but easy arcade style games. Essentially the old "Beat your high score" style thing, like tetris, asteroids, space invaders type game.
Whaddya think?
Meka Dragon wrote:
Ah! Thank you. I'd gathered it was that kind of
> thing, just couldn't get the specifics!
Apparently IceBurgs are P.D. ...
At least according to 'Brewster Millions'...
Ah! Thank you. I'd gathered it was that kind of
> thing, just couldn't get the specifics!
Apparently IceBurgs are P.D. ...
At least according to 'Brewster Millions'...
Your Honour wrote:
> But there's no reason why it couldn't come close.
-----------------------------------------------------------
I really hope it does, its just my innate fear of (and complete lack of ability to) coding 3D environments creeping in!
-----------------------------------------------------------
Your Honour wrote:
With the use
> of Direct X standardising stuff like graphics, sound etc, it's easier to create
> a good looking and soundsing game.
-----------------------------------------------------------
I dont know much about Dark Basic, but I heard its essentialy a front end to Direct3D, which definitly holds a certain appeal
-----------------------------------------------------------
Your Honour wrote:
All that's would be different would be AI routines,
> which would be VERY hard for one person to code. But if you bear these
> limitations in mind when making the game, it shouldn't cause too much of a
> problem.
-----------------------------------------------------------
From what Ive seen most games (bar Black and White) tend to use expert systems for their A.I. and given the ease at which most people seem to implement If...Then... statements as it is, also that theres still a few professional Expert systems avalible on the web for free that people can play around with, I reckon in game A.I. may well end up being better than most pro-titles??
-----------------------------------------------------------
Your Honour wrote:
You can tell a story without hours and hours of FMV (something that
> MGS2 owners may not realise... :-p), as MAx PAyne shouwed with it's storyboard
> style approach.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ive notieced from playing older games (especially speccy games) that the simpler, more basic techniques used to tell the story and inctroduce levels are often much more enjoayble and effective than very slick FMV, especially since they can throw in a little humor, something professionally developed titles seem to find hard to do, they always strike me as trying to please all the people all the time, which I reckon is almost impossible with comedy?
-----------------------------------------------------------
Your Honour wrote:
You
> thinking of giving it a go Shanks? Going to make your own game?
> www.darkbasic.com where you can download a trial version...
-----------------------------------------------------------
Well... I've REALLY got to re-teach myself Java... the only time I used it before was when I was writing my univeristy thesis in my final year, and that was back in 1998! ...
So to get me back into the Java thing, I was intending (attempt to at least) to knock up a quick Tetris program... (Im sticking with 2D until I can get over my unnatural fear of developing 3D environs)???
> But there's no reason why it couldn't come close.
-----------------------------------------------------------
I really hope it does, its just my innate fear of (and complete lack of ability to) coding 3D environments creeping in!
-----------------------------------------------------------
Your Honour wrote:
With the use
> of Direct X standardising stuff like graphics, sound etc, it's easier to create
> a good looking and soundsing game.
-----------------------------------------------------------
I dont know much about Dark Basic, but I heard its essentialy a front end to Direct3D, which definitly holds a certain appeal
-----------------------------------------------------------
Your Honour wrote:
All that's would be different would be AI routines,
> which would be VERY hard for one person to code. But if you bear these
> limitations in mind when making the game, it shouldn't cause too much of a
> problem.
-----------------------------------------------------------
From what Ive seen most games (bar Black and White) tend to use expert systems for their A.I. and given the ease at which most people seem to implement If...Then... statements as it is, also that theres still a few professional Expert systems avalible on the web for free that people can play around with, I reckon in game A.I. may well end up being better than most pro-titles??
-----------------------------------------------------------
Your Honour wrote:
You can tell a story without hours and hours of FMV (something that
> MGS2 owners may not realise... :-p), as MAx PAyne shouwed with it's storyboard
> style approach.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ive notieced from playing older games (especially speccy games) that the simpler, more basic techniques used to tell the story and inctroduce levels are often much more enjoayble and effective than very slick FMV, especially since they can throw in a little humor, something professionally developed titles seem to find hard to do, they always strike me as trying to please all the people all the time, which I reckon is almost impossible with comedy?
-----------------------------------------------------------
Your Honour wrote:
You
> thinking of giving it a go Shanks? Going to make your own game?
> www.darkbasic.com where you can download a trial version...
-----------------------------------------------------------
Well... I've REALLY got to re-teach myself Java... the only time I used it before was when I was writing my univeristy thesis in my final year, and that was back in 1998! ...
So to get me back into the Java thing, I was intending (attempt to at least) to knock up a quick Tetris program... (Im sticking with 2D until I can get over my unnatural fear of developing 3D environs)???
Your Honour wrote:
> Public Domain.
As in: "The game is in the public domain, so you can do
> as many copies as you want, as long as you give it away for free."
Ah! Thank you. I'd gathered it was that kind of thing, just couldn't get the specifics!
> Public Domain.
As in: "The game is in the public domain, so you can do
> as many copies as you want, as long as you give it away for free."
Ah! Thank you. I'd gathered it was that kind of thing, just couldn't get the specifics!
Public Domain.
As in: "The game is in the public domain, so you can do as many copies as you want, as long as you give it away for free."
As in: "The game is in the public domain, so you can do as many copies as you want, as long as you give it away for free."
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