I want your opinion!

<3Starscream · Post by **<3Starscream** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 1:39 am

Ok so I was thinking the other day about this idea that came to me one late stormy night. And as I thought of it and it developed more and more, it came to me that it could be a possible story or video game idea! Although I have years before I'll even know how to even make a video game, and by that time this idea will be worthless, I still want to see it develop into something cool.
So I've written up just the BACKGROUND and I want to get some responses from you guys.
Tell me what you think about it, if you have any ideas, I'd appreciate hearing/seeing them.
Ok..excuse the poor writing on this too..because I haven't written creatively in about 5 months.

(oh and btw, I have no name ideas, so I just put some random thing in replace of names for now)
10,000 years ago, a man named "Steve" ruled the world of "Earth". It was a rule forced upon the people. "Steve's" power was backed by the legendary elemental dragons: Wind, Light, Ice, Ground, Water, Lightning, Fire and Darkness. "Steve" controlled all 8 of these creatures, their powers had made him immortal. He had ruled for a century before a small town had finally become completely fed up.

They formed a rebellion of powerful warriors and one by one took down the elemental dragons. As each dragon's physical form fell, it's spirit was released, unforunately "Steve" had found a way to make these spirits return to him instead of them being free. The rebels were making their way to "Steve's" lair after they had defeated the last dragon. Before they could make it however, "Steve" had taken the dragon spirits and forced them to combine their powers, creating one powerful elemental dragon. This dragon had immediately put a stop to the rebellion, and there was only one survivor.

"Steve" ruled for another 10 years, his rule far more fierce than before the rebellion. During that 10 years, the survivor of the rebellion was quietly making another group to over throw "Steve". This new group was much larger and more organized than the previous group. It was far more powerful, powerful enough to finally put an end to "Steve's" new pet and free the spirits of the elemental dragons. Then they took the fight to "Steve" himself.

No one knew how to kill "Steve", although his dragons were gone, he was still immortal on his own. A ferocious battle had whittled the rebel group's numbers down to one, the lone survivor from the first attack, "Rob". "Steve" however was weakened severely from the battle and "Rob" was easily able to defeat him. Although "Steve" was defeated, he wasn't dead. "Rob" had to do something so "Steve" couldn't rule again. So "Rob" put "Steve" in a confinement that he couldn't possibly get out of for the rest of his immortal life. No one knew where this place was, and "Rob" would be in the history books for years to come.

A small town known as "Denton" was built in memorial of "Rob" at the exact place the elemental dragon was defeated. A shrine was built in the middle of the town, a monumental statue of the dragon that was defeated all those years ago. It was a legend that the spirits of the 8 elemental dragons had returned to the area and resided in the town.

10,000 years later
It is the anniversary of "Steve's" defeat and "Rob's" victory, and the town is holding a celebration in memory of the day. The entire town is surrounding the shrine as their festival is going on. It is the middle of the day when the ground began to shake. Many residents think it's an earthquake and are consumed by panic. As the people scattered, the "earthquake" suddenly comes to a stop. Everything is still. After a few minutes, no aftershock comes, but something more astounding happens. The dragon statue begins to glow, tremble and crack. Finally the entire things shatters right before the peoples' eyes.

In the place of the statue float eight glowing orbs. Without any warning, seven of the orbs shoot out in all different directions, one remains however. The orb is the lightest of blues, almost white. A blinding light bursts from the orb as if it exploded. Once the light fades, the people see the form of a dragon in the orbs place. The dragon of wind, in it's physical form, floats in the center of town, staring at the surrounding people.

The town is then overcome in fear, the physical form of the legendary elemental dragons can only mean one thing, "Steve" is free.

Yeah...so that's the background. Like I said, I have no name ideas, and what happens after that is still in my head..developing, growing, evolving. I want some feedback, good or negative, doesn't matter. Either helps. Any ideas for names, what should happen in the actual story, what you think of it, etc.
Thank you!

*Sorry it's so much

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 7:38 am

sounds more like a novel than a video game

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 11:25 am

It is just fiction right now, that not to say its bad fiction but the process of video game design, as in, taking fiction through to plot and on further to an actuall game basis is a very long and twisted one.

Its also worth noting that to become a games designer u must at least have been a programmer or an artist (of some sorts) to understand the fundemental process behind VG design.

As for story telling, Im not the best to question onit, im an artist but Steve isnt the most exciting name out there. Steve McQueen is good, but just plain old steve?

Game design is an odd thing, u take a basic plot, generally, 1 man against the bad guys. choose a game type, FPS, RTS etc... design some characters, and background, shape these guys into your game.

The best place to start doing this is by modding an existing game engine, like the HL2 engine for example, its simple to use with pre-built tools, and its the best way to get yourself noticed and into the games industry.
University wouldnt go a miss either.

<3Starscream · Post by **<3Starscream** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:45 pm

Well I'm going to university to to major in Computer Science with a Bachelor in Arts..which is pretty much Video Game design. And apparently the school I'm going to is one of the best in the states. And yes, it does sound more like a novel, but that's mainly because I do write and I tend to go off on things that aren't necessarily important.

As for the Steve thing. It's not an actual name I was planning on using. I'm pretty good at coming up with original names that tend to be hard to pronounce however. I have no name ideas at the moment, it usually takes me about a day of thinking to get a good idea for a name.

And as I've said, it's just the background. The actual plot is still in my head, and the more I think about it, the more it resembles my favorite game, Okami.

I may not be a programmer, but I have been doing art for almost my entire life now. Mind me, I'm fresh out of high school and going into university in about a month, so I haven't quite experienced the "being an artist" thing. But I do plan on continuing art up at my university for all four years because I don't necessarily want to program the game, but more like come up with ideas for the game and design the characters, environments, etc. I'm sure, I'll do my share of programming though.

But that's pretty much the kind of feedback I was hoping for. I appreciate ya'll reading through the entire thing.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:55 am

Hmm, does the Computer Science course really head in the direction?
If you want to be involved in the creative side of things then a course such as this, I know its in the UK but as an example, is the type of course I think u should head for.
Be carefull of computer science courses, they tend to make Database C++ guys out of ppl, trust me, I know...

But It could be different.

http://ncca.bournemouth.ac.uk/courses/

these courses are some of the best in the world, the ethos of what they are trying to teach leads very easily into game or film work. They are the types of things i think all students, who want to go into game design should look for.

<3Starscream · Post by **<3Starscream** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 3:53 pm

I looked at the course requirements of my major, and Computer Science I, II, and III are required of course. A lot of the required courses are a lot like Computer science. It's all programming. But I have a lot of open spots for other CSCE options and many electives by my junior and senior year which, for me, will be courses very similar to the ones you posted. They have 2 very rigorous game programming classes and many computer graphics and animation classes.

I have many booklets and such from the university that have examples of people working up at EA games, which I know isn't every person that ever took these courses made it to an actual game developing company, but it still helps me believe that this place will put me somewhere I want to be.

And if it all fails, I'll have other backups. Creative Writing is going to be my minor and by the end of university I will still know quite a bit of computer animation. Not to mention, I can just take up the family business and be set there.

Oh and I found some names!
Steve = Vaitoric
Rob = Bour

How's that?

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:00 am

sounds good, I only asked as I did a computer science course some time ago that was never going to lend itself to game design, at the time I wanted to enter the games industry myself but things changed.
I moved back into 3D animation and again, things changed and now I do Industrial CAD, which is still 3D but 'real' 3D, and I sort of enjoy it. I say sort of because part me of still wants to make games, that what I grew up doing, wanting to do and stuff, its just my head said I can make more money in Industrial Design... damm brain.

Now from next week, ill hopefully have a job doing FEA, which is finite element analysis. which is stress/strain, and fluid dynamic simulation on a computer, used in modern design for creating simulation of just about anything. boats,cars,planes etc... down to simple nuts and bolts.

hmm, doesnt sound as fun as creating an alien world when I say that, I guess it never will be, but, oddly enough, with physics engines in video games becomming the next major player, in both hardware and software terms, who knows, my understanding of the real world translated into software might lead me back to where I probably should be working.

Ah well, when all of it gets to dull I still play with 3DS max everyday...

Do u know what the 3D app they will use at Uni?

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:18 am

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:Be carefull of computer science courses, they tend to make Database C++ guys out of ppl, trust me, I know...

Yes, beware the dark side you must, listen to Impy you shall.

It's true, if it had not been for the late addition of an Internet Programming module in the final year of my degree, I would've come out of university having learnt only about Assembler, C++ and Visual C++. Fortunately in the last year we covered Java and HTML too (although i already knew HTML by that point)... actually, i've just realised that of all of those, the only one i use in my day to day job now is HTML... oh well, that was 4 years of my life wasted...

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:22 am

Ok, my point is you can do computer science courses or video games programming courses now. some computer courses are better tailored than before.

_Derek_ · Post by **_Derek_** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 4:17 pm

There's a computer game design course endorsed by microsoft in the university in my town, apparently people are coming here to do it, if you'd like I can try and find the url for it's place in the prospectus, just to look at, as I understand Ireland is out of the question.

_Derek_ · Post by **_Derek_** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 4:21 pm

here ya go anyway,

http://www.itcarlow.ie/courses_detail.a ... d=itcarlow

rusty_herring · Post by **rusty_herring** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 4:41 pm

I may not be a programmer, but I have been doing art for almost my entire life now. Mind me, I'm fresh out of high school and going into university in about a month, so I haven't quite experienced the "being an artist" thing.

Just a head's up - the hardest thing about working in any creative field is learning to try to distance yourself from your work. My profs were brutal on us but then I learnt that they actually did us all a favour.

Also in university don't let them dictate your style - do your own thing and if they have a problem with it, so be it. Refine your style.

Sounds like an interesting plot, I work with a Steve in my office, when I first read it I couldn't help thinking of him trying to rule the world.

Is this going to be an RPG or a first person type thing? I have some video game designer books too if you're interested in some titles pm me, cause I can't remember them offhand. Game design was my goal in life until I rediscovered comics - now I can't decide. I doubt I could do either

<3Starscream · Post by **<3Starscream** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:00 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote: I moved back into 3D animation and again, things changed and now I do Industrial CAD, which is still 3D but 'real' 3D, and I sort of enjoy it. I say sort of because part me of still wants to make games, that what I grew up doing, wanting to do and stuff, its just my head said I can make more money in Industrial Design... damm brain.

I took a class in CAD my junior year in high school. I loved it. I was actually pretty good at it too. My teacher got "mad" at me sometimes because I worked too fast with it.

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:Do u know what the 3D app they will use at Uni?

At the moment, I have no idea. I'm going up to the campus on the 18th, so hopefully I can get a tour of the engineering college and talk to some people about it. Advisors are supposed to be there, so I can't wait to talk to them about the program.

_Derek_ wrote:There's a computer game design course endorsed by microsoft in the university in my town, apparently people are coming here to do it, if you'd like I can try and find the url for it's place in the prospectus, just to look at, as I understand Ireland is out of the question.

Those courses look a lot better than the ones I have to take. So not cool. And yes, as much as I would love to go there for university, my parents would have a heart attack. They wouldn't even let me leave the state.

rusty_herring wrote:Also in university don't let them dictate your style - do your own thing and if they have a problem with it, so be it. Refine your style.

Apparently the college board already has a problem with my style. I don't know about the professors at my university, hopefully they can take it a little bit better than those other guys. RPG is what I'm going for. It's my favorite type of game and it seems to be the only one I'm good at, so I'm leaning towards that.

You guys are so helpful! Yay

_Derek_ · Post by **_Derek_** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:25 pm

Those courses look a lot better than the ones I have to take. So not cool. And yes, as much as I would love to go there for university, my parents would have a heart attack. They wouldn't even let me leave the state.

I hear ya, if back in my day I'd wanted to study abroad my parents would have had a caniption or maybe some kind of calf. It's such a pity that location can dictate what we can do with ourselves.

As regards Impactor Returns talking about Industrial Design, studied it for four years to discover I didn't want to go that way with my life. That said I'm a barman now, think maybe the smart move may be to do a updated CAD course and get back into it, as a smart move, not a happy one.

Make sure this is 100% or even 67% what you want to do, which is a task which I believe is not easy, but you sound pretty sure anyway. I just would like to remind you that your making a decision that will affect the next number of years of your life. If I don't go back to CAD I hope to venture into humanities, Literature, Philosophy, so on. I am in the middle of my twenties and am scared that while I think this is for me, it may very well not be and I'll have wasted more years of my life waiting to start out.

I'm glad you have not rushed into your decision from what I can see, but I just hope you see boths sides, the pros and cons. I don't mean to scare you, it could be the greatest decision of your life.

Also you have a flare for art, keep it up, your drawings are impressive and I enjoyed the story at the start of this thread, keep it up.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:34 pm

yeah on the subject of CAD, in the terms of industrial desing, i cant belive how complex the entire design process is.

Imagine building an entire engine, simulation, stress/strain anyalysis, fluid dynamics, all the maths and physics etc... its mind boggling.

Is it fun tho? hmm not really but it pays well and I can do it... bah

<3Starscream · Post by **<3Starscream** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:46 am

The things I did in CAD were just basics. We also did a lot of architecture. The second semester was pretty much intro to architecture because the teacher I had was the architecture teacher. (I hate that word now) The other class however got to experiment and fail miserably at the 3D, unfortunately they were not prepared for the architecture class most of them took the next year.

My buddy and I (he's going into engineering gasp) would work on our assignment half the class and then start messing with the 3D aspects of CAD, that's the only way I would be able to learn, because they didn't have a drafting II class at my school. If you were to put CAD in front of me now though, I'd be lost.

I'm probably about 99% sure I want to do this. I've changed my mind many times during my high school years, but they weren't much different. It went from animation to video game design to computer animation and back to video game design.

As hard as I know it'll be, I'm going to try my absolute best at completing this because, first of all it's probably my number one goal in life, and secondly I'm known to not challenge myself much.

_Derek_ wrote:Also you have a flare for art, keep it up, your drawings are impressive and I enjoyed the story at the start of this thread, keep it up.

And thank you very much. That's pretty much up there with my biggest compliments. My friend told me one day last year that my style was perfect for video games and it has to be the biggest compliment I've ever recieved, in my eyes.

Now that I've gotten a few opinions on the background, I feel I'm going to continue on with the story itself. I've been getting a lot of possible ideas from my friends that are pretty good.
And I've already drawn out what Vaitoric will look like!

Does it look villainy enough?

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:56 am

You still strike me as an animator/artist if anything. Video game designers are normally either programmers or animatiors who have about 10 years experience and at least 2 published games behind them.
The animation visulisation course in Bournemouth, the best in europe, is about 50% cad, 50% programming, this allows thier animators to be creative but still understand how to make thier own tools. perfect for games or films.

Your art style is perfect for being an animator, and id continue with your own story.
Check out some books on 'design process' - these tested methods of design will catch the eye od developers in years to come.
Its your ablity to design somthing using method, and make it look good, which is the secret.

On the subject of animation packages, there are only two you will use in all reality, this will either be 3D Studio Max (I have around 8 years experience in Max), or Maya.
found here: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/in ... eID=123112
note they are both made by same company, autodesk bought out maya a few years ago, bit strange, but anyways.
There are a few more apps out there, that do an identical job, these are, Lightwave,Cinema 4D and XSI.
XSI has pretty solid animation tools.

Recently, (and lets be clear here, Max and Maya have amazing animation tools, every film u see, ie Tranformers, lets not discount them) there has been some headway into AI animation, animation that is not scripted but created on the fly.
One such package that will do this called Euphoria, and is bloody amazing to use: http://www.naturalmotion.com/
check that out to.
After that we get in rendering which is somthing im very focused on for product work: render engines that are of note are.
Mental ray (installed in max and maya) Vray,Final Render and Maxwell - all produce amazing effects.
Maya also has access to Renderman, which is popular in the film industry.

I could talk all day on this subject...

<3Starscream · Post by **<3Starscream** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:54 am

So I just got back from orientation at my university, which by the way was fantasmic, and I learned a couple things about what I want to do.

My parents had talked to the Dean of the College of Visual Arts and Design (while I was probably running around the colessium doing really weird things with the other freshmen) and found out about this new program called New Media which will be starting next year. This program is exactly what I want to do, animate for video games. We found out that the Computer Science major was pretty much strictly programming and if you wanted, you could minor in Art to get that little animation knowledge...which isn't enough for me.
Not to mention, the Computer Science major is changing next year when the New Media program starts.

So instead of majoring in CS now, I'm going to major in New Media. At the moment, I'm majoring in sculpture, but it doesn't really matter, because I'm not taking sculpture classes and I'm changing my major anyway.

I couldn't get as much information as I wanted from my Advisor, because the program is still new, I'll have to email the guy that's starting this program, but from what I understand, it's all those classes you guys have shown me. So as of now, I'm just taking Art major requirements..woo..Drawing and Art Appreciation. How fun.
Oh well.

That sounds better than a CS major huh?

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:53 am

as long as they each you the animation side (which means they have to teach u the modelling side too) then I dont see a problem with it.

Compare it to the course at Bournemouth England or the Redford California courses, they are generally seen as the best in the world.

when your ready to make yourself cry, this is the talent your up against: www.cgtalk.com

amazing work on that site, but ignoring how good people are, the site also offers help on any subject u will obviously encounter one day. best site for CG.