Forums » Everything else » Anyone interested in collaborating on a game?

Basically I'm a designer, that's what I do. I like programming, and I know the basics but the learning curve to do stuff that's really cool is so daunting I feel like I'll just give up before I accomplish anything, and I definitely don't want to do that!

Is anybody interested in being the development side of a game with me? Or should I just suck it up and keep trying? I'm torn

I think the majority (or at least many) of us here started learning how to make games because we have ideas that we want to build. Calling yourself a "designer" and doing that only might work in AAA or at least bigger operations, where you are niched into those kinds of slots and where people can afford to pay you for your ideas. But in small-time indie development most people have to be Jacks and Jills of all trades. I'm not suggesting your ideas aren't worth building, but I'm betting everyone here has ideas that they feel are awesome, so we're just busy working on those :).

Quick side note, @lazer. I normally would agree, if not in words then at least in deeds: we all like working on our own stuff.

But...

True story: 10 days ago, I had an epiphany. Develop a retro 100m hurdle in time for the London olympics. I started working on it, alone, as fast as I could.

I stopped 2 days ago, after learning that the Gardian had released just that... Had I paired off, a week could have been enough for such a simple game.

Food for thought (and back to my own projects, maybe :)

I just meant that I am a graphic designer professionally, so that occupies a great deal of my time. I don't work in games it's just a hobby for me so I'm not "pigeon-holed" or anything.

I just thought that some people are probably more into the coding side of things, and might like to have a designer to work with.

I will continue to work and learn on my own, but I thought I'd cast a net and see what happens. And not to be a debbie downer but there is that old saying- jack of all trades, master of none!

Quote from alexandre
Quick side note, @lazer. I normally would agree, if not in words then at least in deeds: we all like working on our own stuff.

But...

True story: 10 days ago, I had an epiphany. Develop a retro 100m hurdle in time for the London olympics. I started working on it, alone, as fast as I could.

I stopped 2 days ago, after learning that the Gardian had released just that... Had I paired off, a week could have been enough for such a simple game.

Food for thought (and back to my own projects, maybe :)

Oh I totally agree with working together, but I see how my post didn't necessarily come off that way. Communication fail on my part!

I think I just mean that contributing only an idea itself isn't that valuable a contribution in the indie/hobbyist/small-time development sector because great ideas are plentiful. If someone came to me with their awesome idea and said "Here, I had this idea and I'm also an artist, would you be interested in building it together?" or "We can code this idea together, what do you think?" I would totally consider it if I thought it was a cool idea and they could contribute something other than "The Idea" as well.

But someone saying "I have this idea. How about you build it and I'll be the designer, that's what I do" seems a little different and doesn't seem like it would really help build that Olympics-themed or anything-themed game any faster.

(Oh and by the way, I am totally not bashing designers here. I want to eventually find work as a game designer, that's my goal. I'm talking only in the sense of someone being a self-titled Designer in the indie and/or hobbyist part of the industry. And if it was someone with a proven track record of working as a designer on successful game releases of course they would garner more consideration of collaboration on my part, as they bring invaluable and proven experience to the table)

Quote from ThatAnalog
I just meant that I am a graphic designer professionally, so that occupies a great deal of my time. I don't work in games it's just a hobby for me so I'm not "pigeon-holed" or anything.

I just thought that some people are probably more into the coding side of things, and might like to have a designer to work with.

I will continue to work and learn on my own, but I thought I'd cast a net and see what happens. And not to be a debbie downer but there is that old saying- jack of all trades, master of none!

The sad truth that is that most of us are doing this as a hobby and also juggling it with work, just like you. I'm a web designer and software QA manager, so I have to juggle that with my projects as well. Staying up until 3am every morning after work to work on games takes its toll, but it's worth it (for me, anyway) - I'd really encourage you to keep going!

And best of luck with your ideas :) Who knows, maybe I'm totally wrong and someone here would like to try that kind of arrangement with you.

@lazer

I'm confused as to what you think I am saying so I will state outright, for all to see, that I plan on contributing much more than just the idea, and beyond that I'm also willing to do art for someone else's idea. Just want to start working on some games really, it's something I've always wanted to do. Just don't want my lack of programming skill get in the way. Why not utilize each others' strengths, right?

I have a feeling that a slight misunderstanding is at hand.

In this context, ThatAnalog meant--correct me if I'm wrong--designer as artist/illustrator/visual assets creator

Coding a good overall game mechanic is hard. Designing visuals that induce an emotional response and that enhance the experience of the game is hard.

I don't know about you guys and girls but judging from recent entries into marketJS... putting my white gloves on here... I see there's lots of room for improvement on both the artistic and the gaming mechanic areas. I still have a chance to have impact.

So I think everyone can profit from that bit of synergy.

I will be completing my first impactjs game soon. If you got a good idea and can provide the graphics and basic design, I'd be happy to work with you by doing the code.

I think alexandre is right in saying that there was a misunderstanding. When you said in your original post: "Basically I'm a designer, that's what I do.", I took that to mean a "game designer" since we're on a game dev forum. You did not mention illustration or graphic design in your original post, but if that's what you meant then what I said is totally irrelevant :)

Well I'm glad we got that all figured out :)