This idea sprang up in this thread, and the collective has decided to make it a reality and give it its own thread. Will it work? Who knows.

The idea: We are given a theme, and the participants have a limited time to build a game based around it in the development environment of thier choice. The games would ideally be small, so don't try writing your magnum opus. I think we decided on six weeks (thus, closing on 16th July) to give people time, but we might twist that. Your product doesn't need to be complete neither.

It's fairly informal, so don't worry about bending the rules. Again, we're just going to hope this goes somewhere, maybe to encourage otherwise procrastinating tropers to make stuff over summer. Entrants would use this thread to post thier progress.

Right now, the theme is Lampshade Hanging. Unless anyone gets a better idea before we begin, then you have these two words, and the trope article with which to base something around.

edited 7th Jun '10 1:50:34 PM by Pacific

As soon as I thread that theme, the greatest idea ever struck me. See you within 6 weeks.

You work at a furniture store, and your job is maintain the shades on all the lamps. Your archenemies? Drunken frat boys who have stolen your lamps to use in their post-game debauchery! Now, you must retrieve the lamps from the drunken mob in order to return your store to it's former glory.

So basically you'd run around, stomping on frat boys, collecting shades, and hanging them on the lamps, making sure none of those dang college kids get away with your lampshades.

"The difference between reality and fiction is that fiction has to make sense." - Tom Clancy, paraphrasing Mark Twain.

Known Unknown: Now go make the game.

edited 7th Jun '10 2:01:58 PM by Ponicalica

the future we had hoped for

I'd totally wish that I could program now.

Hmm, I think I got a copy for Game Maker lying aroung somewhere.

I would, but between finals and what I'm doing for the Pokemon ARPG thread I've got enough on my plate.

Pacific, if I may...

Game Development Resources

Game Engines

If you aren't a coder (and even, perhaps, if you are), some of the following engines may be useful -

Construct

Unity

Game Maker

This link has a whole mess of usable game engines.

Tools

Art Creation

Blender, a free 3d modeling tool with a built-in game engine.

MilkShape 3D, a free low-polygon 3d Modeler initially designed for Half-Life 2 use.

Music Creation

SFXR makes old-style sound effects.

Jeskola Buzz

OpenMPT

ModPlug Tracker

Schism Tracker

Art Assets

Spriters Resource

Music Assets

Stuff to Read

Gamasutra, a game development website with great articles on design, execution and everything in between.

GameDev.net, the same.

Game Developer Magazine, similar to the two above, except you can get it sent to your house.

Other useful things

If anyone knows of some other great resources for young gamedevs, please let me know and I'll add it to this post. Thanks to Stevebat, Litis, Pacific and Dyre for additions to this list.

edited 8th Jun '10 10:25:33 AM by ChristopherAlgoo

Those who accept their fate find happiness; those who defy it, glory.

I like this...I suck at making games, but I might be able to whip up a simple script in PASCAL that shows you a trope and you have to guess the name...or something. If I get the drive to do so, which is unlikely...

:smug:

blender might be useful for 3d art

Apocalypse: Dirge Of Swans.

I'm a talentless hack, so all I can do is provide links:

• Spriters Resource
• Jeskola Buzz
• OpenMPT / ModPlug Tracker / Schism Tracker

I use this, and this for 3D (Which was originally designed for Quake), although I doubt I'll be making anything 3D this time, All the ideas I've got are 2D, and I think I've decided on one already.

If you want to add arcadey/bleepy sound effects to your games, sfxr is great.

EDIT: I feel that you should mention that Blender actually has a game engine built into it. So you could conceivably use that not only for making graphics, but also for making the actual game.

edited 8th Jun '10 9:54:23 AM by DYRE

Has the contest officially started, or are we just prepping right now?

Here's another idea for a theme:

"Mix."

"Proto-Indo-European makes the damnedest words related. It's great. It's the Kevin Bacon of etymology." ~Madrugada

I think we're going with this theme, as some of us seem to already have ideas. Also I'm interested in what Lizard Bite's going to do. If there's a second one, we could do that. I don't know if participants could give a theme, since they might cheat.

I've got an idea already, which I doodled out on paper today. I think we can start any time we like, but the event horizon will probably occur once we start seeing stuff.

edited 8th Jun '10 4:33:33 PM by Pacific

I'd just like to know when I can officially start slacking off.

"Proto-Indo-European makes the damnedest words related. It's great. It's the Kevin Bacon of etymology." ~Madrugada

Pacific, how about next Monday for a start date, up until August 2? That's a big time period, so Tropers who've never made a game before can learn some skills before creating their works.

Those who accept their fate find happiness; those who defy it, glory.

I think Christopher's words are wise.

"Proto-Indo-European makes the damnedest words related. It's great. It's the Kevin Bacon of etymology." ~Madrugada

Oh, that brings back memories :3

I can attest to Blender being very, very nice once you learn how to use it — it's basically a small step below the professional-level ones that you have to...you know...pay for.

A tutorial on how to use it.

edited 9th Jun '10 2:15:09 AM by Pykrete

Okay, that gives... 5 days to prepare. I've already prototyped and sketched out a few things, but not enough to give me that much of a head start..

^ Am I bad for thinking the noob looks better than the pro?

edited 9th Jun '10 3:20:42 AM by Pacific

Actually, I suggest we move the start date to Saturday- Since people are more likely to have free time over the weekend. A monday doesn't seem like a good day to start. It also means it finishes at the same time as July.

edited 9th Jun '10 10:08:38 AM by Pacific

Grr, I wish I had time for this. Oh well, maybe next time.

Well, to Saturday should give me enough time to throw... something together for an idea. Then to actually work on the dreaded "gameplay" aspect. It's been a while since I've done anything really big in Game Maker, so hopefully I'm not too rusty to restart.

"Proto-Indo-European makes the damnedest words related. It's great. It's the Kevin Bacon of etymology." ~Madrugada

Well, you don't have to have an idea by STARTDATE - you might need much more than a couple of days. Sometimes the idea is the hardest part, especially with a wacky theme like Lampshade Hanging.

Those who accept their fate find happiness; those who defy it, glory.

I have a sort of idea now, actually. I just need to figure out how it'll work.

"Proto-Indo-European makes the damnedest words related. It's great. It's the Kevin Bacon of etymology." ~Madrugada

So, we begin tomorrow?

Do you highlight everything looking for secret messages?