Look at CCN, it has l33t Christian programmers all doing there thing. Why don't all the proggy's get together and make a cool Christian game together? You all have our own ideas, so why not put them all together and make a game? I know people willing to join in such a project (modelers, mappers, etc. who didn't make it into TGS but I still keep in contact with them).

If you look at it realistically, and I don't mean to be mean, all the programmers are working on there projects right now and they look pretty basic/bland (Other than Ver's RPG, it looks cool). If I see one more Bible quiz game or Bible adventure game I'm going to scream. We need something different for the Christian gaming market and I think that this is one way to bring something cool out. Comments?

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So tell me, Who's the solid rock on which I stand? Jesus Christ is the solid rock on which I stand!
Two Guys Software - Rebels with a cause

Phil

What type of game where you considering? I quite agree about most christian games being sad... In fact, i've only seen one i didn't get extremly board with within an hour, and that was spiritual warfare. And i didn't like that because it was christian (somewhat questionable, like finding the spiritual armour nd fruit... Whats the point???)

Peace in God,
-Veritech

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So tell me, Who's the solid rock on which I stand? Jesus Christ is the solid rock on which I stand!
Two Guys Software - Rebels with a cause

I have a good "combat" system for a RPG if anyone is interested. Instead of killing people (which we do not approve of), the characters have skills in persuasion. The object is not to eliminate opponents, but convince them to help you, or ignore you, or give you information so that you can achieve your goal.

I can post more information if anyone is interested.

Anyway, count me in.

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I think having the ability to knock out an opponent is a great option, so long as it is not the first option to every player. (If players get their kicks from knocking out people in games, then I think they have missed the point of the game)

Revelator!

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So tell me, Who's the solid rock on which I stand? Jesus Christ is the solid rock on which I stand!
Two Guys Software - Rebels with a cause

I can't really jump in and be part of a development effort such as this cause I've got waaaaaay too much going on. But if my hobby can be used in some way to help out, then I'm happy to give it a whirl.

As for the development language, it should be irrelevant since it wouldn't be an actual part of the running game.

-Krylar

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Anyone remember the Sims ?

The objective of that game was to build a home for you family, help them live there make friends, make money, build a bigger home, until they could work on there own.

how about this instead, you have a town which you move into which has lots of diferent types of people within it, that are either followers of christ or not, your job would be to spread the word around the town with infomation and reading the Bible that you pick up along the way, you could hold prayer mettings, and all sorts.. of course the AI would be very heckect, and we would have to program a little realism into it, people actually get hurt or shot, and it's your job to comfort these people, with consequences if you didn't, now once you had this working locally, what say that it couldn't be made into an Internet thing as well, the server would told each players movements, almost like a virtual chat room, the bounces you would get online would be given to you from Jesus, because you might just might with this idea bring someone to the lord, and one person being brought to the lord, for months of programming is worth it.

just an idea

There are three main characters. One of the characters is is about 40 AD, the second is about 1000 AD and the thrid is modern day.

The 40 AD character is a saint, and he starts getting dreams about these other two guys. God tells him vaugly what he has to do. So he goes out, and hides this particulr item, or passage, or engraves a message on the wall, things like that. So when the character in 1000 AD stumbles across, he is amazed, and starts to beleive. The same thing happens to the 1000 AD guy and he starts leaving messages and clues for the thrid character, which in turn gets way amazed. The aim would be to solve all the puzzled and get teh third character out of the debauchery and sin he is involved in, such as drugs and what not.

It would take a bit to plan out, but its pretty unusal

I think that a freeware language would be best, as then no body has to buy a compiler/IDE if they dont have one. So C++ comes to mind ! Sadly this makes it very hard for BB/DB programmers.

Also, I'd kinda like to be able to work on linux, not windoze! Again, C++.

Sadly C++ is hard, particually if you dont have any books or anything about it. At the moment I'm learning SDL, a multi-platform Gamewriting system, and writing some BlitzBasic type functions for it. This would mean it would be easier to port BB to C++. Still the syntax for a lot is different, but at least there would be "setbuffer doublebuffer, flip, etc."

Perhaps we ought to start several projects.

I'm currently working on learning C, but if theres something better for making games, i'd like to look into it, since thats why i wanted to learn c in the first place.

-Veritech
"Spelling is for mortals"-quote of a friend

SDL has been implemented on the Linux, Windows, BeOS, and the MacOS/X platforms.

SDL is <a href="http://www.libsdl.org">free</a>

SDL supplies C-functions to make it easy to access devices such as the video memory, the OS event queue, sound, the cd-rom drive, threads, and timers.

Other links:

<a href="http://www.openal.org">www.openal.org</a>

joeG

SDL has been implemented on the Linux, Windows, BeOS, and the MacOS/X platforms.

SDL is <a href="http://www.libsdl.org">free</a>

SDL supplies C-functions to make it easy to access devices such as the video memory, the OS event queue, sound, the cd-rom drive, threads, and timers.

Other links:

<a href="http://www.openal.org">www.openal.org</a>

joeG

Instead of being a being a Christian in a small town - what about SIM CHURCH! You are the minister in a small town and your job is to build up the church. You can interact with every member in town (again - AI will be fun to program) and use different techniques to convert them.

The aim of the game depends on what the player's aim is (similar to simcity). You can try and make the most money, have the flashiest church, or most church members, or most Christians in the city. In fact you could make it multiplayer which each person having his own church and trying to fleece members from the opposition.

This is the ultimate game I wish to develope, but I know God wants me to do a few other projects first so I can learn things which will help me develope SIM CHURCH! But if this is something everyone wants to do as a project - hey, I am all for it!

Revelator!

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www.revelatorgames.com

About your simchurch game. Don't ever make an option in that game to have churches competing against each other. Unless it's like Mormon or Catholic vs Christian or something. But [b]never[b] pit Christian against Christian. We are all on the same team. While we may have a few denominational differences because some of us misunderstand certian scriptures, we all believe where it counts, and that's our faith in Jesus Christ.

Matthew 12:25 (New Living Translation)
"...Any kingdom at war with itself is doomed. A city or home divided against itself is doomed."

No good whatsoever comes from Christians fighting against each other.

†Caleb†

I don't think I would anyway, because that would defeat the purpose of the game. The aim then would be to beat the other person, rather than learn to spread the gospel in your little city.

I think that if there is a multiplayer mode, you could make it cooperative, or you could have 2 players, with one person controlling the negative forces in the city??? (but I don't think I would impliment that)

Any other ideas would be great.

Revelator!

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www.revelatorgames.com

Its a *very* interesting idea... just I think a slight difference is needed.

How about a game a bit like SimIsle, so you start off with a tiny chapel, in a city (the neibourhood is worse for differnt skill levels) and you have "agents" who can go out and speak to people, or preach on the streets, or whatever. You can build extra rooms to your church, start playgroups, youthgroups, etc, and the aim to get many people to come to your church. You'd have limited funds, of course.

No competitivenes against other people/churchs, but a challenge for yourself. You could even have scenarios, like "get the neibrouhoods violence level to drop by 60% in 10 years" or somthing.

The ultimate "win" would be to get a large enough church for people in your congrgation to go off and plant churches of their own.

MadProf

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7 days without prayer makes one weak.

[This message has been edited by MadProf (edited March 29, 2001).]

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"After three days without programming, life becomes meaningless."
http://rowanseymour.members.beeb.net/

Further, I think that the closer we come to targeting our games to the unbelieving audience the harder it becomes to place the gospel as the prime message.

Just some thoughts,

joeG

†Caleb†

first of all, i doubt that that name would be legal, what with maxis owning all the rights & things like that.

I'd be willing to help work at it.

about markets:

if the game is popular enough among believers, then wont some non-christians play it too? at friends houses, or just to find out why its popular. If CCN is going to make games together, as a team, then it would probably be best (IMHO) to start with something middle-sized, so people get used to working together on things. I've never worked on a project with more people than myself (yet), altho I am *really* wanting to.

Also, if the "first game" is popular among christians, then perhaps some church, or churches, would be willing to support/help work on outreach games? It would also mean that CCN would get "noticed" by the public, even if it is "only" the christian public.

MadProf

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7 days without prayer makes one weak.

It is nice to get a positive response about a game design.

Yes, this would be a game for believers. The great thing about ZimChurch (thats for you MadProf) is that if the game is pretty close to reality, the christians that play will actually learn to share the gospel in real life.

For example - in the game you can walk up to houses, knock on the door and give the person a book on Jesus (or something appropriate). When they play the game and see how easy it is, there is a greater possibility that they may do it in real life.

I haven't played SimIsle - but now I want to, just to get ideas.

So GANG ,what do you think? Should we attempt it?

I have never worked together with others either creating a game. But if we could break the game right down to its building blocks (functions) and anyone who wants to could work on that specific function. Then all we need is one person to put it all together.

I don't think programming language matters to much, because the head programmer would convert it to C++, and lets face it - Converting Basic functions and the like to C++ should not be too hard. (Definitely no Goto's and Gosubs allowed - and probably have to limit global variables)

Well, I got to go right now, but am interested in what you think. I unfortunately could not be the programmer (it is only a hobby for me), but I am more than willing to break the game down into is elements (with everyone elses input), so we can see what needs to be done.

Wow, I am excited now.

Revelator!

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www.revelatorgames.com

(And welcome by the way).

The only problem is that:
1. Lack of time. Most of us have to work to earn money - which does not leave much time other than programming.

2. Lack of Money. Creating a game is the hardest thing to do. Once it is done, most of us will not have any money to do any marketing. And most programmers are really only good at one thing - programing and not marketing.

3. Would love to have a project manager, but who wants to do it for no money, or little promise of getting some.

If you have time, money and faith in some of these good ideas, I think we would all like to hear from you.

Unfortunately for me, programing is low down the list of my priorities. Only because I have a family to support and have not much time for anything else.

Revelator!

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www.revelatorgames.com

[This message has been edited by Revelator (edited June 11, 2001).]

Very good points you brought up. Additionally, talented artists can make or break a wonderfully-programmed game! I would also contend to break the management up (still have the project manager but also have a build/QA manager, manager for each group of folks if the team is large enough, etc.).

I tend to agree that if it is run "like" a business, the liklihood of success increases dramatically.

God bless,
Tim

quote:

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Originally posted by fvd:
The topic is very interesting. But, all of you guys talk only about programming, programming languages, ideas. This is a big project, and from my experience as programmer, it takes more than these. For example, extremely important is to have a project manager. What about someone good at marketing and advertising? And so on. Even if it is a non profit project, it has to be run like a business if you want to have success.

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Demo of first game is available at Jarod Journey's Web site. Second game is in storyboard stage.

Revelator!

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www.revelatorgames.com

I did it for fun, maybe when this becomes more of a solid reality it can be used as a logo. :P

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Remember - hard work pays off in the long run, but laziness pays off immedately.

-Stephen

quote:

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If you look at it realistically, and I don't mean to be mean, all the programmers are working on there projects right now and they look pretty basic/bland (Other than Ver's RPG, it looks cool). If I see one more Bible quiz game or Bible adventure game I'm going to scream.

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Hey, that's what I said !!! ;0)

Anyhow, I'd line up to play SimChurch - that'd rock !!!

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