Start of Development?

[Troas Archetto]

I was just wondering when exactly you guys started this team, how it was formed, and when exactly you started this new MMO Sandbox project. Would be interesting to know.

[Asselman Lorenzo]

I'll take a leap and try to answer this question as best as I can. Its actually not that easy. What do you consider the start of development? I know that Rob, our Lead Designer (LD for short), has been working on the lore for quite some time. Possibly over a year allready. I will ask him to post here if I'm incorrect.

The team consists of people we personally know from previous games or real life. It became quite obvious that if we combined our resources, both human and otherwise, we were able to secure people for almost every position. Ofcourse we are always keeping an eye out for talented individuals that are willing to commit to create a marvelous game.

I must say the development, so far, is going incredibly fast. Its hard to keep track of everything that is being done at the same time. I do not envy our LD as he has many things to read up on and discuss every day. Our development forums, wich we use in addition to IM's and conference calls, has been created in the beginning of march. But before that some ideas were allready discussed and worked on privately. It comes as no surprise that the first day of its creation the forum had a tremendous activity surge and posts were popping up left and right. On this day it still goes like a train. This is easily seen in the amount of messages and information I have to go through on a daily basis when I logon to the Development site. It takes me at the very least an hour to get up to date with the current affairs.

Hopefully this answers your question for you.

Kind regards,

Nadraxes
aka Lorenzo

[Kiratru Faellyan]

On this day it still goes like a train.

I hope you think about Polish trains, not super extra fast China train
They say "As a man in a hurry, it's the devil enjoys".
You can see it effects in Mortal Online

But, well, good to read things like that

[Rob Steele]

Lorenzo was pretty accurate in his description of how the team started, but there's a bit to add to it.

First, some of the lore comes from a novel I started more than 3 years ago as a part time hobby. It really helps to have something as sort of a 'guide' for designing the game world, but the novel, even if it were finished, wouldn't have been enough by itself. Thankfully, it is being augmented by three other skilled writers as the project moves forward and the world continues to grow.

A majority of the team was assembled by friends that met through various other game communities and shared that dream of having the 'perfect' game. Many of us were just fed up with the lack of options, the undelivered promises of MMO's. It basically just came to a point where we were all tired of banging our heads against the wall, trying to give advice, volunteer to help game developers, all of which usually ended up being in vain. From the friendships and our common goals is where this team was born.

As far as the speed that we are moving at; it's much faster than we anticipated when we first started, but not faster than the team can handle. It's more of just a surprise as to how well and smoothly everything is going for us that makes it seem like we're flying.

[Kuroi]

As far as the speed that we are moving at; it's much faster than we anticipated when we first started, but not faster than the team can handle. It's more of just a surprise as to how well and smoothly everything is going for us that makes it seem like we're flying.

that's very nice to hear

[Troas Archetto]

Thanks for all the answers, it's really interesting to see how a development team starts, it's rare to see what it's like when one just starts to develop.

[Kuroi]

this is a question that came in my mind all suddenly, like for the "Game > Forums" suggestion, i think it's the late time that makes me some effects...

So... is the code-wise developing already started? is the game still just ideas, concept arts and 3d works? Or...?

[Rob Steele]

Can't give details, but yes, there has been coding done, as well as world building and artwork. We are not in a concept stage any longer, and haven't been for a while, I suppose is the best way to put it.

[Dave Belcher]

Do you really think they would let me get away without doing any work? :P

[Lee Perkins]

To be honest being a coder isn't just about doing coding as I am sure Dave will agree. In game development they are classed as engineers and with that Dave has been very busy from day one helping out with how things will work, designing an infrastructure and god knows what else.