June 20, 2006
Mod Project Update - HolyStrike on hiatus for the summer!
Bret Dunham has announced that Holy Strike is going on hiatus for the summer. The project will be restarting in the fall. Here's the official word from Bret via the forum:
Holy strike on hold till end of summer
I apologize for not posting sooner. It looks like the project is on hold for several reasons (one being that I'm focusing on finishing another project). The other is that several lead position people have also been called away for their own projects.
None of the previous work had been lost so we can pick up at any time. I know some of you want to do your part and participate and once again I apologize for not being there when you have needed me. Once you see what i have been working on it will be very apparent why I have had to be absent. I can talk about it in person but for now I prefer not to post any specifics.
Hope to see every one at the next idga meeting!
~B
Posted by IanStead at 10:17 PM | Comments (0)
February 15, 2006
Mod Project Update
An update by Michael Tomaino on the Chapter Mod Project:
Hey guys and gals, this is Michael Tomaino, aka calimer, aka "The Doom 3 Guy". If you don't know already I'll be serving as the Producer for the mod project. I'm e-mailing you because you signed up as an interested party for the Holystrike mod. If you don't want to recieve further e-mails let me know and I'll remove you from the list.
That being said, it would be much appreciated if more people who are on this list joined our IRC channel.
The IRC channel is a place for us to meet in real time chat and get to know each other better without having to meet in person. The information for this is:
The irc chatroom is at irc.OFTC.net #holystrike or you can use the link: irc://irc.OFTC.net/holystrike
I recommend using the irc client listed here: http://www.silverex.org/news
If you have any trouble getting into the IRC channel e-mail me and I'll do what I can to help. Bret and I visit it on a daily basis and also if we don't answer you immediately please don't just leave, we have to go AFK from time to time.
In other news Brian Hudson has stepped up as the Engineering Lead, and Matt Ostrom for the Art Lead.
We're still looking for a Design Lead so if you have the time and desire for the position please let us know.
As far as jobs, Bret and I are still finalizing the design document, but in the meantime please start learning the halflife 2 tools in the respective area that you are interested in working on so that when jobs are setup you are ready to rock and roll. If you really want a specific job immediately, join the irc and we'll think of something. For you engineers, Brian Hudson does already have a few coding jobs that he mentioned need to be worked on, so feel free to join the IRC and talk to him about that.
I think that about wraps it up, and I hope to see all of you at the March 9th IGDA meeting. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at calimer1 [at] yahoo [dot] com or Bret at demonhill [at] mac [dot] com Take care and I'm looking forward to working with all of you.
-mike
Posted by IanStead at 01:23 PM | Comments (0)
February 02, 2006
Mod Project Meeting: Thursday, February 9th, 7-9pm at the RPI SBRL
Moderators: Bret Dunham - Designer, Vicarious Visions
Michael Tomaino - Lead Organizer, Doom 3 Coop Mod 'Last Man Standing'
Topic: Game Design Brainstorming and Assigning Positions to Team Members
Location: RPI Social and Behavioral Research Lab, 21 Union Street, Troy, NY 12180
Date & Time: Thursday, February 9th, 7-9 PM
The next mod project meeting will be Thursday, February 9th in the conference room at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Social and Behavioral Research Lab. The agenda is brainstorming the game design and deciding positions and titles for members of the project. Bret Dunham will be moderating the discussion with Michael Tomaino's help. Bret is the Game Director for the mod and is a designer at Vicarious Visions. Michael is the Producer for the project and is the Lead Organizer for the Doom 3 Coop Mod 'Last Man Standing Coop'. Please send an email to Bret if you would like to help out with this project and be added to the mailing list. Anyone that can't attend the meeting but wants to help on the project should send Bret both ideas and job titles they are interested in.
Read further for additional information and directions:
You can check out the forum for more information and to join the discussion about the project: www.igda.org/Forums/showthread.php?s=8ac99f42556bd454997b05d598c893e3&threadid=20079
You can download Bret's PowerPoint presentation about the mod here: www.igda.org/albany/files/Bret_Dunham-Holy_Strike-01-32-06.zip
Additional information is available on the wiki: www.igda.org/wiki/index.php/IGDA_Albany#Chapter_Game_Project_-_.22Holy_Strike.22nd
If you want to join the mailing list contact Bret by sending an email to: demonhill[at]mac[dot]com
Michael has set up a MIRC chat room at irc.OFTC.net #holystrike or you can use the link: irc://irc.OFTC.net/holystrike. He recommends using the IRC client listed here: www.silverex.org/news/
DIRECTIONS & PARKING
This meeting will take place in the conference room at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Social and Behavioral Research Laboratory (SBRL). The SBRL is located on the second floor of the Gurely building on 21 Union Street in downtown Troy, NY. Parking for the SBRL can be found in the parking lot next to the main entrance, or in the nearby streets (Union, Fulton or Grand Street).
The following directions are copied from the SBRL website (www.sbrl.rpi.edu/about/contact.html)
From the South
Take I-87, the New York State Thruway, North to Exit 23. At Exit 23, get on
I-787 north to Route 7 East. Follow directions to the SBRL (below).
From the East
From I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike, Berkshire Spur of the New York Thruway), take Exit B1. Continue West (13.5 miles) to the Exit for I-787. Take I-787 North to Route 7 East. Follow directions to the SBRL (below).
From the West
Take I-90, the New York State Thruway, to Exit 24. From Exit 24, continue onto I-90 East. Exit onto I-787 North. Take I-787 North to Route 7 East.
Follow directions to the SBRL (below).
Directions to SBRL
From Route 7 East, exit to the right toward downtown right before 7 becomes a surface street. Merge onto 6th Avenue. Turn right onto Grand Street and take the first left on Union Street. Union Street is more of an alley than street, and the SBRL is the large brick building with the parking lot in front.
Posted by IanStead at 12:32 PM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2006
IGDA Albany Chapter Mod Project
Bret Dunham, a designer from Vicarious Visions is starting a chapter game project in 2006. The project is in the early planning phase right now. Following is Bret's full description of the project (copied from this forum post):
Hello everyone. Kicking off the new year is a game mod project for anyone that is an IGDA member. It will have opportunities for anyone that would like to make a video game and is intended to help expose many of you to processes and methods required for a present day quality product. How we measure this quality will outlined later.
The project will be based around the source engine (valve software). The subject matter will be a Counter Strike variant involving 2 asymmetrical teams (they use different tactics and weapons). This will of course be multiplayer only.
We will attempt to re-use as much original Counter Strike content as possible and focus on game play rules changes to create effectively an entirely new form of game play.
Game play will involve one side that uses conventional military weapons and tactics (grenades, rifles and handguns) versus the opposing team that will use unconventional tactics and weapons. This side will be referred to as the "Holy men". This holy side will use suicide bombing, RPG's, swords and finally "Holy magic" to counter the conventional side.
This core concept has been established and will not change. The supporting rules and game play are currently subject to creation and/or change. Any one joining the team will be given a chance to take part in the final Game Design Document (some having more say than other).
The goals of the project are actually simple. First to start and finish a mod project with in a 6 month time period (this is paramount). Second, delivery quality work with in the time frame. Third will be a product that we feel is worthy of our time spent on the project. This to me means I would be happy playing this game 2 years from now and have pride in the team that did it. Actually, the reasons that inpired this was a growing feeling that the IGDA Albany chapter needed some "buzz". And this is my response. (:
Regular milestone meetings will be held (some call this green light meetings). It is possible for the project to be cancelled before completion if the team believes the goals will not be met (no ones getting paid). On that note I would also tell you we will use a 2 tier approach for work assignments and responsibilities. Tier 1 team members will be assigned mission critical jobs while tier 2 team members will be assigned non critical assignments. All leads will be tier 1 while new comers OR members that feel they are unsure they can be 100% committed will be tier 2. Members will be allowed opportunities to adjust this based on THIER needs. This project is not meant to run your life (:
Any one interested may contact me at Demonhill@mac.com
A formal meeting will be scheduled soon. I would like to have it happen before the end of next week but may need to accomodate college schedules.
As the team forms up I'll be handing over public announcements to other team members. So my postings here in the forum will be limited and further contact information may change.
~Bret Dunham
Posted by IanStead at 12:33 PM | Comments (0)