The Phantom An Episodic Adventure Reqruitmen Thread

Hello Everyone.

I am making an episodic, choice matters, free flow combat, open world game. Click Here for the concept idea for it. And I will admit I am more of a Gamer/writer than a game developer. So I want to recruit a team. I am not looking for anything in particular, anything from a writer, an actor, programmer, character designer ext. I just want my vision to become a reality. The game is being developed in Unreal Engine 4.

Thank You
The Winter Miner (Matthewk1000)

1. Why is UE4 the engine of choice for your project? (what features will shine in this engine vs. other engines?)

2. How Far's your GDD?

3. To what degree are you inspired by Telltale Games' products? (the six part Game of Thrones)

4. How will you both accommodate "Free flow combat" with ""Choice matters"? (the 1st suggests you can engage in open unrestricted combat, while the 2nd suggests defined choices that lead to definitively different narrative and game play outcomes.)

5. What does "Choice matters" specifically mean to you in your context?

6. How will time travel effect choice?

7. How long have you been fleshing out the game concept and narrative?

8. How long is your book that you refer to? And has it been reviewed formally or informally?

Edited by: GeneralJist

Hey thanks for your reply I'll try answer your questions as best as possible.

1. I am not rely sure, I just love how detailed a game can be made in Unreal 4 and I want this game to be as realistic as possible.

2. It is not too far into development so my GDD isn't even far either. I'm still assembling a team to help me.

3. It's not my main inspiration (it has a bit of inspiration though) but I'm a big fan of Telltale especial Back to the future, Walking Dead and Wolf among us. Another game that inspired me for the episodic is Dontdo's Life is Strange (not my inspiration for time travel though).

4. So the reason I have both is that I like The Free Flow Combat of Arkham Games but I love the choice changes future events in LIS so I wanted some way for a game to have both, The main protagonists are in turn from episode 2 on wards are highly trained, super powered (some even robotic/Cyborgs) assassins, but even knowing I want this game to be dark, gritty and violent. James the main protagonist refuse to kill till something makes him change his mind. And something between episode 2 and 3 causes James to go full I don't care about human life anymore mode but he is still has to do his job by going undercover and more and your choices could for instance get him court or not, also lets say (this is not in game, not even an idea just an eg) You decide not to kill a bunny in episode 2, that bunny will try and kill you in 3 after being super powered (that is just an eg).

5. Choice Matters I did say a bit about in question 4 but I love games were you have full control of a character to the point that you yourself at home can change what the character is going to say and the story. I want you to fell like you are James and you are going through what he is going through. Now I not all choices will affect you later on like drinking tea in episode 1 over coffee but other things will that I just love the game.

6. Now I want Time Travel to work different then other games, I'm putting that out there. I don't want it to be infinite, I want a negative effect for using it that is very grindy. It will effect choice so if you learn something on Monday you can (normally would be told that you have to) go back to Sunday to use the info to learn more info from that. And as I have said this feature will not be in Episode 1, so choice carefully.

7. As I have said this is based off a book (well the first two episodes that is, everything after is many years in the future like many) I have been fleshing out ideas for that since about July 2014. Now many ideas have changed or have stayed for eg a major character I came up with last October will only make a debut in a planed 7th book (I have a whole universe played don't worry), that character actually is in Episode 3. So I have a box and a box and a storehouse full of ideas and there is a concept layed out for the whole game from start to finish.

8. The book is actually being rewritten because I did not like the original version I saw I could do it better the second time around. I am currently on Chapter 3 but remember as I said in Question 7 I have already made characters for the 7th book and spin offs so that does not 100% matter how far. The original book is 200 pages more or less and it was read by my cousin who seemed to like it but I still made the call for the rewrite before I ever think of sending it for publication.

So if you have any more questions fell free to ask.

Thank you

Edited by: Matthewk1000

^double post,

Hmm well, if you have a rather detailed narrative laid out, I'd advise you to try and flesh out more of your GDD.

Ask yourself how will each narrative choice will look in the game play, have you mapped out the dialog tree?

At this stage your in preproduction, you'll need a more defined and solid GDD to attract top talent.

Anything can "look realistic" given the right artists. I'd think another key step is researching the engines your considering, and make sure they can handle the mechanics you envision. ( you don't want to deal with committing to an engine, then months or years in you realize it can't have, or really difficult to code in the core mechanics you need to get the game to work properly.)

To be clear, you wrote the original book? right? That's what it sounds like, why are you changing the game story from the book? Making a game adaption from a book is a challenge, since unless the book describes everything in colorful detail, the artists will have different interpretations, in fact, the mark of a good writer is 2 or more different readers will have different visions of the same passage, so, as a writer, you'll need to prepare for this, and describe visually.

So, 7 books? 7 games? That's a lot, maybe it'd be better to focus on 1 book at a time, if the 1st is successful, you'll have more traction, than if you work on all 7 at once. (or how many you actually have).

Plan for all chapters, but focus on developing 1 at a time keeping your big picture in focus will be your responsibility, but know, each change in 1 may effect the others, it's a very large balancing act.

TBH, I don't think your at the stage for recruiting quite yet, we need more documentation and solid direction both in story, but mainly in mechanics. The other way is to let us read your book, (or parts of it) to try and inspire us to imagine your world with you. Right now, there isn't enough for me to see how deep your world is, why it's special, and how serious you are about seeing this through..

But seeing your book and progress will get us a sense of that.

Prove to us that your not just in the conception phase, and that you have solid narrative, drive, and direction.

Edited by: GeneralJist

Well thank you. I actually will get strait on to making my GDD and dialog trees, I may have concept art soon though it just a matter if my two artists (they would be doing mainly concept art and other stuff not confirmed yet though but I did get a better mark than the one in the Art Exam but he is still much better than me so can't say that) I know are willing to help. Now the reason I am branching off from the book is that I don't want it to be a case where people have read the book so they know what will happen or visa versa. The reason episode 1 and 2 are based off book is because is because the first book acts as an origin story so I just can't drop you in a game without you knowing who the main characters are.

No I am not writing all 7 at once don't worry, its just I like to be organized in when characters get introduced as the smallest off things in my mind creates a character or event so I like to be lenient about where I'm going to place them, my plans for the series though is about 7 books about James, 2 about Erin, 3 about Alex, 2 about Daniel (They are the three main characters [Daniel only makes an apprentice in episode 2])

Thank you for all the feedback, I want to show the first few chapters but first its not copy written yet so don't want that and didn't want potential spoilers. I will try to release some concept art as soon as possible with a detailed plot.

Thnx

^Double post= you pasted your response in twice in the above response.

For me I only did my reply once so don't know why its double posted for you.

I just also wanted to tell you that last night I finished my GDD. It doesn't have everything yet but I have done a lot of it. I should have concept art soon too.

Good to hear,

No, I mean,

look at your 1st response to me,

it's twice as long as it should be.

I have a lot of reservations about this project, it sounds hopelessly ambitious.

Unreal Engine 4 is professional grade and used to make the latest AAA titles ... and you want the game to be open world and have Arkham inspired freeflow combat and be as realistic as possible, all the while by your own admission not being a developer yourself. AND the book inspiring the game is being rewritten because you didn't like it. With respect, this is completely absurd, and you're essentially asking for a team to fight and die in a war for you. People would have to be mad to agree to work on this.

I know, but lets try and be a little more diplomatic.

There are a lot of large concepts in this vision, and if it's to have a hope for success, It will require years of commitment, thus the documentation and leadership must be consistently outstanding.Not to mention a thorough understanding of the tools and engine by the writer(s) of the GDD.

Hows that sound?

Most people say ambitious projects usually fail, because you dreamed too big, I'd say, dream big, but start small, building a section at a time, pacing yourself and your team.

Most people have many small projects vs. one or a few large ones, likening it to climbing small mole hills, but I say climb 1 large mountain, equal to the time investment of the mole hills.

Edited by: GeneralJist

Hey, so the rewrite was because I believed I could have had more detail, the story is basically the same but I just wanted to rewrite it in case I wanted to change anything down the line.

I do have a few people the are quite good at modeling and UE4. I agree with the start small then go big. I already have estimated this game can be realesesed anywhere from 2.5-5 years. With the start small, Episode 1 is incredibly small compared to episode 2 and episode 2 is very small compared to 3-6. Episode 1 has more or less 120 characters (including people just walking around) with a tiny open world as the place it is based off is tiny. Episode 2 is a bit bigger with more characters and 3 will also be big.

I agree its ambitious but that's how I am, but I also complet projects. If you have anymore questions fell free to ask.

ok,

IDK, about your projection skills, but make sure you account for complications that you may not even have considered at this time.

+ life events, and since it's a volunteer project, I'd optimistically tack on another 6 months or so.

Can I just state that a game that is developed in UE4 is only detailed if the 3D/2D Models, textures, environment are. Sure the engine can have awesome shaders but that is still down to someone else creating the code. For a game engine I would highly recommend looking at all your choices. Some examples would be Unity3D, CryEngine, id Tech. Furthermore, a lot of developers have preferred engines so that they can work much more efficiently and effectively! If you need any other help then just message me.

Clarification: I'm a developer who mainly programs in C# - I use Unity

Thnx, you know I may go and look at other engines now and check them out. I won't be able today but I will soon.

Thnx

Ok I have been thinking about it, I still may use UE4 as I think I have put a team together for it but still will consider Unity.

I have been thinking the last few days, I am sure I'll change it to Unity plus I may take out the Episodic part of game.

Hi Matthewk1000,

this sounds really good and I wanted to ask if you're still looking for 3d-modelers?

Yes, I am still looking for 3d moddleres. Thnx

Hi

My name is Sam Knights and I am a composer/producer looking for projects to work on. Are you looking for composers? I studied Classical Music at Leeds College of Music, where I won the Composition Award, but that doesn't mean I'm a pompous classical musician; I have extensive experience with pop and rock bands too, so I am good at making almost any kind of music.

If you want to hear examples of my music, visit www.samuelknights.snack.ws/soundtrack-ambient - the most relevant music for you will be under the Soundtrack/Ambient subcategory, but feel free to explore the rest of the site.

The game sounds very interesting, so I'm looking forward to finding out more. What kind of music would you be after for this? Can you think of any games with the genre you're looking for?

Sam
sdjknights@hotmail.com

Hey, we are still in concept stages of game but your music does sound really good, much better than anything I could ever make. I'll keep your email adress handy when we start residing of music and stuff. Keep it touch.

If you are located in Southern California and want to network with other indie game developers and enthusiasts then you should check out our indie game expo. We are going to have music food and drinks and showcase some indie games and 3d rendering technology. I am hoping that this will be a good opportunity for people who are trying to take the “road less traveled” into the gaming industry.

If you are a developer trying to hire or a creative trying to get hired then email me or check out our Facebook page for details on the event.