star-corsairs
Latest
MMObility: Let's make a mobile MMO, part four
So here we are at the last part of a four-part mini-series in which Dave Toulouse, indie developer of games like Golemizer and Star Corsairs, and I have attempted to make a working mobile MMO. I started the series with the hopes of fostering discussion over design as well, and we have gotten some great conversations going in the comments section! I think many MMO gamers dream about game design at some point, and some go beyond that point and actually create a game. It can be tough, as this series has shown, just to get the basics down. Well, here we are at the last. I wanted to go over some of the best ideas the readers had, cover what we were able to do with the actual game, and debate how much further it would need to go to be considered officially "done."
MMObility: Let's make a mobile game, part three
Last week we continued our discussion about how to make a mobile game, and the Massively readers offered up some great input. I wish I had the space to write up every single comment, but instead I will pick some of my favorites and we can discuss it from there. Unfortunately, real life has pushed development on the game back just a bit. Dave Toulouse, my indie developer partner-in-crime in this series, not only has two games of his own to run, Star Corsairs and Golemizer, but is now dealing with my silly emails. So while last week's column got some great ideas in the comments section, we were really only able to switch out the artwork, name the game, and add a tad bit of lore. Fear not, fair readers! I will break down the development that is still planned on being pushed into the game over the last week, and it's important to note that Dave and I plan on coming back to the experiment over time. I'd like to update the game and continue discussion since it has been so interesting so far! In the meanwhile, click here to go to the official game page!
MMObility: Let's make a mobile game, part two
Last week I started working with Dave Toulouse, indie developer of Golemizer and Star Corsairs, to build our very own mobile MMO. For the sake of completing the project within the month of February, we kept our game designs simple and easy for anyone to play. The idea was not to create a state-of-the-art video game but instead to build a working framework that illustrated some of the basics of MMO design. Ironically, my first column on the subject was received rather coolly when I consider my normal column response, but last week's responses taught me a valuable lesson about design: Players often want to talk about what is not possible rather than what is. Dave told me how his players often told him what they wished his games would achieve, without ever considering just how difficult it is to make a game. Still, there were several great ideas in the comments section. I'm going to use those ideas to break down this week's update.
MMObility: Let's make a mobile game, part one
I thoroughly enjoy reading your comments, especially when the discussion turns to game design or suggestions for development. I decided it was high time that I sat down and experienced, even if just a little, how the design process goes. I've had plenty of peeks at different studios, but I wanted to know what it is like to actually make a game from basically beginning to end. So for the next four weeks, I will be doing something special. I invited indie developer Dave Toulouse, maker of Golemizer and Star Corsairs, to help me in this journey. If you'd like to find out more about Dave, you can visit his official website, follow him on Twitter, or even read an interview I did with him a while ago. He really is the epitome of the indie spirit, and I am so thankful that he volunteered to do this with me. The goal is to start with a basic idea and framework, and using input from our discussions and from reader comments, assemble a very basic working mobile MMO. So let's get started!
Browser-based indie MMO Star Corsairs goes live
Indie developer Machine 22 is at it again. Following the 2006 release of Golemizer, the one-man studio has now released Star Corsairs, a sci-fi title focusing on real-time starship battles. Players can explore the depths of outer-space, craft upgrades for their starships, do battle with alien species and other players, and form alliances to conquer entire space systems. The game is free-to-play and browser-based, meaning that anyone can play it on almost any machine (as long as you're not running a Commodore 64, in which case you're on your own). More details on the game can be found at the title's official site, or you can jump past the cut for Star Corsairs' release trailer. [Source: Machine 22 press release] %Gallery-136693%
