Elysian Shadows

I am in Software Engineering this semester, and one of the main things in this class is that we, as a group (I have five people in mine, including me) have to work on a project during the semester.
We pretty much get free reign. The teacher prefers for us to do mobile apps, but as none of my group have any fancy mobile equipment (I have my Passcarded DS and modded PSP, but I'm not really into coding for something with such a limited base), we're going to do something in C++ and either Allegro or SDL (Most likely Allegro, it's hard for me to get away from it.)


OK SO.

Being that we're all Computer Science students, and nobody else is really a hobbyist programmer aside from one guy who played with Python for a little bit, everyone has the "basic C++ skillz". Which is like... data structures and crap.


Anyway, none of them know how to make games or how games are structured or the first thing about them.

I'm obviously the team manager and programmer, and there's another programmer/scripter, then we have a tester and design guy. :P Woot. x_x
The two guys who actually seem interested want to do a REAL TIME STRATEGY. FUCK THAT NOISE.
I'm trying to turn them towards something... not fucking hard!


Wait, what was my point of this thread again?

Oh yeah. I set us up a message board, and I'm writing up a "Game Design 101" thing to try to acquaint them to the basics. Not so much of coding, but of the process itself... blah.

Suggestions? Anyone want to come be a "guest speaker"? DX

You could always have them watch Falco's movies, yknow the ones that say "teams suck"? hahaha....
Have them browse some threads here, perhaps?

I don't want to turn them off to game programming, as that's what I'd be most comfortable doing.

But at the same time, I'd like it to be relatively painless, which is hard because college students slack off so much. It's always so frustrating being in a group because nobody else ever gives a shit. :/

Make a turn based strategy game? or something like virtual villagers.

NOT LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS on what sort of game to make.

Being the only experienced person makes it hard enough for me, I'm trying to keep it simple. I don't want this class dominating my entire semester.
I'm the coder, and I say no strategy games. :P

We may just make something like Rawr Rinth, but with extra crap.

Show them your Youtube channel. Show them how you have hundreds of loyal subscribers who love what you do.

Then tell them that your project can also gain subscribers and they too can transcend the ladder of Youtubian fame, fortune (and fornication).

Really the only thing I'd be any good at 'guest speaking' for is basic AI and OOP :P

.

Arce wrote:

Anyone want to come be a "guest speaker"? DX

Ha, good luck with this one. College punks probably aren't going to take it seriously? Something tells me you're going to end up doing all the work--they'll take the fact that it you're hobby to mean that you'll do it all. And then you're going to end up agreeing with the whole "teams suck" movie.

College punks? Do you listen to a word that I say? Computer Science/Engineering students are socially repressed nerds, especially at the Junior/Senior level. They're ignorant, not rebellious punk rockers.

GyroVorbis wrote:

Arce wrote:

Anyone want to come be a "guest speaker"? DX

Ha, good luck with this one. College punks probably aren't going to take it seriously? Something tells me you're going to end up doing all the work--they'll take the fact that it you're hobby to mean that you'll do it all. And then you're going to end up agreeing with the whole "teams suck" movie.

College punks? Do you listen to a word that I say? Computer Science/Engineering students are socially repressed nerds, especially at the Junior/Senior level. They're ignorant, not rebellious punk rockers.

Jesus. Me and my best friend are going into Computer Science and Computer Engineering respectively. We are not going to fit in with our peers. Party party party!

I think its a great idea, little things like that, if presented right, help a lot. I mean most people don't have even a rigid idea of the different pieces of a game when jumping into programming, I think if more people get these basics from the beginning, it will help more stay into programming.

I know people, if they think that they can get away with 'forgetting' to do something, they will (it's happened to me many times)

You could try empowering your team, tell them they have really important flashy roles in the project, make them feel guilty if they don't finish the project, but show them there is a reward if they do, if all else fails, pay them

Good luck with getting your team motivated and on task...like that'll ever happen

EDIT: I've just had a thought, if they refuse to do any of the work, or slack off, then make them watch your bibleman videotapes :P

programmerinprogress wrote:EDIT: I've just had a thought, if they refuse to do any of the work, or slack off, then make them watch your bibleman videotapes :P

ROFL