112th_Rossi Posted July 17, 2005 Posted July 17, 2005 How do I go about proposing it? I have been talking about the concept with a friend and the more we discuss the more it sounds appealing. I am a 28 year old software engineer (business software) with a keen intrest in aviation and PC gaming. I know what I'm talking about when it comes to games but this is the first time I've actually thought up an idea that I beleive is original and could potentially be ground breaking in the sim world. I appreciate that the sim scene for the PC has dropped off in the last 5 years, maybe due to the cost of development and the mass appeal of the FPS genre, however the concept that I have thought of could guarantee longevity and a steady client base if the game is launched successfully. My ideas are scratched on sides of A4 with rough drawings of interfaces and concept drawings. I am willing to type this up into a full proposal, however I am confused as to who to send to? A publisher like Ubi or EA? Or an independent development company such as Eagle Dynamics or 1C:Maddox who have experience in the flight sim genre. I really do beleive the 'idea' is sound. I can understand that I may not have covered all bases as I do not have experience with game development and publication but if I am allowed a listening ear at any of the aforementioned companies I would post my proposal tomorrow. So, any ideas gentlemen?
Jester_159th Posted July 17, 2005 Posted July 17, 2005 I don't know whether a developer or publisher would be best, but I would suggest making an appointment with a solicitor that deals with copyright matters before doing anything. Ideas are very easy to steal, and ownership is difficult to prove after the fact. Please note: This is just a statement of simple fact and not intended in any way as an insult against any company or individual!!!! (Had to add this...after reading it back I realised I was looking at a liabel suit!!)
112th_Rossi Posted July 17, 2005 Author Posted July 17, 2005 Yes you're right. Good idea. After thats settled, where to?
britgliderpilot Posted July 17, 2005 Posted July 17, 2005 Yes you're right. Good idea. After thats settled, where to? Ah, it was posted here. See discouraging post on Ubi, too :p You need . . . . . to find a dev team. Very few publishers have in-house dev teams right now, and taking it to a publisher will most likely result in "have a pitifully small amount of money, and watch while we hack about with your idea and turn it into something entirely different, but designed to make money. bye now!" Anyone know of any spare dev teams, because I sure as hell don't. Seriously - an idea is the very worst place to start from. If you have an engine of some kind, or some 3D models, or some data to work from . . . . then that's a start. But an idea is pretty much nothing. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/britgliderpilot/BS2Britgliderpilot-1.jpg
Rastus Posted July 17, 2005 Posted July 17, 2005 Well, you could get a team together & start from scratch. Or you could jump on board a team that has allready started development of a new sim where your original ideas would be highly valued. If the sim development was early enough, your ideas could be easily integrated into the root programming. The only new high quality projects that I am aware of are ED's next adventure (after lockon 1.2) & http://www.fighterops.com/index.htm . FighterOps has an ongoing modular approach which may provide an avenue for your ideas. Maybe your own module, who knows. There may be other sim's in early development and I am sure others will help identify them Which ever way you go, I wish you all the best, and look forward to flying your ideas one day. Cheers Rastus
britgliderpilot Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 Well, you could get a team together & start from scratch. Or you could jump on board a team that has allready started development of a new sim where your original ideas would be highly valued. If the sim development was early enough, your ideas could be easily integrated into the root programming. The only new high quality projects that I am aware of are ED's next adventure (after lockon 1.2) & http://www.fighterops.com/index.htm . FighterOps has an ongoing modular approach which may provide an avenue for your ideas. Maybe your own module, who knows. There may be other sim's in early development and I am sure others will help identify them Which ever way you go, I wish you all the best, and look forward to flying your ideas one day. Cheers Rastus Yeah . . . . about Fighter Ops. Take a look at the forums. Fighter Ops is all chiefs and no Indians - everyone has their own ideas, and won't settle for anything else. It can't be all things to all men, and I really, truly, wouldn't try to add your input there. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/britgliderpilot/BS2Britgliderpilot-1.jpg
Rastus Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 Yeh, maybe you are right there Britgliderpilot. I dont know as I am not yet involved in their "Area 51" where one could find out what's really going on. I suggested it because it's a new project still in its early development, exactly the place for someone with well thought out, new ideas to offer. I for one encorage anyone who can add something to our relatively small community of flight sim enthusiasts. The more people interested in programming & developing this field, the more enjoyment we, the consumer will have. And just to clarify something, The Idea is everything. ED started with an idea, so did Einstien, so did all inventors, artists, businesses, in fact even the computer you are now using started as an idea. I can almost definitely say that all those ideas got negative reactions during some stage of their development. The idea's that made it to reality are those that were good idea's, well researched & planned during their development & most importantly, had someone with the belief & strength (balls) to carry that idea through to the final product. Once again, All the best Rossi
Guest EVIL-SCOTSMAN Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 I don't know whether a developer or publisher would be best, but I would suggest making an appointment with a solicitor that deals with copyright matters before doing anything. Ideas are very easy to steal, and ownership is difficult to prove after the fact. Please note: This is just a statement of simple fact and not intended in any way as an insult against any company or individual!!!! (Had to add this...after reading it back I realised I was looking at a liabel suit!!) regarding copyrights, just print out proposal and code or if possible put it on a few dvds/cds then mail it to yourself and dont open it, in any country that will suffice as proof of copyright ownership, also as dev teams and stuff go, there is many talented ppl on these forums alone never mind other FS forums, if u could maybe get some ppl here interested in helping you, chances are the sim would probably turn out to be better than some other sims, as it is designed by ppl who know what they talking about and are actively flying most days and know the ins and outs of lomac and what needs to be done to make a decent FS also ppl who are actively makin mods for lomac could help on the aircraft models and such like. Whatever happens I hope it turns out to be cool sim if developed, about marketing i would think you would have to find a company for that one
ZoomBoy27 Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 I would suggest http://www.gamedev.net/ - GameDev.net. Their forums are full of professionals who can give you legal, design, and engine advices. They even have a help wanted forum. ZoomBoy My Flight Sims Page - Link to My Blog - Sims and Things - DCS Stuff++ - Up-to-Speed Guides to the old Lockon A10A and Su-25T - Some missions [needs update]
355th_Paulie Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 Dont go giving away your idea mate, get your legal stuff sorted first. :icon_idea You'd be surprised what "honest" people can do to you. :D
coldcrew Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 you know what they say.. ideas are like as.. everyone has one. I say if you're really serious about doing it then start working on it even on your own. It's only when you have an implementation that the idea becomes something worth while. I'm a software developer and everyonce in a while you'll get some green newb trying to get someone to create his idea. If you don't put any effort into it, no one else will. Even if you can't code, just designing and putting that effort (models, diagrams etc) is enough to get others pumped up to get on board to help you.
JaBoG32_Viper Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 Well Rossi, u need huge money, knowledge and a very good crew to realize it. At first u need a very concrete idea, 'cause all bases on that. What kind should the sim be? More realistic as all the others? So u have to look out for guys who knows more 'bout the planes and all the other stuff that moves around. U need very exactly datas 'bout the planes, the tanks, the missiles and so on. Than u have to find good modeler. They are very expensiv man, hell i know that, thinking off what my customer pay for my models ;) Huge maps to model with thousands of objects, the sky, the water. Physics like pieces bumping on the ground on a hit or explosion. Biggest and most difficulty thing is imho the AFM, most of the sims doesnt have a really good afm. Hell, there are so many things to think on that i get a headache ;) But if u really wanna make it real, go on! No matter which stones on your way, what the others say or how difficult it would be....just do it! No try, no success...
kydius Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 To eliminate some of the "problems" that JaBoG32_Viper talked about, I would suggest you to take a second look at Fighter Ops. They are a very professional and serious team and they are still quite early in developpement. If you're good and you know that you have something special to offer, send an email to one of the devs, I think they are always looking for new talented team members.
SUBS17 Posted July 18, 2005 Posted July 18, 2005 Yeah . . . . about Fighter Ops. Take a look at the forums. Fighter Ops is all chiefs and no Indians - everyone has their own ideas, and won't settle for anything else. It can't be all things to all men, and I really, truly, wouldn't try to add your input there. Really I guess you haven't bothered to look at the main website on who is in the team. I guess you also missed the developers update which featured a write up on all the programmers. Then theres the fact that its going to be released next year. [sIGPIC] [/sIGPIC]
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