Game design in the development section

[HotfireLegend]

ATM we only have plots, js, etc - no mechanics, design or development. Could these be added?

Mechanics = battle system ideas, evented treasure hunts, etc
Design = levels, item rarities, loot distributions, loot tables, etc (mapping is a subsection of this tbh)
Development = html5 deployment, website deployment, iOS, resolution considerations, etc

 

[Xyphien]

I went ahead and added a poll to this, and moved it into the announcement section so everyone can vote on what they want. :)

 

[LTN Games]

At the moment I feel yes we can go over our current categories and think of more to add but I also feel like the above three is too many and will confuse people more. I feel mechanics can be added in with Plot & Theory not a seperate forum. I'm going to go over the list of forums today and see what should be added and what may clash and confuse others, until then I'm going to hold my vote.

 

[Zebestian]

A good idea in my opinion. I'll leave the structuring of the forums and sub-forums to the mods though. XD
What I'd like to add is that "music" should also be a part of "design", just like mapping and general graphics. Too often have I seen people use inadequate soundtracks in their games. :D

 

[LTN Games]

So instead of Plot & Theory how about Theory and Development - A forum where you can get feedback ideas on the plot of your story, and idea you have for a battle system. A place to ask about specific things about your game in development but you don't want to bring in the entire idea of your game. So that would include music, battle systems, stories etc. So for example I want to ask someone what style of music would be good with my genre of game, then I would head over to Theory & Development and ask. Same goes with battle systems, I want to know the best elements to include in my game or I just need general ideas for a battle system, then this category is for you. lol sounds like im trying to sell this category eh hahahah.
I will think of more as I go through the list today and shoot off my ideas.

 

[Xyphien]

@LTN Games Great solution to this, I have fixed Plot & Theory, and turned it into Theory & Development.

I've also moved this back to Suggestions, as it's more of a discussion/debate vs. adding overall more forums.

 

[LTN Games]

Perfect, I think this change will make a huge difference for that section. I also have more suggestions, though it's more just cleaning up what we already have. At least until we get busier with support questions etc.
So Javascripting should have the subforum "Script Tutorials" instead of them being seperate from each other. I also thought maybe adding the Artistic area in off topic into Developers Den( not 100% sure of this though) .
For the resource Category it should look something like this.

Helpful resources ( Taken from Game Creation)
WIP Resources
Resource Showcase.
Resource Request

And for the Game creation section it should look like this.

Showroom
All Submissions (A subforum of showroom to help moderate game entries)
Demo tester
Finished showcase

I do have a ton of ideas for the MV Technical and Discussion but right now it's unnecassary to work on because of lack of activity.

 

[HotfireLegend]

It's all a bit funny though, if you think about it.

Theory is often done before the design and development starts, and development takes place after design.

Theory > design > development > post-development

At the moment, you have Theory and development together now, but mapping is the only "design" aspect represented separately, and post-dev isn't represented much at all (but that's kind of moreso scattered around the forum, so...)

 

[Xyphien]

@HotfireLegend I turned Mapping into Mapping & Design. To help with that, as for post-dev wouldn't that just fall under Showcase, which will allow you to discuss the game now that is has been developed?

 

[LTN Games]

Yea I feel that Theory and Development still work together really well. I personally never seen a community that has more than one forum for Theory and development type dicussions. Rm web has 3 forums in their Game Development section, and VXAN only has Theory & Development as well. Most post development discussions fall under the showroom category.

 

[HotfireLegend]

Post-dev wouldn't just be showcase, it'd be things about discussing where to advertise your game, how to respond to feedback, guidelines to follow when contacting people to play your game like Youtubers (don't give them the game until they agree, for example), how to make marketing materials, what psychology to follow, what social media to use, how to keep your game updated, what website software to use to host MV games etc etc.

 

[LTN Games]

What would be a good name for that kind of category. Maybe another topic inside Developers Den would fit this discussion. General Development, Post Development. Though once again I can see all of that being discussed under theory and development. Even though Theory sounds like the idea before the development but it also technically means you have a theory of how to get something done but would like feedback. So example I want to go on steam greenlight and only have a theory of how to do it properly I need feedback. I only have a theory of how to advertise properly what do you do?. Unless I'm missing something here.

 

[Macro]

Having more sub forums seem too confusing. I like it as is myself.

 

[HotfireLegend]

Advertising isn't really a "theory", nor is greenlight. They are very much post-dev. If you were trying to create your game to appeal to greenlighters, you'd post in post-development and ask what greenlight voters like (hint: graphics in the trailer and screenshots) and then once that thread has run its course, perhaps you could post in the theory/development section about how to make your battles more flashy and pretty, by having a lot of ultimate attacks or something.

 

[Xyphien]

I get where you're going @HotfireLegend I'll go ahead and make the section whenever I can @LTN Games can you go ahead and add this to my to-do list for me please :)

 

[LTN Games]

Locking this thread due to being addressed. We will get around to implementing these categories.