Recent posts by TalonXZ on Kongregate

Topic: Game Programming / Let's create a game together!

Very interesting indeed. I wrote this post more than two years ago. In fact, I actually completely forgot about it. It seems as if someone bumped it and now, suddenly out of the blue, I’m getting email on it.

The ironic thing is I sold my business a few months back and am now focusing full time on developing a Flash based CCG. Back in 2007 when I originally wrote the post, I had planned on posting the game on Kongregate to see what would materialize. Since then, I have made some pretty senior contacts at companies like hi5 and Zynga, and a game, if done correctly (and a bit of luck) can make a wild amount of money. Free-to-play has been the driving force behind revenue generation (by selling virtual goods).

Our concept is nearly complete and we plan to start engineering soon. Of course the $1,000 estimate that I gave is quite ridiculous. ;) It’ll cost much more than that, but I’m willing to take the risk. If you truly believe in something, then you shouldn’t let anything stand in the way. Like my wife tells me, “Balls out Baby!”. :)

If you want to hear more about the project, drop me your email and I’ll put you on the list. Cheers!

Josh

Topic: Game Programming / Let's create a game together!

This isn’t really a “money making” thing for me. My primary interest in doing it is because I think it’s a great idea that I myself would love to play. Also, my brother and I are opening another business in the Spring that is also in the gaming industry and we’d love to have this as part of our portfolios. I think the business sense plays a part in video gaming because I understand the challenges that independent developers face and I believe they can be overcome. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? Absolutely not!

I think you may have missed the point of my brother’s PhD. Games are normally not successful on their own merit, but rather on the community built around them. This is what he has studied. How to create a virtual community and turn it into a commodity.

Drawing a comparison with Magic does not mean that the gameplay simulates it to the point of copyright infringement. This game is 100% unique. And yes, a gamer could end up making more money programming for a “less dubious” gaming company. But he COULD also make a lot more money developing this concept. The entire term “could” is subjective, right?

At the very least, one might ask more details about the project rather than trash it as a “sketchy game idea”.

Topic: Game Programming / Let's create a game together!

Ok, so I know this forum has been inundated with requests to partner up and create a game together, particularly by those who have no programming skills.

BUT, I do have a skill… an uncontrollable level of creativity with the rare combination of true business sense. I also have an MBA. My identical twin brother, who shares my passion in gaming, has a PhD in Psychology with an emphasis is creating virtual communities. His thesis revolved around the game Neverwinter Nights.

Right now, I own a rather large business but I’m getting bored. The other day, while sitting down at an Australian Pink Floyd concert, I came up with a marvelous game concept that could generate a lot of interest. However, I need some help with both Flash, Art, sound and scripting. I imagine this project to take a solid 2 months of development unless there are a few of you unemployed and willing to work full time on it.

What do you get out of it? Well, first you get to work on an exciting strategy game concept. It could certainly boost your portfolio at the very least. Secondly, I’d pay you. If the game is delivered as I see it in my head, you’d get paid up to $1,000, depending on what you contributed. And third, you’d retain a percentage of future profits. We can negotiate what this percentage is, but I figure this is fair as the pay would certainly not compensate you enough for the time that you’ll spend on developing it.

The game itself is a cross between Magic the Gathering and the card game that Kongregate is developing. You must have interest in this genre… passion can result in amazing things.

Interested? I hope so. Think I’m crazy… perhaps. :) But, one thing I’ve learned in life is that you never get ahead if you’re not willing to take the risk. So let the game begin… ;) talonxz@yahoo.com