A PLEA: DON'T MAKE YOUR FIRST GAME A TEAM GAME

A recommendation of how to NOT get started in RPG Making, and alternatives to the "I need a team" thread

  • unity
  • 06/22/2015 02:57 PM
  • 16605 views
Hello everyone! A common occurrence I see around RMN a lot is the "Newbie Looking for Team" thread (And not specifically wanting to join an existing team, either). Instead, they have this great idea for a game, but have never made one before, and they want people to step up and volunteer to do all the things they aren't good at yet, usually asking for a composer, a spriter, an artist, a mapper, and sometimes a writer, too.

These threads almost always ultimately fail, with no one stepping up to volunteer their services. Why is that? Because the person asking for a team has nothing to show to grant any confidence to prospective team members. Ask yourself, if someone said "Hey! You've been doing spriting/composing/writing/mapping for years, and are pretty good at it. Would you be willing to spend countless hours helping someone make a game, when they haven't even shown they have the drive or wherewithal to make a single game on their own?" Would you be jumping at the chance to help them out for free with no guarantee that the game will ever be completed?

Your team request can come off sounding like this if you aren't careful...


It really hurts when you spend a lot of time making something, only for the leader of the project to quit or lose interest and then you're left with all of your hard work going to waste. I say this as someone who has completed several games, and is still guilty of having this happen. Games take time, especially big epic games with sprawling storylines. We're talking about years of commitment in many cases!

It may or may not surprise you, but almost everyone who's gotten good at making games on this site started on their own. They made games without the help of a big group. You can do this, too! It's completely possible to start out with no RPG-making skills and with patience and work, learn all the skills needed to make something great. You'll have to contend with your first few games not being very good, but as you go along, you'll improve!




Having said that, I'm not saying that you shouldn't turn to the community for help. There are plenty of people here willing to help you out and advise you and steer you in the right direction. Most of us don't have time to join you on a team, but the community is a wellspring of wisdom when it comes to making games. Make topics asking for help or ideas, show off your maps-in-progress in the Screenshot Survival thread, and reach out for assistance when you need it. The site also has lists of sites where you can find royalty free music and tons of assets to help you with development (Check out this thread to find most of the helpful stuff on the forums, and here and here for resources.)

However, asking for the community to be the beast of burden to carry your game to completion on the hard work of other members just isn't feasible. We all have ideas for games that we want to see exist, and we're all working hard on those games. Asking us to set aside time to make your dreams come true when you haven't even made anything on your own yet is unrealistic.

My advice is this: Put the giant epic world-spanning game in your head on hold. Come up with a simple idea for a game, one you can make without a huge hassle. Show the community that you can complete a project. Yes, I know that those VX Ace chibi sprites aren't very popular and using RTP is limiting. But everyone has to start somewhere, and you can make a good game even with those limitations.



Once you have a game or two under your belt and you know the basics and have proven that you have the discipline to stick to it to the end, then people are much more likely to take your team requests seriously. If you want to form a team after that, I highly recommend Red_Nova's Teamwork and You articles.

Posts

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SunflowerGames
The most beautiful user on RMN!
13323

You put it much more nicely than I would have :)
That monster graphic needs to be the thing linked to all these posts!
Red_Nova
Sir Redd of Novus: He who made Prayer of the Faithless that one time, and that was pretty dang rad! :D
9192
Well said, unity! This is something that everyone newbie should read.
unity
You're magical to me.
12540
author=kory_toombs
You put it much more nicely than I would have :)
That monster graphic needs to be the thing linked to all these posts!

Thanks! I wanted to keep it nice, so newcomers understand that they can ask for help, but to still understand that asking for a team to realize their dreams without trying out anything on their own probably isn't going to happen.

author=Red_Nova
Well said, unity! This is something that everyone newbie should read.

Thanks very much, Red! ^_^
You’d think that this would be common knowledge to everyone, but, *sigh* alas, it still happens where we get the odd new user from time to time who wants everyone to make his or her game for them without any prior or past works to back it up… The least they could do is offer up some free coupons for Subway, or something. :)

Good article, Uni. It’s nice, simple, clean and full of colorful pictures – just how I like ‘em! And it’s even sweeter because you’ve been involved in some team projects and created a couple of games in the past yourself, so you've been there before, that's for sure.

I don’t know if I would ever consider joining a team personally, as I do like the comforts and flexibility of working alone. But if the right circumstances ever popped up - then you just never know.
There should be a category for articles named "Essentials about game making you should know",and have this article in it.

Basically because this doesn't even apply to gaming only, it can happen to many other composite medias (like animation or comic) where people ask out of the blue for free hard work, and knowing that you can't ask people to work on your stuff in that kind of situation should be basic knowledge.

In summary, great article :D
Whoops, too late for me. I'd probably change the wording to ambitious/large/epic team game, because the only games I've made were team efforts mostly, but they were done small in scope and at local game jams.
Great article. I'm currently doing my game DUST alone even though I have 4 members mostly graphic artists. I am all alone and I like it personally.

(links deleted)
Please do not bluntly advertise your games in all possible threads, articles, and especially not on other people's gamepage. Especially seeing how Dust is buzzing and has enough attention already anyway. It just comes across as bad taste.

If you want to trade feedback or specifically talk about your game, do it in a more private manner. Ask for feedback, talk with people and once there is interest about what you do, share what you do.
Adding it to any and all posts sends off the message of "Visit my game, PLEEEEEAAAAAAAAAASE", and devalues whatever you were saying before that, making it seem like an excuse to promote your games. I'm sure that's not what you want or intend to be doing.

Just saw a few instances right after another, so I thought I should point it out.
It's as polite as asking someone a question and then babbling away before the person can even answer it.
This is a great article to point out. I'm a member who checks the site most days but has rarely posted comments, but i feel this is an article worth a comment.

I have finished one game and am working on another (don't worry, I won't advertise them here) and haven't really asked anyone on the site for help. But I know what it's like to be new to the site without knowing all the unwritten rules. So, articles like this one are great and would be helpful to go in a "for newbies" section. Thanks for writting it and while I'm at it, thanks to everyone on the site for all the help and resources provided here!
author=Kylaila
Please do not bluntly advertise your games in all possible threads, articles, and especially not on other people's gamepage. Especially seeing how Dust is buzzing and has enough attention already anyway. It just comes across as bad taste.

If you want to trade feedback or specifically talk about your game, do it in a more private manner. Ask for feedback, talk with people and once there is interest about what you do, share what you do.
Adding it to any and all posts sends off the message of "Visit my game, PLEEEEEAAAAAAAAAASE", and devalues whatever you were saying before that, making it seem like an excuse to promote your games. I'm sure that's not what you want or intend to be doing.

Just saw a few instances right after another, so I thought I should point it out.
It's as polite as asking someone a question and then babbling away before the person can even answer it.


I have to apologize. I thought it is alright to link my game. I'm very new to this site. Anyway thanks for correcting me. Links deleted.
Thanks, and no harm done :)
You will get used to the site soon. People interested can easily find your games through your profile if they want, so you will only link them on rare occasions.

Enjoy your stay, and work hard ;)
(you as well, lurking robb!)
author=Kylaila
Thanks, and no harm done :)
You will get used to the site soon. People interested can easily find your games through your profile if they want, so you will only link them on rare occasions.

Enjoy your stay, and work hard ;)
(you as well, lurking robb!)


Thank You. CM.
unity
You're magical to me.
12540
author=Addit
You’d think that this would be common knowledge to everyone, but, *sigh* alas, it still happens where we get the odd new user from time to time who wants everyone to make his or her game for them without any prior or past works to back it up… The least they could do is offer up some free coupons for Subway, or something. :)

Good article, Uni. It’s nice, simple, clean and full of colorful pictures – just how I like ‘em! And it’s even sweeter because you’ve been involved in some team projects and created a couple of games in the past yourself, so you've been there before, that's for sure.

I don’t know if I would ever consider joining a team personally, as I do like the comforts and flexibility of working alone. But if the right circumstances ever popped up - then you just never know.


Thanks, Addit! ^_^ I've had a few team experiences at this point, and they can both be really fun and/or really frustrating, depending on the circumstances. I like working with a team, but only if the project is short-term. Otherwise I like going it on my own.

author=Chivi-chivik
There should be a category for articles named "Essentials about game making you should know",and have this article in it.

Basically because this doesn't even apply to gaming only, it can happen to many other composite medias (like animation or comic) where people ask out of the blue for free hard work, and knowing that you can't ask people to work on your stuff in that kind of situation should be basic knowledge.

In summary, great article :D


Thanks very much, Chivi-chivik! I see those "Need a Team" threads pop up with regularity, so I felt like this was the best response.

author=Darken
Whoops, too late for me. I'd probably change the wording to ambitious/large/epic team game, because the only games I've made were team efforts mostly, but they were done small in scope and at local game jams.


That's a really good point. I don't mean to be down on anyone who did a team game as their first game, especially if it's for a jam or contest. I'm specifically wanting newbies to avoid the "gimme a team so I can make my first game" thread. I guess I should add in a clause about legitimate teams where everyone has a say being a different matter entirely.

author=robb0226
This is a great article to point out. I'm a member who checks the site most days but has rarely posted comments, but i feel this is an article worth a comment.

I have finished one game and am working on another (don't worry, I won't advertise them here) and haven't really asked anyone on the site for help. But I know what it's like to be new to the site without knowing all the unwritten rules. So, articles like this one are great and would be helpful to go in a "for newbies" section. Thanks for writting it and while I'm at it, thanks to everyone on the site for all the help and resources provided here!


Thanks very much for your kind response! ^_^
You'd think this would be common sense, but no. Sad times when something like this needs its own article. :(
I find it very disrespectful whenever some newbie joins this site (or any other RPG Maker forum) and starts asking for people to join him and make his game for him. Thinking their ideas are worth gold and that people on these forums are just waiting for someone to tell them what to do. I mean, it's not like people here have their own games to work on, right?
If it were up to me, I'd make it a forum rule to have at least 1 completed game before being able to ask for a team to work for you.
Red_Nova
Sir Redd of Novus: He who made Prayer of the Faithless that one time, and that was pretty dang rad! :D
9192
author=Milennin
If it were up to me, I'd make it a forum rule to have at least 1 completed game before being able to ask for a team to work for you.


I swear that's a tagline...
BurningTyger
Hm i Wonder if i can pul somethi goff here/
1289
See, I wonder i if fall into that trap or not. I mean you've seen some of the games I made with Clarieain as well as Veil of Darkness. I usually end up helping other people with their games by providing resources of some kind.
unity
You're magical to me.
12540
author=BurningTyger
See, I wonder i if fall into that trap or not. I mean you've seen some of the games I made with Clarieain as well as Veil of Darkness. I usually end up helping other people with their games by providing resources of some kind.


If you're helping out someone else, then that's just fine. I'm specifically talking about people who have the idea for a game but want the community to supply them with a bunch of helpers to do the heavy lifting.
BurningTyger
Hm i Wonder if i can pul somethi goff here/
1289
I
author=unity
author=BurningTyger
See, I wonder i if fall into that trap or not. I mean you've seen some of the games I made with Clarieain as well as Veil of Darkness. I usually end up helping other people with their games by providing resources of some kind.
If you're helping out someone else, then that's just fine. I'm specifically talking about people who have the idea for a game but want the community to supply them with a bunch of helpers to do the heavy lifting.
I understand; Synthetic Odyssey is kind of a weird one as i came up with much of the characters and plot for Clair to use, so I'm not sure where that lies.
About time someone carved it up on stone. Hopefully we'll get a decrease on the (unreasonable) team requests.

It's well laid out, unity! And I love the drawings, especially the knight. Actually I might study that knight a bit, since I never really was any good at drawing armour. It's just that, it's nicely done. It's simple but not barren. Cutesy, but not... Er, I'm getting a bit off-topic here am I?

A-Anyways, well done! *hits invisible Like button exclusive to users with 2709 ms*
unity
You're magical to me.
12540
author=BurningTyger
I
author=unity
author=BurningTyger
See, I wonder i if fall into that trap or not. I mean you've seen some of the games I made with Clarieain as well as Veil of Darkness. I usually end up helping other people with their games by providing resources of some kind.
If you're helping out someone else, then that's just fine. I'm specifically talking about people who have the idea for a game but want the community to supply them with a bunch of helpers to do the heavy lifting.
I understand; Synthetic Odyssey is kind of a weird one as i came up with much of the characters and plot for Clair to use, so I'm not sure where that lies.


I'm sure it's fine. I'm just trying to discourage people from trying to recruit a big team to handle their first game without giving it a go on their own so they can learn the basics.

author=karins_soulkeeper
About time someone carved it up on stone. Hopefully we'll get a decrease on the (unreasonable) team requests.

It's well laid out, unity! And I love the drawings, especially the knight. Actually I might study that knight a bit, since I never really was any good at drawing armour. It's just that, it's nicely done. It's simple but not barren. Cutesy, but not... Er, I'm getting a bit off-topic here am I?

A-Anyways, well done! *hits invisible Like button exclusive to users with 2709 ms*


Haha, thanks a lot! That knight is a battler I drew for a game which will hopefully someday see the light of day ^^;;
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