to design a game?

[jade]

Theoretically, a person who wanted to design a game for some type of platform could do so. . . some kind of framework for something to be creative. For example, say there is some idea and that a person had invested a lot of time in this particular idea, "blood sweat and tears" type-investment of an entirely non-monetary origin . . . the whole basis of people doing what they love to do and are good at doing . . .

At some point does the person who put all the effort into the investment require some sort of "compensation" for this effort and therefore attempts to "sell" this investment to a market of people. . . the market, based upon monetary principles, should reward this person for their effort. Theoretically, this is how most economic systems work.

But the framework sometimes requires that people accept short-term losses in favor of long-term gains.

How and when can a person (an individual) decide that short-term losses are acceptable given long-term gains? Does this not fly in the face of an individual's personal liberty and definition of ethics?

Hmm.

I suppose what I'm attempting to explain or to ask here is that a business background and monetary necessity can simultaneously destroy or propel a person to either pursue or not pursue inherent talents. All the people on this board, all the sweet geeks and geekettes. . . please help me to figure out how to ethically sustain without being a sell-out. Is it possible to sustain without being a sell-out? Isn't everyone eventually forced to "sell-out"?

My background is in business admin. . . I freaking HATE business. . . the whole corporate structure of formalities and such; all the pretentious interviews and resume submission and other random ********.

Theoretically, it should be possible to sustain without having to give into the giant corporate structures.

rawr.

How?

[fingal]

Hmmm, I think the people who code open source do it because they love doing it and it plays to their strengths as individuals: but most of them have day jobs as well. Linus has a day job.

I reckon that a lot of people make the mistake of taking on a profession just to 'chase the money.' I've always known that this is unsustainable: I've seen the casualties. You're not selling out if you can make a living from what you enjoy doing. What do you enjoy doing and is it contributing to the wellbeing of other people?

I know what you mean about business. I find the language of business to be crude and unsophisticated. All those people wittering into their cell phones and 'touching base' with each other. It makes no sense, but they do it anyway.

I would guess that you're quite a creative person, but you feel that in order to make a living you need to suppress this in some way. You might read this. I just bought a copy and it can help you find the right direction.

[onlinebacon]

Well, you could always learn a programming language and do e-lancing from home, or make foss software and live off of donations and the dole :P

[fingal]

Well, you could always learn a programming language and do e-lancing from home, or make foss software and live off of donations and the dole :P

Lol! A lot of these games companies only started small though. Just a few people coding and enjoying the end result. The problem is, doing that for Linux isn't going to be profitable.

So yeah ... The dole or a day job. I suppose the trick would be to write games for a niche market somewhere. Java games for mobile phones??

Miles: I've had a sooooper idea for a gaaaame Tarq!
Tarquin: Really Miles? What's it called?
Miles: Donkey Gong! Wanna blue-sky that idea and touch base next week?
Tarquin: Okay Miles. Run the concept by me again. What's the platform?
Miles: Phones man! Phones are it. Phones are the future ... phones ..
Tarquin: I resign.

[onlinebacon]

I would think java games for toilet roll holders would be better, I mean, if it is scary enough, you are in the right place to s*** yourself!

[cayalee]

hahaha thats quality

[jade]

Lol! A lot of these games companies only started small though. Just a few people coding and enjoying the end result. The problem is, doing that for Linux isn't going to be profitable.

Why?

Who competes with Microsoft? Nobody competes with Microsoft. Nobody *can* compete with Microsoft. It's like. . . open-source vs. Microsoft. Almost every imaginable "realm" for consumerism has some sort of dual competition of the "big players" at the top of the food chain

Nike vs. Reebok
Coke vs. Pepsi
McDonalds vs. Burger King
Domino's vs. Pizza Hut
Amazon vs. eBay
etc., etc. -- just some random examples

Microsoft has a monopoly. Sure, there are people who buy Apples or Mac just to be different, but there's really not any threat to Microsoft. Not any significant threat, I should say. . .

[wolf510]

Personally I think it is a great idea to jsut work on games for linux in your spare time. That is what I am eventually trying to learn to do. Linux needs more game programmers who know how Linux works and are willing to design for it nativly. I am on Linux for the long hall and am a lover of games, which as we all know are sorely lacking on Linux at this time. Why not learn to program 3d games for linux and ask for community involvement to help? Make it an open source type of project. I think that would get some nice results. I wish you luck on whatever you decide. Personally I am going to learn c++ and then advance from there with the intention of eventually programing some games for the linux community in my off time.

[Jiraiya-sama]

I suppose the trick would be to write games for a niche market somewhere.

the linux platform could be considered a niche market. i mean we are sorely lacking in games.

[onlinebacon]

I am also going to do that, with either mono, or python, probably mono (because i believe it is faster) although it will be for bsd, not linux