WANTED: programmer(s) for Eisenstern

by Aardappel_ on 03/21/2008 19:43, 59 messages, last message: 08/08/2008 22:05, 19645 views, last view: 05/25/2024 15:25

The Eisenstern project needs someone who can help drive the project forward more frequently than I can. So far, eisenstern has moved forward in bursts, whenever I had a bit of time in between all the other things me & Lee are doing. The project deserves better.

What we're looking for:

There's two kinds of people that potentially can take up this position.

Candidate type #1: an experienced C++ programmer. This would be ideal, but we realize these people are few and far between, so hence why we also have type #2, below. I say experienced, because taking over the C++ side of Eisenstern requires you to work as part of the main codebase, for which we can't afford bugs that will disrupt the rest of the engine, or sloppy code in general. The programmer must be of a level that they can deeply understand and safely modify the Eisenstern C++, and potentially some engine code. (s)he must understand the software engineering style of the cube 2 codebase, which is about simplicity, minimalism, and non-redundant code.

The code is readily available, so you probably already know wether the above applies to you :)

What would you do? You would take charge of the entire Eisenstern development effort, only discussing global design direction with me, but taking responsability for the details yourself. You would have a lot of influence on game design, by definition. You'd work with content people and make sure their stuff gets added to the game, or you'd work with a type #2 programmer who does this.

For both positions holds that you are very self-motivated, self-learning, and self-directed... rather than needing every detail specified by me, you have a good sense of design (of code structure, ui, and gameplay) to work out optimal solutions yourself. Once you get going you'll become intimately familiar with eisenstern, so good solutions follow from understanding what is already there.

If we can't find a type #1 programmer, I will keep responsibility for the C++ side of things, and hopefully work with:

Candidate type #2: Script programmer

For this position, you still have to be a programmer (meaning you don't have to know C++ at all, but done some programming in Java, Perl, Python, ...whatever). If Cubescript is your first language, you may not qualify.

Your domain would be to maintain the RPG script files, and since unlike the FPS, almost everything is going to be in script, this is a lot. The script is the center of the game, meaning you'd:
- work with me and the C++ programmer (if different) on global gameplay direction
- work with the C++ programmer on what new script functions are needed
- work with level designers on scripting RPG objects that they can place
- work with content people on connecting their art with RPG objects
- generally work on enhancing the gameplay in script, adding new actions and quests.

Since you'd be the central hub for the game, you need to be extremely self directed in connecting all these elements, and working with people. You can't be waiting for me to tell you exactly what to do next, you have to actively seek out people and work with them to get stuff done. You try and get as much stuff done yourself, use placeholders if you must, and modify them later, as opposed to waiting for complete data before you code (much of the current stuff is placeholders too).

The script will get BIG, so even here some software engineering skills will help. If you look at the current code, you can see that I took great care to make sure I write lots of small functions to not duplicate definitions, you'd have to work hard to continue that tradition.

Besides programmers, depending on who we get working on this, it means that art & design people can become more actively involved as well. This is just the first step.

Unlike the FPS, which I have always ruled dictator style, the RPG is meant to be a community effort. The unwritten rule for the Cube 2 community is: the more work you do, the more of a say you get in the projects overal direction, and Eisenstern will work especially so.

You all know I have set a gameplay direction for Eisenstern, but none of this is set in stone. If team members come up with better ideas, then we'll go with them, within reason. I have simply tried sofar to:
- keep things simple. an RPG is a tremendous undertaking, we HAVE to keep things simple to have a chance of finishing. A playable simple RPG is endlessly more valuable for everyone involved than a 5% finished MMORPG.
- keep it flexible: unlike the FPS, I want to allow the scripters/level designers to use Eisenstern to give each map its own gameplay style, anything from "an FPS with an inventory" all the way to a deep complicated RPG.

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#1: REAL?

by Nomad on 03/22/2008 01:08

Are you the real Aardappel? I see an underscore next to your name.

could be an error, but i doubt it.

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#2: Re: REAL?

by yetanotherdemosthenescomputer on 03/22/2008 01:56, refers to #1

He is, because the underscore is indicative of laziness - it's a pain to re-login when you browse from multiple locations regularly. :)

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#3: Message censored by administrator

by ATIRULE on 03/22/2008 02:08

#4: Re: ..

by yetanotherdemosthenescomputer on 03/22/2008 03:58, refers to #3

Stop posting that; this forum does not use a monospace font and so the image doesn't come out right. And your post (and this one as well) were more spam than the other two. Especially so for your post with its mangled ASCII art.

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#5: Re: REAL?

by w$$a$elect on 03/22/2008 04:59, refers to #1

lol, it's him.

Who'd take the time to write all that out just for a prank.

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#6: Re: REAL?

by tentus_ on 03/22/2008 05:15, refers to #1

The underscore is actually more an indication of authenticity than otherwise. I'm not real sure how, but it sorta became a trend for people who wanted to keep their name to add an underscore when the previous name was permanently lost. Look at my name for an example.

---

I wish I was enough of a programmer to fill one of the positions, but I'm really not. Not even close. But I'll be glad to help as much as I can: email me a specific model or map that needs to be made and I'll find time to do it. I'm no geartrooper, but I can make something functional.

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#7: Message censored by administrator

by ATIRULE on 03/22/2008 06:04

#8: Re: ~offtopic~

by w$$a$elect on 03/22/2008 08:41, refers to #7

ATIRULE,

I never understand anything you post. Does that mean your a troll ??????

If Aardappel wants a better login system to stop trolls then I volunteer for it. Or at least put an admin. feature to block IP's.


Aardappel, I can also lend some help on the c++ side.

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#9: Re: ~offtopic~

by yetanotherdemosthenescomputer on 03/22/2008 10:27, refers to #7

Stop posting about electroconvulsive therapy.

Edit/Delete are unnecessary, really. And PM? Just about everyone's name has an email address attached to it (obviously, my actual username has my actual email address).

@#8: Yes, he is a troll.

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#10: Message censored by administrator

by ATIRULE on 03/22/2008 17:26

#11: ok..ok

by Nomad on 03/22/2008 17:39

ok so I made a mistake ok?

well thanks anyways!

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#12: NICE!

by Nomad on 03/22/2008 17:45

ARTIRULE, why are you so mean??

for any reason you have to be mean...DON'T BE MEAN!

Please, can sombody kick him if he makes another rude comment!?

sheesh!

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#13: Message censored by administrator

by ATIRULE on 03/22/2008 18:05

#14: Re: NICE!

by SheeEttin on 03/22/2008 18:37, refers to #12

How about everyone just ignores ATIRULE?

Anyway, back to the thread. No more talk of ATIRULE.

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#15: Message censored by administrator

by [Nvidia}{Rule] on 03/22/2008 20:35

#16: Message censored by administrator

by ProxyRULE on 03/22/2008 21:36

#17: Message censored by administrator

by ProxyRULE on 03/22/2008 22:03

#18: ..

by freegamer on 03/22/2008 22:30

I posted this help request here to:
http://forum.freegamedev.net/index.php?t=msg&th=863&start=0

It is sad to see this thread turned into a forum farce by negative influences. Can't people be more mature and more appreciative of the unpaid hard work that these guys have put into the project? Can the uncontructive nonsense please be ended now?

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#19: ..

by Unreal on 03/22/2008 23:01

I've programmed before in C, Python and several other special languages (for Interactive Fiction). I can be dedicated and I like arranging things... Unfortunately I have no time to be the script superviser. I have a full time job and a little bit of life. :-) And... I'm old (29yo) and Englush is not my native language -- I'm Russian. And I'm not 100% sure that I won't lose interest soon -- I'm only human.

So, I think I may help a little bit with game design and level design. I think I'm good at creating _original_ stories. I have a level creation experience...

If there is a need in my "talents", drop me a line here on in e-mail. Thanks. :-)

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#20: ..

by MovingTarget on 03/23/2008 00:24

*sigh*
If people find it impossible to post on-topic and also feel it is necessary to troll, then I ask them to please shut up.

In this thread, Aard has asked for programmers for the RPG project. Also in this thread are 19 posts. Now tell me, how many of these 19 posts are actually on topic (heaven forbid)? And ATIRULE, just... shut up.

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