Artists needed

[kuon_]

Hello everybody.

I am currently working, as main programmer / project leader on an MMORPG.

I know what you think: "Ho no, not another MMORPG maker...".

Still, let me introduce it in a few words.

We (currently about 15 people, "about" because some are working 25%, others 100%) are now working on a space oriented MMORPG.

Contact me directly for game details if you are interested by what follows.

Anyway, we are making great progress in programming (3d engine 60% done, network engine 50% done, server side 30% done, core libraries 90% done), gameplay (nearly all concepts has been defined), scenario (hundred of years of history, a 500 pages book to come out this year) and lore but we are a bit lagging in art (currently, most of the ideas are here, we know exactly what we want, now we need someone to give a face to it).

Available positions are:

1. 3d modeling / texturing artists

The software used is Modo.

Your work will be to build 3d models (and texture them) from drawings, such as:
- Ships
- Stations
- Monsters
- Space objects
- Environment


2. 2d artists

a. Artworks, sketches
b. UI design, website design

3. Sound designer

4. Music Composer


To finish, I want to explain the "contract".

To host the project, we created a non-profit organization. This organization is currently used as a legal entity and as a company to buy software licenses, hardware... This non-profit organization is funded by my company.

The idea is simple. You work with us, you get shares of that non-profit organization. The day this organization is making money, it will be converted to a profit oriented organization, and every member will start to earn money.

We are planning to find correct funding in about 6-8 months. But this is if everything go well. You might never see a penny in the worst case.

You will be fully credited for all your work but everything you do is the property of the project (of which you will own a part). You will be working under a non-disclosure agreement, but we are very open, for example if you quit the project and go seek a job, we will surely allow you to show what you did for the project to help you find a job.

The project will provide licenses and might provide hardware if you need it.



At last, I want to mention that minimum engagement to enter the project is 25% (about 2h each weekday).

[PatrickA]

I'm interested.
Seriously...this is the best job offer I've seen for a long while.

I am a 2D artist and can texture 3D models as well as I can texture environments. I have two years of experience in game designing and have worked as a concept designer. I am also a 1st place winner of a texturing contest.

I'm not the best, not close. But I'll spend 99% of my computer time working on this; and spending the rest thinking about it. Just give me a chance.

I have just one question about payment, how much would the average be? Just by guessing.
If you need more information about me then you can contact me at patrick@coldfusiongames.com Thats not my site by the way. I have a sub-domain.

Thanks a bunch.
–Patrick

[OneSadCookie]

Age 14, there are probably way too many legal issues involved for Kuon to be able to consider you...

[PatrickA]

Well, who knows.

Yeah, I'm 14 but nearly 15. :rolleyes: Big difference.

[igame3d]

He'll be legal age by the time they finish and see their first dime on the MMORPG.

I already paid him through Turbosquid for some UV mapped models.

[kuon_]

I'll answer here so everybody will be informed.

1. Age issue

For the age issue, as OSC said, there are a couple issues:

Legal issues
Firstly, your legal representative (usually your parents, but it might be someone else if you live in a school or something like that) must sign the non-disclosure agreement. This agreement is the only legal document at the present time (it's combined with the non-profit organization membership).
But in the future, as soon as money will be involved, it might be more complicated; in our country (Switzerland), an individual is not allowed to work before 18yo. This means you won't be able to get money until you are older than 18yo. But, you may get a new computer (property of the company) or things like that. Also, even if you can't get stocks/shares until you are 18yo (we won't distribute shares to your legal representative because it way too complicated and it would be madly taxed), you will get them when you hit 18yo.

There might also be some problem with insurance and other legal concerns. Imagine, for example, that one of our project member yells on you, you get very sad and you kill yourself (yea I know, it's far fetched). But we would be responsible, it's the law, at least here.

At last, there are some copyright issues, here, a minor can't hold any copyright, which may lead to some problem.

I will ask our lawyer if we can create a specific contract your legal representative may sign, so we can decline all responsibilities and avoid any problem.


Involvement issues
Secondly, there might be an involvement problem. We ask 25% of your time while you are in the project and the project is scheduled to last about 4 more years.

Right now, you have plenty of free time, but this might (and surely will) change in the following years. Of course, you are not forced to stay in the project until the end, but this would go against the project general idea*.

On the other hand, you might be a very talented artist, with a great potential, and, as I said, this project is here to unleash such potential. I would be very happy to promote you if you are ready to work.

You should also be able to sustain stress, remarks (it's often harder to support criticisms at a young age like yours), responsibilities (moral ones, not legal ones), team work.


Footnotes
* I forgot to mention that one of our main goal is to launch a long term company, so people coming in now should expect to stay in the company on the long term (we are building opportunities, not forcing you of course). I don't guarantee anything, the company might crash and everybody can get frustrated, but if we don't take the risk, no company would ever see the daylight.

I have myself founded goyman.com and I have been its CEO for 9 years, so this is not my first time, but we are still creating a huge project in a very active, rapidly growing market, so I totally understand your doubts and concerns.

Summary

- You won't get any money until you are 18 year old.
- You might get rewards, like a new computer, an iPod...
- Your legal representative must be fully informed and sign papers for you.
- You should be 100% sure of your involvement and envy to do it. (And you are not alone deciding this, your legal rep (parents) must agree)


2. Not the age issue (yea, RLY)

I forgot to mention some little things.

When you are applying, send me some of your work at "kuon at goyman dot com". If this is big, please, post them on the web somewhere (5mb max).

Also, I will need a bit about yourself, what you are doing, what you want to do, how you see your future, how you place yourself with the project (a career opportunity or just a one time job). You may also send me a CV.

3. Contacts

To finish, you may reach me in the following way:
- email: kuon at goyman dot com
- MSN and GTalk: same as email
- AIM: kuonSama
- ICQ: 12648670
- IRC: as KU0N on freenode. I'm often in #idevgame.

[kuon_]

Update:

I found 2 artists already, one working on drawing/concepts, the other one modeling.

I still need some 3d artists, but most urgently one 2d artist.

The job will be game UI, and online applications (website, forum...).