Other people's ideas

[funkboy]

I'm wondering what programmers and content creators think about other programmers' and artists' ideas.

Can you be equally motivated to help with a project that someone else initially thought up as one you came up with yourself?

I'm wondering this because I see many game projects conceived by a single individual, with that person seeking help to create their vision. I suspect this may be a poor method, since one person's vision, if not developed at the same time as another person's, will almost undoubtedly be difficult to attain.

Some related questions:
- Do you (as a programmer/artist) primarily look for projects to join, or primarily start on your own?

- If you learn of a project that interests you, is it better if the game is still very early in development, or if there's a game engine and a playable already in place?

- Are you more interested in helping develop extras/add-ons for a game that's already done and being sold? Or would you rather be helping with the underlying engine and gameplay?

This could be a number of polls... I'd like to know the general consensus.

[Blorx2]

Original question:
I wouldn't mind it but unless they drew it, it would be confusing to do.

Some other questions column:
1. I kind of do both
2. It really depends on if I help or not
3. I'd rather do the engine and gameplay, it gives a sense of accomplishment

(was this just to think about or were we supposed to respond?)

[JustinFic]

Some input from the programmer/designer perspective:

Can you be equally motivated to help with a project that someone else initially thought up as one you came up with yourself?

Can I be? Yes. Am I usually? Not typically, but it depends on the idea and the team. I tend to be pretty egotistical- if I think a design sucks and I don't really have any sort of input on it, then my motivation will be shot.

Plus as an egomaniac I enjoy and am motivated by having free reign over my ideas. When making Kill Dr. Cote I made a lot of tongue-in-cheek split-second changes ("Shoot Everything" for the story, and "Boned" instead of Game Over, to name a few) that would have never made it through any sort of democratic/group process, and these ended up being my favorite and most memorable parts of the game. (In fact, there WAS sort of a group process when KDC was licensed to make Kill Monty, and only Shoot Everything survived.)

I'm wondering this because I see many game projects conceived by a single individual, with that person seeking help to create their vision. I suspect this may be a poor method, since one person's vision, if not developed at the same time as another person's, will almost undoubtedly be difficult to attain.

Maybe not 2 games at the same time, but perhaps one after the other. As big as my ego is, I still realize that at some point I need to team up with an artist, and this person will also have ideas. I'd be willing to trade off between his/her ideas and mine, or even work out some compromise, like me having control of the gameplay mechanics, and the artist having control of all the visuals. It's something I'll have to work out once I get there.

Some related questions:
- Do you (as a programmer/artist) primarily look for projects to join, or primarily start on your own?

- If you learn of a project that interests you, is it better if the game is still very early in development, or if there's a game engine and a playable already in place?

- Are you more interested in helping develop extras/add-ons for a game that's already done and being sold? Or would you rather be helping with the underlying engine and gameplay?

1- My own.
2- The earlier the better.
3- Engine and gameplay.

[PowerMacX]

I like to make my own projects, but occasionally I find some open source project that I like, and that has some aspect that I think I could easily improve. The determining factors in these cases are usually:
1. Does the manager of the project find that particular aspect in need of improvement?
2. Is the coding style somewhat similar to what I'm used to / are there coding style guidelines at all?

And for the add-ons vs. engine & gameplay, I like building engines... and once I finish that part... start building another :P

[funkboy]

(was this just to think about or were we supposed to respond?)

Definitely to respond to; I want to know what everyone's thoughts are on this. Thanks for the replies, keep them coming!