[games_access] David Perry's "Top Secret" Project
d. michelle hinn
hinn at uiuc.edu
Wed Mar 21 19:21:53 EDT 2007
Hi all -- this is from Robert Florio -- his email bounced for some
reason so I'm sending it on to the list. Please feel free to use this
list to discuss this project -- I think it's a really important and
interesting one!
Michelle
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Robert Florio [mailto:arthit73 at cablespeed.com]
>Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 5:36 PM
>To: 'Game Accessibility Book Discussion'
>Subject: RE: any interest? FW: TOP SECRET - The Countdown has begun...
>
>I just read David Perry's blog the forum's for top-secret will start next
>week sometime. I just e-mailed him his blog mentioned he's trying to think
>of different areas for the team to consider and I told him about
>accessibility I'm hoping if he's already considering areas for us to
>concentrate on he'll add that in most people will be clueless perfect for me
>to take charge and represent. Should be easy for me to lead if he mentions
>that topic to work on. I'm going to push the main feature of the interface
>of the game for the driving game be accessible I mean like driving just
>moving the mouse to directions to drive the car and something innovative
>other than cars it won't be cars my idea probably just floating through self
>propulsion.
>
>I'm thinking of a pinball sort of game where you race through tubes of
>section as the thrust to move forward and when you get close to objects you
>push the left mouse and it will kick you further. Kind of like those
>pinball machines.
>
>So I don't have access to the forums yet they don't start until next week
>anyone else wants to join and help me out it would be a tremendous support.
>If anyone wanted to join up I believe you can find the information that
>David Perry's web site below. I need to find the exact top-secret web site
>though I don't have it located any more but I will get that out. I'm taking
>charge on the lead at this so read the letter below from David Perry
>outlining the project. There is a prize. Pretty cool. Anyone interested
>in joining me? Berrie from one switch has provided me a great document on
>accessibility that I'm already going to use. To clarify the ideas of
>accessibility to some 20,000 people who probably aren't interested in it for
>ever heard of it but we will have the leg up on the competition.
>
>Perhaps we could even start our own mailing list to throw back and forth
>ideas if you don't join the top-secret project but I hope you will to join
>forces.
>
>http://www.dperry.com/
>
>Robert
>www.RobertFlorio.com
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Game Accessibility Book Discussion [mailto:GA-BOOK at LISTSERV.UIUC.EDU]
>On Behalf Of Robert Florio
>Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 5:16 PM
>To: GA-BOOK at LISTSERV.UIUC.EDU
>Subject: Re: any interest? FW: TOP SECRET - The Countdown has begun...
>
>Thank you so much for that Barrie that will be great to show others in my
>group during this project so every body so they can understand where I'm
>coming from I will be sure to reference your work. Are you interested in
>joining it with me for at least some backup reference so when it comes time
>for me to do research in full ideas for this driving game I have some people
>to bounce off and then bring my ideas to the group at top secret? I really
>wish that letter would've given us a web site linked to find the information
>forums he gave me his web site once but I can't remember what it is I'm
>trying to find it online. Does anyone know where to find it? I know that's
>bad. I should've saved it in my favorites.
>
>Thanks
>Robert
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Game Accessibility Book Discussion [mailto:GA-BOOK at LISTSERV.UIUC.EDU]
>On Behalf Of Barrie Ellis
>Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 4:21 PM
>To: GA-BOOK at LISTSERV.UIUC.EDU
>Subject: Re: any interest? FW: TOP SECRET - The Countdown has begun...
>
>Sounds good, Robert.
>
>I've written somethings around driving games in this document:
>http://www.oneswitch.org.uk/2/DOWNLOADS/Physical_Barriers.doc - which I
>imagine you've already seen.
>
>Scroll down to the bit on page 9: Destruction Derby and F355 Ferrari
>Challenge. I think these bits are important to consider when designing an
>accessible driving game.
>
>Barrie
>
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Robert Florio" <arthit73 at CABLESPEED.COM>
>To: <GA-BOOK at LISTSERV.UIUC.EDU>
>Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 5:29 PM
>Subject: any interest? FW: TOP SECRET - The Countdown has begun...
>
>
>> So I joined this thing David Peary started for his fans to join a
>> production
>> company so far 20,000 people joined in one year-long project and there is
>> a
>> reward for the winners anyone wants to join with me teaming up for
>> accessibility for design I'd have a lot more support but that's what I
>> will
>> push and be a shining star for him to see I hope I win. If not its good
>> working experience for development teams and people are recruiting through
>> this also including himself. Check out the list below he sent to everyone
>> who signed up but I can't find the forum you ready to get started so I'll
>> keep in touch.
>>
>> I'd like to leave this project and get more of you to join with me all the
>> instructions for the game are below. I'm studying up on racing games
>> that's
>> with the theme is going to suggest the concept of using the mouse to
>> control
>> movement and clicking to control things like jumping may be the space bar
>> to get you to your menu. Anyone interest please let me know soon.
>>
>> I still need to find the location aware of the interaction is the letter
>> doesn't mention where to find that to actually do the project. I'd be
>> more
>> than happy to organize and lead this project. The latter is below. The
>> moderator mentioning is different than joining the team to moderators can
>> not win.
>>
>> Robert
>> www.RobertFlorio.com
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: news at acclaim.net [mailto:news at acclaim.net]
>> Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 1:37 AM
>> To: arthit73 at cablespeed.com
>> Subject: TOP SECRET - The Countdown has begun...
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> This is David Perry. Just want to say thanks for signing up for the 'Top
>> Secret' project.
>>
>> The response has been pretty stunning so far. This project has been
>> appearing on about 10,000 new websites & blogs each day!!!
>>
>> The sign-up rate has also been shocking. Remember that most video game
>> teams are 30-50 people. We have around 20,000+ members on this team now,
>> so
>> you've made history before we even get started (By miles)! We've
>> committed
>> to closing the sign-up list at 100,000 members, and it seems a lot of the
>> leading industry press wants to follow our progress.
>>
>> When you get access to the forums, all the details of how it works will be
>> clearly explained as we move through each stage of development, step by
>> step.
>>
>> These forums will contain moderators helping keep each section and
>> category
>> (art/design/audio etc.) managed, and so if any of you are professional
>> developers, or have worked on MODS and have some experience with
>> development, we would love you to offer to help... please go to:
>> http://phpbb.acclaim.com/acclaim/viewtopic.php?t=11
>>
>> My goal is REALLY straightforward, to reveal the talent that I KNOW is out
>> there!
>>
>> We'll be making a very relevant massively multiplayer title. (Meaning
>> hundreds of thousands of players, but to keep things under control,
>> they'll
>> be playing in 6 person groups, with up to around 3,000 players per
>> server.)
>> The game will be free and yes, we will let you have builds along the way
>> to
>> experiment with.
>>
>> So...
>>
>> Imagine we're a new start-up team, the "Top Secret Team". Acclaim (the
>> publisher) has made us an offer to make a game that's easy-to-get-into, it
>> must be appealing to a large audience, it must be fun (of course), it will
>> make revenue by in-game advertising, and by selling items. Oh, and the
>> game
>> must break new ground by introducing new ideas.
>>
>> Making a business model from selling items is actually quite an
>> interesting
>> design challenge (as you will see later.) This is how games in Asia are
>> made, but you must understand that people only buy them after they like
>> the
>> game. If the game isn't great, you won't sell anything. (So this is a
> > tougher business than just selling Console Discs or Cartridges. At $60
>> less
>> than today's games, I believe this model will be very popular in the
>> future.)
>>
>> I was also quoted when talking about PC games at GDC, "I won't be making
>> any more single-player games". It's a bold statement (based on my past),
>> but the future is indeed online, and multiplayer, so we will do our best
>> to
>> prepare you for that future.
>>
>> How long will it take? I'm guessing if we get in the groove, we should be
>> playing a finished title by Dec-Feb, less than 12 months.
>>
>> Remember, I have a fully-funded development team waiting for instructions.
>>
>> They are excited to hear what ideas we have.
>>
>> I've been asked "What makes a Director?" My simple answer is they have a
>> vision for where a project is heading. It's also someone who can talk to
>> people in any discipline (audio, programming, art, animation, design), who
>> can make suggestions to improve things, meaning suggestions that actually
>> work. A great Director is someone who can inspire others, promote teamwork
>> and Lead. There are many talented people involved in video game
>> development
>> all over the world. The ones who are leaders have people who will happily
>> pitch in to their projects and GET RESULTS. The main ingredients of a
>> great
>> leader are vision, clear two-way communication and persistence (meaning
>> they can jump all sorts of hurdles and keep on going).
>>
>> I've been getting asked about the winner of this competition. People are
>> excited to know, how will it be for the winner?
>>
>> 1. They get to Direct an MMO. To be clear, we won't just leave them out
>> in
>> the cold trying to work out how to do this alone; I'll be there to help.
>> Just imagine making your first Hollywood Movie and having the cell phone
>> number of a Hollywood Director, happy to help you out. (Making sure your
>> movie sees the light of day.) That's a pretty valuable asset, and you'll
>> get it for free.
>>
>> 2. The winner won't have to move to California (where Acclaim is).
>> They'll
>> work from their home office, just like I do. They'll travel to meet their
>> developers when needed, and Acclaim will pay for that cost. Most of the
>> work will be done on the forums, on the phone, and of course playing their
>> prototypes and providing feedback. This means they don't HAVE to be
>> available full time, as an example I'm directing multiple MMO games right
>> now. That said, Game Development teams will become more and more 'virtual'
>> in the coming years, so most professional studios (going forward) will
>> rely
>> on out-sourcing and the internet. You will learn why.
>>
>> 3. The winner will be paid royalties on the game they direct. Royalties
>> on free games are calculated based on the revenue the game makes from
>> advertising and item sales less the transaction costs and taxes. No funny
>> accounting... the director is paid without deducting any advances or
>> mysterious costs. The royalty amount will be decided based on the project
>> scope.
>>
>> 4. Yes, getting a fully funded MMO team is the biggest prize in video
>> game
>> history. (Expect to be in the Wikipedia!)
>>
>> For the people that don't win?
>>
>> 1. They'll have seen a game development from the inside and gained a lot
>> of experience being a part of that.
>> 2. Assuming this idea works, we will likely repeat the process.
>> 3. They might have managed to get assets into the game, if they do they
>> will get verifiable credits for that.
>> 4. They're likely to make a lot of new friends in this process. (Some
>> will
>> probably form spin-off indie teams.)
>> 5. I think the people that expose their talent in our forums, will be
>> spotted by headhunters, and other professional developers and publishers.
>> Frankly, I expect they will use this as a talent mine. (So be on your best
>> behavior!)
>> 6. I'm expecting the winner to have discovered talent they like in the
>> forums also, so he/she will likely ask them to work on their new project.
>> 7. Acclaim will likely be recruiting out of the forums too.
>> 8. I'm expecting to hire some people myself for my own personal team.
> >
>> What are the age limits? Currently NONE.
>>
>> What country must I come from? ANY. But you need to speak English well.
>>
>> So the biggest question I've had is "When does it start and what kind of
>> game will we make?"
>>
>> To give you all some homework. The Genre I've chosen is RACING... simply
>> because it's a genre I've not tried before, so I won't be all closed
>> minded
>> in reading ideas. On the other hand, I love racing games, and I think the
>> vast majority of people that have signed up have played at least one and
>> have opinions on the subject.
>>
>> So rule #1 in the development structure we're setting up is that we don't
>> really want to hear opinions, we want to hear solutions. Saying "That's
>> too
>> hard" is kinda meaningless. We want to hear in detail how you would fix
>> the
>> problem. If you prove that with some facts (or by experimentation with a
>> game), even better.
>>
>> So your homework is to play some racing games. But free your mind at the
>> same time... We could be in cars (of course), or we could be in some new
>> kind of vehicle; we could race on animals, we could be running with some
>> kind of aid, we could be bringing something that helps, etc. Keep your
>> mind
>> open... Try to come up with something that, from seeing a single
>> screenshot, you would really want to play it.
>>
>> Secondly think about what else you do in that game?
>>
>> Racing (see who gets the fastest time) is done to death. How can we make
>> the racing more fun?
>>
>> What is the theme of the world we're playing in? Fire/Snow/Ice. All done
>> to
>> death. So get creative there too.
>>
>> I have a pretty stunning offer from one of the biggest music labels in the
>> world. They are offering a HUGE hit library for this game. So with hit
>> music from every genre, is there any way music could be involved in the
>> gameplay?
>>
>> I also have three golden rules I would like you to follow.
>>
>> 1. SKILL
>> 2. STRATEGY
>> 3. RISK
>>
>> When you are thinking of the gameplay I want ALL three of those to be
>> present at all times.
>>
>> Three other key goals.
>>
>> 1. Being able to (at a glance) judge where you are in relation to the
>> competitors, and in relation to winning, every instant.
>> 2. Making the gamer blame themselves 100% of the time when they fail, not
>> the game or the design.
>> 3. Think of multiplayer game modes. (Teams etc.)
>>
>> I'm telling you all this now so you've got a little bit of time to think.
>>
>> One other question I've been getting a lot: When can we start? The answer
>> is now, right now. Start thinking, start planning.
>>
>> I'm going to do some final edits to the forums, then I'm going to post
>> them
>> live very very soon.
>>
>> Then we're officially developing the game.
>>
>> Really looking forward to working with you, and can't wait to see what you
>> come up with!
>>
>> David Perry
>> Director
>> Project: TOP SECRET
>>
>> (If you do not want to receive further emails, log into your account at
>> http://www.acclaim.com/myaccount.htm to unsubscribe.)
>>
>>
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