1. The Dark Side of Development Development Amateur Online Games

2. Table of Contents  Introduction  Game Design  Required and Available Resources  Organization  Conclusion & Perspectives

3. Table of Contents  Introduction  Game Design  Required and Available Resources  Organization  Conclusion & Perspectives

4. Introduction  Who ? Jehan “Veynom” Snyers d’Attenhoven Days: Embedded System Engineer Nights: Online Game Developer  Game Experience ? Star Wars Combine Free massive multi-player online role-playing simulation game, Based on the Star Wars universe, Developed by amateurs team during their spare time.  Where ? www.swcombine.com since 1998www.swcombine.com

5. Table of Contents  Introduction  Game Design  Required and Available Resources  Organization  Conclusion & Perspectives

6. Game Design Massively Multi-Player Online Role-Playing Simulation Game, based on Star Wars Massively Multi-Player Online Role-Playing Simulation Game, based on Star Wars 2D-Client / Server Architecture 2D-Client / Server Architecture Characters & Factions Characters & Factions Large and Riche Universe, Move everywhere Large and Riche Universe, Move everywhere Important Management Aspects Important Management Aspects Play during Development Play during Development Think SWG as they dream it to be, but 2D Think SWG as they dream it to be, but 2D

7. Table of Contents  Introduction  Game Design  Required and Available Resources  Organization  Conclusion & Perspectives

8. Required and Available Resources Required: Paid Pro Team Paid Pro Team 8h/day 8h/day 4 years of hard work (min) 4 years of hard work (min)Available: Manpower

9. Required and Available Resources Required: Paid Pro Team Paid Pro Team 8h/day 8h/day 4 years of hard work (min) 4 years of hard work (min)Available: Amateurs & Volunteers Amateurs & Volunteers A bit During their spare time A bit During their spare time 5 years of hectic work (not finished yet) 5 years of hectic work (not finished yet) Manpower

10. Required and Available Resources Required: Management Management High Level Art & Programming High Level Art & Programming Discipline DisciplineAvailable: Skills

11. Required and Available Resources Required: Management Management High Level Art & Programming High Level Art & Programming Discipline DisciplineAvailable: A bit of everything, but a lot of what you do not need A bit of everything, but a lot of what you do not need A bunch of undisciplined cow-boys A bunch of undisciplined cow-boys Skills

12. Required and Available Resources Required: A strong budget (8-15 billions $) A strong budget (8-15 billions $)Available: Finances

13. Required and Available Resources Required: A strong budget (8-15 billions $) A strong budget (8-15 billions $)Available: Irregular donations and ads incomes… Irregular donations and ads incomes… Finances

14. Table of Contents  Introduction  Game Design  Required and Available Resources  Organization  Conclusion & Perspectives

15. Organization Classic Task Force Team Head Administration Game-Play Staff Technical Staff Community Staff

16. Organization Rules Design Program Art Team Release Tech Support 1 2 3 4 5b 5a 6 Implementation Process

17. Organization Required:Available: Development Process Design Coding Testing

18. Organization Required:Available: Development Process Design Coding Testing Design Coding Testing

19. Organization Theory:Practice: Development Organization Database Logic and Server Functions GUI

20. Organization Theory:Practice: Development Organization Database Logic and Server Functions GUI X Database Logic and Server Functions GUI Team 1Team 2 Team k … …

21. Table of Contents  Introduction  Game Design  Required and Available Resources  Organization  Conclusion & Perspectives

22. You cannot force volunteers to work. You cannot force volunteers to work. Same problems as other MMOG, plus others. Same problems as other MMOG, plus others. Vigilant, you must remain. Vigilant, you must remain. We share our experience. We share our experience. Conclusions & Perspectives