Why Don't We start Our Own Company?

I'm all for a community-based project. If Firefox could suddenly rise out of the IE-Netscape monopoly, then anything's possible if we start small. If there's a group that's already working on such a thing, count me in.

Altering files from a game already programmed is completely different than creating the game from the ground up. Patchers get too much credit around here, yea they do a great job, but it doesnt mean they can do what any game company does.

And patchers dont take this the wrong way because I used to be a patcher for the old NBA lives.

years ago, could anyone have seen the impact of the modding community on games at all?

nowdays people rip apart games code major modifications create models, textures, gameplay changes. giving life to pc games that keep people playing long after xbox and ps2 people put theirs away. there are awsome people out there that devote tons of time for little or no reward to do things like this beathe new life into games.

not saying this will project will or won't happen but the talent is out there and down the road if game companies keep putting out sub par games for pc, i can see a time when something like this will happen. when a community gets together creates their own company and develop the game they want create a company and market it.

afterall the people that make games now were once fans like most of us and got into the industry. but cororate constraints and the grind of masssive long hours of coding, testing, budget constraints, and arbitary deadlines often grind these people into corporate meat.

it will not be easy and and it will take tons of time a majority of people just don't have and resourses most don't have but it is possible just extremelty difficult. but if big companies keep putting out half baked products for pc and liek ea remove features that previous games had so they can release next years games with old features that used to be in the game as a new game, somethings got to give.

after all the years that EA has made nba live, you would think they would have developed it to the point where it was the ultimate in game play and features. but it seems it one step forward and 3 steps back when they add new graphics add some gamplay but take other stuff out. the computers are out there now to handle ultimate simulations and have everything that would make a NBA basketball game great. but EA seems to think so little of the customer base they won't or just don't care to put everything together and actually improve the game.

unfortunately for pc EA is the only company that actually releases the game for us.

this whole idea....

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. ANATOLE FRANCE

What is not started today is never finished tomorrow. JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE

He has half the deed done who has made a beginning. HORACE

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. MARK TWAIN

Dreams and dedication are a powerful combination. WILLIAM LONGGOOD

Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real. TUPAC SHAKUR


I don't have much time, practially no $, and don't know much about making games, but I support you guys nevertheless and would like to help in any small ways I could.

Seems possible enough. A while back, a bunch of disgruntled wrestling gamers, sick and tired of crap products released by the big companies, became vocal about the problems and everything that was wrong with the wrestling games released (esp THQ). So they decided to gather the crew, funds, and equipment necessary to make their own. The process wasn't easy, it took them around 2.5 years just to get the proper funding needed so they could start on their project. The game is called Pro Wrestling X.

http://www.wrestlinggamersunited.com/History.html
^That's the story on how it started.
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/prowrestlingx/index.html
Gamespot interview.

If the community members want to assemble the proper team that's required to emulate what Pro Wrestling X is doing, but making a Basketball game instead, everyone has to have patience, dedication, and support. So it's not ENTIRELY impossible.

It seems to me the original poster and people following his(her) lead are more interesed in a patched NBA Live 2007 than making an entirely new game.

"I'm pissed because EA Sports made a buggy NBA Live 2007 game so now I want to start my own company. Who's with me?"


Sorry but I don't think that's the way a gaming company can be built. My feeling on this is if EA Sports fixes the problems to NBA Live 2007 this entire discussion will go away. Am I right or wrong about that?

If I'm right this ends the discussion but if I'm wrong here's my suggestions for the people serious about starting their own video game company.


1. You're going to have to build a team similar to every other video gaming company. If you can only find amateurs in every area you're going to have to become educated amateurs. Take the necessary courses to learn how to actually make video games. This will take patience and time.


2. You're going to have to get HUGE sponsorship to fund your project.


3. You're going to have to come up with a much better idea than an improved NBA Live style game with out real player names and team names. No one is going to buy an NBA game that has no player names or team names. Those days are gone. Sorry!

That doesn't mean gamers will not buy a basketball game. Just look at Blitz the League for an example. It's not a block buster but it at least had football fans buzzing when it was announced and initial videos came out. You can start in a direction like that to work up interest but after that you have to make a much better game than Midway did.


4. After you've completely made your game you're probably going to want to sell it after all that hard work right? My suggestion to you there would be to have it as a download only release. That would be the easiest way. Unfortunately for you once it is released as a download people will probably just share it with other people. Not a lot a money there.

If you want to go the other way you're going to need money again. A lot of money. Kind of like Run DMC in the beginning when they were pressing their own albums.

You'll also need money to market/promote your product.


5. Most importantly you're going to need to say your prayers and eat your vitamins. You'll need plenty of help from God (whoever your's is) and plenty of energy from supplements. Maybe Flintstone vitamins.



Since I'm not in the gaming industry I'm sure I left some things out but surely you get where I'm coming from.


I don't want to be a dream killer here if this is in fact a dream but I just don't think the way you are going about this dream is realistic.

This dream started with one guys post. That one guy should sit down and write a game himself from top to bottom as if he were writing a screen play and then later take that script to some gaming company dying for new ideas. That makes much more sense than trying to start your own video gaming company with no money.


Agree or disagree?


RushyDaRabbit
Prime Time Gaming
http://primetimecity.com/ptg

With all that said, if you ever get serious about this, count me in. I'll do everything in my power(not a lot) to help this become a reality. I'm no super talented programmer, but I know some of the basics, and would volunteerily learn some new stuff.

Damn! It's the best thing i've ever heard after live 07.. I support ya'll on this!! 100% behind ya'll.. And to those who are saying.. It's not possible and shit!! Instead of posting comments on how it ain't freakin possible.. Why not just stop posting you guys only consume the spaces on this thread... The spaces are for freakin supporters of this thread not for those asswipes commenting on how it wouldn't be possible..

I don't know about patching and programming and stuff but I'm a great visionary and I can help with the designs and the features needed for our own version of NBA.. I'm in the Philippines and a single dollar is worth 56pesos here.. 56pesos here can buy you a lot of things here in the philippines already..

If ever you guys need support for the advertising and promotion of this project we fans love.. I'm freakin willing to help.. I'm not that financially stable guys but hell, a dollar is already worth a lot here so if ever we got donations, I can help out in promotion and advertising here in the Philippines..

I'm not programmer, but I can model my ass off, and I know some things about the game design and development process. This projects would need a great organizer, which I am not. There are enough of people who are talented and know and love basketball. I see all the patching here so I KNOW that the gfx assets end would be covered. This game should be BASKETBALL not this flashy blinding brand that EA THROWS together every year. Ask yourself how long its been since the gameplay feel of Live has made a realy leap. Not since PS2 came out, and even then it wasnt that big of a change in game-play when that happened either. This NBA Live formula is way outdated. EA can modify till their face turns blue, but Live will stay trash until they decide to make a real basketball game. Live fan's eyes should have adjusted to the glitter of NBA Live, so you should be able to see the old rusted core by now. If you want to know the power of a gaming community take a look at GTAForums.com. look for A little mod by the name of Myriad Islands. Its a new GTA game being developed on the GTA:SA game engine by the community; for the community. Its only a mod, but Still, this just showes what a forum community can do.

Hey, how about we make the game with NLSC guys in it instead of NBA. So there are no licensing issues. All the vets could be in the legends pool.

no offence to everyone, but this reminds me of when your a little kid and want to start something that theres no hope for.

ah you brought me to those old fuckin days

make a 1 on 1 first

I wonder if you can create a basketball game with the Source engine from Half Life 2.

Sounds like an optomistic idea, but it would take so much dedication. I bet most people would end up playing a better game that gets released during development, and before the project got half way done, the technology used to develop it ends up out of date. I remember seeing projects for great games that were older graphics-wise. People got together to remake the game with a better engine and better graphics. Most of them ended up abandoned as the developers lost interest.

6-8 months till 2K8, Live 08.

we can give money to 2KSports so they can make the game for PC

When I was thinking about this I wanted to use Source. I dont know how it would work though since it's a FPS engine.

Well, things would have to be changed. For instance "attack" would probably end up being shoot, and I bet its possible to make it so you hold shoot and release because when you use alternate attack with a grenade you can hold the button down until you want to release it for a longer toss.

why not use softimage? HL2 uses that too

Count me in, Im another supporter. Its time to show these big ass company EA that we can kick their ass