Putting together a team for time management/sim game (with a twist!)

Discussion in 'Developer Services and Trade' started by Yixian, Jun 26, 2013.

  1. Yixian

    Yixian Well-Known Member

    May 12, 2009
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    Medical Student
    Europe
    Hi guys,

    I'm aware that everyone has about 100 ideas for a game but I have been working on a concept that I think deserves to be made and could sell well. I have been involved in app development in the past but without any coding abilities myself.

    I am a doctor specialising in tropical medicine, I have worked around the world in some of the poorest countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. During my time working in field hospitals deep in the jungle I have seen the importance of resource management, but also in the immense satisfaction that comes from seeing a new piece of equipment or new batch of drugs revolutionise the care you can give your community.

    I think this translates perfectly to a time management slash hospital sim game. Picture a patch of land deep in the jungle and you are given a simple husk of a hospital surrounded by a community with various needs.

    [​IMG]

    In this scenario you work for an NGO that rewards your success with additional funds or items to expand your hospital. You can use funds to buy new equipment, hire new staff, set up new clinics for new diseases and so on.

    The initial playthrough would be story driven by various events providing challenges and opportunities, such a local warlord and his rebels rolling through town, disease epidemics etc. Meanwhile your progress translates to live stats such as life expectancy, maternal mortality etc.

    [​IMG]

    I propose that the game have a pixel art appearance with the characters and plot points provided by overlaid comic art, and as complex as it all sounds would be as simple to play and understand as any time management game but with added scope and a genuinely educational ambition.

    I would also like to sell this app and for it to generate enough profit to reward everyone involved, as well as a portion being donated to an organisation such as the Red Cross.

    So if you're an artist, musician or programmer interested in being a part of this team, just let me know!
     
  2. Yixian

    Yixian Well-Known Member

    May 12, 2009
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    Medical Student
    Europe
    Would be interested in getting a Kickstarter going to help fund the work too!
     
  3. bryanography

    bryanography Member

    Sep 26, 2012
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    Graphic Designer
    Houston, Texas
    I would be interested in helping! I do graphic/web design, and I can provide websites, logos, graphics, etc. :)
     
  4. Gravity Jim

    Gravity Jim Well-Known Member

    Nov 19, 2009
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    Commercial music producer
    Santa Rosa, CA
    I have done music for some hit games, including Zombieville and Battleheart, and worked on a time management game last year. Drop me a line here or through my website (URL below).
     
  5. Yixian

    Yixian Well-Known Member

    May 12, 2009
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    Hey guys,

    I am still very much interested in making this project a reality, thanks for your interest, I would love to work with you both!

    That leaves a programmer!
     
  6. TheBunny

    TheBunny Well-Known Member

    Nov 8, 2008
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    MMO Mac Lead ZeniMax Online
    Baltimore
    You should learn to program then!
     
  7. originalcopy

    originalcopy Well-Known Member

    Sep 10, 2009
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    I could do PR & community manager work! :)
     
  8. Yixian

    Yixian Well-Known Member

    May 12, 2009
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    Medical Student
    Europe
    Sometimes I wish I had done programming instead of medicine!

    Great to hear from you, will keep you posted :)
     
  9. Yixian

    Yixian Well-Known Member

    May 12, 2009
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    Medical Student
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    Does anybody know what would be the best way to find a programmer for such a project?
     
  10. TheBunny

    TheBunny Well-Known Member

    Nov 8, 2008
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    MMO Mac Lead ZeniMax Online
    Baltimore

    Well you have the brains then!
    Time to learn to code.

    Unless you are paying... you are unlikely to find a skilled programmer that will stick with such a project.

    Having lead many teams like this the BEST thing you can do is learn to code and drive the project yourself.
     
  11. Yixian

    Yixian Well-Known Member

    May 12, 2009
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    I'm not sure I have time to learn how to code an iOS app from scratch, whilst also doing all the game design, level design and writing, as well as working as a doctor.

    I guess I'll have to keep looking.
     
  12. Yixian

    Yixian Well-Known Member

    May 12, 2009
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    #12 Yixian, Oct 26, 2013
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2013
    - deleted -
     
  13. Yixian

    Yixian Well-Known Member

    May 12, 2009
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    I have decided to get the rest of the team together and start producing mockup screenshots and a trailer along with ironing out some of the final gameplay mechanics, characters and plot. We will then launch a Kickstarter campaign to raise enough money to pay for a high quality freelance programmer.

    A portion of the proceeds from the game will go to MSF (Doctors Without Borders).

    This will be the last post in this thread, the next will be the Kickstarter, and after that we'll see you guys in the Top 10 list on the App Store ;)
     
  14. ryansumo

    ryansumo Well-Known Member

    Feb 1, 2012
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    Freelance artist
    Manila
    This sounds like a brilliant idea for a game and I'm happy that you're making it. Unfortunately I can't help since I'm an artist and I'm already burdened by too much work.

    I'm also in awe of what you do for a living and would encourage you to stick to being a doctor and not learn to code if you ever have to choose between them. There are enough of us hacks trying to make games and not enough people trying to save lives.
     
  15. Yixian

    Yixian Well-Known Member

    May 12, 2009
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    Medical Student
    Europe
    Still looking for people to work with one this title, if you're interested please let me know!
     
  16. Yixian

    Yixian Well-Known Member

    May 12, 2009
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    Bump! Still keen on this project, but experience since making this thread has taught me that nothing gets off the ground without an interested developer on board.

    If you're a developer or an artist and you'd like to get together to put together a preliminary design upon which to base a Kickstarter in order to fund the full development of the app, please get in touch.
     
  17. Xaron

    Xaron Well-Known Member

    Oct 16, 2013
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    I like that idea and being a developer I might able to help. :)

    Personally I use a cross platform development language called Monkey X which allows targeting almost everything with a CPU in it (including Android, iOS, Windows Phone 7/8, Flash, HTML5, PC/Mac...)
     

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