Sister site: GDU

[Marked 197]

Hi guys,

 

I would to announce a new website. You've probably heard of it: Game Dev Unlimited.

(Logo by Chief)

 

Omg. Traitor!

Nah. Game Dev Unlimited will be a complimentary website to RMU. The two will exist side by side and link to one another. Each site will have different roles. RMU right now is for RPG Maker, but I would very much like it to expand into other engines and be the site that provides game-dev resources such as tutorials, graphics, and so on.

 

So what is GDU?

GDU is going to be a continuation of the master plan I once had, except I'm breaking it off entirely from this website. That means all new member accounts, an empty forum, etc.

 

GDU is all about games and indie game development, generally. There is no focus on any engine. It will be simple in terms of its main functions, which are: game publishing, team management, indie-game-dev profiles and feedback. The main feature will a highly customizable front-end mini-website for your games. There will be forums but they will play a minimal role. The site's audience will be those who make games and their team members.

 

GDU will have the same design as RMU and use the same framework I've been building over the last few years. It will use the forums as a base for the member system but will largely be a custom made web app that focuses on publishing your games and managing teams. It will be more custom than RMU with more custom-made systems made possible because there is no existing data/forum to tip-toe around.

 

Some Screenshots

 

 

Domain and subscribe to find out when GDU goes live

http://gamedevu.net/

 

[dolarmak 23]

I'm excited about this :) these are a few of the features you said you were working on I was hoping we'd have here on RMU. I think the separation of the sites and their features is a good idea. GDU's focus being on Indy game profiles and team building while RMU being focused on game making support and scripts makes sense to me.

 

can't wait to see how it looks when you're done.

[Chief 30]

I'd love to pitch in on this one if you're looking for more graphical work, or even a fully custom design.

[FranklinX 37]

Why don't we just use the new GDU site has the main site? I like suggested I think we should start over. I believe the fresh start will help bring in more active gamers. We also need members who use other programs. 

[Bob423 52]

Well this looks nice. Good luck :D

[Broken Messiah 20]

...but I thought you were going to be done with websites? :cry:

[ShinGamix 1]

I am soo freaking confused! What kind of forum nightmare by Stephen King did I get into.

Seriously confused!

[Moonpearl 32]

I agree with ShinGamix. While this is good news you have something else planned, the difference between the two sites isn't clear at all. From your description it just looks like the newer new will be some kind of duplicate of the current one, especially considering the latter was once called "game dev unlimited" (and still is if you judge by the URL). I don't mind getting two sites instead of one at all, you should just give each one a distinctive purpose. For example, leaving RMU as an exclusive RPG Maker community, while GDU would revolve around anything kind of indie game development, seems like a good compromise to me, in order to address the issues I have pointed out a few days ago, and seems just logical since RM stands for "RPG Maker" anyways.

[dolarmak 23]

...but I thought you were going to be done with websites? :cry:

He never said he was done designing websites, he said he was done designing RMU. there is a difference.

 

 

I agree with ShinGamix. While this is good news you have something else planned, the difference between the two sites isn't clear at all. From your description it just looks like the newer new will be some kind of duplicate of the current one, especially considering the latter was once called "game dev unlimited" (and still is if you judge by the URL). I don't mind getting two sites instead of one at all, you should just give each one a distinctive purpose. For example, leaving RMU as an exclusive RPG Maker community, while GDU would revolve around anything kind of indie game development, seems like a good compromise to me, in order to address the issues I have pointed out a few days ago, and seems just logical since RM stands for "RPG Maker" anyways.

Its not that GDU is going to be like RMU but for other game engines, it's that the forums won't be used for any Game Engine support or scripts. It's more like an interactive profile for you game. It'll have forums for team building and discussing ideas pertaining to each individual game itself. 

At least that's what I got out of Marked's description.

[Marked 197]

From your description it just looks like the newer new will be some kind of duplicate of the current one

That's not the case at all. The features I mentioned are the only features. There is no mention of RPG Maker, what forums we'd have, it will not have any tutorials, scripts or resources sections. It will play an entirely different role.

 

RMU

Currently an RPG Maker website that's focus is support and resources such as the gallery, scripts and tutorials. Depending on the future, it could expand to other engines but the point is: support, tutorials, scripts, resources for specific engines.

 

GDU

1. Games publishing, 2. team management, 3. feedback on games.

 

For the current plans, there are no duplicate functions at all. Still confusion?

 

I'd love to pitch in on this one if you're looking for more graphical work, or even a fully custom design.

Sounds good. I'll keep you updated on the site's progress. I will most likely setup a login for early access.

[ShinGamix 1]

Wish it had a new name not one thats been used before.

 

i signed up but whats do i get for signing up?

 

btw badass interface design!!

Edited June 27, 2013 by ShinGamix

[Marked 197]

Wish it had a new name not one thats been used before.

Sheath the troll. I know that you like it, and I know you know the fact that it was used for 3 months is totally irrelevant. Remember, that GDU was going to encompass everything, but now circumstances have necessitated breaking all of this off from this site. GDU could do more, but it's going to be a very straightforward site in terms of functionality. Very simple.

 

i signed up but whats do i get for signing up?

This signup is primarily for an email notification of when the site goes live.

 

btw badass interface design!!

Thanks. I can't take credit for any of the design, but I know how to find good looking stuff and I know how to integrate it. It gets better too.

[Polraudio 122]

Sweet. Cant wait to be apart of it. I can have 2 internet homes :)

[Marked 197]

Glad to have your support, Pol :) So far it's been way better to develop than RMU since I don't have to rely on any of the forum stuff. Perhaps that's how I should have started. I guess that's what you get when you have an LLB student developing a website. Anyway, a lot of my code will be interchangeable given the core system is exactly the same.

 

The login/sign up systems are pretty much complete:

 

 

 

I obviously decided to depart from what the forum software provides. What we have here is extremely simple forms. Getting your account couldn't be easier. You can sign up via facebook or twitter by simply clicking the buttons. You choose a username and give the app permission and away you go. If you don't want to connect your social media accounts then to sign up all you need is a username, password and email. If those are all good then hitting sign up will log you in and take you straight to your profile to get started. Javascript will be relied on for both systems (which I'm hoping will be enough for bot protection). They also use a bunch of CSS3 and JS for a nice user experience.

 

 

Hmm what's next... the games section?

[ShinGamix 1]

yes I like the name but i thought this was gdu aka the url?

 

Might be good to have a totally fresh start after all.

Need to advertise the hell out of this site everywhere We all can!

 

So RMU is just goin to be a idle place for users...

Are you still going to run it though?

[Marked 197]

yes I like the name but i thought this was gdu aka the url?

The name of this site came up quite a few times and the majority was always with RMU. So this site is RMU, despite the domain name. Yes the domain does stand for Game dev unlimited, but its something that we're going to have to live with. Moving domain name is too damaging for search engines. Obviously things haven't been going to plan.

 

 

Might be good to have a totally fresh start after all.

Need to advertise the hell out of this site everywhere We all can!

 

So RMU is just goin to be a idle place for users...

Are you still going to run it though?

You are seriously not listening to what I am saying. This is not a fresh start, at all. This site is going to continue on as normal while I develop another site, which is in fact a complimentary web app for a very specific purpose.

 

Yes I am going to stay here at RMU, although I want to find new people to run it who are actually involved in game making, unlike me. RMU won't necessarily sit idle, and by that I suppose you mean that it will not change in terms of features. Well, there's a lot that you can do with a forum. Very few sites get developed like this anyway. The fact that I have said I have stopped developing it isn't the end of it. Although it is more out of my control than before.

[FranklinX 37]

I can't wait to join and support this new community! I would like to advertise it once it goes live if you don't mind! 

[Marked 197]

Of course I don't mind. Later on I will sort out some advertising materials. The two sites will advertise each other too of course. I will keep you guys updated on its progress

 

EDIT: Woot. Got the create a game thingy done. This will be on the homepage - that's basically why you're on the site (unless you play them too of course :P). There's some serious validation coding that goes into this single input. It's pretty sweet though. Forces you to enter an alphanumberical value and it will let you know if the title is taken all in one go. It also tells you the URL of your game as you type.

 

[ShinGamix 1]

Well the last answer you gave Marked cleared up things nicely!!

 

I like the create game thingy!!! and am eager for new community and glad to see this one will have a legacy still also.

[FranklinX 37]

Awesome! What kind of forums will be on the site? Will you be looking for new mods or will you use RMU's mods? 

[dolarmak 23]

Marked knows I'm willing to help him as a mod any time.

[Calvinchun 3]

The designs look very cool, Marked! Did you make that on your own?!  :huh2:

Edited June 29, 2013 by Calvinchun

[Marked 197]

Awesome! What kind of forums will be on the site? Will you be looking for new mods or will you use RMU's mods? 

I have no idea what forums there will be yet. There will probably be forums related to the app itself for support using it, feature requests, bug reports etc. The site itself isn't intended to rely on the forums at all. Maybe we'd have some general ones relating to game development. We'll see.

 

As for staff, you probably have guessed already that since this site is to carry on as usual there will not necessarily be any cross over between staff. Right now my intention is to recruit staff based on the individual's activity on the site itself, and the usual moderator qualities. So there could be RMU mods that are also mods at GDU but it really comes down to individuals who want to be a part of the site.

 

The designs look very cool, Marked! Did you make that on your own?!  :huh2:

The overall design isn't actually mine. The truth is that I'm a terrible designer and my photoshop skills are pretty poor. I have no passion for design. The layout design is from a template but of course I can't use a template, so this design is more of a rebuilt design. If you go to a non-forum page (eg homepage, scripts, tuts, etc. etc.) and you look at the source code, then I wrote nearly 100% of that. So if I do get inspiration from elsewhere, I still write the code. The above are pretty much all mine but I get tons of inspiration from all over. Also, the logo is by Chief. He made it some time ago, I'm glad I could actually use it :P

[FranklinX 37]

Another great thing to do is to make a Twiter page for the new GDU. It's a great way to advertise and get your name out there. Keep it active by promoting members' projects and popular forum discussions. 

Edited June 29, 2013 by RATED-RKOFRANKLIN

[Marked 197]

Yep. We've been using social media for some time. But yes that's a good idea, to promote our highest quality games. That is the point of the website afterall (promotion). I also want to form partnerships with teams and actually publish games together. Which may entail such things as homepage promotion, a dedicated forum and other internal and possibly external advertising. But we'll see. The goal currently is to provide a web app where anyone can use the system to publish their game and have their own subdomains, but whether or not those games show up around the website depends on the quality of game, obviously.

[FranklinX 37]

Must the games be completed? Will developing games be showcased as well? 

[Marked 197]

Of course. Sorry I didn't explain it very well. There will obviously be a games section were members projects are listed. The idea with creating a game on the site is like your blogspot or wordpress; its up to you to advertise. Therefore, anyone can start a game on the site, but not everyone will have their game listed internally. So for example, you could start a game with just an idea and chuck in a storyline. That's fine, but no one is likely to find the URL unless you advertise it.

 

How to actually get a game listed on the site in the games section isn't determined. The focus is providing a great service for everyone to get the app off the ground. But thinking ahead, I would say the limit is a quality cut-off point; every game that meets a certain standard will get listed. And it's likely you are there to get listed, because we want to promote indie game development. There will filters of course, and a lot of games can generate interest without a demo. So, hopefully that answers your question.

[Marked 197]

Development has began on the publishing end (which is probably the main function of this website). I probably won't be display many screenshots of, at least not until I have our first game (any volunteers?). The fundamental point of the publishing function is to act like the game's own website, thus there will be bunch of customization features as well as pages.

 

Customization/Editing will happen in 2 ways:

1. On-page font-end ajax powered customization. For example, the admin or team member of the game can edit certain elements by clicking on them. This is opposed to going into a settings page to edit such things as the title, and other simple elements. You do it right there on the page and it will save automatically.

2. Admin/backend: with each game you get your own admin/settings section. This will be for non-visual settings. The team management system will be separated from these settings, but this is where you will add your team members in and assign them various permissions for editing the published games pages.

 

There will be 3 options for displaying your game's content:

1. Single page display: everything you have to say and show off is all on a single page

2. Pages: each major section/element of the game has its own page (default)

3. Ajax pages: same as pages, but when you move between pages the content changes on-page (no page reloading).

[Saltome 16]

Well that's great and all, but does it really have to be a separate site?

[Marked 197]

Well that's great and all, but does it really have to be a separate site?

Hope you got some spare reading time: http://www.gdunlimited.net/forums/topic/9750-rmu-development-to-stop/

 

Short answer: yes.