Hello everyone.

I've been interested in game development for quite some time now, and I recently decided to start learning Java to make games. Now, I'm currently following TheNewBoston on YouTube with his Java tutorials, and there pretty good. Just recently learnt arrays .



Now, I'm just wondering how long will it take before I can fully develop a MMORPG game like RuneScape, I know it will be quite some time, but I'm like learning Java at least two hours everyday now. I'm already advanced in one scripting language which is known as PAWN, the scripting language used to make game mode script for the unofficial multilayer plugin for GTA San Andreas, also known as SA-MP (San Andreas Multilplayer), here is an example of a game mode I was working on, but abandoned.

http://pastebin.com/A9kr9H2r

So yes. I know it will be a long time but how long would you say it might be with the fact I'm doing like two hours of Java learning each day and I'm committed to learning Java and making the game.

Regards,
- Bicentric

My advice is, don't even try MMO's until you've got a large team, a bit of resources, and plenty of experience. Seriously though, make smallish games. At only two hours a day, you're not going to get a ton of stuff done. MMO's are huge projects, and RuneScape is being worked on full-time by a big team (Jagex), and its also taken 6+ years of development to get this far.

At this rate it will take around 10 years to get the knowledge necessary to even contribute to a large scale project.

Don't go anywhere near RPG, FPS, RTS let alone MMO- without previously getting years of experience. And even then chances are it's not happening.
If you're interested on the scale of projects you might be able to get at eventually, check recently released indie titles like binding of isaac, dustforce, and everything else that's been released in the last couple of years by small development teams.

Even those have a huge production value, and consumed thousands of man-hours in it's creation.

If you're seriously looking into MMORPG development you should get into the industry by applying at some studios.

_________________
Long pork is people!

wzl's burrow

I love indie games, so I hate to be harsh.. but binding of isaac was crap. so hopefully it didnt have a very big budget/production time.

just my 0.02

_________________
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free."
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."
"Hope is the first step on the road to dissapointment." -Jonah Orion
http://tankzgame.blogspot.com

Large scale RPG, yes -- stay the heck away from those your first couple years at least.

On the other hand, a very small-scale single-player RPG can be a ton of fun to work on. I started on an RPG within a couple months of learning a bit of Visual Basic, and although it was in pieces (one program was the battle system, one was the world map, etc. -- all standalone), it was a lot of fun. One could very well build a complete (but again, very small-scale) RPG within a couple years of starting programming. This is assuming you're willing to put a lot of time and effort into learning the basics.


... AFTER some experience. Most game development houses won't consider hiring you without at least two years of prior work experience with coding (and usually in C++, at least for the bigger, commercial outfits). There are exceptions to the rule, but those can be difficult to find.

But yeah, it requires many, many, many man-hours of work to create a decent MMORPG. You can do it -- but it will be several years down the road, and it will most likely be FAR less polished than the likes of World of Warcraft (which I don't believe a single person could replicate given a lifetime).

When it comes to game development as an independent, the higher you aim, the farther you fall. Get some bruises on your butt before you go shooting for the moon.

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What most people don't understand about "enlightenment" is that it is not an end-goal; but where you find yourself just before taking a new "first step."

Two hours a day will do it when you're learning. But once you get your feet wet, the *real* work begins.

I can easily spend eight solid hours a day coding, and it can still take a couple weeks to finish something of any significance (i.e. more complicated than the likes of Pac-Man, Tetris, or Pong). I have finished games within a couple days, but usually stuff like Pong (or the BrickBall game I posted in the Off-Topic section of this forum).

When you're first getting acquainted with programming though, you need time to let new concepts "sink in", so take your time, go at your own pace, etc., and ramp things up once you feel more comfortable with code.

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What most people don't understand about "enlightenment" is that it is not an end-goal; but where you find yourself just before taking a new "first step."

I actually agree on this. I played the hell out of Super Meat Boy, and really enjoyed it. When I bought BoI thinking it was as made by Team Meat, I was kinda disappointed. Also freaked out about the sheer weirdness in it.

Thanks for all your tips and advice, it's much appreciated.

I probably wont go to a game studio, I would rather want to be a stand alone game developer like Mojang AB.

And I have seen the trailer for 'The binding of Isaac', and all I have to say is that it creeps the hell out of me.

Regards,
-Bicentric

Care to share what you base your opinion on?

Well, they were working on it for a good couple of month. I'm not sure about the details either, but there's a lot of work on that, and it shouldn't get any less credit for the work they put in just because it might be crap

_________________
Long pork is people!

wzl's burrow

Exactly this. I thought the same. I LOVED super meat boy (still play the hell out of it on weekends... i CANNOT beat the last level! lol). BoI from what i understand has the same character artist, and seems to have the same music artist as well. I like the art style, and I love the uncompromisingly hideous monsters and twisted theme.



Honestly? Despite all that's unique and interesting about BoI, the gameplay it'self was just boring. Im serious, that game kept my attention for about a minute and 43 seconds. I expected more I guess. Oh well, thankfully I only paid like $1.25 for it.

_________________
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free."
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."
"Hope is the first step on the road to dissapointment." -Jonah Orion
http://tankzgame.blogspot.com

Cotton Alley, or The End? And Light World or Dark World?

"The End", light world. the one where you start off and he's shooting rockets at you. hehe
damn thats hard

_________________
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free."
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."
"Hope is the first step on the road to dissapointment." -Jonah Orion
http://tankzgame.blogspot.com