Shadows of Shattered Dreams, Recruiting for Pony Game

[Sword of Akasha]

I am an artist and writer. Today I am asking if there is anyone who would like to share in my dream? Allow me to elaborate…

http://xcaliberproject.com/PonyProject/index.html

We seek to create a visual novel with an entirely original cast of characters set in a pony universe. It will be one part dating simulation, and two parts epic narrative driven story: following the journey of a male protagonist with a love of interest of his choice. A functional demo shall be launched alongside a funding campaign. The use of original characters and a vague Equestria esque setting means we will be able to copyright and sell this as a parody work.

A team is assembling towards this dream; however we are still in need. We are looking for an individual well versed in coding Ren’py, a sound manager, and an exceptional editor. Note* since several offers for editor have been, made currently only those with experience (writing and/or editing, preferably both) need apply.

Up to six lovely ladies, six dreams, and only you to make one real. Trampling over all others only one will win! Fight for what’s right! Fight with all your might! Fight for love! Fight for all the above! Which will you support?

We're recruiting for those interested.
Click on our wonderful mail Griffin for more information.

[Googaboga]

Hi, I just thought I'd point out that this is not the section of the forum you need. This section is for games that will be released entirely for free. Since you plan on selling the game it'd go in the 'We are a Commercial Project looking for Partners' section. You can ask a mod to move it there for you :>.

Also, from the website it sounds like any profits made will be split between everyone on the team, but I'm not entirely sure. Mentioning whether or the positions are paid, possibly paid, or unpaid is a requirement for making a recruitment thread, so having that laid out more clearly and directly in the thread is important :].

And it's also against the rules to tell people to contact you specifically through emails ^^;.

The Lemma Soft Forums are meant for public discussion. Threads that direct replies to PMs or Email may be deleted.

Good luck. This seems like a neat idea C:.

[Sword of Akasha]

Well we're not commercial but it's a possibility in the far future. As stated right now we're looking for passionate people willing to help make a great game. We can't afford to offer paid positions. You would be essentially investing in your own effort.

The link is to a more thorough overview of the project and goals.

You can contact me via message through forums or the website. I'll monitor both.

[Googaboga]

Looking for people to work on a passion project is fine. However, having people say straight up that they are not offering paid positions is important so no one is confused .

If the game really won't be commercial at any point then it's fine. But if it being sold is a possibility, no matter how far in the future, you ought to make that clear. That's something that people considering joining a project will really want to know C:.

And if you want to be sure no one misunderstands the project like I have, I think it'd be a good idea to change the way things are written :'D. Because, as of right now, it does sound like the game being sold is the end intention. This thread mentions the option of copyrighting and selling the project as parody, but doesn't say anything else about whether or not the game is free. If someone reads more by going to the website they still won't have a clear answer as it doesn't mention that the game being sold is only a possibility either. The only time that type of thing is brought up on the site is the answer to the question about how much the game will cost, which says that the price is variable and not that there may not be a price. So people reading these things could very well come to the same conclusion I did.

Though if the plan/goal/hope/whatever really is to have the game cost money at some point, you should most likely have this thread moved to the commercial section.

[Sword of Akasha]

We're currently developing the demo which will most certainly be free. The demo itself is to be 5 chapters long, with world and character building to set the stage. After gauging the public reaction, we would make action accordingly. It could be that fellowship is disbanded.

Unfortunately many projects become vaporware and even the most lovingly crafted projects sometimes meet this fate. Failure is expected while success is not. Shadows of Shattered Dreams is a defiant challenge to such expectations. We would not want purely mercenary help. We're looking for folks as enthusiastic as we are; those willing to work for the sake creation and self actualization that follows.

A central theme actually is that friend-ship is a vessel for many in calm seas, but come the storm clouds the ship size shrinks. The value of fair weather friends drops like a stone.

If our recruitment seems intimidating, then that's because to a degree it is meant to be. We are tempered by the taste of failure, fear, and the sweat from our dripping brows. However, the measure of person is how they choose to meet adversity, whether it be to cower and let it devour them or to fight for light in the darkness of doubt.

Hark it is the enemy! What shall you do?

[gekiganwing]

I remember this project appearing in Ponychan's Collab section. I last checked the site earlier this month, and wasn't sure how active Shadows of Shattered Dreams was. I had been concerned. That said, I don't recommend posting updates just to say "We're alive and we haven't cancelled it!" Just make sure to post substantial updates when they are relevant.

It sounds like the current goal is to make this an action-adventure story with some romance. Do you have any additional thoughts on how the two themes will blend? It does not sound like there will be fifteen minutes of combat followed by five minutes of cute slice of life scenes...

Also, I'm curious as to how the character Leaf Wind fits into the universe. She seems to have dropped into the story from a Wutai setting (gratuitous TVTropes reference). Is she an outsider in the world? Or has she known the other characters for quite some time?

Unfortunately many projects become vaporware and even the most lovingly crafted projects sometimes meet this fate. Failure is expected while success is not.

That's often true for non commercial works-in-progress. I've seen an awful lot of WIP visual novels and freeware games start out on a confident note. Within a few weeks or months, they stop updating. They seem to remain unfinished forever. Similar problems can affect fanfiction and webcomics.

Sometimes the problem is related to scope. If the person started by talking about their grand ambitions (a huge cast of characters, a long / multi-part story, or an extensive list of features), then I can usually understand why it didn't succeed. It takes a lot of work, persistence, and passion in order to finish a project with a large scope. If they can't charge money for the final product, then they can't use "Let's make money from it" or "Let's try to break even" as one of their motivations. At other times, there are problems such as circumstances. Some planned visual novels have been cancelled due to a computer failure, or because the person had to deal with a crisis. For more opinions and thoughts on this topic, see the Why So Many Unfinished VNs? thread.

Some visual novels have been cancelled because a team couldn't work well together. It's unfortunate that Welcome to Ponyville by Filly Gamez was cancelled because one former member of the team chose to sabotage the project. There has been a controversies about a person tracing art from a commercial visual novel and using it in their freeware project. It's unfortunate that the negative talk regarding Dark Skyes included the artist claiming she was deceived, as well as vague promises and accusations of fraud. Finally, some fan games have been shuttered because of a cease-and-desist notification from a copyright holder. Starswirl Academy was not cancelled, but the creators changed characters' names and some art assets after a request from Hasbro.

[Sword of Akasha]

SOSD is set in a World consumed by conflict, the fires of which have already devastated the landscape and consciousness of its peoples. The focus of the story is the implications of your actions in this turbulent time. There is an air of paranoia as enemy powers move in the backdrop to exact their desired end game scenarios. Personal and ideological loyalties shall clash. The girl you choose is not a mere object for your affection, she is given to her own motivations, weaknesses, hopes, and dreams. To differing degrees, you'll have to compromise your own ideals to survive. For better or worse you will affect the outcomes of companions, communities, and countries.

Map links to world page.

Leaf Wind is definitely a foreigner to the lands of Equis. However, her 'homeland' cannot be called her home. Haunted and hunted by foreign agents, her exile is partly internally and externally driven, the factors of which are to be revealed should you explore a relationship. A famed/infamous mercenary, she joins the expedition party under mysterious circumstances and conflicting accounts as to the terms of her contract.

Yes, it saddens my heart to see so many projects flounder and fail. As author, background artist, character artist, and part time coder, short of my demise or incapacitation I shall strive to see this vision realized. I am recruiting in order to adjust the timescale to which this may be fulfilled, also to add more perspective lenses to the story's development. In light of the Shadows of Shattered Dreams we may see the traps to be avoided. We owe a thanks of those who strolled forth ahead of us into that minefield.