How would I go about finding a programmer?

[Jigglelicious]

About a month ago I began work on a huge project that i'd like to complete. There is a ton of work involved and i'm certainly up to the challenge. My specialties are world building and working on the MySQL database which controls the spawning of monsters and their stats, loot, etc. In case your wondering, this project aims to recreate Everquest the way it was back when it was first released, in 1999. Its a TON of work, but I believe its worth it. And it'll allow people to play EQ for free. I finally got our website up here.

The only problem is I can't do this alone. The most important person I need to find right now is a programmer, and a very good one too, as there is a lot of coding that needs to be done. Most of it is just standard C++, but some of it might involve PERL, TCP/IP, MySQL, and a good understanding of network packet encryption/decryption, and AI. I don't bump into people like this very often, and I can clueless where to go to look for help. I would prefer not to roam around the net posting on messageboards like i'm advertising. Does anyone have any advice where I can look, or how I should go about doing this? Thanks.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Sounds like fun, but SOE is going to own your ass with an army of lawyers if they catch wind of it.

 

[Descartes]

In my view, there's an inherent conflict: Someone talented enough to do that which you require likely won't offer themselves to what, in my opinion, amounts to an attempt to conquer a Sysyphian task. It seems almost analogous in scope to suggesting writing a new operating system and just "needing a little help."

Anyway, sorry for what's likely to be perceived as negative commentary. I wish you good luck! :beer:

 

[Jigglelicious]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
Sounds like fun, but SOE is going to own your ass with an army of lawyers if they catch wind of it.

Servers like this exist already, and have not been shut down. But only half the features work, none of the quests work, the loot is all wrong, the mobs are placed incorrectly - in other words, its a mess. I will try my best to get this up to snuff to be near perfect. However, a programmer is a big part of that picture

Technically, SOE can't do anything. As long as the players own the software, its perfectly legal.

 

[Yossarian]

two people can't create an mmorpg.

 

[Jigglelicious]

Originally posted by: Yossarian
two people can't create an mmorpg.

Nope, they certainly can't. However, most of the work is already done. Using the existing client, and the latest release of an EQ server emulator, 95% of the work is already done. The problem is the emulator is currently very buggy and lacks some important features. This is what I need help with.

 

[EngenZerO]

you could try learning c++

 

[FleshLight]

Try C++ in 21 days.

 

[Jigglelicious]

Originally posted by: EngenZerO
you could try learning c++

My original major in college was computer programming. Unfortunately, I was so bad at it that I had to drop out and switch majors. In other words, me + programming is not going to happen. Besides, game design is my strong point, and i'd rather not be a 'jack of all trades' and attempt to do everything myself half assed. I'd much prefer having a few people with strong individual talents that really know what they're doing.

 

[NL5]

Yep, a Sysyphian task fer sure.....

 

[EngenZerO]

ahh, game design... thats probably one of the hardest and most coveted job to do in the video game world... one day i hope to be doing that...

best of luck in finding a programmer... it would be hard to find someone with all the skills that you request...

 

[DaveSimmons]

Before anything else, you need to make your website less lawsuit-friendly. As it is now ("an EverQuest classic PVP server") Sony has to sue you to protect their trademark. Using copyrighted music is also not wise.

Given that EverQuest is a living product rather than decade-old abandonware, you frankly don't have a chance of being allowed to distribute this software.

The fact that you are giving this product away means nothing, since you're infringing their copyrights and tradmark(s), and lowering the value of their intellectual property.

Since this project means a lot to you it wouldn't hurt to try sending a letter off to SOE asking about getting permission in writing to use their intellectual property for free, but the odds of them saying yes are 1 in a million.

 

[Sunner]

Try looking around some open source oriented forums.
You're far more likely to run into some willing programmers around there.

 

[MetalStorm]

I don't mean to put a downer on this, but you sound very much like everyone else who wants to make a game. There are very few programmers that actually are able to make games, let alone any that will do it for free and that's for a reason. If you were to learn some programming language, you'd see what a massive task it actually is, ever wonder why games take 3-5 years to complete with a full design team???

 

[imported_mitch2891]

Let me get this right your not actually trying to recreate the whole game only the server code so that you can put up a new server that ain't all buggy for everyone who wants to play original EQ? This is alot of work with a server emulator or not it is going to be a pain.

I doubt the code will be that bad to write it will more be trying to get it to work with
a) Someone elses server emulator
b) Sony's original client code

I myself could probably do this and know quite a few people who could also do it but to be honest I don't have the patience or time to even try (this will be your main problem!) If you can find someone willing to dedicate themselve to it you are half way there. Trying to learn to code this yourself will take a long time so unless you REALLY want to don't even start. Good luck your going to need it.

 

[cerebusPu]

this is like asking someone to work 20hours a week for free on top of their day job. only the truly passionate will want to do that, and the truly passionate will have opinions regarding game design which may or may not be the same as yours.

Im working on a huge hobby project myself, and its taken over a year of design.

good luck

 

[Jigglelicious]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Before anything else, you need to make your website less lawsuit-friendly. As it is now ("an EverQuest classic PVP server") Sony has to sue you to protect their trademark. Using copyrighted music is also not wise.

Given that EverQuest is a living product rather than decade-old abandonware, you frankly don't have a chance of being allowed to distribute this software.

The fact that you are giving this product away means nothing, since you're infringing their copyrights and tradmark(s), and lowering the value of their intellectual property.

Since this project means a lot to you it wouldn't hurt to try sending a letter off to SOE asking about getting permission in writing to use their intellectual property for free, but the odds of them saying yes are 1 in a million.

I'm not giving any software away. If anyone wants to play, they need to own a copy of Everquest. All I would be providing is the server that they connect to. There are several games that have emulated servers (most popular being free Ultima Online shards), and they have no problem at all. I don't see why this would be any different.

 

[Jigglelicious]

Originally posted by: cerebusPu
this is like asking someone to work 20hours a week for free on top of their day job. only the truly passionate will want to do that, and the truly passionate will have opinions regarding game design which may or may not be the same as yours.

Im working on a huge hobby project myself, and its taken over a year of design.

good luck

I realize this. I'm not looking for someone who might have an hour here or there to spend. This is a huge undertaking, and anyone that would want to join the project would have to be as passionate about recreating EQ as I am. As for their opinions, I welcome them. Technically there is little that can be changed since we are using the existing EQ client, but that doesn't mean my decisions are always right, or for the best.

The problem is me FINDING this person (or people). I need some recommendations where I might look. EQ forums are not where programmers usually hang out.

 

[imported_mitch2891]

Yeah I think everyone thought you were remaking it with the original content but you could still run into problems if sony decide that they have exclusive right to run EQ servers and they could then say that it is up to them incase they decide to reopen them (are they closed never looked into EQ) and then you are taking people away from their official servers which are a huge percentage of the income on MMORPG's. Also do you have the ability to run a server for this? or do you know someone who can?

 

[AaronB]

I know very little about Everquest so excuse me if I am way off base.

Isn't Everquest (the first one) still available and playable for a fee from Sony?

Does Sony offer out-of-the-box support for playing the game without their service or without paying the fee?

Wouldn't circumventing the latter be taking money from them?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Jigglelicious

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Before anything else, you need to make your website less lawsuit-friendly. As it is now ("an EverQuest classic PVP server") Sony has to sue you to protect their trademark. Using copyrighted music is also not wise.

I'm not giving any software away. If anyone wants to play, they need to own a copy of Everquest. All I would be providing is the server that they connect to. There are several games that have emulated servers (most popular being free Ultima Online shards), and they have no problem at all. I don't see why this would be any different.

You might be OK then, though your emulated server must not include any of their copyrighted content including music, maps, models, etc.

Rght now your website might be infringing on their trademark, but I'm a software developer not a lawyer