My roguelike lost it's lead programmer!

[Robbie Ogrenix]

Hello, there.  My name is Robbie Ogrenix and I'm an independent game developer and long-time roguelike enthusiast.  This is my first time posting anything here.  I'll be sure to make a proper introduction post, too.

For the last six months or so I've been working with a small team to make a real-time sidescrolling RPG.  Things have been going great and progress, while somewhat slow, has been steady.  Soon enough, I thought, we may be ready for a public release.  Unfortunately, there's been something of a hurdle thrown in our path: our lead programmer had to retire from the project.

Now we have this handsome little project with big ideas, a well-established C++ codebase, a playable build and a dedicated team that still consists of about five artists, musicians and programmers.  Even so, losing the lead programmer has us in a bit of a pickle.

Any programmer out there who thinks they may be able to contribute is encouraged to reply or PM!  I'll humor any questions and will give the current playable binary out freely to those who are interested.  Thanks for your time reading!

[Krice]

What are the roguelike features in that game? It's a commercial project?

[Robbie Ogrenix]

Thanks for the reply!  The game features permadeath, random dungeon generation, variable equipment attributes and the need to ID equipment, among other roguelike features.

No, it is not a commercial project, although a Kickstarter campaign for funding is planned.  About 3-4 months more work will be needed before it is ready for that kind of endeavor, maybe more depending on how fast we get the ball rolling again.

If you PM me your contact info I would be more than happy to send you the most recent version!

[Robbie Ogrenix]

We are still looking for that special someone to head the code development.  We've got musicians/audio engineers and artists who are getting bored.  There has to be someone out there who can help!  This project is still alive and kicking, but we need a primary programmer badly.

[TheCreator]

A question out of curiosity: why has the lead programmer left?

[Krice]

It can be difficult to find a good programmer who isn't already taken by commercial world with its money and lust. Also, often people like roguelike programmers are working alone, because their ego is too big for team work.

[Darren Grey]

Also, often people like roguelike programmers are working alone, because their ego is too big for team work.

And we like to work at our own pace, and on things that interests us alone.

[eclectocrat]

Also, often people like roguelike programmers are working alone, because their ego is too big for team work.

And we like to work at our own pace, and on things that interests us alone.

Why am I sad that this is so true for me? Maybe I should learn the art of compromise... :0

[Robbie Ogrenix]

@ Uglytroll: The programmer left because he no longer had the free time to commit to the game.  It was sad, but these things happen.  He had told me that when his work picks back up he would have to retire.  We both just thought it would happen a little later than it did.

[zasvid]

Also, often people like roguelike programmers are working alone, because their ego is too big for team work.

And we like to work at our own pace, and on things that interests us alone.

Though it could lead to great things if at least sometimes we didn't! Teamwork could accomplish great things that alonework probably cannot.

On the other hand, there's another reef that makes it harder to gather a crack team of roguelike developers: they wouldn't agree on which technology to use!

Anyway, I'd be interested in picking up this if I had more free time. Unfortunately, I have none for the foreseeable future (well, I have some, but already earmarked for my own roguelike).

[Robbie Ogrenix]

Well, in the meantime, we are still pushing forward without any real codemaster.  There are still two competent programmers chipping away at the to-do list -- We just need someone who is able to dedicate the time to make themselves the in-house authority on the subject of code.  A person with one part experience, one part common sense and a bit of leadership.

Still, this project won't die.  We'll keep on trudging forward until our various efforts to find someone bear fruit.  At this rate it could be a while.  Seems like professional-quality workers with unlimited free time are hard to come by.  (Who would have thought?)

[TheCreator]

@ Uglytroll: The programmer left because he no longer had the free time to commit to the game.  It was sad, but these things happen.  He had told me that when his work picks back up he would have to retire.  We both just thought it would happen a little later than it did.

People always say they have no free time. Of course they have no free time. Time is not free, time is precious . I think this is a more subtle way to say "sorry guys, this project no longer interests me". Which leads to another question, what is wrong with the project? If this is something serious, the next programmer may quit as well.

Anyway, I can give you a piece of advise. When you want to hire someone, tell more about your project. You haven't provided too many details, except that the game is an RPG and is written in C++. That may sound great for newbie programmers, but experts may want to know exactly where they're sticking their fingers . Which platform is your target? What libraries you use? Which version control system? How do you communicate in the team? How have you been organizing your work so far? The more details, the better.

[kraflab]

@ Uglytroll: The programmer left because he no longer had the free time to commit to the game.  It was sad, but these things happen.  He had told me that when his work picks back up he would have to retire.  We both just thought it would happen a little later than it did.

People always say they have no free time. Of course they have no free time. Time is not free, time is precious . I think this is a more subtle way to say "sorry guys, this project no longer interests me". Which leads to another question, what is wrong with the project? If this is something serious, the next programmer may quit as well.

Anyway, I can give you a piece of advise. When you want to hire someone, tell more about your project. You haven't provided too many details, except that the game is an RPG and is written in C++. That may sound great for newbie programmers, but experts may want to know exactly where they're sticking their fingers . Which platform is your target? What libraries you use? Which version control system? How do you communicate in the team? How have you been organizing your work so far? The more details, the better.

Yep, the easiest way to not interest me is to show no screenshots and give no details

[Robbie Ogrenix]

Ugly Troll: I would tend to agree with that assessment, and I certainly don't want to sound defensive.  However, the case here is primarily that why he left involves his personal affairs and I don't feel compelled to divulge the specifics behind exactly why his time became strained.  Suffice to say he told me even prior to his engagement with the project that it would need to be a temporary arrangement.

It's true, I need to provide some more information, I suppose.  Generally, I dislike posting such things blindly and far prefer to do it privately.  However, I do understand that a philosophy such as that puts the work of selling the project's worth into the hands of the very people I am trying to solicit.

I will post again with much detail regarding this game.  In fact, I'll ask the previous code lead to offer a quote regarding his decision to stop actively programming for the title, too.

Until I finish that post, anyone interested in information is welcome to join us on our Wiggio, where the current version is available alongside all resources used.

http://wiggio.com/group_open_join.php?groupid=1547056&password=ADOM&ref=1498374

[Etinarg]

I have no idea really, but this part of the URL looks suspicious to me: password=ADOM

Not sure what kind of security system this is supposed to be, and if you want to spread passwords this way?

To consider joing a team, besides the technical details that were already pointed out, I would like to hear more about the game. Does it have a background story? In which sort of world is it placed? Will the player control a single character or a group? What sorts of races, classes, skill systems, magic systems, abilities etc. etc. are being designed? Who's the intended audience?

Unless eomeone is very desperately looking for a programming job to fill excess time, I strongly assume they want to know what they will be working on.