Call to arms AKA what needs to be done.

[Wasp]

QUOTE (fishbone @ Jul 29 2017, 03:48 PM) I totally disagree that, "If this game can be sold as a NEW release of a Microsoft product, someone is guaranteed to make some cash."

The right to make money on an already developed concept using new (more advanced) code AND attaching the Microsoft name WILL make money. Whether it makes a profit is another matter. Microsoft essentially said, "go ahead and make money off of us if you can". Who's not going to consider that?

The re-write was being considered way back when, even with no profit in mind and $hitty tools. Tackling the job now with money in mind and updated tools, WILL attract developers.

It will be done now even if it's experimental (KGJV?), there's nothing to lose and everything to gain. I'll bet Imago and others are already discussing it.

[Buyo]

I think everyone knows Alleg in general has many problems.

I think we should focus on what we can (feasibly) do about them.

I'll contact BT and see what can I do myself.

[Wasp]

This is what will happen:

1. The broken dx9 version will be modified, as needed for Steam, including; the win direct play fix, default keymap fix and high res graphic fix.

2. It will hit Steam with all of us advertising and dragging every breathing soul to the servers.

3. AEM will be barely half right and the servers will soon be packed because he didn't take into account all of the returning ho's who were only waiting for someone to log in.

4. We will be overwhelmed with newbs who need help.

5. We will be overwhelmed with even more newbs who need help.

6. AEM will need some serious dough to pay for the resources needed.

7. We will solicit help from the new community to advance Allegiance into new development.

8. Allegiance 2 will be born requiring some small funding from sales. Ongoing donations or "skin sales" will be inadequate to handle the costs.

I would recommend adding the code to disable EPP (mouse acceleration) when Allegiance launches (re-enables when alleg is closed). Imago wrote his code to do that so players wouldn't be plagued with additional over controlling due to windows pointer acceleration. It's the first thing I tell new players because it fooks up your aim (not mine )

To those who think this is not going to have a big impact,..remember how many old players can show up after the news of a "special event"?

Given the crappy free games on Steam, this launching will dwarf those "special events". We're going to be OVERWHELMED.

[aem]

There will be players returning but in most cases only temporary just to see Allegiance with a lot of new players. Former players are older now, many having full time jobs/families and won't have time to be active. I would suggest trying to plan a big event within two weeks after going live on Steam to help encourage old players to get back on. But this is mostly to help the game seem more active to new players rather than expect many old players to suddenly become active. It might be the case Allegiance could be Steam ready by the time of the next anniversary game so might work out that being live on Steam could be set like a week before that.

Allegiance still really needs an arcade mode that has somewhat similar gameplay but quicker games. I know I'd personally be at least somewhat active if that was the case. But as is it is nearly impossible that I can start playing a game of Allegiance knowing I will have time to finish it. Old players like myself can set aside time for a one time special event, but it doesn't mean we will come back for an extended period of time.

And the huge unknown on all this is can we even keep the news from breaking until the game is on Steam and ready for the new players. If it breaks early there will be no significant surge of new players. There would be a lot of traffic to the website but far fewer downloads and people trying out the game then there would be later after on Steam, etc. Personally I think we'd have been better off without even posting news openly here or on social media. It only takes one site to publish this and the rest will follow. The news will break everywhere at the same time. Well I suppose we may get some press just for going live on Steam later still if that happens, but the reach will be far less versus breaking the news of the new license and Steam at the same time.

[Papsmear]

I think the change to MS's license is the best news I've heard in a long time.
Thank you Microsoft & Rick Rashad.

On top of the devs you have already mentioned, might I suggest contacting factoid & YP?
They where doing a lot of work on Allegiance a few years ago and with the potential to get Allegiance on Steam, perhaps they would be willing to help out.

I would of course be willing to help Beta test and can offer to assist with funding should/when the need arises.

[Thallium]

I'll throw my $.02 cents in here. Whoever decides to make a go of this is going to need a warchest, unless you can really expect to accomplish something substantial on volunteer work alone. The endeavor does not need to be a for profit endeavor, but you will need resources ($$, not just human capital). At a minimum, the people steering their ship may be able to trade their tax losses for cash flow and figure out how to break even in cash. Alternative scenario: it could be a non-profit where the people putting in the value receive a living wage from their work.

To get this game on Steam in a way that people won't immediately mark with very @#(!ty reviews requires development time and energy.

Is there anyone out there who is actively taking on the lead developer role?

[Sycrus]

Hey gents, check it out.

Yes, we've identified a substantial number of issues with the game we need to correct; Wasp reminds us of this almost daily. HOWEVER, in order to mitigate the damage, it's pivotal we quit acting out towards each other and start being constructive. WE UNDERSTAND THIS WILL TAKE A $#@! LOAD OF TIME AND MONEY, but why bitch about it? We literally have another chance to revive this game, and although it won't be the same game we grew to appreciate, we can take it, run with it, and hope for the best.

Stop beating around the bush. Identify the problems, come up with a solution. If there's no solution, we're all adults and are more than capable of figuring it the $#@! out.

That being said.. thank you, Paps, I second that and will do everything I can to help with this process.

[MagisterXF94]

QUOTE (Thallium @ Jul 30 2017, 02:20 AM) I'll throw my $.02 cents in here. Whoever decides to make a go of this is going to need a warchest, unless you can really expect to accomplish something substantial on volunteer work alone. The endeavor does not need to be a for profit endeavor, but you will need resources ($$, not just human capital). At a minimum, the people steering their ship may be able to trade their tax losses for cash flow and figure out how to break even in cash. Alternative scenario: it could be a non-profit where the people putting in the value receive a living wage from their work.

To get this game on Steam in a way that people won't immediately mark with very @#(!ty reviews requires development time and energy.

Is there anyone out there who is actively taking on the lead developer role?

Backtrack is the only developer, developing for FAO.
All the other devs are working on their own version of Allegiance.

[fuzzylunkin1]

QUOTE (Senor NoirSol @ Jul 30 2017, 03:19 AM) Backtrack is the only developer, developing for FAO.
All the other devs are working on their own version of Allegiance.

This is not without reason. Now is the time to drop all of the past drama and just make a damn good game.

What killed Allegiance in the past was the attempt to strictly control the development process, as if developers had some sort of obligation. No matter what, you cannot prevent developers from forking. This is the nature of open source code. It's time to embrace this messy, decentralized phenomenon which the leadership and community used to frown upon.

The community is NOT just FAO -- it's the people who love the game. Without this culture change the opportunity given to the community will wither and die.

[MagisterXF94]

QUOTE (fuzzylunkin1 @ Jul 30 2017, 10:57 AM) This is not without reason. Now is the time to drop all of the past drama and just make a damn good game.

What killed Allegiance in the past was the attempt to strictly control the development process, as if developers had some sort of obligation. No matter what, you cannot prevent developers from forking. This is the nature of open source code. It's time to embrace this messy, decentralized phenomenon which the leadership and community used to frown upon.

The community is NOT just FAO -- it's the people who love the game. Without this culture change the opportunity given to the community will wither and die.

let's change the culture then and cooperate to achieve our goal.
I am at your complete disposal.