Other Indie Game sites

[mouthuvmine]

I was wondering if anyone knew of other indie game developer forums and such outhside of here. I can't really seem to find what I'm looking for on Google, though I'm sure it's probably my fault =]

I have a board game-esque design, but it got away from me a bit, and I'm not sure AGS is the best thing to make it with. Problem is, I know zip about programming anything in anything, so I don't know what language or whatnot to request help for.

It has chess like moves (different pieces move diferent ways) and it would need a fair enough simulation of AI. I didn't want to post for help with the game if it turns out it dosn't even really belong in AGS. So any ideas on the game itself, or suggestions about other developers forums would be awsome.

Thanks buuuuuuddies.

[rbaleksandar]

Yes, AGS's main purpose is to develope adventure games BUT as you can see in the forums and in the games for download - it has many other abilities that can be applied to so many different genres. I'm sure you can find what you're looking for right here.

[rharpe]

AGS is the BEST for adventure games, hands down, but for other style of games I use Multimedia Fusion 2. Download their demo of mmf2 and see what you think. Here is there forum should you sign up and need to ask any questions.

Hope you find what you are searching for. 

[mouthuvmine]

Hey, thanks to the both of you. I went ahead and posted a thread under help wanted, as it'd be nice to keep close to this community on this, as I've come to rely on, and trust, the opinions and crits of a lot of you guys. If this turns out to be a bad fit for AGS then, I'll move on (for THIS game, that is.)

Thanks again =]

[Brad Newsom]

A great Indie source that is frequented by almost everyone including big name indie developers is TIG, which can be accessed at http://www.tigsource.com/

[Greg Squire]

There's also http://forums.indiegamer.com/, though they are more geared towards casual and commercial indie games.

[SpacePaw]

Um I don't want to dissapoint you but when it comes to AI for a game that you invented you most probably have to write it yourself. Maybe you could find a source of chess AI engine and modify it though. It's not so simple as you would think it is
Many spooky scary alghorithms and many many lines of code await you

[mouthuvmine]

I don't mean this in a lazy way at all, but that's just not going to happen. Where I'm at right now is that I'm made an actual physical board game, and we're working out the rules and strategies. I'm going to refine it and make it as fun as I can, and hopefully find someone one day interested in programming it for money. My time is already spread pretty thin when I'm working (something I'll be able to start again soon), and my interest in any programming goes about as far as learning some scripting in AGS. I'd say the art and writing are more my interest in the hobby

I've been checking out a bunch of other communities online, and maybe one day I'll make the right contact. So as far as what I asked in the original post the responses have been really helpful.

EDIT: I don't mean to sound down on SpacePaw's response though. If I were willing to go that route, it would've been helpful in setting me in the right direction.

[m0ds]

Simple AI can be programmed into any language, and I'd say AGS is perfectly capable of it too.

Text parser is a basic form of AI, there are also multiple RTS games in production too which will require some form of AI (probably more complicated) to be any good, so there are definitely programmers here who could give you details on the basics I'm sure.

[SpacePaw]

Simple AI can be programmed into any language, and I'd say AGS is perfectly capable of it too.

Text parser is a basic form of AI, there are also multiple RTS games in production too which will require some form of AI (probably more complicated) to be any good, so there are definitely programmers here who could give you details on the basics I'm sure.

Unfortunately strategic board games have complicated AI. If it's turn based it involves building the tree of the game and checking all the possibilities of few moves forward and choosing the best current move. You also have to make a function which calculates the success rate of any move and belive me it's not simple at all..

It's hard to make a "thinking" opponent in game of this sort unless you program reactions directly to the type of player's move which often makes very "stupid" opponents and repetitive plays

I'm not saying that the idea is stupid, it can be done after all It's just lots of a hard work involving complicated maths and stuff like that..

[Trent R]

However, I wouldn't be surprised if you could find tutorials and books like "How to program Chess in C++" or something, which you could then adapt as need be (depending on how varied it is from chess).

I'd love to help, but I can't say that I know much about AI yet... Eventually I want to program a Shogi Game in AGS (and then include it in another project as a mini-game).


~Trent

[lemmy101]

Hello!


Re: Indie Dev forums, theres always this one:

http://theindiestone.com/

An infant yet growing indie game development blog / community with a slightly silly twist, made by myself, Binky and the lovely MashPotato. There's a few tutorials there currently and more in the works, dev questions and usual randomness, with a supporting cast of lovable souls such as the almighty Nikolas of Greece, amongst others.

[Nikolas]

...such as the almighty Nikolas of Greece, amongst others.

I think that plain "Nikolas" is fine for the most of the Internet! There's only one!  But the almighty will do just fine as well. I would imagine that almighty Nikolas of tpyos would be the best description never the less. 

[Dualnames]

Or something like Nikolas The 13th God of Greece would do..

[Ghost]

That indiestone project is pretty awesome (as to be expected); thanks for the link!

[bicilotti]

Unfortunately strategic board games have complicated AI. If it's turn based it involves building the tree of the game and checking all the possibilities of few moves forward and choosing the best current move. You also have to make a function which calculates the success rate of any move and belive me it's not simple at all..

Mhhhh, I'm not sure... Simple AI for boardgame is quite a trivial task to code (i.e. a chess engine or such). Once one has grasped the concept of decision tree (and has developed a "position evaluation" function) everything is pretty streamlined. And you don't even have to (ab)use (of) pointers.
But probably you're right SpacePaw: if the op doesn't like to script, AI will take him a bit to implement.


As for the OP question

I have a board game-esque design, but it got away from me a bit, and I'm not sure AGS is the best thing to make it with. Problem is, I know zip about programming anything in anything, so I don't know what language or whatnot to request help for.

It has chess like moves (different pieces move diferent ways) and it would need a fair enough simulation of AI. I didn't want to post for help with the game if it turns out it dosn't even really belong in AGS. So any ideas on the game itself, or suggestions about other developers forums would be awsome.

Thanks buuuuuuddies.

Board games are relatively simple to do in any language/script; if you know a bit of AGS, my advice is:

don't waste time learning other tools, you have everything you need and more here.

AGS is more than suited to get the job done, and the effort you would have to put in learning a new script/language could be better spent in developing your game.

By the way, I'm always fascinated by board games, good luck!