a twofold problem...

Trisk · Thu 09/06/2005 23:59:23

I'm starting to get close to a release of my game, Prodigal. As such, I'm beginning to ponder several problems, one of which I have no solution for. First, how do I get my game noticed by the general AGS game playing community? Having never released something before, I have very little street cred in the AGS world...something which I can understand. These forums are FILLED with people who haven't ever made an AGS game...as, apparently, is the #AGS irc channel.

So my solution to this was to make a second game, a short game called Prodigal 0, who's story ties INTO my main game, Prodigal, but is ultimately tangential to the actual storyline. That means it isn't a demo, it is its own creation. But it will fill in a couple of blanks when you play Prodigal, because you'll go "hey, that event happened in Prodigal 0!"

Great so far! So I build the minigame...3 screens, 1 puzzle, and a taste of what's in store for Prodigal...and then I hit my second, larger, problem.

I have no webspace, and 0 knowledge of how to build one. I know there is a list of free servers over in the "games in production" forum, but most of them are pretty poor, and again, I have no knowledge of how to utilize them...and I don't know anyone who does. What can I do? Well...I can turn to the AGS community and see if someone would be willing to put my game up in their webspace. WAIT! I have no street cred! Nobody who can do that will help me! ARGH! I'm caught in a loop!

So I'm kind of stuck, here. I can't get credibility without releasing something, and I can't get help releasing something because I have no credibility! Help!

So I guess what I'm asking, therefore, is how do I get out of this circle? Is there some kind AGS soul who will trust the new guy enough to play through my alpha and see if they are willing to help me host this game? If nothing else, you'll get to try a new AGS game before it comes out...and you might even enjoy doing it, too!

Otherwise, how am I ever going to get people to believe that I'm not just another guy who has a great idea and does nothing with it?

Thank you for listening to my rant-o'-frustration-and-plea-for-help,
Trisk

monkey0506 · Fri 10/06/2005 03:49:23

My suggestion, get your own webspace. Not to sound rude, but it really is simple:

1. Go to your chosen free host's site.
2. Sign up.
3. Log in.
4. Go to "File Manager" (or something similarly named).
5. Click "Upload", or if there is a textbox w/ browse button to type the file name into first, click "Browse..." then choose the file, then click "Upload".
6. Find out what where your webspace is at, i.e., http://www.yourhostsname.com/yourusername, then add a '/' and the file name to the end of that.

If you still can't figure it out, PM me, I have some webspace that currently serves me no purpose that I will let you use (if you want it, I could possibly just change the pass and then give it to you (but in that case, why not just sign up yourself?)).

I hope this helps.

MillsJROSS · Fri 10/06/2005 05:33:52

As far as getting your game noticed, if it's a good game it will get noticed. Look at Kinoko, when she released her first game she had no "street credit," so to speak. But her game got noticed because it was a good game. Mind yout his isnt' always the case, there are always good games that somehow fall through the cracks, from time to time.

As far as webhosting, if the free ones aren't going to cut it, you might consider buying some space, which is generally cheap, and getting some decent hosting. It's not at overwhelming as you may think it is, and a search through google like "How to make a website" might be fruitful. Good luck!

-MillsJROSS

LGM · Fri 10/06/2005 06:25:21

http://www.sitesled.com is a perfect and easy place to upload a game. You get 100MB of space and 10GB of bandwidth a month.

There is an included file manager for it too.. If you could figure out how to sign up for these forums, I think you can use a web-based file manager.

If all else fails, I would host and/or mirror your game if you would like. I have 920MB of free space ready to be filled.

And yes, if your game is totally rockin' it will get noticed. "Street Cred" isn't really all that great here.. It just means you spend more time here :-p

Rui 'Trovatore' Pires · Fri 10/06/2005 07:29:40

Freewebs has worked well for me. It's free, very easy to set up, only has one problem - you can't host files there. I suggest you host your files at MicroTech. You can take a look at my site, there in my sig, to see how I did it.

Pelican · Sat 11/06/2005 01:04:40

Check and see if your ISP (Internet Service Provider) gives you free webspace. I'm with Wanadoo, and they give me 100Mb - more than I need. Worth checking before you fork out money for some of your own. Once you've got some webspace, it's really as simple as monkey_05_06 explained it. Good luck, and hope to see your game soon!

monkey0506 · Sat 11/06/2005 01:16:09

Quote from: [lgm] on Fri 10/06/2005 06:25:21http://www.sitesled.com is a perfect and easy place to upload a game. You get 100MB of space and 10GB of bandwidth a month.

Oh mah gash! :o

I'm signing up now. I mean, I already have a 100MB account with 100webspace.com, but, sheeze, they have a 500kb download file-size limit (i.e. I can't host downloads over 500kb). Sitesled has no file size limit period.

And OH MAH GASH again! No ADS??? This is truely amazing. Oh... The catch. No PHP hosting. 100webspace offers free php. Maybe I'll just move my site to SiteSled, and use 100webspace for my forums. I don't host downloads via my forums anyway.

Thanks for the awesome link [lgm]!

juncmodule · Sat 11/06/2005 01:41:53

If you have any knowledge of HTML go ahead and put together a simple page.

If you don't have any knowledge of HTML give me a write up of what you want, graphics/screenshots, and maybe a quick jpg sketch of what you want.

Drop me a PM and I will send you my email address. First email me the web design stuff, then you can email me the game. I will host it for you and put up a small page at the subdomain of your choice (trisk.juncmodule.com or prodigal.juncmodule.com). Be sure you follow this process and don't just email it to me, I need to know when it is coming so it won't get deleted.

By the way, "cred" means nothing. Your perfectly worded post and intelligent request for help are what is getting you what you want

Edit: Heh, I didn't read all of the other replies. I just saw recommendations for free webhosts and didn't notice that several other people offered to host it...

later,
-junc

LGM · Sat 11/06/2005 02:28:16

Quote from: monkey_05_06 on Sat 11/06/2005 01:16:09
Thanks for the awesome link [lgm]!

Hey hey, no problem. And if you decide you want more, their hosting plans are dirt cheap and they have the best customer service around. I kid you not.

http://www.sitesled.com/packages.shtml is where you can purchase them. Though right now, you have to buy your domain seperate. They are working on that. It's not hard to change nameservers with GoDaddy.com, and it's el-cheapo but el-fantabulo.

monkey0506 · Sun 12/06/2005 04:47:30

I'm still trying to find out if they'll host a domain for free. I mean, I have one (I got it for $4.95 / yr. (pm me for info, this is getting off topic)), but I don't know if they'll host it. And I'll probably get a paid subscription once I get a job (if I get a job that is).

In any case this is getting very off topic. Did Trisk die or something? He hasn't posted in a while (though he asked for help, he won't respond to our offers $:-\$ ). Actually I guess it's only been two days and I'm an impatient piece of...well, you get the idea.

LGM · Sun 12/06/2005 06:16:44

He's talkin' to me right now. I'm fixing him up real good..

Plus, the game is actually pretty good so expect awesomeness.

Trisk · Sun 12/06/2005 23:37:01

Yeah, lgm is helping me. Thank you so much for the assistance, everyone who offered it!

Trisk

monkey0506 · Sun 12/06/2005 23:45:51

Aw...And I was already getting ready for the funeral.

Thanks for letting us know that the problem is solved Trisk. Let us know when you get it hosted, and let us see the link! ~~I COMMAND YOU!~~ ...erm...Please.

Trisk · Mon 13/06/2005 03:43:07

lol! It'll be in another day or two, don't worry. :b

LGM · Mon 13/06/2005 04:30:36

Yep. I'm setting his site up right now. Prodigal 0 will go gold in about a day or two, just like Trisk said

fanton · Mon 13/06/2005 14:51:50

lgm, good webhost. I need to try it out.

Trisk,
if you want to learn html check this website http://www.w3schools.com (teaches everythign realted to www, gamebuilding, and even offers certificates)

All you need is to learn: HTML, CSS, and how to use a broswer (which you know already), and also how to use a FTP (I use the command line version that windows has built in). Then you can go into more advanced stuff like Javascripting which is not that hard (but would be better if you know some Java or C, and AGS Scripting seems like C, if you know how to script in AGS that might help you learn JavaScript lol).

Also, if you want to make your game famous, add your website as a signature wherever you post, email, chat, talk, move, eat, sleep. And even ask people directly to check your page. Cause if it's they like the page/game, they will tell others. I am just guessing now