First - assess age and experience. If very low, basics such as using the mouse and what is the internet. Introduce email and chatting to them. Second - assess local business needs: spreadsheets and document writing. Basic desktop publishing. Also, give out certificates so people can take classes and have something to add to resumes. Third - student and school needs. More than likely you have student classes needing access to computers. These range from low to high, but I'd start out w/ computer basic and hit the Gifted and Talented teachers to give you some nerds to work with linux and open source. Fourth - Ecommerce classes: yeah, that's so five years ago, but you're not in San Francisco so maybe the dot-com is about happen there. Explain that a good website can boost mail order sales and supplement income for niche markets, primarily small vendors/manufacturers. Fifth - programming courses. All this net stuff don't mean jack without programmers. Download perl and get people started with scripting - then build from there. Invite members of the community to teach your courses (as long as they have a lesson plan), and if there's a local geneologist and/or historian, invite them in to teach about the local history. -NJ
Nothing wrong with nightmares, it's a personal preference thing. But that's not really what you're looking for.
The three games are successful for different reasons, and were also targeted at different people. Sims was a broad range audience with practical life learning lessons. Sims also was cross-genre, aimed at pleasing more audiences. More importantly, the Sims continues the "Sim" brand name (quite successfuly). These are larger reasons as two why Sims sold more.
Deus Ex was given missions with story lines IN the mission - the cut scenes weren't between but at the beginning. Theif was a more tradional FPS, except that instead of killing (frag count) like Quake and Doom, the importance was being given to being quiet. Both were firmly scripted that the character you play was a guy. Deus Ex and Theif were marketed directly to the guy (16 to 34) crowd, which is the staple of computer games.
The problems you have fold out into the following:
Strategy and Goals. In Sims, once I decide I want my two girl roommates to kiss, then I've decided my goal. If I want a baby, then I decide to have a baby. On the other two games, the Goals are chosen, but you can still choose your strategy. Some would argue that your strategy is chosen for you by Theif.
Game time is also a difficulty. FPS games are Real time. Sims is not. Sims falling in love over time took weeks if not months to get them to bear fruit in game time. Part of the game was giving the right back rub at the right time (of many many backrubs).
Scripted games allow control of characters and characterizations - all of the Sims peed their pants if you forgot to build a bathroom. They all jumped up at down at the same time, same body motions. You'd think some of them would be smart enough just to walk out side and not pee in their pants, right? (especially the guys).
So, what you're asking for, in my opinion is a method (algorithm) for the creation of a plot by the choices made by a user. I've got one or two, but I still need to get my games out the door or assist someone else.:)
I've thought about this all day long. "Is it too much, do I get what I want, after I spend my money, will it be worth it?"
I'm not the best programmer in the world. I will never remake the wheel as Ximian has done. I don't know if I actually want to.
So, for my money and time, it is worth it. Every penny. Because the alternative is Microsoft. Yes, a micropayment systems are ABSOLUTELY necessary if we're going to equal the playing fields, and $10 bucks a month is a little steep.
But we have to put our money where our mouths are. There will be freeloaders (literally) and that's fine. My $10.00/month will defray their weight on the system.
And I since I refuse to give Micro$not another dime, I need to ensure my needs are being met by someone. Hopefully others will follow suit.
Slashdot Mirror
First - assess age and experience. If very low, basics such as using the mouse and what is the internet. Introduce email and chatting to them.
Second - assess local business needs: spreadsheets and document writing. Basic desktop publishing. Also, give out certificates so people can take classes and have something to add to resumes.
Third - student and school needs. More than likely you have student classes needing access to computers. These range from low to high, but I'd start out w/ computer basic and hit the Gifted and Talented teachers to give you some nerds to work with linux and open source.
Fourth - Ecommerce classes: yeah, that's so five years ago, but you're not in San Francisco so maybe the dot-com is about happen there. Explain that a good website can boost mail order sales and supplement income for niche markets, primarily small vendors/manufacturers.
Fifth - programming courses. All this net stuff don't mean jack without programmers. Download perl and get people started with scripting - then build from there.
Invite members of the community to teach your courses (as long as they have a lesson plan), and if there's a local geneologist and/or historian, invite them in to teach about the local history.
-NJ
Nothing wrong with nightmares, it's a personal preference thing. But that's not really what you're looking for.
:)
The three games are successful for different reasons, and were also targeted at different people. Sims was a broad range audience with practical life learning lessons. Sims also was cross-genre, aimed at pleasing more audiences. More importantly, the Sims continues the "Sim" brand name (quite successfuly). These are larger reasons as two why Sims sold more.
Deus Ex was given missions with story lines IN the mission - the cut scenes weren't between but at the beginning. Theif was a more tradional FPS, except that instead of killing (frag count) like Quake and Doom, the importance was being given to being quiet. Both were firmly scripted that the character you play was a guy. Deus Ex and Theif were marketed directly to the guy (16 to 34) crowd, which is the staple of computer games.
The problems you have fold out into the following:
Strategy and Goals. In Sims, once I decide I want my two girl roommates to kiss, then I've decided my goal. If I want a baby, then I decide to have a baby. On the other two games, the Goals are chosen, but you can still choose your strategy. Some would argue that your strategy is chosen for you by Theif.
Game time is also a difficulty. FPS games are Real time. Sims is not. Sims falling in love over time took weeks if not months to get them to bear fruit in game time. Part of the game was giving the right back rub at the right time (of many many backrubs).
Scripted games allow control of characters and characterizations - all of the Sims peed their pants if you forgot to build a bathroom. They all jumped up at down at the same time, same body motions. You'd think some of them would be smart enough just to walk out side and not pee in their pants, right? (especially the guys).
So, what you're asking for, in my opinion is a method (algorithm) for the creation of a plot by the choices made by a user. I've got one or two, but I still need to get my games out the door or assist someone else.
I've thought about this all day long. "Is it too much, do I get what I want, after I spend my money, will it be worth it?"
I'm not the best programmer in the world. I will never remake the wheel as Ximian has done. I don't know if I actually want to.
So, for my money and time, it is worth it. Every penny. Because the alternative is Microsoft. Yes, a micropayment systems are ABSOLUTELY necessary if we're going to equal the playing fields, and $10 bucks a month is a little steep.
But we have to put our money where our mouths are. There will be freeloaders (literally) and that's fine. My $10.00/month will defray their weight on the system.
And I since I refuse to give Micro$not another dime, I need to ensure my needs are being met by someone. Hopefully others will follow suit.