no multiplayer makes pros a sad boy

[ProstheticS]

Hey guys, ive been watching these forums for a while, hoping that one of these multiplayer dreams would come into reality, but it seems this desperate hope is just not going to happen.

Now, i am by no means the best programmer, but for a little while now ive been building up the interface, and a basic server, adding a little at the time, at the moment i have all components of the interface fully designed and workin, the server and client communication working (basically) , by no means is this 'playable', but it could quite possibly become that way given some effort and time .

At the moment all it is is a few files, and a server, the server is quite basic for now, but the login and user system is working, along with aligning you to one of two 'corporations' buying new programs, and other things.

Most of what i have left to do is server code (which is 80% of the whole project in the first place) I was going to keep this quiet untill it was close to ready so as not to build up anyones hopes but have decided that , although it is currently not ready for input, everyones wants and needs will be important to this project

I have yet to name this , so your first bit of input could be a name, now remembering that i do not want to infringe any copyrights and have been working hard so as not to do this in what little i have done.

By the way, i will try and keep everyone up to date on this and try to continue to respond on this board in this topic as much as possible so as to keep everyone up to date on it, this is also important so that if this project does die, like so many others, you guys will not be left wondering whether it is actually dead, you will find your definitive answers here..

I will also Add to the bottom of this post a basic F.A.Q which i will update when new questions appear and a progress report

Basic info about myself: My name is Matt
Im from Australia
Im 20 years old.

F.A.Q
Q: What language is it based in?
A: Well, stupidly enough, VB.NET .. i know this is a silly language to do it in, but it made some sense to me at the start point, now im kinda not knowing why i chose it....
Q: How much time do you spend on this?
A: Well, depending on how much work i have, as i do work shift it kinda bumps me around alot, and i cannot work on it at work. I would say i put about 4-7 hours work on it a week.

------Client------
Interfaces, Menus, Windows - 85%
Client -> server communications- 35%
Game Functions - 5% - Like connecting , actually doing missions
Storyline / Missions to do - 0%

-----Server-----
Accounts (Storage System) - 90% -May need redesign
Record Keeping - 10% -What a player HAS
Server DB 90% - Database of all ingame servers
Game Functions - 10% - Allowing user connections to servers

-----Other Random stuff that might be needed----
Web Site - 0% - Non Existent (will be the last thing i do, when i finish client and server i will just put a link up to dl the client untill i have time to make a website)
Server to run server program - 0% - Once i finish the game i will need to run it on a server somewhere, i may use my own server, depending.


-----Update: 10th of Jan
This week i redesigned servers accounts DB, it may not mean much to you guys, but the new way of referencing makes mission writing, item designing and adding much simpler , and hence improves the speed at which i can get a working alpha/beta out

Progress Report above , Updated
-----Update: 17th of Jan
Ok guys, slow week, did minor work on server, plus tested some client side spawning of windows, filling windows (including connection/worldmap window)

[AJ_Letson]

Wow, a project that's actually shown some progress, apparently. Congratulations.

[ProstheticS]

Yea, as subject says , there has been little progress. Nothing huge.

Updated top post

[ProstheticS]

hmm , any suggestions on names guys?

[AJ_Letson]

Weblink =]

[ProstheticS]

well ,its better then anything ive thought of, and i dont think (?) it creates any copyright problems.

If anyone else has any ideas, keep them coming.

[Rkiver]

Uplink Multiplayer Vapourware number 1831.

I wont hold my breath. Best of luck with it though.

[Babylon5]

so as not to build up anyones hopes

Erm... we've kinda seen so many Uplink 2's etc that we dont really get excited about any anymore.

But as Rkiver said, best of luck to you anyway

[ProstheticS]

while im sure you dont mean badly, but saying that doesnt encourage us.. infact, instead of posting that you could have done something constructive. I know alot of you have seen many of these 'ideas' but if all your going to add to this CONSTRUCTIVE conversation is a useless comment like the two above. Please just dont post, its not required

Thanks guys.


**** Updated the above.

[LaplaceOperator]

maybe there is still some hope

[AJ_Letson]

Well yeah...the guy's actually working on it. =]

As opposed to 99% of the other topics in this forum...

"hey im making a uplink game for online and im gna finish it nxt week"

[ProstheticS]

well i can garuntee you, this wont be done next week hehe

[ProstheticS]

ok, so i havent done much this week, been at work most of the week (remember i work shift), so not much time for me.. but anyhow. im thinking i might post up some screenshots of the basic gui.. (will be upgraded later, but for now its functional)

while i am trying to keep it kinda uplink-esq it isnt an exact clone, and nor should it be.. anyhow.. when i get some more time ill create some SS's and upload them for your viewing pleasure. so stay tuned.

[abigbagofcrap]

hey im making a uplink game for online and im gna finish it nxt week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Sorry, I couldn't help it. Anyways, hi, I'm me. I've been working on the Bytelink Project (http://bytelink.org) for about 10 months now. (Coincidentally, it started 10 months ago )

Anyways, 1st off, I'm glad to see someone else attempting this sort of thing despite the general consensus on this forum of "Good morning, vaporware". Sadly, the Uplink Future forums aren't really brimming with new ideas anymore, people have given up on this project. Most of the new posts are people repeating old ideas or simply expressing their sadness at no sign of Uplink being online.

Now, the real point of my post: You might want to try getting a web site up and running with forums. It's a good way to get some interest in the game, because it gives it a sense of tangibility, and the forums will give people a place to discuss ideas. Uplink forums are not exactly a good discussion forum because some of the vets who are sick of hearing about more potential vaporware like to voice their opinions . I'm not saying you should sacrifice coding time to build a web site, but recently I saw a post (and by recently I mean today) by 2 people offering to build web sites for people attempting this sort of project.

Anyways, best of luck to you, though not too much luck (I don't want any competition with Bytelink ). Hopefully I've been of some help.

On a related note, why not check Bytelink out?

[ProstheticS]

thats quite an idea, i have a few freebie php website templates i could easily chuck on some web space i have for people to keep track of the project. i guess it could be good, but for right now i think that it could too early, as i said earlier, im not HUGELY far into production, to make a forum now would only dwindle hope as time goes on, people checking it regularly and whatnot, when it is no-where near completion.. i think that when it comes close to the time when i am going to have a working beta, or even alpha happening that i will do this, and people will know that if i do indeed put a forum up, and advertise it on here that my project is nearing a decent stage ( i may put it up and invite single users , but not advertise, for peoples opinions, but no widespread sillyness when really as i have said, and will continue to say, i am not close to finishing.)