Re: Project Mai
Jul. 17th, 2008 06:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dmxratedFirst off, it's good to know that Cassandra will be back on Monday, so that I can finally discuss investing with her.
More importantly, though, I had an appointment with Dr. Perret yesterday, which I used to get this whole thing about making a fourth Makeruna! Makendou game off my chest. I showed him a document I wrote containing details about the game itself and several obstacles that I'm bound to run into.
For the past few days, I've been looking for some colleges that specialize in video games. The two most notable of these have been Digipen Institute of Technology in Redmond, Washington, and DeVry's University nationwide. I received a brochure for the latter through email, but it requires way too much mathematics for me to handle. I'm still awaiting a physical brochure from the former.
Anyway, here's what was written on the document that I showed Dr. Perret:
Project Mai
Fundamental:
1. Fourth installment of the Makeruna! Makendou game series. (Fifth, if you count the OAV).
2. To be made primarily for North America. Probably will be released in other regions as well.
3. Must contain voice-acting.
4. Must introduce Joe as a fourth human member of Makendou. (The name is a reference to Mai’s name being changed to “Josephine” by Seta. This character uses a slingshot as his weapon of choice.)
5. Remaining true to the first three games, this game will not feature the overused “end of the world” storyline.
6. Included with the game will be a bonus disk containing easter eggs. Most notable of these will be the currently existing three games, the OAV, and a history behind the series. Might also include some stuff about SMW2: Yoshi’s Island rewritten.
Note: Due to both Nintendo policy and the fanservice in Makeruna! Makendou Z, this bonus disk will most likely not be available for Nintendo’s current console at the time of release (assuming there even will be a Nintendo version).
Secondary:
1) Items should be random wherever practical (as in, you don’t know what you’ll get in any given container.)
2) The twelve birthstones should be used in some way, particularly as items. (For those who don’t know what those are, they are the Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Garnet, Turquoise, Opal, Peridot, Amethyst, Topaz, Aquamarine, Pearl, and the Diamond.)
3) Music: Let’s make it cool this time. Mai and co. are fighters after all, and kick-ass music would be a nice contrast from the existing three games without deviating too much from the general nature of the series. Of course, not that we should apply anything overly dark, but take Sonic the Hedgehog 3/Sonic & Knuckles for example: The soundtrack in that game gives much more of an adrenaline rush than do various songs from Sonic the Hedgehog, StH2, and 8-bit StH.
Any non-Sonic examples? Sure. Three of those would be the aquatic theme from Kirby Super Star (SNES), the SlimeWorld theme from Global Gladiators (Genesis), and the Game Corner theme from Pokemon Diamond/Pearl (Nintendo DS). Of course, we’re not gonna re-use anything; these are just to give you an idea.
And for the opening theme, let’s use something similar to the Pokemon Diamond/Pearl song that plays when you’re spotted by a Blackbelt, Psychic, or Cop. Of course, it won’t be the same song at all, but it would be a similar-natured guitar solo and much longer.
4) Elements from SMW2: Yoshi’s Island (as a tribute to Yoshi’s Island rewritten). Most notable of these would be the end-of-stage bonus game that you play if you get lucky.
Who owns the Makeruna! Makendou franchise?
The first two games were published by Datam Polystar. The first game was the only game to make it here, but upon coming here, it was renamed “Kendo Rage” and underwent some modifications by Seta. The third game, which was Makeruna! Makendou Z, was published by NEC. However, NEC is no longer a video game company, which might mean that Datam Polystar might have reclaimed the rights to publish any future MM games to be made.
The background behind the OAV, however, is much simpler. In America, it has always belonged to Software Sculptors, which had never released it. Buying the license to translate and distribute that piece most likely won’t be such a huge problem, provided I have enough money to pay for it.
Problems:
It is a well-known fact that very few video game ideas ever do become substance. A lot of games that are put into production fail to get distributed into stores.
I don’t know which of the three companies I will need to obtain permission from to start Project Mai. It has been made clear that whichever publisher it is, they are free to decide whether or not to continue to fund the project. If they decide to no longer fund Project Mai, then I will need money in my funds account to pay any employees I have hired to work on it. The worst thing that can happen, though, is that a Cease & Desist order is issued regarding the project. To prevent that from happening, I will need to pay the company in question a lot of money to license the project.
Nothing is guaranteed, but there is hope that the project will follow through. The bottom line of any business is money. If Datam Polystar, Seta, and NEC have not been making any Makeruna! Makendou games since MMZ, then obviously, it is not something that they could profit from. Therefore, they will most likely be more than happy to license the project in exchange for thousands of dollars.
The last thing I should do if the company decides to stop funding the project, though, is to back out on any projects that they have requested of my developing company (which we’ll dub MAI). That’s a really good way to trigger a C&D order.
One thing Dr. Perret did mention that I should note, is that instead of trying to put the finished product directly onto a console, I should program it to be read by computers and offer it locally and/or online. And yeah, I probably should, if I wanna make a much better impression with this game than any of the three existing games could have ever hoped. That way, if people don't like the initial version, they could give me tips on improving the gameplay or whatever else needs to be improved.
Right now, though, the biggest obstacle is the fact that I hardly have any money in my savings account, and can't hope to get enough until I complete at least three more years of college. What that means, is that employing people to work on the game, even online, is not an option, because I need to provide them with a steady income in exchange for their work. Still, maybe I could at least post these ideas on a forum and see if people are interested.
More importantly, though, I had an appointment with Dr. Perret yesterday, which I used to get this whole thing about making a fourth Makeruna! Makendou game off my chest. I showed him a document I wrote containing details about the game itself and several obstacles that I'm bound to run into.
For the past few days, I've been looking for some colleges that specialize in video games. The two most notable of these have been Digipen Institute of Technology in Redmond, Washington, and DeVry's University nationwide. I received a brochure for the latter through email, but it requires way too much mathematics for me to handle. I'm still awaiting a physical brochure from the former.
Anyway, here's what was written on the document that I showed Dr. Perret:
Project Mai
Fundamental:
1. Fourth installment of the Makeruna! Makendou game series. (Fifth, if you count the OAV).
2. To be made primarily for North America. Probably will be released in other regions as well.
3. Must contain voice-acting.
4. Must introduce Joe as a fourth human member of Makendou. (The name is a reference to Mai’s name being changed to “Josephine” by Seta. This character uses a slingshot as his weapon of choice.)
5. Remaining true to the first three games, this game will not feature the overused “end of the world” storyline.
6. Included with the game will be a bonus disk containing easter eggs. Most notable of these will be the currently existing three games, the OAV, and a history behind the series. Might also include some stuff about SMW2: Yoshi’s Island rewritten.
Note: Due to both Nintendo policy and the fanservice in Makeruna! Makendou Z, this bonus disk will most likely not be available for Nintendo’s current console at the time of release (assuming there even will be a Nintendo version).
Secondary:
1) Items should be random wherever practical (as in, you don’t know what you’ll get in any given container.)
2) The twelve birthstones should be used in some way, particularly as items. (For those who don’t know what those are, they are the Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Garnet, Turquoise, Opal, Peridot, Amethyst, Topaz, Aquamarine, Pearl, and the Diamond.)
3) Music: Let’s make it cool this time. Mai and co. are fighters after all, and kick-ass music would be a nice contrast from the existing three games without deviating too much from the general nature of the series. Of course, not that we should apply anything overly dark, but take Sonic the Hedgehog 3/Sonic & Knuckles for example: The soundtrack in that game gives much more of an adrenaline rush than do various songs from Sonic the Hedgehog, StH2, and 8-bit StH.
Any non-Sonic examples? Sure. Three of those would be the aquatic theme from Kirby Super Star (SNES), the SlimeWorld theme from Global Gladiators (Genesis), and the Game Corner theme from Pokemon Diamond/Pearl (Nintendo DS). Of course, we’re not gonna re-use anything; these are just to give you an idea.
And for the opening theme, let’s use something similar to the Pokemon Diamond/Pearl song that plays when you’re spotted by a Blackbelt, Psychic, or Cop. Of course, it won’t be the same song at all, but it would be a similar-natured guitar solo and much longer.
4) Elements from SMW2: Yoshi’s Island (as a tribute to Yoshi’s Island rewritten). Most notable of these would be the end-of-stage bonus game that you play if you get lucky.
Who owns the Makeruna! Makendou franchise?
The first two games were published by Datam Polystar. The first game was the only game to make it here, but upon coming here, it was renamed “Kendo Rage” and underwent some modifications by Seta. The third game, which was Makeruna! Makendou Z, was published by NEC. However, NEC is no longer a video game company, which might mean that Datam Polystar might have reclaimed the rights to publish any future MM games to be made.
The background behind the OAV, however, is much simpler. In America, it has always belonged to Software Sculptors, which had never released it. Buying the license to translate and distribute that piece most likely won’t be such a huge problem, provided I have enough money to pay for it.
Problems:
It is a well-known fact that very few video game ideas ever do become substance. A lot of games that are put into production fail to get distributed into stores.
I don’t know which of the three companies I will need to obtain permission from to start Project Mai. It has been made clear that whichever publisher it is, they are free to decide whether or not to continue to fund the project. If they decide to no longer fund Project Mai, then I will need money in my funds account to pay any employees I have hired to work on it. The worst thing that can happen, though, is that a Cease & Desist order is issued regarding the project. To prevent that from happening, I will need to pay the company in question a lot of money to license the project.
Nothing is guaranteed, but there is hope that the project will follow through. The bottom line of any business is money. If Datam Polystar, Seta, and NEC have not been making any Makeruna! Makendou games since MMZ, then obviously, it is not something that they could profit from. Therefore, they will most likely be more than happy to license the project in exchange for thousands of dollars.
The last thing I should do if the company decides to stop funding the project, though, is to back out on any projects that they have requested of my developing company (which we’ll dub MAI). That’s a really good way to trigger a C&D order.
One thing Dr. Perret did mention that I should note, is that instead of trying to put the finished product directly onto a console, I should program it to be read by computers and offer it locally and/or online. And yeah, I probably should, if I wanna make a much better impression with this game than any of the three existing games could have ever hoped. That way, if people don't like the initial version, they could give me tips on improving the gameplay or whatever else needs to be improved.
Right now, though, the biggest obstacle is the fact that I hardly have any money in my savings account, and can't hope to get enough until I complete at least three more years of college. What that means, is that employing people to work on the game, even online, is not an option, because I need to provide them with a steady income in exchange for their work. Still, maybe I could at least post these ideas on a forum and see if people are interested.