What is Development?

[Glitchfinder]

Now, this is not meant as a simple, look up the definition and tell me kind of thread. What this is meant to be is a discussion on what counts as development, and what doesn't. First off, I'll have to share my own opinion:

I believe that there are many types of development. For example, someone who develops plot, dialogue, or storyline is a writer. Someone who develops images and graphics would be an artist. Someone who creates music, sounds and audio would be a musician. And someone who develops code would be a scrpter/coder/programmer. What I believe does not count as development is when you take someone else's work, and change it slightly to fit your needs. For example, if you took a Pokemon sprite, recolored it, combined it with other sprites, etc. that would not be developments. Or, if you took someone else's music, changes some notes, that would not be development. If you are a voice actor/cvoice actress, you are not a developer, becasue you are only providing a source for predertimined sounds, etc. FInally, I think that although many projects on this forums do not count as development when looked at from a programming stance, at least some of them count as development from other points of view, usually writing.

Now, I want to know what you think. Do you thing I am right, or way off? If I'm way off, what is the world of development really like?

 

[Curt200718]

I agree with you glitchfinder...

 

[Virtual Chatot]

Your definition of development is spot on, but one has to remember to distinct development with actual progress.

 

[Ravecat]

I disagree slightly about the game aspect of your post.

Yes, a lot of the game is scripting, but as much as half (more, in most games, but this isn't the case with Pokemon Essentials) of the work put into developing the game is through the story, and the things you actually do in the games.

So really, assuming they have a complete story, they still developed something.

That's my opinion anyway.

 

[Glitchfinder]

Well, I never said they wouldn't be developing something. I did say that many of the projects here do little to no development of the programming, but do have at least some development in the way of storyline. On the other hand, there are plenty of projects here that are essentially "Lulz, the evil team is stealing Pokemanz, and you got to stop them with our 321 custom pokes in every region!".

 

[AtlantianTokRa]

I disagree slightly about the game aspect of your post.

Yes, a lot of the game is scripting, but as much as half (more, in most games, but this isn't the case with Pokemon Essentials) of the work put into developing the game is through the story, and the things you actually do in the games.

So really, assuming they have a complete story, they still developed something.

That's my opinion anyway.

fairly true, although it needs to be a decent story, and i would say that they would need to add just a few extra things in terms of gameplay as well (even if it's just a new transport system or a new HM etc.) just so that is has that difference from the starter kit (i wouldn't say that new pokemon and items count because every noob can think of that)

 

[DamianLeonhart]

fairly true, although it needs to be a decent story, and i would say that they would need to add just a few extra things in terms of gameplay as well (even if it's just a new transport system or a new HM etc.) just so that is has that difference from the starter kit (i wouldn't say that new pokemon and items count because every noob can think of that)

I would say anything added to any project would be development. It may not be much, but in the very least someone has to sit down, learn how to use whatever they are using, then add it to a project. That in itself should be considered development.

 

[Glitchfinder]

So, if I sat down, scribbled a (flat) 2d happy face, and added it as a new Pokemon, you would consider that to be development? Or, would you consider it development when I actually put effort and work into the project? Because,as far as I can tell, some of these projects are getting very little work, and a lot of hot air.

 

[DamianLeonhart]

So, if I sat down, scribbled a (flat) 2d happy face, and added it as a new Pokemon, you would consider that to be development? Or, would you consider it development when I actually put effort and work into the project? Because,as far as I can tell, some of these projects are getting very little work, and a lot of hot air.

Not exactly a smiley face, but if you have looked through the starter kit, it does require some work to add pokemon, their moves, levels of evolutions, the evolutions, the evolutions moves, where they can be caught, and any other special characteristics that it may have. By doing all of this the people have to be either taught or learn this process on their own. Below is Dictionary.com's definition of development. I think that my interpretation of development falls into the first category. What I am saying is that if anyone does any work that would add to the starter kit then it would be considered progress, because they spent the time to figure out how to do it.


Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
–noun
1. the act or process of developing; growth; progress: child development; economic development.
2. a significant consequence or event: recent developments in the field of science.
3. a developed state or form: Drama reached its highest development in the plays of Shakespeare.
4. Music. the part of a movement or composition in which a theme or themes are developed.
5. a large group of private houses or of apartment houses, often of similar design, constructed as a unified community, esp. by a real-estate developer or government organization.
6. Chess. the act or process of developing chess pieces.
7. Mining. the work of digging openings, as tunnels, raises, and winzes, to give access to new workings, and of erecting necessary structures.


This isn't completely on topic, but I agree with your statement about the little work being done and many games getting a lot of attention. But from when I joined PC, until now, I have to say that maybe three games from when I registered remain. The chances of most of these games becoming completed is incredibly low. Also, the hype dies down in the new games after a month or so, and the good games actually get the attention that they deserve.

 

[Glitchfinder]

Actually, there isn't a single project on this board that is currently active, and was around when I first registerred here. I thought that GlitterGold might come back, but it isn't the same thing anymore, although it is by the same person. Most projects don't last that long.

 

[cooluke21]

Yes i agree lots of projects come out but never finish they claim too but never do. And remakes are never as good they never put the same effort in too it as the first time around!

 

[Stuart444]

Yes i agree lots of projects come out but never finish they claim too but never do. And remakes are never as good they never put the same effort in too it as the first time around!

*hopes this is not too much of a thread revival*

Lots of projects do come out and never finish from what I have seen (although maybe i missed a few finished projects). As for the second point of your post, that is really down to who is remaking it. Some people do put in as much effort or even more effort, others wouldn't so never say never lol.