Mod Idea

I have an idea for a mod for hl2 that could go quite far. I dont really want to say alot about it now but it will be similar to the water wars mod for half life. I feel the gameplay will be better though.

I dont really know what to do as ill need more people, mapper, coders and modlers.
just need advice now as what to do with my idea to make it into a working mod?

Details im give away:
Have a presure gage and water gage on hub saying how much you got of both.
refeil your water at tabe/end os hoses/etc.
pressing r will pump the gun up
life ends when you soaking wet.
will be sp and mp, hopefully
ive thought of alot more but dont really wanna give it away yet.

You need to learn a little bit about all those areas if you're going to manage a team that is working on it.

Before you even gather a team write everything up. Make an outline of the entire mod from gameplay to visual style. Once you gather a team up (or something of a team) take input, give everyone a well written copy of your designs, don't call it a design document though, because it isn't, it's basically some specs of the mod.

Basically, you want to determine everything before you really begin working. (obviously you can give people tasks to work on things you've already determined).

The only reason why I say that is, too many people jump ahead and just map or code or something like that and the mod fails, crashes and burns. It will also take less time to develop if you plan it extensively.

Also, once everything begins going, set deadlines for draft versions of what everyone's working on. Make sure you have proper communications with all the people. And NEVER take, "I'll get it done when I can" as an answer for lateness.
You set dates around a window people say they can achieve. If they get drastically outside of that window, do something about it.

If you took care of all those things you'd be managing a development team pretty well and you'd cut down development time by a considerable amount, no matter how many people you have.

If you want to do it complete corporation style, get a book on software engineering. It'll really help.

I've used this, and it's pretty good: ?The Engineering of Software? by Dick Hamlet and Joe Maybee ISBN: 0-201-70103-0

There is code examples in the book, but ignore them, the book is made for programmers and engineers, but the ideas and deliveries are in plain English.

Anyway, good luck, I suppose.

thanks alot for that, now i know where to go.

Would you recoment me make a website for it earlier or later?

Well, making a website and a dynamic website are two different things.

If you're making a dynamic website, sure, go for it. But that in it's self is a development :smile:

I'd say just make something postable for you and other team members, secure, and good looking.
And for God's sake, don't use PHPNuke or any of those template PHP packages.
Everyone uses them and says, "Look I made this site with a forum" and the truth is, they didn't, they used a template. Half the time they don't even change anything.

Anyway, a website is good. Put dates on projects where ever you can and in as many places as you can. Hell, make an upcomming even area that lists upcomming events involving the mod or the site. Basically, try to keep anyone not on the team informed.