[MASTUR]

Hello everyone!

My name is Timothy Sottek, and I am a project manager for a new mod project for Half-Life 2 that is currently under development.

My team, Resurgence Studios, has developed the concept for the game, and is looking to release the first beta of "Shadowed Fates" in the Q2 of 2004. Our dedicated and talented core team is working to create the most massive, realistic, and intense World War 2 experience for the PC that has ever been released, modification or not. Combined with Half-Life 2's groundbreaking SDK, our unique concepts and ideas should create an amazing battlefield that will be played over and over again.

If you have not seen the capabilities of the Half-Life 2 engine, named "Source", visit www.fileplanet.com and look for the HL2 source videos- they are sure to dazzle you.

We already know of many of Half-Life 2's capabilities, and have begun development in the areas of concept art, topographical and height maps for levels, and website development.

Here is a brief synopsis of some game objectives we wish to achieve in our game:

"Shadowed Fates" - A Half-Life 2, World War 2 Multiplayer Modification

-Historically accurate weapons and vehicles spanning from 1939 to the end of the war, and with accurate loadouts for specific battles according to the time period.

-Historically accurate battles and battle sequences

-Conquest or objective based victories

-Unique "push" campaigns for enhanced server rotations; Each map will progress further into the war depending on the outcome. For example:

"Day of Days", an Allied Parachute Infantry landing on the eve of D-Day, takes place over farmland in Normandy. This map will have three phases- One will be the night landing, where allies will parachute from mobile spawn points and destroy flak panzers on the ground before the German forces shoot down their aircraft. If the allies complete their objective, the map will progress to day, where allies will have a new objective- to destroy German artillery pieces ("88s') in a certain timelimit, to allow the main landing force to create an un-impeded beachhead. Once this is completed, the map will progress further with a new allied objective- to push the Germans back towards Carentan until their reinforcements have depleted. Once this objective is completed, then the next map will load and the campaign will progress. If the allies fail to complete the objectives, then the map rotation will be reversed until they are victorious- this is meant to simulate an actual progression of battle, that will allow for interesting tournament play.

-Accurate infantry models, profiles, and situations.

-Highly realistic weapon system that includes animations and delays for every action: packing and unpacking weapons, fixing jams, reloading, switching weapons,

-Realistic damage systems that include "knockouts" from melee attacks.

-Medic classes that will be able to evaluate, treat, and reinforce wounded players.

-Highly interactive and reactionary environment, including trees that explode when hit with artillery, buildings that are damaged when hit by explosive objects, doors, windows etc.. that can be breached by bullets or melee methods, textures that will cause players to stumble and travel differently, and much more...

-Non-player-characters that work with highly intuitive AI to complete objectives in units

-All theaters of war, including the following nation armies:

United States
England
Russia
France
Germany
Italy
Japan

And of course, much, much more...

With such aspirations, we seek outside assistance in this massive undertaking. If you are interested in assisting our team, we are glad to take applications to either work freelance to help our grand project, or possibly even join the core team.

If you have a decent or impressive programming, modeling, graphic art, or research resume, please send it to me at [email protected]. If you have any questions regarding our concepts, and you are truly interested in becoming a dedicated partner, then open a dialogue with us either through email or AOL Instant Messanger ("Baker Recon"), and we will share with you what we hope to achieve- world war in it's truest scale... spanning all theaters.

Keep in mind that as this is a modification, and that no funds are available to provide wages to outside help. Our team has not been assembled to sell copies of a half-worked title, but to create something that people will enjoy playing and appreciate, not only as entertainment, but as art. We hope that talented members of the community will recognize our concepts as mostly unprecedented in the area of World War 2 games, and rise to the occasion to create a game that will set its mark on the genre. Even the smallest effort can end up making a big difference... and who knows, if your talent and work is shown to be useful, and you are dedicated to the project, if the modification goes retail then not only will the satisfaction of having an amazing game being released and played by your hands be achieved, but monetary rewards could come in due time.

Our website is currently changing hosts, but it should be up shortly- at which time email will be forwarded to an official team address.

Good luck, and I hope to hear from members of this talented community soon.

Semper Fi,

-Timothy Sottek
Lead Project Manager
Resurgence Studios

"Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again." - Ronald Reagan

[Wren]

i was all geared up to send in my portfolio, all the way up until i read this:

[MASTUR]

Sorry about the no funds thing!

I know it sounds like we "want the best" but arent willing to pay for it, but our core team is doing the entire project without cash flow regardless of outside help, so anybody who wants to contribute is very generous and welcomed =p.

The project is going to be ambitious and highly challenging, which is a reward in itself... we want to create an awesome, unprecendented experience not a best selling title.

Thanks for the reply though

-Timothy Sottek
Lead Project Manager
Resurgence Studios

[Wren]

I'm not trying to be mean, but as a freelance artist, I see these kinds of "help me create my (insert dream here)" posts all the time. It's as though people think that because they call it "free"lancing, it means they can ask artists to work for free and that being part of the creative process should be payment enough. Simply put, it's not.

While it's fine to ask your friends to join your project or do work as a favor and then offer them part of whatever proceeds you get, asking complete strangers to do that is not only highly unprofessional, but it's also, well... rude. Everyone has their own dreams and personal projects to chase, even artists. And to ask someone you don't even know to jump in on yours just because you think it's great, is really asking too much.

Even if you can only offer a small amount, you should at least be willing to pay something for the artists time and effort. If you truly mean to create this game, then regardless of how well you expect it to sell, you will be best off learning how to approach it professionally right from the start. And that means paying those who do work for you.
_________________

SASart Studios

[Light]

I just want to add to this:


If you see a post, and the person doesn't offer money for the artwork. then it should be taken as a GIVEN that the person may not be able to pay you.

I think we've all been in the type of deals, and many of us have started them too.

I don't see why everyone has to reply. I mean, if someon says "doing a percentage money from game, book, etc" then obviously that it is implied that people who want money are not to be involved.

So, I just think everyone should be a bit nicer, and as long as theire is no rule against advertisements here then just let it go...

Also, I've offered small pay before for personal projects before, and rarely was I able to get any actual work (and I offered for this non-art project several thousand dollars). For another project, my dad recently offered several hundred dollars, and couldn't get any work done. So, I've learned "the people who usually want more usually dont want to work". Not saying this is true in all cases, and the people who want to work will usually work for almost free. Trust me if I could get a job in the game industry in the position I desired then I'd almost work for free!

If you offer pay then offer a good amount, and be professional because you can be. There are a lot of good artist out there not working.

Mastur, let this be a lesson. BTW search around for GAMERS and not artist. You'll be more likely to get good gamers who are good artist to help you then just any an artist with no interest in it.

You'll aso notice that most startups that succeede are started by gamers. Maybe, this is why most game companies require everyone to be a gamer.

just a tip.

[bearsclover]

Oh boy.

Not to be too blunt about it (but I will), but most artists hear many "we can't pay you now but...." lines throughout their lives. Usually it means, "We can't pay you."

You might be the nicest people ever and have the best idea ever, but because we've been presented with this kind of proposition over and over and over and over and over and over again, we're kind of leery.
_________________
Madness takes its toll - please have exact change.

[Wren]