Article link: Hogwartz

Hogwartz is a game in production by Darkstar gaming studios.
we are striving to create the best hogwarts game ever to come out.
http://z9.invisionfree.com/Hogwartz_fanz/index.php?act=idx
this is our fan forum.
enjoy!

That forum has nothing more than an intro paragraph and feels more like a mission statement. I didn't get anything else other than what you already posted here:

1. New game under development called Hogwartz.

Is this an Oblivion Total Conversion? Is this a completely new game engine or build on top of an existing game engine? Do you actually have progress made on this or is this just a game idea? Who are "we" that you refer to?

Sorry but this post raises more questions than anything helpful that it gives. To me, that is not very interesting and makes me want to pass it by but I still have to ask what it has to do with Oblivion since it is posted on an Oblivion/Morrowind forum.

Thanks,
LHammonds

To me, it looks like a poorly made imitation of TES in an even crappier world. The world of Harry Potter is just plain stupid. Almost everything is ripped from something else, and the few things that aren't are just insanely bad. I, for one, am not looking forward to this. I'd much rather play a good rpg.

And what is ripped, if I may ask? Hippogryphs? Orks? Trolls?

quote : Lhammonds:
That forum has nothing more than an intro paragraph and feels more like a mission statement. I didn't get anything else other than what you already posted here:

1. New game under development called Hogwartz.

Is this an Oblivion Total Conversion? Is this a completely new game engine or build on top of an existing game engine? Do you actually have progress made on this or is this just a game idea? Who are "we" that you refer to?

Sorry but this post raises more questions than anything helpful that it gives. To me, that is not very interesting and makes me want to pass it by but I still have to ask what it has to do with Oblivion since it is posted on an Oblivion/Morrowind forum.

Thanks,
LHammonds


well, Oblivion is What Standard we are looking at, and HwRPG could be better explained by Wot3 , my companion in this

By "We" i mean Members of Darkstar Gaming/modding Studios

As for How the game works, you have 3 choices -
Rich-Orphan
Poor-Many Brothers/Sisters
Middle-Middle

Rich orphan is Voldemort's Grandnephew,
Middle is Luna lovegood's Son/Daughter
Poor guy is Shamus finnigan's Son/Daughter

hope that fills you in a bit
(il see if i can get Wot3/Malzark to Post his explanation soon

I think I would have to agree with Ninja, but for more fundimental reasons. First, the series of books, and all related materials which you are basing this "game" off of are owned by an individual or group, and in particular, there are already a few games that exist for that world. Meaning that to continue with your project would probably lead to some legal problems unless the usage for those elements has been secured prior to any work (IE paying for it).

Second to that, the Oblivion engine really isn't suited to handle those sorts of mechanics. The number of creatures you could use would be rather small, and in many cases would require either new meshes, or new meshes and animations. Add this to the other mesh requirements... All interiors, all exteriors, clothing, and you have a hell of alot of a workload for even a large team to handle. Nevermind trying to add in those things which just defy most laws of physics or reality. Then there are the spell mechanics, wands as a tool, sole tool mind you, for spells essentially doesn't work. Enchantments simply aren't flexible enough, and you cannot really force an equipment check for every spell effect without having to script each spell individually. And even then, most effects probably can't be done. As for trying to place the player into a range of specific roles, that probably isn't the best idea due to any inconsistancy that may result durring chargen. Any additional scripting which would be needed to add variety between those roles would also add significant time to your project if you actually try to make anything based off those changes.

So really, this project probably isn't viable, and even if you were in the belief that the series of books that it was based on was the best thing out there, trying to do it probably isn't a good idea. There are simply too many legal and game mechanics issues to deal with. And if you try to lessen the effect of either, the whole point of the project will probably suffer as a result.

Good point. I was too focused on "Harry Potter is bad," but you are completely right. With the number of issues making this, it would actually be easier and more successful to just make an entirely new game. Buy a third party engine, and start from the bottom up. You could make your own engine, but that would take away the easy factor.

Actually, doing it as its own game would probably be a much worse idea. Sure, the mechanics issues can be worked out according to what engine you're using and your own programming ability, but the legal issues are much greater. Unless I'm mistaken, EA owns the rights to the Harry Potter videogame franchise. Creating a new game which borrows heavily from that franchise may be seen as trying to interfere with their business. With a mod, this is slightly less of an issue since it falls under the "fan creation" grouping, and isn't as likely to cause a legal response. With a new game, this certainly will, even if that game is made free. In order to do anything, without having to first secure the rights to use, you would have to change quite a few things around, and have to frame the game as more of a parody so that you can get around some of those legal issues. Just like how you can't use anything related to starwars unless it is for the purposes of parody. While in most cases, you would be asked to simply stop all work, and agree not to release anything you've done, if you had already made a release before anyone noticed, you may actually be sued for potential losses to the franchise.

it is unfortunate. I was actually looking forward to it, a game ala Star Wars Galaxies in Hp... the EA HP games are just plainly straightforward and children-aimed....

That is probably a good thing really. Although the stories may have some depth to the drama, most of the mechanics and principals involved aren't really developed to a point where they would really work in any sort of game that did not closely follow the book plots, or was focused on an aspect which is already quite meaningless in its own right (quittich* (or however you spell it). Although admittedly my understanding in this field is limited as I have not actually read any of the books. The point is that it really wouldn't work in a non-plotbased format where those mechanics don't have to be explained beyond "a wizard did it".

*Ignoring just the whole "flying around on a broom, and trying to play a game on a non-planar field without any physical barriers beside the ground (what keeps things from flying outside), and no real "in-bounds". The point of the game is essentially broken down to where only the seakers have any importance. The rest seems to just be going through the motions. Then there's the whole "sit in one spot looking for a tiny object while all sorts of chaos is happening around you" aspect which is just plain silly. Never mind the whole "faster brooms just mean faster snitch" part of things. But hey, they needed to include some sort of sport since it was a school, and polymorphic wrestling was just too dangerous.

dontya worry, well bee ok

Hey, um just to let you know, the "description" of your game (on your site), is exactly that in the first few pages of the Morrowind Game Guide (GOTY Edition), you just replaced the word "Morrowind" with "Hogwartz."

I thought you ought to know that this could lead to some copyright issues...

Copyright issues with Bethesda are the least of their worries. They need to worry about copyright issues dealing with Harry Potter much more.

That's PRECISELY what I meant.

well, HwRPG is holding for J.K Rowling, while we rev up on the Shadowed Revolutions.
SR has a game engine coming along nicely, also several textures

I hate to sound pessimistic...

Considdering on how she shot down plans at a HP lexicon, something which would only further establish the series within popular culture, and how the rights for any videogames based on the series are already sold off to someone (EA I think), I highly doubt that planning to go ahead would be a wise decision. Chances are that the only reply you will be getting, if you get any, will be a "cease and desist" from her lawers. Although really, there's a better chance that whatever was sent got lost amidst all the other fanmail (death threats) that authors get.

You really might just be better off creating your own little world to base this game off of. When you think about it, the fact that you have to borrow (rip-off) so many elements from any source really only hints that you lack your own imagination, and just want to ride someone else's coat-tails. 9/10 times people can spot the rip-off a mile away, and figure that it sucks hard because of how much of a basis there is on other people's ideas. A good game comes from something new being done. This is true regardless of genre.

Say, modman... how would you like to work with my friend and I on OUR project... We need more people like you...