104 replies to this topic

[True Valhalla]

Update:
- Removed text link ads. Too much clutter.
- Added and modified a lot of CSS for improved appearance, especially for ads and the content area.
- Added "Bookmark" button to navigation.
- New page navigation buttons, plus start and home buttons.
- Added Aweber and JustHost affiliate ads (I support and use these, hence the recommendation).
- Fixed an Internet Explorer font error which made my titles look hideous.
- Replaced banner ad with leaderboard in a seperate panel.
- Advertising can now be purchased on the site.

I've still got to tidy up the footer, but I'm open to fresh feedback on the site appearance.

HowToMakeAnMMORPG.com

Edited by True Valhalla, 14 August 2010 - 08:38 AM.

[theg721]

It's a nice site, but I don't get your tutorials. Too complicated 0_O

[True Valhalla]

It's a nice site, but I don't get your tutorials. Too complicated 0_O

At the moment, they're at a level of complexity where anyone with a decent knowledge of GML will be able to make use of them -- they might take a while to learn, but it is a complicated topic. I do plan to make the tutorials even simpler though, but at the moment I'm just finishing off design aspects.

Thanks for the comment; hopefully you'll find the site more useful when it's finished =)

-Tv

[theg721]

Huh? You just told me that knowledge of GML is needed, whereas on the site you say, "Do you want to make an MMORPG? Got an awesome idea, but don't know how to code, or where to start?"

So is GML knowledge needed or not?

[True Valhalla]

Huh? You just told me that knowledge of GML is needed, whereas on the site you say, "Do you want to make an MMORPG? Got an awesome idea, but don't know how to code, or where to start?"

So is GML knowledge needed or not?

The site is currently in a beta stage. At this point, the tutorial is not as accessible as it will be, and therefore is only likely to help GML users. Once the site is complete, then it will be at a stage where it should be accessible to non-coders. That's the final goal.

[theweirdn8]

I would say steer away from making DnD tutorials for this site. There are already too many "mmorpg"s on the gmc, if they are the programmer, let them learn how to program in the easy to learn language, called GML.

[True Valhalla]

I'm not planning on making any DnD tutorials. Remember, though, that this site is not aimed soley at GMC programmers. I'll be marketing it outside of the GMC once I have made it more accessible, and not all of the people that it reaches will have coding knowledge. I don't think DnD is the answer, that woud just create more hassle than it's worth. If you read the tutorial, you'll see that I am planning to use GML from the start, and the most accessible version will teach GML along the way.

Edited by True Valhalla, 14 August 2010 - 10:15 PM.

[general sirhc]

I actually found all the current tutorials were far too basic for me, I am aware its a beta but you probably need to add some stuff for advanced users too. People that already can build a average MMORPG system but are not really sure of the important things,
EG:

Dead Reckoning
Packet security
Login security
Player bans
Moderators/user levels
Chat filters (that also apply to usernames)
Unimportant tasks to keep your interest in the project (EG: prettying up server output)

Thats just some ideas.. =)

Edited by general sirhc, 03 September 2010 - 06:42 AM.

[True Valhalla]

I agree. At the moment, the current tutorial covers the basics. Next, my goal is to introduce some medium level tutorials (log in, register, inventory, movement) and then later some higher concept systems like the ones you mentioned.

At the moment, however, I've ceased work on the site so I can dedicate more to my current MMORPG, but I'll get back into it when I'm ready.

Thanks for the feedback!

-Tv

[thatshelby]

Very informative site- I love it! I can't wait until more of the tutorials are finished.

Some criticism:
-Ads kind of surround the whole article, a little space would be optimal, but it's not necessary.
-Links to where I could find 39dll.dll and myINI.dll would be great.
-I can't wait until the tutorials are finished- maybe even a partial tutorial would be nice, because I can usually figure things out about 1/2-3/4s of the way in.
-YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS! Do you know how many cookie cutter MMO's you have sprung up?!

[True Valhalla]

Very informative site- I love it! I can't wait until more of the tutorials are finished.

Some criticism:
-Ads kind of surround the whole article, a little space would be optimal, but it's not necessary.
-Links to where I could find 39dll.dll and myINI.dll would be great.
-I can't wait until the tutorials are finished- maybe even a partial tutorial would be nice, because I can usually figure things out about 1/2-3/4s of the way in.
-YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS! Do you know how many cookie cutter MMO's you have sprung up?!

I'm glad you found it useful =)

I'll add downloads for 39dll and myINI when I get some time, thanks for reminding me.

edit: I decided to take your advice and remove an ad (the one on the right), so the content isn't surrounded. Readers can now view content with absolutely no flashing ads or w/e if they scroll down beyond the header.

Edited by True Valhalla, 01 October 2010 - 10:17 AM.

[Penguinstar]

I stumbled upon your site just as I was considering creating an MMO...

A VERY good site although you should get the tutorials done soon..
Good luck with your guide because it is very straight forward...

[True Valhalla]

Thanks Penguinstar, I'm hope it helps you on your path to creating an MMO!

Good news! I've had a sudden burst of inspiration for some reason and I'm getting back into developing the site a little. I want to simplify things even more, and split the main tutorial into more specific tutorials, that is: networking, learning GM, theoretical knowledge.

Updates:
-Removed the right side skyscraper ad. Hopefully it's at a point where the site isn't cluttered anymore.
-The extra width of the content area means I can add code boxes, I've coded them just need to add them!
-Altered homepage contents a lot to be a bit neater and more specific (plus some better SEO).
-Rearranged some pages, renamed pages, moved Advertise link to footer.
-Reduced custom advertising costs to minimums.
-Removed AWeber affiliate link, added "Buy Me A Coffee" button.
-Fixed a few typos D:

Stay tuned! Thanks for your continued support.

[Anton-P]

Good site. Please write more articles.

[True Valhalla]

Good site. Please write more articles.

Thanks, I'm working on it =)

Recently I've done quite a lot of work on the site (not published yet). It's coming together well.

[lap202]

Great site! Been checking it out for awhile now and loving the layout. Nice and pretty much clean.

You should change the categpry to educational so I can check it out in school =P

[True Valhalla]

Thanks Lap, I'm quite happy with the general layout now (I've made some changes with the unpublished version too).

I have been focused on other projects recently, primarily Myriad Online, and now I'm looking to work with the iOS for a few months, so I'm not sure when I'll get the new content published. I will try my best to work on the site sometime, I still have so much I want to improve.

-Tv

[thechronicler]

Awsome

[True Valhalla]

Awsome

Thanks =)

Progress on the new content is going well. I've nearly finished the "Introduction To Game Maker" section aimed at people who have not used GM before, and I have reformatted most of the pages into more logical orders and groups.

I still need to:

-Write GML tutorial.
-Rewrite some parts of networking tutorial.
-Finish login/registration example.

Once I've finished these the site will be considered a new version

From there, all I need to do is code more examples, and then I can start marketing this site properly.

[True Valhalla]

MAJOR UPDATE!

Main tutorials rewritten
Added 2 new tutorials for beginner GM users
Improved code sections
Perfected basic client + server package
Added a store
Added Twitter feed

I will now be working on additional examples, and marketing!

Fresh feedback welcome!