From The Mana World
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So you want to join this project, but you have little or no idea how to get into? The Mana World development team is not a closed circle like other projects. You needn't apply to anyone or ask for "being taken into the team". You don't have to ask for permission to work on something or wait for someone to assign a task to you. A team member is basically everyone who volunteers to do something for the project.
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==TMW-eA (current game)==


But keep in mind that we do have a quality standard and will not add game content that isn't good enough in the teams opinion. Also it might be good to ask what is needed and what is being worked on to make sure that you aren't wasting your time.
So you want to help this project, but you have little or no idea how to get into it? The Mana World eA development team is not a closed circle like many other projects. You don't need to apply to anyone or ask for "being taken into the team". You don't have to ask for permission to work on something or wait for someone to assign a task to you. A team member is basically anyone who volunteers to do something for the game. For further information and assistance, you should contact Jaxad0127 either on the forums or in IRC.


This page should provide you with the necessary starting points. It can always be rather difficult to know what to start with, especially when you're just jumping in. However, any help is most welcome and with some time you should be able to decide what you want to work on yourself.
===Technical aspects===
The technical aspects of development of TMW-eA include tweaking our residential TMW-eA server and server-sided software. The server is done in C and scripts are done in the eA scripting language. Notably TMW-eA is an SVN snapshot from [http://eathena.ws/| eAthena] (a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragnarok_Online| Ragnarok Online] game server emulator software) in early 2004. We've extensively hacked it over the years (it was at the moment of taking the snapshot in transition from the basis of an old hacky [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MUD| MUD] server to the current eAthena codebase). The technical aspects of the TMW-eA project also include packaging data updates for the client.


== General organization ==
Future client development is being done by the [http://manasource.org| Manasource project]. The client is done in C++ and potentially in the future in Qt.


To know what is currently happening or what could be worked on, we have a few important pages. The [http://mantis.themanaworld.org/roadmap_page.php roadmap] provides a planning for upcoming releases, where sometimes tasks are assigned or listed to be picked up by somebody. Known issues, including many which are generally free for anybody to look into can be found on [http://mantis.themanaworld.org Mantis]. Finally there is the [[suggestions|suggestions page]] where anybody can put his wish list for the game, and where anybody can look for inspiration when looking for something to do.
We still have a Mantis issue tracker at [http://mantis.themanaworld.org| http://mantis.themanaworld.org].


These pages and others are linked from the section for developers on the [[Main Page|main page]].
Manasource issue tracker: [http://bugs.manasource.org| http://bugs.manasource.org]


It is very important for you to be available for discussion with other developers on [http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewtopic.php?t=747 our IRC channels] from time to time, as we do most of our discussions there. We also have a mailing lists for development discussion, that you should subscribe to:
===Content===
Content means: new monsters, new equipment, new maps, new NPCs, new quests, new anything into the game.


* http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/themanaworld-devel<br>The developers mailing list where discussion about the project happens.
Content does not mean: GFX, SFX.


Finally, although not required, you are invited to visit our forums:
Before anything can get into the game, it should be designed. After that it should be implemented server-sided. Then GFX and potentially also SFX can be requested for it and it can go into the game once they're done. Currently visioning ideas is a collective process anyone can take part in and the people doing scripting are cherry-picking whatever ideas they want to get into the game. Scripting stuff is also a free for all process. Once there is a good idea to expand the world, in general new maps can be requested. Reading the forums thoroughly and asking publicly usually gets you answers rather well.


* http://forums.themanaworld.org/
[http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewforum.php?f=13| TMW-eA content development forum]


== Programmers ==
===Graphics===
'''Refer to:''' [[User:Bjørn|Bjørn]], [[User:Crush|Crush]]
Graphics development could currently (May 2010) use a few pixel artists going about and retouching old mistakes in tilesets and monstersets. Also if the content development crowd picks up and starts to provide concepts which would require new GFX work to be done, then there is going to be a demand for new equipmentwork, tilesets and monstersets. Please remember to pay attention to our [Guidelines| guidelines].


Our current projects include the client and two different servers. The server which is currently used is a customized version of eAthena (a Ragnarok Online server emulator) and the new server TMWServ which isn't used yet but is being worked on. See the [[Git repository]] page about how to get the source of these programs. Try to browse the source to see if you can get a bit familiar with them.
Also do hunt for unfulfilled REQ topics on the forums if you're looking for something to do. Newbie pixel artists or people doing their first pixel art piece ever are also very welcome. The community can be pretty harsh at times, but there are also people around who actually do know what they're talking about. It is up to you to distinguish between these two.


When you are searching for something you could do you should check our bug- and task tracking system on http://mantis.themanaworld.org. It lists a lot of small and large problems on many different areas. Just pick one that interests you.
[http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewforum.php?f=8| TMW-eA GFX development forum]


Your first contributions could be in the form of patches submitted to our Mantis task tracker or the developer mailing list. Please check the [[Hacking|hacking guidelines]] before writing your patches. If it turns out you like the project and you want to keep contributing for a long period, we'll consider giving you push access to our main Git repository.
===SFX / Music===
The SFX and music development scheme for TMW-eA is currently not really all that active and occasionally some things are discussed over at content development.


== Artists ==
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'''Refer to:''' [[User:Jaxad0127|Jaxad0127]], [[User:Crush|Crush]], [[User:Rotonen|Rotonen]]
==TMW (the future dream, currently doing CR1)==


Our graphic design team can always use help. May it be just an inventory icon, a [[Monsterset development|new monster]] or a [[Tileset development|complete Tileset]]. Improving existing graphics is also always welcome. When you want to do a task, then you should announce it on the [http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewforum.php?f=8 Graphic Development Forum], and post regular updates there. But be sure to read our [[Guidelines|style guidelines]] first.
TMW is done a bit differently. We are having an organized approach to developing things. Content for the game world is going to get released in a controlled fashion in Content Releases (CR). Currently (May 2010) we're working on CR1, codenamed 'Alphaville Acres'. The scope of CR1 is to produce a tutorial island for the game world. This goal is split into several different subprojects. All subprojects of a given CR might not be open at the same time due to other subprojects blocking them. Most notably no one will be allowed to do equipment work until the playerset is done or no one will be allowed to do monsterset work until the tilesets are done and the monsters and gameplay are designed beforehand.


You should also hang out on our graphic design channel #tmw-art [http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewtopic.php?t=747]. It is good for a little brainstorming session or for showing small pieces of work you don't want to show to the whole community yet.
===Technical aspects===


== Mappers ==
For the server we're going to use manaserv from the Manasource project.
'''Refer to:''' [[User:Jaxad0127|Jaxad0127]]


Creating maps is a task that does not require much experience but is a great way to add more value to the game. More information about how to map can be found on the article [[Mapping Tutorial]]. Be sure to check out our [[Map development|Map development guidelines]], too.
For the client we're going to use the mana client from the Manasource project.
 
Essentially TMW is just a client project of manasource which is trying to portray a game world and an MMO experience using the Manasource technology platform. So if you want to help on the technical aspects, we'll be only doing packaging of client data updates and server sided content updates ourselves and we're directing you to help the [http://manasource.org| Manasource project] for other technical development.
 
[http://bugs.manasource.org| Manasource issue tracker]
 
===CR1 subprojects===
 
In general, we have a read only forum section for CR1 development so we can do things in peace. Contact Rotonen for access, but be prepared to come with references of you being useful there. We're in dire need of pixel artists (base tileset work, tileset object work, playerset work, spriteset work) [http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewforum.php?f=24| Link to the read only section]
 
In addition to this we also have an [http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewforum.php?f=30| open development section] for CR1 where anyone can comment on things. What is brought up there instead of the read only section is up to individual artists / contributors and how they want to work. This is also a really good place to ask questions or give feedback on things you see on the read only section.
 
Currently (May 2010) open CR1 subprojects:
 
[http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewtopic.php?t=8399| Tilesets & Mapping subproject (AxlTrozz)]
 
[http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewtopic.php?t=8554| Soundscape and Music subproject (saturn)]
 
[http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewtopic.php?t=10366| Gamesystems & Gameplay subproject (Freeyorp)]
 
[http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewtopic.php?t=8402| Playerset subproject] (currently very [http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewtopic.php?t=10194| lost] and [http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewtopic.php?t=10348| without a clear lead])
 
Future CR1 subprojects yet to be started:
 
Equipment design (stats)
 
Equipment graphics
 
Item design (stats)
 
Item graphics
 
Monster design (stats)
 
Monster graphics
 
Quest design
 
NPC graphics
 
Testing
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Revision as of 19:52, 23 May 2010

TMW-eA (current game)

So you want to help this project, but you have little or no idea how to get into it? The Mana World eA development team is not a closed circle like many other projects. You don't need to apply to anyone or ask for "being taken into the team". You don't have to ask for permission to work on something or wait for someone to assign a task to you. A team member is basically anyone who volunteers to do something for the game. For further information and assistance, you should contact Jaxad0127 either on the forums or in IRC.

Technical aspects

The technical aspects of development of TMW-eA include tweaking our residential TMW-eA server and server-sided software. The server is done in C and scripts are done in the eA scripting language. Notably TMW-eA is an SVN snapshot from eAthena (a Ragnarok Online game server emulator software) in early 2004. We've extensively hacked it over the years (it was at the moment of taking the snapshot in transition from the basis of an old hacky MUD server to the current eAthena codebase). The technical aspects of the TMW-eA project also include packaging data updates for the client.

Future client development is being done by the Manasource project. The client is done in C++ and potentially in the future in Qt.

We still have a Mantis issue tracker at http://mantis.themanaworld.org.

Manasource issue tracker: http://bugs.manasource.org

Content

Content means: new monsters, new equipment, new maps, new NPCs, new quests, new anything into the game.

Content does not mean: GFX, SFX.

Before anything can get into the game, it should be designed. After that it should be implemented server-sided. Then GFX and potentially also SFX can be requested for it and it can go into the game once they're done. Currently visioning ideas is a collective process anyone can take part in and the people doing scripting are cherry-picking whatever ideas they want to get into the game. Scripting stuff is also a free for all process. Once there is a good idea to expand the world, in general new maps can be requested. Reading the forums thoroughly and asking publicly usually gets you answers rather well.

TMW-eA content development forum

Graphics

Graphics development could currently (May 2010) use a few pixel artists going about and retouching old mistakes in tilesets and monstersets. Also if the content development crowd picks up and starts to provide concepts which would require new GFX work to be done, then there is going to be a demand for new equipmentwork, tilesets and monstersets. Please remember to pay attention to our [Guidelines| guidelines].

Also do hunt for unfulfilled REQ topics on the forums if you're looking for something to do. Newbie pixel artists or people doing their first pixel art piece ever are also very welcome. The community can be pretty harsh at times, but there are also people around who actually do know what they're talking about. It is up to you to distinguish between these two.

TMW-eA GFX development forum

SFX / Music

The SFX and music development scheme for TMW-eA is currently not really all that active and occasionally some things are discussed over at content development.

TMW (the future dream, currently doing CR1)

TMW is done a bit differently. We are having an organized approach to developing things. Content for the game world is going to get released in a controlled fashion in Content Releases (CR). Currently (May 2010) we're working on CR1, codenamed 'Alphaville Acres'. The scope of CR1 is to produce a tutorial island for the game world. This goal is split into several different subprojects. All subprojects of a given CR might not be open at the same time due to other subprojects blocking them. Most notably no one will be allowed to do equipment work until the playerset is done or no one will be allowed to do monsterset work until the tilesets are done and the monsters and gameplay are designed beforehand.

Technical aspects

For the server we're going to use manaserv from the Manasource project.

For the client we're going to use the mana client from the Manasource project.

Essentially TMW is just a client project of manasource which is trying to portray a game world and an MMO experience using the Manasource technology platform. So if you want to help on the technical aspects, we'll be only doing packaging of client data updates and server sided content updates ourselves and we're directing you to help the Manasource project for other technical development.

Manasource issue tracker

CR1 subprojects

In general, we have a read only forum section for CR1 development so we can do things in peace. Contact Rotonen for access, but be prepared to come with references of you being useful there. We're in dire need of pixel artists (base tileset work, tileset object work, playerset work, spriteset work) Link to the read only section

In addition to this we also have an open development section for CR1 where anyone can comment on things. What is brought up there instead of the read only section is up to individual artists / contributors and how they want to work. This is also a really good place to ask questions or give feedback on things you see on the read only section.

Currently (May 2010) open CR1 subprojects:

Tilesets & Mapping subproject (AxlTrozz)

Soundscape and Music subproject (saturn)

Gamesystems & Gameplay subproject (Freeyorp)

Playerset subproject (currently very lost and without a clear lead)

Future CR1 subprojects yet to be started:

Equipment design (stats)

Equipment graphics

Item design (stats)

Item graphics

Monster design (stats)

Monster graphics

Quest design

NPC graphics

Testing