I play a lot of Eve online. Its a spaceship MMO that is pretty much my new hobby.
I've always wanted some BFG "scale" Eve ships- not the size of the ships, but the size of the game. I found this site called Shapeways, that allows you to create what is called "3d prints", which are a little plastic molding of quite literally anything you want, or at least can design from 3d imaging software. Due to the lack of ship models for many many scifi backgrounds, this site is popular on spaceship game forums for people who play Full Thrust! etc.
I also noticed they have a store function, which basically allows you to use thier interface, machinery, and personnel to sell your intellectual property, your designs. They have hundreds of stores like this, some of which already sell spaceships. i intend to use this to create some cool ships, but then I started thinking... maybe I could make a wargame out of Eve. (note, shapeways wont work for true business purposes, i know this)
The eve store has a board game, some replica model kit type models of the battleships, and various other "swag". i also think I know CCP, the company that does EVE, well enough to propose the idea I have in mind. At least, i know them as a company, not personally, and I think theyd dig the idea, as EVE has constantly suffered from lack of background. This could possibly jumpstart it.
In addition, the background directly supports the idea of being a wargame. In the game, *you* are a capsuleer, a free agent with near-immortality through cloning and deep connections with your ship, enabling you to become much much better than the average navy ship. However, the Empires are constantly warring, and they are very distinctly different. The game has 4 very distinct factions and 5 very distinct pirate factions that hold territory, as well as a lot of smaller organizations with distinctive ships and tactics. It would be very easy to take these factions and apply them as a wargame, leaving the capsuleers to thier fickle interests, or possibly limited as allies.
So... where do I go from here? I don't think I have the presence of mind to start this up, even as a middle man, but lets presume i did. How would I make this happen?
I know a good deal about business, despite my lack of a degree, and I have the ideas, but no money, although I could get it. I should get others involved in the idea first, that much i know. I also know most of the intermediate steps I need to take here legislation and corporate wise... its piecing them together, finding support, and approaching it correctly i am worried about. In all honesty, that is where the skill of a businessman shows anyway.
I need to know how a game company even works, as well. I know there are game designers, model designers, and writers... but how do I bridge these? And how do I get the idea started up? I know I can't write background or sculpt or playtest, by myself.
I don't know, i know I'm thinking aloud but perhaps some direction could come of it, from one of you kind souls.
Thoughts?
-Zack
PS- If this works out, and I actually do it, I'm totally advertising here.
