World of Warcraft

[GunKrazed]

Ive been wondering...what kind of programs do Blizzard use to make world of warcraft soo AWESOME?

[Reedbeta]

Well, they probably use a C++ IDE like Visual Studio and a source-control system like Perforce. They probably use a 2D graphics package like Photoshop and a 3D modeling tool like Maya or 3DS Max. Then they probably have some kind of bug tracking tools and perhaps some project/schedule management tools.

And they probably have built many, many tools themselves that are specific to their game and engine.

[GunKrazed]

Thank you =)

[starstutter]

In short, they use a lot of standard tools, many of which can be gotten for free (or boiled down versions of them). The tools they make themselves for the game however (to put together cutscenes, build character classes, ect) are inaccessable to the public, but then again that's a given for any tools made by developers (when I say that, I mean like... Hammer can't be used for anything but the Source engine I belive).

[GunKrazed]

Hmm..so what would i need to make a 2moons related mmorpg?

[Reedbeta]

A college education, a bunch of management and business experience, a few million bucks, a crack team of artists and programmers, 5 years, and a hell of a lot of luck. I think that about covers it.

[ville-v]

Hmm..so what would i need to make a 2moons related mmorpg?
You have to be programmer. Then you need 3 years to make the game by yourself, 6 years if you get some team. Read the devmaster.net articles concerning the matter.

[necroside]

Hmm..so what would i need to make a 2moons related mmorpg?

A work at blizzard or square-enix .. :), you can't do something like that by yourself, but you, with a small team, hard work, and a lot of nuts can make something playable in afew years.

[starstutter]

you, with a small team, hard work, and a lot of nuts.
In more than one way my friend ;)

[alphadog]

Hmm..so what would i need to make a 2moons related mmorpg?

For what end? Learning or commercial juggernaut success?

Bascially, you'll need: money, time, talent, processes and tools. Not necessarily in order of sequence or importance... :)

Actually, first you need a unique vision. Then, you need to know you have content generators in your pocket. Then, you need money to pay them. Yes, there's a million calls out there for "volunteer" artists... oftentimes, they are worth what you pay. But, if you want to get anywhere fast with commercial success, then you can't bank on the vagaries of volunteers.

Once you have it all storyboarded, cohesive and somewhat funded, you can go out and get skilled game developers. Not just any developers, but rather game developers. Talent in that area is hard to find, and expensive. Again, if you want to get anywhere fast, you can't just pull a guy who used to code in VB6 and is "looking to expand their skill set in Python, C++ and VB.Net".

Then, you need to be able to keep the whole team going for two years. BTW, contrary to the below and IMO, if you take more than approx. two years, the technology curve will have moved on and you'll release a commercial failure.

Depressed yet? I know I am... :)