An idea storm...

[Guildmaster]

You know what I think might help? It seems logical to me that we don't want to actually start programming until we actually have a game set in stone. That will save a lot of time on going back and rewriting new ideas into existing code.
But, with everybody posting ideas every now and then and nobody really agreeing on a set system, it becomes difficult to cross communicate. What I want to do is either get together in person or in a chat room or whatever and hammer out some details. I do think we need a fearless leader, at this point I see Amjayee I think? But it would be a lot easier to move this project in one direction if there's only one person at the wheel. Granted we all get to navigate, but from what I see Amjayee is our leader at this point.
Well anyway I want all of us to get together at one point in time, maybe next sunday in a chatroom and finalize some concept models.

[dan ward]

With Open Source projects you really need to release often to maintain momentum. Besides we've already started programming on a basic prototype.

England 1 Germany 0

: )

[amjayee]

I agree with Dan, that we need to make frequently some "demos" to show how we are proceeding, but also it's true it saves a lot of trouble if we can agree on the basic framework of the system soon. What we decide will not affect much the work we are foing with the prorotype - it includes mostly some technical solutions we will be using anyway. But in July, we need to start designing the final game, and then it would be good to have some vision of what the game will be like.

I agree about the meeting. We were supposed to have one some time ago, but only me and heardie were there... Maybe the people weren't informed well enough.

I have been unofficially in charge, yes. And I agree it would be good to have someone keeping everything under control. I can be that one, since I know programming, and I'm also interested in design. But I don't want to be very despotic leader - I'm willing to share responsibility with others, too. When we have agreed on the basic design framework, the game can be divided to sections - like I did - and if someone is paricularly interested in some section, he could lead the discussion in that area.

When would be a good time to have the meeting? Since there are Europeans, Americans and Australians involved, we need to decide the date and time carefully. For me, any day is ok, weekends are preferred. Suggest the times in GMT and in "military time" (24 hours) to avoid confusions - we have encountered a lot of them. For me 0200 GMT starts to be a little late, but on Saturday and Friday nights I can stay later. Would the next Saturday be ok?

I will come up with a framework scheme to discuss in a few days.

And Dan: England rules.

[Guildmaster]

Hmm... L.A. Lakers in 6! =Þ

You can be like a "Chairholder" type mediator type leader.
My best times are saturday evenings and all day sunday. All other times I'm working.

[amjayee]

Ok. How early on Saturday night you can be there, folks? Since we span most of the globe, it might be difficult to have a time suiting everyone. Perhaps Sunday would be best after all. Send suggestions in GMT. I think I could be around starting right from the morning.

[Guildmaster]

Where exactly are we going to meet?

[heardie]

Meetings aree usually held on IRC at undernet.org on #openciv3

[amjayee]

I'd like to add here, that we should try to connect to the same server, or at least a server on the same continent. Terrible lags have been experienced on Undernet when people on servers located overseas have attended to the same meeting... But that we can deal with then.

So, undernet and #openciv3. When are you people going to be there?

[The Joker]

How about sunday evening/night GMT? As the Americans are behind in time it would be morning/noon for them.

BTW I find myself real stupid right now, but I must say that I have no idea what Undernet is. How do you use it and where do you get it from?

[amjayee]

Good question.

Undernet is an irc server, one of the largest in the world. It is quite popular and reliable. We have used it with the programmers this far. The only problem in it is, that there are many servers, and usually if people are on different servers the lag is quite large - that's why it's more favorable to connect to the same server, than to the one closest to you.

I suggest that we all connect at least to a european server. I'm putting here instructions for those who are not familiar with irc.

1. Download an irc program. A program called mirc is one of the best, and it's free. Get it from tucows (www.tucows.com), for example.

2. After installing the program, start it. specify your nickname in the screen that appears. You can choose the server also from this screen, if you want - choose any server with "undernet" in its name. But for beginners, it might be good to close the window after specifying the nick.

3. Write "/server eu.undernet.org" when you have closed the screen. Then press enter. This connects you to the fastest european server at the moment.

4. When you have connected to the server, a screen with the channel names appears. If you can find the channel "#openciv3", join it. If not, close the screen, and write "/join #openciv3".

I will be there on Sunday evening, starting from somewhere around 1500-1600 GMT. If you have problems connecting, send a message on the apolyton, I will be monitoring the forums. Or, send me email to amjayee@kolumbus.fi. If you are not familiar with irc, you could perhaps practice it well before Sunday evening, so I can give more instructions.

I hope as many people as possible can be there, so we can decide some things.

[Guildmaster]

I wanted to know, are we going to do another meeting this sunday the 2nd?

[amjayee]

I was unable to get to my computer during the last weekend, sorry. If there was some talk in some place, please send it to the forum. Next weekend I'm free to come. Should we decide a time for the next meeting? Sunday July 9th evening/night GMT is fine for me.