Ahoy mates! We have been hard at work on developing Hearts of Oak, and though we have faced some new challenges, we are back on track and making some great progress! We even recently released a proof of concept Tech Demo! We are well aware a lot of people have doubted that we could do what we set out to do, and to be honest, there have been times when we have doubted it ourselves. This demo goes a long way in proving to ourselves that we can, and will, create this game!
July Tech Demo Features :
- UMA Character System
Using UMA (the Unity Multi-purpose Avatar system), we can now generate a vast range of character models on the fly, without needing to model each one individually. This also allows for deep customization, which is opened up to the player in-game with the UMAzing asset from the Unity store.
- Basic Sailing
Sailing will be one of the core mechanics of Hearts of Oak, and this build includes a very early system that lets you take command of a ship and use the W, A, S and D keys to steer and set the sails. Simply approach a nearby ship and click on it to take control.
- Open World Environment
This build includes a sparsely detailed set of small islands to test the performance and feasibility of an open world environment. At present, objects are rendered within 2000m of the player's position, but this may change with further tests.
- P2P Networking
As a test, we have included Unity 5's new UNET P2P networking system. This is mostly to allow developers to collaborate in a shared game world (hence the chat window), but eventually this can be expanded on to introduce full multiplayer modes.
- In-game Editor (experimental)
This is another tool aimed at making development easier, which should allow our artists to add and move assets to the game while in the game itself. Currently, this only works if you have Unity installed, but in future it should offer a streamlined way for artists to populate islands with props, buildings and scenery.
To find out more about the Tech Demo, and downlaod and play it for yourself, head on over to our IndieDB page
HERE, or our game page
HERE! If you would like to help out, please head over to our
Recruitment Forum and post an plication, if possible, please include some samples of your work.
We do still have a long way to go however, and we need your help to get us there! Currently our greatest need is Programmers and 2D, 3D and Character artists. We are still accepting applications for our other roles as well, we are recruiting for all positions on our development team. You do not necessarily need any of the skills below to join our team, but they would certainly be helpful to our overall development process. A willingness to learn and be a productive part of our development team is the number one skill we are looking for! We have a whole world to fill with objects and people to interact with, and we need your skills to help our world really come to life! Some of our other rolls include :
3D Artists
- Able to model any of the following assets to a high standard:
- Ships (these are highly complex models that require skill and dedication to make)
- Clothingitems for characters (such as coats, hats, shoes etc.)
- Buildings (including full interior)
- Weapons (such as melee weapons, pistols, and cannons)
- Scenery props (smaller assets that are easier to make and will help populate the game world)
- Able to produce LODs and UV maps (and shapshots if artists require them)
- Able to apply existing textures to models
- Able to export a model to FBX or OBJ format for use in Unity 5
- Assistance with research and/or complex modelling will be provided
Unity Developers
- Able to help produce core game mechanics
- Able to effectively collaborate with other developers
- Knowledge of C# or JavaScript required
- Familiarity with engine development highly desirable
- Details of game systems to build will be provided
GUI Artists
- Able to design and implement user interface elements in Unity 5
- Details of art style to aim for will be provided
Level Designers
- Able to piece together well-designed locations using predefined assets (or own work)
- Able to recreate historical towns using provided references and assets
Texture Artists
- Able to produce high-quality textures (including diffuse, specular, normal maps and so on)
- Able to work with modellers if needed
- UV map creation not required (unless agreed with a modeller)
Composers & Sound Engineers
- Able to compose high-quality original music for the game
- Musical style to aim for will be explained by Coordinator
OR
- Able to provide high-quality sound effects for the game
We are not looking for a handout, we are offering you a partnership! While we are unable to offer monetary compensation, we are all volunteers too, we are offering the opportunity to give you, and your art, exposure on a massive scale! Your creations will not simply be posted pictures or samples in some portfolio or on a static web page, they will come to life on screen and interact with people in real time. They will be featured in our development update articles and videos on Youtube, and, once the game is released, in Let's Play videos from fans around the world!
We are a worldwide forum and have been creating mods for over a decade. We have thousands of forum members and followers, and have been featured on some of the top gaming sites on the web! Even though our game is still in early development, we were recently selected by voting into the top 100 for voting in the Indie Game of the Year on IndieDB! We are getting noticed! You will be given full credit for your work, both on screen and in the finished game manual. You will retain all applicable copyrights to your own work, all we ask is that you allow us to use your creations in our Mods and Games. It's tough to find a deal that will give you better publicity than that.
.
.
