FIRSTopoly for PC

[Steve S.]

Hi everyone.....

Im looking for some programming help with FIRSTopoly...im not all that great with programming otherwise id try it myself. This is based on the monopoly for pc, but with different properties and chance/community chest cards of course :).

A Beta will be released at the end of july...no dates for a final version yet. so if anyone has some free time..HELP!

(fyi: the game will not be called FIRSTopoly unless permission is obtained from USAopoly. FIRSTopoly is the codename for the project.)

*edit* A Board Game version will be made, no dates for release as of yet *edit*

[Dan Petrovic]

Dude!

Sweet! I can't help you... but... sweet!

Can we get a few examples of what pieces, properties, and chance/community chest cards might be?

[Steve S.]

Dude!

Sweet! I can't help you... but... sweet!

Can we get a few examples of what pieces, properties, and chance/community chest cards might be?

oops...yeah

I would also like ideas for what the pieces, properties and cards should look like

how about a Krispy Kreme on the board???

[Dan Petrovic]

One suggestion:

25's 06 bot as a piece.

I'll come up with more.

[CraigHickman]

If it's art you're after, give me a shout out and I'll try my best to help with that.

As for board items, for the facilities you might want things like machining tools (aka Mill, Lathe, CNC shop, etc.)

[Pat McCarthy]

Maybe have properties like, team's hometowns and whatnot.
To use a familiar example, "Hammond, IN" or "Beatty Machining" could be properties. That one would have to be like Park Place or Boardwalk. :rolleyes:

EDIT: The classic 'Go' spot should be "Robot Inspection" so when you get a go to jail card, it says, "Go straight to Jail, do not pass inspection, do not collect $200!"

[Bill_Hancoc]

you should have like a fed ex truck and the start shud be kickoff...then for houses and hotels you shud have garages and machine shops
or for all the propertys you could do all the regionals...dont know if there is enough though but its a start

[Steve S.]

Maybe have properties like, team's hometowns and whatnot.
To use a familiar example, "Hammond, IN" or "Beatty Machining" could be properties. That one would have to be like Park Place or Boardwalk. :rolleyes:

EDIT: The classic 'Go' spot should be "Robot Inspection" so when you get a go to jail card, it says, "Go straight to Jail, do not pass inspection, do not collect $200!"

How about the GO TO JAIL spot being DISQUALIFIED


Software Currently Being Used

Game Maker- www.gamemaker.nl
GIMP- http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/

[Barry Bonzack]

instead of Luxury tax, have a penalty flag. No railroads.... Save a porche, ride a Segway.... Take a ride on Dean's Helicopter.... North Dumpling Island should be boardwalk! Instead of money, we should use Dean's currency, the Dumpling. The value of one of the bills is equivalent to the value of pi. This game will be great, I'm looking forward to it.


Ha... chance card... get 2nd place at IRI talent show, collect 15 Dumplings. (sorry, DSKB, just second)

[EHaskins]

I might be able to help do something if you would use vb.net or c#. I think the idea is good, I can help with some of the graphics too. If you have any of the graphics done or if you have started any of the programing e-mail it to me at haskinseric@hotmail.com (mainto:haskinseric@hotmail.com).

[Ryan Foley]

Use past game pieces/ field elements as the player pieces (ball, tetra, bin, floppie, inner tube, mobile goals, puck). Or, use some of the bots from Dave's game animations.

Properties:
use regional events, for all but the blue spaces. For those, use DaVinci (FVC championship field), and Einstein (FLL/ FRC championship field).

Railroads = Galileo, Newton, Archimedes, Curie.
Free Parking = NASA Grant (or something like that), or Chairmans Award.
Tax = Penalty
Jail = DQ, Disable, or Failed Inspection
Go = Kickoff

[miketwalker]

Running on the heels of Ryan's idea which I was thinking about. I think using regionals would be great. There are alot of things you could do with it that would be cool. For example, instead of "buying" a property you're becoming the "head sponsor" or something goofy like that. Then of course whoever lands on it has to pay "registration fees" for attending which would go back to the "sponsor". The houses/hotels become that you're sponsoring the Bronze, then Silver, then Gold awards... with the hotel being the Chairman's Award. Then Park Place/Boardwalk could be the Championship Event and such. If there's not enough regionals for spaces (or you want to have an "off-season" area) you could have one of the areas have some off-seasons.

I really like the idea someone said about the railroads being the fields from Championship. I also like the idea about past game pieces as actual game pieces.

As for the computer game version, I'd be interested in helping out. What are you using the code it? I might be able to help out with graphics design if your coding in an area I'm not as useful with. Very cool idea, and I like even more that this could become an actual board game.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Just a side note.

The Monopoly game, and its derivitives, are trademarked by Parker Brothers which is owned by Hasboro.

Parker brothers routinely gives out licences to create derivitive work (such as FIRSTopoly), however you would need to obtain such a licence.

To use the name FIRST in the title (if you choose to do so) would require apporval and licencing from FIRST as well.

That being said: I think this is a great idea and oppertunity. If you need beta testers or code checking (VB.net or C#.net) then I'll volunteer. :)

[Steve S.]

Update:

Game Maker is no longer being used after figuring out that there is no way a monopoly like game can be created in game maker.....

Any suggestions on what other program to use? If there is enough programming help, it can be coded in other lang...

[Joe_Widen]

There are 40 spaces on a monopoly board.

-22 properties
- 4 Rail Roads
- 2 Utility
- 2 Taxes
- 3 Community Chest
- 3 Chance
- Free Parking
- Go to Jail
- Jail
- Go

I know that the game piece's in other version such as dogopoly are related to in this case dogs. There is a bowl, bone, fire hydrant, mailman, ect. The game pieces for the FIRSTopoly could be a hammer, saw, skyway wheel, cim, screw, ect.
The properties in dogopoly are, yep you guess it, dogs. So we could use FRC teams as the "properties". The first side of the board (Light blue and Purple) would contain the rookie all-stars. The property on that side would be the nationals rookie allstar, then national rookie inspiration, ect. The next side (orange and pinkish-purple) would be teams that win technical design awards year after year (as long as they dont fill in one of the next spots). The next side (Red and Yellow) would have national winners. Beatty would be the last on the road. To sort out the other funny stuff, you could go by who came relatively the closest to winning there second. The final side of the board (Blue and Green) would be for the hall of fame. I have no clue how to sort this out tho.
The railroads should be the four fields in Atlanta
Utility should be a laythe shop and a mill shop.
Taxes should be paying for a regional or the KOP.
Community chess should be like community involvement where you get donations and such from the public (Like a bake sale).
Chance ___________(I have no clue so fillin the blank)
Free parking could be you get another sponsor.
Go to jail could be fail in spection
Jail could be "Time for Speed Holes"
Go ________ (Another Fillin the blank)


Thats everything.

P.s I had a monopoly board infront of me while i did this.

[Nuttyman54]

The properties in dogopoly are, yep you guess it, dogs. So we could use FRC teams as the "properties". The first side of the board (Light blue and Purple) would contain the rookie all-stars. The property on that side would be the nationals rookie allstar, then national rookie inspiration, ect. The next side (orange and pinkish-purple) would be teams that win technical design awards year after year (as long as they dont fill in one of the next spots). The next side (Red and Yellow) would have national winners. Beatty would be the last on the road.

I'd be hesitant to do this, because it favors some teams over other, and there are teams who don't necessarily win technical awards year after year, but still have very VERY good robots, ala 254* (The only technical award they've won at SVR since 2002 is Motorola Quality in 2005, yet they consistently win it every year with a spectaculary efficient robot)

I like the idea of using regionals as properties, and having the bigger (not necessarily "better") regionals be the higher priced ones.

*254 was used as an example because I'm very familliar with their team and robots over the past number of years.

[EHaskins]

Like i said above I can help with programming and some of the art. I think this should be easy to do in VB.net or C#, and both of these are free from microsoft here (http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/) :) . I am leaveing for a vacation this weekend, but when get back I'll get started on this.

[Kristian Calhoun]

I like the idea of using regionals as properties, and having the bigger (not necessarily "better") regionals be the higher priced ones.

I'm in favor of using the regionals as properties too. There were 33 regionals this year plust the championship event, and only 22 spaces on the board, so about 12 regionals wont be used.

From this year, the largest regionals were:
NASA/VCU - 64 teams
Chesapeake - 64 teams
NJ - 63 teams
GLR - 63 teams

Of course, each year more teams are formed and attend these regionals, and these regionals only have a 1 team difference. Also more regionals are added each year, so you'd have to figure out a way to decide which property/regional goes on which position on the board, and which ones would be used.

...Or you can scrap the idea of using regionals as properties and do something different. :p

[lukevanoort]

I'm in favor of using the regionals as properties too. There were 33 regionals this year plust the championship event, and only 22 spaces on the board, so about 12 regionals wont be used.

From this year, the largest regionals were:
NASA/VCU - 64 teams
Chesapeake - 64 teams
NJ - 63 teams
GLR - 63 teams

Of course, each year more teams are formed and attend these regionals, and these regionals only have a 1 team difference. Also more regionals are added each year, so you'd have to figure out a way to decide which property/regional goes on which position on the board, and which ones would be used.

...Or you can scrap the idea of using regionals as properties and do something different. :p
Don't forget GTR, they had seventy-something. (I think)

[Kristian Calhoun]

Don't forget GTR, they had seventy-something. (I think)

oops! I knew I was forgetting one. They had 74 teams attending this year.

[hoorayforpink]

sounds awesome cant really help(im not really on the smart side of everything) but id get no matter the cost!

[Alexa Stott]

I'd be hesitant to do this, because it favors some teams over other, and there are teams who don't necessarily win technical awards year after year, but still have very VERY good robots, ala 254* (The only technical award they've won at SVR since 2002 is Motorola Quality in 2005, yet they consistently win it every year with a spectaculary efficient robot)

I like the idea of using regionals as properties, and having the bigger (not necessarily "better") regionals be the higher priced ones.

*254 was used as an example because I'm very familliar with their team and robots over the past number of years.

I agree. Some teams might be offended if they do not make it onto the board. But perhaps the Hall of Fame teams could be on there. That way, it's a set group of teams, not just the ones that, in your/anyone else helping with the project's eyes is better.

It sounds like a really cool idea, and I can't wait to see how it turns out! :D

[KTorak]

Chance cards could be like "Robot Controller Malfunction, pay $50 to replace"
Or "Airport delays cause you to miss a connection flight, pay $100 to rebook".

[Nuttyman54]

Or "Airport delays cause you to miss a connection flight, pay $100 to rebook".

and of course, Airport delay causes them to kick you off your flight, so the team spends 5 hours bumming around in ATL. Get $200 in compensation...(yes, this actually happened to us this year)

[Barry Bonzack]

make a JVN gamepiece. I can see pregame bickering on who gets to be JVN.

[Ashley Weed]

"Battle wound has occurred pay $50 in repair fees."

This will be really neat.

It would be nice if it could actually be marketed, I enjoy my PennStateopoly and all the innuendos in it.

[Barry Bonzack]

"Battle wound has occurred pay $50 in repair fees."

This will be really neat.

It would be nice if it could actually be marketed, I enjoy my PennStateopoly and all the innuendos in it.


Ashley may have an idea there. It wouldn't sell in all stores, but perhaps in the FIRST Store in Atlanta, and on usfirst.org/store.

[Eric L]

i was thinking the Utilities should be assembly shop and a machine shop.

i love this idea and hope that everything goes well while making the game. i cannot wait to try it.

[DevilChild]

Amazing idea, I will totally buy it if you make it a real boardgame.

I think, for game pieces, you should mix it up. Some tools, some old game pieces (the tetra in particular), some of the bots from the Kickoff videos, and a Segway. Because that one would look really cool.

[Tetraman]

Ta Da!!...In order of how the spaces appear...

Kickoff........................................... ..Go
Finger Lakes Regional..........................Mediterranean Av
Community Service.............................Community Chest
Buckeye Regional...............................Baltic Av
Sustainment Fees..............................Income Tax
Newton Field.....................................Reading Railroad
Pacific North West.............................Oriental Av
Chance............................................ Chance
Flordia Regional.................................Vermont Av
Boilermaker Regional...........................Connecticut Av
Disqualified...................................... .Jail
Silicon Valley Regional.........................ST. Charles Pl
Lego Leauge.....................................Electri c Company
Southern California Regional.................State Av
Wisconsin Regional.............................Virginia Av
Curie Field........................................Penn. Railroad
Detroit Regional................................ST. James Pl.
Community Service............................Community Chest
GM/T Isreal Regional..........................Tennessee Av
New York City Regional.......................New York Av
Pits.............................................. ..Free Parking
Waterloo Regional..............................Kentucky Av
Chance............................................ Chance
Las Vagas Regional............................Indiana Av
New Jersey Regional...........................Illinois Av
Archimedies Field...............................B&O Railroad
Lone Star Regional.............................Atlantic Av
Mid West Regional.............................Ventnor Av
Vex Challenge...................................Water Works
UTC New England..............................Marvin Gardens
Go To Disqualified..............................Go To Jail
Boston Regional................................Pacific Av
Chesapeake.....................................Nor th Carolina Av
Community Service...........................Community Chest
NASA/VCU......................................Penn. Av
Galieo Field.....................................Short Line
Chance..........................................Ch ance
Greater Toronto Regional...................Park Place
Team Expences...............................Luxury Tax
Great Lakes Regional........................Boardwalk


Game Peices:

A Tetra
A Trophy
An Old Ball Goal
Woodie Flower's Cane
A Ball
A Lego Peice
A Wrench
A Computer/Laptop
A Segway
The Shovel-bot

[anna~marie]

HECK YES

me want.

[Dan Petrovic]

Aww... BAE GSR gets no love :(


The Shovel-bot

Yes! Gotta have the blue plow-bot!

[Pavan Dave]

+1 for the tetra man. I love that idea. :) I think that you should have a Victor, A Motor, A Green Light, or an OI too :).

-Junx

[John Gutmann]

Make certain game pieces come with it. Then make a game piece expansion pack.

[Alexa Stott]

Make certain game pieces come with it. Then make a game piece expansion pack.

That's actually not a bad idea. Different expansion packs for certain pieces. Like maybe have some of the best robots be pieces in a robot expansion pack, or maybe old game pieces as another.

[Nuttyman54]

Like maybe have some of the best robots be pieces in a robot expansion pack

Or a National/World Champion's expansion, that would be cool! or one of all the design awards at champs,

[Tetraman]

Yes! Gotta have the blue plow-bot!

It is replaceing the Racecar. haha. It's the game peice everyone wants to have.


For example, instead of "buying" a property you're becoming the "head sponsor" or something goofy like that.

I want to make this apparent, it should be how buying propertys should work.

Sponser.............House
Head Sponser......Hotel

It might make too much sence, but in the scheme of FIRST, it does, I think.

[Nuttyman54]

I want to make this apparent, it should be how buying propertys should work.

Sponser.............House
Head Sponser......Hotel

It might make too much sence, but in the scheme of FIRST, it does, I think.

Makes sense to me, i'm just not quite sure how the peices would look...any one got ideas? Maybe like...a mini blue banner as the houses (the ones that hang on the side of the screen) and the screen as the head sponsor?

[Tetraman]

Maybe like...a mini blue banner as the houses (the ones that hang on the side of the screen) and the screen as the head sponsor?

I like that. I'd go for it.

[Alex Cormier]

Hotel piece = work building = sponsor
house piece = small work building = donor

instead of head sponsor and all that.

[Noah Kleinberg]

If you still need any programming help with this, count me in :p

[Steve S.]

Now we have some options

We can:
a) have this professionally made (meaning we would all have to order a copy, yes paying for it too)

b) make the game with those that would like to help in any way (will be dist. as shareware, the main game will be free, exp packs will be sold at a cost of $1 ea. with all money from those being donated to CD.)

c)Same as b but have it all free (dist as freeware)

And for those that want to help, lets get a email list going (repost the previous list from the last person and add yours, just to keep it neat)

[Tetraman]

Hotel piece = work building = sponsor
house piece = small work building = donor

instead of head sponsor and all that.

Agreed. Makes better sence too.

I wish I knew code and stuff. However, I'd be able to make a killer physical Boardgame of it...I think...That reminds me...I should revive my FIRST card game I once worked on...

As to the FIRSTopoly, I'd think of add BAE Regional and take out, like Waterloo or something, cause BAE is a big Regional I forgot.

And how would we get it professionaly made?

[Steve S.]

Agreed. Makes better sence too.

I wish I knew code and stuff. However, I'd be able to make a killer physical Boardgame of it...I think...That reminds me...I should revive my FIRST card game I once worked on...

As to the FIRSTopoly, I'd think of add BAE Regional and take out, like Waterloo or something, cause BAE is a big Regional I forgot.

And how would we get it professionaly made?

we would get permission to use the opoly name and there are multiple software companies that make games on request.

[Tetraman]

we would get permission to use the opoly name and there are multiple software companies that make games on request.

My gut instint says it's not that easy.

And I think it would be cooler for FIRST, if FIRST team members made it.

[Steve S.]

My gut instint says it's not that easy.

And I think it would be cooler for FIRST, if FIRST team members made it.

its not easy, it would take at least a year to have it made by a company

[Alexa Stott]

My gut instint says it's not that easy.

And I think it would be cooler for FIRST, if FIRST team members made it.

I agree. Also, I think that actual FIRST students would be able to maybe make it a bit "better." Like Steve (team1591) did, they could come here and ask us about our opinions. They'd be more likely to know what we want than a software company.

[Steve S.]

Okay, heres what we do now.....for those that want to help,
We need to have all the ideas given in this thread organized and typed up in word, we will all vote on each idea in order to eliminate some....after voting takes place, the results will be announced here on CD in a new thread....

Then the making of the game (graphics, coding, etc) will begin!

so, any volunteers to organize the ideas??

And Here is the list of who would like to help:

InfernoX14
114ManualLabor
EHaskins
miketwalker
Daniel LaFleur
Noah Kleinberg
anna~marie

(if i forgot anyone, please let me know)

And see page 2 for the link to download VB Basic and C# as these programs will be used for coding...

[Steve S.]

FIRSTopoly launch screen

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/25196?

[Dan Petrovic]

Hahaha!

I know this has nothing to do with anything. But your desktop ROCKS!

Looks like things are coming along! I'm still available to help, if you need it.

[Steve S.]

Hahaha!

I know this has nothing to do with anything. But your desktop ROCKS!

Looks like things are coming along! I'm still available to help, if you need it.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/19076
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/19075
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/19135
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/19077

now back on topic, thats probably as much as i can do on my own :o

[Jherbie53]

I haven't been following this thread, but when I looked at what the proprieties would be, West Michigan regional was missing from it. At least I'm pretty sure that it was, I even looked at it 2-3 times just to make sure.

[Noah Kleinberg]

FIRSTopoly launch screen

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/25196?

So what was that part made in?

P.S. sweet desktop :cool:

[Faith]

I haven't been following this thread, but when I looked at what the proprieties would be, West Michigan regional was missing from it. At least I'm pretty sure that it was, I even looked at it 2-3 times just to make sure.

Not all the regionals will be able to be used. Although I would have expected BAE State regional to be in there. It is kind of a major one.

[Steve S.]

So what was that part made in?

P.S. sweet desktop :cool:

Visual Studio (see page 2 for download link)

[Joe_Widen]

You guys should make a google group for this project. It would be a quick way to communicate with everyone in your small FIRSTopoly team.

[divergentdave]

The Monopoly game, and its derivitives, are trademarked by Parker Brothers which is owned by Hasboro.

Parker brothers routinely gives out licences to create derivitive work (such as FIRSTopoly), however you would need to obtain such a licence.

To use the name FIRST in the title (if you choose to do so) would require apporval and licencing from FIRST as well.
I don't mean to be a spoilsport, but this licensing thing really needs to be taken care of. Once this project gets growing enough, Parker Brothers _will_ hear about this, so you guys should do something about this up front.

See also:
http://www.ticalc.org/archives/news/articles/0/2/2322.html Monopoly game for TI-89 that got shut down.
http://www.hasbro.com/monopoly/pl/page.faq/dn/default.cfm#6 Contact info for the official USAOpoly. If we were to make a board game, this would be the white hat way to do it.

You guys really should get in touch with Hasbro to get this done the legal way.

[Steve S.]

I don't mean to be a spoilsport, but this licensing thing really needs to be taken care of. Once this project gets growing enough, Parker Brothers _will_ hear about this, so you guys should do something about this up front.

See also:
http://www.ticalc.org/archives/news/articles/0/2/2322.html Monopoly game for TI-89 that got shut down.
http://www.hasbro.com/monopoly/pl/page.faq/dn/default.cfm#6 Contact info for the official USAOpoly. If we were to make a board game, this would be the white hat way to do it.

You guys really should get in touch with Hasbro to get this done the legal way.

I have emailed them and im just waiting for a reply

[Tetraman]

Not all the regionals will be able to be used. Although I would have expected BAE State regional to be in there. It is kind of a major one.

Yea, thats my bad. When someone first said I was missing BAE I was like "Frig, I forgot BAE." In your mind replace it with Waterloo or something, and in a while I'll fix it for good.

[JBotAlan]

I don't mean to be a spoilsport, but this licensing thing really needs to be taken care of. Once this project gets growing enough, Parker Brothers _will_ hear about this, so you guys should do something about this up front.

I don't think it's possible to copyright/patent/whatever a set of rules--they are ideas. Sure, we can't use the text from the rules packet verbatim, and we can't use 'opoly' as part of the title. We can work around that. I'd be willing to remake the rule set. I could even package them as a CHM (compiled help file, don't know what M stands for...) so that F1 from the main window can open up the context-specific help page on it.

Someone needs to open a SourceForge (http://sourceforge.net) project on this. I'm willing to do it, just let me know. I suggest we put this under the GPL (google GPL, it's the GNU Public License--open source forever).

I can code expertly in Visual Basic 6. Im OK at C++. I don't know much about .NET other than that we probably don't want to use it because it is killer slow. I mean it. Like Windows ME, I don't know why Microsoft wants to go down that route.

I would love to help in any way. Let me know. jacob dot rau at gmail dot com.

Thanks,
JBot

[Steve S.]

I don't think it's possible to copyright/patent/whatever a set of rules--they are ideas. Sure, we can't use the text from the rules packet verbatim, and we can't use 'opoly' as part of the title. We can work around that. I'd be willing to remake the rule set. I could even package them as a CHM (compiled help file, don't know what M stands for...) so that F1 from the main window can open up the context-specific help page on it.

Someone needs to open a SourceForge (http://sourceforge.net) project on this. I'm willing to do it, just let me know. I suggest we put this under the GPL (google GPL, it's the GNU Public License--open source forever).

I can code expertly in Visual Basic 6. Im OK at C++. I don't know much about .NET other than that we probably don't want to use it because it is killer slow. I mean it. Like Windows ME, I don't know why Microsoft wants to go down that route.

I would love to help in any way. Let me know. jacob dot rau at gmail dot com.

Thanks,
JBot

oops, i thought i posted that...i am planning on opening a sf project on this...i just need a code name.... any ideas?

[Dan Petrovic]

I was thinking about the Free Parking spot, and how the unofficial rule that everyone follows is that if you land on that spot you get all of the money in the middle.

It never actually says that you get the rule, in fact, on a more recent version I have, there is an FAQ section on the box and it was specifically stated that you don't get the money by landing on that spot.

Nevermind that!

Maybe the spot could be a FIRST Grant, or FIRST Scholarship

Chance could stay the same, and instead of Community Chest, it would be like... Community Outreach or PR.

[Steve S.]

I was thinking about the Free Parking spot, and how the unofficial rule that everyone follows is that if you land on that spot you get all of the money in the middle.

It never actually says that you get the rule, in fact, on a more recent version I have, there is an FAQ section on the box and it was specifically stated that you don't get the money by landing on that spot.

Nevermind that!

Maybe the spot could be a FIRST Grant, or FIRST Scholarship

Chance could stay the same, and instead of Community Chest, it would be like... Community Outreach or PR.

how about Community Service

[JBotAlan]

team1591, I wish we could chat via Yahoo--I tried and got no response...I'm "JakeTheBrikHed" on Yahoo.

The best name I can come up with is "The Nerd Game".... :yikes:

Either that or FIRSTmania, but we would have to get licensing for that--the kind of stuff we want to avoid. If only there was a way to sum up "A game inspired by what we do for 6 weeks in the winter"... :)

We obviously can't use FIRSTopoly, since that tramples on two entities' property...I have no clue. How about "Vista"? :ahh:

I don't know. What do we have in the way of actual code right now? I would like to do this in VB6 or in an open-source program such as Bloodshed's Dev-C++ or Python, rather than a proprietary closed-source language...I'm avoiding .NET like the plague because my dad showed me VB.NET and it takes a couple of minutes before you can use the IDE once you start it.

JBot

[Noah Kleinberg]

I don't know. What do we have in the way of actual code right now? I would like to do this in VB6 or in an open-source program such as Bloodshed's Dev-C++ or Python, rather than a proprietary closed-source language...I'm avoiding .NET like the plague because my dad showed me VB.NET and it takes a couple of minutes before you can use the IDE once you start it.


There's always C++ with some graphics library (e.g. GTK). It'll be easily ported (if not just recompiled) for different OSes, and there won't be any problems with someone wanting to contribute but not having windows (for visual C).

[divergentdave]

I don't think it's possible to copyright/patent/whatever a set of rules--they are ideas. Sure, we can't use the text from the rules packet verbatim, and we can't use 'opoly' as part of the title. We can work around that. I'd be willing to remake the rule set.
Actually they can and they have. From http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=monopoly+board+design+copyright&btnI=I'm%20Feeling%20Lucky

Monopoly®, of course, is a registered trademark of Parker Brothers, Inc. and Hasbro, Inc. As are the distinctive design of the game board, the four corner squares, as well as each of the distinctive elements of the board and the playing pieces.

So, the two solutions are to either get permission from PB/Hasbro (which Team1591 is doing now), or to not base the game on Monopoly at all. Just changing the name of a few things won't change the fact that it is a derivative work.

[anna~marie]

why again aren't we contacting Hasbro? it would just be a lot easier
besides then more people might be able to buy it/get hooked :) information packet anyone?

[Steve S.]

why again aren't we contacting Hasbro? it would just be a lot easier
besides then more people might be able to buy it/get hooked :) information packet anyone?

I am contacting them, im just waiting for a reply...(see bottom of last page)

[Steve S.]

Update:

the SourceForge project has been submitted, just waiting for approval, should be approved within the next 24-48 hours.

no reply yet from Hasbro/PB, If anyone else would like to try contacting them, please do.

Project Codename: firstpg (FIRST property trading game)

after approval, the site for the project will be firstpg.sourceforge.net
any volunteers for designing a site??

[EHaskins]

Now for programming the game:
1. I think using .NET 2 we should be able to have a semi-working version in a couple of months.
2. I have already vouunteered to help code the project and I know .NET.
3. I don't think that linux\mac support is somthing to be concerned about.
4. .NET is not that slow. On my 1.8 ghz Celeron 2.0 loads in about ten seconds, and once it's loaded it runs fast. On my 3 ghz P4 w/ht it loads in a little faster, but runs much faster.

[Steve S.]

Now for programming the game:
1. I think using .NET 2 we should be able to have a semi-working version in a couple of months.
2. I have already vouunteered to help code the project and I know .NET.
3. I don't think that linux\mac support is somthing to be concerned about.
4. .NET is not that slow. On my 1.8 ghz Celeron 2.0 loads in about ten seconds, and once it's loaded it runs fast. On my 3 ghz P4 w/ht it loads in a little faster, but runs much faster.

it runs fast on my machine too, i have a Athlon 64 3500+ with about 1.5gb of ram

[Dan Petrovic]

If you need any artwork done for peices, spaces, and whatnot, I might be able to do that... somehow.

[bear24rw]

I can do GDI+ in .NET pretty well...

[EHaskins]

This is a question for the graphic people. What are the sizes for each of the spaces? I was thinking 100 x 150 for the properties, 150 x 150 for each of the corners, and 25 x 25 for the players, or larger. (I can always zoom out) ;)

I would like to get a simple version going soon and i'd like to have some idea what size the board will be. :)

[Steve S.]

This is a question for the graphic people. What are the sizes for each of the spaces? I was thinking 100 x 150 for the properties, 150 x 150 for each of the corners, and 25 x 25 for the players, or larger. (I can always zoom out) ;)

I would like to get a simple version going soon and i'd like to have some idea what size the board will be. :)

I can probably figure that out for you....give me about and hour

[FIRST JerseyKid]

If you need any help I can give suggestions or help. I can program any language you ask and can do OOD and OOA really well.

Is this a intranet and/or internet game?

email: firstjerseykid@comcast.net
sn: thyllthnkimstupd (i know its wierd)

[Steve S.]

SF Project:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/firstpg

if your not a member yet, create an account, they're free. Then visit the page, ill add everyone to the project who requests to be :)

[Steve S.]

Update:

I recieved a reply from Hasbro today, we do NOT have permission to use the Monopoly name or and trademarks/copyrights associated with it. This means that a traditional monopoly style board will not be used and gameplay will change slightly.

We now need to figure out what we want in the game, we now get to choose how many properties we want, where they are, a sub. for chance and comm. chest cards...

I will upload a possible board design into CD Media.

also for updates, see here: http://team1591.com/firstpg/summary/summary.php? (email me at steves@newyorkfirst.org for a username and password.)
Or SF.net (both will be updated at the same time)

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Update:

I recieved a reply from Hasbro today, we do NOT have permission to use the Monopoly name or and trademarks/copyrights associated with it. This means that a traditional monopoly style board will not be used and gameplay will change slightly.



Monopoly has many derivitive games that are out there.

We will need to see how these derivitives got around (or aquired) the licencing needed so as to not infringe on Hasboros' trademark.

[KenWittlief]

If you dont have permission to make a game like Monopoly, then why mess around trying to make one similar? Why toy with their registered © and possibly bring grief on yourself and on FIRST

when you could start from scratch, and make a new board-game. There are many toss the dice / move a token / take a card... type of board games, so if you made a new one you would not be infringing on someone elses copywrite

I realize this takes things up a notch: instead of changing Monopoly to have a FIRST theme, you would be starting from scratch - but I think the end result will be better - a game designed to match the reality of what its like to be on a FIRST team.

(BTW, I was just reminded today of the poor ice cream vendor at a worlds fair, who ran out of dishes, "NOW what am I going to do with all this ice cream? !!!" A nearby vendor suggested making edible dishes out of his waffles - the rest is history. Sometimes when "NO!" happens, something better come out of it)

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Ken is right,


Making a Monopoly game would probably create more legal problems than would be worth it.

If we were to create our own game from scrach we could make it more like what FIRST is about. We could use elements like building the robot, going to regionals / championship, Gracious Professionalism, Fundraising, community service, etc.

*now to figure out how to incorporate such ideas into a game ;) )

[KenWittlief]

It also opens up more possibilities - instead of making a one dimensional game, it could be two or three dimensional (or if played on a computer, 4 dimensional)

and you could have more pieces than the one token you use in monopoly - it could be more like chess - where you have a team of pieces.

Im going to toss out one possible format. I took a 5 day training course in project management. They had a project simulation program that ran on a laptop. We had to assign virtual people to specific tasks, give them part of the funding and resources we had at our disposal, establish a desired schedule, and project objects, then you hit the RUN button. The program then told you what happened on your project during the first week (could be first day, first 4 hours...)

it made learning project management very interesting. Some of it was amusing, for example: I forgot to give my SW engineer a computer. He got frustrated in the first week and QUIT! So I had to assign someone else to his task, adjust the schedule (buy him a nice computer...)

you could do something similar: simulate a FIRST team, their actions and progress and accomplishments throughout the season. You would be the team leader - set up everything for a given time interval, then the program would calculate the results (with some randomness tossed in) and tell you what happened - from there you go on to the next day / week / ....

if this was done well it could be an excellent tool for introducing new team members to FIRST.

[lukevanoort]

I'm digging the 3-d game idea, I have no idea how to go about making a 3-d FIRST related board game, but I'm sure its doable.

[AndyB]

You gotta have Beatty's 05 bot. The cone of silence with just that.

[Dan Petrovic]

I like the 3-d game idea.

You could upload your team logo, and your sponsor's logo and do all sorts of fun stuff.

I'm liking this idea a whole lot better

[nparikh]

I like the 3-d game idea.

You could upload your team logo, and your sponsor's logo and do all sorts of fun stuff.

I'm liking this idea a whole lot better


Not to be a spoiler or anything..but the First Video Game project was started a few years back and ran for a very long time. A lot of people put a lot of time into it..and where is it now? Well I haven't heard anything of it in months..

[KenWittlief]

this isnt a video game - its a strategy / game of chance. Much easier to create.

Im thinking, is there a way to make this.... whats the right term.... an open source game?

A handfull of people could create the basic framework, but then other people could add more options / actions/ variables / responses....

for example: it might start out with two possible outcomes for attending a regional, your team wins the finals, or loses... then other people could add more options into the data base: you are a finalist, you win best seed, rookie of the year... chaimans award.... that sort of thing

?

that way getting the basic game up and running would be much faster, and over the years the game would grow and develop as more and more people add onto it.

[Elgin Clock]

Update:

I recieved a reply from Hasbro today, we do NOT have permission to use the Monopoly name or and trademarks/copyrights associated with it. This means that a traditional monopoly style board will not be used and gameplay will change slightly.

We now need to figure out what we want in the game, we now get to choose how many properties we want, where they are, a sub. for chance and comm. chest cards...

I will upload a possible board design into CD Media.

also for updates, see here: http://team1591.com/firstpg/summary/summary.php? (email me at steves@newyorkfirst.org for a username and password.)
Or SF.net (both will be updated at the same time)


I may have found a way around this.

http://www.whatonearthcatalog.com/whatonearth/Item_Make-Your-Own-Opoly-Game_AV3832.html

Sure, it not software based but I think if we buy this and then collaborate on board designs, we could come up with some pretty interesting stuff to put on it.

Apparently this is sanctioned by Hasbro as well, so your copyright issues are no more. :)

[KenWittlief]

Apparently this is sanctioned by Hasbro as well, so your copyright issues are no more. :)

what does apparently mean? that they are selling it and have not been sued yet, or that you know Hasbro has signed a release for this game?

The fact that its made by someone else, and its called "Opoly" sure looks questionable.

[John Gutmann]

Since you don't have permission to use the monopoly name doesn't mean you can't make one similar. I think the best kind of game would not be one where you go around the board once but around the board until something happens that makes people drop out ( being broke in monopoly ).

[Josh Goodman]

So will this be an Aim High board or an overall FIRST board

[Steve S.]

I may have found a way around this.

http://www.whatonearthcatalog.com/whatonearth/Item_Make-Your-Own-Opoly-Game_AV3832.html

Sure, it not software based but I think if we buy this and then collaborate on board designs, we could come up with some pretty interesting stuff to put on it.

Apparently this is sanctioned by Hasbro as well, so your copyright issues are no more. :)

yes, i have seen that on many websites. I also know that it is legal, as in no copyright issues......

and im not sure if it would be a general first board or 2006 aim high board...any thoughts?

[Elgin Clock]

and im not sure if it would be a general first board or 2006 aim high board...any thoughts?

General.

[Booger]

and im not sure if it would be a general first board or 2006 aim high board...any thoughts?



I think you could do either. just every year you could change the peices and the background. Most of the propertys should be the same.

However a general one is a better idea. It just seems like its more universal.

[Swan217]

Since you don't have permission to use the monopoly name doesn't mean you can't make one similar.

This is true. I have a game called "City Limits" which is the exact same as monopoly except the "Chance" cards aren't called chance and don't look the same and the properties are more realistically priced (20k, 40k, etc) with less realistic monetary denominations (20k, 40k, etc)

Essentially, the items trademarked are: Railroads, Chance, Property names, Go to Jail, Names of Properties and Utilities, Community Chest, "GO", Physical look of money, play pieces, and cards.

The other main legality is "for profit." Just like music and videos, you stay under the radar of the companies by simply distributing it to a small group for free. As long as you don't use the above trademarks, you have a 99.9999% chance of not being noticed.

[Kati_Kat]

If you just distributed the game to FIRST members, I'm sure you could slip under the radar of anyone else seeing it and noticing similarities. Personally I think it'd be an awesome game!

[Booger]

did you email monopoly they probably will let you. They have alot of monopolys like starwars, and the simpsons. They probably would let you call it first monopoly

[Steve S.]

did you email monopoly they probably will let you. They have alot of monopolys like starwars, and the simpsons. They probably would let you call it first monopoly

yes i have emailed hasbro, they said no because they have too many games out there with the opoly name....

[Booger]

yes i have emailed hasbro, they said no because they have too many games out there with the opoly name....
that sucks. ive also heard that there are sites with a make your own 'opoly you could check and see how they do it.

[Steve S.]

ok well this idea kind of died for a while, ive also been very busy with things lately....ok well id like to start working on this and dedicate some time to it and at least get a semi-playable version out :)

so anyone who wants/still wants to help post here ;)

[EHaskins]

I can start working on this again, but not for couple weeks. Like I said earlier I can do most of the programming.

[Steve S.]

I can start working on this again, but not for couple weeks. Like I said earlier I can do most of the programming.

ok keep in touch via pm when you are available again........

[EHaskins]

I'll be able to really spend some time on this in December, but keep me posted. I might find some time before that. :D

[Steve S.]

ok well now if anyone can, i would like a list of "community chest" and "chance" cards you would like to see (note:these will not be the names of the cards), Please Theme them to the 2006 Aim High Season :)

examples:

Your team orders poof balls pay $200

Your crate is involved in a shipping accident pay $400 for repairs to your robot and crate



Now they dont exactly have to be 100% truthful, but try to stick to the theme, even a mix of 05/06 would do.....

[Bill_Hancoc]

Your crate is involved in a shipping accident pay $400 for repairs to your robot and crate

Now they dont exactly have to be 100% truthful, but try to stick to the theme, even a mix of 05/06 would do.....

Or you watch from the stands fed-ex almost tip your crate over while moving it-until a mentor from our team who happened to walking by caught it...true story, im sure there are some other shipping horror stories out there but thats another thread

anyways
Overweight! you are disqualified...do not pass go, do not collect $200
or
De-score(d) tetra (queue penalty)

[Steve S.]

ok thats along the lines of what im looking for, thanks.....for those that post any ideas for cards if it is specific to a year, please inclue that year that is being used :)

[BandChick]

Here's one that happened to us:

Local shipping company donates extra crate of parts, collect $400

We ended up running into a company that does bulk with FedEx, they let us use their ID# and instead of an extra $400 of parts that we shipped, it only cost us $78.

And a few more:
Camera sensor fails, lose one turn.
Forgot to change battery, (move down in rankings) go back three spaces.
Get corporate sponsorship, collect $500.

[Alexa Stott]

Well, this happened to us this year: our processor broke and we ended up programming everything the day before we had to ship.

Some more good ones:
-Lose sponsor
-Fail inspection
-Go out on the field with a dead battery

[kjohnson]

I guess none of you have seen this. My mom gets this magazine and I look through it sometimes and saw this the other day.

http://kyle.fnsnet.net/images/monopoly.bmp

http://www.whatonearthcatalog.com/whatonearth/Item_Make-Your-Own-Opoly-Game_AV3832.html

[EHaskins]

I guess none of you have seen this. My mom gets this magazine and I look through it sometimes and saw this the other day.

http://kyle.fnsnet.net/images/monopoly.bmp

http://www.whatonearthcatalog.com/whatonearth/Item_Make-Your-Own-Opoly-Game_AV3832.html
Someone had already suggested that, but this is intended as a PC game.

[kjohnson]

Someone had already suggested that, but this is intended as a PC game.

Maybe seeing how the software of the "make your own opoly" game runs would help the designers? I haven't been keeping up with the development of the game so forgive me if I'm just restating things others have said.

[Steve S.]

Maybe seeing how the software of the "make your own opoly" game runs would help the designers? I haven't been keeping up with the development of the game so forgive me if I'm just restating things others have said.

the "make your own opoly" game is not available for pc, it is solely a board game.....

[Kyle Love]

I'll test the game!:)

[Jeremytice]

Sounds awsome!