So I posted this idea on Toast's blog and it seemed like people were receptive, so here's a proposal for y'all.

The concept

Broken telephone is a children's game where each person whispers a message to another person in a chain. By the time the message reaches the last person, it is very different, often comically so.

The idea behind 'Broken Game-a-phone' is to pass development of a game on from person to person. It is the task of receiver to guess and decide how the game should be developed from there forward.

Proposed details

- Development allotments of 2-3 days, probably not more. Less is a bit too pressuring.

- Development will be in Game Maker, as it is decidedly the common denominator in the community. We will try to be Game Maker version neutral - if you wish to use an earlier version, say so, but be aware you must go first.

- Collaboration starts as soon as the rules are decided and the first eligible (see above) party wants to start. A loose order is determined, but switch-ups / additions are allowed. From there, development should be continuous, but worst comes to worst, lapses are OK. The last people should be focused on wrapping up the game.

Proposed rules

- No discussing the game in development. If you're curious, sign up!

- You may request one version behind the one you are handed for a handful of reasons (suspected vandalism, suspected regressions) but are encouraged to try to work with what you get.

- Incorporating existing resources is OK, use your discretion. Generally encouraged are utility code such as text-box engines, etc, as it will improve the quality and usability of the GM file. Discouraged are sprites and gameplay features ported from another game.

Proposed guidelines

Avoid commenting on the further game design and story. But ...

- Document the code well. Use a consistent explicit bracing style. Avoid Drag & Drop if possible (but it is forgiven, of course). Revised, Drag & Drop is banned, along with code in unexpected places such as room creation code, time-lines, and object creation code. Avoid implicit blocks (eg if statements without { } ). Indent all blocks.

- Fix bugs if you can, note them if you cannot. Even spending your whole time doing fixes will be greatly appreciated by the people who come after you and should not be down-played as a contribution.

- If all else fails and the game's a turd, polish the turd :-). Better to have a presentable failed experiment than a complete failed mess.

Proposed game start ?

It can be all up to the initial contributor, but I think some top-down game with areas and plot would do well. As was mentioned, a game with plot could turn out cool with multiple contributors.

This is a rough draft! Seeing as this will be a community project if we do decide to do it, suggestions welcome!

Sign-up here http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GC6XJNM !

Survey results:

MMORPGguy
juurianchi
panzercretin
RC
eagly
Cesque
s
SMP
KaBob799
Kilin
Charlie Carlo
link2x101
SpectreNectar
Toast
Pirate-rob
RC
Mega

Does anyone want to volunteer to be arbitrator ? I will participate but I think I'm far too busy at this point in time. If not I will eventually host, when I'm not so busy.