This is my plan to make FATE multiplayer. This isn't so much of a mod, as a huge project, that WT will probably have to do, or at least sponsor.

Please post your feedback. If you notice anything amiss, (I'm sure you will.) please say so. When reporting a problem, please include the following: 1: what exactly the problem is. 2: Why it is a problem. 3: If you have a fix for it, say so, if not, I or someone else will figure something out.
Remember, I have almost no programming expirience, so please state everything in layman's terms, and explain when necsisary. Also, be comstructive. Don't post something like "This won't work because it is stupid. Why it is stupid is that your an idiot. My suggestion is to go jump in a lake". That would not help anything. Also, don't hesitate to ask for clarification of something lacking in details.
Finally, I am completely dedicated to achiveing this, even if it takes years. This is in no way the final version. I may completely rewrite my plan many times, but I intend to see this through till the bitter end. I will not stop untill either my goal is accomplished, or has been proved impossible.

Here it is:
(These are just the very basics. I have much more to add, but I want a solid foundation first.)
1: Foundation
1a: The first step, will be to put Fate on the internet, as an single player, online game. This would be done by placing Fate on a website. The player's commands would be transmitted through the internet, and to the website, where they would be executed.
1b: A player could transmit his/her character to the website by taking the saved character from the computer where the non-online version was, and sending the data of that character to the website, where it would be placed in the game. The character could be sent back to the non-online version through this process in reverse, sending back the characters data, with whatever changes have been made.
1c: The levels of the game must corrispond to diffrent web pages, the stairs being links to these web pages. That way, at any given time all dungeon levels, Grove, and the death menu, will all be existant at the same time.
1d: The start up menu and character selection screen would be non existant. The website would be programed to alter the characters file, so that they would start instantly in Grove.
1e: The game would have to be altered to recognise more than the existing two controlers namely the player, controling the character, and the computer , controlling everything else. It would instead recognise: player 1, the instructions coming from the first computer, controlling the first character, player 2, instructions from the second computer, controlling the second character, player 3, etc. and the website, which controls everything else. When people sent in there character files the website would designate them one of these, and send them to Grove, where all characters would be present, controlled by diffrent people. They could then interact with the enviorment.

Coming next: 2: Adaptations for multi-player.

Edit: If you would like to join my "development team", contact me via PM.

hmm how would you get fate to do all this :S but anyway nice idea and plan

(btw are you testing my potions )

As I said, it will definetly require WT support and help. We will probably need work with stuff that is hard coded.
By the way, if anyone would like to help with this project, just PM me.

sounds good i like the idea




and enough about the potions!

There are a few problems right off. First off the servers. Now i'm not quite sure how many servers it would take to host the fate players out there, figuring lets say 75 people that post on this site x 10000 or so that don't, but if you've ever been in orgrimmar or ironforge during primetime you know what i'm talking about. and that's just a fraction of that number. Asking WT to lay down that kind of cash, well i dunno just good luck.
***Solution??***
Instead of a world wide server, or multiple servers. connect via IP. your friend hosts the game on his/her comp you all join it, but that brings me to the next problem

The Lvl generation
Fate has random lvl generation(i know you know that:P)I go into lvl 1000 at 7:35:01. You go into lvl 1000 at 7:35:01 they are totally different lvls. You stated that all lvls are generated period. my lvl 10 is the same as your lvl 10, that's cool except for the fact that joe schmo just cleared lvl 10 20 seconds before we got there.
***solution??***
Instanced lvls. As in me and you are in a group/party whatever we go into the dungeon and it gives us our own special lvl 1. which i'm sure will mean more servers to buy. but it allowed 20 guilds of 40 players to kill onyxia at the exact same time. so i know that one will work if the lvl generator is in the servers instead of our computers

I'm not that worried about cash. WT can chose to have what ever kind of server set up they like. I'm not focusing on that right now.
I think I didn't make my self clear. I was not suggesting that all levels are not randomly generated. What I meant by a web page per level, was that there would be a "random generator" on that web page, that would create an instanced level every time someone visited it, just like in the normal game. In fact, part of part 2 is going to be changing the dungeon regererate time from 30 minutes, to regererating instantly when there are no players on that level.

Thanks for the feedback.

hmm......i got a idea for the lvl thing you cant see hear or speak to anyone in the dungeon thats not youre frend or in you party or guild

That's a possibilty Things like that are going to be disscused in part 3.

ill join just tell me what to do and how to do it (cant do any coding cause i suck at that)

hmm how bout have the random generation based on groups? every person is considered a group to themselves(them, their pet and their minions) and the dungeon would generate a different lvl for each one. however have an option allowing combining of groups to form parties. thus if your part of a party you all share the same genration in lvls but if your independant you can play different version of the same level. would also prevent non party members from interupting your party's game by killing every thing in sight or taking all the loot. just a thought

That would have to be a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig website!

Interesting thought Dragonmatt. I'll consider it.

Damien: Yes, it would have to be big, but there are lots of other online games that are very "big".
BTW: I don't know if I'm using the correct word, when I say website. If I'm not, please correct me.

When you say "Website" you make me think of individual pages for.. well basically each step. I know that's probably not what you're thinking, and that would be nigh impossible to to. I think what you are looking for is "Web Server." Also, for a suggestion: When people combine groups, the maximum summon limit should increase =P

on the contrary i woulkd think the maximum summon would need to be decreased to prevent too much strain on the program. also having more would make the game too easy in a party inless party generated lvls had harder monsters. accually if you could up the difficluty for those in parties verus outside it would give more of a balance to the game than just 2 people slaughtering everything in their path

The maximum summons will be 6 per person. So, together, 2 people will be able to summon 12, 3 will be able to summon 18 etc.

Edit: good point dragonmatt, but it won't be necsicary, because of the banish summons spell. Anyone who relies on armies of summons to do the work for them better have a back up plan for this spell. I may have it made a more common spell, so that most magical monsters use it.

Fair enough, I just didn't want to be stuck in a party of 10 ppl with a max of 6 summons total ^.^ Oh and how will you keep a tab on modded items? I mean if people upload thier characters, then they'll just be able to mod items and be way ahead of all those who don't know how. If we can't do anything about this, I'll just create tons of good items and give them away to newbies ^.^

That's the way it was on Phantasy Star Online, cheaters had illegit characters and items that they started throwing around the game and pretty much everything anyone gave to you was cheated/hacked/modded =P

I don't think it'd be fair for those who try to stay as 'legit' as possible

Don't worry about mods and cheats unbalancing things. I've got a plan, don't worry:wink:.

alright, not sure what your plan is but you seem to have thought of that. what about fair mods? some new models or just really useful items that were overlooked by the origional developement? the antidote and mana charms for exaple? will it be a no mod game or a select few would be allowed?

There definately shoud be a way to submit mods for examination, to see if they would be apropriate for the game. Mods liek new monsters, not-too powerful weapons/armor, and new potions etc.

you mean a test server?

OOps double post sorry

indeed at test sever would be good.........basicly a Alpha and Beta kind of thing...........we SHOULD do that so when its done we can play and find bug and stuff

I just want to say that, as my first post here, i would love to play fate multiplayer. I also want to help with making this idea come true.

Yeah we should make a team of beta testers who test mods submitted by FATE players on a separate test server, and then implement them into the actual game if they are acceptable.

Fair mods will definetly be allowed. We really won't need to test out mods to see if their fair, it's pretty obvius. As I've said, I have a plan, and all this will be covered in section 3.

What's all this talk about beta testing? This hasn't even been fully designed yet. After that it will still have to be made, then there will probably be alpha testing first.

I really apreciate all these ideas, but I need more comments on section 1. Section 2 will be ready next week (hopefully). I don't want there to be anything wrong with number 1 at that time.

Thanks for all the support.

alright on the first point, getting it online. now don't you need to get online to use your activation code to unlock the game? and don't you also need the webdriver as well? maybe something can be done using that. granted i removed it from my computer as i deemed it unnecesarry but if it can get mulitplayer going i might change my mind.

I'm not quite sure what you meant in that last post. Yes to get the unlock code, you need to go online. What web driver are you referring to, and what did you take off your computer?

BTW: Check your PM's dragonmatt.

If you can get it to work, section 1 sounds fine to me, now that I understand you're talking about a webserver and not webpages ^.^;;

Alright, when you first mentioned you said you had a plan for making FATE multiplayer, I wanted to hold off saying anything until I heard what your plan was. Now that I've seen your plan, I can give you some informed feedback.

Unfortunately, while you have good intentions, what you are proposing simply can't be done, especially with a completely inexperienced team. Games need to be designed from the ground up to be played like you are describing, and FATE was definitely not designed this way.

What you are proposing would require nothing short of a complete rewrite of the game as well as the game's engine, not to mention the server infrastructure required for a game like this, which by itself would cost tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of dollars.

As I said, while your intentions are good, and I won't stop you from continuing, I can tell you, both as a WildTangent employee and as a programmer, that it is simply impossible. Your best best is to hope for a FATE 2.

Well, there goes that. Without WT support, this is finished. Well, we tried.

Nick, there is a lot of talk about FATE 2. Is anything actually happening, or planned to happen concerning this?

Sorry to disapoint you all. I'd like to continue, but if WT isn't willing to help us, there's no way this project will work. You were all great advisers. Thank you.
(I guess I'll have to change my signature:wink:)

I wont confirm or deny that there is or isn't a FATE 2 in the works; for now, just hope that there is :wink:

So, hypotheticaly, if there were a Fate 2, would it have a (hypothetical) multi-player?

gee thanks nick kill all our hopes dreams and plans.......really thanks.........i TOTALY apreciate it.........
and just for the record do any of you wildtangent is even gonna move there asses to make a fate 2 or even THINK about it?

You had to know that this would cost big money when you guys first started this... There is a reason *beyond sheer greed* that those games cost 10-15 bucks a month to play. setting up and maintaining an MMO is expensive.
And Ink that was a lil rude there. not to mention if you read nick's posts you might get a lil insight on the fate 2 thing

still it is a pity, i was hoping that something could be done to allow multiplayer.

say in this hypothetical fate 2, would an option that checks the character files of the origional fate game (assuming the player in question had it installed) and allows the continuation of that character, minus all modded equipement of course. then there is still a sence of playing your origional guy in a multiplayer environment. also it would be nice to continue using a character you spent so much time enhancing as you switch to continuation of the game

couldnt Wild Tanget MAke A update for fate the includes A new menu for going a a online 4 person server so ppl can play thier characters on your fate main quest??

and smurfgod we thought of making the cost to play FREE but then as usual Nick came in and took a crap on our plans

I know were all disapointed, but don't take it out on Nick. He is just doing his job. It was a far-fetched idea from the begining.

Don't worry. Someday, Fate will be multi-player. Whether it happens with a mod, with Fate 2, or something else, it will happen. As long as we all don't lose hope, WT will either develop a multiplayer version, or one of our modders will.

Don't lose hope, just because this plan failed. We've started something here. An idea was created. We may have lost this battle, but, we will still win the war. We have shown that we are willing to try to get a multi-player. We have proven that we want it. If we keep up this attitude of trying for it, we will eventualy get it.

Maybe it won't happen today. Maybe not this month. Maybe not this year. But it will happen, as long as we still believe it can, and are willing to help it.

We may have lost the actual fight, but we have won an even greater victory.

indeed..........LET THIS BE A INSPARATION TO ALL GREAT,NEWBIE, AND AVARGE MODDERS(and uber rich )!!!!!

if you want to play multi player there are games out there that offer that. you just have to pay a bit more, and subscribe, there's another thread that talks about a really good one.

Thank you for your understanding, GreyDawn. I'm not trying to be a deliberate killjoy, or anything like that, like you said, I'm just doing my job, and also trying to spare you from a lot of wasted effort.

Like I said, I can't confirm or deny anything about FATE 2's existence, but if I were making FATE 2, it would definitely have multiplayer :-P

I have to say that since Nick actually brought the subject of FATE 2 up, there's a pretty good chance that it's in the making. Either way, I'm sure someone out there will be able to come out with a way to make it multiplayer someday!

Not to mention that popular demand will show WildGames it would be a very GOOD idea to make a Multiplayer. Heck, I've never payed for a MMORPG, but if FATE went online, I'd be willing to pay alot!

Hail Nick C Our Favorite WildTangent Employee, And Favorite Admin

*Blushes*

a fate 2 or a fate multi-player those are good ideas
but i could see fate with multi-player being lag centeral

I've been waiting for a multiplayer fate mod to come out for years >.
Sorry if what i have to say is totaly random, i haven't read every single posts.

ok, I know nothing about modding fate, but I do a little about coding, databases and network. Like it has been said a couple of times now, the first idea of a Massive multiplayer game would "never" work. But reading this gave me an idea for a 1v1 multiplayer duel mod.

First of all, we would need a mod capable of displaying a mob representing the other player's character. That, i have no idea how to do.
Then we would need a 3rd party programe that could easly be coded in visual basics for instance (which is very easy to learn) that would allow 2 players to establish a connection with each other. Once this is done, It would go get in both player's memory the variables reprisenting the the position of their character, the damage that is dealt, etc, and send it to the other. After that, the fate's mod would read those values and assing them to the "mob" represeting the other player.
The game would prolly have alot of desync problems related to the random numbers, some packets that never arrive to destination, etc.. Also, anyone who knows a little about memory could easly cheat. But at least i tryed >.<

I'm not really good at explaining my ideas, i hope someone understands o.O

I probably wont check this forum too often, feel free to contact me by e-mail if theres something interesting happening around.

Now I am befuddled O.o;; Sounds liek a plan tho ^.^

hmm this is not that far from some of the ideas i suggested to Grey_DawnIII. Namely the using of the player's game as a host to other players. hmm maybe this mulitplayer thing isn't quite dead yet. well one can only hope i guess...

Lol I wouldn't want to do PvP, I'd lose horribly o.O but this would be a very interesting idea.

PVP in this game would suck, it'd be ith blades on crack. I win cuz i made a better item than you, etc etc....
BUT if you could pull that off there's nothing saying you couldn't also change the coding while you're in there to make 2 or more machines generate the same dungeon lvl. IE host computer generates X map for lvl 14, all players entering lvl 14 copy the hosts dungeon

An Idea to stop cheating:

Place a string of code (like a code or key of numbers) in all mods that are "fair" mods. Require all fair mods be registered into the web server and only allow mods to work if they are registered and have a unique key or code. You could probaly modify a password generator script and use it for key assignment.

Just some thoughts from a fellow webmaster