Announcing: Planet Python

Dear everyone,

Life is full of surprises, some small, some a bit larger. Lykke and myself are not religious people, but we do believe in destiny. Destiny is what brought us together all these years ago, when due to coincidence (well, coincidence and a few beers), I ended up mixing two society leaders when applying to a soc, and thus instead of ending up in Rex's society, I applied for Reo's society, which happened to be the same society Lykke was in. You all know how that story ended.

Anyway. For a few years, we had been running around with an idea, but never had the means to fully execute it. Recently, I more or less accidently was introduced to someone with whom I instantly fellt a bond, as we happen to share more than a few morals in life. The idea at a certain point came up, and as it turns out, this gentleman could provide the needs we were lacking. It did not take long before we were able to construct a working concept, which we then tried selling to various parties we figured would be interested in such a thing. One of them was indeed quite smitten by the idea, and as a result, we suddenly find ourselves with quite a substantial budget, so to speak.

So we have decided to do something radical. We paid off our house and still have enough left to be able to lead a very comfortable life, while at the same time being able to persue some lifelong dreams (I'll be taking flying lessons, and Lykke intends to enroll in a piano program on the conservatorium).

As a sideproject, we'll be launching a game of our own. Lykke and myself have always been huge fans of Monty Python, owning the full collection of the series as well as every movie on DVD, and having been to the "Spamalot" musical (featuring one of our favorite actors Tim Curry in the lead role) when it was boradcast in London. Those of you who noticed about the "I'm not dead yet" T-Shirt I wore for the EntropiaTimes December edition picture, that was bought at that musical. Thus, when brainstorming about potential ideas for games, Monty Python was suggested by Lykke, and we both agreed it would be great to use.

The basic idea is that we want to create a game or planet that reflects the way we think a planet should have been done from the very getgo. A place, basically, where both hardcore as well as casual gamers will be able to go to, immerse themselves in a gripping (and fun!) storyline, and not have to spend an arm and a leg to be able to get some entertainment out of their money.

We have been in touch with Python Pictures Ltd, which represents the remaining Monty Python cast members (John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam), and have received not only their blessing, but also a pledge to their cooperation in ensuring the planet will be modelled closely in the spirit of their groundbreaking series and films.

We will be approaching MindArk, of course, to see if it will be possible to totally control the loot-slider for our planet. If that turns out not to be feasible, we'll insist on getting a planet that will be totally isolated from all other planets, with its own avatars, economy, items, skills, and balancing. We would love to be able to employ the RCE platform that currently is in place, but we want control over our piece of the universe. This will basically mean that interested players will be forced to start from scratch on our planet, which hopefully will mean MindArk will cut us the slack we need, as there will be no potential to disrupt the other planets that way.

The general idea is to create a throughly silly planet, where you can of course do silly walks, climb roads, perform herring dances, or watch board members jump out of buildings. Quests and missions will allow you to actually enact sketches and scenes from the movies. You will be trying to peddle dead parrots to unsuspecting customersa, making housewives sign oodles of forms for their appliances, lay siege to castles occupied by French knights, and paint graffiti on arenas.

We will be flying to Gotenborg and start negotiations soon, but in the meantime, we would like to hear your feedback. Do you think we are onto something? Also, if you are skilled at 3D modelling, graphics design, game development in general, or want to contribute in any other way, please do feel free to post in this thread with what it is that you think you can add to the project. We will be setting up a local Danish development studio (The Danish government is very keen on promoting the Danish gaming world, and thus offers very reasonable conditions, much to our delight), with affiliate branches in Asia and South America, to ensure that work can continue around the clock so we can launch faster. We already are in advanced negotiations with some strong candidates with experience in some AAA titles who will be leading some of the development teams, but are looking for talent as well as experience.

If you feel like applying, by all means, do so. The worst that can happen is you'd be declined. At best, you might find yourself suddenly making a living creating games.

On a sidenote, in order for the forum to be retained in its current shape and form, effective immediately, we will be empploying some of the current EP staff on a fulltime basis to take over administration. We will still be paying the bills and supporting the site, and the goals for it will remain the same, but in order to retain neutrality, ownership of EntropiaPlanets will be transferred to a non-profit foundation, which will be running the forum in the original spirit. Lykke and myself will be on the steering committee of said foundation, to keep an oversight, but we will not be interfering unless we truly feel the core values of the forum are in jeopardy.

Live silly! And remember to put plenty of eels in your hovercratfs!
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