Getting Started Guide Crafter'S Edition: Fill & Download for Free

There's some great answers on here. It's threads like this that make people come back to Quora time and again for creative stimulation. But I think some people missed the elephant in the room.​this is the important thing the original question poster wrote:"For 4 years I've been creating story, characters"Wowsers! That kind of dedication and focus is rare - and I mean unique. What does it matter that this guy has no technical skill? Game design isn't a technical skill. Game design is about characters, story, compelling narration, creating real worlds with compelling conflicts and contradictions.Creating a MMOG, in the technical sense, is a well worn path. It is a process that can be bought as a turnkey solution. Game design; good game design; cannot.I came to this conclusion the hard way. I wrote a book about the technical side of game development (especially game art), and made the mistake of calling it Google SketchUp for Game Design: Beginner's Guide.It was a huge mistake calling the book "Game Design" rather than "Game Art" or "Game Assets", because Game Design is nothing to do with creating game art. It is creating the feeling of enjoyment. It is creating the willing suspension of disbelief. It doesn't include 3D graphics or coding. It is devising player immersion by manipulating feelings. Non of that can be easily taught. My book can teach this guy how to create an entire game world for a 3D MMORPG game from scratch in a few months for only the cover price of $44.99 - but it does not and cannot teach Game Design.I am shooting myself in the foot when I say this, but it's a mistake to think that tech or art has anything to do with creating successful games. Take for example Dungeons & Dragons. The tech is laughably simple: a booklet created in word, some printed cards, some dice and counters, a black and white "board" of squares. This game had been played by more than 20 million people.​HeroQuest is the same, just simplifying, and adding some doors and other plastic items. I you think this is yesterday's fad, take a look at how much a petition to resurrect HeroQuest earned in just two days Why was the HeroQuest Kickstarter taken down?:​Both of these can be created by you and me in a couple of months using these service providers:Printed cards http://print24.com/uk/product/postcards/3D Printing Service i.materialiseGames AccessoriesIf you want to go the software route, there are complete turnkey solutions you can learn in a few months. Here's some options. The key with all of these is to use the bundled assets (scenery, people and props) and differentiate your game on the character and game story, rather than on visual characteristics. The biggest killer of games in progress is focusing on art assets (see What to do if you're a one-man-army game developer when you hit the wall).Realm Crafter - The MMORPG Creation EngineThe Realm Crafter MMORPG engine gives you the power to create your own multiplayer online role-playing game. The Realm Crafter engine was designed for anyone interested in creating an MMORPG, from those with no coding skills to the experienced game programmer. You can use the engine to create either a hobby game for you and a few friends or a large multiplayer commercial game where monthly subscriptions are charged.​HeroEngine / HeroCloudWhy HeroEngine? | HeroEngineThe Ultimate Online Game Development Platform. Making an MMORPG, or any other kind of online game? HeroCloud gives you everything you need to not just build your game, but also operate and distribute it once it's live.​RPG CreatorCreate your RPG without any programming knowledge !http://rpgcreator.net/XtremeWorlds MMORPG Makerhttp://mmorpgmaker.org/main/Book and software combinationsPerhaps easiest of all is to go with a book that explains the whole process step by step. This is as near to an "out of the box" or "turnkey" solution you can get. There just so happens to be a book and software combination that does precisely that:​Wizards and Warriors: Massively Multiplayer Online Game CreationBy: Jason DarbyPublisher: Course Technology PTRThis book uses Realm Crafter as the software platform.My recommendations for getting startedMy recommendations are First, get started with a text only game using standard web laguages such as HTML and Javascript. Forget about graphics. There are hugely successful text only games doing the rounds on the iOS and Andoid app stores. This will play to your strengths, while every other game creator is distracted with graphics and server problems. Make your game turn based rather than realtime, so your game server can easily handle a virtually infinite number of players. You might need some help with the server for this - so get someone who can do it in NodeJS - which is Javascript, so that you can eventually understand what is happening there as your Javascript skills increase. Another good route would be learning Python and then using the Django framework to do the server stuff. Either way, target the Firefox OS mobile platform, which means you don't need to learn any further language to release to mobile.How are MMO's being created right now by indie game developers?If you want to know how this is being done right now in small "indie" game developer teams, look no further than Unity - Game Engine and http://smartfoxserver.com/ which are what the majority of real game developers are using for massive multi-player online games. If you want to truly realize your dreams of a complete first person online experience, these are what you need to build up to. Never has it been more possible and affordable to reach this dream.Related articles:Marketing: What are the most effective methods indie game developers use to market their games?What to do if you're a one-man-army game developer when you hit the wall

Do your homework in regard to site rules and terms of service. Recently I’ve seen a ton of resellers crash and burn on Etsy, not to mention it’s against Etsy’s handmade rules for resellers to even be there. Many of the “get rich quick” guides, courses and “secrets” make no mention of reputational and financial liabilities. They are selling the idea the business is a “passive income”, a “side hustle” or a “set and forget” revenue stream. From my experience any ecommerce venture is hard work, time consuming and not without risks.I order from aliexpress every week - my supplies, clothing, gifts. Many of the merchants I buy from also offer dropshipping. Over the past 10 years quality has really improved. But that doesn’t mitigate all the other problems, some caused by a language barrier, but other issues are bewildering. I constantly have issues with items left out of an order, wrong items, wrong size, wrong colour, badly wrapped, damaged in transit, not as described, patchy to no tracking and, the most common one, very, very slow shipping.When I’ve notified merchants of the mistakes the responses I’ve received are also bewildering. Several have said the missing item/s will be included in my next order - why would I reorder from a merchant that didn’t send me a correct order? Others have asked for more money for “shipping” the items they left out of my order. If the issue is colour, sizing, not as described they know shipping costs are often higher than the value of the item so few buyers will bother. I used to let small mistakes slide but that changed when I started thinking it must be calculated. I call it the aliexpress tax.If you are dropshipping you are responsible for all these issues. If they open a case against you on the platform or payment processor you will wear the refund cost and/or the buyer will only have to return the item to your registered address not China. You will have to send the item back, at your cost, to receive a refund from the dropshipper. Without reliable tracking you will have little proof that the item was even sent, when it will arrive or even if it was delivered. Again, you will have to refund your customers. By now you will be racking up bad feedback, one star ratings and numerous cases/complaints.You can’t even respond to these complaints because few dropshipping resellers do test buys and take photos of the item they are selling. They just use the photos already being used by the dropshipper/factory. This is really problematic for a number of reasons. Firstly, savvy buyers know to do a reverse image search to find the best price available. Aliexpress is also well known for stealing photos online from the original artist/crafter and replicating the item using cheap materials and substandard finish. If you are found to be using their photos they will issue a copyright infringement on the photo and it will be taken down. Too many of those and you will have your account terminated or your site pulled down by the host.Many think that it is easy to open another store if one is closed down due to these issues. That is far from the truth. If you burn your identity it is virtually impossible to open another store. All of the platforms now take a ton of identity metrics: financial, governmental and technological. There are long waiting times for new merchants to receive funds from their first few sales and limits on how much you can sell depending on the platform or product. So expect to have operating capital.I would really do a ton of research about getting traffic to your shop. I chose not to sell from my own site because I could never generate the traffic Etsy provides to me. Even with my established brand, reputation (in a niche market) and thousands of (genuine) social media followers I still need that traffic. It’s really difficult to gain traction with a stand alone store/catalogue. Without engaging value added content you will need to spend big money on advertising and promotion with google, facebook or paid influencers.Customer service and maintaining your social media followers is constant and takes a lot of time. Be prepared to answer questions, take and edit photos, writing great SEO for your platform/google, analysing data, trends, fashion, researching policy changes and legal issues, tax laws, shipping costs, promotions, advertising, security issues, intellectual property laws - it’s exhausting.Good luck.

HiMy personal advice would be this: Start Online Business Tutorial, (if you don't like it, please continue reading)here are 9 good ways to make money from home:1. Customer-service rep. Many companies, such as J. Crew, Express Jet, 1-800-flowers, and even theIRS, outsource customer-service operations to third-party companies who then hire home-based workers or "agents" to take calls and orders. When you call 1-800-flowers, you may be speaking with Rebecca Dooley, a retired police officer and employee of Alpine Access, a major call-center service. When you dialed the number, your call was automatically routed to Rebecca's spare bedroom in Colorado.Alpine Access currently employs more than 7,500 work-at-home customer-service agents who take in-bound calls (there's no outbound or cold calling) for dozens of companies. "This works perfectly for me because I can set up my hours around my family's busy lifestyle," says Rebecca, who usually works 20 to 32 hours a week, depending on her schedule.While the typical hourly rate is about $9, Alpine Access agents who work more than 20 hours a week are eligible for benefits plus a 401k program when they have worked for over 1,000 hours. (Some companies consider their staff independent contractors, so they don't provide benefits.)2. Telemarketer. To do this job, you need a pleasant voice and personality, and really thick skin—you're bound to encounter some hostility. Still, it's a good way to earn income. Many large companies now outsource their cold-calling campaigns to third parties who hire home-based workers to place the calls. Telemarketers are typically paid by the hour, and they may earn incentives and commission based on performance.Companies hiring home-based workers include Telereach.com and Intrep.com. Apply on their websites. Keep in mind that a legitimate company will typically not require you to pay a fee to get information or leads, and will explain how to apply, exactly what is required and what to expect.3. Online juror. Companies will pay you to sit on mock juries to give attorneys and other jury consultants feedback on cases they are currently handling. Think of these as focus groups. The cases are real, but your verdict will do little more than give those involved a prediction of how things might go. You can earn fees ranging from $5 to $60. Be sure to read all the disclaimers and details.4. Survey TakingI'd pretty much ruled out survey taking as a legitimate way to earn money from home, but then I heard from Bonnie Alcala. She and her daughter Andrea Spain, an elementary-school substitute teacher, take surveys online for fun and a little profit. They are careful to avoid any scams by refusing to pay an upfront fee or other charge. Bonnie and Andrea pocket around $100 a month for spending two hours a week taking surveys, which gives each of them extra pin money. In addition, they collect all kinds of gift cards and other prizes.5. Writer, Blogger, Editor, Proofreader. Everyone says you're a fantastic writer, so isn't it about time you got paid? Good writing is still in demand says Durst, especially for online content. For the best sites try JournalismJobs.com, About.com seeks "Guides" in a broad area of topics, and MediaBistro.com. For blogging jobs, try problogger.net. If you have experience as a freelance copy editor, writer or proofreader, go to editfast.com. Rates vary between $15 and $25 an hour.6. Cyber Crafter. If you're a crafter in search of customers, the internet is your showcase, and not only at auction sites like eBay. DeWitt Young of ObviousFront.etsy.com Has had success turning her crafts into cash in cyberspace. She has a booth at Etsy.com's Craft Mall, an amazing place where more than 10,000 artisans and crafters offer their goods for sale.DeWitt turns salvaged parts from old TVs and VCRs into artsy necklaces, earrings and figures. Colleen Jordan uses 3D printing to create her necklaces called wearable planters. Don't be discouraged,Shapeways 3D printing company can get you started with their simple apps so you can easily customize your own designs with a click of a mouse, anything from a wedding band in rose gold, a vase in ceramic or your own bobble head printed in full color. All for the purpose of generating sales.7. Online guide, expert. Do your friends look to you for advice on things you're passionate about, such as which car to buy, how to repair appliances or how to make a killer cheesecake? Whatever your area of expertise, if you are also a seasoned writer with an infectious enthusiasm for a particular topic, consider becoming an online expert guide. Guides are freelancers with an ability to communicate well and good grammar and spelling skills.For example, About.com guides write articles or reviews in their area of expertise. They earn no less than $725 a month, but some make more than $100,000 a year depending on year-over-year, page-view growth. Go to beaguide.about.com, where you'll find which areas of expertise are still open. (There are many!)Also try Chacha.com, a new search engine similar to Google and Yahoo, and click on "Become a Guide" for more information. At JustAnswer.com, users agree to pay for the answers to their questions. Guides are paid a percentage of the pre-negotiated price per answer and the number of accepted answers received. Go to Just Answer to find out how.8. Virtual assistant. Many small-business owners and mid- to executive-level professionals need personal assistants, but can't afford a permanent position on the payroll. The solution? Hire people from remote locations to do their administrative work.Virtual assistants handle all kinds of administrative projects, including travel arrangements, event planning, correspondence and other support services that can be done remotely via e-mail and phone.Lynne Norris, who works out of her home in Pennsylvania (NorrisBusinessSolutions.com), says that rates for VAs run about $25 to $75 or more an hour, based on the types of services you provide. The startup costs are about $500 to $1,000, assuming you have an up-to-date computer and printer. Lynne loves the flexibility. "My children are happy that I don't miss the important things in their lives." Check out the International Virtual Assistants Association (ivaa.org), or virtualassistantjobs.com andteamdoubleclick.com for more.9. Online tutor, English as a second language instructor. If you have a college degree and the skills to tutor students online in math, science, English or social studies, this job may fit you perfectly. Go to Tutor.com—tutors who work for the company and have passed their probationary period earn $10 to $14 an hour. According to Durst, "Skype and other web interface tools are bringing English language instructors face-to-face with students from around the world." Try ispeakuspeak.com, openenglish.comto get started.EnjoyEdward