FreeOrion

Hi there. I'd like to assist with this project, specifically with testing/bug fixing and, if needed, contributing audio.

I see the bug tracker on Sourceforge, and I'm curious if your development process is to generally let interested parties loose with whatever they seem most interested in, or if you have any project leads that we can work with who can say "OK, now that that's fixed, work on this".

For example, do I start bugging LithiumMongoose with .ogg files asking "how's this sound", or do you have a structure you'd like us to work under?

As far as what I bring to the table, I can test on a variety of different hardware under a different operating systems. I have a nice vintage Korg synthesizer that I can capture some very appropriate audio from, and a long standing interest in the 4x genre.

In short, I'm here, put me to work.

Essentially, do whatever you feel like and are motivated to do. There aren't enough regular contributors active for long enough or at the same time to warrant any bureaucracy. Given our slow progress and limited talent pool (and inability to recruit or retain prospects), the most important thing is that you're interested in and enjoy doing whatever you work on... Otherwise you won't be invested in the project and will disappear after two weeks like most other people who've asked what they can work on in programming recently.

So, if you want to fix bugs, feel free; this would be helpful and appreciated. It's also a good way to start getting aquainted with the code base, which will allow progressively more complicated contributions.

If you'd prefer to find something else that's more involved to work on in programming right away, then have a look at the programming work page on the wiki (presently: http://www.freeorion.org/index.php/Programming_Work , also linked off the How to Help page on the main page). If nothing there looks interesting, ask here or by private message and something else can probably be found for you.

Sound isn't really a priority at the moment (compared to programming, design, graphics and modelling) though feel free to release anything you want to be used by the project. LithiumMongoose seems to have disappeared, so you might have a hard time collaborating with him.

Thanks for the prompt and honest response. Working on a project of this nature must be both rewarding and frustrating. I've been itching to get involved with something like this for a while now, so if I commit, I won't back out of it. I'll review the work done so far and try and generate some content for your consideration. My day job is a network administrator, so I don't have strong programming skills, but I'll help however I can.