Just to get this out of the way: as a programmer, unless someone who can't program has a good portfolio, I won't join their project.

Everyone has a game idea they want to make. Unless it was a game idea I was passionate about (I'd helped conceive the game's mechanics), I won't work for you without pay. Right now, I like to do smaller contract jobs on the side (Imagine writing a program to do something specific for someone, and getting payed when I finish it). It'd probably be better, if you're going to pay people, to pay them by program / mechanic, than by hour. Since your indie, paying someone by hour won't work at all. There isn't an office, and there's no way to keep track of how much they worked.

For your portfolio: Use GameMaker. If you're an artist, employers will far rather see a smaller game made with a tool that represents your art, rather than some hard-coded game. They're looking for an artist, not a programmer. I can guarantee you that if I was hiring an artist, and one came to me with a portfolio of good sketches / 3D Models, and the other came to me with 1-3 Games made in GameMaker with good art in them, I'll pick the latter.

For an artist, I'd look for:

• An understanding of sprite-sheet creation
  
• An understanding of basic Art Logic / Drawing
  
• Good 3D "visualizing" skills
  
• A game they'd made using their art.
  

That last one is very important. It's not that hard to make a simple game that shows off their art. Sure, it may be small and not really a game, however you need to show me that you understand what I have to do, even a little bit. I want my artist to know that if I say something isn't possible, I'm not trying to get away without doing work. I'll only work on projects I'm passionate about, I would never even try to join a game that I didn't care for.

[quote name='pfloyd333']
yeah, maybe your right. but everyone who wants to be a concept artist will have a great portfolio, having a game could give me the edge over other people out of college. Being able to say that i have experience working with a team of people would be impressive, especially if the game is good. this is advice i have gotten from game developers too... i thought it was a great idea.
[/quote]

It is a good idea, if it is done well.

And please, try to make well formed forum posts... It doesn't exactly fill me with optimism that you can complete a full game when even that is done half-assed.

I have no idea what you mean by sprite sheet creation. Care to fill me in on that?

Just Google it. Once you look at a sprite sheet, you'll get it.

You could always use some bait, like a sign telling "Free Visual Studio Ultimate licences!" and then when they get close you throw a fishing net over them.

LOL

That's a good lead to my reply:

Leadership combined with demonstrating good game design concept, clear reasonable plan (like a business model only for games), and bring at least one major contribution with yourself. As a successful 2D/3D artist, IT consultant, and recent game designer, I won't touch anybody's game without all the above.

The only exception to my previous advice is for hobby efforts which I feel should be fun above all else. If a hobbyist game developer can convince someone that it will be a blast of fun, then you have him or her likely.

Clinton