CyberSpace Empires Mod

[Ed Kolis]

OK, so Captain Kwok's got Space Food Empires, and Spoon has Fantasy Empires, so why can't I do a total conversion mod of SE4 too, huh? Maybe if I have an original* idea, I'd be more motivated to finish the mod? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

What I have right now is just some bare-bones ideas:
-Galaxy = a computer's filesystem
-Systems = directories (the SystemNames.txt would contain stuff like "C:\", "Windows", "System", "McAfee", "Program Files", etc. (or maybe "/", "var", "usr", "gimp", etc. for the open source systems http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
-Planets = files (Text planets are the best! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif) They could be represented with various program icons with comical descriptions relevant to the specific program http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
-Warp points = shortcuts / symlinks
-Stars = FAT entries / inodes (nuke the star = erase the FAT entry http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif)
-Minerals = text
-Organics = CPU time (think GritEcon "workers" or MOO3/GalCiv "money", used to make the other resources "useful")
-Radioactives = binary data
-Ships = programs
-Empires = hackers / programmers (with "White Hat" and "Black Hat" racial traits - what about Grey Hat and Red Hat though? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
-Storms/nebulas = viruses (White Hat hackers could get storm destroying components while Black Hat hackers could get storm creating components)
-Spaceyards = constructors / initializers
-Repair bays = Cyclic Redundancy Checks (White Hat only)
-Fighters = subprocesses
-Troops = file loaders
-Mines/Satellites = spyware (Black Hat only)
-Weapons = destructors / deinitializers
...etc...

*well not really, I kinda was inspired by "Operation Inner Space", a shareware game from the mid-1990s http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Whacky, but interesting. I like it.

[Starhawk]

I wouldna play it but it sounds interesting for someone who likes that sort of stuff.

Now give me a game that lets me hunt down and TORTURE the hacker and I'll be happy http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif (see my latest thread for reason)

[Captain Kwok]

Another mod I've wanted to do is one "Space Cell Empires" complete with a variety of cells, bacteria, and viruses!

[Suicide Junkie]

On a slightly higher scale, you could make:
System = System
Warppoint = Modem
Galaxy = Internet
Stars = CPUs (Oooh, a dual processor system!)
Planets = Hard Drive Partitions (research NTFS colonization tech?)

[Wolfman77]

I've been piecing together a rough draft of a Middle Earth mod the last month or so but I am having a heck of a time finding pictures to use. I've got workable comp, facility, vehicle, reaserch and comp enhancement mostly done. I got DOGA L3 monday and metasequoia(sp) yesterday, so I think I can make some decent armies. I don't know if it will get much bast a beta version in SEIV, but hopefully I can transfer most of it to SEV when it comes out.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Ooh, looks nice..... I'd be willing to lend a hand if you want. I've got SE4Modder still working, so that'll probably yield some nice results, and I've got pretty much enough free time on my hands http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif it's just that I'm not motivated enough to start full-out working on the End of GC mod again for the moment, but this seems interesting enough!

[Suicide Junkie]

I suggest changing supplies into "CPU cycles"...
when you run out, you slow way down http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Ed Kolis]

Well, I started on the tech areas, and I've got some system names and colony types... they're on my computer at home so I can't show them to you right now though http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif
Strategia, if you'd like to help, I'd be glad, though I was planning on using my latest version of the templatizer to generate the components and facilities... that is, the one that uses XML as input - have you seen that one yet? Not very functional at this point (darn it, I forgot to put in a rounding function, so the division is pretty much useless http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif) but you might want to check it out...

[bearclaw]

At least with this mod, the AI will act appropriately for a computer system.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Completly random?

[bearclaw]

narf poit chez BOOM said:
Completly random?



Exactly!!

[Kana]

For other possible idea...do a search for the following games...

Shadowrun RPG, and CCG
Cyberpunk 2020 RPG, and CCG
Netrunner CCG

These might give you some more ideas...

Kana

[Kevin Arisa]

Awesome idea! I would love to play a mod like this! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Kevin Arisa]

I liked the idea so much I went and whipped up a cybernetic vessel. What do you guys think?

Cybernet Prototype
http://www.isacommand.homeip.net/images/races/cybernet_prototype.png

[Fyron]

Very nice!

[Ed Kolis]

Where is it?

[Kevin Arisa]

Sorry. My server had a hiccup last night. I reset it this morning. You should see it now.

[Ed Kolis]

Ooh... Nice http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif
I once tried to make a shipset in Moray called the "Metabit", and they'd be sort of a translucent gray smooth shipset with green binary numbers on the exterior... but I never figured out how to get the texture working properly... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif
Too bad such a set won't work in Starfury or SE5, given that ships in those games can't be both textured and translucent... I might be able to figure out how to do that stuff now http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[narf poit chez BOOM]

It's more than a little bit good.

[Kevin Arisa]

If I removed those green tube things, this ship would probably work for SE5 as is. It should be low poly since I used mostly just rectangles.

So, are you really gonna follow through on this mod? If so I will glady make a set for it.

[Ed Kolis]

I really don't know... judging from past mods I doubt it, but you never know... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Kevin Arisa]

This is such an awesome mod idea! If you don't think you will be able to finish it Ed, I would love to take a stab at it. Eclipse is mostly finished except for a few bugs and I have been itching to take on a new mod. I put together a new list from stuff posted here and some of my own ideas.

Minerals: Binary Code
Organics: Memory
Radioactives: Power
Research: Raw Data
Intelligence: Network Info
Supply: CPU Cycles

Galaxy: Cyberspace
Systems: Computers
Planets: Partitions
Stars: Processors
Warp Points: Internet Links
Asteroids: Data Fragments
Storms: Corrupted Sectors
Populations: Bytes

Rock: NTFS
Ice: FAT32
Gas: Linux

Oxygen: Applications
CDioxide: Entertainment
Hydrogen: Utilities
Methane: Documents
None: Viral

Bases: Programs
Ships: Processes
Fighters: Sub-Processes
Troops: Formatters
Satellites: Spyware ^
Mines: Glitches ^
Facilities: Primary Operations

Engines: Transfer Protocols
Weapons: Decompilers
Armor: Security Code
Shields: Firewalls *
Sensors: Analysis Protocols
Spaceyards: Data Compilers
Repair Bays: Diagnostic Protocols *
Creative Manip: System Formatters *
Destructive Manip: System Decompilers ^

* = Programmer
^ = Hacker

[Kevin Arisa]

Something like this, perhaps?
Basic Preview (http://www.isacommand.homeip.net/temp/cyberspace_preview.png)

[Captain Kwok]

I'd make systems LANs and computers planets.

I like your image Kevin, but perhaps a green colour for the "circuit" background?

[Kevin Arisa]

There is a green and a red background also for variety.

[Captain Kwok]

Some more ideas:

I'd make planets either PCs, Unix, or Macs. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

The atmospheres can represent different OSes.

Maybe minerals can be HD space, organics memory, and rads power?

[Kevin Arisa]

That sounds intersting. But I dont even know enough operating systems to fill 5 atmospheres for each of the 3 computer types. What is the Mac OS called anyway? I can think of a few Unix and Linux OS types but not enough to fill all the types.

[douglas]

Kevin Arisa said:
What is the Mac OS called anyway?


Mac OS, plus a number if you need to specify the version. I think the current latest is Mac OS X.

[Captain Kwok]

Ok. Maybe OSes as atmospheres won't work so much here (in SE:5 it would be very easy to do, http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif).

I don't think it matters what you call them anyway, since you can't rename the atmospheres anyway.

[Fyron]

How about: Windoze, Mac OS, Unix, Linux, BSD.

[Captain Kwok]

The problem is that some people will complain if you have a pc with "mac-os". The same kind who complain about sci-fi canon. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Kevin Arisa]

You guys gave me a great idea. How about this:

Rock: Desktop
Ice: Laptop
Gas: Palms, Printers, Scanners, etc.
Star: Network Hub

Oxygen: Windows
Carbon Dioxide: Macintosh
Hydrogen: Unix
Methane: Linux
None: Hacker

I definitly wanted a hacker "atmosphere" type so that you could visually see the red hacked images on your reformatted computers. Reformatting (terraforming) should be easier than stock.

And I noticed that it is possible to have a gas\none combination in the system files. The planets seem to generate with that option just fine.

[Fyron]

Captain Kwok said:
The problem is that some people will complain if you have a pc with "mac-os". The same kind who complain about sci-fi canon. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Then they are ignorant of the fact that OS-X has always had an x86 ("pc") port (not sold, but developed concurrently with the Power PC branch), and that Apple will soon be selling PCs with Intel x86 CPUs. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Captain Kwok]

I'd make stars the "servers" for the "LANs". I'd personally prefer pc-mac-unix for planets, but it's your mod. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Captain Kwok]

Ships would be various programs?

[Captain Kwok]

Facilities could be various programs that run on the computers, and their functions would be related to what they produce/manage.

Ships could then be special programs like viruses or other protocols etc. that are sent out to other computers.

Bases could be peripherals...

Colony components could be said to install "OSes" on computers to make them useable.

[Kevin Arisa]

Version 2
Improved Preview (http://www.isacommand.homeip.net/temp/cyberspace_preview2.png)

It's not really my mod unless Ed wants to pass the torch. I'm working on basic graphics just in case they are needed. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Suicide Junkie]

What if you just use the internet icons full-size?
It would get some nice variety in your WP connections.

IE should probably be reserved for the damaging warppoints, though http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Looks good.

[Ed Kolis]

Very nice looking! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif
Maybe this will convince me to switch to the systems=computers or systems=LAN's rather than systems=directories metaphor http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif