seiv platinum: good idea?

PDF · #1 May 15th, 2002, 07:02 AM

Very interesting thread

IMO SE4 doesn't need Platinum or Titanium Edition

, but a SCENARIO EDITOR would be most welcome...
What's lacking from SE4 is the ability to play with more consistent SciFi backgrounds, uneven settings (Star Wars type)or just situations outside of the "star race" standard.

Currently noone has done any satisfactory scenario AFAIK, and that's a pity because all other modding tools are here !
Basically if we could just setup "at start" techs, colonies, facilities and ships/units ...

geoschmo · #2 May 15th, 2002, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PDF:
Very interesting thread
Currently noone has done any satisfactory scenario AFAIK, and that's a pity because all other modding tools are here !

<snif><snif>You don't like the scenarios in the scenario pack released with Gold? <snif> I am hurt.

I agree that a scenario editor would be nice. Unfortunatly, one of the only things Aaron has said for sure about the future is that we probably will NOT get one for SEIV. Apparently the economics of it considering the amount of work required to make a decent one just don't add up for Malfador as a company.

Interview with Aaron Hall on Space Empires.org

Quote:

SpaceEmpires.org:
Will there be a scenario editor? Is possible with the depth of SE4?

Aaron Hall of Malfador:
That's actually somewhat doubtful. It would take months to write a good one, and without revenue from the endeavor, its hard to be able to stay in business creating one.

However, don't be too disapointed. You would be suprised at the depth and complexity of what can be accomplished in the area of scenarios, if you just apply a little work and a little ingenuity. My "Stranded!" scenario in the scenario pack was done in about 30 minutes.

Geoschmo

[ May 15, 2002, 08:11 AM: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

PDF · #3 May 15th, 2002, 10:48 AM

Geo,
My humble apologies, I didn't try your scenario

(I read the background, though...)

If it took you 30 min to do this, perhaps you can make a Star Wars setting in 3 hours, and Trek in 4 more ?

No ? damn ...

If Malfador isn't wanting to invest in an editor, why not letting fans do it themselves ? I suppose that if MM just gives away scen/save files structure we would have here some techies/nerds

that could do an utility - look at the nice Component Modder we have ...

.

geoschmo · #4 May 15th, 2002, 11:09 AM

An editor for the Scenario text files would probably be fairly easy. Easier I think than the components files, and we have several of those floating around.

The savegame file itself would not be so easy. You would have to have the source code for the game itself I think, and I seriously doubt that is something Aaron is going to give away. He hasn't even done that for SE2 or SE3 yet.

Geoschmo

mottlee · #5 May 15th, 2002, 11:13 AM

One of the things I like (hope it stays) is it's ability to run on older machines....I would like this to stay, I for one can not afford to buy a new machine every few months....Keep up the good work

PDF · #6 May 15th, 2002, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by geoschmo:
An editor for the Scenario text files would probably be fairly easy. Easier I think than the components files, and we have several of those floating around.

The savegame file itself would not be so easy. You would have to have the source code for the game itself I think, and I seriously doubt that is something Aaron is going to give away. He hasn't even done that for SE2 or SE3 yet.

Geoschmo

Why would be source code necessary ? IMHO only file structure would be - unless some weirdos compression algorithms are also used.
As an example look at what have been done with Baldur's Gate RPG : without any source code divulgation, fans did make impressive tools for EVERYTHING needed to make new adventures modules : NPCs, monsters, locations, items, plots, dialogues...

But well, I'd be unable to do any of this, so perhaps I'm just dreaming...

dmm · #7 May 15th, 2002, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by geoschmo:
An editor for the Scenario text files would probably be fairly easy. ... The savegame file itself would not be so easy. You would have to have the source code for the game itself I think...

You most definitely would NOT need the source code to make a savegame file editor. All that Aaron would need to supply would be an explanation of the savegame file's format, which would take him a few hours, at most. This would allow an interested 3rd party to make an editor. There are some issues that would need to be dealt with in order to prevent slimeballs from using the editor to cheat. But nothing that couldn't be handled pretty easily with a few lines of code and a nondisclosure agreement. The truth is, that SE is Aaron's baby and he doesn't want to let anyone else hold her. Understandable to some extent, but ultimately detrimental to the child.

(Caveat: I know that SE is not really a child. It is Aaron's intellectual property. So society has no say in what he does with it, other than to vote with our feet and money. It just bugs me to see a fine piece of workmanship not fulfill its potential, and hear people make lame excuses for the artisan.)