New Game
 

Hello fellow SEIVers!

An idea is been growing on my mind lately... to create my own 4X space TBS game. So..... I started writing the design document for a TBS space 4x game based on the Star Trek Universe.

Having seen the amount, creativity and talent of the ppl posting here, this is an open invitation to anyone who is interested to help create a game like this which I plan to have free for all afterwards...

So what do you say? Shall we make it so?

Re: New Game
 

What engine are you considering for the game? Or will it be a game created from scratch? Do you have any programming/art skills? I could possible help as I have designed, produced games as well as design docs and manuals.

Re: New Game
 

I have been interested in making a 4X game myself but never got it off the ground... though I do admit I am rather choosy about my programming Languages, which one are you using? I just couldn't make myself do anything but C#... ok, maybe VB or possibly C++, but C# is so cool http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif
But aside from programming, I could help with other things... I always have lots of ideas, not just vague suggestions like "needs more aliens" but ones that I can state concretely with numbers and things... "the scanner ranges should increase exponentially by 10% a tech level" or something...

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I might be able to help out with the artwork.

art sample

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don't you have to get the right's first before you can make something star trek?

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In answer to all questions:

Yes you have to have the licence IF you are selling the game. I plan to have it as freeware.

Was thinking of using DarkBasic, but havent set the language in concreet yet. It could be anything. I do have programming skills in C++ but I am willing to adopt any language.

The help I request IS NOT only programming, BUT any! EVEN if it means "Wouldnt be cool to do...." suggestions!

The game would be developed from scrath.

@Ed Kolis, I TOTALY LOVE THE SIG! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

@Wydraz: Your artwork is fantastic!

I plan to mail/post the outline of the game, as I have thought it so far. Was thinking that whoever was interested, to add to the doc until its in a state where we can start coding individual things.

Re: New Game
 

rotating and 3d angle's are broke in darkbasic and complicated in pro. in fact, i recomend you either write your own in pro or only use the turn and pitch commands.

oh, and if your wondering about the rotate, it turns to each angle in sequence, not point at each, which is what makes pro's angle's hard to figure out.

Re: New Game
 

As much as I like the idea of making a 4x game similar to se4, only open source. I just don't think making it a star trek game would be a good idea.

It just seems star trek has been done to death in some many game I can't remember the name of half of them.

I presonally would like to see, an open source 4x game, that would take into account, ship sizes (big ships can't turn on a dime), weapon placement, and weapon arcs.

Then again I can't program so I don't think I would have much to offer such a project beyound orgintional and moral support.

Re: New Game
 

Well, it makes no difference to me, but it might be better all around to just make an original game instead of 'stealing' from trek - maybe just use it as an influence. If it were moddable, of course, it could be made Star Trek, Star Wars, Babylon 5, and all the rest. That's always a bonus to most players.

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Good point, if any such game were to ever come about, easy modability (sp?) should be top on the list.
<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">

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The only reason I was thinking about making a ST based game is that non of the games made so far have emphasized in the diplomancy complexity and backstabbing that takes place in ST universe. I wanted to create a game that war, when they happen, happen for a good reason! Planets are take long time to develop and are difficult to imposible to absolutely conquer (see Bajor)! I want to combine spies with diplomats and introduce things like double spies, defections, and under cover spying that can Last for turns on end. I dream of spies to be able to infiltrate the diplomatic core of enemy empires without the player knowing! I want to make negotiations take longer to conclude, and done via diplomats with stats and skills which could end up been spies! I want ship crews to mean something! With stats and initiative that can turn a battle on its head! not just "Oh my crew are elite I get a +10% on ATK-whoopdey-bloody-doo!". And I want exploration of a system to take a long time, with ships reporting in their findings or even lost when they awake slumbering monsters/old traps/etc ala star trek episodes.

These are somethings I was thinking of including. Not "just another 4x game". I want to make a game where the aim is not to wipe out the races of the galaxy in order to win, so diplomancy makes sence!

I want to make a game truthfull to the ST universe.

As far as Dark Basic is concerned, I was not aware of the issues. But as I said language will be the Last in the equation. The game design and interface are what I want to perfect first. I have already started on the game design doc. When I finish the game, I plan to make it free for all. Depending on the reception of it, I will later expand it to include more races, bigger galaxies, temporal travel, etc.

Thats why I asked you guys here. If you want to help me out it would be greatly appreciated. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: New Game
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I completely agree that there is room for a 4x game that does not rely completely on war for its resolution. But I never thought of Star Trek as a spy vs. spy, backstabbing universe either. Perhaps a small part of it. But to me Trek is more about exploration, first contact, and resolving differences - through diplomacy, trading, subterfuge, and - as a Last resort - war.

I say you should make the game you want - but it doesn't have to be another Star Trek, even if it is based on Trek. Make it better than Trek!

Something you didn't mention that is often lacking is real economics thrown into the mix. Not the silly trading in SEIV either. A Market based on supply and demand? How about building trade routes, which can be disrupted?

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<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">What, the MOO3 fanboy bit? Oh, good, I was thinking of changing it a few weeks ago to something pretty dumb that I can't remember now http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I have some ideas I've collected myself, several times I've tried to design a game called "Imperia Stellarum" but never got anywhere... I'll post what I can when I can find it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

edit: all right, here we go...
Planetary habitability model proposed for Universe project

[ October 06, 2003, 23:54: Message edited by: Ed Kolis ]

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I wonder if somebody got sidetracked... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif oh well, I've seen it happen before. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: New Game
 

I had about half of an essay-length post that was just going briefly over everything we'd need in a 4X game... dunno if I should post what I have, try to get around to finishing it, or just forget it...

I would like to work on the ship design aspect of the game, though... that's my favorite part of any 4X game, getting those cool new techs and putting them on my massive fleets of doom (or in my case, pathetic squadrons of wussiness http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif ), then pounding away at the enemy hordes (or plinking them with my peaguns while their shields regenerate faster than I can hit them http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif )

Anyone else have a favorite area they'd like to work on?