[dmm]

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.)