[Shadowstar]

[quote]Originally posted by raynor:

Hmm... I wonder if I can create an analogy. In a Quake III mod, you could change any of the graphics or sounds and probably tweak different parameters. But I wonder if you could code it so that there was such a thing as ghosts that could walk through walls? And, could you create creatures, such as ghosts, that can only be harmed by magical weapons. Well, maybe you could on that Last one. I think it might let you give limited immunity to certain weapon types. But I don't know that it would let you have a player character play as a ghost with the ability to materialize and dematerialize, would it? That might be something that we think is really cool but that they didn't code into the game.

Actually, there are a number of mods in a number of games (Unreal Tournament for one) that do very similar things to what you have described above. There is a mod recently released for UT called Unreal 4-Ever Fortress. Basically an upgrade of the previously released U4E but with modifications to facilitate a more "team fortress" style game. There are something like 15 different classes, and I think it's compatible with the previous U4E's model-based classes, so you almost get a race/class combo type deal when setting up your character. One of the classes is a wizard which has a ton of spells to choose from. I think there is some kind of astral projection spell that allows a wizard to "project" themselves. Thier body stays where it is (meaning you need to stay somewhere safe or you get fragged six ways from sunday), but your astral self can float around, go through walls, be transparent, and I think even attack people. The astral self cant carry the flag though I dont think and the spell is a high level spell so it takes a while to earn it. There are other features ranging from new weapons (including a few that can shoot through walls), and one wizard spell that causes lava pools to form in your footsteps. U4E is almost a completely different game, but it behaves just like any other mod for UT (and there are some even more bizarre mods out there). U4EF also installs U4E Gauntlet, which enables all of the monsters from the original Unreal in UT. They spawn from randomly placed gates throughout any level and the players must work together to kill them all and destroy all the gates, and then kill some bosses to win the level. Most of this stuff is so different from the standard UT game experience that it really qualifies as a new game. However, you can't play U4E without UT, and U4E is a completely free download.

UT is a great example of a game which has been modded so completely that, once you own UT, you can essentially indefinately extend its replayability by creating or downloading free mods done by fans across the internet. This has the obvious beneficial effect of increasing UT's sales. The more mods the fans develop, the more people will want to buy UT.

Now, why couldn't something like that be possible with SEIV? All I want is hyperspace. heh, heh.

The project is "Starscape" not "Starflight", however, if you are interested in Starflight, I also happen to be the lead sound coordinator for the official Starflight 3 Project. SF3 will be a continuation, picking up 5 years after SF2 ended. The Spemin have been beaten and put in thier place (but for how long?!), the Gazurtoid war continues with no end in sight, and Interstel and old Arth have seen the rise of The New Empire.

Both the Leghk sector and the Earth sector will be in this game, plus a top-secret new sector. Technology has been updated, and new weapons will be available for the players to use. The project aims to update Starflight for modern computers. As the sound coordinator, it is my job to ensure that the game's sound effects are comparable to modern games. I think I have done my job quite well. It's not due for release for a while, and development's been a bit slow lately, but the project has been running for 5/6 years now and we are nearing the end. Recently we've been able to start releasing internal alpha builds for testing, but we are adding new content with each release.

If you want more information on Starflight 3, visit the website at: http://www.starflight3.net/

Join the forums if you want, and talk to the ever so zany Starflight 3 fan community (but be warned - these people are weird!)... or join in one of the long-running story threads in the Nebula Lounge.

Boy, I would make a good salesman.