[Unknown Target]

Alright, after reading thru the whole "Is FS2 dying?" thread, and posting my opinions, I've realized that the general concensus is that we need a dedicated group of people to work on improving FS2 in one giant  MOD package. This is the thread for that.

Now, I've drawn up a list, but please, feel free to add to it. But not too much.

FS2 is currently at version 1.2. This project is to bring that up to 2.0.

Now, here's what we need (and remember, this is an actual PROJECT, not just putting ideas out, I am planning to help as much as possible with this):

1) Faster-paced gameplay. (Gameplay)

2) Better AI. (Gameplay)

3) A new graphics engine. (Graphics)

4) Different physics. (Gameplay)

5) An expanded universe and storyline. (Gameplay)

6) Muilti-targeting. (Gameplay/ Graphics)

7) Ship animations and animated textures (Graphics).

8) Miscleanious sound improvements. (Audio)

9) Bug squashing. (Bugs/ Testing)

10) Website for the project (Web)

11) Updating HLP's website (Web)

12) IRC Management (Web)

13) Organizer: Me, 2 others (Misc)

14) New utilites to work with the new features (Utilities)
That's all I have for Release 1.

Here's the groups:

Gameplay: Me, _____________

Graphics: ____________

Audio: ________

Bugs squashing: __________

Testing: ___________

Web: Me (to a small extent), _______

Misc: ___________

Utilities: ________

Please volounteer, people, remember, this is the life of FS2 we are talking about here! Don't kid yourself, FS2 will not last another year without an overhaul!

[Kamikaze]

In the hope that this will get off the ground this time, I can serve some time as an idea-box (gameplay aspects), tester and possibly a website person.

I suggest there be a proper communication network for this, most similar projects died of lack of communication (which makes people forget and lose interest) in the form of news and planning.

Also I suggest a "organizer" slot.

[Unknown Target]

I have added an IRC slot, so we can elect one or 2 people to manage an IRC chat room, so everyone can get together and talk about it.

Also, I have added a organizer slot, per your request ( a good idea). I need two other people for it (prefferably admins of something)

[Kamikaze]

I have some IRC operating experience (not like it's a hard thing but ) and can watch over the channel almost 24/7 (mainly via logs).

[Joey_21]

Although I have other projects I need to dedicate my time to, I supposed I could throw some help in the graphics direction. I can do/have done ship animations for my mod as well as others. They are not actually [V] quality but they are very close. I've made a tutorial on this sort of thing on my website. Perhaps it will be a better help to teach more people how to do this also.

Some of the things listed above require code edits. Not of people here know how to code and some (including me) have limited knowledge of C++. Other than the coders already here (who are very busy trying to fix up currently existing features from what I understand) I don't see code changes happening unless you want to take that up.

Other can-do's:
-web
-utility coder in Visual Basic (namely Table Edit (my first), FS2 game maker, and the atmosphere generator)

Edit: Since you mentioned IRC management, I happen to have a big experience under that field as well.

[Unknown Target]

New list:

Gameplay: Me, Kamikaze

Graphics: ____________

Audio: ________

Bugs squashing: __________

Testing: ___________

Web: Me (to a small extent), Kamikaze, Joey_21

Misc: ___________

Utilities: Joey_21,


_______________________
Joey, I'm not going to put you down for graphics, because I'm talking about hardcoded ship animations, and you didn't say you could do that (if you did, srry, I didn't catch it).

[Joey_21]

Originally posted by Unknown Target

Joey, I'm not going to put you down for graphics, because I'm talking about hardcoded ship animations, and you didn't say you could do that (if you did, srry, I didn't catch it).

Ahh, that would be definately nice. Unfortunately, I couldn't code that, but it would be a big improvement.

[Xelion]

Just curious what does 'misc' have under its belt, in terms of what u have to do...

[Knight Templar]

not to be negative, but isn't what you're describing basically SCP minus expansion of the universe (which is the job of the campaigns anyway) ?

[deep_eyes]

In my opinion, thats what the SCP is doing this very moment. it just doesnt happen as fast as of us would like it to go, but there doing just that. I know DAVEB just at home watching us handle our buisness and knows we;ve got something good, and when its finally acomplished, we're going to reach a level that many old games never will make.

honestly, its like the Freespace - Freelancer debate. if Freespace was in Freelancer, but Freelancer played like Freespace, OF PEOPLE WOULD BE HAPPIER THEN ANYTHING. But, that would be in a perfect world. the most we  can get is the Freelancer mods, even then there limited.

Now, if someone got the bright IDEA to attempt a massive Freelancer-Freespace converstion, make EVERY freespace system planet ship species etc, then that would be an achievement for a game and a universe that has spanned 5+ years, and is so rich in story that the current FS2 engine can only hint at. and mind u, V did a good job at it.

so i dunno if anything we just need to be patient.

[Kamikaze]

what SCP is doing is the backbone to the game, but lots of engine abilities without something to use them and integrate them to their fullest is pointless. Currently we do have many campaigns working to rememdy this (TBP, Star Wars TC for example) but a truly large full-community effort is still nonpresent.

[deep_eyes]

Originally posted by Kamikaze
what SCP is doing is the backbone to the game, but lots of engine abilities without something to use them and integrate them to their fullest is pointless. Currently we do have many campaigns working to rememdy this (TBP, Star Wars TC for example) but a truly large full-community effort is still nonpresent.

i agree, although ima sound like a hipocrit to some (LM coworkers, i saddly havent dont much in a long time cause of RLife issues...), but i do agree. if we want something done then do something to contribute. if not, then be patient. when 3.5 came out i was beyond thrilled. i waited maybe like 2 months to just test the darn thing, and although with its bugs, i waited, and enjoyed my not so finished product that was done for us.

[Shrike]

Personally, I have issues with the idea of the main community project being something that ties into a completely unrelated set of fiction...

[Stryke 9]

Wait, I'm confused. Is this going in conjunction with the SCP, or are you trying to pull work away from there? And do you already have a plot and **** in mind and aren't telling us, or what?

If all the code work is consolidated in the SCP project, and anyone working for this project is at the same time working for that, then I'll help out. I can do storyline ****, just ask anyone who's seen, say, the False Dawn background (though I'll probably have something, ah, simpler for this one ). If what you're planning is going to in any way hinder or take work away from the SCP, go to hell. But I'd very much like to see something new happen.

Provided it actually does happen, and isn't just a lot of bull**** like most campaigns.




By the way, FS2 was Freespace 2.0. Or 2.1, actually, I think, postpatch. This would be Freespace 3.0.

[diamondgeezer]

DG's two euros --> Any coders thinking of volunteering fot this should got pitch in with the SCP project. The more coders the yhave, the faster the versions are churned out and the faster new features are added

It must be said that this looks suspiciously like a 'FS3 from FRED2' propostition...

[FreeTerran]

I can make TESTING and (WEBSITE )
If i need a forum about it ask me.

Look at the DOTA website from my siggy i have make it.

[Sandwich]

*smacks forehead with palm*

[Petrarch of the VBB]

It's Freespace Forever all over again.

as was said in the other thread, what si the point in starting a completely new project, that will only take forever to complete? More people should get behind an existing project, preferably one that is FS based, like the TVWP.

[Nico]

or like OTT? or like Inferno? or like...
you get my point?

[Petrarch of the VBB]

But most of the campaigns set after FS2 will conflict, whereas the TVWP, being set before FS1, has little competition.