Ok, I am sitting around thinking about stuff tonight - and I realized that there are some mods out there that many would consider some of the "Best of FreeSpace 2" that I've never played. _MANY_ People have never played them.
A simple solution came to my mind: a big package of the BEST MODS
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There will be four Categories in the "Best of FreeSpace 2"
Category 1: Completed Mods that do not use any SCP features
Category 2: Completed Mods that support the SCP
Category 3: Up-and coming mods [incomplete ones that look like they're going to become all stars]
Category 4: Iteratively versioned mods - ie mods that are not "released all at once" - but in stages
note: completed means they are certified final release (All episodes released, etc) - this disqualifies The Babylon Project unfortunately - hence why category 4 exists. --
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We also need to elect a judging panel - and since I came up with the idea I reserve the right to lead that panel. Panel Nominations will take place in THIS THREAD the four most nominated people that are willing to put time into this project will be the board members. If those board members wish we can add more members from the nomination list as needed.
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Once the Judging Panel is assembled we will have mods nominated for the categories above - the top 15 to 20 mods from each category will be judged - and the best ones will be put into Mod Packs. To use the mod packs you will be required to have the SCP executeable - primarily for using the "mod" subsystem so you can have all the mods simultaenously installed without problems - but also because many of the new features automatically improve the visuals without requiring special data from the mod authors.
The category 4 mod pack will be updated from time to time to reflect changes.
Mods in category 3 will be judged when released - if they pass they will be added to the mod pack of the proper category.
The mods in the package will be placed in VPs when possible. This saves harddrive space, enables easier install/uninstall/update. So all the main game data will be in vp files - naming convention to be determined possible "BoFS2-[modname]-[subpack]-[version].vp" - so Derelict would be BoFS2-Derelict-Core-1_0.vp and BoFS2-Derelict-Sound-1_0.vp for example [just pulled names outta my head there].
Updates will be available as patches - via the same NSIS installer tempate I wrote for The Babylon Project. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOMINATE YOUR CANDIDATES FOR THE JUDGING PANEL
you cannot nominate yourself, sorry
Nominations posted between now and October 2nd will be considered as valid
this time period is subject to extension at my descretion
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I personally nominate
Venom
Styxx
Tolwyn
IceFire
Bobboau
Snipes (Raa Tor'h)
Inquisitor
and there are some others that if their names came to mind right now I'd nominate.