[Black Wolf]

Because it's sure as hell not a suggestion.

Basically, I've been thinking a lot lately about what constitutes a game and what constitutes a mod. It's not as easy as you'd think. Freespace is actually a very good example of why it's a problem. Freespace 1 is clearly a game - new engine, all new artwork etc. etc. Silent Threat is clearly a mod - same engine, largely the same art, just a few new ships and missions (Granted, it's an official, professional mod, so it's called an "Expansion pack", but ultimately, it's a mod). That, of course, brings us to Freespace 2 - modified FS1 engine, mostly new artwork - so, based on exising definitiions (rather than the obvious, but hard to factually support, fact that it is a game), is it something new, or an extensive mod of Freespace 1+Silent Threat?

So, I guess what I'm wondering is, do we, as a community, have more than one game, here, or the potential for more than one game? Personally, I think we do, or at least, we will soon. Stuff like the BSG mod, WC Saga, TBP and Starfox, IMO, constitute games of their own, linked by a common engine, or at least will become so eventually when/if the SCPeeps finish the new interface system, allowing, with relatively little work (comparative to the current system of thousands of tiny images), to produce a unique interface, and thus replace the vast bulk of the game, and changing the game enough that it may no longer feel like Freespace (Which is, I guess, the defining but undefinable barrier between game and mod).

So, the topic of the thread? Essentially this - what are the chances that, in the not too distant, we may see an entirely unique game built around FSO? Not an Inferno style thing, replacing most of the art, but using the FS story, nor a TBP sort of thing (i.e. a TC to an existing universe) but a unique game, set in a brand new universe, with entirely new art, new backstory. new technologies etc. etc.?

Truth be told, I'd say we actually have enough raw data around the place to do this now. I know several new species have been created, and we certainly have enough Terran ships to replace the GTVA with some kind of obligatory human fleet, though of course, doing it this way would result in a terribly hodge podge sort of experience.

Ultimately, this is all more or less mindless speculation - AFAIK, nobody has, at the moment, the neccesary combination of skill, dedication and free time to get involved with something like this - I certainly don't, and don't intend to. I'm kind of just throwing stuff out there to be chewed over. Interesting, no?

[Singh]

Very interesting indeed. Fe2 was supposed to do this, but the project has stalled almost completely.

We actually have enough ships for a cohesive fleet, and there are enough modders around to actually build one in a relatively short amount of time. The only issue would be texturing and mapping, I guess.

there are enough alien ships to make a few fleets as well. However, hte greatest part is making an entire new universe from scratch that isn't some plot cliche (actually it isn't that hard...I have two or three lying on the backburner here and there)

[Black Wolf]

See, exactly. The hinderence, I suspect, would probably be the exact same thing that seems to have cause Ferrium to stall. Not lack of universes, but vastly differing opinions about...everything.

[Singh]

Then the solution would be a single source and direction, led under a single person with enough time to do it? Before you embark on anything, one does need a basic game plan to add on to later...

Deciding this 'game plan' of sorts, can only be done by a small group of three-four at most, since anymore and the clash of opinions becomes too great...there must also be a vested interest to continue further, otherwise things will loose inertia quickly. The stick approach isnt working over the internet, so the only thing left is the carrot, which in this case would be directly, or indirectly, $$, since people DO need help sustaining themselves. This is also part of the reason why most internet projects fail - the people who work on it do so largely on their free time, and when that free time gets cut due to real life reasons, the project goes down the drain.

[Black Wolf]

Which is why I'm most certainly not interested in actually starting anything like this. I'm more interesed in the potential that exists for such a project, rather than any actual specific project.

[Singh]

The potential for anything on the internet is massive, considering the free flow of information that takes place on it, as well as the massive database capabilities and engines available at this point of time - through legal as well as less than legal means. The same applies for this. With existing models, artists, writers, etc, the potential for such a project to easily rival most other space sims (with exception of Eve's graphics and MMOPG-ness) in terms of fun, storyline, gameplay and graphics is massive.

The issue, as always, is turning tihs potential into kinetic.