Lost Eden development thread

[Kilkakon]

Are you talking about new graphics or are you going to change the +2 value?

Graphics.

I'm surprised that you don't already have a signature with a link to this thread. Weren't you going to ask Petek to change the title of this thread.

To be honest I just didn't think of it. As for the topic title, I was thinking that a new thread was in order, although that was an idea for beta from memory.

Post 500!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haha yay everybody! Milestones! Glory to God.

 

[vyeh]

As for the topic title, I was thinking that a new thread was in order, although that was an idea for beta from memory.

That was for beta and there would be a link in the first post to this thread, which would be closed.

Haha yay everybody! Milestones! Glory to God.

Next milestone is 540, which is the number of posts in scient's 'poly thread. There is a thread out in SMAC land with around 840 posts and still growing, but there are a lot of consecutive posts by a single poster.

 

[Kilkakon]

Well let's hope that I can get a beta sorted as soon as possible then eh? 540 seems easy, but who knows, maybe we'll even hit that 840 mark!

 

[vyeh]

Well let's hope that I can get a beta sorted as soon as possible then eh? 540 seems easy, but who knows, maybe we'll even hit that 840 mark!

There would have to be a lot of comments on the alpha for that.

Were you able to locate the SMAniaC thread and look at Maniac's instructions?

 

[Kilkakon]

I'll be honest and say that I haven't looked. With the net being as bad as it is, it's pretty painful to do much in the way of surfing. I'ld assume that they are pretty straight forward though right?

 

[vyeh]

I'll be honest and say that I haven't looked. With the net being as bad as it is, it's pretty painful to do much in the way of surfing. I'ld assume that they are pretty straight forward though right?

Here is the link. I went ahead and downloaded it and there aren't instructions in it!

I went to the thread and here is the relevant instruction.

SMAniaC requires Alien Crossfire.

Extract SMAniaC into your main SMAC directory. Personally I have a special duplicate SMAC directory for SMAniaC besides the unmodified SMAC one. Others who don't have harddisk space to waste use ModMan.

...

I'll post the contents of the different readmefirst files here:

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customfac readmefirst.txt

...

To get them to work:

Copy the contents of the seven folders into your main SMAC directory. Except for atlantis.mp3 and templar.mp3. Those should be put into the 'voices' directory.

Oh don't forget: you need to copy the alphax.txt included in this download over the standard SMAniaC one to be able to play these factions.

 

[Kilkakon]

Thanks vyeh, it all seems reasonable enough.

I'll keep the suggestions in mind.

 

[vyeh]

Thanks vyeh, it all seems reasonable enough.

I hope so. My philosophy is that we should see what we need for the alpha and what we need for the beta. Get the alpha list done first and start working on the beta list while Petek gets approval.

I'll keep the suggestions in mind.

If you post your instructions, back story and goals, I can give you feedback. Are those the only three items on the alpha list?

For the beta list are more recorded quotes and blurbs. Anything else?

 

[Kilkakon]

I hope so. My philosophy is that we should see what we need for the alpha and what we need for the beta. Get the alpha list done first and start working on the beta list while Petek gets approval.

Sounds like a plan.

If you post your instructions, back story and goals, I can give you feedback. Are those the only three items on the alpha list?

Yeah pretty much. I'll see what I can do now.

For the beta list are more recorded quotes and blurbs. Anything else?

Artwork too. There's a few leaders that do not have pictures at the moment as well as things like the title screen and other HUD popups.

EDIT: I have uploaded my working help files here. What do you think?

 

[vyeh]

Artwork too. There's a few leaders that do not have pictures at the moment as well as things like the title screen and other HUD popups.

Is this in the hands of your friend?

EDIT: I have uploaded my working help files here. What do you think?

(1) I wouldn't call it "alpha censored;" I think "alpha" is sufficient. So subtitle is "Alpha."

(2) In the Introduction, delete the word "completely," "censored," and "released now so people can play now rather than later."

(3) In Bonus Material, "ingame" doesn't look right and it doesn't pass the spell checker. Try "in-game."

(4) Under Legal, the last comma should be removed under the rules of (American) English.

(5) Under Feedback, change "my" to "the" or "our" and change "page 25" to a post number. (I am only up to page 13 because I have set my settings to 40 posts per page.)

In general, very nice.

 

[Kilkakon]

Is this in the hands of your friend?

Somewhat, mostly me though. While he may or may not do a few sketches, everything else is up to me from colouring to composing the final images ingame (and any sketches as required). It's all the little things really that don't add a lot to the game in themselves but taken together make a difference.

...

In general, very nice.

Thanks!; changes have been made. I haven't uploaded them as it took me about 4 tries to do so in the first place... despite it all being about 200 KB. I'll be ringing the ISP again tomorrow though so hopefully it all gets sorted out soon.

I hope that was enough story for you. I didn't want to give too much away as if I do anything more with the story later on then everything's spoilt.

 

[vyeh]

Somewhat, mostly me though. While he may or may not do a few sketches, everything else is up to me from colouring to composing the final images ingame (and any sketches as required). It's all the little things really that don't add a lot to the game in themselves but taken together make a difference.

It is the details that count!

Thanks!; changes have been made. I haven't uploaded them as it took me about 4 tries to do so in the first place... despite it all being about 200 KB. I'll be ringing the ISP again tomorrow though so hopefully it all gets sorted out soon.

You're welcome!

I hope that was enough story for you. I didn't want to give too much away as if I do anything more with the story later on then everything's spoilt.

It is enough. It gives a background. Do we need explicit goals, e.g. should we say that Ascent is disabled?

I will be traveling again tonight and I expect my internet time will be very limited until Sunday evening. I hope to check this thread again before tonight, but no guarantees.

Feel free to post new blurbs as you write them!

 

[Kilkakon]

It is enough. It gives a background. Do we need explicit goals, e.g. should we say that Ascent is disabled?

Do you think that would be necessary?

I will be traveling again tonight and I expect my internet time will be very limited until Sunday evening. I hope to check this thread again before tonight, but no guarantees.

Okay well have a great time hey! Enjoy it! God willing we'll have the alpha approved by the time it comes back.

Feel free to post new blurbs as you write them!

Sure I'm keeping them under raps for now though until I have a big bunch ready.

 

[vyeh]

Do you think that would be necessary?

I think it is important; or at least note the victory conditions that still apply.

God willing we'll have the alpha approved by the time it comes back.

Is the only outstanding issue the assassin/spy graphic?

Sure I'm keeping them under raps for now though until I have a big bunch ready.

I think it would be easier on me if you posted them as you completed them. Then I would need to only find a couple of minutes as opposed to half an hour.

 

[Kilkakon]

I think it is important; or at least note the victory conditions that still apply.

Alright, I'll update the file!

Is the only outstanding issue the assassin/spy graphic?

Yes that is correct.

I think it would be easier on me if you posted them as you completed them. Then I would need to only find a couple of minutes as opposed to half an hour.

Hehe alright. Here are the only two new ones so far (they have been recorded already though; bad practice I know so in future I'll get proofreading before recording)

Freedom. What is freedom? Many people have told me that freedom is the casting off of rules and social restraints. But that is little more than anarchy; little better than chaos. If there are no rules then how can one walk down a street without fear of being attacked or murdered? Freedom is not the absence of restraint. Freedom is what we choose not to do.

-- Brother-General Tristan,
"In Freedom We Live"

My charms allow me the benefit of not only controlling all the plants under my command but also anything my balls fancy. So what can you offer me that I don't already have?

-- Prince Oblivion,
Conversations with Meora

 

[vyeh]

Here are the only two new ones so far

Good. I like them.

 

[Kilkakon]

Good news, the artwork has been approved! I'm on my way out for drawing day (at last, I hope to get some Lost Eden characters done if possible) so expect a release when I get home in about 12 hours!

 

[vyeh]

I notice the thread has been retitled! "Custom faction balance questions" wasn't so bad, except it omitted "Lost Eden"; scient had to live with "probe rollover bug" for a long time, despite the fact he solved the bug the first day and moved onto other bugs!

Hopefully, JH24 will be eager to give Lost Eden a test spin!

Edit: It looks like the maximum file size for a zip attachment is 10 Mb, so you shouldn't have a problem (and I would suggest an attachment here).

2nd Edit: Heading out. Hope to see alpha when I return in 16 hours.

 

[Kilkakon]

It's here! Download Lost Eden Alpha now! It's 10.7 MB so I have uploaded it at my personal webspace. Here is the readme file for the game which is also included in the zip!

Please feel free to discuss any suggestions, thoughts or any other feedback right here!

 

[vyeh]

Congratulations. I downloaded it and looked at the readme file. It looks good.

Also, I see you have a signature!

I'll try to post notices at other SMAC sites when I have time.

Edit: I have post notices at CGN, 'poly and WPC. This is the notice I posted at the three sites:

I've been helping Kilkakon develop a mod ("Lost Eden") for the last six months. It has reached the alpha stage, complete except for testing, some tech quotes and some artwork. It occurs in a fantasy setting. The readme file contains more information.

It can be downloaded here. It's 10.7 MB

Please feel free to discuss any suggestions, thoughts or any other feedback in this thread or in the CFC thread where we have worked for the last six months.

I gave readers the option of responding in the thread where I left the notice.