Lost Eden development thread

[vyeh]

Secondarily, if you can try and get a working copy of Alien Crossfire going at some stage that would be great! I'ld love to get your opinion on the game you have helped make for about six months but haven't played.

I'm not sure if I am motivated to do so. My SMAC activity is basically confined to this thread, although from time to time I read the other threads on this forum, since my bookmark is to the forum and not to the thread.

Without going OT, suffice it to say my interests have shifted significantly away from the virtual world of the computer and TV to the real world of the gym.

I've squeezed a few minutes here and there from sleep because of our friendship. I once thought I would leave the SMAC forums when scient did, but you've delayed that departure.

Is there anything else you can suggest?

I'll leave JH24 to do a run-through (he was suppose to finish his final today).

We should look at the promo copy some more and make sure we include all the features (reasons why someone would be interested in playing).

We should continue to think about ways to get the word out.

Maybe write up a list of the things that are needed for the final release (gold).

Thanks for giving me your time hey, I appericate it.

You're welcome.

Is these websites the ones that Petek gave us?

No. These are much smaller avenues of publicity.

tomorrow's Australia Day, a public holiday! It's the day our states signed and united into our country.

Happy Australia Day!

 

[Kilkakon]

I'm not sure if I am motivated to do so. My SMAC activity is basically confined to this thread, although from time to time I read the other threads on this forum, since my bookmark is to the forum and not to the thread.

Without going OT, suffice it to say my interests have shifted significantly away from the virtual world of the computer and TV to the real world of the gym.

I've squeezed a few minutes here and there from sleep because of our friendship. I once thought I would leave the SMAC forums when scient did, but you've delayed that departure.

Alright then! I had thought that your time away was to achieve a state of balance rather than "shifting ... away from the virtual world". While I'ld say that it is important to remember that the gym isn't the real world either (Dad calls it the church of the 21st century) it is good that you are getting into the physical side! Be sure to feed yourself mentally and spiritually as well.

Is scient coming back? The possiblity of having more unit icons is of course a very understandable desire for this project, although it's nice I have managed to work around it somewhat.

Happy Australia Day!

Thank you! Us Aussies really just use the occasion to booze up and have a BBQ though, although Dad and I walked 7km (4.3mi) through the bush and had a HUGE burger (American size burger) and chips for lunch! Pretty hefty exercise.

I'll leave JH24 to do a run-through (he was suppose to finish his final today).

He did say in his recent PM that he would have a few other things to do over the weekend. He will post in this thread when he is ready.

We should look at the promo copy some more and make sure we include all the features (reasons why someone would be interested in playing).

Okay I can agree with that! I will be going out in a few hours for more family time. When I get home (or tomorrow morning) I can put some more time into looking into this point.

We should continue to think about ways to get the word out.

Yeah... I am wanting to make a personal website soon, with all my projects and perhaps my art all in one place. The project's home would be there once I have it up and running, and I could do some promos on my YouTube channel with its epic 27 subscribers (slowly climbing!).

Maybe write up a list of the things that are needed for the final release (gold).

From memory I have a list already, in my project directory on the backups. When my PC is operational I can copy those off.

No. These are much smaller avenues of publicity.

Okay sure! Even if you never play the game, the publicity side of mod releasing is admittably the side I have always been poor at, as it's a lot harder to learn in that area without having lots of projects shot down (which I have haha ). So thanks for whatever you can do there... it'll be great to get things right.

 

[vyeh]

Alright then! I had thought that your time away was to achieve a state of balance rather than "shifting ... away from the virtual world".

Regaining balance usually involves shifting weight from one leg to both legs. Maybe I'll become more involved in the SMAC world in the future (especially if scient returns).

While I'ld say that it is important to remember that the gym isn't the real world either (Dad calls it the church of the 21st century) it is good that you are getting into the physical side!

I was using "real" as a contrast to the world of pixels on a screen. I think your use of the word is different.

Be sure to feed yourself mentally and spiritually as well.

I am currently reading "The Wisdom of Yoga" by Stephen Cope, which does both.

Is scient coming back? The possiblity of having more unit icons is of course a very understandable desire for this project, although it's nice I have managed to work around it somewhat.

I don't know. In the past two years, he has appeared in the spring.

He did say in his recent PM that he would have a few other things to do over the weekend. He will post in this thread when he is ready.

That's fine. With your PC down, the beta release has to wait.

Okay I can agree with that! I will be going out in a few hours for more family time. When I get home (or tomorrow morning) I can put some more time into looking into this point.

Also take a look at the organization. Are the most compelling features at the beginning? Should we end with the sentence "The Lost Eden total conversion can be downloaded here <link>"?

Yeah... I am wanting to make a personal website soon, with all my projects and perhaps my art all in one place. The project's home would be there once I have it up and running, and I could do some promos on my YouTube channel with its epic 27 subscribers (slowly climbing!).

Maybe the way to start is with the project's home.

From memory I have a list already, in my project directory on the backups. When my PC is operational I can copy those off.

OK. Are there any beta --> gold items that we can work on in the absence of the PC?

Okay sure! Even if you never play the game, the publicity side of mod releasing is admittably the side I have always been poor at, as it's a lot harder to learn in that area without having lots of projects shot down (which I have haha ). So thanks for whatever you can do there... it'll be great to get things right.

Note, we are talking about the publicity for the beta. For the gold, my thoughts would be uploading the final version to the CFC download area (as well as the download areas for WPC, assuming it still works, 'poly, and the download area for civ.org.pl.

 

[Kilkakon]

Regaining balance usually involves shifting weight from one leg to both legs. Maybe I'll become more involved in the SMAC world in the future (especially if scient returns).

Yeah well I hope you still pop in every now and then to say hey and for us to see how you are going. I'll always welcome ya.

I was using "real" as a contrast to the world of pixels on a screen. I think your use of the word is different.

It was yes--I was referring to the various cliques available in the world, and they can be either virtual or nonvirtual.

I am currently reading "The Wisdom of Yoga" by Stephen Cope, which does both.

Ah, yoga. From memory that's an eastern religious activity, Hindi from memory. I'll know a lot more about it this coming Sunday -- Dad has been preaching a series on all the worldviews of the world, he's done Islam, Hollywood, this week is eastern religion. Must be interesting reading though!

I don't know. In the past two years, he has appeared in the spring.

Oh I see. I was under the impression he was going to come back sometime, but it's a case of if instead of when. Good to know!

That's fine. With your PC down, the beta release has to wait.

Yes that is correct. Here has been some news on that front, however: I rang up the PC shop today and it was apparently all ready to go (let's hope it wasn't that way for days and I never got the call!) so I picked everything up. I'm on my laptop now, which is working fine, although there's an issue with the desktop. As it's had such dramatic changes, I have to install the OS again. The problem is that the Windows disc blue screens as it's preparing to start up, as it's a XP SP0 disc and not a SP 2+ disc. I've spent 4 hours trying to get it going today (got fed up at the end) so I'll have to seek assistance to get it going. So as of current situation, I can do more than I could do, but not enough to release Lost Eden.

Also take a look at the organization. Are the most compelling features at the beginning? Should we end with the sentence "The Lost Eden total conversion can be downloaded here <link>"?

The artwork line could be moved up to be third in that list. I'm pretty happy with it otherwise -- brevity's good too of course. Having download links in more than one place is pretty important too!

Maybe the way to start is with the project's home.

Could be! I'ld have the gold on there, although if the beta is done beforehand I can just go with that. I'll get into designing the site soon.

OK. Are there any beta --> gold items that we can work on in the absence of the PC?

(from memory) We are working on them already, such as recordings, interludes, and so on.

Note, we are talking about the publicity for the beta. For the gold, my thoughts would be uploading the final version to the CFC download area (as well as the download areas for WPC, assuming it still works, 'poly, and the download area for civ.org.pl.

Yes of course, as well as clearing which versions are allowed where -- actually that's a good point for beta too! I'ld need help with the CFC downloads area though as Lost Eden's too big.

Good news: Bdanv responded with this link which contains all the trigger events and interludes. It's interesting... perhaps I could rename a tech or two and see if I can trigger the interludes (I'm thinking the Empathy/Meditation ones). If so, I could use those wherever I wanted them to go.

 

[bdanv]

Note, we are talking about the publicity for the beta. For the gold, my thoughts would be uploading the final version to the CFC download area (as well as the download areas for WPC, assuming it still works,..

it works fine.

 

[vyeh]

Yeah well I hope you still pop in every now and then to say hey and for us to see how you are going. I'll always welcome ya.

As long as this thread is opened ...

It was yes--I was referring to the various cliques available in the world, and they can be either virtual or nonvirtual.

Not sure how this meant a gym was not part of the "real" world. What is the real world?

Ah, yoga. From memory that's an eastern religious activity, Hindi from memory. I'll know a lot more about it this coming Sunday -- Dad has been preaching a series on all the worldviews of the world, he's done Islam, Hollywood, this week is eastern religion. Must be interesting reading though!

Also a popular physical activity in the U.S. and yoga philosophy is often presented devoid of religion in much the same way Greek philosophy is presented without reference to the Olympic gods.

So as of current situation, I can do more than I could do, but not enough to release Lost Eden.

Can you get screenshots off the laptop?

The artwork line could be moved up to be third in that list. I'm pretty happy with it otherwise -- brevity's good too of course. Having download links in more than one place is pretty important too!

How about a draft with those changes?

from memory) We are working on them already, such as recordings, interludes, and so on.

Let's get working on an interlude!

Yes of course, as well as clearing which versions are allowed where -- actually that's a good point for beta too! I'ld need help with the CFC downloads area though as Lost Eden's too big.

I'm sure Petek can help with the CFC download.

Good news: Bdanv responded with this link which contains all the trigger events and interludes. It's interesting... perhaps I could rename a tech or two and see if I can trigger the interludes (I'm thinking the Empathy/Meditation ones). If so, I could use those wherever I wanted them to go.

Renaming techs to trigger interludes would be interesting.

For the gold, my thoughts would be uploading the final version to the CFC download area (as well as the download areas for WPC, assuming it still works, 'poly, ...

it works fine.

I was referring to 'poly. Last I checked many months ago, the SMAC download areas were closed to new uploads.

 

[Kilkakon]

Not sure how this meant a gym was not part of the "real" world. What is the real world?

To clarify on the gym: it's a part of the world, but not wholly it. Some people are as hooked on gym activities as others are on computer ones. The answer to your question depends on your worldview.

Also a popular physical activity in the U.S. and yoga philosophy is often presented devoid of religion in much the same way Greek philosophy is presented without reference to the Olympic gods.

Well yeah, meditation is done in a Christian environment too -- the Bible even says to do so. It just depends on what you are meditating on really!

Can you get screenshots off the laptop?

Yes I can. With a re-installed version of SMAC the weird shadow problem I was having disappeared too so they come out just fine.

How about a draft with those changes?

Okay here you go:

Spoiler :

Lost Eden Total Conversion Mod for Alien Crossfire (Beta)
<download link and pictures>

<Screenshot of game, showing off unit and base artwork>

Lost Eden, a new total conversion (mod) for Alien Crossfire, has just been released as a public beta, available <here>. It's a world in which good and evil clash with epic proportions. A mysterious figure, Meora, has caused people and factions to clash. Can you gain control of Lost Eden and put an end to the madness once and for all?

What's different about Lost Eden?
14 new factions balanced with each other.
Units from many species: charmanders, squirtles, roses, humans and more.
New artwork for units, terrain, leaders, technologies and the user interface.
Predesigned units present a wide range of tactical options and include cheap amphibious spies, psionic units that lower enemy morale, fast attack units with low defence and very powerful irreparable units.
A redesigned technology tree and retooled facilities breathe life into previously ignored strategies.
Original quotes for technologies, facilities and factions.

<download link again here>

Let's get working on an interlude!

I'll have some drafts done shortly. Stay tuned! (will either edit or reply, whichever comes first).

EDIT1: Here's the draft for Interlude 4, which is triggered when the player first builds their own Carnivine.

Spoiler :

^ Negotiation with the native lifeforms in Lost Eden has been, to say the last, aggressive. You have done your best to ensure the safety of your people but sightings and attacks continue to increase in number all too quickly. While you can sit comfortably in the safety of $BASENAME5 other cities are not so lucky and are at risk. Clearly something needs to be done about this native problem.
^ No time like the present. "Bring me $ASSISTANT8", you sing out to one of your bodyguards. It'll be great to see him. After all, when you first arrived in Eden, he was the first to call you 'friend' and he's loyally followed you ever since. If only all of your people followed his example.
^ "$ASSISTANT8, you've grown!" you say welcomingly as he enters the room. The charmander is definitely at least few more centimetres taller but still retains his youthful playfulness and cute appearance. "Sorry I haven't been able to see you for a while!" you add.
^ "Aww don't worry about it $NAME1!" he replies happily. "I know that you have been busy doing all that $TITLE0 stuff you get up to." You hug him friendlily. "So why did ya call me out like this?" he asks.
^ "Well $ASSISTANT8, I've got a task I'd like you to do. As you know, the natives are restless! They're destroying everything! What I want you to do is find a way for us to make peace. There must be a way to cooperate with these creatures instead of just destroying them."
^ "Peace with the natives? That shouldn't be a problem. It's all about how you approach them really." he replies. He drones on for hours talking about various plans and strategies about how he'll get the job done and all the while you feel all the more confident that this task is in safe hands.

I'm sure Petek can help with the CFC download.

Yeah, he's a capable moderator.

Renaming techs to trigger interludes would be interesting.

Yeah... I'm doing some investigation on that now. Stay tuned! So far I haven't been able to trigger the Centuari Empathy one, but we shall see. EDIT: Nah this technique won't work. Oh well!

Hehe this message too me too long to write... I blame the heat! It's really hot at the moment (it's shorts only or no shorts weather really even with the A/C on) so I'm not getting as much sleep as I would like. Ah well.

 

[vyeh]

To clarify on the gym: it's a part of the world, but not wholly it.

If you mean that it is not the whole world, that is true. But then nothing (e.g. church, home, work) would be wholly the world except the world.

Yes I can. With a re-installed version of SMAC the weird shadow problem I was having disappeared too so they come out just fine.

We need a good screenshot for the announcement.

Okay here you go:

Lost Eden Total Conversion Mod for Alien Crossfire (Beta)
<download link and pictures>

<Screenshot of game, showing off unit and base artwork>

Lost Eden, a new total conversion (mod) for Alien Crossfire, has just been released as a public beta, available <here>. It's a world in which good and evil clash with epic proportions. A mysterious figure, Meora, has caused people and factions to clash. Can you gain control of Lost Eden and put an end to the madness once and for all?

What's different about Lost Eden?
14 new factions balanced with each other.;
Units from many species: charmanders, squirtles, roses, humans and more.;
New artwork for units, terrain, leaders, technologies and the user interface.;
Predesigned units present a wide range of tactical options and include cheap amphibious spies, psionic units that lower enemy morale, fast attack units with low defence and very powerful irreparable units.;
A redesigned technology tree and retooled facilities breathe life into previously ignored strategies.; and
Original quotes for technologies, facilities and factions.

Lost Eden can he downloaded here<download link again here>.

EDIT1: Here's the draft for Interlude 4, which is triggered when the player first builds their own Carnivine.

If it is build, shouldn't there be some mention of building. This sounds like capturing.

Yeah... I'm doing some investigation on that now. Stay tuned! So far I haven't been able to trigger the Centuari Empathy one, but we shall see. EDIT: Nah this technique won't work. Oh well!

What was the technique you tried?

Hehe this message too me too long to write... I blame the heat! It's really hot at the moment (it's shorts only or no shorts weather really even with the A/C on) so I'm not getting as much sleep as I would like. Ah well.

Right now the Northeast US is digging its way out of a lot of snow. There was a power failure at the gym that I go to that lasted for 14 hours. I'm not sure that I would prefer your heat to the slush, but the other extreme is pretty messy.

 

[Kilkakon]

If you mean that it is not the whole world, that is true. But then nothing (e.g. church, home, work) would be wholly the world except the world.

Correct. A balanced life is the goal.

We need a good screenshot for the announcement.

Yeah--I'll probably make a montage or something of lots of different things.

Lost Eden Total Conversion Mod for Alien Crossfire (Beta)
<download link and pictures>

<Screenshot of game, showing off unit and base artwork>

Lost Eden, a new total conversion (mod) for Alien Crossfire, has just been released as a public beta, available <here>. It's a world in which good and evil clash with epic proportions. A mysterious figure, Meora, has caused people and factions to clash. Can you gain control of Lost Eden and put an end to the madness once and for all?

What's different about Lost Eden?
14 new factions balanced with each other.;
Units from many species: charmanders, squirtles, roses, humans and more.;
New artwork for units, terrain, leaders, technologies and the user interface.;
Predesigned units present a wide range of tactical options and include cheap amphibious spies, psionic units that lower enemy morale, fast attack units with low defence and very powerful irreparable units.;
A redesigned technology tree and retooled facilities breathe life into previously ignored strategies.; and
Original quotes for technologies, facilities and factions.

Lost Eden can be downloaded here<download link again here>.

Okay sounds good! I only realise now that the bullets disappeared from my previous revision though... sorry ! Would the semicolons be necessary if the bullets go back?

If it is build, shouldn't there be some mention of building. This sounds like capturing.

Well in Lost Eden, native units are hired rather than bred, hence being more on about cooperating. I'm 80% through the next interlude too which follows on from this one (poor assistant8)

What was the technique you tried?

I changed the tech key to CentEmp and moved the tech down to that location--didn't work.

Right now the Northeast US is digging its way out of a lot of snow. There was a power failure at the gym that I go to that lasted for 14 hours. I'm not sure that I would prefer your heat to the slush, but the other extreme is pretty messy.

Ugh not fun! I haven't ever been in snow so I don't know what it's like. Good luck with it all.

 

[bdanv]

I changed the tech key to CentEmp and moved the tech down to that location--didn't work.

you have to obtain it through research not by trade or scenario editor options.
also triggering the interludes in a scenario it's complicated. try it on a random game using the map of Chiron to see if it works.

 

[Kilkakon]

I did research it properly, but thanks for the input bdanv.

Here's Interlude 6: after the trained unit for interlude 4 is killed:

Spoiler :

^ You are lost in thought. It had been a busy evening--those dreary council meetings, complaining citizens, as well as lengthy talks with native leaders. This time to relax is definitely welcome, being alone for once, admiring the view from your balcony. It's enough to take your mind of things, at least for a little while.
^ "Am I disturbing you, $TITLE0?" a voice beyond you says. Jumping out of surprise, you turn to see the source of this creepy, sinister voice, yet see nothing but shadows. Nobody was meant to know about this place. This was your secret sanctuary, your escape. And yet this stranger was here.
^ "Who are you? Show yourself!" you shout. Obediently this stranger steps forward out of the shadows. A purple and olive dragon, definitely male and proud of it, with four wings stood before you. From his hip hung a loaded crossbow, and from his waist was a card playing device of strange construction, but what he was holding instantly grabs your attention.
^ "I'm just bringing you this", the stranger responds, breaking the silence. Quickly yet gently he places the large, long object in his arms onto a nearby table and unwraps it. Horror grips you as you release that it is nothing other than the body of $ASSISTANT8, dead.
^ "How did this happen?" you demand, running to the body and looking over it. The fire on his tail is gone; $ASSISTANT8 is definitely dead.
^ "It was $ENEMYNAME6", the stranger replies, "your friend was hunted down and killed".
^ "Why...", you whisper through your tears.
^ "Listen to me", says the dragon as he leans forward to comfort you, "it was the $ENEMYFACT7. They are trying to destroy you. They are jealous of all you have done and accomplished and now seek to weaken you by killing those close to you". His hand leaves your head. "Will you let them destroy you? Will you let them kill more of your friends?"
^ "No... this madness ends here..." you retort softly.
^ "You know what you must do: $BASENAME5...", the stranger's voice growing louder and more confident with every word, "destroy it; completely; totally. Let none stand in your way!" The stranger stops and notices you still holding the body of $ASSISTANT8. "I'm sorry... $NAME1".
^ You look up. The stranger had vanished. You're alone again... so very alone.

Annoyingly, the words don't seem to work properly in this interlude. Instead of getting the name and faction for the enemy when I did a test run just now, I got "Caretakers" and "exploit the power of the manifold experiment" instead.

 

[vyeh]

Okay sounds good! I only realise now that the bullets disappeared from my previous revision though... sorry ! Would the semicolons be necessary if the bullets go back?

No, but I'm not sure if all sites support the "list" code.

Well in Lost Eden, native units are hired rather than bred, hence being more on about cooperating.

I changed the tech key to CentEmp and moved the tech down to that location--didn't work.

How about leaving CentEmp in the original position?

Ugh not fun! I haven't ever been in snow so I don't know what it's like. Good luck with it all.

Doesn't parts of Australia get snow?

Here's Interlude 6: after the trained unit for interlude 4 is killed:

Nice.

Annoyingly, the words don't seem to work properly in this interlude. Instead of getting the name and faction for the enemy when I did a test run just now, I got "Caretakers" and "exploit the power of the manifold experiment" instead.

Why would your game take the Caretakers? (I assume you haven't played a vanilla game with the Caretakers as opponents.)

 

[Kilkakon]

No, but I'm not sure if all sites support the "list" code.

Alright, well it'ld work with both then I suppose, with and without them.

How about leaving CentEmp in the original position?

That is also something I tried.

Doesn't parts of Australia get snow?

Correct: the eastern states do. I live in Western Australia, which has a mediaterrean (spelling) climate.

Nice.

Thanks.

Why would your game take the Caretakers? (I assume you haven't played a vanilla game with the Caretakers as opponents.)

Yeah it's weird as hey! It should have taken the name from the pirates as that was the team I set up to do the deed. I double checked that I am using the same numbers as the normal game (and I am) so I have no idea how that has happened... perhaps an unofficial patch bug.

 

[vyeh]

Yeah it's weird as hey! It should have taken the name from the pirates as that was the team I set up to do the deed. I double checked that I am using the same numbers as the normal game (and I am) so I have no idea how that has happened... perhaps an unofficial patch bug.

Try starting a new game with different AI opponents and see if you get something different than the Caretakers.

 

[Kilkakon]

Just gave it a shot--with exactly the same result, despite having Protectors and CyndaTech involved (was using first 7).

 

[vyeh]

Post the bug at CGN with a save. If scient returns, he can look at it.

 

[Kilkakon]

Well done on becoming an Emperor!

As for the bug... I'll see if I can reproduce it with normal SMAC first, as scient wouldn't know what to do with a Lost Eden save.

 

[vyeh]

Well done on becoming an Emperor!

I just noticed the change in title. It happened upon achieving 1000 posts.

As for the bug... I'll see if I can reproduce it with normal SMAC first, as scient wouldn't know what to do with a Lost Eden save.

And if you can't reproduce it, that may tell you something that will help you eliminate it.

 

[Kilkakon]

Alright sure, I'll keep in touch RE: that problem. As for more story development, I'll see if I can get something done tomorrow evening or perhaps some tonight (I was originally going to be out so I didn't have anything planned).

 

[vyeh]

As for more story development, I'll see if I can get something done tomorrow evening or perhaps some tonight (I was originally going to be out so I didn't have anything planned).

I assume you are talking about more work on the interludes. Do you have an estimate for when the PC will be fixed?