Firaxis:
The latest patch has "fixed" a few "problems" with the editor concerning the ability to add and delete, among other things, improvements and units. Namely, the work-around to add and delete such objects no longer exists. Certainly, a hacked editor will appear within the next few weeks which will remove most of those limitations. So, the mod community will only have to wait a while before most of the limitations are overcome.
What I'm asking, and I believe I can speak for just about everyone with even a passing interest in modding the game when I ask this, is that Firaxis simply remove the intermediate step of a third party hacking the editor and release a more functional editor. I understand that this editor couldn't be supported, since there are certainly many issues related to modifying certain parts of the game that haven't been completely resolved yet. For this reason you'll need to make it clear to anyone who downloads the "expert" editor that it's unsupported and not recommended for use by Firaxis. However, many of us have no problem spending the time it would take to troubleshoot any problems that may arise from the use of a powerful yet more bug-prone editor.
As I'm certain you're aware, there are many precedents for such an action. Many software houses will release unsupported programs for their products with no intent of supporting them, ever (Valve - Half-Life, Relic - Homeworld, Activision - Call to Power, Microprose - Civilization 2, to name a few). And, certainly there are some areas of the rules you don't want people to have access to just yet (and perhaps never). However other parts, such as adding units, improvements, etc, will have little effect on the future sales of say, an expansion (although admittedly, since I don't know whether you're releasing an expansion and what it would contain if you did, I have no business saying this - I could very well be completely wrong).
Anyway, know that many of us have no qualms about working with an editor that may not be exactly "fit for mass consumption." So, if this is all that is holding you back, I implore you to release the "expert" editor I speak of as a separate download on civ3.com. On the other hand, if there are other issues preventing you from releasing this editor (I can't think of any myself but then I'm not on the Civ3 team), please just quote the following line of text:
Ain't gonna happen, chunky.
The latest patch has "fixed" a few "problems" with the editor concerning the ability to add and delete, among other things, improvements and units. Namely, the work-around to add and delete such objects no longer exists. Certainly, a hacked editor will appear within the next few weeks which will remove most of those limitations. So, the mod community will only have to wait a while before most of the limitations are overcome.
What I'm asking, and I believe I can speak for just about everyone with even a passing interest in modding the game when I ask this, is that Firaxis simply remove the intermediate step of a third party hacking the editor and release a more functional editor. I understand that this editor couldn't be supported, since there are certainly many issues related to modifying certain parts of the game that haven't been completely resolved yet. For this reason you'll need to make it clear to anyone who downloads the "expert" editor that it's unsupported and not recommended for use by Firaxis. However, many of us have no problem spending the time it would take to troubleshoot any problems that may arise from the use of a powerful yet more bug-prone editor.
As I'm certain you're aware, there are many precedents for such an action. Many software houses will release unsupported programs for their products with no intent of supporting them, ever (Valve - Half-Life, Relic - Homeworld, Activision - Call to Power, Microprose - Civilization 2, to name a few). And, certainly there are some areas of the rules you don't want people to have access to just yet (and perhaps never). However other parts, such as adding units, improvements, etc, will have little effect on the future sales of say, an expansion (although admittedly, since I don't know whether you're releasing an expansion and what it would contain if you did, I have no business saying this - I could very well be completely wrong).
Anyway, know that many of us have no qualms about working with an editor that may not be exactly "fit for mass consumption." So, if this is all that is holding you back, I implore you to release the "expert" editor I speak of as a separate download on civ3.com. On the other hand, if there are other issues preventing you from releasing this editor (I can't think of any myself but then I'm not on the Civ3 team), please just quote the following line of text:
Ain't gonna happen, chunky.
:alien: :alien: :alien: :alien:.
I got this reply from Jeff Morris concerning the editor:
