Elite / Frontier Would it be possible to extensively re-mod FFE?

[Lestradae]

Question to the forum users and Mr. Braben himself, if need be.

I am under the impression that there would be a really easy way to bridge the gap until Elite IV - if it`s not vaporware. I surely hope not!

If it was possible to make FFE mod-able in four ways at once this would create an entirely new game which would still be recognisable as FFE but stay interesting.

1. If it`s possible to change graphics to higher resolution at all, why not write an editor that replaces all graphics in the game with new, higher-resolution ones?

2. If it`s possible to add stations and cities to planets or mod solar systems why not write an editor that makes the solar systems modable? Then all the alien civilisations that had been planned before or far colonies could be modded in easily.

3. Perhaps a missions/magazines editor as well? It should be possible, shouldn`t it?

4. An editor for the creation of new ships and equipment.

So, if an editor was written that made all of the above modable and working on today`s computers and a modding community would be allowed to come into existence by the powers-that-be (Yes, I`m looking at you, Mr.Braben ) then FFE 2.0 would be just a few months away, wouldn`t it?

And there might even be some merchandise in it. Frontier Developments Ltd. could, for example, create and sell that editor with a made-XP/Vista-compatible version of FFE CD 1.06 themselves, thereby generating a little profit, re-ignite interest just in case they want to sell another Elite at SOME point in this century and it would effectively be something like Elite 3.5.

To realise this should be a walk in the park for the programmers at Frontier Developments Ltd.. Should tale a month or so for someone who really knows what they`re doing. Or some code-wiz dares do the task themselves.

What do you think, potential players, modders, code-wizards from the forum and programmers / Mr.B. himself from Frontier Developments Ltd.?

Good idea or bad idea?
Can it actually be done?



L

 

[Alien]

It's a nice idea but don't you think that everyone at Frontier Developments is already very busy with other projects and would'nt you want them to concentrate on Elite IV and get that out to us ASAP. FFE 2.0 would only delay what we are all waiting for.

Thanx

 

[Steve O B Have]

Indeed ^^^ IMO it's better that they spend their time and money looking forward.

Welcome to the forums by the way both of you, hope you enjoy your stay

 

[The Space Pirate]

Question to the forum users and Mr. Braben himself, if need be.

I am under the impression that there would be a really easy way to bridge the gap until Elite IV - if it`s not vaporware. I surely hope not!

If it was possible to make FFE mod-able in four ways at once this would create an entirely new game which would still be recognisable as FFE but stay interesting.

1. If it`s possible to change graphics to higher resolution at all, why not write an editor that replaces all graphics in the game with new, higher-resolution ones?

2. If it`s possible to add stations and cities to planets or mod solar systems why not write an editor that makes the solar systems modable? Then all the alien civilisations that had been planned before or far colonies could be modded in easily.

3. Perhaps a missions/magazines editor as well? It should be possible, shouldn`t it?

4. An editor for the creation of new ships and equipment.

So, if an editor was written that made all of the above modable and working on today`s computers and a modding community would be allowed to come into existence by the powers-that-be (Yes, I`m looking at you, Mr.Braben ) then FFE 2.0 would be just a few months away, wouldn`t it?

And there might even be some merchandise in it. Frontier Developments Ltd. could, for example, create and sell that editor with a made-XP/Vista-compatible version of FFE CD 1.06 themselves, thereby generating a little profit, re-ignite interest just in case they want to sell another Elite at SOME point in this century and it would effectively be something like Elite 3.5.

To realise this should be a walk in the park for the programmers at Frontier Developments Ltd.. Should tale a month or so for someone who really knows what they`re doing. Or some code-wiz dares do the task themselves.

What do you think, potential players, modders, code-wizards from the forum and programmers / Mr.B. himself from Frontier Developments Ltd.?

Good idea or bad idea?
Can it actually be done?



L

If a fan designed mod can be made, that'd be great, otherwise I have to agree with everyone else that Frontier should focus fully on The Outsider/Elite IV to avoid anymore unnecessary delays. Welcome to the forums by the way!

 

[Sir.Tj]

If a fan designed mod can be made, that'd be great, otherwise I have to agree with everyone else that Frontier should focus fully on The Outsider/Elite IV to avoid anymore unnecessary delays. Welcome to the forums by the way!

I agree, let the guys at Frontier Devs keep working on E4. a fan based mod would be great!

 

[fierfly]

bring on a fan made mod of ffe and chage a few anoying thigs in the game, like the fact that no one ever responds to " help my ship is broken down" or any thing you say.

 

[Sir.Tj]

I think the subject may have been raised before but.. Is there a legal reason that FE/FFE could be modded?

 

[tobytyke]

There would be an easily way of doing this. Why doesn't somebody create a full elite/ffe mod from FreeLancer. You can do all things that you are talking about (Apart from a magazine). Thay way it would leave the dev times to concertrate on the Elite IV.

 

[DraQ]

There would be an easily way of doing this. Why doesn't somebody create a full elite/ffe mod from FreeLancer.

Newtonian mechanics, scale.

 

[Steve O B Have]

not to mention the entire trading and galaxy structure.

 

[tobytyke]

Trading is all there, Agreed about the scale you'ed just have to use your imagination. But you can make some reasonally large map in Free Lancer.

As for newtonian, Is that most peoples biggest windge when talking about FFE.

Didn't expect my suggest to be flamed so fast.

 

[Sir.Tj]

What I would like to see more than anything is a reworking of either FE or FFE, rather than using another game to recreate the Elite universe.

It could be done by adding to the original and coded missions to give us some more things to do, or adding some ships.

A hand coded mission involving a Thargoids attack would be

If this would be allowed to happen by the guys at FD that would be .

Just wish I was capable of doing it myself

 

[DraQ]

Trading is all there, Agreed about the scale you'ed just have to use your imagination.

Why should I if:
1) Frontier/FFE already delivers that.
2) If I wanted to use my imagination, I would rather do something creative with paper&pencil or some text editor.
Imagination can make up for shortcomings of presentation or be used to fill the gaps, but imagining nonexisting stuff in game so that it resembles another game or to compensate for nonexisting mechanics and shortcomings of the world itself doesn't seem neither smart nor enjoyable.

But you can make some reasonally large map in Free Lancer.

Reasonably large when compared to the ones where "close" is defined as "less than 150 million km"?

As for newtonian, Is that most peoples biggest windge when talking about FFE.

Successfully merging accessible gameplay and hardcore physics without compromising on either is one of the most appealing things about Frontier. Without that it'd be just another space trading and combat game, even if pretty large one. Plus, newtonian combat and spaceflight becomes damn satisfying once you master it.

Didn't expect my suggest to be flamed so fast.

Well, one has to be fast if he wants to expect to survive battles in FFE.

 

[Sir.Tj]

If modding FFE would be possible/allowed (Michael/Stephan???) is there anyone out there able to do it?

I've got ideas coming out of my ears on what I'd like as Im sure most of the posters on here have. I just wish I had the talent to do it myself.

 

[Steve O B Have]

I think the key thing to remember here is that Frontier and FFE were not just thrown together by bedroom developers. There was a significant amount of people time that went into getting these games onto the shelf not to mention some very smart cookies.

Asking for the game to be reworked and redesigned is by no means a small task and even if it were taken on, the fruits of such labor likely as not, would not be evident for at least 12 months if not more. I would've thought that the people capable of such a task are already hard at work with The Outsider and E4 or working for one of the other game houses out there.

Unless a game is created from the start with the intention of the structure being modular and mod-able the only things we can change are the aesthetics and not the fundamental game engine.

Of course I could be entirely wrong and talking out the proverbial.

 

[Sir.Tj]

Of course I could be entirely wrong and talking out the proverbial. .

Welcome to my world!

Asking for the game to be reworked and redesigned is by no means a small task and even if it were taken on, the fruits of such labor likely as not, would not be evident for at least 12 months if not more. I would've thought that the people capable of such a task are already hard at work with The Outsider and E4 or working for one of the other game houses out there.

Sorry, didn't make myself very clear there. I meant if the developers allowed 3rd parties to have access to the code. could they actually make changes.

 

[Steve O B Have]

Oh I see what you mean - anything's possible I guess, the big question is would they if it was available?

 

[Sir.Tj]

Oh I see what you mean - anything's possible I guess, the big question is would they if it was available?

It would be quite a challenge I assume.

 

[Steve O B Have]

It would be quite a challenge I assume.

Well we're operating on the assumption that they would be capable of it. What would you change/update/add to the game? FE2/FFE was a pretty impressive game from the start. I personally don't have a huge number of ideas about what to add to the game without fundamentally changing it enough to be considered E4 as opposed to E3.5. If there were nothing on the horizon I think that the job would be snapped up by enthusiasts but considering that E4 is within sight it could well end up being time spent on something that might just not be utilised.

 

[tobytyke]

For the moment, the best option most likely would be Oolite, While it's not FFE it is elite (and a pretty good job too). May updating that to be more like FFE would be a more viable option.

Keeping quiet about FreeLance just incase I get flamed again