Volca on 19/10/2009 at 11:00
Yeah, I can understand your point of view. It does not leave too much space for creativity and requires other skills besides programming, so it is not as easily rewarding as designing something from scratch. I think this is one of the reasons there is so little interest in helping (the second one I can imagine is that the engine is on the complicated edge of the engine rewrites you'll see on internet, thanks to the design decisions in the original one...).
AntiMatter_16 on 20/10/2009 at 02:26
A third reason is there are so few of us that can actually program (at least on the level of reverse engineering something), and it seems those that can program, are usually are quite busy.
I'd help if I could, but my programming skills don't go much beyond basic data structures. 3D and more advanced programming are way beyond me, sadly. I am curious about how you guys actually do go about reverse engineering the thing though. My best guess would be opening up the engine in a hex editor, and running it line by line to see what it does...
MoroseTroll on 20/10/2009 at 12:35
Hey, ex-LGS people, please help us to find the Thief 1&2 source. If you do have something but fear to share it with us, please send a private message to me or even better to René. He assured me that nobody will be prosecuted for doing this - instead, Eidos will thank those who would help. If you cannot help us then please sign this petition - thus, we will know that you are with us. There are 933 signs so far, but I still cannot recognize any of the Thief 1&2 parents :(.
René on 21/10/2009 at 14:56
^^ This is true. I guess Eidos wasn't great at archiving things a decade ago!
scarykitties on 21/10/2009 at 16:14
It would be great if the Dark Engine's source was released, for certain.
... But, I humbly offer that the Dark Mod's work has made a free, fully open editing environment that makes for even better Thief gameplay than the Thief games themselves.
scarykitties on 21/10/2009 at 18:07
Yeah, better.
New physics allow for more mobility, new puzzle solving options, stealth works similarly (that is, as good as ever), but fighting has become far more challenging (as it should be), lockpicking is more refined and requires some attention, movement is extremely more refined (no more fumbling for edges--TDM's mounting works superbly), and, honestly, I think that the visual style itself looks better than the Dark Engine's (partially because it's, well, darker).
242 on 21/10/2009 at 20:45
But scarykitties, it's just mere words until some truly huge and complex TDM mission appear. And I mean something like Calendra's Legacy #2 or CoSaS # 2. 1 such mission would proof TDM once and for all.
Dan on 22/10/2009 at 07:52
@ scarykitties: You've got a point, but a lot of new engines and mods have great capabilities. Its weather the developing people are able to put them to good use. You must have a good showcasing mission, that utilizes the engines capabilities to its full and its still fun and challenging to play. But that's difficult sometimes because of the devs and sometimes because of the editing software.
@ 242: Good ideas. I believe those people would make wonderful TDM projects.
MoroseTroll on 10/11/2009 at 13:11
951 signs so far.
