Solabusca on 2/8/2007 at 21:40
Quote Posted by New Horizon
My concern with the project, from the very beginning, was that there was talk of going to a lot of extra work to create 'new' content. When you start doing that...you increase your work load a LOT.
To get this project finished in a reasonable amount of time, I suggest the following.
1. Only use T2 textures that came with the original game. Yes, we are all familiar with them by now...but it will keep the missions looking like they were made back in the day. :) It will also keep the download 'minimal'.
2. Try to use 'only' the existing AI characters. There might just be enough 'un-used' conversations to make the missions. Only create new voice sets as a LAST resort. Do as much as you can with readables.
In essence, pretend you're an LGS designer...and all your sound/ texture designers have been let go, due to budget constraints, in order to get T2 Gold out the door.
Keep it simple, and a few experience Dromeders could have these missions out within the next 12 months.
Listen to NH. He is showing wisdom.
.j.
New Horizon on 2/8/2007 at 21:48
Quote Posted by Solabusca
Listen to NH. He is showing wisdom.
.j.
:) Well, I can't claim to be wise...but experienced..yes. Everything needed to finish these missions is already at our fingertips. A year has passed already? They really should have been released for beta testing by now.
How many mappers are on this team now? If you can get one mapper per mission, each mapper should do a 'phase' of each mission...just to keep things fresh. Stage one could be texturing...then when the texturing is done, pass each mission to the right {with notes on your ideas for the map} and have a different mapper look at it. It will make the process a bit more interesting, since you'll get to play in the world another mapper has begun, and make improvements to it. By the end, each mapper should end up with their original mission for tweaking / bug testing and final revisions.
Set an alpha stage deadline of 3 months from the day everyone begins. Surely there must be experience mappers who would be willing to get behind this and get the levels out.
Solabusca on 2/8/2007 at 21:54
Wellllll...
Perhaps Brother Renault could enquire after some of the 'lost resources' that are working on TDM to refresh their DromEd skills...;)
.j.
Renault on 2/8/2007 at 22:19
I'm not sure what everyone else's vision of this project is, but to me it's a lot more than just taking the three released .mis files and texturing them. Thief Gold expanded The Dark Project's story a bit, but most people know that Thief2 was rushed out the door to meet a deadline. The whole game could use at least a minor overhaul. Many thing need to be considered, such as:
* Plot - what are these missions about? What are the objectives? Probably going to need a bunch of readables to explain it all.
* Continuity - where do these missions fit into the T2 timeline?
* Modifications - what needs to be changed in the OMs so that these new missions fit in cohesively?
* Briefings - at least five new briefings, possibly changing or editing existing ones.
* Maps - five new (ingame) maps are needed as well.
* Conversations - these are of course optional, but have you ever played a Thief level that didn't have at least one?
None of this includes any kind of custom AI or items, as are mentioned many times over in Emil's notes.
A few very select custom textures are optional, but would be a nice touch for an expansion such as this.
Also keep in mind that two of the five missions need to be created from scratch (Waking The Dead and Fallen Hammers). And we're not talking about contest sized missions here, there need to be OM size to match the rest of th e game.
While were at it, Casing and Masks could use a makeover.
Need some custom menu art for the final release.
Did I forget anything?
Zillameth on 2/8/2007 at 22:29
You're talking about several thousands of work hours. How many people does the team consist of?
jtr7 on 2/8/2007 at 22:30
Quote:
Did I forget anything?
Probably....
*Zaccheus* on 3/8/2007 at 13:28
Thanks.
:)
Dussander on 3/8/2007 at 22:50
I think it should have some custom stuff, as many T2 missions introduced something new
jtr7 on 3/8/2007 at 22:56
Ideas are great. Implementing them requires people to take the time, do the work, and stay committed--barring the unforseen circumstances life brings.
BrokenArts on 4/8/2007 at 13:08
Quote Posted by jtr7
Ideas are great. Implementing them requires people to take the time, do the work, and stay committed--barring the unforseen circumstances life brings.
Yup was thinking the same thing. All this talk is fine, ideas are great, until something concrete happens, as of right now, it's pretty much dead in the water.
