Rob Hicks on 31/5/2013 at 06:16
I'm still alive, and occasionally pop in here to look around but I cannot be considered active any more.
DEDX2, which I later renamed Dark Metal, fell foul to changes in my personal circumstances that effectively meant I was unable to work on it for several years. When I returned to the project I quickly found that two things had happened; (1) the community had moved on in ways that made much of the work redundant, and (2) I was out of touch and out of practice - most of my work was now unfathomable to me. I'm afraid the project has been lying dead since 2007.
The ultimate aim of Dark Metal was to strive for complete compatibility between Thief, Thief Gold and Thief 2, so that original missions and fan missions could run in Thief 2's engine. Many parts of T2's original missions had been re-imagined to fit in better with the gritty-medievalism of T1/G (rather than the more futuristic, art-deco/regency look of some parts of T2). Additionally, like DEDX, the aim was to include a much greater variety of textures, models, tools, AIs and so on.
As I recall, I'd got to the stage where most T1/G missions could be played in T2 without any significant problems (although a few scripts and overlaps remained problematic). This was done by completely rebuilding the gamesys from the top down, slowly and methodically putting in every texture, model, AI, sound from scratch and thoroughly testing and tweaking to get the most out of the gamesys with the simplest systems possible. I remember it being very tedious and very complicated.
Somewhere, in a dusty box, all that work remains stored on some disks, but to be honest I question what value it would now be to anybody. The T1 and T2 engines now support textures and models that are far superior to anything produced back when I was working on the project, and the task of figuring out exactly where I'd got to and how to proceed would be terrifying.
And, you know what? Install Thief, Thief Gold or Thief 2 with no added bits and bobs and you'll be amazed how good those games are without any 'improvements'.
All the same, it is heartening to hear that the original work I did (with, of course, many others) on DEDX still has a few fans. I'm sorry that everything promised for its sequel never materialized, but I know the community is talented, imaginative and more determined than I could ever be so nothing has been lost that the community cannot gain (and do better) itself.
The very best wishes to Dromedding friends old and new!
Rob Hicks
Renault on 31/5/2013 at 14:19
Hey Rob - thanks for checking in again. I'll throw this out in the forum here because I don't know how reachable you'll be by PM or email:
1) Would you consider starting up a project like this again? I think you could get a lot of help from the community this time around so all the weight wasn't on your own shoulders.
2) Even if they are slightly outdated, would you be willing to share any/all of the resources you had been working on for Dark Metal/DEDX2?
I'd really like to collaborate with you on a project like this, if you've got the time.
LarryG on 31/5/2013 at 14:37
Except that T1 and TG all now run on the same engine as T2 ... NewDark. if "The ultimate aim of Dark Metal was to strive for complete compatibility between Thief, Thief Gold and Thief 2, so that original missions and fan missions could run in Thief 2's engine." Well, that now happens with NewDark.
I think, Brethren, that your goal is different, to have an enhanced base gamsys from which authors can start their projects with all the resources of all three games and some new, fan developed cool stuff as well, no?
Renault on 31/5/2013 at 15:03
Yes, some type of resource pack is what I'm after. So authors can create a mission and have more choices on textures/models/etc without having to hunt down assets from all over the web. Basically what DEDX was, but updated. I think Dark Metal was initially going to be this too, but it also had some additional features as Rob described.
zacharias on 31/5/2013 at 15:20
Pretty good rising from the dead there Rob :thumb: Good to see you.
zappenduster on 6/6/2013 at 05:49
Quote Posted by Brethren
I've been toying with the idea of coming up with some type of updated DEDX type project, basically an attempt to give new (and old) authors a bigger selection of resources to use for their missions. One big part of this would probably be creating a new gamesys and a base mission to give authors a solid starting point.
This sounds good! :)
Quote Posted by Brethren
I know the DEDX gamesys caused some problems, but I don't know specifically
what caused them.
The framerate probs mentioned above and some minor things like frobbable torches, wrong material for (covered) couches and I remember a game crash with the web throwing spider.
Quote Posted by Brethren
My initial thought was to create a gamesys that includes everything from COSAS Mission X and maybe King's Story and a few other large collections of objects and meshes.
I think it is important to include objects which are difficult to set up, p.e. AIs with spells or objects with flames. On the other hand I think it is not necessary to include every colour variation of gems, one should be enough, the FM authors can choose the standard gem with another shape.
Quote Posted by Brethren
Thoughts on any of this?
For my FMs I worked a lot with the schemas and I guess there might be some details to correct and to add.
For example: The sound sg6a0mu4 is not listed in the original schema (and is therefore never played) and I guess there might be some other things like that. And new schemas like p.e. vhaunt2 or vguard7 (en, fr, de) should be included.
I can offer to do this (schema) job. I think we still can't merge different gamesys elements together but as far as the sounds are concerned the SCH files could easily made separated from the gamesys works.
Ricebug on 6/6/2013 at 13:19
Might be a good idea to share the workload on something this big. I'd like to see some improved particle FX, for one thing.
If this does happen, I'll work on a tree for the Thief Object Viewer with sharper images.
FireMage on 13/10/2013 at 09:02
Editing a gamesyst don't scare me. Doing effects too.
I explored some FM with dromed to see how the missions are done and their gamesyst.
And I will not forget to tell you the many effects I can do. Because one thing is important to me:
When I do a special effects in my mission, I always make sure that If somebody want to use my gamesyst,
he just have to put the object, and all effects will be ready.
Plus, that could be the moment for me to publish OFFICIALY some 3D objects...
So...I would like to but...
...alas, I'm lack of time these days because of my studies...:erg:
So, if I join this project, I will just contribute I think...
Ricebug on 13/10/2013 at 12:06
I'll add texture families to the gamesys. I'm retired and can handle tedious work. Firemage: Are you saying you will add the SFX?
FireMage on 13/10/2013 at 18:54
Not really, I can do everything with Dromed and especially gamesyst! :laff:
I can create custom stuff easy to put.
Example:
In DEDX, it is put a crystal and have a good time by creating links yourself crystal after crystal.
Me I know how to do that you put a custom crystal and you have nothing else to do!
And many funny things...:cool:
I saw in DEDX credit that it was planned to put burrick riders.
==>I HAVE ALREADY DO THAT!!!
But there is a buggy thingsie...when you don't look at the rider and his burrick, the rider is like an invisible ghost who run at you and kill you...
Hard to explain in a post, but If you want I can give you a mission with that in it... But when the rider is in front of you: Ho man! It's so good!
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Sommary, I can do all task, I'm a kind of jack'o all trade in Dromed. And that with no links to create yourself when the stuff is put, and no custom scripts.
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But If you want I can: What SFX you want me to do? :cheeky:
(You're lucky I have recently discovered how they works fine with experiments, I have finaly understood their secrets). ;)
As I said, my Science Computer Studies take an important piece of time in my RL, so no secrets between you and me: I'll work VERY slowly. :eek:
Unless I work normaly fastly...:laff:
Enough chatting, I'm ready and honnored to help! PM me your commands!:thumb:
