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Eilarais
Eilarais
Join Date 07/2005
+5

Unprecedented Feature

October 17, 2006 3:21:43 PM from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
If any developers are still looking for features for DA or later, how feasible would it be to extract selected calculations from the code and make them editable in a configuration file? I know that Diablo II did some of this in the 1.10 patch, where the arithmetic was expressed as a set of variables in text format.

I'm thinking that if this were possible, it would make alternate-world mods much better, instead of just being a set of logos and custom stats. If the developers wanted to go all-out, they could even separate the formulas by race, so that each side would be it's own unique, configurable game.
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Eilarais
CariElf
Join Date 08/2001
+68 sdemployee
Reply #1 October 17, 2006 3:54:03 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
It's not possible with the GC2 engine.  We don't have a scripting engine.
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Eilarais
Wheeloffire
Join Date 04/2006
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Reply #2 October 17, 2006 8:12:12 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
What's with the retentive spreadsheet monkey players? Just play the game. It's fun.
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Eilarais
Nachosamurai
Join Date 04/2006
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Reply #3 October 17, 2006 10:19:51 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
Maybe they have fun with spreadsheets too? Don't be so judgemental...
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Eilarais
Eilarais
Join Date 07/2005
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Reply #4 October 18, 2006 9:49:11 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
What's with the retentive spreadsheet monkey players? Just play the game. It's fun.


I stopped playing games years ago, I have a lot more fun modding and designing than I ever did as a player. Besides, the feature wasn't requested because it's fun, it was requested because it's necessary in order to make truly original mods.

What, exactly, is a retentive spreadsheet monkey?
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Wheeloffire
Join Date 04/2006
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Reply #5 October 18, 2006 9:04:32 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
I stopped playing games years ago, I have a lot more fun modding and designing than I ever did as a player.


That's because you can't win, right? Perhaps "surrender monkey" is a better description for you.
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Eilarais
Eilarais
Join Date 07/2005
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Reply #6 October 19, 2006 10:10:58 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
That's because you can't win, right? Perhaps "surrender monkey" is a better description for you.


Your valuable insights have been duly noted. Please feel free to post any additional thoughts you might have.

It's not possible with the GC2 engine. We don't have a scripting engine.


From what I've seen, arithmetic expressions don't absolutely require scripting, just really good parsing. It probably won't fit into DA, but maybe a second expansion or sequel could incorporate something like that. I know I wouldn't need another 4x game after I had one that could do that. 
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Eilarais
Ugleb
Join Date 09/2003
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Reply #7 October 19, 2006 12:13:22 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
What, exactly, is a retentive spreadsheet monkey?


It's a small ape descended from a rare type of monkey that escaped from a Zoo in Dudley, England, back in the 1960's. The colony now migrate between the Midland's cities nesting in office tower blocks. They like to steal spreadsheet printouts to use as nesting materials and collect. When they move on they break down their nests, archive the spreadsheets fr later reference and move on taking all the paperclips with them.
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Eilarais
Eilarais
Join Date 07/2005
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Reply #8 October 19, 2006 2:55:33 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
It's a small ape descended from a rare type of monkey that escaped from a Zoo in Dudley, England, back in the 1960's. The colony now migrate between the Midland's cities nesting in office tower blocks. They like to steal spreadsheet printouts to use as nesting materials and collect. When they move on they break down their nests, archive the spreadsheets fr later reference and move on taking all the paperclips with them.


Ahh, I understand now. Of course, now I have another type of monkey to ponder.
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JanuHull
Join Date 09/2006
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Reply #9 October 23, 2006 6:22:15 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
As a full on player who's been known to dabble in modding, I, for one, happen to appreciate the "retentive spreadsheet monkeys" who can extend the life of a game well beyond its developer intended lifespan on my harddrive.

Especially truly shell games like Neverwinter Nights that live and die by the hand of the people who take it apart and put it back together in a new configuration. They do on their own time some of the things the development team wishes it had the budget to do.
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kapeman
Join Date 11/2004
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Reply #10 October 25, 2006 3:38:04 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
As a full on player who's been known to dabble in modding, I, for one, happen to appreciate the "retentive spreadsheet monkeys" who can extend the life of a game well beyond its developer intended lifespan on my harddrive.

Especially truly shell games like Neverwinter Nights that live and die by the hand of the people who take it apart and put it back together in a new configuration. They do on their own time some of the things the development team wishes it had the budget to do.


I agree. It surprises me 1) that game dev companies don't hire or contract with these guys more often and 2) that, many times, the modders do a better job than the devs.

The latter is, obviously, not the case with GalCiv2. (I was really thinking MoO3, but other modifible games come to mind as well.)


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Eilarais
Eilarais
Join Date 07/2005
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Reply #11 October 26, 2006 2:21:32 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums
I agree. It surprises me 1) that game dev companies don't hire or contract with these guys more often and 2) that, many times, the modders do a better job than the devs.


I've always thought that the real benefit to modding is that it lets designers really dive into the niche markets that are too small to be worth any money. If modders started getting paid, they'd have to start worrying about idiot buttons and accessibility mechanics, and the spark would be lost.

It happens to development companies, too, which is why I hope Stardock can keep it's focused approach and not start trying to compete with garbage spewers like EA.
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