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Here's an Idea...

TridentTrident Ranger
in Babylon 5
Now I know this is a very very long shot, but we have so many people doing mods and making there own engines and such. What would the feasability of getting everyone together and make our own ITF. I know it won't be for profit, but if we get together and show thoes bastards at Sierra and Havas that this group could make something as good as there software, and produce it for free, and have a page show how much it's downloaded and show that to the Sierra/Havas exec's how much money they would have made if they did produce that game. I am very willing do devote eveyr moment of my time to do this. Firstones is our last best hope for a simmulation, it's up to us now now give them the blow that they deserve and make our own work and show them that together we can win, and this thing goes on just like babylon 5, they push us down, tell us what to do. Now it's our turn to tell them what John Sheridan said to the Vorlons/Shadows..."Now Get the hell out of our Galxay!" And as G'Kar have said.."You no longer exist in my universe." If they want Armageddon... By God lets Give it to them!

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CEO Derrick "Trident" Huntington
[url="http://phoenixtech.xwlegacy.net"]Phoenix Technologies Slicing[/url]
Home of the [url="http://mods.firstones.com/xwa"]Babylon 5 XWA TC[/url]
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Comments

  • WORFWORF The Burninator
    Count the entire Thirdage team in...which is just me.

    Worf

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    "Playing computer and video games doesnt create murderers and terrorists....cancelling computer and video games creates them." -Me-

    Join the fight for freedom at [url="http://www.newrepublic.de"]http://www.newrepublic.de[/url] and [url="http://www.isd-imperium.co.uk"]http://www.isd-imperium.co.uk[/url]
  • bobobobo (A monkey)
    Hmm, interesting idea...
    Barring the obvious problems of obtaining the rights from WB, there are some interesting issues:
    [list]
    [*]coordination - how do you coordinate a team as large as the one that will be required? It's not insurmountable (there are many large, open-source/non-profit projects out there, but does anyone here have the experience?)
    [*]scope - is the intent to create a B5 flight simulator, or B5:ITF, complete with the planned AI/command structure, the storyline, and gameplay model?
    [*]copyright - not from WB, but from Sierra. Like it or not, Sierra own's all the logic put into B5:ITF; software is copyrightable. Some of the sw "stuff" that would have made ITF so enjoyable may not be reproducable, unless a clean-room approach is taken and everything is made from scratch
    [/list]
    I would love to see this come to fruition. However, in order for it to happen, there would need to be a large planning phase, incorporating the stuff that Rick told us about when Sector 14 was being pushed as a solution.
    I've seen too many of the mods start out as "Hey, I know how to model a Fury; can anyone make a simulator for me?" If your proposed game is to be anything like ITF, there needs to be a well thought out and documented plan.
    I guess your post is the first step in developing that plan.

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    bobo
    <*>
    B5:ITF

    [This message has been edited by bobo (edited 07-27-2001).]
  • RazorbladeRazorblade Earthforce Officer
    I think that Space Dream Factory's B5:ifh has huge potential.
    [url="http://ifh.dax.ru"]http://ifh.dax.ru[/url]
  • GrevenGreven Ranger
    Yes it is...

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    [url="http://www.modfactory.net"]ModFactory[/url]
    <*>
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    Why not do this:
    Make a game Erily (that cannot be spelled right) similar to what ITF intended. A good idea might be to NOT make the game Babylon 5. Instead, you could produce a "Mod pack" for free that would transform the game [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    [quote]Originally posted by Sanfam:
    [b]Why not do this:
    Make a game Erily (that cannot be spelled right) similar to what ITF intended. A good idea might be to NOT make the game Babylon 5. Instead, you could produce a "Mod pack" for free that would transform the game [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img][/b][/quote]
    lol... Then sierra would have to find another way to screw us. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img] Good idea though, even if it has been said before [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img] (Hell, most of this stuff has been said before, but all of it is good).
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    Well, I don't know how sierra factors into this, but the idea I proposed simply makes a game strikingly similar to ITF, but not using the babylon 5 License. Instead, it would use somethiing similar, and original, but still not b5. To fix this "problem," a pack would be released (or could be manufactured by someone) that would mod the game to be b5-like [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    And because the original game would not be the one intended to be played, it could be crap. Then people get the game, ignore it and download the mod pack. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]

    ------------------
    [b]Required reading: [url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/[/url][/b]
    Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
    The Balance provides. The Balance protects.

    "Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
  • TridentTrident Ranger
    Well I'm good with cordinating groups, I cordinated Phoenix Technologies for 5 years, 1 year with the B5 TC for XWA.
    Now that is an interesting Idea, just basically release a game engine, with a crappy storyline and models and such, but have that special mod pack, now that would really help. And since we would be making the game, we could make the game totaly modable and upgradable like ITF was to be.
    I'm just a modeler/texturer here. I could do all the cordination if need be.
    What we could do is put all the physics(newtonian) and weapon types(beam+pulse+plasma+laser+etc..) needed into the basic game. Now here comes the fun part...for the modable part, have every aspect of the game into scripts. Like for lets say a Sharlin Neutron Cannon. You have a script for it for weapon slot 5. You apply the property of beam weapon on it, then how long it lasts, recharge rate, range, power.
    Then for the fighters and capital ships, use our own grapic format to encapsulate the hardpoint positions, engine glows, etc... into the game.
    Basically the format of the game will be just simple slots..255+ for ships, then 255 for capials, etc....and thoes ships are put into lists instead of hard coded into the game. Lets say like the Starfury, the list file will be fighter.lst, then for your fighter, you list
    3(slot used),aurora.lst(ship related stuff),aurora.shp(graphics related stuff)
    the lst file will list all the atibutes of the craft, types, alot more.
    After that rambling, I think a fitting name for the brand name would be...DreamX Space...
    but for the mod name, how about Babylon 5: Firstones, or perhaps Babylon 5: All Alone In the Night?
    Thoughts/Comments? [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]

    ------------------
    CEO Derrick "Trident" Huntington
    [url="http://phoenixtech.xwlegacy.net"]Phoenix Technologies Slicing[/url]
    Home of the [url="http://mods.firstones.com/xwa"]Babylon 5 XWA TC[/url]
  • JackNJackN <font color=#99FF99>Lightwave Alien</font>
    Now I have a headache...

    :/
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    That will teach you to drink too many margaritas before you go to bed. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]

    ------------------
    [b]Required reading: [url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/[/url][/b]
    Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
    The Balance provides. The Balance protects.

    "Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
  • shadow boxershadow boxer The Finger Painter & Master Ranter
    nuthin will happen till you formalise a company.. whatever that may be... and sort out your formal team roles etc etc etc....

    its alot of work.... and if you have a life.... its doubly difficult becuase NONE of the prepratory work pays.... and the bills keep coming in...

    You need white hot super hardcore people.... ones that put in.... and really put in...
    or you are wasting your time...
  • AwlrichAwlrich Earthforce Officer
    I haven't posted for absolutely ages, but I just want to say I think theis is a good idea.

    I like the scripting idea especially and the copyright work-around sounds good.

    When it comes to contributing, i'm up for helping with story stuff, for either the original game of the B5 mod, and I'm sure i can produce ideas for other areas of the engine too...

    Awl...
  • MessiahMessiah Failed Experiment
    Cool idea. Setting up an engine that would do absolutely nothing, and then release a mod pack...

    hehehe... I like the irony of it..

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    [i][b][url="http://www.dd.chalmers.se/~gu00mama/"]http://www.dd.chalmers.se/~gu00mama/[/url]

    Vir - Are you saying you don't trust me anymore? I made your favourite, Spoo.

    Londo - I'll order in.[/b][/i]
  • Falcon1Falcon1 Elite Ranger
    poetic in many ways....

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    'The future is all around us' G'kar
    'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen

    Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://www.nialb5.com"]B5 site[/url].
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    No, it Would NOT do absolutely nothing. It would be a game on its own, one strangely similar to what ITF was supposed to be. Then you release the modpack. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/vsml.gif[/img]
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    It would be two games in one! Except that noone would play the first one.

    ------------------
    [b]Required reading: [url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/[/url][/b]
    Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
    The Balance provides. The Balance protects.

    "Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
  • TridentTrident Ranger
    I know it will take alot of time, and I couldn't do much until the actual engine/mod editors were made. But we could already have a good start on models and such. My models are pretty high poly, but for such a game, high poly ships are reasonable if we can build a good enough game engine. But the hardest part of this game will be the actual coding of the game, and the editors to make the missions/models. Then all we have to do is make the default game, with a couple simple missions in it. Then get down to the hardcore stuff of movies/ships/missions/enviroment. Another Idea, we should make also the main game interface modable, sorta like the html image maps, for the main screens, you can create your own image maps/animated/change image parts, and where they go. This game we basically make our own programming script for every aspect of the game, make it simple enough to use, but efficent enough to make a fast loading game. We have alot of good people in our community, and I know if we can get enough support from everyone, this dream is possible. And also for the main program interface, it will be up to the programmers of what they want to do, but they can work on an upgradable way of updating the game easily. Basically if we just make this game totaly modular, we can work on each part one at a time, instead of just throwing it all together and hoping for the best. We can split the team up into seperate areas. First the Programmers who do there thing. And when they get code out, we can send it to the main modders to add there part to it, and also send the code to the people who do the graphics parts of the game. We will mostly need programmers/people familiar with modding and model making/people who make CG movies. I guess my role can be organizing this all, and get people onto it. Once the code is out, I will put my part into making models(alot of my XWA models would do good in it, maybe some modifications needed on them), and working on the main stats/capabilites along with help of other's in the community. And the main CG people can make there movies cordinate with mission makers to the events made. I'm not good with story lines so that would be up to the mission makers/cg people. We can have a chat sometime online, maybe though ICQ or IRC? If any of you are serious send me a message though ICQ at 1097475, or though AIM/AOL at CEOTrident, or though MSN though my email, just add me at CEOTrident@hotmail.com, or yahoo though _trident_. I am VERY serious about this. And if we can set up something, we can set up a section on firstones to boast this new thing and get the ball rolling. It's up to us now...We are the Firstones, and it's up to us to build a new universe for B5 fans everywhere.

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    CEO Derrick "Trident" Huntington
    [url="http://phoenixtech.xwlegacy.net"]Phoenix Technologies Slicing[/url]
    Home of the [url="http://mods.firstones.com/xwa"]Babylon 5 XWA TC[/url]
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    Sounds like a great idea!
    I could have firstones.com host it.
  • TridentTrident Ranger
    Ok, I'll get to work on a web page, then start to try recruiting people to start bringing things together [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]. I'll also start getting my idea's on paper, and anyone that has any idea's or want to join in, they can email me at [email]CEOTrident@hotmail.com[/email] . I'll try to get a new email set up for this project so everything related to it can be sorted out. Right now, what we need on our list is Skilled/Advanced Programmers familiar with the Windows Enviroment and glide/and or direct3d. Either we can find a graphics engine or create one, it's up to whoever programs thinks is the best for our goals. Then we will need modelers who can do fairly good B5 models, and later on, according to the game engine, we'll determine what kind of poly count we need from the ships, but we can just all out start pumping the models out right now, at all kinds of details from high, to pathetically low. Then also need artists/CG creators to start on game interface graphics for both parts of the games. I got cruddy models in .dxf format (I can only use 3ds(no texturing) or .dxf for my modeling) to include into the Primary Game. Oh yea need people to do texturing of the models too, I'm getting better, but not that good just yet. Until the actual game engine is created and a mission designer is made, Mission creater's arn't needed as of yet, but would be nice to know to have many on standby incase we do get an engine at any time. Our time is now, Our 4th hope was demoilished, but this is our 5th try for a game, and by god, Babylon 5 will stay!

    ADDED:
    Oh yea, I will need a couple of people to be the main "Partners" in this "company" so the workload of head administraion can go unhendered if one is to not be able to do things due to RL. Like the Minbari, three is one hell of a number, 3 points, strongest shape of all, the triangle. Also, no one gets paid for doing this, so this is a totally no pay job. And we can't really sell this so this is just something that is in the true spirit of B5, to go out and make changes at any cost.

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    CEO Derrick "Trident" Huntington
    [url="http://phoenixtech.xwlegacy.net"]Phoenix Technologies Slicing[/url]
    Home of the [url="http://mods.firstones.com/xwa"]Babylon 5 XWA TC[/url]



    [This message has been edited by Trident (edited 07-29-2001).]
  • milodmilod Ranger
    Forgive me if I sound skeptical, but...

    Does the world really need yet another half-finished space combat game? How is this effort going to be different from B5 Flight Sim Freeware, or B5:IFH, (or for that matter, The Elite Project or Galileo, or half a dozen other uncompleted fan-based projects)?

    Have you ever tried to build an entire game from scratch? It's a hell of a lot of work (trust me on this). And it requires a lot of specialized knowledge and experience that you don't seem to have.

    Wouldn't it make more sense to work with a team that is already further along?

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    --milo
    [url="http://members.home.net/milod"]http://members.home.net/milod[/url]
  • TridentTrident Ranger
    You have a point there, but from what I heard (not to put anyone down) some other's don't want help from others except thoes they know. I want to bring the whole community together to make what we want. And yes I know it will take years to build one from scratch but it would be well worth it. I know I don't have programming knowledge, that's why this kind of idea needs people who do have the knowledge, I can supply idea's to make the game, but I can only make the modable part, I'm only a game slicer, not maker, I edit games and make mods for them. But also I have some leadership skills and I really hope to make some kind of differnce here. It's ok everyone has there own opinion milod. But I feel that differnce needs made, maybe some hope needs spread though the community? I don't know, but morale does need raised and maybe a whole community project could raise hopes more and hopefully give us what we all wanted.

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    CEO Derrick "Trident" Huntington
    [url="http://phoenixtech.xwlegacy.net"]Phoenix Technologies Slicing[/url]
    Home of the [url="http://mods.firstones.com/xwa"]Babylon 5 XWA TC[/url]
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    I guess milod would know, having made a game. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img] Still rocks, by the way!

    Oh that reminds me! Milod, have you seen this?
    [img]http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/jlbiggs/images/starshatter3d.jpg[/img]

    It's from the NVIDIA database of games compatible with their stereoscopic drivers, the one that you get to through the display control panel. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]



    ------------------
    [b]Required reading: [url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/[/url][/b]
    Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
    The Balance provides. The Balance protects.

    "Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
  • Falcon1Falcon1 Elite Ranger
    Well I can only offer my support for the effort Trident. I'm too tied up running my gamer website. I can help spread the word, or if you need any graphics work, concept nebulas etc, I can run off stuff in photoshop.

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    'The future is all around us' G'kar
    'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen

    Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://www.nialb5.com"]B5 site[/url].
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    Well, what about doing what milo said, and combining forces with other mods/games? This would definately help out. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
  • TridentTrident Ranger
    Yes it would help, I'll see what I can do to get hold of thoes project Leaders.

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    CEO Derrick "Trident" Huntington
    [url="http://phoenixtech.xwlegacy.net"]Phoenix Technologies Slicing[/url]
    Home of the [url="http://mods.firstones.com/xwa"]Babylon 5 XWA TC[/url]
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    I'm sure B5:IFH could do with a few extra programmers and artists to help out. And what's the deal with the freeware thing? Haven't heard anything about that in ages.

    ------------------
    [b]Required reading: [url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/[/url][/b]
    Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
    The Balance provides. The Balance protects.

    "Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
  • Alpha-1Alpha-1 Elite Ranger Germany
    what is, when you dont made a own game , but you go and help to finish the b5 freewaregame ifh. i think its a great game with an own engine. i think this game is graphical near on b5:itf
  • bobobobo (A monkey)
    I agree with milod. A new game is not what is needed, but rather a completion of one of the existing ones (IFH is looking good, but FSF has potential, too).

    If we could focus these guys on a generic space sim, with mods in mind, I think we might have something.

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    bobo
    <*>
    B5:ITF
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    Well, freeware is simply strolling along at their own pace [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/biggrin.gif[/img]
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