04-08-2005 06:12									#1
	Info regarding Modding ability in Game Developer Magazine Remove this text

Hi guys.

Warpstorm, from Civfanatics, has just posted some info HERE regarding the extent of modding power in Civ4-which is in the latest issue of Game Developer Magazine. Not much info given in the thread but, at 4-pages in length, it sounds like the magazine is worth picking up!

Yours,
Aussie_Lurker.

	04-08-2005 07:13									#2
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Good aussie.

	04-08-2005 15:05									#3
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I'm afraid the posts are a bit light on details, also for copyright reasons, I suppose, but I can't buy that mag here in Italy, so...

An interesting point is mentioned by "joethreeblah"

quote: there was a brief paragraph about some kind of new "capacity point" system for railroads...

.

Is infinite railroad movement gone? (or at least limited by capacity, like airport limited to a flight every turn).

	04-08-2005 15:52									#4
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OK, at the risk of violating copyright , here are some primary issues raised in the article.

1) Reaffirmed the four-tiered modding system (world-builder, XML files, Python Scripting and the Software Development Kit).

2) Key issue is that all changes are 'hot swappable'-meaning that the computer detects any changes and can load them in 'on-the-fly'.

3) Full control of the formation that the multi-figure units, and city layouts, can take under any circumstance.

4) The Gamecore DLL will be a 'pluggable Module', which will make no assumptions about the underlying platform and hardware.

5) XML data includes 'Camera Variables', asset file locations and scales, scripting hooks et al.

6) Every Major, High-level Game function and event is exposed to Python Scripting.

Beyond this info, a lot of it is high-tech jargon and NO , there is no mention of Capacity Points in the article-I sense Joe was having a Lend of us.

Yours,
Aussie_Lurker.

	04-08-2005 17:16									#5
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If you are merely stating several main points from an article, or even quoting a sentence or two, you're not violating the copyright .

And it sounds good .

	04-08-2005 18:14									#6
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quote: Originally posted by The_Aussie_Lurker 2) Key issue is that all changes are 'hot swappable'-meaning that the computer detects any changes and can load them in 'on-the-fly'.

Ooh, I like this. I hated having everything stored in the save-game file when making changes in Civ3.

	04-08-2005 19:49									#7
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quote: Originally posted by Solver If you are merely stating several main points from an article, or even quoting a sentence or two, you're not violating the copyright .

There is a very thin line between the right of speech about a written book/article and the infringment of copyright, in most of laws around the world. Recent enforcement of the matter is a silly reaction to the new digital opportunity in copy & republishing.

Don't worry Aussie, we'll snail mail to you hardcopy print of CIV IV screenshots, this winter while you'll be held in prison. :

quote: Originally posted by Solver And it [the news] sounds good .

I agree! But this is not the positive post, so may be I'm off topic!

	04-08-2005 19:51									#8
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By official decree of The Powers, every thread except those started by Yin26, the Eater of Cardboard, is hereby declared to be positive.

	04-08-2005 20:25									#9
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quote: Originally posted by Solver By official decree of The Powers, every thread except those started by Yin26, the Eater of Cardboard, is hereby declared to be positive.

	04-08-2005 20:55									#10
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quote: Originally posted by Solver By official decree of The Powers, every thread except those started by Yin26, the Eater of Cardboard, is hereby declared to be positive.

[yin-mode]
This is really bad news. This most obviously means that the game sucks and the developers want the fans to finish it. I even think that the game won't be patched at all. Firaxis will just say: "Why should we patch it? You can patch it yourself"

Not to mention the fact that all the time Firaxis was building and working on these hot-moderatable features they couldn't come with new concepts and ideas. A waste of time I might say.

Perhaps Firaxis should not release this game before July 2239 because of these issues.

I'll print this thread and eat is if in the end civ 1.23 isn't anything more then a scripting tool in which you *could* write a civ-game.
[/yin mode]

[CyberShy mode]
This game will rock so hard! Can't wait!
[/CyberShy mode]

	04-08-2005 20:58									#11
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ROTFLMAO!

	04-08-2005 21:31									#12
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Actually, I've said all along this is an issue of great promise. Cyber: Keep trying! You've yet to understand me.

EDIT: Just to flesh this out a little bit, I think Firaxis (as a business) will make a Civ 4 game that appeals to the masses. I, frankly, think that version of Civ will be tedious and predictable. But I don't try to blame Firaxis for that (too much). With these mod abilities, however, the neurotic among us can craft our own version of the game, and that's awesome.

For that ability, I must say, I give Firaxis huge marks.

Last edited by yin26 on 04-08-2005 at 21:43

	04-08-2005 22:06									#13
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quote: Originally posted by Solver By official decree of The Powers, every thread except those started by Yin26, the Eater of Cardboard, is hereby declared to be positive.

I remember a thread not started by yin where we made fun of the melding of a tree and railroad tracks

	04-08-2005 22:38									#14
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I think I remember that thread, though I didn't make the comment. The screen shot was pretty funny, though.

	04-08-2005 23:40									#15
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I think trees should grow over railroads when railroads aren't used for a long time

And spearmen should have spiderwebs between their spear and their helmet when they've been on 'F' for too long

	05-08-2005 00:05									#16
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Yeah, and they can make snoring sounds and sound annoyed when you unfortify them (in their nation's language, of course).

	05-08-2005 00:31									#17
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quote: Originally posted by yin26 Actually, I've said all along this is an issue of great promise. Cyber: Keep trying! You've yet to understand me. EDIT: Just to flesh this out a little bit, I think Firaxis (as a business) will make a Civ 4 game that appeals to the masses. I, frankly, think that version of Civ will be tedious and predictable. But I don't try to blame Firaxis for that (too much). With these mod abilities, however, the neurotic among us can craft our own version of the game, and that's awesome. For that ability, I must say, I give Firaxis huge marks.

And then stancarp & hexagonian can (after several months) make an "Ages of Man" mod. With XML instead of SLIC, etc., etc.

Edit: it's "Ages" (plural), not "Age" (singular).
And what comes after the ages of MAN, the ages of ...?

	05-08-2005 00:50									#18
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quote: Originally posted by Jaybe And then stancarp & hexagonian can (after several months) make an "Age of Man" mod. With XML instead of SLIC, etc., etc.

I'll probably be knee-deep in Candle'Bre stuff at that time

Keep plugging AOM... after all, its still a few months before civ4 comes out.

	05-08-2005 01:20									#19
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This is good.

SMAC will rise again.

	05-08-2005 03:12									#20
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I'll out myself as an Ages of Man supporter! Indeed, that was the kind of effort and talent I was thinking of when I read the mod possibilities for Civ 4. Hat's off to Dave and Stan.

P.S. Try Ages of Man!

	05-08-2005 03:23									#21
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Cybershy:

	05-08-2005 11:05									#22
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quote: Originally posted by LordShiva Yeah, and they can make snoring sounds and sound annoyed when you unfortify them (in their nation's language, of course).

let me shorten your post for you :

quote: Not originally posted by LordShiva Yeah, and they can make snoring sounds (in their nation's language, of course) when you unfortify them.

	05-08-2005 13:28									#23
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This is the Civ to end all Civs.

Civilization will no longer be Firaxis's. It will be ours.

	05-08-2005 13:46									#24
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hope so

	05-08-2005 15:44									#25
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quote: Originally posted by Sn00py Civilization will no longer be Firaxis's. It will be ours.

thanks for the link Aussie Lurker

	05-08-2005 17:48									#26
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quote: Originally posted by Sn00py This is the Civ to end all Civs. Civilization will no longer be Firaxis's. It will be ours.

Sssssh! Don't tell The Secret to everyone, or Take2+Firaxis will notice and cut away the moddability.
- "sorry, we announced a Civ IV with a great mod feauture, but we aren't ready to deliver it. We are really working hard to give to you the greatest, safer mod feature to enjoy, but we'll finishing when it will be finished, in a new expansion "MTW" (Mod The World) we are about to develop.

quote: Originally posted by Sn00py Civilization will no longer be Firaxis's. It will be ours.

"Three Civ version for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven expansion for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of throne,
Nine patches for Mortal Men starved to die,
One beta for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the P.R. Preview lie.
One Deity level to rule them all, One City Find to find them,
One Yin's Cardboard to bring them all and in the darkness eat them
In the Land of Mordor where the P.R. Preview lie.

"This is the Master-Civ, the One Civ to rule them all.
This is the One Sid's Civ lost many years ago,
to the great weakening of its maker's power.
Now, fans greatly desires to have it again,
- but they must NOT get it"

Oh spirit of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, please forgive my english words killing your masterpiece.

	05-08-2005 18:16									#27
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quote: Originally posted by Stuie Ooh, I like this. I hated having everything stored in the save-game file when making changes in Civ3.

Oh god yes, I hated reaching the modern age just to realize I'd mistyped a number

	05-08-2005 21:12									#28
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quote: Originally posted by MxM let me shorten your post for you :

Thanks. But they should only snore when asleep, and then sound annoyed when you unfortify them