Modding: wouldn't it be cool if...

from Elemental Forums

One problem the "average" user has modding even a supposedly mod-friendly game like Elemental is coming up with decent graphics for their new content.

Wouldn't it be AWESOME if a game like this shipped with something similar to the Spore creature creator tool?  Spore was disappointing as a game, but man if I could take 20 minutes to make a fully animated really kickass looking dragon to use as a faction army or wandering creature or quest NPC...then use the editing tools of the game to assign it unique and interesting qualities/abilities...WOW!

Wouldn't it be cool if EVERY player with a little ambition and a creative idea could make really COOL content complete with high quality graphics?  The tools exist to make this dream a reality, but so far they have never been combined together in a single product that is accessible enough to "average" users to make their gaming dreams a reality.

I hope someday tools like the Spore creature creator will be extended into more useful game development/modding tools...

elemental
4,172 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

What you're looking for is a tool that allows you to adjust scale in terms of height and width, a way to tint preselected areas different colours, along with an intensity adjuster and possibly something to handle the textures, and for the models in elemental to be segmented so you can swap one piece of armour for a different piece of armour and mix and match.

That gives a *lot* of flexibility, maximizes the bang for the buck of each individual art asset (since it can be employed in a dozen ways instead of just one. If you have just one snake model, but you can adjust the size and tint it, it means your "one snake" just became "all snakes."

And means that your quest writers can click up a new special creature/object/item that's visually unique in the campaign by pointing and clicking *without* having to drag one of the modellers and a concept artist away from their jobs.

 

The cool thing is that AFAIK stardock is already doing this with buildings, allowing you to create arranged tiles out of barrels and other materials, and we know they're tintable. We also know there's a lot of flexibility in what your sovereign and individual units can look like, so it's not too much of a stretch to imagine they might go the extra mile and throw in x,y,z scale adjusters and a few more tinting scales. Combined with clever segmentation of the model pieces, and a good base library of assets, and you could do anything from making an iron golem to making a winged angel for your mod.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Even cooler: dynamic control over x,y,z scale and tinting and being able to set different nodes to different models. You can make scripts that make units giant or tiny. I made a great "amputation & decapitation" in NWN during a spare weekend, with limbs flying off like nobody's business, just by having a null models to set the arm/hand/head to, and clever application of graphical effects. Also did some interesting stuff like regeneration spells visually regrowing the arm, piece by piece.

 

Only a fleshwound indeed!

The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

One problem the "average" user has modding even a supposedly mod-friendly game like Elemental is coming up with decent graphics for their new content.

Wouldn't it be AWESOME if a game like this shipped with something similar to the Spore creature creator tool?  Spore was disappointing as a game, but man if I could take 20 minutes to make a fully animated really kickass looking dragon to use as a faction army or wandering creature or quest NPC...then use the editing tools of the game to assign it unique and interesting qualities/abilities...WOW!

Wouldn't it be cool if EVERY player with a little ambition and a creative idea could make really COOL content complete with high quality graphics?  The tools exist to make this dream a reality, but so far they have never been combined together in a single product that is accessible enough to "average" users to make their gaming dreams a reality.

I hope someday tools like the Spore creature creator will be extended into more useful game development/modding tools...
End of quote

Yeah that would be awesome, but it won't happen. You will have to use an external 3d modeller to make new models. This is why an average dood like me won't make any models for sure. :| However, I am pretty sure that many talented modellers will play with this game, and they will create lot of decent creature models. Just take a look at the Civ4 modding community for example.  ;)

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

I guess the problem with this is that the creature creater IS Spore. They spent so much attention on it that the rest of the game is terrible.

Given limited resources, I'd rather Stardock focus on the game part. This would be pretty nice, but it's not as important as a fun game.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Tridus, reply 4
I guess the problem with this is that the creature creater IS Spore. They spent so much attention on it that the rest of the game is terrible.

Given limited resources, I'd rather Stardock focus on the game part. This would be pretty nice, but it's not as important as a fun game.
End of Tridus's quote

Yea I agree here. 

I still can't help but dream of having the best of both worlds though, even thought I doubt it will ever happen.  It was just so EASY to make cool looking creatures in the Spore CC - it's a shame a REAL game can't make constructive use of such a promising tool...

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Stardock should just buy EA for the Spore creator ;-) (Well Bethesda bought ID so anything is possible....)