Star Trek Armada2 single player mission editor

[napseeker]

Of course, the ability to add new types of weapons would likely mean the release of the A2 source code (and I think we can safely assume whatever is coming is more likely to be based on A2, not A1 which alone is sure to disappoint the hardcore A1 modders regardless of what does actually come out).

To follow up on what I said above, their ability to give out source code that could actually be used by us to recompile the Armada executable may be restricted by what other programming resources might need to be linked into the code during compilation. Both A1 and A2 used the Storm3D graphics engine (which of course is the reason why .SOD was the 3d object format for the ships in the game, SOD = "Storm3d object definition" for those that didn't know).

From what I vaguely recall from many years ago, the developers had licensed Storm3D for use in the game, then at some point after the release of A1, somebody actually ended up buying the rights to the graphics engine itself from its original developer. I don't believe that "somebody" was Mad Doc or Activision. So that would've meant they still had to license S3D again for A2. If MD never owned the graphics engine code at any point, then unless the S3D engine has become public domain in the years that've passed, any A2 source code released would be potentially useless. There'd be no S3D .lib files to link to.

Speak up if anyone has a better recollection on the issue of the 3d graphics engine. This is what I recall and I'm getting old, so my memory may have skewed severely over the years

I think we can expect that the tools release can be split up in order of usefulness this way:

best = source code, mission editor, improved A2 SOD viewer, improved map editor

great = mission editor (this alone would be worth all the trouble AFAIC) and improved sod viewer

oh well... = improved sod viewer (would elicit the same degree of disappointment felt by many after seeing ST Insurrection or ST Nemesis ) I hope it's not just a lousy sod viewer though; we already have other sod editing tools like CV, so this would be a massive let down.

Regardless, everyone should give Mad Doc a polite thank you e-mail whatever happens... with Legacy coming out, they're under no obligation to spend time and money giving us jack-all. The best way to discourage them from giving us any more Armada tools would be to have dozens of ranting e-mails after the package is released, complaining "You didn't give me so-and-so!!!! I'm a super lamer Trek nerd and I don't appreciate anything you've done for us because I didn't get what I wanted!!! Wah! wah! wah!". I think the only reason Sandy has worked as hard as she has, is because I showed my love for the product, not my disappointment and because my e-mails have been filled with a thousand "please" and "thank you"s for even the tiniest progress this past year. Nobody will go to the wall in order to make a prick happy...

[halo]

hopefully mad doc comes through on this "public realese" my own experience with the company shows me that they will in some present future let their guard down and realese said source code someday! but i highly dought it will be in this public realese

believe what you will but mad doc has been working with community members nd other software communites for long time now they have said in the past "we will release a source code for you guys" and low and behold they never did lol

lets just say rote will have something no other mod has and when it comes out you all will be amazed on how it was done (this relates to this topic due to the fact of talks to maddoc on surtein levels of tool realesing)

[DOCaCola]

i talked to chessmess recently and i asked also about single player mission files he intended to release. he said that the files/tools for custom single player missions will be released soon, they just have had some kind of issues with the files or something...
i asked him about the rumors related to the release of more tools or files for armada 2 and he answered that he "can't comment on anything else"

[napseeker]

The other possible release might be tools/source files that allow one to compile their own .frm files, for making fleet formations. I noticed last night that the A2 folder included a small header file (why this was left in I don't know) and that the formations seem to be fairly easy to create (a series of x,y,z offsets). It seems we would just need the VC++ project files (or whatever compiler) to compile our own .frms.

Obviously custom formations would be a neat, but not necessarily high demand, item. Still it's one more thing for modders to play with.

[Majestic]

they just have had some kind of issues with the files or something...

I was wondering what was taking so long.

[merlin1701]

Very cool stuff.
How would i contact them to say thanks for you guys?
This is one of THE best modding communities ive seen in all my years of mod consumption.
To get any sort of tools or mission editor i think would be a coup for the armada modding community.
Ive been wanting to make missions for years. Ive experimented with different ways in the map editor.. we'll see what this brings us.

[napseeker]

You can go to the Mad Doc website where there's contact info. But I'd hold off on saying thanks until the mission editor and whatever else may come with it, is released. That's when I think Mad Doc will be gauging the kind of interest there still is in Armada and possibly if it bears a sequel....

[Harey]

Ok I'm watching this with interest, and things look quite promising. It should be mentioned, that Napseeker deserves our thanks for his part in the events so far. Lets hope something comes of it.

and possibly if it bears a sequel....

hmmm, I had not even considered this. Although there are many things that could prevent a new sequel, something like this, could possibly start the ball rolling.

The most interesting thread I've read in months. special4.gif

[napseeker]

Go here to read the latest development about the mission editor tools AND then bombard Bethesda for requests to release the scripting tools!

http://armada2.filefront.com/news/Scripting_tools;30936

Pretty cool that both A2 and Legacy are borne of the same heritage. Should be a boon to fans of both games.

[Tyran]

if it's mission making tools then it would be a joy cause almost any mod i've came across the single player missions are all the same ok the story changes from mod to mod (ok i've got a lot to learn as far as modding is concernd) but i'de love to try and make missions for mods such as " STA2 A Wake Of time" or fleet ops the multi play is excelent and is the skirmish but to be able to get missions in you own mods would rock

[napseeker]

Unfortunately, things look stalled now for the release of those tools. Last heard, a news item on Armada2Files said that in order to get these tools into a state that MadDoc could release them, they'd have to get money from the new publisher to fund the work. There was a brief attempt to rally people to petition the publisher around Christmas time and then nothing.

I also tried to contact Sandy at Mad Doc to see what else the fans could do, but there's no word still. It may have something to do with the lacklustre reviews for ST: Legacy I suspect that may have killed the prospect altogether but I hope not.

[jetnova16]

Does anyone know if this still might happen and if it will when?

I would love it if they would release the tools to edit the campaign missions and to make your own. Until then though, I guess I'll have to learn more about MMM (Megaroids Mission Mod).

[Zalderon]

your responding to a like 4 well now 5 year old post...if it hasnt happened it may never... : (