BastardBB on 12/3/2006 at 15:44
Hello!
Im new in this modding stuff and played thief only a few times,
but that could change.
I need your advice:
I want to develop a mod,
but im not sure which engine i should use.
It should match to the following constraints:
1) 3D game with ego perspective
2) Storyscripting and an unrestricted dialogsystem like an RPG (e.g. Baldurs Gate)
3) The Player should be able to access a logbook and an overview map
4) 3D models from 3D StudioMax must be importable
5) Skybox and cutscenes should be possible
6) The gameplay should not be very complicated
Is the new Thief 3 editor the solution?
Ziemanskye on 12/3/2006 at 16:18
No.
That simple.
Try generic Unreal (for mods - try UnrealTournament2004/Unreal2, or just to mess around developing get the UnrealEngine2Runtime), if you don't mind adding the conversation stuff.
[Note = programming your own conversation/log/map systems is probably the best way to go - if you do that it's mostly just Source, Doom3 or UnrealEngine2 to pick between, depening on exactly what graphic things are required]
If that needs to be there already, but you're willing to take a hit on the age of the engine, try Deus Ex - it came with a good conversation editor and let you import *.lwo objects as meshes. Not quite staticmesh kind of thing, but better than building in BSP.
Dark Arrow on 12/3/2006 at 16:57
The Thief 3 engine is only usable for making Thief FM's and maybe some special *little* mods. You simple can't do anything more advanced with it.
BastardBB on 12/3/2006 at 18:08
Would the Gothic 2 or Morrowind Engine
fulfill my specifications?
Have you worked with them?
scumble on 12/3/2006 at 18:58
I would say you really need to think more about the sort of thing you want to do first, and then find the game closest to your design. Given the amount of work involved in modding, the more you can cut out by a bit of planning the better. The engine should not drive the mod, if you like.
Ziemanskye on 12/3/2006 at 19:39
Haven't tried them, so couldn't say.
Sorry.
BastardBB on 12/3/2006 at 21:29
The original idea is to develop a ( dont laugh ;) )
a learning game.
The player is a protagonist in the late 18th century,
in the time of Napoleon.
You are a french spy in a german castle and must explore
the political and military relevance of the castle.
I described the main functional specifications above.
The mod is running on a workstation in the castle.
As a visitor of the ruin you can experience the
"look and feel" of the former castle and you can compare
the virtual world with current.
So the gameplay must be simple and smooth.
The playing time is about < 2.0 hours.
Thats the idea - i need an engine - thats my problem ;)
Ziemanskye on 12/3/2006 at 21:32
Shockwave?
It can do 3d, and play flash animations for all the maps and text and stuff, I think.
Other than that the only "learning" game I've played was a DX mod for adult learners (to emphasize reading skills, though it did have an utterly pointless "action" section against three greasels)
Komag on 12/3/2006 at 23:28
That's an intriguing situation there! Thief 3 sounds like it definitely would not work for you though, it's just not flexible enough. For instance, you could not import 3DMax objects unless you have 3DMax v5.1 which is no longer available (at least not in the normal fasion...). And some of your other requirements would be tricky at best or just impossible.
Morrowind would definitely be possible to use, but it's getting on in age. You might wait just a bit and see how the Oblivion editor pans out - it's supposed to be just as flexible and good as the Morrowind one was, and it's new and shiny so it would look good and handle more realistic looking models, lighting, etc.
BastardBB on 13/3/2006 at 14:14
Yes at the moment I prefer Morrowind or Gothic 2..
thank you for your comments.
I will go on concentrate on Unreal2 generic,
maybe it will work better than thief?
But is storyscripting/ dialogsystem possible in a 3d ego shooter?
