The Brain on 31/7/2007 at 13:01
Recreating everything (excluding sounds) from scratch is tedious process. Plus making own fully functional game engine is another thing to accomplish. If you want to make it like a mod to different (commercial) engine (eg. Doom 3) then end user need to have/buy such engine.
If you really want to start such project, then I would suggest to contribute to existing project like Open Dark Engine. Basic things such as displaying levels are there but it still needs code for A.I, physics, displaying objects and for other unnamed things.
smba on 31/7/2007 at 15:53
Im an engine coder since years, and i would take an free, existing open source engine which can compete with the doom3 or quake4 engine. this engine is called "xreal-engine" ( (
http://xreal.sourceforge.net/)).
this engine features realtime shadows, lights, normalmaps and such modern graphic stuff. it is still under heavy development. since it provides same features as the d3 engine, it would fit perfectly to SS2.
i am one of the developers. the thing is to not touch the renderer, keep him as is , and rewrite the gameplay. this engine has graphics better than doom3, fast network protocol, and is running for windows and linux. therefore, with enough 3D / 2D Artists it wouldnt be that hard to start a remake.
ive played with this engine the last year alot, made a little RPG conversation (fully featured coop gameplay/inventory/items/npcs stuff) just for fun.
dont think im a kiddie just wanna begin everything from scratch. i know that such a thing would die within some weeks.
but with a team and a working engine...think about it ;)
Some_twerp on 31/7/2007 at 16:52
All depends on what the aim is though-a direct port of SS2 to the game engine-a 'simple' cut and paste job- would be a bit more straightforward than redoing System Shock II, in the sense of adding new guns, or new areas.
Bjossi on 31/7/2007 at 16:54
Quote Posted by smba
for legal reasons suc ha project needs complete standalone content, thats right. everything has to be redone. this would be necessary to, because new engines need new high quality content.
the name "system shock2" is protected, using it would be illegal, thats right. but i dont think EA would shot it down if you do not use the name, and do not use any official content.
Then I would love to know why EA shut down a perfectly legal SS2 remake project. They were rebuilding everything from scratch and then one day a letter from EA arrived.
Matthew on 31/7/2007 at 17:01
Probably because a fan remake cannot always be 'perfectly legal'.
Bjossi on 31/7/2007 at 17:20
But it can't be perfectly illegal either, at least if the content used isn't copyrighted in any way.
You aren't telling me that EA bought the right to the level design of SS2 are you?
smba on 31/7/2007 at 17:42
ok i see there is no interest here ;) but it was nice to meet you guys :D
Hemebond on 1/8/2007 at 07:19
There is interest in remakes and ports. Many of us have ideas. You've just got to be smart about it.
Matthew on 1/8/2007 at 09:51
Quote Posted by Bjossi
But it can't be perfectly illegal either, at least if the content used isn't copyrighted in any way.
You aren't telling me that EA bought the right to the level design of SS2 are you?
Of course I'm not, and you know that. There's a very cogent argument, however, that a remake by definition will be trading on their IP somewhere along the line.
Peanuckle on 8/8/2007 at 07:53
I have a question about EA's fanatical killing of fan-projects. Wouldn't it be possible to develop a project in secret, release it, then destroy the work so they couldn't trace it to you?
This is hypothetical. Do not report me to the police. Or even worse, EA.
I'm serious
