Shipsets from UniversalShipYards....

WhiteHojo · #1 February 1st, 2001, 12:26 AM

I've never downloaded anything from USYs site even though I've looked some. I've just looked again (been awhile) and noticed this moniker under their Gold Shipset: "These shipsets are completely complete with AI scripts, and other extras. Well worth Downloading."

There are 5 Races/Shipsets listed in the gold section. My questions to those of you in the know around here are:

Has anyone downloaded any of these 5 races and played w/em? Are they up to the standards set down by Mephisto, Tampa & Daynars Mods found here (appologies to all other race modders out there, but so far these are the only 3 I have downloaded and played a game with)?
Are they even the same thing - that is complete races like our beloved 3?

Before I go thru the trouble of downloading and messing w/those at USY I hope to get some feedback.

And as always, any help would be appreciated.

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Character is best defined as that which you do when you believe nobody is watching.

Alpha Kodiak · #2 February 1st, 2001, 12:36 AM

I just recently downloaded the Gold races plus some of the Silver races and started a game with them. I have not really seen enough of them yet to tell much about them, though I can say that at least everything seems to be there and working. I'm afraid that's about all I can tell you at this point.

Tampa_Gamer · #3 February 1st, 2001, 12:47 AM

Now that their website seems more stable, I have been able to get on and download a few races. In a quick review of the files contained in the ones I downloaded I saw that the gold ones contained the "basic 7" files that all races have (e.g. Anger, Design, Fleets, General, Politics, Research and Settings). Our Mod Pack 1.01 contain an additional 4 files for each of the races (e.g. Constr_Facilities, Constr_Vehicles, Planet_Types and Speech). These extra files contain a great deal of specialization for each particular race (and take a lot of time to get even half-way decent). Having said that, however, it is great that the artists have taken the time to include the "basic 7" because that means you download them and play with them immediately. Some of them even have the .emp files already set-up.

[This message has been edited by Tampa_Gamer (edited 31 January 2001).]

henk brouwer · #4 February 1st, 2001, 01:03 AM

I can answer some questions about my own race, the united flora, but I don't know about the other shipsets.

I haven't rewritten the AI for this race, it uses the Ukra-Tal files, because these are closest to the characteristics of my race. I have however made a completely new speech file for my race, and made a original designnames file (plant names theme)I'm not sure if John already put those files Online, if not I can post them in the mods forum.

I'm not planning on writing an AI, I'm better at making shipsets, and I think a lot of shipset designers do the same. If anyone ever makes ai-files for a biological race, and needs a shipset then you can use mine.

ColdSteel · #5 February 1st, 2001, 01:48 AM

This is a good chance to ask some questions on this topic that have been bugging me.

I'm a programmer so the very first thing I wanted to mess with when I started to create my own race was the data files and the race AI. I was hoping that there would be some generic shipsets available out there for download that I could use for my new race. To my dismay I discovered that no one was making any shipsets for that purpose. They all come with some race AI files and a big disclaimer saying no one can use the shipsets without the specific permission of the author. So, not having much recourse, I've learned how to use Moray and am busy now building my own shipset, which is a heckova lot of work, by the way.

So, one question is why isn't anyone building any generic shipsets without the race AI for those in the community who can't build their own shipsets but can modify data files like a pro?

Also, why isn't it enough to give credit to the author of a shipset in a text file that you package with your mod rather than seeking out specific permission. I tried that and I never even got a response back. In every other gaming community that I've ever been a part of this has been the accepted practice. Why is SE4 different?

Mephisto · #6 February 1st, 2001, 02:11 AM

What strikes me is, that the Earth Alliance is only silver as it only has "some basic AI files".
Mmm, ok, could be my hurt ego, but then again, maybe not.

Baron Munchausen · #7 February 1st, 2001, 02:15 AM

quote:
Originally posted by ColdSteel:
This is a good chance to ask some questions on this topic that have been bugging me.

I'm a programmer so the very first thing I wanted to mess with when I started to create my own race was the data files and the race AI. I was hoping that there would be some generic shipsets available out there for download that I could use for my new race. To my dismay I discovered that no one was making any shipsets for that purpose. They all come with some race AI files and a big disclaimer saying no one can use the shipsets without the specific permission of the author. So, not having much recourse, I've learned how to use Moray and am busy now building my own shipset, which is a heckova lot of work, by the way.

So, one question is why isn't anyone building any generic shipsets without the race AI for those in the community who can't build their own shipsets but can modify data files like a pro?

Also, why isn't it enough to give credit to the author of a shipset in a text file that you package with your mod rather than seeking out specific permission. I tried that and I never even got a response back. In every other gaming community that I've ever been a part of this has been the accepted practice. Why is SE4 different?

I think you're reading too much into the copyright notices. Would you seriously expect some graphics designer to sue you because he found out you were using his shipset in a multi-player game (i.e. you sent copies of HIS files to other people so they could see your ships!? Horrors!!

) This notice is to keep some profiteering &^#$*^$ from slapping all these ship sets on a CD and charging $19.95 for it. I would be really surprised if anyone would care that you wrote custom AI files for their ship set. Just distribute the files seperately and include a notice "I use these AI files with the XXX shiptset created by Joe Schmoe" and you'll be fine.

WhiteHojo · #8 February 1st, 2001, 03:02 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:
"XXX shipset"

What kind of Ships are you designing Baron????

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Character is best defined as that which you do when you believe nobody is watching.

ColdSteel · #9 February 1st, 2001, 03:15 AM

I think the Baron said those XXX ships were designed by "Joe Schmoe". Can't pin nothin' on him.

Anyway, the Baron's point is well taken. Universal Shipyards *could* be a bit clearer on the issue, though. I think it might discourage some people from using the shipsets, which may not be exactly what was intended. It sure discouraged me.

ColdSteel · #10 February 1st, 2001, 03:17 AM

Mephisto, you was robbed.