Questions for IG

[Gobalopper]

Since there are probably still a number of questions out there about modding Emperor I thought it would be a good idea to compile a few of them and send them off to IG to see if they can provide an answer. I can't guarantee they will answer everything but they have been helpful in the past.

[DukeLeto]

Numero uno: Can they give us the program they used to make the .XBF files?

DukeLeto that isn't a question.

Edit: Sorry. Better?

[ethan]

is there a plugin to make xbf files through 3d studio max?

[Mahdi]

During Emperors release,w e know that you were all brainstorming ideas for a possible expansion pack, if sales warrented it. Since Westwood has stated that there will be no expansion pack or sequel, would it be possible for you to release what idea's you had came up with for an expansionpack?

[DjCiD]

question for Gob or someone here... What all did IG do game wise? Did they make the engine and the .xbf format and everything or did they just do a little bit or what? Who did what IG make it and WW put it out?

for IG...

Does IG have any plans or ideas for a sequal to Emperor? (They are they guys that made it right)

Do they have any rights to make more Dune titles?

Would they be interested in getting Dune Generations and compleating it? ;D

Like if they talked with the guy who is in charge of the liquidation of Cryoand find about about the plans for SCOL (open source or whatnot). [Maybe I'm dreaming too much ;D O0]

Were they involved in the patching and stuff like map editor and and mapacks after the release of Emperor?

Do they have any tools avalible to public for .xbf editing/viewing and whatnot?

[DjCiD]

During Emperors release,w e know that you were all brainstorming ideas for a possible expansion pack, if sales warrented it. Since Westwood has stated that there will be no expansion pack or sequel, would it be possible for you to release what idea's you had came up with for an expansionpack?

Oh yes include the units and format and ini and hell just give us the pack plz!! ;D

umm sorry ;D

[DjCiD]

Are any of the ppl that worked on Emperor still working for you? WHat where there thoughts on Emp then and now? Are they happy with the product? How did they feel when WW decided no expansion? Do you hate WW as much as we do for canning this game or do you agree with them? :O ;D

Have any of you played Emperor after its release? Anyone still playing it? Have you tried our mods? ;D

[guusr5644]

mm a 3d model editor? ;D

[jacobdouds]

What do you think of the Modding idea.

have you tried the kwisatz haderach 2?

Do you think, its creators were pure brilliance? (cut this one out)

[Apollyon]

lol i think i can answer that Jacob...

but ill leave it to popular debate how i would answer it ;D

ask them if they did use an all in 1 editor for the xbfs, ie can alter sounds, deploy data, animations etc all in 1

and altho i know its not a question it would be really great if they would release it... i mean what have they to lose really?

[ethan]

have you tried modding the game yourself (after release), or did you just do it and get done?

[nemafakei]

What were any unit functions that were cut from the final game?

- eg the Scavanger, repair pad

Therefore, is there any functionality in the engine for unused properties, and what are they (Eg is there a "Scavenges=TRUE")?

[Apollyon]

good question, Nema

ask em what the mesh is near the end of the infantry XBFs that shows the entire model but if changed does not effect how it appears in the game.

[Frodo]

What were any unit functions that were cut from the final game?

- eg the Scavanger, repair pad

Therefore, is there any functionality in the engine for unused properties, and what are they (Eg is there a "Scavenges=TRUE")?

That is a good question, It could open up many many possiblities, another question that we could ask would be, can we create tags like scavenges=true by maybe hardcoding it and saving it as a source file in the emperor directory.

[DjCiD]

oh yeah ask them about adding more houses to the game and possiblites..... (Im sure someone can phrase that better than me *cough Nema cough*) ;D O0

[Adrian_Messecar]

Xbf info:

How is the vertex animation data compressed (how do you decompress it) and what is its format and how does it work?

What is the data in the Fxdata section and how does it work?

What would you need to do to add a turret to a unit that doesn't have one and make it fire?

[Navaros]

just saw this thread today

can you please please please please pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee put in some questions about what it would take to get the pathfinding fixed?

even if it's not going to happen, we'd love to know what the exact *procedure* would be for getting that done

[ethan]

hmmmm.... okay.

is (will?) there be a patch to fix the pathfinding errors (mostly Atredies & harvesters, but this is horrible bug)?

[Navaros]

ethan is right about that. i know of millions of Emperor bugs and they really do make gameplay sooooooooooooo frustrating. perhaps we could have another project where me and others could have some of our questions about Emperor pathfinding etc. answered by IG (hopefully)?

[Gobalopper]

IG didn't do the pathfinding WW did.

[DjCiD]

so that explains it :P ;D j/k

hey Gob exactly what all did IG do?

[Edric O]

1. Is it possible to add a 4th playable House? If so, how?

2. Please tell us your ideas for the expansion pack. Maybe we can make a mod just like you wanted the x-pack to be!

[Apollyon]

can they give us the source code? ;D

j/k i know thatll never happen ny time soon

[DukeLeto]

so that explains it :P ;D j/k

hey Gob exactly what all did IG do?

Graphics, engine, etc...

[Navaros]

ummmmmmmmmmmmm so yeah that DOES explain a lot. IG made a game, then said: "here WW, even though you know NOTHING about this game and had nothing to do with the design, make some pathfinding for it!"

no WONDER there are millions of pathfinding bugs

can we send some Q's to WW about the pathfinding? plleaaaassssssseeeeeeee?