Porting the Build Mod to CoAS?

[Pieter Boelen]

We've been sort-of mentioning it in the past as being a possibility, but what is YOUR opinion on porting the Pirates of the Caribbean Build mod to Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships?

<b>If you're one of our modders, would you support such a port? Why yes or why not?</b>

 

[Pieter Boelen]

As far as I'm concerned, we should try to port to CoAS once we've finished Build 14.
Provided that our other modders are actually willing to support such a port; splitting the community certainly isn't a good idea.

The main reason for porting as far as modding is concerned is because of the new features offered by the Storm 2.8 engine.
Additionally the game world is a lot bigger and more realistic. I don't care about the ships nor the characters, but the locations and worldmap are good.
Ehm... excepting the towns, that is...

Of course there's also a major publicity part involved: CoAS has better graphics and is new and therefore properly available. Hum... almost. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mybad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="mybad.gif" />
As such, there's a good chance that people not interested in PotC WOULD be interested in our modding after the porting.
On the other hand, it's also possible we'd turn off the PotC-players; there might be some who don't want to move to CoAS.

If we want the Build mod to continue for a long time still, we've got to update at some point.
At the moment people are still willing to play PotC, but that is going to end sooner or later.
And if we're going to update, CoAS is the game to update to; since the game's still based on the same engine, updating would be relatively easy.
Porting to Corsairs 4 for me is not an option; being a completely different game engine, modding would have to start from scratch for that game.

But there's no point in doing any porting to CoAS while Build 14 is still unfinished and buggy and CoAS also still has bugs of it's own.
Not to mention we still have a severy lack of information on what CoAS is REALLY like.
And when we do port, we absolutely must be able to take our main modders to the new platform; after all, there's no porting that can be done without people to actually do it.

 

[Bartolomeu o Portugues]

I think it's not a surprise for you Pieter, if I chose : <i>How about skipping CoAS and porting to Corsairs 4 instead, once that's released?</i>
and I don´t like to know there is Starforce in Coas too. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="<_<" border="0" alt="dry.gif" />

Only if Corsairs 4 isn't released I could move on Coas.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Indeed I am not surprised. However, when it comes to Corsairs 4, I don't think there's much porting that could be done.
We could start modding that game if it is released, but I don't think we'll be able to use much/any of the Build content and our previous experience will be lost too.

At this point in time we have no idea if Corsairs 4 will be made and even if that does happen, we don't know how compatible (or incompatible) it would be with what we've been doing with our modding.
From what I gathered, Corsairs 4 will be a bit of a different approach to pirate games when compared to PotC, AoP and CoAS.

However, only time will tell and we'll still have plenty of time to decide what we'll end up doing as more information and news becomes available.

 

[Bartolomeu o Portugues]

In my case, the more important is to be motivated in a new project. Corsairs 4 motivates me not Coas. But as I said, I will move on Coas if Corsairs 4 not released. If I can, I want to be with the Community for new adventures. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Truth be told, neither game really motivates me at this point. My motivation still lies firmly with Pirates of the Caribbean.
The only reason why I'm thinking about CoAS is for realism's sake; we can't forever keep modding a 6-year-old game; eventually it WILL end up being TOO old. And I'd want there to be a future for our modding work before that happens.
And CoAS is the easier game to port to, considering the similarity in game engine used.

But I personally wouldn't mind that much if we were to stick to PotC for a <i>looong</i> time still.
Not knowing much about CoAS, I have no idea what to expect from a port.
Not to mention I have no idea what my life will be like by the time Build 14 is done and I'm not sure I'd be able or even interested at that point to continue to CoAS.
In only a few short months I will be done with school and life will be a lot different then.

<b>Oh... just for clarity's sake: Votes WITH comments are much appreciated over votes WITHOUT comments.</b>
As far as I'm concerned anyway. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/razz.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="razz.gif" />

 

[Captain Hawk]

As advise about porting build to coas. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />
Subsim forum has same kind of problem that is
Sh3 and Sh4, One of Sh3 Subermods GWX3 is now ported to Sh4 as much improved version named Gwx4. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" />
Now you are making build14 for potc, so for Coas it should be build15, that is much
improved version of build14, adaped to new version of game. So instead of saying we will port
build 14 to coas, you can say we will make a new improved version of build to a new version of the game engine and call it BUILD15 <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> . <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/buds.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="buds.gif" />

 

[Pieter Boelen]

I'll agree with that; once Build 14 is done and we have ported that to CoAS, we would indeed be able to call it Build 15. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="yes.gif" />

 

[konradk]

I voted "Never! PotC forever!" but I was hesitating to option 2 (I should know something more about CoAS for better judgement), reasons for further modding of PotC: System Reqs (my computer definitely won't handle AoP 2: CoAS and I have funny experiences with buying new; let's say that my previous was a notebook i486 DX2 66MHz, 4MB RAM plus 240 MB HDD which I was using from 1994 to 2004 - so I really don't know when I'll upgrade that which I have now), Starforce (obvious), Amount of effort - though engine is compatible it surely will require "a lot of work to make it work", finally turning away PotC players - PotC is indeed aging, but we really should better examine improvements which was made in that new super-hyper game first. Well, after hearing premises of new Engine 2.5 from AoP and how it was said to be better than comparing to PotC and Engine 2.0, but changes turned out not to be revolution but rather slow evolution.

I eagerly waiting to learn something new about AoP CoAS and hope that it'll be made solid and bring valuable additions and improvements. If that's the case, I highly support moving to CoAS (although I probably won't be able to participate in this due to hardware issues I mentioned above). But if those "new features" are some minor changes, which beside of everything could be put into old, good PotC or aren't of remarkable value, I woudn't advice migrating because that would be loss of time. Even if graphics engine is top-notch (in my personal opinion).

pirate_kk

 

[Thomas the Terror]

I voted after build 14.

We have more options with the new engine, better graphics and better availability. But first we should finish what we started <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

<i>In response to Pirate_KK's message:</i>
Very valid points on all accounts. If the worst comes to the worst though, we'll all just step in to get you a new computer. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />
What good would porting to CoAS be if we lose you? Especially considering the incredible work you've been doing over the past many years. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/doff.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="doff.gif" />

To be able to port, we'd need coders willing and able to work on it. At least at this point I am unaware of ANY of our coders being game for this.
Apart from Maximus, but we haven't heard from him in quite a while. This makes porting to CoAS something to consider for the distant future only.

 

[Captain Hawk]

To pirate kk
COAS english release has storm engine 2,8 <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

 

[Stallion]

Well, with the lack of information on CoAS so far, I'd say to stick with PoTC - it being the age it is allows far more people to play it, yet new computers seem, for the most part, to be able to run it still. I'm still coming across small groups of people on various forums who've heard of the Build Mod, but don't know where it's at.

If anything, I could see PA still being around years from now if the modders stick with PoTC - heck, Stunts, an old racing game made back in the early '90s, still has a regular forum population at least as big as PA. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="yes.gif" />

 

[Screwface]

I also think we should wait after build 14.

We have no informations about Coas. Even if there are very interesting new features in (specially the P.I.R.A.T.E.S system and the quests), i don't think Coas is more realistic than the build in his gameplay. For me, one of the best improvements of the build was the new canon system and firing (done by NathanKell if my memory is right). Now, i just can't play a game where canons fire like in stock potc... where balls fly high and dive on target. I tried AOP and was very desappointed about that and i suppose Coas is using the same aim system <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" />

Another reason to wait is simply because nobody have the game and it will probable take a long time before everybody have it !

 

[Pieter Boelen]

We definitly have to wait; doing it right now just isn't realistic even in the slightest. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/no.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="no.gif" />

 

[LarryHookins]

Starforce is a major sticking point for me. I really don't want to be associated with any game that uses it. I've got a reputation to consider outside the PotC community, and the fact that I might be getting people to buy a Starforce game who wouldn't normally buy it would not be well received.

Yes, I bought Silent Hunter III with my new computer. It had Starforce. I can glance at my computer and see the dead DVD drive still in the bay because I haven't replaced it. I remember being surprised that XP crashed more than ME ever did... until I got rid of Starforce.

So now I know how to avoid getting Starforce on my computer, but we can't be sure everyone can avoid it. I still have to live with myself.

If that weren't a factor, I'd have no problems moving to the new game. We can fairly quickly add in the essential features from PotC, like the new cannon code. It would be nice to go back to a clean code base.

Is there any real reason to switch to COAS? What exactly is better that we couldn't do ourselves with PotC? Would we get the engine source code? That would be enough reason to make the switch.

Hook

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Is it just me or does Starforce appear to be doing a VERY good job of turning both players and modders away? NOT a good move! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/piratesing.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="piratesing.gif" />

<!--quoteo(post=319280:date=May 12 2009, 08:42 PM:name=Hook)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hook @ May 12 2009, 08:42 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=319280"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Is there any real reason to switch to COAS? What exactly is better that we couldn't do ourselves with PotC?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->I'm beginning to wonder the same thing! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/piratesing.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="piratesing.gif" />

<!--quoteo(post=319280:date=May 12 2009, 08:42 PM:name=Hook)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hook @ May 12 2009, 08:42 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=319280"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Would we get the engine source code? That would be enough reason to make the switch.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->Ehm... we *might* be able to arrange that. But only "might". <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" />

 

[marbatico]

what does that starforce stuff do to your computer?

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Have a look at <a href="http://forum.piratesahoy.net//index.php?showtopic=13277" target="_blank">this thread</a>

 

[LarryHookins]

<!--quoteo(post=319284:date=May 12 2009, 02:09 PM:name=marbatico)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (marbatico @ May 12 2009, 02:09 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=319284"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->what does that starforce stuff do to your computer?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Hmm... let me do a little searching.

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I can glance at my computer and see the <b>dead DVD drive</b> still in the bay because I haven't replaced it. I remember being surprised that <b>XP crashed</b> more than ME ever did... until I got rid of Starforce.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I'm not the only one to have the same problems. Any Google search for "Starforce" will turn up enough people with problems to keep you busy reading for weeks.

Hook