SFC 4 Project

[FVA_Braxton_XC]

I will just open by saying this is probably the post many have been waiting for a long time to see.

I'm proud to officially announce the launching of the Starfleet Command 4 project.  The D.net staff has been working hard setting up the resources, drawing up the paperwork, getting the development machine ready.

The next step is getting the word out to the whole community.  To get the project off the drawing board and into production, we need people: programmers, modelers, artists, campaign designers.  One thing I know not many have thought about, but we also need people with skills in sound design and composition; they would be a huge asset.

If you would like to help out with this project, please fill out the form below and submit it to frey@xenocorp.net. All information is required.  Your name and address will be kept confidential and are only required to send the required paperwork.

The current plans on the table have the project being written in either C++ or C#, so programmers who would like to join the team must be fluent with the C/C++ language.

Name:
Address:
Phone# :

Job (IE: Programmer):
Skills (IE: C++/SQL):

Contact Email:

MSN Messenger (If applicable):

Please include a piece of sample of your work as an attachment.


Applications will be accepted indefinitely, but to get in on the initial development stages, please have your application submitted by May 31st.

[FA Frey XC]

Please note that anyone doing any work will be required to sign:

1.) An NDA
2.) A non-compete agreement

and will release any intellectual property rights to their code, artwork, or anything else contributed to the Dynaverse Gaming Association.

This is standard stuff if your a dev in a company, which the DGA is.



and before anyone goes ballistic or gets crazy - this will be released without a single CHARGE. Once it's done, we'll be releasing it to the community for no cost.

Now, if you get so happy you want to make a donation to help out, by all means, you should know where the link is but I'm not going to post it here because that's not what this is about.

WOOT!!!!!

[Fallen_Warrior]

Sign me up, Textures, limited kitbashing and whatever i can get OutaLance to do.. OutaLancers who are interested sign up here, please list your skills and lets do our job

My details are in my profile... email is on the way as for piece of work.. can i just let my collection over at battleclinic speak for itself  

[NuclearWessels]

<does best Arnold Horshak voice>

Oooh ooooh ooooh!!!!  Me!   Me!!  Me!!!



dave

[Czar Mohab]

First off, 

OK, got that happy out of the way...

Other than monetarily, I don't know what I can do to contribute. I really want to... So...

Do you have need of story editing? Someone who can catch your mushy grammar, dot your "i"'s and cross your "t"'s?

Czar "Please be Vista compatible," Mohab

[FPF-Paladin]

 

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG YAY

Okay, needed to get that out of my system.

[FPF-DieHard]

Is there any broad information available that can be disclosed?  IE, is this an SFB-based game or SFC3ish?

Please say SFB   

[FA Frey XC]

Well, Lepton, I'll drop this little nuke as well:

Rick Knox, remember him?

He's joined the team. Him and possibly another individual who did work for Armada I & II.

They're already talking about updating the graphic engine to something much more recent.

There's a reason we're doing SFC4, other people are doing Bridgecommander 2, etc... and that is because they are different games.

So, please, can't you just show some type of positive support for the Community? Or is that just beyond you?

Regards,

[FA Frey XC]

Is there any broad information available that can be disclosed?  IE, is this an SFB-based game or SFC3ish?

It will continue in the SFC1 / EAW / OP with a SFC3 interface available if the end user wishes it. So, you'll have a SFC3 UI if you really want it, but can go to "advanced tactical mode" and run the EAW / OP style interface with full control over everything.

The game will be extremely mod friendly.

Look for a much more indepth "press release" here in a few days.

Regards,

[marstone]

  Awesome to hear, now when my programming skills get better, maybe I will try and jump aboard.  Until then, I shall Woot you on.

[Capt_Pestalence_XC]

We are all going to work hard to make the Best damn tactical simulator that the Trek Universe has to offer with the technology we have today.

We are doing it with both community members and professional help.

This thread is an open invite for those of you with skillz.. Just send in your application in accordance with the first posting.

As I have stated all over the web.. D.Net has great things to come and we have several projects in the works.. this is just the big project for you.

Thanks for your support everyone. Long live Starfleet Command !

[FPF-DieHard]

We are all going to work hard to make the Best damn tactical simulator that the Trek Universe has to offer with the technology we have today.

Then either completely embrace SFB fully or totally abandon it.  No SFC3 half-assedness 

[FA Frey XC]

Starfleet Command 4 will continue to utilize the methodology that made the SFC series of games one of the best selling Star Trek games ever.

SFB provides the perfect background framework to handle the combat stuff, management, etc. IN regards to the GUI, we're going to offer the SFC3 style UI OR the EAW / OP UI.

Bottom line. It's the GUI. Please read the posts and don't start a SFB or nuthin crusade when we've just announced that we're going to do this.

Regards,

[busta191]

Will SFC4 require SFC2 or SFC3 installed to use?

[Capt_Pestalence_XC]

SFC 4 will be a stand alone production and will not require EAW, OP or SFC 3 installed to play.

[marstone]

Can I make one suggestion for an add to the game.

Can you have the game set up sub=directories for different servers for saving the shiplist, ftrlist, and special files.  That way you would get rid of the need to back out and run mod-chooser to change servers.

Then have the server when checking to see if the files that are needed are there, if found that you don't have them (first time on server) have it be able to download those the files needed.  Would just be an easier way for people to get onto servers and to have more special servers without the hassels.

[Capt_Pestalence_XC]

That is one of the Ideas that I was having as well.. as Frey said.. the game will be highly modifiable, and as such, that would definitely be a feature we will look into. I'm not sure of how much of the functionality you are asking for that we can put in.. but we will check it out.

[marstone]

That is one of the Ideas that I was having as well.. as Frey said.. the game will be highly modifiable, and as such, that would definitely be a feature we will look into. I'm not sure of how much of the functionality you are asking for that we can put in.. but we will check it out.

It should be fairly straight forward.  Use the game directory as an override of the main files.  Thus if it is in the subdirectory, it would be used over the general one. 

The file passing should be mostly easy and not take to much time as the main files changed would be shiplist and ftrlist (both small).  But depending on how you modify the game for Moding you could have a few extra files to pass also.

Looking forward to any news, and heck if 20 year old programming skills are needed give me a yell.  My last program I worked on was under Dos (but it was C++ at least), even had to do the windows style stuff by hand.

[Fallen_Warrior]

I have an interesting question.. What new things will work with the other SFC games, Will SFCers be able to access the q3files? and other files that were denied access too?

[marstone]

I have an interesting question.. What new things will work with the other SFC games, Will SFCers be able to access the q3files? and other files that were denied access too?

Well, Q3 is half broken out now, just need to get the image files to work out and that would be modifiable.

[KBF-Crim]

You magnificent bastards!

If I dont make the testing team...I'm going on a thread locking binge...

[marstone]

Other question that comes to mind, is the code going to be written so it is cross-platform (linux/mac/windows) natively so that only one source would be needed to be maintained (that is if you guys are planning on porting to other platforms to open the user base alittle more)?

Or Windows based with possible porting at a later date (or just windows).

(not a person who ports games, but know that it would be easier if planned for in the beginning).

[Rod ONeal]

Great news!!! Here's to hoping that the best plans come to fruition.

[Ravok]

I know this is a stupid question, but is this really for real???  I'm not calling anybody a liar, but this sounds too good to be true.

If it id true, I will be whipping out my check book, to do my part. ( No BS)

[Cpt_Metalien_XC]

I think I just made a mess in my pants... 

[FA Frey XC]

I know this is a stupid question, but is this really for real???  I'm not calling anybody a liar, but this sounds too good to be true.

 If it id true, I will be whipping out my check book, to do my part. ( No BS)

Just hold on to that checkbook, but yes, this is REALLY for real.

Like I said, we'll be making the "press release" soon.

Regards,

[FCM-Corbomite-XC]

Well this is great news! I wish I could help with the nuts and bolts of production, but I have no "skillz" in computer programming. My strengths lie in organization and concept design. I would like to sign up for the testing team if possible and if you guys need a very game knowledgeable person to create/maintain production goals and manage all the departments, I'd be honored to do it.

Frey, can I start a thread to list all the changes/fixes and additions people want to see?

Again, tremendous news! 

[F9thCenturus]

If the shiplists are going to be structured more on the SFC3 system, as well as the hardpointing, then I'll be able to spec and hardpoint just about anything you need.  If the hardpointing and shiplist structure is going to be more SFC2/OP, then I don't think I'm gonna be much help since I still can't properly HP for SFC1/2/OP.

Will the SFC4 project have a ship refit system similar to SFC3, or not?

[FPF-DieHard]

Starfleet Command 4 will continue to utilize the methodology that made the SFC series of games one of the best selling Star Trek games ever.

SFB provides the perfect background framework to handle the combat stuff, management, etc. IN regards to the GUI, we're going to offer the SFC3 style UI OR the EAW / OP UI.

Bottom line. It's the GUI. Please read the posts and don't start a SFB or nuthin crusade when we've just announced that we're going to do this.

Regards,

I'm not starting an SFB or nuthin crusade, I think it totally possible to make a great ST combat game that has nothing to do with SFB.   It's just that SFC3 (out of the box, some of the mods were actually pretty cool) wasn't it.  That's what I meant but embrace SFB or totally abandon SFB.  Taldren developed themselves into a corner by leaving in a lot of SFB element while taking away others that made the whole system "work."

There's a lot more to it than the GUI.   EW versus Angular velocity, how does the Cloak work, attrition units, seeking weapons, 4 shields versus 6, etc . . .  Starship Customization never sat well with me either, this is a Military Naval simulation, not "Pimp my Ride."  Starship CONVERSION however would be really cool!    Imagine buying an F-NCL and getting it converted to whatever variant you could afford after X amount of time.

The best bet, IMHO, is leave the game moddable enough so a server admin can make the call.

[S'Raek]

I know nothing about programing, but I'm an admin/personnel kind of guy in the Navy so if you need any help with that let me know.  Doubt you will but just in case.

[AcePylut]

I'd love to help, but I have zero programming skills.

I can help test it though!