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Major breakthrough with Akella

For the record:

It's not like I am against moving to another engine because of Starforce. Like I said, Starforce can be circumvented, so it's the least of my problems. I would be against another engine only if it had high hardware requirements, so if it's Storm 2.5, I don't mind. I don't know about Storm 2.8, though <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

And, I would like to cooperate with Akella in this matter. I wouldn't even mind getting paid for it <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />

Now, mr Zaitzev has asked for list of our problems:
Of course, for me it's the lack of knowledge. If I could just get some sample ship in Maya 5.0 format, ready to be exported, I think I could learn to export them myself by examining how it's rigged, etc.

So, we need to know how to set up ship for exporting in Maya 5.0.
 
Since we established contact with Akella and seaward.ru, we might as well gather some more information on what they're actually working on. <a href="http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/841/841808p1.html" target="_blank">This</a> interview that PeterWillemoes posted <a href="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=11363" target="_blank">here</a> is really very interesting. I think you all should read it.

It certainly makes me more interested in City of Abandoned Ships than I ever was in Age of Pirates. It seems that they really have something worthwhile in the works there. If we could port most (some?) of our stuff to that game, I do believe it could yield some amazing results.

What we could do is to just continue work on our own modpack, but communicate with seaward.ru on putting some of our work into their game. That way we could continue work like usual, but we could possibly also contribute to making their game better. In ideal circumstances, it certainly has the potential of becoming the best pirate game ever. Provided that OUR stuff goes in there as well, of course. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dev.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":d:" border="0" alt="dev.gif" />
 
<!--quoteo(post=228760:date=Dec 30 2007, 10:09 AM:name=Kazeite)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kazeite @ Dec 30 2007, 10:09 AM) [snapback]228760[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->For the record:

It's not like I am against moving to another engine because of Starforce. Like I said, Starforce can be circumvented, so it's the least of my problems. I would be against another engine only if it had high hardware requirements, so if it's Storm 2.5, I don't mind. I don't know about Storm 2.8, though <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

And, I would like to cooperate with Akella in this matter. I wouldn't even mind getting paid for it <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />

Now, mr Zaitzev has asked for list of our problems:
Of course, for me it's the lack of knowledge. If I could just get some sample ship in Maya 5.0 format, ready to be exported, I think I could learn to export them myself by examining how it's rigged, etc.

So, we need to know how to set up ship for exporting in Maya 5.0.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

The Storm 2.5 and 2.8 engines are DirectX 8. The two engines are basically the same, anyways, and it's not really a huge leap in terms of graphical differences. And neither are that demanding. We're not talking about Crysis here. You're not going to see high requirements from this company, and if you think DX8 is high, then... damn... you should get a cheap computer upgrade. Morgan Terror, an upgrade honestly wouldn't cost that much to run a DX8 game at the highest setting. After all, we're already at DX10 cards and games. Hell, the cheapest DX10 card is 100 USD.

It's 2008 now. I don't think we should consider not making content for the Storm 2.8 engine (City of Abandoned Ships) because of the possibility that a few people can't decently run a DirectX 8 engine that's basically a few years old. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

I hope that doesn't sound rude to anyone who is in that position. I just don't want to lose out on the opportunity of Pieter making content for the new game, which has amazing features and a game he's actually excited for. Plus we have contact and support with the developers of the new game. Why waste that opportunity, too? We could have the best pirate/naval game ever with Seaward's new game and Pieter and the community's work on it.

But it's true, it's not a demanding engine. It's DirectX 8, for goodness sakes! You could probably spend 50 dollars on an upgrade today and get a graphics card that would probably run it at the highest settings. Each iteration of the engine generally look the same. Aside from the water and a few sharper textures for the models, Pirates of the Caribbean and Age of Pirates generally look the same (the water is the greatest difference, really; the water is incredible in Age of Pirates). City of Abandoned Ship's updated engine improves the textures and faces some more, and the water is more transparent, but it still looks like Age of Pirates.
 
<!--quoteo(post=229230:date=Dec 30 2007, 11:12 PM:name=Pieter Boelen)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pieter Boelen @ Dec 30 2007, 11:12 PM) [snapback]229230[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Since we established contact with Akella and seaward.ru, we might as well gather some more information on what they're actually working on. <a href="http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/841/841808p1.html" target="_blank">This</a> interview that PeterWillemoes posted <a href="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=11363" target="_blank">here</a> is really very interesting. I think you all should read it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Looks great, except for the limited character choice. I hate pre-made characters in RPGs, I could never identify myself in them. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />
 
<!--quoteo(post=229768:date=Jan 1 2008, 06:03 AM:name=Whiteshaix)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Whiteshaix @ Jan 1 2008, 06:03 AM) [snapback]229768[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=229230:date=Dec 30 2007, 11:12 PM:name=Pieter Boelen)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pieter Boelen @ Dec 30 2007, 11:12 PM) [snapback]229230[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Since we established contact with Akella and seaward.ru, we might as well gather some more information on what they're actually working on. <a href="http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/841/841808p1.html" target="_blank">This</a> interview that PeterWillemoes posted <a href="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=11363" target="_blank">here</a> is really very interesting. I think you all should read it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Looks great, except for the limited character choice. I hate pre-made characters in RPGs, I could never identify myself in them. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

What are you talking about? Limited character choice? There's far more choice for your character in City of Abandoned Ships than there has been with Pirates of the Caribbean and Age of Pirates. Each game has you choose a character. In Pirates of the Caribbean, there was one. In Age of Pirates, there were two. In City of Abandoned Ships, there are three. But in each game, you could play the game how you chose. You started by choosing your nationality, be it starting with the English, French, or even pirates, and you could change your allegiance in all the games. Did you not like the first two games then?

In City of Abandoned Ships, there's even more choices. For the first two games, there was only one linear main quest, no matter the character you chose. For this new game, there are several main quests, and the way the quests work they are branched and open-ended. You can make choices in these quests, similar to, say, Elder Scrolls or The Witcher, that affect how things play out. You can even choose a starting profession of sorts that also changes the start of the game, instead of just giving stat bonuses.

Of course, you don't have to touch any of these main quests or side-quests. You have always been able to play these games the way you wanted to. Did you want to wage a personal war against the French? Sink merchant ships? Battle pirates? Hunt for treasure or build up wealth by trading? These games have always been open-ended, aside from previously the main quests. But now that's changed, and you can actually make choices.

I imagine if Pieter gets the community together to make a Build Mod for City of Abandoned Ships, which he sounds interested in and we do have the support and the communication with Akella and Seaward, there'll be even more options for you, as the player, to choose - be it more characters or quests. I know I would want to get in on the action of a Build Mod for that game, and I'd love to write plenty of new quests for the game (and just as a side-note, a lot of the general side-quests in City of Abandoned Ships are randomly generated, so they should be different each time and you'll never have trouble finding something to do). I start a game design course at ITT-Tech in March, so eventually I may be able to actually build some new content, too.
 
Hey, I never said it will <i>not</i> be a great game... It's just a matter of personal preferences, for me a good RPG should give you some way to customize your character. I never played Age of Pirates, but the pre-made main character was exactly the reason that made me stop playing Torment and stock POTC. I think one should be able to change at least name and appearance. The present choice in build 14 looks almost perfect to me, I'd never want to lose it. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dunno.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shrug" border="0" alt="dunno.gif" />
 
<!--quoteo(post=229785:date=Jan 1 2008, 06:53 AM:name=Whiteshaix)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Whiteshaix @ Jan 1 2008, 06:53 AM) [snapback]229785[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Hey, I never said it will <i>not</i> be a great game... It's just a matter of personal preferences, for me a good RPG should give you some way to customize your character. I never played Age of Pirates, but the pre-made main character was exactly the reason that made me stop playing Torment and stock POTC. I think one should be able to change at least name and appearance. The present choice in build 14 looks almost perfect to me, I'd never want to lose it. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dunno.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shrug" border="0" alt="dunno.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

So unless it lets you choose your nose and how big your eyebrows are, as well as name, it's not a good RPG? The characters in the Build Mod are still pre-made characters, there are just a lot of them. Anyways, I'm sure most of those would be ported over to a new Build Mod, if possible, or at least plenty more would be made. Porting characters over probably wouldn't be the most difficult thing to do.
 
<!--quoteo(post=229766:date=Jan 1 2008, 11:19 AM:name=Dashui)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dashui @ Jan 1 2008, 11:19 AM) [snapback]229766[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I hope that doesn't sound rude to anyone who is in that position. I just don't want to lose out on the opportunity of Pieter making content for the new game, which has amazing features and a game he's actually excited for. Plus we have contact and support with the developers of the new game. Why waste that opportunity, too? We could have the best pirate/naval game ever with Seaward's new game and Pieter and the community's work on it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->Never forget that I am NOT the main modder here. I hardly did any real modding of my own. The REAL work is done by the various community members. Without them, there is nothing that can be done.

<!--quoteo(post=229785:date=Jan 1 2008, 01:53 PM:name=Whiteshaix)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Whiteshaix @ Jan 1 2008, 01:53 PM) [snapback]229785[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It's just a matter of personal preferences, for me a good RPG should give you some way to customize your character. I never played Age of Pirates, but the pre-made main character was exactly the reason that made me stop playing Torment and stock POTC. I think one should be able to change at least name and appearance. The present choice in build 14 looks almost perfect to me, I'd never want to lose it. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dunno.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shrug" border="0" alt="dunno.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->If it can be put in PotC, it should be able to be put into City of Abandoned Ships as well, I think. Just add some of those tailor's shops and the ability to type your own character's name. The actual development of the character seems to depend on your own gameplay style anyway.
 
<!--quoteo(post=229789:date=Jan 1 2008, 07:15 AM:name=Pieter Boelen)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pieter Boelen @ Jan 1 2008, 07:15 AM) [snapback]229789[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=229766:date=Jan 1 2008, 11:19 AM:name=Dashui)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dashui @ Jan 1 2008, 11:19 AM) [snapback]229766[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I hope that doesn't sound rude to anyone who is in that position. I just don't want to lose out on the opportunity of Pieter making content for the new game, which has amazing features and a game he's actually excited for. Plus we have contact and support with the developers of the new game. Why waste that opportunity, too? We could have the best pirate/naval game ever with Seaward's new game and Pieter and the community's work on it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->Never forget that I am NOT the main modder here. I hardly did any real modding of my own. The REAL work is done by the various community members. Without them, there is nothing that can be done.

<!--quoteo(post=229785:date=Jan 1 2008, 01:53 PM:name=Whiteshaix)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Whiteshaix @ Jan 1 2008, 01:53 PM) [snapback]229785[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It's just a matter of personal preferences, for me a good RPG should give you some way to customize your character. I never played Age of Pirates, but the pre-made main character was exactly the reason that made me stop playing Torment and stock POTC. I think one should be able to change at least name and appearance. The present choice in build 14 looks almost perfect to me, I'd never want to lose it. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dunno.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shrug" border="0" alt="dunno.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->If it can be put in PotC, it should be able to be put into City of Abandoned Ships as well, I think. Just add some of those tailor's shops and the ability to type your own character's name. The actual development of the character seems to your own gameplay style anyway.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Heh, yeah I know it's a community mod, but you just seem to be kind of the big cheese in a way. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> Maybe the one who organizes everything? I don't know. :p

And indeed, your character development depends on how you play the game, not how he looks or what his or her name is. And in City of Abandoned Ships, there's even more options than just choosing your nationality. As I said, open ended, choice based quest system, several main quests, and even your starting profession you choose having an affect.

Aside from shiny new graphics and interfaces, features we missed out on from expansion packs and the previous game that was only released in Russia (City of Abandoned Ships is actually a direct sequel, but can be played independently), I think what I'm really looking forward to is the amount of land this time around. There's 6,000 square kilometers of land in City of Abandoned Ships, and not just linear pathways or caves. A lot of these areas are huge, big open spaces full of temples and ancient cities to explore, even underwater areas. So there's definitely more treasure and looting to be had than in the previous games, but what makes me excited is the possibility there.

If we can have such huge land masses and areas to explore, imagine what the Build Mod could add in. We could add more of South America or North America, and create vast new jungles, wildnerness, or cities to explore. There's a lot more possibility this time around.
 
i would have already upgraded my computer years ago if i COULD. but as always, i have to live with what i have. and it's not just the graphics card. it's the speed, RAM, soundcard, screen, even the bleedin' mouse. i just don't have the money for a computer with more sensible specs.

adding the spanish main is just not possible at all at the moment. we need the technology and skills for it, which be both don't have. never forget that all the new islands where made by the russians, not us. we need the programs for it first and foremost. skill will rise out of that.
 
<!--quoteo(post=229790:date=Jan 1 2008, 02:27 PM:name=Dashui)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dashui @ Jan 1 2008, 02:27 PM) [snapback]229790[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Heh, yeah I know it's a community mod, but you just seem to be kind of the big cheese in a way. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> Maybe the one who organizes everything? I don't know. :p<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->Cheese? YUCK! I hate that stuff! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/urgh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":urgh" border="0" alt="urgh.gif" />
I think "Team Supervisor" is the most accurate description. I just keep an eye on the forum, try and guide things in (what I hope is) a general kind of right direction and do what I can myself as far as actual modding is concerned. Which is not much. I was modpack compiler on Build 13, but Pirate_KK does that now.

<!--quoteo(post=229791:date=Jan 1 2008, 02:43 PM:name=Morgan Terror)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Morgan Terror @ Jan 1 2008, 02:43 PM) [snapback]229791[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->adding the spanish main is just not possible at all at the moment. we need the technology and skills for it, which be both don't have. never forget that all the new islands where made by the russians, not us. we need the programs for it first and foremost. skill will rise out of that.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->Maximus told us he actually HAD a worldmap including the Spanish Main. We chose not to use it though, because we would then need to fill that with interesting stuff, while our current worldmap isn't even completely filled with interesting stuff. I suspect that worldmap actually came directly from the City of Abandoned Ships' Russian release.
 
yeah, we really mainly need more questing content and models to fill up the islands.
 
Something else you guys need to consider is that Pirate Simulator is apparently due in about a year and is being made with modding in mind. From what I've seen it would provide a better platform than the Akella games.
 
You mean "Pirate Simulator" made by Cyberops? He always used to say a lot and do quite less than what he said, if I recall correctly. Not sure how seriously we should take that Pirate Simulator. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" />
 
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You mean "Pirate Simulator" made by Cyberops? He always used to say a lot and do quite less than what he said, if I recall correctly. Not sure how seriously we should take that Pirate Simulator.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yes. They have EA as a publisher and the game is well under way. They've said all the right things (I found out about it 6-12 months ago, just started reading about it again).

<a href="http://fasttracksracing.com/psmmods/portal.php" target="_blank">http://fasttracksracing.com/psmmods/portal.php</a>

Dedicated forums.

<a href="http://www.addictedforums.com/index.php?showtopic=2986" target="_blank">http://www.addictedforums.com/index.php?showtopic=2986</a>

Big thread about the game.

<i>The most realistic Pirate game ever build. Play in sandbox mode where all the choices are yours and you decide where and how to play and what to do next or play in the career mode.You can own more than 1 ship and build yourself a fleet.There are a lot of historical pirates and their ships in this game so don’t be surprised to come across them.
You can try to communicate with them and maybe setup a contract to work together but keep in mind a pirate does not always bind to a contract which can result in your ship being taken at a moment you don’t expect it.
Or you can simply decide to attack and try to take their ship by force.Now the playing location, the first location available to play is the Caribbean; however we are working on other parts of the world which will be added either as an expansion pack or downloadable packages. After all are complete then you can have the entire world to sail.The longer you play and the further you come in the game the more countries will join the game as have been in real life.Now you would probably wonder if you live forever, the answer is no you can get married get kids and your kids can later on continue for you as you will have control of your entire family or if you do not get married and you do not get any kids you can turn over command of your ship or fleet to someone else and you will then also have control of that person, this way you can play on forever and ever.More info will follow; this is just a little something to give you an idea of what kind of game we are making, therefore we have the name Pirate Simulator as it simulates a real Pirate life</i>

<b>The game will be delivered on 5 DVD’s

Toolpack Unlimited CD-ROM with which you can start creating your own Ships, Towns, Flags, Characters etc. or you can choose to modify existing items and save them as a new item, it’s all in your creative hands and heads.
</b>
 
So I made a post before about that project. I needed to re-write that.

And so here it is. It's fake. It has to be. I don't know why they're doing it, but there's no way this is a real project and being published by Electronic Arts.

There's no marketing. There's no news or information about Electronic Arts publishing this. All the images are computer generated images, with each one having wildly different levels of quality. There are no actual in-game screenshots. They claim they are, but it's beyond obvious that they aren't. For some reason, the five people on their forum eat each one up.

For example, they claim this is real:

<img src="http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x208/Creative-Sparks/Pirate%20Simulator/battleatnight2.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

As well as this:

<img src="http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x208/Creative-Sparks/Pirate%20Simulator/battleatnight.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

They also claim they've released a dozen games before, yet you can find no mention or proof of any of this. There's no wikipedia for their projects or their company - none that I can find. They have three games listed on their poorly made website - Convoy, which never was released; Pirate Simulator; Star Trek Simulator.

And their English is incredibly poor. You just had to read that description someone posted to see that. English is either their second language, which is odd for a group of people making an English game and no mention of it being a foreign project, or they're teenagers. Who knows.

In other words, keep looking forward to actual games by actual developers, with actual websites and marketing, I.E. Akella and Seaward's projects (Corsairs/City of Abandoned Ships). Don't look forward to a fake project by amateurs trying to pull your chain or just build up false hype for a shallow and mediocre project.

However, I did manage to find what appears to be actual in-game screenshots. As I said, images vastly different in quality in their screenshot page.

<img src="http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x208/Creative-Sparks/Pirate%20Simulator/towningame2.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

<img src="http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x208/Creative-Sparks/Pirate%20Simulator/towningame1.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Do those look anything like the above ones?

Seriously, check out their "screenshot" page. Every image looks completely different. Fake. Fake. Fake.

<a href="http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x208/Creative-Sparks/Pirate%20Simulator/" target="_blank">http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x208/Cr...te%20Simulator/</a>

Christ, their OFFICIAL screenshot page is on PHOTOBUCKET. FAKE.
 
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