It's pretty well known that having a solid modding and content creation community behind a game can make a huge difference in how successful it is. Thinking about this one day I had an idea... I would like to propose some content be released before the game launches for modders and content creators to get their hands on. This would allow them to start building the foundation for what is sure to be a very large part of the games re-play value, user created content. What I had in mind is fairly simple. All it would have to be is something like the textures (skin) for one or more of the vehicles. With access to this we could use it as a template to start making our own textures. How cool would it be, come lunch day for the game, for their to already be downloadable content to customize the vehicles. I'm kind of rushing the idea right now but I think their is potential here, please share your thoughts on this idea. Thanks.
I do reckon that releasing one n/b file of a vehicle and/or the mesh(or even the whole vehicle, I suppose), without having any part of the game would be a good idea, though I do think it should only be given to those who pre-purchase or something, so that people can't abuse it. Textures isn't a big deal, those are different for every vehicle so there wouldn't be any point. But if you'd have a full vehicle file(or even just one n/b file), that people can use to get used to the file format, I think that would be a pretty nice idea for modders. Of course, I'm a bit biased being a modder myself, but I did actually think about this myself a long time ago as well... Problem here is: how would they chose who is a serious modder, and who is just someone who claims to be a modder but can't mod for crap... That's nearly impossible to do fairly :/ They definitely shouldn't pre-release any part of the actual engine to modders-only though, I'm sure someone would claim they're a modder and then abuse it in some way.
It would be extremely handy to check out the workings of a truck file, soundscripts, and other such things to get familiar before release. Even just a detailed Wiki page about certain elements, like the RoR wiki's Truck Description File page, would be a great thing.
Great idea, I like needing to pre-orderd the game to gain early access. I also agree that no part of the "game" or engine it's self should be released but more or less exactly what you said about a vehicle model and resource files. The only thing I would try and stay away from is labeling people serious modder or not or rather going to great length to weed them out. In my opinion it does not mater if it's your first time modding something or your millionth, any contribution to the game will richen the experience for the users in their own way. Everyone has to start somewhere and I think it would be a mistake not to have an open access/submission for mods and have people download what they want. This way people new to modding can learn and particpate at the same time by watching how more experience modders work. However your suggestion for pre-order access only would take a huge chunck out of the "fly-by night" modder from waisting peoples time and I think that's a good thing. Anyway, I hope I understood what you were saying correctly... does my point make sense or no? lol Oh and thanks for sharing your opinion too, great ideas.
Psst, there is (maybe was) a wiki page. *goes back into the the dark alley from whence he came, hiding from Gabesters fury*
I don't understand what your saying... well to be more accurate I don't understand why your saying what your saying. lol What does a Wiki page, that may or may not actually exist, have to do with this thread? Sorry, I'm not trying to be rude but I'm missing the point of your post.
Minderaser talked about a N/B wiki page, I responded. It's there, look deep, I would probably get banned if I post another link or named it. Good luck.
The wiki? Or me? Or that wiki page? EDIT: I see, the wiki is admin/dev only. Gabester, since the wiki is gone, can I tell them what I learned from reading it while it was up?
I'm not so sure modders should get special treatment. While they're nice and modding voluntarily is something we need to be thankful for, its also bound to put the average user's nose out of joint. I know it would irritate me, I've been waiting for over a year. If I'm a potential paying customer and can't buy it because I can't promise to do something extra, it would seem like a dick move. EDIT that said, if you offer a discount to trusted modders on release I don't see that being an issue. Its one thing to offer something to certain people, its anther to do it at the exclusion to everyone else if everyone is still obligated to pay.
Honestly, I doubt one truck file will tell us any more than what we know. Without a game to test changes, I feel it'd be kind of useless.
Well we could learn the Beam/Node definitions and how the car is made, that way 50% or so of the work could be done, (of the BN system, rest being testing and perfecting)
Well like I said before it's important to the community and the game to have a solid user created constant section that is openly welcomed by the developers. Clearly your selfish jealously over something that would ultimately be beneficial to everyone is more important to you so I guess you wont be downloading ANY user created constant in the future, EVER. That's good to know, I'll keep my eye on that... wouldn't want you to accidentally slip up and be outed as a hypocrite too.
