12 réponses à ce sujet

[EJ42]

So far, I've been mostly thrilled with the latest toolset version, but today's announcement has me a little worried.

Is there any possibility that we will ultimately see the expansion content added to the toolset?  How could this even be managed?

Perhaps you could somehow lock down the database where any exported modules with expansion content are encrypted in such a way that they require a check for the expansion key before they would allow the client to load them.

Maybe the expansion content would only be available in toolset2, which could either release DA:O modules or DA:A modules, which require the expansion to be installed.  Just kind of thinking "out loud" here, but I really don't want to lose my ability to customize the game beyond the initial campaign.

I really do want to see everyone who purchased DA:O continue to purchase all forthcoming expansions.  What you guys have given us is worthy of a nice bit of monetary return.

One more thing...is there any way to have a character do an inventory swap during a cutscene?  (i.e. can we have them change armor without having to cheese it with creature replacements mid-scene?)

Modifié par EJ42, 06 janvier 2010 - 01:12 .

[ladydesire]

They could do it like they did with the new level stuff for the latest version of the toolset; if you have the expansion, you can join the project and download the new stuff for the toolset.

[EJ42]

ladydesire wrote...

They could do it like they did with the new level stuff for the latest version of the toolset; if you have the expansion, you can join the project and download the new stuff for the toolset.

What is there to prevent you from then passing that content on to other users in a DAZIP file, though?  That's my concern.

Everything they have released for the toolset so far is part of the game that everyone must pay for to be able to use.

Now that we're heading into content-only paid expansions, we move into uncharted territory.

Incidentally, I don't think you can access Warden's Keep files from the toolset.

[FalloutBoy]

Funny, I was just thinking about this same topic. They are adding new creatures to the x-pack, but I'm guessing that the model files will be inside some passworded erf files. So if you make a module that uses them, people will have to own the the x-pack for it to work.



As for whether or not they give us a database update that contains the creatures, we wouldn't really need it. The new appearance would show up in the list when you create a new character template so you can just create it manually.

[ChewyGumball]

I'm more interested in if/how they will update the engine and toolset.

[fluffyamoeba]

maybe they'll just package them with the expansion? Even if not, the source just is a more easily modifiable version of the final resources that are shipped. The only reason no-one's using the final resources is that the source material is a lot more easy to use. The number of people just pirating the entire thing will be orders of magnitude higher than the people who want the source but have no interest in obtaining the other parts of the expansion the same way. Why reconstruct the expansion from pirated copies of its source data when that's a lot harder than the alternative?

[EJ42]

FalloutBoy wrote...

Funny, I was just thinking about this same topic. They are adding new creatures to the x-pack, but I'm guessing that the model files will be inside some passworded erf files. So if you make a module that uses them, people will have to own the the x-pack for it to work.

As for whether or not they give us a database update that contains the creatures, we wouldn't really need it. The new appearance would show up in the list when you create a new character template so you can just create it manually.

I don't want to simply use their creatures.  I want to open them in my 3D program of choice, and redesign their appearances.

I want to open the audio source files, and modify them to whatever end I please.

I want to edit the dialogues, plots, scripts, and every other aspect of every released expansion for the game.

I've already fixed at least a dozen bugs and "not yet implemented" features from the game that were shoved out the door unfinished.  I would like to be able to do the same for the expansion(s).

fluffyamoeba wrote...

maybe they'll just package them with the expansion? Even if not, the source just is a more easily modifiable version of the final resources that are shipped. The only reason no-one's using the final resources is that the source material is a lot more easy to use. The number of people just pirating the entire thing will be orders of magnitude higher than the people who want the source but have no interest in obtaining the other parts of
the expansion the same way. Why reconstruct the expansion from pirated copies of its source data when that's a lot harder than the alternative?

1) The ERFs for DLC are encrypted.  It's not just a matter of being "hard to edit."

2) You can't very well do much to a compiled script.  We need the *.NSS files instead of the *.NCS files.

3) Cutscenes are just...no...you can't modify the *.CUT and *.CUB files outside the database versions to any meaningful effect.

If it's not in the database, then we're pretty screwed.

Modifié par EJ42, 06 janvier 2010 - 07:35 .

[ladydesire]

True Expansions, like Awakenings, will work the same way as the base game; it's only the DLC that are encrypted, and that is no different than with Neverwinter Nights Premium Modules. As I thought II pointed out (maybe it was in another thread), Bioware has included "Premium Content" in later game patches that was available to the modding community for use.

[EJ42]

ladydesire wrote...

True Expansions, like Awakenings, will work the same way as the base game; it's only the DLC that are encrypted, and that is no different than with Neverwinter Nights Premium Modules. As I thought II pointed out (maybe it was in another thread), Bioware has included "Premium Content" in later game patches that was available to the modding community for use.

I hope this is the case.  With the base game, releasing the content data is meaningless to people who do not own the game to begin with.  Expansions are another story.  I could theoretically create the entire Dragon Age: Awakenings game as an addin, if I had the time and access to the voice actors I need, just using the toolset.

[fluffyamoeba]

But that would be no different to just pirating it. Except a lot more work, obviously.

[EJ42]

fluffyamoeba wrote...

But that would be no different to just pirating it. Except a lot more work, obviously.

No it wouldn't.

You're not understanding what I'm saying.

I mean I could create the entire expansion with my own work now, using the tools they've already given me.  I just wouldn't have access to the voice actors Bioware does.  I'd also have to make several guesses about the plot, but that's not really the point.  I'm just saying that creating the data is not limited by existing game software.

This really only affects the PC side of things, though.  Maybe they won't mind releasing the toolset stuff for the PC since it can't be used on the PS3 or Xbox anyway.

[Bibdy]

Well, they have yet to release source code for Stone Prisoner or Warden's Keep, so even if they do, it could be a while after the release of the content itself. The danger is that people could just compile that source code and release the mod for free...technically, you could compile the entire base-game campaign and release that for free using the source code in the toolset, but you won't be able to use it without purchasing the game anyway.



I'm thinking that it probably will happen, just several months after the release, once the sales figures drop sharply.

[EJ42]

Bibdy wrote...

Well, they have yet to release source code for Stone Prisoner or Warden's Keep, so even if they do, it could be a while after the release of the content itself. The danger is that people could just compile that source code and release the mod for free...technically, you could compile the entire base-game campaign and release that for free using the source code in the toolset, but you won't be able to use it without purchasing the game anyway.

I'm thinking that it probably will happen, just several months after the release, once the sales figures drop sharply.

Maybe so.  I just wish there was some way they could update the client and the toolset in a way that would prevent DA:ver1.x from running anything made by toolset:ver2.x

That way, you could download a new toolset with the ability to decrypt key encrypted database entries for the expansion or DLC datasets, and any changes you make would be re-encrypted to require the end-user to have the rights to the source content.