Slightly Off Topic: CITIES XL & Custom Content

[dasilva]

It seems like it would be the right day and time to start this discussion.

The only thing is that I don't want to leave my Skype contact details in a public forum (I'm sure you'll understand  ).
I was thinking we could first meet up in an online text chat somewhere and I would communicate you Skype details. Once done, I would start a conference with you.

Does SC4devotion owns its own text chat software or should we use another one like the Simtropolis one?

Thanks,

P.S. : Any help from community board members to organize this online meeting would be highly appreciated 

[BarbyW]

SC4Devotion does not have a chat room so the details would have to passed by either PM or the ST chat room. I would suggest PM as it is more secure than ST chat.

[callagrafx]

SC4Devotion does not have a chat room so the details would have to passed by either PM or the ST chat room. I would suggest PM as it is more secure than ST chat.

I would steer well clear of the ST chat room...full of juveniles posting "w00t".  It's a good way to make your eyes bleed.

Or Jeroni could set up a private board here...A permanent record in the form of a forum board would be a good back-reference.  Failing that, why not use MSNM?  Most of us have that (I have a deep aversion to Skype). 

[wouanagaine]

You can also open an IRC chan

[JoeST]

There is an IRC channel set up here:

http://embed.mibbit.com/?server=irc.freenode.net&channel=%23sc4d

(me accidently premepted the need for one XD

also I have compiled some ideas about Plugin management on my user page on the wiki here:

http://wiki.sc4devotion.com/index.php/User:JoeST/CCC

this was built on something a guy called Romaq wrote something on CitiesXL's boards

Joe

[dasilva]

Hi guys,

My only issue with text chat based discussions is that we won't get that fast... That's why I suggested Skype for its VOIP support

Now, if we can't use it I would rather go for the IRC channel mentionned by JoeST.

[BarbyW]

I think the resistance was to using ST chat to start things off. Personally I would prefer a Skype conference as it is easier to say things and faster than typing.

[Glenni]

I'd like to take part on this.. but seriously.. i really hate speaking English.. i'm rubbish at it... I'm ok with writing it, but speaking it is rather...embarrasing so to say... Can't we use IRC or something similar?  Also my mic has gone bugger all... 

[dedgren]

I would certainly plan to participate, as there are a number of issues I would hope to see discussed, but I'll be in the air over the North Pacific at that time (Anchorage to Seattle).  Phillipe, as you know I've already posted a list of the questions over at the CITIES XL website [linkie] that are of interest to, I believe, many in the SC4 community as to what the game will have to offer.  For convenience sake, and in the hope that they might raise some discussion at Thursday's get-together, I'll repost them here.

1.  Will CXL offer to the user community tools, such as SC4's Building Architect Tool ("BAT") and Lot Editor, so that individual game purchasers can develop custom content?

2.  If the answer to question 1. is "yes," will the user community be free (meaning no interference, oversight, royalty charges or other regulation by Monte Cristo ("MC")) to create independent fansite exchanges of custom content such as those on SC4 fansites such as SC4Devotion or Simtropolis?*

3.  Will CXL's code be written in such a way as to allow, like much of the coding of SC4, user community "modding" of many fundamental aspects of the game, such as has been done for SC4 with the development of the Network Add-on Mod ("NAM"), tree and fauna controllers and the various terrain mods (i.e. Columbus Terrain, Missouri Breaks Terrain)?*

4.  If the answer to question 3. is "yes," will the user community be free (in the same sense as in question 2.) to develop and share such mods on independent CXL fansites?

5.  Will CXL allow for reasonably unconstrained terrain creation by the single-player with tools such as the "God Mode" tools available in SC4?

6.  Will CXL in single-player mode allow region-based play such as that offered in SC4?.

I see all but question 6. as being very relevant to to the issue of MODding the game.

I'm also hoping there would be a transcript produced for posting here, perhaps in a special thread set up for that purpose, in order to facilitate extended discussion.  I very much would have wished to participate, and hope that there will be further opportunities.


David

*  Consistent, of course, with observation of MC's intellectual property rights.

[Tonksie]

I already started making low poly models for the game, I followed the video on the Citiex XL website. The Brenntian Palace of Art over at Simtropolis is a Cities XL model, I just need to sort out the texture files and redo the chimneys.

Oh and Call, please keep your ST opinions to yourself

[JoeST]

A problem I have had with skype is that it relays all the data throught the host. So once your over 5 people say, you can only host if you have a TBps fiber line . and I am willing to participate but have not much to say, as I have not made custom content successfully yet  . I do have one question:

Is Monte Cristo going to help us when it comes to building our own tools and getting our heads round the file structures. As I seem to remember that the modding gods took a good while figuring out at the start.

Joe

[callagrafx]

Oh and Call, please keep your ST opinions to yourself

Shant 

[dasilva]

Ok, so instead of a voice chat, I'll be on the IRC room pointed by JoeST tomorrow at noon CET (US & Canada) or 18:00 GMT+1 to discuss with you on the custom content.

I hope we'll be enough to cover all the real issues that could come up with custom content and CITIES XL 

[JoeST]

I guess once people are there they can exchange skype nicks and such.

[CasperVg]

I will do my utter best to be there, but I got quite some homework glooming around the corner, so I'm still uncertain.

[BarbyW]

I shall be there at 18:00 French Time.

[un1]

19:00 EST (I live in the EST).

I'll be there! 

Nevermind that, I just remembered my family is going on a camping trip...

-un1

[Jonathan]

I'll also be there as much as I can if that's alright?

EDIT: That is if I have got the time right and it will be at 5pm GMT(15mins)?

Jonathan

[Sheep49]

I hopefully be there, just because I want to talk with someone

Seriously, you can expect me to be there! I can't wait to talk about that game

[LoneRanger]

I'm kinda curious, can the people involved in the discussion talk about it?
The main thing I want to know if you all got a positive or negative feeling about it. 
Again, just curious.