Editing/Modding
- I've heard you can edit almost any part of Battlegrounds.
Is this true? - Yes. You can change nearly anything using the Editor that is included. You can make modifications to existing content, or import your own creations!
- Can you give me some examples of what I can modify?
- Sure - robots, arenas, pilots, power-ups, hazards, sounds, music, mods (a.k.a. "mutators"), game types, single-player tournaments, computer AI, and the list goes on... Basically all game elements are open to modification.
- What editing tools will be included with the game?
- Editing tools will be released several months after the retail release of the game. Our in-house editor will allow you to alter all scripts and game variables, as well as import content such as models, animations, and music.
- What other tools might we need?
- 3DS MAX (or possibly GMax) for creating models; Microsoft DirectMusic Producer for creating music; whatever graphics and sound editing tools you prefer to use.
- How easy is it to create new content?
- This depends on the type of content. New pilots are very easy to create. Simple scripts, sounds, and other basic content can be created by most players familiar with game technology. Other content, such as models and music, require specialised knowledge and may be too involving for the average player.
- How easy is it to import and integrate new content?
- The design of our engine makes this very easy to do.
- How would I create a new robot?
- A robot is composed of a model (shape), paint job(s), animations, and scripts for its attacks and special moves. Each of these elements can be imported from outside the game, or borrowed from existing robots. So, for example, if you were creating a new robot, you could import your model from 3-D Studio, borrow animations from Jaguar and Katana, and script your own special effects. Any mix of imported and borrowed content is possible.
- How would I create a new arena?
- An arena is composed of a model, textures, light-map, hazards, power-ups, and sometimes special scripts. As with robots, each element can be imported, or borrowed from existing arenas. There are also facilities for re-using prefabricated objects (such as walls, pillars, force-fields, etc) from other arenas.
- How large can custom arenas be?
- As large as you like. However, you will find that excessively large arenas result in slow or boring gameplay.
- Can I create pick-ups without creating a new arena?
- Absolutely. You can insert your pickups into any existing arena to test them.
- How would I create new music?
- Battlegrounds uses a special dynamic music system that responds to action in the arena. To create your own music, you must use DirectMusic Producer (a free download from Microsoft), and follow our music format. (Details and a tutorial will be included on the game CD).
- What's to stop people from creating mods that unbalance the game?
- Nothing. It's up to the person running each server to decide which mods to use or not use. In general, a mod that ruins the game will be fairly unpopular, while a fun, well-balanced mod will be run on many servers.
- Will you include support for GMax?
- We're investigating this possibility.
