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Post by jordnevans on Jan 25, 2007 18:04:02 GMT -5
I started watching UCT2 in 2003, and over the years, I have seen a lot of progress. I remember seeing the first rendering of Guardia castle for instance. What I want to know is... If anyone can answer it... what happened before the archives? Yeah, that's a BIG question, but I want to know how it all started. I have heard scant description of how it started but never got the whole story. Can anyone answer that?
(addition) ALL RIGHT, STARTED PAGE FOUR!!! ;D
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Post by DarkHawk on Jan 30, 2007 12:41:46 GMT -5
I know I don't even remember when I first found this site, but they have made some really good progress since I found it over 3 years ago. way to go everyone who is on the team, still rooting for you.
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Marco
65,000,000 B.C.
Posts: 16
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Post by Marco on Jan 30, 2007 23:21:56 GMT -5
I know I don't even remember when I first found this site, but they have made some really good progress since I found it over 3 years ago. way to go everyone who is on the team, still rooting for you. I believe you joined a month or so after I joined. It was nick who joined and told me about it. If I remember correctly, i think I joined september 2003. After you complete then engine, how long will it take to complete the actual game? I would say... Maybe a few months? I'm not certain, but we're doing other things in parallel with the engine development so it may not be as long as you would think. Since the engine takes advantage of open standards (OpenGL, OpenSDL, etc.) the answer is most assuredly yes. We will have these ports: - Windows 32-bit
- Windows 64-bit
- Linux (not sure how we're gonna handle this one, what with the various distributions and platforms. Perhaps have GCC compile for multiple target platforms?)
- Macintosh PPC
- Macintosh Intel
I know i bumpyed a topic but hey, a legit question is a legit question. Do you think it would just be better for the linux distributions to just leave it open source and let people compile it themselves?
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Kenji
65,000,000 B.C.
Author of UCT2
Posts: 39
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Post by Kenji on Jan 31, 2007 17:23:30 GMT -5
Well, I joined this project around 2002 or 03 (I'm afraid I don't exactly remember... it's been that long!). It was a case of me offering my services as a writer, then learning that the official writer was gone (the site hadn't been updated with that information) and being inducted into the core staff. To be more accurate, I became core staff when I stuck around. Still, it's interesting that people want to know the history of the project. A chronicle of that may come up sometime. I'm afraid I don't know much about programming, so I can't really answer the last question. It's been noted, though, so the answer will come eventually.
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Mouser X
12,000 B.C.
President and CEO of the Time Travler's Guild
Posts: 106
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Post by Mouser X on Feb 3, 2007 15:12:57 GMT -5
You want to know project history? Gangis is the one to go to for that. Though, I've been watching UCT2 since 2001, or so. To my knowledge, Gangis and I are the only ones that have been sticking around that long... The project started as an idea from a friend of Gangis's. They lost interest in it, and Gangis picked up where his friend left off. Gangis has been in charge ever since then, and from what I've seen, is the main driving force behind the project. The project itself started in 2000, as I recall. It wasn't announced to the public until 6 months, or a year, later. If I recall correctly, I actually started watching UCT2 around the time they went public (perhaps a month or 2 after). Since then, their core development team has gone through many people... I was offered a position on the staff, years ago, but declined because of some obligations I had to meet that would remove me from the internet for 2 years. So, from the end of 2001, to the end of 2003, I was unable to keep track of progress, or how things went. There definatly was progress though, and some pretty neat stuff happened in that time. I couldn't say for certain what though. It's been too long, and it's possible that some of it I'm not supposed to talk about anyway... Also, as I recall, these forums are the 4th iteration of the UCT2 forums. When I first started watching, they were using the ZTnet forums (actually, I don't know what they're called. You can see an index of their system here). Then, they changed forums to something much better (I don't remember what it was called. It's been years...). That was where some really awesome stuff happened. I wish I had had the ability back then to backup the forums. There was some really cool time travel discussion, Mech Assassin (he's gone through some nick changes since then. He was rather hard for me to track down when I got back on the internet) was a huge help in that. IMO, that was the prime (mid 2001, or so) of the UCT2 forums/boards. While I was gone, something happened, and the boards either switched systems, or got restored from a backup incorrectly. As such, much of the older info was for archival reasons only, and could only be viewed (if even that). Then, they died completely (hosting issues, I think). Someone started hosting the forums for them then (I think they're name started with N, but I really can't remember... Blast.). Sadly, that died as well, as I recall. Then, mp3guy stepped up, and he's hosting the forums now. If you have any specific UCT2 related history questions, please ask, and I'll rack my brains to see if I can provide an answer. Who knows, I might even have ICQ logs of some of it. Anyway, hopefully you find that useful. Mouser X over and out.
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Post by DarkHawk on Feb 21, 2007 11:47:34 GMT -5
we gonna get any more preview pictures in the future or was it just those few teasers that we got a short while ago .
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Kenji
65,000,000 B.C.
Author of UCT2
Posts: 39
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Post by Kenji on Feb 21, 2007 16:06:38 GMT -5
Oh, more preview pictures will eventually come, assuming something doesn't flat-out derail this baby. We hope those eventual pics will be final representations of what the game will look like, too. As we iron out our priorities, it's become very clear to us that graphics are fairly low on the list. Considering that this is a fan project, I believe that's the right perspective, since we simply don't have the manpower or equipment to win by looks. Most of our attention has been on content and style, trying to create a new artistic vision of the Chrono world instead of just recycling what Trigger or Cross gave to us. Of course, don't take that to mean that we think those two styles are inadequate, or anything. It's just a matter of matching everything into a complete package. To transplant Trigger or Cross' artistic styles would have the mood of those games as baggage, a visual mood that wouldn't match well with the mood of the plot. Ideally, we want UCT2 to be a complete package, where everything pulls together to the best of our ability. Admittedly, the mood that UCT2 has, which prevents us from simply hacking the CT ROM, is my doing. Still, I've always felt that CT did what it did as well as anyone could do it, and to piggyback on its mood and themes too much would be an insult to the source. The better to focus on new themes and material, to build a new type of story that ties back to the old. Yeah, I ranged pretty far from the question, so I guess I'll tie it all back together. We'll start releasing screenshots when the visual look and feel of the UCT2 world solidifies... and when we finally decide exactly how to express this artistic vision.
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Post by raynimator on Mar 19, 2007 16:48:43 GMT -5
I dont wanna seem like a thingy but Ive been watching for a looooong time and notably there hasnt been an update on your main page in just under a year. But the main thing I wanna say is. If the project started in 2000 after 7 years shouldnt the UCT2 world be solidified and have an artistic vision? I mean I know programming is hard and probably not on your priorities but still. You should be pretty well done. With little things to fix.
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Post by Gangis on Mar 25, 2007 19:37:28 GMT -5
I dont wanna seem like a thingy but Ive been watching for a looooong time and notably there hasnt been an update on your main page in just under a year. But the main thing I wanna say is. If the project started in 2000 after 7 years shouldnt the UCT2 world be solidified and have an artistic vision? I mean I know programming is hard and probably not on your priorities but still. You should be pretty well done. With little things to fix. Believe me, I'm very frustrated by the slow pace. I'll answer your question truthfully since no doubt all of you are wondering the same thing. I was going to announce it on the main page coupled with an upcoming site design change, a kind of "Hey! We're still here!" thing. Well, to make it short, we need a new programmer. I've been struggling with our current programmer, though I don't blame him for not paying much attention at all to the HazardEngine for UCT2. I mean, he doesn't get paid to do this for UCT2 and he needs some sort of income so he's pretty much focused on his day job at a game development house in Vienna, Austria. We're so far ahead in the storywriting, art and modeling departments that we could have had the first part out already if it weren't for the lack of progress on the programming side. Good programmers are hard to come by, and finding good ones willing to do this project pro bono is nearly impossible. If we do find a new one, most likely we would have to start over from scratch engine-wise seeing as Toku doesn't seem conducive to releasing the code for his engine to us. So there you have it... there HAS been progress in everything but the music and programming departments. We've begun to discuss scaling back the project, with a possibility of returning to 2D. I honestly would love to stay with our plans for 3D but if we don't find a new programmer I don't see how it would be possible. I'm planning on posting an official announcement and request for applicants shortly, but if you can help, or know somebody who can, please email me. Thank you!
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Post by raynimator on Mar 27, 2007 21:24:04 GMT -5
Lol I said thingy? I dont even remember typing something as gay as that. Anyhoo I am greatly surprised and appreciative that you took the time to reply. As you very well know your site is pretty dead. It is a shame that you lost your programmer (or possibly lost) and it is an even bigger shame that you may have to start the programming from scratch. I know its his work but if he isnt planning on following through with it he should atleast do the right thing and pass it on.
The only way I can notably fathom you happening to have a programmer stumble across this is to do as you said you were gonna do and update the site with the news. And might I suggest in the process you do a major overhaul. No offence but your site and forums are ugly. You need to grab a little attention.
I am a major forum sleeper and I know one of the biggest hurtles to hop is appeal. Your forums for one are very drab. The colors are ugly and conversation is pretty limited. You need more sections. Might I suggest you switch to a different board provider. And offer more in the mean time.
Switching to something like vbulletin would help as for the fact that they have arcade support. I know that could possibly cost some cash out of pocket that you really dont feel like investing if you dont have the right resources but you can also turn that into more cash. Get ad support and turn this forum into actual money. The admin at another forum I hang out at does the same thing and his site and forum are payed for with no cash at all out of his pocket. In fact he is making profit.
I know this project is all about ct. But lets face it only fanboys will be stopping here and since there is no activity or anything else to do here they are gonna split especially with the lack of updates. So if nobody is posting the odds of finding an alternative programmer reduces drastically.
I know I can talk big sitting at my end of the keyboard but hey, this isnt my project. And if the project ever nears completion or does get completed. I will probably have forgotten all about it. I wouldnt have even came here and posted the first time if I hadnt accidentily clicked the link in my bookmarks. And I wouldnt have replied again if not for the same thing.
Here is the brief rundown of that im trying to say 1. New look and more updates even if its just to say hello we got nothing done this month.
2. New forum layout and version with More sections. IE: Announcements, Project Discussion, General CT Discussion, General Discussion, GAMING Discussion, ANIME Discussion. The gaming and anime discussion alone gives more users more freedom of discussion.
Ultimately your forum will make or break your project at this point. Baby it. Like I said im a forum sleeper I know this stuff.
In turn the added publicity might get you noticed by SE but if you dont stupidly release flashy pics and wicked vids of your progress youll stay safely below the radar. If you need to talk im quite sure you can as the admin get my email. If you cant reply and say so. But either way I expect a reply. Thank you.
Ray.
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Post by Gangis on Mar 27, 2007 22:11:30 GMT -5
Lol I said thingy? I dont even remember typing something as gay as that. Anyhoo I am greatly surprised and appreciative that you took the time to reply. As you very well know your site is pretty dead. It is a shame that you lost your programmer (or possibly lost) and it is an even bigger shame that you may have to start the programming from scratch. I know its his work but if he isnt planning on following through with it he should atleast do the right thing and pass it on. The only way I can notably fathom you happening to have a programmer stumble across this is to do as you said you were gonna do and update the site with the news. And might I suggest in the process you do a major overhaul. No offence but your site and forums are ugly. You need to grab a little attention. I am a major forum sleeper and I know one of the biggest hurtles to hop is appeal. Your forums for one are very drab. The colors are ugly and conversation is pretty limited. You need more sections. Might I suggest you switch to a different board provider. And offer more in the mean time. Switching to something like vbulletin would help as for the fact that they have arcade support. I know that could possibly cost some cash out of pocket that you really dont feel like investing if you dont have the right resources but you can also turn that into more cash. Get ad support and turn this forum into actual money. The admin at another forum I hang out at does the same thing and his site and forum are payed for with no cash at all out of his pocket. In fact he is making profit. I know this project is all about ct. But lets face it only fanboys will be stopping here and since there is no activity or anything else to do here they are gonna split especially with the lack of updates. So if nobody is posting the odds of finding an alternative programmer reduces drastically. I know I can talk big sitting at my end of the keyboard but hey, this isnt my project. And if the project ever nears completion or does get completed. I will probably have forgotten all about it. I wouldnt have even came here and posted the first time if I hadnt accidentily clicked the link in my bookmarks. And I wouldnt have replied again if not for the same thing. Here is the brief rundown of that im trying to say 1. New look and more updates even if its just to say hello we got nothing done this month. 2. New forum layout and version with More sections. IE: Announcements, Project Discussion, General CT Discussion, General Discussion, GAMING Discussion, ANIME Discussion. The gaming and anime discussion alone gives more users more freedom of discussion. Ultimately your forum will make or break your project at this point. Baby it. Like I said im a forum sleeper I know this stuff. In turn the added publicity might get you noticed by SE but if you dont stupidly release flashy pics and wicked vids of your progress youll stay safely below the radar. If you need to talk im quite sure you can as the admin get my email. If you cant reply and say so. But either way I expect a reply. Thank you. Ray. Thanks for your input. Actually, that's the plan. There's a major site redesign in the pipeline and as soon as I get some new artwork done especially for the site (they're being worked on as we speak) it'll be put up. It's a completely different layout so I'm looking forward to it. I'm not sure about expanding the forum to "general stuff" because there are plenty of forums out there for that... Chrono Compendium, Gaia, etc. I'd rather that the forum be geared toward this project, with a bit of other stuff at the side.
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Post by jordnevans on Mar 28, 2007 18:37:35 GMT -5
Hi again. I have yet another question. I remember you saying that if all else fails, you will be doing the game in 2D. Im sure this is last resort and probably not even on the table for choices yet but I was wondering if the UCT2 Gang would use a game creation system like RPGMakerXP or if there would be another game creation system used. Also, how hard would it be to adapt everything done into a 2D setting?
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Post by Gangis on Mar 28, 2007 20:49:31 GMT -5
Hi again. I have yet another question. I remember you saying that if all else fails, you will be doing the game in 2D. Im sure this is last resort and probably not even on the table for choices yet but I was wondering if the UCT2 Gang would use a game creation system like RPGMakerXP or if there would be another game creation system used. Also, how hard would it be to adapt everything done into a 2D setting? I don't know about RPG Maker... It seems limited for quite a few things. I would rather have one custom designed, but if all else fails... Who knows?
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Post by ronkkrop on Mar 30, 2007 23:21:51 GMT -5
Instead of porting it to linux, has anybody tried running the program in wine?
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Post by Gangis on Mar 31, 2007 6:58:17 GMT -5
Don't forget... Wine only runs on x86 or x64 based systems. All it does is translate Windows API calls, there is no hardware emulation involved whatsoever. By forcing people to use Wine, we are effectively barring people from playing it on their PowerPC, MIPS, etc. based system.
Besides, the engine was made with the portability in mind by using OpenGL and SDL. I only hope that the next programmer will agree to do the same.
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