Aldebaran Public Release

[Avenoct]

Scipio, the four basic scenarios focus on survival only. Or I should say, winning the game from that position. Each scenario introduces the player to a new AI faction and all are meant to be played as the Planetlovers, though any will do. In a sense, scenarios 1-4 are the framework of the story 'Aldebaran'. They should all be more difficult than a random game, but are definately not 'Challenge' games. As with most things Aldebaran, I've focused on getting the skeleton functional and will flesh it out as the story develops and as all the skeletal mechanics are smoothed out.

-Smack

P.S. If anyone would like to write a scenario or three for Aldebaran, I more than welcome it and will post them on the website. I can probably reveal the plot-outline to you without spoiling the upcoming story-segments too much. **Ducks from Kass**

[gwillybj]

in the "/voices" folder

Originally posted by Smack
I'll look into finding the pattern for soundfiles->techs
-Smack

The numbers in the mp3 filenames coincide with the programmed facility and technology numbers identified in "Blurbs.txt", "TECHLONGS.txt", and "TECHSHORTS.txt", thus:

• "fac1.mp3" is for facility #1 (Headquarters), "fac2.mp3" is for facility #2 (Children's Creche), "fac3.mp3" is for facility #3 (Recycling Tanks), etc.
• "tech0.mp3" is for technology #0 (Biogenetics), "tech1.mp3" is for technology #1 (Industrial Base), "tech2.mp3" is for technology #2 (Information Networks), etc.
• For technologies you added in place of "User Technology 0" through "User Technology 9" the codes are "078" through "087".
• For Secret Projects, there are no separate mp3 files. Those voices are integral to the video (".wve") files in the "/movies" folder.

You can use these numbers to find the corresponding "merit badge" (.pcx) graphics in the "/facs", "/projs", and "/techs" folders.

[Avenoct]

Thanks Gwillybj,

By the way, what do you mean by 'merit badge (pcx) graphics files'? I'm not a graphics type person, so I won't pretend I even know what kind of file pcx really are. They make handy pictures, but why not a jpeg or gif?

Speaking of graphics, added a few to the web page.

-Smack

[gwillybj]

merit badges

They are the symbols you see in the Datalinks when you lookup the technologies and facilities. They remind me of Boy Scout merit badges because they are so basic but still make sense.
I can't say for sure why pcx graphics were used, but it has something to do with the program being able to cut-out a specific piece of the whole image and paste it where it needs to be. AFAIK, pcx predates jpeg, and gif isn't suitable (just guessing in both cases).
The unfortunate thing for us economically-challenged faction customizers is it's nearly impossible to find a freeware or shareware editor for pcx (but that's a different topic, and it has been considered in other threads here).

[SITS]

Cheers gwillybj!

I've done a few files but I'm waiting for Smacks email address....

[Avenoct]

SITS,

Got the wav files and they sound great! I'll post a few to the website. I particularily like your elocution of the phrase 'muck about in the water' from tech4.wav. Douglas Adams with an English accent is just perfect .

[Edit: Posted my favorite on the page..will add a zipped download of the first 10 tech-voiceovers soon]

-Smack

[SITS]

Cheers! I will try and do some more over the next few days...

[Avenoct]

You can hear SITS talk about dolphins on the website...its rather well done!

The networknode (www.networknode.org) is now mirroring the downloads if any have trouble getting them past the Yahoo Police.

-Smack

[Avenoct]

As you can see by some of the scenarios posted here in the Creation threads, I'm currently working toward a 'no-install' theme for future developments. Apparently the hassle of installing files and uninstalling impedes some people's enjoyment of game variants.

In fact, if you load the scenario 'Foothold' you have the Aldebaran engine. By turning on the scenario editor after loading that scenario you can proceed to play random or scenario games by resaving a new scenario then back into the Foothold folder and playing it as a scenario from the game menu.

I think this will greatly ease the use of game variants in the future, and I plan to point out this functionality on the website soon.

-Smack

[Kassiopeia]

I just found this thread *bangs himself to head

Originally posted by Smack
P.S. If anyone would like to write a scenario or three for Aldebaran, I more than welcome it and will post them on the website. I can probably reveal the plot-outline to you without spoiling the upcoming story-segments too much. **Ducks from Kass**

It'll be hard for you to spoil the upcoming story segments too much, as there aren't any. At least yet. I am thinking of doing the second part (Yes, Part II, not III like Smack previously stated - this is going like Star Wars, people plan parts that don't even have prequels) about common hard-working life on Aldebaran, the conditions etc.; maybe implications of the super race ops:
It's all gathering up in my head, but... Sometimes I just can't get a word out on the keyboard

[Avenoct]

What, there's actually alien supe....(**doh** **ouch spermy!**)

What happens in part MCMXVI ? I can't wait to back-write 1400 prequels.

-Smack

[Kassiopeia]

Re: I just found this thread *bangs himself to head

Originally posted by kassiopeia
Yes, Part II, not III like Smack previously stated - this is going like Star Wars, people plan parts that don't even have prequels

Actually I'll have to correct my words after checking something... It is Part III that is under construction

Oh, by the way... Chapters Ten and Eleven online in a few. Aldebaran - the story is up and running after a long pause! Do not forget to check the first implications of the...

[aaglo]

Heh...

The base graphics for outlaw faction seems so familiar to me... but wait a minute! I've made that!

OK, who is responsible?

BTW, the idea for this base came from a certain church in Helsinki downtown... Maybe all the finns here may notice some similarities...

[Kassiopeia]

Originally posted by aaglo
The base graphics for outlaw faction seems so familiar to me... but wait a minute! I've made that!

OK, who is responsible?

BTW, the idea for this base came from a certain church in Helsinki downtown... Maybe all the finns here may notice some similarities...

I knew I had seen them bases before! They are of your making, from that specific Finnish faction from a site I can not recall?

*points finger at CyberGod*
Twas him!

Anyway, thanks on behalf of the Aldebaran team for not igniting a flame war of several threads on this... yet.

[Cybergod]

Originally posted by kassiopeia

*points finger at CyberGod*
Twas him!

Hey! I seriously thought that this was part of the Network Node's share of graphics (if I can call it so) and there IS a faction which has those base graphics and you'll find it if you look up the only human faction in the zeta set. I never knew it was even remotely related to Aaglo, until he posted the base pics as his on a thread before...