SSR: System Shock Kickstarter

[6742fffb734c6voodoo47]

speaking of stretch goals, 1.2m has just been reached (multi language support).

[6742fffb73681RingMod]

Before Night Dive make any changes to the original source code, they should publish it as-is, warts and all, under GPL.* The unmodified source should serve as the canonical foundation from which all future source ports (including Night Dive's) are derived.

Night Dive have been extremely fortunate to have been given such rare access to the crown jewels of System Shock, and I only hope they recognize the need to preserve the game exactly as it was in 1994.

While the effort to clean up, bugfix, and make buildable is certainly appreciated, I feel that it is secondary to letting the community get its hands on the raw code first. Here's an idea: Rather than modernizing System Shock's code in a closed one-sided effort, it could instead be carried out as an open collaboration between NDS and the community.


* Assuming there isn't any third-party code that could lead to legal trouble. Even so, the goal should still be to retain as much of the original source as possible.

[6742fffb73a4aicemann]

Especially cruel is holding system shock 1's source hostage. Dick move guys.... Dick move. I can understand simply releasing the source as is and offering no updates unless money is funneled in to allow support, but to go 'you get no source unless we get this money' just feels... Wrong.

Have to agree. Complete dick move. They should release the code as is regardless. Of course, legally they don't have to do anything, but in fairness to the fans who have stuck by this series since day 1 in the 90s.

Level editor should be released with the game regardless also. It's not like they wouldn't need to create a level editor themselves so that they could put together the levels. Hard coding of levels into a games code stopped happening decades ago.

[edit]
Apparently they are releasing the source code either way. So I stand corrected if that is the case.

[6742fffb73bdaHikari]

I'm with RingMod here. Let us see the unaltered source so that can serve as basis. that way there's no possible arguments over if timings or any other behaviors deviate or not, we can check what's there (excluding libraries that can't be included) for ourselves (and by ourselves I mean people who actually code.)

[6742fffb740e7Marvin]

Level editor should be released with the game regardless also. It's not like they wouldn't need to create a level editor themselves so that they could put together the levels. Hard coding of levels into a games code stopped happening decades ago.

They're talking about the original SS1 level editor. Besides, even if you're willing to jeopardy whatever business model you have in mind for your engine, simply releasing your tools including an editor has become much harder in recent years due to outsourcing and third-party addons.

[6742fffb74287Gawain]

They could just remove all the 3rd party library code and put it into github repo. Let the community do the fixing. And if they reach the stretch goal they can still do the work they want.

Updating the source also means release would come long after SSR 

[6742fffb743a0icemann]

If someone took the code and made a nice source port (or several source ports) that added in toggeable options, that would be awesome.

If you look at the stuff the Doom and Quake communities have done. Great stuff. Love it.

[6742fffb746faRocketMan]

I like Doom Legacy.  It preserves the feel nicely and has a TON of settings, like jumping in custom gravity and solid corpses

[6742fffb74823voodoo47]

hasn't it been deprecated for years now?

anyway, 1.3m reached, so expanded narrative and additional locations. with 9 hours left, I think this is where the line will be drawn.

[6742fffb74998Kolya]

Pix from Pix's Origin Adventures played the demo and is quite happy with it being better than he remembers the original game.

[6742fffb74b22icemann]

There was a Kickstarter update today. Mostly stuff about preproduction planning, speaking to the ex-devs about how they designed the game etc etc.

Probably the most interesting bit is the new concept art:

This one I was not a fan of. Their supposed to be Cyborg Assassin's. Ninja somewhat in appearance. This does not have that kinda look.

I thought this one looked interesting.

[6742fffb74e33RocketMan]

The mutated cyborg looks about right but wtf did they do to the assassin?  I mean he throws shurikens and shoots guns but not with Edward Scissor hands.  Damn.  This is that Rebirth assassin all over again.

Paul Stannek: Cyborg assassin shot him in the back of the head... didn't even touch me. They knew D'Arcy was on to something.

[6742fffb74f4cicemann]

They'd likely change that to "stabbed in the back of the head". To me it looks more like a construction robot than an assassin.

[6742fffb750bdLearonys]

The Cyborg Assassin... I dunno. What I can imagine here is a cyborg, completely covered in darkness, it's dark "clothing" absorbing the light refractions, and his arms screw it up by reflecting more than your average car paintjob, and gets him spotted. He's trying to graciously walk undetected, but his huge, primitive arms once again screw up by squeaking way too loudly... I really like the idea, but it just isn't right.
A paintjob to make it suit the rest of his body better could work for starters, but right now i want to scream "SHUT UP CARL" to it.

[6742fffb751ccMarvin]

Such an akward mix between a silent, deadly killer and a huge construction robot. Fine for Samurai Jack but System Shock?

[6742fffb75399Kolya]

[6742fffb754aechickenhead]

I think it looks cool.  They're trying to do some of that "reboot" stuff and actually re-imagine certain elements.  With a little work, it could be really cool.

[6742fffb75601ZylonBane]

The cyborg assassin is supposed to look like a 90s cyberpunk Cylon ninja. Any deviation from that ideal is fail.

[6742fffb7579aKolya]

But Cylon Ninjas were generic evil robots and the SS1 Cyborg Assassin looks nothing like it except for the eye light.

This cyborg ninja design takes the head of the original and adds overly long robot arms, which makes them at least somewhat interesting.

[6742fffb758adX-Tech]

These monsters ideas is cool but only if will be exposed by story and SCIENCE very well.

[6742fffb759b2X-Tech]

Look at these images by "Shodan Eyes" I dont think it would be good price in resources for shodan to Construct such thing like assasin with insect hands.  There should be good excuse for that same as for mutant with metallic part and exposed body.

[6742fffb75ad2X-Tech]

OVerall what in my opinion would be attractive in game that - introducing new monsters as something sick and dangerous with proper music and tension until we meet them - AND with proper logs and informations beside it - but with some intelligent mention of them from medical view science view not some obvious warnings. Make scary as possible even with cost of totally change music in game into total electronic suspencial horror but scary as fu*k. Would be nice if music could change depending of what happening.

[6742fffb75c12X-Tech]

I suggest to create glass panzer wall around this mutant body - in look similiar to part of egg shell. This glass could be hitted few times before could be break into this mutant like into some kind of egg inside. When glass will be breaked when shot - will be showing blood on inside of this glass panzer until total break. This assasin could have too some kind of paralization harpoon which at stomach and could be shoot and paralize victim. Then this insect hand with knives could attack paralized victim or move this victim to his insect hands area. Very sadistic and scarry.

[6742fffb75dc0voodoo47]

I'm still trying to find a polite way of expressing myself about the assassin, I'll post again as soon as I have something.


//unnecessary enhancement. I think I'll go with that. I mean, I'm fine with ditching the pajama thing that the original has going on (btw, we had a pretty nice bit of SS1 assassin fanart posted somewhere that was very close to what I would see as the optimal overhaul), but the mantis knife arms.. I think I need to invent a new word for that - they are the most whatthefckiest thing I've seen so far.

I mean what's next, crotch stinger guns? I seriously hope they are going to reconsider this.


also X-Tech, this is not an instant message board - do consider registering so you would be able to edit/modify your posts if you plan to stay around and post more.


//found it;