Radical modding idea: custom executable

[jamespetts 0]

The modifications so far made for Sim City 4 - the Network Addon Mod in particular - have vastly extended the quality and longevity of the game. They are, however, always restrained by the coding in the executable.

Has anybody ever thought of getting some programmers together and writing a custom (GPL) executable for Sim City 4, perhaps in C#, that can use the existing data files (models, textures, .dat files, saved games, etc.), but that can be expanded?

As insane an idea as it initially sounds, it would not be the first time that such a thing has been done for a game: there is a community-created open-source custom executable for Transport Tycoon Deluxe that has been around for several years now that is based on the same concept: see http://www.openttd.org .

Are there any people here who would countenance undertaking such a project?

[jamespetts 0]

I have just realised that I have posted this in the wrong place, and that it should be in Modding: general discussion. Is there a moderator who can move it? Sorry: I didn't think of the custom content fora...

[simrolle 18]

Regarding the technical aspects of this - maybe possible.

But in my opinion there are some reasons what makes it impossible :

#1 The copyright aspect - most of the file formats are Maxis' stuff and
   i don't think that they will give their o.k. for common usage outside SimCity or The Sims.

#2 This would be a lot of work for the 15-20 programmers around here who have to do the
   coding during their free time after work or school - nearly impossible in my opinion.
   If i look to sc4tool only this thing took most of my time after work and a nearly all
   weekends from it's first release to now.

#3 The coding of such a project needs to be well coordinated and conflated - nearly impossible.

[jamespetts 0]

#1 The copyright aspect - most of the file formats are Maxis' stuff and I don't think that they will give their o.k. for common usage outside SimCity or The Sims.

quote>

Making a custom executable would not involve copying anything, and would therefore not violate anybody's copyright, any more than does making custom versions of data files. There is nothing different here than with Open TTD. People would still have to buy the game to use it (as with Open TTD), because the community would not be able to distribute the data files that came with the game.

#2 This would be a lot of work for the 15-20 programmers around here who have to do the coding during their free time after work or school - nearly impossible in my opinion.

quote>

Why would it be impossible merely because it would take a long time? Entire office suites and operating systems are written by groups of programmers in their spare time. I am posting this message on a browser (Firefox) which, being open-source, is written by programmers in their spare time. Writing it in C# as I suggest would reduce considerably the amount of time needed to programme it. Why not Open SC4?

If i look to sc4tool only this thing took most of my time after work and a nearly all weekends from its first release to now.

quote>

That'd be because it's just you working on it. I am suggesting a rather large group.

#3 The coding of such a project needs to be well coordinated and conflated - nearly impossible.

quote>

It is possible for Open TTD, and for any other open source project that you care to name: why not Open SC4?

[SamFlash 0]

I'd say it's possible.  The only problem that I see is in getting enough programmers together with someone to coordinate and compile all their work.  Most projects like that usually start with a few programmers and then others join in as the project grows.  Good luck if you want to lead the parade. 

[jamespetts 0]

Date: 2/1/2006 10:09:21 PM
Author: SamFlash
I'd say it's possible. The only problem that I see is in getting enough programmers together with someone to coordinate and compile all their work. Most projects like that usually start with a few programmers and then others join in as the project grows. Good luck if you want to lead the parade.

quote>

I thought that somebody might say something like that... I don't really have enough experience programming to be able to start a project like that, nor, for that matter, enough time to co-ordinate it, although, if it was written in C#, I could probably help with some of the smaller aspects.

If only there were people out there, knowledable and experienced in programming, who were able to assist in realising such a project...

Perhaps any such people (if any exist) could post on this thread?

[le_harv 4]

 

[jamespetts 0]

Date: 2/7/2006 7:48:31 AM
Author: le_harv

quote>

Just to point out that the moment this is said by any thread starter the project is as good as dead, For a project to take off you need a leader, this doesn't have one nor will it have the drive to get one.