I am considering adding the ability to generate a random galaxy (given some parameters) to a future version of EVONE (NOT the next beta, see (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/webboard/Forum9/HTML/003964.html")this thread(/url) for that).

Since the algorithm itself is not all that difficult, I am simply wondering if there is interest in having this feature? If so, what aspects of the galaxy would you like to be able to customize and what abilities should it have?

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There is enough interest in this feature that people will bow down and worship your for it.

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I'd like to be able to define areas for different goverments. Like in the original EV you had the circular Fed space with a ring around it of Reb space. So being able to define areas as basic shapes with an approx. size and location would be good.

Also, randomly generating things like asteriod fields would be good. And making that transfer to the asteriods in a system, the interferance of the system, and the murk of the system.

I don't think there's much else I'd need/want but I'm sure others will have more to offer.

--Ernimtir

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It would likely be worthwhile just to randomly generate a galaxy with nebulas and then allow the player to define which worlds belonged to who, as opposed to telling it to make a central governement and rings, and what not. Just coming up with systems and links is hard enough, but once there it is easy to place the governments.

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"Damn, everybody wants something up their ass today! Yeah, I'm cool like that." - forge

Yes , this seems like a nice feature. Go for it.

Entarus,

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I would bow down and worship you for this feature.

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Great, thanks for the interest.

As for the governments, what if it generated the galaxy first, then you were able to drag circular or semi-circular "areas of influence" over it and the systems within those rings would be assigned those respective governments, with possibly a few "independants" thrown in? That, I think, would be a cool, fast way to assign governments.

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(url="http://"http://www.ariossoftware.com")Arios SoftWare(/url)
(url="http://"http://www.ariossoftware.com/programs/evone/")EVONE 1.0.0 - the plugin editor for EV/EVO/EVN(/url)

Well, what about the sorts of shapes that each galaxy tends to have? Like, in EV:N, the Polarans have different sorts of shapes than the Aurorans or the Federation... which is different than how the Galaxy was set up in EV and EV:O. Would there be any way to integrate those sorts of features?

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Quote

Originally posted by Gluegun:
**Well, what about the sorts of shapes that each galaxy tends to have? Like, in EV:N, the Polarans have different sorts of shapes than the Aurorans or the Federation... which is different than how the Galaxy was set up in EV and EV:O. Would there be any way to integrate those sorts of features?

**

Well, you can come up with basically any shape by drawing a number of semi-circles and then fine-tuning by hand.

As for the overall shape of the galaxy, it would tend towards being semi-circular, but once it is generated, it would be easy to drag around and customize by hand.

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(url="http://"http://www.ariossoftware.com")Arios SoftWare(/url)
(url="http://"http://www.ariossoftware.com/programs/evone/")EVONE 1.0.0 - the plugin editor for EV/EVO/EVN(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by Gluegun:
**Well, what about the sorts of shapes that each galaxy tends to have? Like, in EV:N, the Polarans have different sorts of shapes than the Aurorans or the Federation... which is different than how the Galaxy was set up in EV and EV:O. Would there be any way to integrate those sorts of features?

**

Edit : Ariossw beat me to it.

Entarus,

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(This message has been edited by Entarus (edited 04-23-2003).)

Quote

Originally posted by Russell Quintero:
**It would likely be worthwhile just to randomly generate a galaxy with nebulas and then allow the player to define which worlds belonged to who, as opposed to telling it to make a central governement and rings, and what not. Just coming up with systems and links is hard enough, but once there it is easy to place the governments.
**

Exactly what I thought. Also would be nice if the user could drag and drop their own spob graphics into them.

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Bowing

Worshipping

I haven't really started doing this stuff yet, but when I do that sounds great man. I'm all for it.

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Quote

Originally posted by AriosSw:
**Well, you can come up with basically any shape by drawing a number of semi-circles and then fine-tuning by hand.

As for the overall shape of the galaxy, it would tend towards being semi-circular, but once it is generated, it would be easy to drag around and customize by hand.

**

I think he meant what I meant. To elaborate, Polaris space has hyperspace routes like a spider web. Fed space has hubs with radials to some systems. Auroran is hubs but they are more random and there are splotches of no hubs in between the hubs. Vellos area space is a bunch of arcs occasionally connecting. Being able to define areas with different types of hyperspace routes is what I, and I think Gluegun, meant. Sorry for the confusion and either way would be great but I'd like it if this were included too.

--Ernimtir

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Quote

Originally posted by Ernimtir:
**I think he meant what I meant. To elaborate, Polaris space has hyperspace routes like a spider web. Fed space has hubs with radials to some systems. Auroran is hubs but they are more random and there are splotches of no hubs in between the hubs. Vellos area space is a bunch of arcs occasionally connecting. Being able to define areas with different types of hyperspace routes is what I, and I think Gluegun, meant. Sorry for the confusion and either way would be great but I'd like it if this were included too.

--Ernimtir

**

Ahh, I understand now. I would have to think about how this could be done. The first version will probably generate link networks closer to the ones in EV and EVO (all systems have, on average, the same number of links in no real pattern). Of course, once almost all the links are there, it would be easy to remove some and add others to customize it, but you are right, this would definitely be a cool feature.The reason I hesitate with this is because this is bordering on pattern-recognition technology, which I do not have a lot of experience with and is relatively difficult to write.

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(url="http://"http://www.ariossoftware.com")Arios SoftWare(/url)
(url="http://"http://www.ariossoftware.com/programs/evone/")EVONE 1.0.0 - the plugin editor for EV/EVO/EVN(/url)

O Great One... I worship thou!

But seriously, it is a great idea, go for it.

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There is no easy way from the earth to the stars.
-Seneca

Quote

Originally posted by AriosSw:
**Ahh, I understand now. I would have to think about how this could be done. The first version will probably generate link networks closer to the ones in EV and EVO (all systems have, on average, the same number of links in no real pattern). Of course, once almost all the links are there, it would be easy to remove some and add others to customize it, but you are right, this would definitely be a cool feature.The reason I hesitate with this is because this is bordering on pattern-recognition technology, which I do not have a lot of experience with and is relatively difficult to write.

**

Yeah, I'm no real programmer(I've just messed with BASIC and I'm learning Java) but I can still see how that'd be pretty hard. Don't beat yourself over the head trying to make it but if you've got a friend who understands that kind of stuff or if you get a burst of inspiration it'd be really cool to include.

--Ernimtir

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Quote

Originally posted by AriosSw:
**I am considering adding the ability to generate a random galaxy (given some parameters) to a future version of EVONE (NOT the next beta, see this thread for that).

Since the algorithm itself is not all that difficult, I am simply wondering if there is interest in having this feature? If so, what aspects of the galaxy would you like to be able to customize and what abilities should it have?

**

I hesitate on things like this, because while it is a good idea in theory- I think it tends to encourage laziness on the part of developers. Sure, it'd save a bunch of work, but a scenario's galaxy is one of the key elements to the overall feel of the game, and in my opinion, it should be something the developer takes pride in and spends a lot of time working on. For me, designing the galaxy is one of the most important, fun parts of creating the scenario.. If we reduce it to a randomly generated thing, what's to stop the entire scenario from being randomly generated? Where is the line drawn? Ships? Weapons? Missions?

_bomb

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I think that you don't see many love stories in EV simply because the engine isn't quite geared towards that. What are you going to do, keep meeting your significant other in a bar (or, with Nova, the Outfitter, Shipyard, or Trade Center) and have questions like "Will you go out on a date with me?" | Yes/No | "Great, pick me up on <DST> in a month and we'll have dinner."?
-EVula

Quote

Originally posted by Bomb:
**I hesitate on things like this, because while it is a good idea in theory- I think it tends to encourage laziness on the part of developers. Sure, it'd save a bunch of work, but a scenario's galaxy is one of the key elements to the overall feel of the game, and in my opinion, it should be something the developer takes pride in and spends a lot of time working on.
**

You can still (and should) edit the galaxy in ways that make it special for you , the developer. I would advise everyone that is planning to use this feature to do so.

Entarus,

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