I'd thought that I'd create a new topic and well see what people have found Coldstone can do. So instead of focusing on what it can't do, let's talk about what it can. Now I haven't found out much seeing that I haven't even finished reading the manual. But I'm sure most of you'll have. So come on and tell us what you've learned.
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What stands before us
today is a meer foreshadow
of tommorow, fight hard or
die trying.
well visit my download area, for my perspective
(url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/download/index.html")eLL' softWare: Download(/url) a little on faking Multiple characters, a little on on the fly interfaces...that kind of thing
Also poke around the recent topic (url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postdisplay.cgi?forum=Forum48&topic;=001558")Death Events(/url), ::facetiously:: i wonder what other strange application this could have...
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(url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/index.html")eLL' softWare: updated 10.22.02(/url)
(url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/download/index.html")CGE related PDFs(/url)
Coldstone has spectacular map-making tools. You can take a single 1k picture of a brick and turn it into a castle. You can scan a painting you made and use it as a game map. Maps can either be linked to other maps through events that a player must walk into, or stiched together like in a dungeon or forest scene.
But I'd trade a spectacular map for a spectacular combat system any day.
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That's mighty white of you, Mikee. Hate to break it to you, but not everyone is so shallow and prejudiced that they fear being shot by "black people".
Andrew Welch
(This message has been edited by Madman (edited 10-28-2002).)
Quote
Originally posted by spitfire:
**Coldstone can do about anything, depending on how much time your willing to put into it.
**
that is far from correct. Aside from that, most of us don't want "anything", we want something in spesific.
Coldstone can do a lot, but it can't do what I had my heart set on. I am thinking of a rational solution for this, but it will be straying farther off topic. New thread on the way.
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That's mighty white of you, Mikee. Hate to break it to you, but not everyone is so shallow and prejudiced that they fear being shot by "black people".
Andrew Welch
I apologize for my earlier post. I realize my mistake in focusing on what it cant do. Though I still am very dissapointed with CG, I'd like to point out some good things:
Absolutely nothing!
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Quote
Originally posted by smodis:
**I apologize for my earlier post. I realize my mistake in focusing on what it cant do. Though I still am very dissapointed with CG, I'd like to point out some good things:
Absolutely nothing!**
Alright, to head off a possible flame war, relax and let it go.
Smodis - The bottom line is that while you are disappointed with CGE Beenox, nor Ambrosia, has failed to deliver on their promises. Allies/parties are not listed as an ability of Coldstone, nor is turn-based combat. If you thought these wwere included then you thought wrong. Had you downloaded the demo then you would have known the limitations. Anyone whining about the lack of features or supported types of things are blowing smoke. Sure, you can ask for a feature, but it is pointless to whine about how you were screwed because the company did not include a feature when they A) did not advertise that the feature was available, and 
you had the opportunity to look for yourself to see if the features you need/want are available.
Finally, I submit the ad blurb from Ambrosia found on the Coldstone web page:
Quote
So what kind of games can you create with Coldstone? We're waiting for you to answer that question. Coldstone is flexible enough to allow you to create games we've never even dreamed of, and we can't wait to see what springs from your imagination. Download the demo and get started!
Notice they do not state anything about parties or any other features. For feature sets they direct you to download the demo so you can see for yourself.
So please, lay off the pity party and let's not have a flame war; again. They get old real fast.
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Quote
Originally posted by Stark Bledfast:
**...
So please, lay off the pity party and let's not have a flame war; again. They get old real fast.
**
Yes, please. I have yet to see a discussion on Coldstone's potential that stays within the rules of debate, or ordinary logic, or indeed ordinary decorum. They all devolve quickly into flame wars between straw men and straw dogs (which unsuprisingly go up like torches when hit).
Let's just admit it. Coldstone is not unique. It is neither uniquely good, nor uniquely bad. TNT Basic, WorldBuilder, Quake mods or Doom wads, EV plug-ins, Marathon Open Source; all have limitations. None does everything well; you need to pick the tool that best suits your game concept. All the editors and creators I have experienced have a learning curve, and all have warts. All also have bugs. This is a given.
Coldstone, my friends, is neither perfect nor lethally flawed. Now, would it just be possible to discuss what is plausible within it, and even mention viable alternatives for some situations, without all of us losing our cool?
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"I know the stranger's name."
Turandot
Arashii & Stark: Thanks for the comments and damage control. I hope that this topic can continue in a civilised manner, but....
People, this is your last warning. I said it in the last topic when it degenerated, I'll say it again. Any more off topic posts that I see as potentially leading to flame will be slapped. This is a topic for discussion about the capabilities of Coldstone, not to rehash old gripes about missing features, or whatever.
I'll be keeping a close eye on this one.... if it doesn't go anywhere, I'll close it, but if it degenerates, then I will take action.
-Andiyar
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"Any good that I may do here, let me do now, for I may not pass this way again"
Quote
Originally posted by Tarnćlion Andiyarus:
I'll be keeping a close eye on this one.... if it doesn't go anywhere, I'll close it, but if it degenerates, then I will take action.
Just for the record, I am too.
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We realized the folly of coming up with an idea before working with the engine. With two ideas scrapped we decided to figure out CS before figuring out our game, and following that are now very excited with the idea we finally settled on. After working with Forge and Anvil I actually have found that I enjoy twisting an engine to see what I can make it do. We are still in the heavy experimental stage now as far as game mechanics, but here are some things we've been working on:
Binding keydown events to change the character's animation for different stances, running, special attacks, and actual honest to goodness dodging.
Using event flags in animation frames for things like fatigue, regeneration, environmental damage (walking through fire) and several other things. I personally think animation frame event flags can be a very major tool; we're still testing how much is too much.
We're going wild with level advancement schemes. Virtually anything is possible. Even striking levels altogether and using XP to buy skill/attribute upgrades independently is an option.
A startup screen within a loaded game should allow us to provide a place to record special features the player can unlock as he plays, like artwork and movies. When a game is loaded, the screen is the first to appear, because it is where the player must go to save and quit his game. A "play" button activates the "restore location" event.
Speaking of locations, our puzzles are going to rule. Once we realized we could effectively give the player Myst whenever he was faced with a puzzle, we made puzzles one of our top priorities.
We've also found that using the create and delete NPC events can create visually seamless multiple point pathing for patrolling NPCs. Adding a random event to the create event allows the NPC to randomly vary his patrol.
And I would like to add that I am very happy with Coldstone's story telling capabilities. Personally, that's my primary goal. To tell a story. I would also like to add that what I've seen and read of others' projects has made me very excited.
myshkyn
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"I'll give the fans just what they want, and nothing else at all."
I know this may sound stupid because it's so basic. But one of the main features I love besides the fact that I really don't have to do coding... is the fact that I can use quicktime movies. Something about being able to have my own movies in my game makes me soooo happy. I know I know probably all game engines have that ability. But I don't care I'm just so glad that Coldstone has it.
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What stands before us
today is a meer foreshadow
of tommorow, fight hard or
die trying.
The Global system, and being able to call pretty much any statistic in events is (i think) a fairly unexplored area when considering what it could be used to do. So I'm excited to see what effects people can pull off using good ol' globals in the future (or even now, if anyone has any examples...!).
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Do you get Migraines? - (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ibashmyselftosleep")www.geocities.com/ibashmyselftosleep(/url)
"Kids aren't influenced by computer games at all... Pac man's a computer game, how many kids do you know who listen to repetetive music and take mind-altering pills?"
ColdStone's best time saver, is the animation editor, it makes life exceedingly easy, complex path anmations and belzier paths with a little click and drag...
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(url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/index.html")eLL' softWare: updated 10.22.02(/url)
(url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ellrx/download/index.html")CGE related PDFs(/url)
Quote
Originally posted by cgoran:
**
Coldstone can create limited particle effects!
For the weapons, I've been having every frame of a bullet animation spawn another animated sprite that dissolves. This adds a nice particle trail effect. Could be used for smoke or anything else.
Anyone remember m tropolis?
**
Wow. This is the sort of thing this thread should be about. I'm thinking a little fuzzy this close to an opening night, but lots of strange ideas are coming from this....classic particle systems for exaust trails or footprints in snow...apparent changes in NPC behavior, including a primitive sort of animation blending... And then there's the thought of triggering multiple animations that each trigger a cascade of animations -- avalanches, fires, -- got to watch the computer doesn't melt down, tho!
Hmm. I'm starting to agree that placing event triggers inside an animation has much untapped potential. Two things I'd like to explore, that this might be one of the techniques that makes possible; expanded machanima (i.e. in-game "cut scenes") and flocking behavior of NPCs. For isntance, the idea that the first guard that sights you calls out an alert, "awakening" other guards to run to that spot. Hey, by using "slaved" animations, could you make what appeared to be a disciplined squad of NPCs marching in formation, that break ranks when they take fire?
I realize I'm more than half talking through my hat here. But aren't there some ideas there worthy of exploration?
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"I know the stranger's name."
Turandot
Wow, that is pretty cool. I guess Coldstone is goodÉ
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