Presenting MissionComputer 3.0 with syst/spob/nebu/outf
Back in mid-January I began working on Cartographer , a plug-in for MissionComputer designed to allow it to edit the galaxy map, systems, planets, and nebulae. Although I've released several MissionComputer updates since that time, Cartographer has found its way only into the hands of a small group of testers. Now, with MissionComputer 3.0 , these features for the first time available to the public, now integrated into the MissionComputer application rather than relying on an external plug-in as they did when I first demonstrated them.
Version 3.0 also adds support for the oütf resource, and the new RDL template scripting system, which provides more user-friendly editing of resources which lack graphical editors.
MissionComputer 3.0 adds these new features to a list that already includes editors for the chär, crön, dësc, düde, flët, gövt, ďntf, jünk, mďsn, përs, PICT, STR, STR# (improved in version 3.0), and yëäŽ resources. MissionComputer provides a simple interface for linking resources wherever it is necessary, and offers convenient excerpts from the official developer documentation. Also integrated into the MissionComputer application are a graphical tool for generating target graphics in the style used by EV Nova , and a Resource Copier utility for moving resources between files in bulk.
The template-based editing system, updated in version 3.0 for more user-friendly editing, allows MissionComputer to edit every resource used by the Escape Velocity games with at least the same level of functionality as ResEdit can offer without w00tWare's NovaTools installed. The new RDL template scripting system extends its functionality with some features resembling those found in MissionComputer and NovaTools such as popup menus, automatic flag calculation, and Resource Selector buttons.
MissionComputer began life as a simple mission editor for EV Override, released in late December of 2001 after several months of development and testing. In the subsequent versions, it has gained an increased scope, and now covers many aspects of the latest versions of all three Escape Velocity games.
MissionComputer 3.0 is available in two separate versions: a Mac OS X edition, and a Classic version optimised for Mac OS 9 and earlier. The new version is immediately available from my web site at (url="http://"http://davidarthur.evula.net/")davidarthur.evula.net(/url), and remains a free download.
Notes on Windows compatibility
Since Ambrosia released EV Nova for Windows, there has been an increased demand for development tools that can run on that platform. MissionComputer is at present a Mac-only application, but it is available in a 68K-enabled Classic build which some users have been able to run successfully in Windows-based Macintosh emulators. I am currently engaged in developing the technology necessary to create a workable Windows version of MissionComputer, but although this process is currently going quite well, it is still too early to promise completion, let alone give a release date.
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David Arthur | (url="http://"http://davidarthur.evula.net/")davidarthur.evula.net(/url) | (url="http://"http://www.ev-nova.net/")EV-Nova.net(/url)
Truth! Justice! Freedom! And A Hard-Boiled Egg!
