An idea of ridiculous proportions

Commander Gizmo · 10-24-08, 03:07 PM

Looking at all the content that has been created for this game since its release, I think the modding community is reaching a milestone. Much of what the game is lacking has been added, and a fairly solid foundation of MOD's have been produced on top of which further MOD's have been created.

After reading much about current file editors and utilities, I have the insane idea that it would be very awesome if they could all be merged into one SDK of sorts. There seems to be a person for every file that needs editing, as well as a very cool mod enabler that performs beautifully.

This program would have the following features:

File Creation
- Entirely new files added via copy
File Deletion
- Move files to 'deleted' folder to remove them from game folder
File Editing
- Change only variables, not replacing files
- Complete collection of knowledge gathered so far on SH3 file types/structures
- Manual and Automatic editing
- GUI for all file types/structures
- Script files for one click file changes
  - MODs enbaled via script
  - Simple straight forward language
  - Automatic script creation via file and variable comparison
Compatibility
- Nearly complete compatibility between MODs
- Only MODs that edit the same variables would be incompatible, and then only if the new value breaks other features
Modules
- Give additional advanced features such as prelaunch game data altering (ala SH3Commander, SH3Gen)
- Created and installed seperatly to conserve download size and HDD space
- Allow program to expand and extend as time moves on
- Simple import of module would add new functionality without lots of "How do I do this again?"
Windows integration
- File types from SDK entered into Widnows registry
- Downloaded mods and modules would open and install themselves automatically, ready for enabling
- Double clicking a mod file would open the SDK and perform default actions
Verify Function
- MOD could be verified by running a comparison check of all files and variables edited by MOD
- Broken installs would only occur if base files were damaged or corrupted or 3rd party wrote bad script
Standards
- All MODs would have the same information available
  - Name
  - Description
  - Features
  - Gameplay changes
  - Author
  - Link to homepage
  - Instructions for use (install notes not required)
  - Contact link (if desired)
  - etc
- Validation of usability
  - SDK could check with internet site for list of MODs known to work well
  - End user could tell which are 'garanteed' to work
  - End user could tell which are experimientalCentral Filing
- SDK could check with internet site for list of available MODs
- End user could find common mods added to library easily
- Internet site could reference MOD's external download link rather than host all files on site
One Stop Shop
- Replaces all current tools and ulilities

In laymen's terms:

End User Features
- Change any data in the game files we currently know how to edit
- Enable/Disable mods without worrying about compatibility
- Add mods simply by downloading from list given in program
- Only use one program for all features offered by current tools
- Broken installs could possibly be repaired with click of a button

Several things would be required:

Cooperation between the different parties with such abounding knowledge
TONS of time
Willingness and desire of current and future MOD developers to make use of the features of such a program
Extensive support by more than one person and sharing of the source code between developers
More items I can't think of at the moment

The real question is: Does anyone even want this thing?

Yes, I have written insane stuff like this before. Please post your comments or ideas on such an endevour here.

I will not hear anything to the effect of "It can't be done!!" If you feel that way about a certain portion of the project, please calmly explain why. I can garantee that this thing is doable if one puts the work required into it.

[Edited 10/24/08 for better clarity of idea]

10-24-08, 03:07 PM	#1
Commander Gizmo Watch Officer Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 339 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 4	An idea of ridiculous proportions Looking at all the content that has been created for this game since its release, I think the modding community is reaching a milestone. Much of what the game is lacking has been added, and a fairly solid foundation of MOD's have been produced on top of which further MOD's have been created. After reading much about current file editors and utilities, I have the insane idea that it would be very awesome if they could all be merged into one SDK of sorts. There seems to be a person for every file that needs editing, as well as a very cool mod enabler that performs beautifully. This program would have the following features: File Creation Entirely new files added via copy File Deletion Move files to 'deleted' folder to remove them from game folder File Editing Change only variables, not replacing files Complete collection of knowledge gathered so far on SH3 file types/structures Manual and Automatic editing GUI for all file types/structures Script files for one click file changes MODs enbaled via script Simple straight forward language Automatic script creation via file and variable comparison Compatibility Nearly complete compatibility between MODs Only MODs that edit the same variables would be incompatible, and then only if the new value breaks other features Modules Give additional advanced features such as prelaunch game data altering (ala SH3Commander, SH3Gen) Created and installed seperatly to conserve download size and HDD space Allow program to expand and extend as time moves on Simple import of module would add new functionality without lots of "How do I do this again?" Windows integration File types from SDK entered into Widnows registry Downloaded mods and modules would open and install themselves automatically, ready for enabling Double clicking a mod file would open the SDK and perform default actions Verify Function MOD could be verified by running a comparison check of all files and variables edited by MOD Broken installs would only occur if base files were damaged or corrupted or 3rd party wrote bad script Standards All MODs would have the same information available Name Description Features Gameplay changes Author Link to homepage Instructions for use (install notes not required) Contact link (if desired) etc Validation of usability SDK could check with internet site for list of MODs known to work well End user could tell which are 'garanteed' to work End user could tell which are experimientalCentral Filing SDK could check with internet site for list of available MODs End user could find common mods added to library easily Internet site could reference MOD's external download link rather than host all files on site One Stop Shop Replaces all current tools and ulilities In laymen's terms: End User Features Change any data in the game files we currently know how to edit Enable/Disable mods without worrying about compatibility Add mods simply by downloading from list given in program Only use one program for all features offered by current tools Broken installs could possibly be repaired with click of a button Several things would be required: Cooperation between the different parties with such abounding knowledge TONS of time Willingness and desire of current and future MOD developers to make use of the features of such a program Extensive support by more than one person and sharing of the source code between developers More items I can't think of at the moment The real question is: Does anyone even want this thing? Yes, I have written insane stuff like this before. Please post your comments or ideas on such an endevour here. I will not hear anything to the effect of "It can't be done!!" If you feel that way about a certain portion of the project, please calmly explain why. I can garantee that this thing is doable if one puts the work required into it. [Edited 10/24/08 for better clarity of idea] Last edited by Commander Gizmo; 10-24-08 at 10:06 PM.