VtM - Redemption: Source

[Azraelthe7th]

This is an idea I've been toying with after I saw the positive responses to my Christof re-model.  I'm sure I'm not the first one to have thought of it, but I have a vision:  Imagine VtM: Redemption running on the Source engine.

The idea would be to re-do the environments, textures and characters and using the Source engine as well as audio from Redemption to re-create and upgrade the Redemption experience.  With Source's facial animation, physics and cloth simulation systems, we could revisit the game in a new light.  Hell, we could add some new tricks to the old pony here and there.

Now, the plan would be to first assemble a good team:  At least one or two Character Modelers, one or two Environment modelers and two programmers, with a time frame of about two years.  The first portion would be concentrated on modeling the characters and environments and importing them into Source, while the second half would go into coding and scripting the various sequences and dialogs, as well as the vampiric disciplines.

I'm posting this here first because I see that I'm surrounded with various talents who decidedly loved Redemption and felt Bloodlines could have been better here and there.  The Source engine, from what I've seen is powerful enough to display gorgeous graphics while at the same time never overdriving your PC.  The fact that it gets upgraded every now and then and all Source-based games would be upgraded (save for Bloodlines due to it using an incomplete version of the engine) makes it that much more appealing in the long run.

So that's the basics of it.  Who's with me?

EDIT: Also of note: with the MDL exporter, I could actually rig the characters myself instead of asking someone else, which would also be a plus.

[Javokis]

I'm currently going ape-shit over Crysis right now considering that I signed up to the Founder's Club just to have access to the exclusive Crysis MP Beta, which is BEAUTIFUL. I have come to realize that I can't be arsed to mod for games that I have avoided for too long (Doom3, HL2, FEAR, ect). I caught Redemption at its prime and modded for it at its prime. I want to have the same experience all over again and that's why I aim for Crysis - I want to catch it at its launch that way I don't feel completely out of the loop in an expanding mod scene.

HL2 is good in practice and on paper, but I don't want to comit to it. I love to play it, I'd love to fiddle with it, but I wont get serious with it. I've seen the Crysis online experience... I have experienced it myself. They are going to have one baddass online experience that makes up all that made Far Cry's tactical FPS so great. Coupled with the most realistic graphics I have EVER SCENE. Both interior design and exterior graphics are exceptional! I've gone as far as to just stare at it in spectator mode for at least a half-hour before finally getting up the nerve to play it.

What I would like is for people to consider Crysis when it launches and see what all they can do with it. I've pictured Redemption characters in the Crysis engine and even imagined your Christof model among them. They are fixing the frame issues as we speak and each new patch to the beta brings it closer to perfection. The graphics are adjustable and beta testers have even been to play Crysis with an ATI x700 (which I have, but I prefer my Geforce 8800 GTS, thank you: I like playing on HIGH even if I currently only get 15-20 FPS even though it feels much faster than what fraps is telling me).

Actually I've been wondering if anyone else has considered signing up for the Crysis Beta? Unfortunately the only keys remaining are for subscribers (paid subscribers like myself), it is all good fun if you're willing to pay for it.

[Azraelthe7th]

I admit I thought of Crysis too, but my graphics card isn't powerful enough to handle it (damned 7300LE).  I'm thinking of upgrading to the same card you have, but money is currently a bit scarce, so it'll need to wait.

However, I wanted to use Crysis for a different type of game.  See, I have a game idea, and I would like to present it.  Currently, my opinions are going for either Source or CryEngine 2, though CryEngine 2 would likely be more versatile overall.  Afterall, Assassin's Creed is using a heavily modified version of the original CryEngine, so imagine the possibilities with a modified version of the newer engine.

If you want an idea of the game I have in mind, here's one of the weapons I want the main character to have.

The best way to describe the game I have in mind is Devil May Cry meets Soul Reaver meets God of War meets Assassin's Creed.

[Javokis]

Well between getting my mom a computer, paying an increased rent cost, and upgrading my current computer, I'd say my finances are whiped out pretty good. Gonna be at least a few months till my economy recovers.

[Old Fecker]

The thing with the Crysis engine is that to get the best out of it you have to be running a monster pc with Direct X10 & Vista...not many people own that kind of equipment at the moment and arent going to any time soon. I read an article in Edge (UK multiplatform magazine aimed at adults - v.good) about Valve and through Steam they can see what each user is doing in their games, what hardware theyre running etc. Only two percent of people using steam have Direct X10 & Vista.

Yes, the Crysis engine is great and looks brilliant and has all these bells and whistles etc, but the Source engine can be run on pcs that are a few years old...Half Life 2 came out when i was in Iraq at the back end of 2004! Its upgraded a lot and with the imminent release of Episode 2/Orange Box this Christmas, is going to have new features.

Two engines are probably the most viable for this project: Source or one of the Unreal engines. UTIII comes with the latest version of UnrealEd and Epic always encourage full blown total conversions for their UT games anyway. Some of the stuff i saw running on the UT2k4 engine was unreal (no pun intended!  )

[Javokis]

That's incorrect. Crysis runs on XP, which I use and It works great. I said people ran this game on an ATI x700. The x700 doesn't even run Bioshock, but testers have ran Crysis with it. The game is very modular and I think the developers knew they would take a massive loss if they went with DX10 and Vista ONLY.

Yes. I really want to get a hold of the Orange Box, and maybe the new features will be worth modding for, but at this point it's all academic.

[Azraelthe7th]

Strange, I wasn't even accepted into the Crysis MP beta.  Although, it's probably because I don't even have a paid membership to FilePlanet (I have one to IGN though).  My PC's able to run the Bioshock demo without much hassle (but at low resolutions and minimal effects).

There is another point to consider: most PCs from the past two years can run Source games without too many problems, especially since Source-based games have seen some upgrades since Half-Life 2's release.  Considering the level of playability we could offer, Source would definitely be the better option for this.  For a full blown game I'd likely go for the CryEngine 2, but for a multiplayer mod made for mass access, Source looks (to me) to be the better option overall.

[Javokis]

We'll see. I just don't like the idea of hopping into Source several years after its release. I never really liked its lack of shadowing details, lighting effects, and mirrors, but the Orange Box seems to show that shadowing has at least been upgraded a bit. I wouldn't want to make maps for something that has no real shadow details. Even Redemption has a lot of flexibility when it comes to adjusting shadow details and it even allowed for mirrors.

[Azraelthe7th]

I guess you might want to check out this list then.  Like I said: if an element of Source is upgraded, all Source games recieve the upgrades via Steam.  So, if you were to play HL2 today, it wouldn't look the same as when you played it three years ago since the engine was upgraded.

[Javokis]

Hmm... after reading that I guess I'm convinced. Especially after reading that they are FINALLY implementing dynamatic shadowing and light effects to the engine even though Doom 3 has had that effect for as long as HL2 has been around. All I want is to make something that has realistic dynamic shadows and spooky lighting effects because if we are to make a vampire mod for Source then I think it should have good shadowing and lighting effects.

[Azraelthe7th]

Oh definitely. 

If I this mod has you on board, I know it will work great. 

So, who else is in?

[Bloodywolf]

Vista only is for windows supported games only.

The developpers of cxrysis aren't really paid by microsoft, so they can pretty much let it run on XP if they want.

Remember that directX 9 is also supported on vista, and pretty much any game which also supports DX9 graphic cards, can be run on XP even if its vista only with only a few modifications to the files.

[El Gostro]

Me me me me me I the I that by others is know,we want to eb part of the sect that after a small covenant be named!
can the broken shards of what will once be lend a hand?

[Old Fecker]

That's incorrect. Crysis runs on XP, which I use and It works great. I said people ran this game on an ATI x700. The x700 doesn't even run Bioshock, but testers have ran Crysis with it. The game is very modular and I think the developers knew they would take a massive loss if they went with DX10 and Vista ONLY.

I NEVER said it wouldnt work on XP did i? What i said was that to get the best out of the Crysis engine it needs Direct X10 which is only available if you have Vista...which is EXACTLY what Crytek have said about their engine.

Due to the fact that Source/Unreal Engine 3 have been out there for a few years now they have a lot of documentation about modding for them (especially Source...not so much UE3 until UTIII comes out, but look at all the user created stuff that came out for UT2k4). Crysis isnt even out and the engine is brand new which therefore will have teething problems because unless you work for Crytek youre not going to know what it can and cant do. There will be no documentation with tried and tested results for modding with it unlike Source and to a latter extent, UE3.

Unless you want to be bogged down for ages learning what can and cant be done with the Crysis engine (time which could be used to bang out content using another engine) then that engine isnt the one to go with in my opinion.

[ORI]

Crysis isnt even out and the engine is brand new which therefore will have teething problems because unless you work for Crytek youre not going to know what it can and cant do. There will be no documentation with tried and tested results for modding with it unlike Source and to a latter extent, UE3.

Unless you want to be bogged down for ages learning what can and cant be done with the Crysis engine (time which could be used to bang out content using another engine) then that engine isnt the one to go with in my opinion.

No offense but how the hell do you know? its not the 3DCG stoneage anymore, some games actually come out with a proper SDK and documentation to accomodate modders, especially 3d shooters.

I cant run these modren engines on my PC but if I could I would probably go with Source given that my computer was able to run the previous versions of HL2, and Sengoku I suspect you are only encouraging Javokis to handle that Crysis when you say its uncharted waters =P

Javokis, since what you do is usually programing oriented I suggest go with the computer language you like best. 
Cryengine 2 uses Lua, Unreal uses Unrealscript and Source uses C/C++ .  Though  both Crysis and UT use Scripting language to overlay a C++ engine so you might get to use C++ on them if you dig too deep