Outpost Universe Forums

Outpost Series Games => Outpost 1 & Outpost General => Topic started by: Sirbomber on May 19, 2007, 01:37:34 PM

Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on May 19, 2007, 01:37:34 PM
I remember somebody was going to make an OP1 remake (Leeor?) and I was actually looking forward to it. So, what would people think of a new OP1 remake with new features like real time (with a day and night option), an "Original" mode and a Bloodlust (combat enabled) mode, etc.

I'm open to suggestions. Assuming this is something people are interested in.

Edit: In-game music would probably be added, though could be disabled.
Multiplayer would be a major goal.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Hooman on May 20, 2007, 11:54:17 AM
... so how is this any different from OP2?
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on May 20, 2007, 03:21:05 PM
'Cuz all the OP2-esque stuff would be optional, with more focus on management than killing.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Psudomorph on May 20, 2007, 09:57:06 PM
I very much like the idea of something where you could focus more on colony management, with combat being less of an element. It would be cool to have a complete game where the idea was to build and grow a permanent colony, as opposed to constantly running and fighting like in OP2. Even turn based might be interesting as long as it was optional.

I would love the chance to see OP1 content in an updated interface that can really do it justice.

Do you think you or the community has the time or resources to do it though?

Ultimately I think a lot would depend on how far you wanted to go with it.

I've thought about a new OP1 a few times before, but I always came to the conclusion that lacking a dedicated software development team, it would be better to concentrate what time and resources we have into a highly moddable OP3. If Genesis is as flexible as the development team promises, I think it would turn out to be much easier to take the core engine developed for Genesis, and then build an OP1ish game on it.
That way you get the best of both worlds, OP1 content in an OP3 environment, and it only takes about 75% of the effort needed to develop two entirely independent games from the ground up.

Even an "original mode" wouldn't be too hard. You would merely turn off most of the bells and whistles, simplify the colony infrastructure to match OP1, and then restrict the camera to a panning isometric viewpoint.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on May 21, 2007, 06:40:15 PM
That's actually a pretty good idea.
We'd have to 3D-ify OP1 buildings/etc though.

Edit: I'm very sorry to tell you all this, but no, Outpost 1 (OP1) is not edible.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Lysol on May 23, 2007, 02:22:00 AM
YES

Look this is the thing about OP1 that got me hooked.

It wasnt way into the future....it was based on only a few years from now.  meaning...flying by the seat of our pants oh god i hope we dont burn up on re-entry.

I honestly was very disappointed in OP2.

Simply because it got all futuristic and crap to make the game sell.  Come on...A sticky and lighting gun?

Outpost isnt supposed to be high technology.  Its low tech, and depressing as hell...because your it.  There is no reinforcements, and there is no other humans than you.

And thats one of the things i hated in OP2...there are only 500 or so humans left period.  Despite their differences, Eden and Plymouth are united in survival of the spieces.   It is a commitment of every human.  And no one barring criminal intent would risk the civilization over simple beliefs.

Besides!  Making Plymouth a bunch of hippies tree hugger not wanting to damage their new planet is such a stupid idea.  

What I would like to see the new Outpost to be is.

-real time

-rebuild the sim from the grass roots up.  If it isn't scientifically theoretical....then it doesn't go in the game.  IE no stupid lighting guns shields or whatever crazy things.  You got to remember the original outpost was based on the idea that..."What if a big rock killed everyone...how would we do it with our current tech."

-Increase the level of interaction with planet and the colonies.

-local space flight possibly entertaining the idea of interstellar colonies.

-true terra-forming (with a exoecosystem meta game)

-LAWBOTS!!!

-As a tech gets older and antiquated it starts to break down...visually looks worn and effects moral.

-Moral needs to be more stable.

-and a number of things that you will find as you play the game you would like to see.


Look...all i am saying is I would love to see involvement on OP1.  but the problem is...everyone here is OP2 players...and outpost 2 is simply NOT outpost.
 
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Psudomorph on May 23, 2007, 07:14:24 AM
Come to think of it, was the source code for OP1 destroyed like the code for OP2, or does it still survive?
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on May 23, 2007, 02:55:55 PM
Lysol, you're off about a lot of OP2 stuff, but I like a lot of your ideas for an OP1 remake.

But you're right; in OP1 we thought it would be a good idea to nuke the meteor, so it probably takes place in the near future.

And I don't know about the OP1 source, but it's probably long gone.

Anyways, I've thought about some more ideas, and combat would probably be either non-existant or play a very small role (probably just to hold smaller mining colonies hostage, rather than attacking large settlements).  You'd probably have to beat the game at least once (by completing a few goals, specifically terraforming the planet, PEACEFULLY reuniting the two colonies [ie no Mass Driver "misfires"], and launching a new starship) before you could research combat units (in all games after the first of course).

Units would be controlled like in any other game, rather than being placed on tiles to perform a specific function.

In order to use the Genesis/Final Chapter/whatever finishes first engine, we'd have to modify it heavily to allow for underground levels and an interior view of your colony (a planned feature for OP1; if we do it maybe we'll include people moving around/etc).

Assuming people actually want/would play an OP1 remake.
But so far we only have people saying it'd be good to at least try.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: BlackBox on May 23, 2007, 04:20:22 PM
The source for OP1 is probably gone as well because I think all the company's assets got liquidated when Sierra On-Line / VU / whoever was the parent company at the time broke up Dynamix.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Combine Crusier on May 24, 2007, 08:13:32 AM
Da. Sierra was the parent company of Dynamix............ They also made Starsiege.... Could someone point to a link where I could download Starsiege anyway? Say.......... I still have the disk to OP V1.5.......... Do you need something from it?
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on May 24, 2007, 02:48:57 PM
What does Starsiege have to do with an Outpost 1 remake?!
And no, we have a downloadable version of OP1.5.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Psudomorph on May 25, 2007, 06:46:53 AM
Quote
In order to use the Genesis/Final Chapter/whatever finishes first engine, we'd have to modify it heavily to allow for underground levels and an interior view of your colony (a planned feature for OP1; if we do it maybe we'll include people moving around/etc).
(The following refers to Genesis as that is the only OP3 I am familiar with, and seems the best bet for completion)

The best way I can think of without significant modification is to have many different "layers" to the maps.

The surface and UG 1-4 layers would each contain their own sets of units, structures, and maybe even terrain. They would be loaded or unloaded depending on what level the player was controlling, or maybe even overlayed on top of each other if the player had a *hitload of RAM and wanted to view multiple levels at once.

Even an interior view could be achieved as its own layer. When loaded, it would replace each building/unit/tube with cutout versions of itself, and load a bunch of people-shaped "units" that would travel through the colony, "docking" with certain structures or areas of a structure depending on what task they were performing.

As I understand it, the OP3 Genesis maps are basically just points in space, connected by polygons. They are about the most flexible map format you could possibly have, and should be right at home rendering anything from landscape, to building interiors, to little people.

EDIT: Come to think of it, maybe we don't have to wait for OP3 to be fully completed, the engine will probably be up and running long before the story, in which case maybe they can be convinced to let us borrow it, with the promise that we will use it only for good and not evil.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Leviathan on May 25, 2007, 07:08:37 AM
I hope Leeor returns to the OP:MIA project.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: druid65 on May 25, 2007, 10:21:24 PM
I think it sounds great since I've already started such a project.  I'm of course open to help.  
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on May 26, 2007, 03:21:24 PM
I'd like to see this druid. How much work have you done on it?
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: druid65 on May 26, 2007, 10:22:29 PM
Quote
I'd like to see this druid. How much work have you done on it?
So far I'm working on requirements, I lifted the original artwork from the 1.5 CD, and have used a lot of the map software from the Mars project as it looks just like the original Outpost layout.  I've added a few things to the game which I thought would make it a bit better, and a little more logical, such as the mines not producing all minerals, Agridomes producing all food under the same conditions, etc.  I would love for someone to look at what I've done so far, a few ideas, etc.  Currently OP2004 (originally Outpost 2004) is on frailmoon.org, it was started on sf.net, but I kept losing  people and having to fall back on my own.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: druid65 on May 28, 2007, 07:22:47 PM
Quote
Quote
I'd like to see this druid. How much work have you done on it?
So far I'm working on requirements, I lifted the original artwork from the 1.5 CD, and have used a lot of the map software from the Mars project as it looks just like the original Outpost layout.  I've added a few things to the game which I thought would make it a bit better, and a little more logical, such as the mines not producing all minerals, Agridomes producing all food under the same conditions, etc.  I would love for someone to look at what I've done so far, a few ideas, etc.  Currently OP2004 (originally Outpost 2004) is on frailmoon.org, it was started on sf.net, but I kept losing  people and having to fall back on my own.
Sorry, the location is http://www.frailmoon.org/wiki (http://www.frailmoon.org/wiki) to get to the information I have so far.  I would really appreciate some input from this community as to how to change the UI to something more playable, what they would like to see the same, any other comments, etc.  I'm happy I found this site, like some of the people on here, Outpost is the game that got me to playing games on the computer (of course, I started out with the Mac version which was the same as 1.5 on the PC).
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on June 13, 2007, 02:44:56 PM
I have renewed interest in this project becasue I have very recently discovered that the Mass Driver misfire is no longer functional in Outpost 1.5.  That was my favorite feature!!!
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/Sirbomber/OP1MassDriver.png)
The answer is obviously yes. But nothing happens.
The flaming buildings were already there in case you were wondering.
Yes, my computer is named "Slut". If you played OP1 you'd think I was being kind.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Quantum on July 09, 2007, 12:59:06 PM
I have never played OP1 but I heard it was good

is it the same difference between RA2 and RA1

or is it totally different

 
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Arklon on July 09, 2007, 01:15:35 PM
Quote
I have never played OP1 but I heard it was good

is it the same difference between RA2 and RA1

or is it totally different
Would you stop necromancing threads? Your question is off topic, anyway.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Quantum on July 09, 2007, 03:15:08 PM
off topic  :o  
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Psudomorph on July 10, 2007, 09:12:30 PM
Quote
I have never played OP1 but I heard it was good

is it the same difference between RA2 and RA1

or is it totally different
It's available for download Here (http://www.outpostuniverse.net/index/outpost-1).

Download it and find out.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: chris2222 on July 27, 2007, 09:26:43 AM
A remake of Outpost 1 would be awesome!  I don't like the shootem up realtime play of outpost 2, too much focus on the violence.  Makes it more like a diablo type game.

The manage your colony to expand is very cool and I got hooked every weekend with Outpost 1.  The only other game I got pulled into like that was Mechwarrior 2 and 3 was a let down but Mech 1 was very cool.  

Anyway all that aside it looks like Outpost 3 is going to retain all of Outpost 2 and add all of that management that seemed to be missing.  Could be good, but if it's going to be like diablo forget it.

So, with all cards on the table I hope Oupost 1.5 can be expanded.  Actually I seem to recall a 1.8 patch but I could be mistaken.  One nice feature I would like to have added is the possibility of downloading real star systems with their real current distances from earth.  Can't quite remember if they actually did that or not, it's been a long long time since I've played the game.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on July 27, 2007, 09:57:46 AM
Quote
A remake of Outpost 1 would be awesome!  I don't like the shootem up realtime play of outpost 2, too much focus on the violence.  Makes it more like a diablo type game.
Because when you think Outpost 2, you think Diablo...

Did you ever try playing without guns?
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Arklon on July 27, 2007, 10:28:10 AM
Quote
A remake of Outpost 1 would be awesome!  I don't like the shootem up realtime play of outpost 2, too much focus on the violence.  Makes it more like a diablo type game.

The manage your colony to expand is very cool and I got hooked every weekend with Outpost 1.  The only other game I got pulled into like that was Mechwarrior 2 and 3 was a let down but Mech 1 was very cool.  

Anyway all that aside it looks like Outpost 3 is going to retain all of Outpost 2 and add all of that management that seemed to be missing.  Could be good, but if it's going to be like diablo forget it.

So, with all cards on the table I hope Oupost 1.5 can be expanded.  Actually I seem to recall a 1.8 patch but I could be mistaken.  One nice feature I would like to have added is the possibility of downloading real star systems with their real current distances from earth.  Can't quite remember if they actually did that or not, it's been a long long time since I've played the game.
Diablo?! Saying that pretty much devalues your opinion, you obviously don't know what you're talking about. Diablo is definitely not an RTS, it's more of a hack 'n' slash quasi-MMORPG with randomized item stats. When I think OP2, that's not what comes to mind.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Brazilian Fan on July 27, 2007, 11:49:26 AM
OP2 is more like SimCity with some combat  :P  
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: chris2222 on July 28, 2007, 09:26:38 PM
You're right, Outpost 2 and Diablo have nothing in common.  

I would like to see Outpost 1 remade however.  Have you checked out the animation on youtube of the new Mars Rover being made by Canada in joint partnership with the European Space Agency?  A very cool animation.  It would be neat to see some of those animations in Outpost.  

Imagine combining the free open source Orbiter Space simulator program with Outpost.  Flying spacecraft to land on other planets to colonize in real and accelerated time would give an added sense of realism.  Starting right from lifting off from earth in a spaceship chosen by you, and you fly it.  You have to get to orbit and get to another star system/planet on your own, we can drive our own rovers over the planets.  Maybe we should call it Oupost simulator.  
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Psudomorph on July 28, 2007, 09:38:13 PM
Quote
OP2 is more like SimCity with some combat  :P
Don't I wish. Compared to Sim City, the city-building aspect of OP2 seems relatively stripped-down and simplified.

That's what I would really want to see from and OP1 remake, something where the colony-building aspect is complex enough to be a challenge in and of itself, and where the game can conceivably be just as hard without combat as with.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Humility on August 09, 2007, 09:04:47 AM
Just get everything in there that was supposed to be in there and then lets see what outpost 1 is like complete.Then try the remake.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on August 09, 2007, 09:08:58 AM
We don't know how to change OP1. Nobody's bothered trying to figure it out.
And you'll notice I never said we should do this. I was just asking how people would feel about it. If somebody wants to do a remake, that's great I guess, because it's obviously something people want.
I'd only want it so I can shoot at the rebels with my mass driver.  :P
If it was multiplayer I wouldn't mind shooting at a few other people.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Humility on August 09, 2007, 09:28:21 AM
in one of game informers recent magazines they described the conflict between publishers and developers.No where in the gaming world is there a loss as great as the loss of a complete op1 caused by a rushed release date by publishers.but for this we may be thankful if op1 had been complete it most assurdly would have been a runaway success and op2 as we know would never have happened.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: sojuro on August 28, 2007, 09:34:36 PM
Well this is cool to see others that are interested in a remake of OP1. I was such an addict to this game that playing for 2 days straight was not uncommon, nor being late for work  :D .

About a year ago I started playing again and got a reminder to why I decided to go to college for programming. So I decided that I was gonna try and make it myself creating in the original format with some updating. The only prob was all I thought I had to work from was the game itself but then I remembered I still had the original strategy guide produced by Sierra Online  (thumbsup) . This was an awesome find cause they give you sooo much info on the game's design including how they did the moral. About the only thing they didn't supply in it was the original code :'( .  

So far I have started coding the moral since that's given in the book and the easiest to decipher from the book. The book gives so much info you can get overloaded and is hard to break things up into groups and focus on one part of the coding. The book even goes into some detail into the 3 expansions that were planned.

Here's a list of what resources I have access to via the book:
What the buildings' inputs/outputs are
Research trees
Planet descriptions
Solar system layouts
Formulas and variables(this is were the moral stuff is and how everything effects each other)
Robots, Vehicles
Oh my

But like I said earlier, the only thing they don't provide is the original source code.

If anyone wants some info or wants to give me a hand that would be cool, just let me know.

How I wanted to do this was pretty much how it was done originally but full screen tiling (IE Civ 2), putting in what was never added, fixing what was broken, updating the graphics, and doing what was never done like the planned expansions. And this is a lot for 1 person to do especially on a limited knowledge of game programming.  
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on August 28, 2007, 09:54:15 PM
Wow... All this enthusiasm from a simple poll.
I guess I'm kinda responsible for all this, so I might as well offer whatever support I can.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: White Claw on August 30, 2007, 06:58:10 PM
:) I think it's a great idea. I've been dying to get started and I've been trying to learn visual programming. But it's been painfully slow and I've run out of summer to work on it. Plus I was stupid and got involved with MMORPGs.

Anyhow, I don't think re-inventing the wheel is required. If you (whoever it might be) want's to start on an OP1 remake, start out using the existing graphics and such. Just leave the graphic engine open ended so that you can plug in new graphics if you get the chance. Work on the game engine and the mechanics. That's the stuff that makes a game great anyway.

Unless you're a graphic artist and can spend all your time making graphics, people will always complain about those anyway. It takes a lot of time and patience in either case (graphics or gameplay).  :) You can still have a game with cruddy graphics, but it's hard to have a game with graphics and no code.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: White Claw on September 06, 2007, 09:10:11 PM
And what happened to Druid65? I was unable to get into his frail moon wiki site. Was anyone able to look at his work?
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: AI_v3.2 on September 25, 2007, 11:07:18 PM
im sorry for what im about to say and i know im prolly gonna get ragged on for this but really when it came down to outpost 1 or 1.5 i could stand it for about 20 mins then it would go back into my box of junk for about another year lol. turn based games drive me insane.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on September 29, 2007, 05:09:41 AM
Why would we get mad at you? More than half of the people here hate OP1.
And if you don't like turn-based games, who said you had to play it?
I'm still stuck between "this was just a poll" and "let's do it" because we have enough fan-made games that have failed (and I'm a realist when it comes to this stuff), but I do like using the Mass Driver on the Rebels...
Decisions, decisions...
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Flameoftheabyss on September 30, 2007, 02:43:48 PM
AI v3.2, if you hate turn-based games so much, why did you buy OP1? ...
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: druid65 on October 04, 2007, 04:02:41 AM
Quote
And what happened to Druid65? I was unable to get into his frail moon wiki site. Was anyone able to look at his work?
Sorry, the wiki crashed, I'm working with the hosts to get it fixed right now.  I'll let you know as soon as I get it back up.

General Info:

I'm using the Linux version of Sim City's engine for a base (it does run on all 3 platforms)

I'm using some variable sized buildings in the game (factories are rarely the same size as police stations, although for a first pass I'm sticking with that story).

I'm still using the underground approach (seems natural).

I'm always looking for more suggestions as well.

Druid65
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: modius on March 18, 2008, 04:23:04 PM
Amazing idea.  wish i could be of more help.... i'm a tech nub.  For a game made in '94 to still generate a buzz like this truly speaks to its uberness.  
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: pbhead on July 29, 2008, 08:52:53 AM
A new/better/completed(with planned expansions that never got made?) OP1 would be epic.  
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Leviathan on July 30, 2008, 06:03:36 AM
Yeah It was Leeor and it was called Outpost: MIA. He even made a website for it.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: docwho83 on August 08, 2008, 10:06:24 AM
I would love to see a remake using all the outpost one setting. Would like to just hack open the code for outpost one to make come changes to it. I am not a programmar or I would be already trying to pull the code into something.

Would pay to have it in my hands.


Willing to learn programming but not sure where to start.

Thanks,
Docwho
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Savant 231-A on August 08, 2008, 04:28:27 PM
the last post was... over a year ago.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: fallenleader on August 08, 2008, 11:04:45 PM
(thumbsup) well good, wake the project the hell up! :D  
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on August 09, 2008, 04:11:30 PM
What project? I don't recall any work being done on this. It was purely hypothetical. Though my love of owning Rebels with Mass Drivers did almost pull it out of hypothetical land. But then I realized OP1 sucks.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: fallenleader on August 11, 2008, 01:20:02 AM
oh well...
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: CK9 on December 05, 2008, 10:57:59 AM
I'd like to see OP1 remade to include stuff that was left out, maybe some new planets added (I think we've discovered a few more since then)
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on December 08, 2008, 08:50:29 PM
I'd like to see some of those Earth like worlds, which could have their own benefits and problems associated with more hostile worlds (tides/storms/flooding, have to be careful not to over-pollute, etc.) and nukes/working Mass Driver.

But no aliens, even though they were planned for an expansion.  Aliens are boring and gimmicky.

But it's not gonna happen because OP1 is so unpopular nobody in their right mind would ever remake it.  Unless they made it a "spam Mass Drivers and rape your enemies (and the planet in the process)" type of thing, which could be kinda fun!  Bonus points if you can get a Mass Driver up in time to shoot down the orbiting starship in a manner that causes it to crash into your enemies!
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: CK9 on December 10, 2008, 12:27:28 PM
All I have to say in reply to that is:

"As usual, colonist opinion is split between those who think the plague is a good idea, and those who are dying from it." - Outpost Evening Star
 
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on December 10, 2008, 12:57:15 PM
My signature is ownage, isn't it?
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: croxis on February 17, 2009, 02:33:22 PM
*cough cough* (https://launchpad.net/openoutpost)
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on February 17, 2009, 02:59:06 PM
I'm not exactly sure what that is supposed to be...
It looks like filler space for something that may or may not even be in development?
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: fallenleader on February 17, 2009, 03:34:26 PM
"WARNING!: this forumite speaks his mind; it is often interpreted as rudeness; I accept no responsibility for anyone allowing themselves to become offended by what I say"

why doesn't he get yelled at for being me? i do.

is this open outpost an active project?
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on February 17, 2009, 03:53:13 PM
Quote
"WARNING!: this forumite speaks his mind; it is often interpreted as rudeness; I accept no responsibility for anyone allowing themselves to become offended by what I say"

why doesn't he get yelled at for being me? i do.
Because:

1) CK9 is member number 7, meaning he gets more respect than you.
2) CK9 is a GM, meaning he owns you in every way possible.
 
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Arklon on February 17, 2009, 04:30:21 PM
Quote
I'm not exactly sure what that is supposed to be...
It looks like filler space for something that may or may not even be in development?
Try checking the name of who posted it and the name of who the page says maintains the project? :P
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on February 17, 2009, 07:10:43 PM
Quote
Try checking the name of who posted it and the name of who the page says maintains the project? :P
What does that have to do with anything?
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Spikerocks101 on February 20, 2009, 12:01:39 AM
I am also working on a outpost prodject (no 3d, sorry sirbomber) and that makes 2 + mine if i get around to finishing it projects at the moment... apples?
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: [MM] on March 12, 2009, 05:26:36 PM
Hi, when I was a kid I loved this game (just colony building and no war) but I somehow lost the CD and so I was very happy that I found this website a few days ago.

Back to topic: A while ago I wrote a remake of "Mechanized Assault and Exploration" (or M.A.X.) from Interplay (here are some screenshots if you are interested http://www.mmcoding.eu/en_Various_Games.html (http://www.mmcoding.eu/en_Various_Games.html)). And since I have some free time lately I was searching for a new project. A remake of Outpost 1 sounds very interesting to me. But before I begin my little project I was wondering if I could simply use the graphics and sounds from the original game (I'm very good with code but not so much with graphics and stuff). Does anyone know something about the legal status of the game? How were you able to offer the iso-image as free download?

Greetings,
mm
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on March 12, 2009, 05:35:10 PM
Someone's already working on it.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: [MM] on March 12, 2009, 06:02:24 PM
Quote
Someone's already working on it.
I figured that much (after all, I read this thread  ;) ). But I'd like to start a project of my own. And so I was wondering what the legal status of the original artwork is. As far as I have seen "Open Outpost" uses at least the image of the eco dome.
If I were to begin with a new project of my own I would like to use the original graphics because I like their style.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: croxis on March 12, 2009, 08:16:09 PM
Hey MM.  I am not positive on the legal status of the origional assets either.  I'm following the same policy as the Open Transport Tycoon Deluxe (http://openttd.org) crew which provide the game code, but it is up to the end user to supply the legacy assets. Both TTD and Outpost art are probably still under copyright (which last for 70ish years IIRC).  I wrote a simple sprite generate where all I need to do is supply the top left pixel coordinate of the image and the file name in the structure config file (http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~croxis/openoutpost/trunk/annotate/head%3A/Assets/Structures//API.txt), and tada there is the structure in game.  Eventually I'm going to have all origional 3D art assets, but still keep the legacy art code in for people who want it.

My project is open source for a couple reasons, one of which is I have no desire to make Open Outpost alone.  I would love to have additional people working on it with me.  It would give me an opportunity to learn to code better and with more style too.  But I also understand wanting to do your own thing, just letting you know the invention is there.  :)
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: [MM] on March 13, 2009, 08:37:45 AM
Thanks for the info. I guess it is the best practice to demand that the user has the original game data.

I was just curious if the game had gone public domain or something because of the free download on this site.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on March 13, 2009, 09:01:30 AM
Sierra no longer exists and therefore can't pursue legal action against us.

May I point out that it would be a titanic waste of time and effort to have two people making separate OP1 remakes at the same time?
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: croxis on March 13, 2009, 12:04:34 PM
Sierra may not exist, but their IPs are now owned by Activision Blizzard, and they can pursue legal action if they choose.  Similar case to OpenTTD, the origional game was made by now defunct Microprose but all assets and IP are now owned by Atari.

Got to love US laws.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Sirbomber on March 13, 2009, 02:19:10 PM
Which could be a problem if those companies were actually aware the Outpost series existed.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Spikerocks101 on May 31, 2009, 09:53:28 PM
Atari is one messed up company, didn't the CEO get kicked out and replaced like 3 times last year. I don't think any one in there company still knows what they own. If they were to find out about Outpost, it would be like a fat guy on the couch, and one day, he look under the cussin and finds a nickle. They probably won't even care about it. But if they were to persue "drastic" messures, they are known for making people pay for nothing, like the case in november or something. Thou I don't follow it that much, so I could easily be wrong.
Title: OP1 Remake?
Post by: Charles_Bronson on July 31, 2009, 02:05:05 PM
For that question, someone might ask old HOTU (home of the underdogs) owner, an abandonware site.

If I remember, he don't have any sierra games for download (sierra asked him to remove them).