An idea......

[Gabriel]

This is a very interesting idea, and here are my thoughts for what they're worth...

Firstly, it would be ideal if Cyan's position regarding what is currently being distributed as 'MOUL offline' was established and clearance given, so that things could continue openly. I personally feel somewhat uncomfortable with how these files are being made available without Cyan's blessing (yet).


-: D'eux :-

I concur with this, we DEFINITELY need clarification from Cyan with regard to the MO:UL files. ( /me Suspends tinkering activities for the time being until this is clarified and heads off in the direction of the BLENDER tutorials).

[greendragoon]

That's kind of a cool idea. What if we purposely took recognizable pieces from different GoW ages. So the age almost has a sort of conglomerate look. Hmm, what would I donate:

a. ...a big glowing orb suspended from the ceiling.
b. ...a mechanical hatch that goes nowhere.
c. ...a ring of eight pillars.

[andylegate]

Hmmmm......A lawn chair from Zephyr Cove.....

As a community project this might work. AP is one also, but is so huge, and constantly has people wanting a shell, that it could be, well, quite a while before it is done.

A nexus room age, is vastly smaller, with only one main purpose, to get you where you need to go, so would more than likely could go from sketches to a full blown working "Age" in a very short amount of time.

At this time, I'm building a simple one, nothing fancy, so I can create the books and python file for them and test this (including some other bells and whistles via the books). If I get it working correctly, then if at least a group of people here would be willing to work as a team, then they would just have to concentrate on making the Nexus become real.
This means getting people on board that would like to do this, or at least participate in any form. Get some concept sketches. Agree on which sketch. Go from sketch to more of a storyboard art at least. Get the meshes built and textures made. Then have someone put it all together with the right lighting and textures so that it looks really good *cough*D'eux*cough*.
Then add the Python file to it.

Again, it would only work for those that have converted their MOUL files using at least the method that I made a tutorial for. I don't think we'll ever get permission to distribute MOUL game files. But we might get a nod about converting them.

[Nek'rahm]

Similar to this, I always thought of something...

An Age that you can modify WHILE you're in the Age. For example, using certain machines can chip away pieces of the island you're on. Then, you can control where those pieces of the island float off too. You can even construct bridges to link the main island to the other. This would take SO much scripting it ain't even funny, but it's a good idea.

[greendragoon]

Up to this point, I've tried to avoid getting involved in a project until I could get a better sense of age building and complete my first age, but this seems like a good first collaborative project for me. Plus, this sounds like a project that I could work on while still continuing work on Beacon.

So I guess I'm volunteering to contribute. I'm pretty good with modeling, not to bad at texturing, and a fair lighter. Although not as good as D'eux. Plus, I've had some success with animated textures. Where I could probably help the most is with modeling objects.

So if your interested, in having me...

[andylegate]

Well while I kinda had part of the idea, I'm not going to coordinate a team or anything. I will of course pitch in and help! But I'll leave it up to all of you guys here to form a team and gather people that would like to help with this.

I've already got a team right now, and we're pretty good and stumbling around.

Seriously though, I'd rather see you guys take the ball and run with it. Just let me know how I can help.

*looks around and waits to see who volunteers to coordinate and manage this effort....because they obviously love pain and suffering...heheheh*

[D'eux]

Andy is absolutely right, that some thoughts and sketches should kick the process off and lead to a finalistion and solidifying of the concept.

In my mind, in order to avoid the Age becoming an eclectic mish-mash of bit and pieces, I see it as an Age based around the idea of a garden or gallery of elements that follow a consistent theme (think Eder Kemo). This would allow some the freedom to choose to contribute a single piece of art or sculpture that fits into the theme, or they could contribute a more fundamental piece of the terrain or structure such as railings, gates, plants or pathways. Perhaps two or three individuals could regularly share a .Blend file between them, adding the elements as sent to them by others, sizing and placing as necessary, bringing the whole lot together.

The key here is to make a small Age that is finishable without great pains, but is so stylised and well-thought out that it is complete in it's own right. That's why the thinking behind it probably outweighs the modelling, texturing and lighting. It should be clever, not complicated or unwieldy. Plus, we all want to progress with our own writing, so this should be something we can dip into or use as a break from our own projects.

Edit: Actually, Relto is the perfect example of size and complexity. So this is a ripe opportunity for someone with great ideas to chip in, whether they can actually build or not

-: D'eux :-

[Goofy]

Heres a question for you all. How high would the shelves need to be? basicly how big are the books?

Height and width, depth. just wonder

[greendragoon]

I'm personally for the idea of pedestals. But that's just me.

[D'eux]

Well, if we were going to use my Remote Age Viewer, you'd only need to push a button

-: D'eux :-