More/ larger galaxies

[Pleb]

Adding more galaxies? Easy(ish). Adding more star systems? Not so much... From what I can remember (and it was a long time ago now!) it's like how a_c said it, there's a lot of references to 256 (or 255 if 0 is included) in the code, and even if you go through and change them all, the game has been designed around the fact there are 256 systems, so that number is pretty baked into the code!

So, not impossible, as nothing really is, but it would be a lot of work to go through and amend it, and finding all the references would take a very long time... But you'd need more variety, otherwise it would just be more of the same. Take No Man's Sky as an example - its a great game, with lots to do, but the planet variation gets old pretty quick, even with all the latest updates. Procedural generation is great, but it can only do so much, and after a while you tend to see the same patterns over and over again...

[Cholmondely]

Adding more galaxies? Easy(ish). Adding more star systems? Not so much...

Do you have any of your old code for 1.77.1? I'd rather like to put it up on our wiki (1.77.1 is still easily downloadable). And if you have any tips for changing the Eight with our newer versions of Oolite, I'd be interested in them too!

PS. Have you seen Tsoj's/Cbr's HIMSN? Phkb was ruminating about adding some missions last month.

[Redspear]

Procedural generation is great, but it can only do so much, and after a while you tend to see the same patterns over and over again...

In the context of elite/oolite, absolutely true. However...

On a large canvas, I can add a splash of blue and it needn't dominate the painting, on a smaller one that becomes less likely.
256 might seem like a lot of options but when, as you point out, there are already repeating patterns, then adding more isn't about getting more system variation (because it doesn't offer that in any significant sense) but rather about getting more room for manouver, more potential.

Possibly the major motivation for my rescaling system sizes was because I was disappointed at noticing the orbital station when I was only about half way to the planet. Adding things halfway doen the spacelane or anything big anywhere (as many oxps did) only made things worse. The former issue was 'fixed' by making the planets bigger, the latter simply by granting more space, even when the space itself added 'nothing'.

[Pleb]

Do you have any of your old code for 1.77.1? I'd rather like to put it up on our wiki (1.77.1 is still easily downloadable). And if you have any tips for changing the Eight with our newer versions of Oolite, I'd be interested in them too!

If I did it would be on an old laptop, even the specs listed in my signature are our of date, sporting much newer laptop and desktop these days!

PS. Have you seen Tsoj's/Cbr's HIMSN? Phkb was ruminating about adding some missions last month.

Can't say that I have, I have been absent for a long time. Today was the first time I had actually logged in for years!

I will, of course, always have a special place in my heart for this game!

[Pleb]

Possibly the major motivation for my rescaling system sizes was because I was disappointed at noticing the orbital station when I was only about half way to the planet. Adding things halfway doen the spacelane or anything big anywhere (as many oxps did) only made things worse. The former issue was 'fixed' by making the planets bigger, the latter simply by granting more space, even when the space itself added 'nothing'.

I agree, if this game has one major failing its too much empty space. Adding more to thr game did just seem to cause performance issues.

As controversial as this may be...is it maybe time for Oolite 2 (ie a new engine)? One that does allow for all of these things, taking into consideration the leap in technology in the decades since this engine for this game was first coded.

[Redspear]

Do you have any of your old code for 1.77.1? I'd rather like to put it up on our wiki (1.77.1 is still easily downloadable). And if you have any tips for changing the Eight with our newer versions of Oolite, I'd be interested in them too!

If I did it would be on an old laptop

I might have it.. or at least the files you were kind enough to share.

Would neeed to do a diff (?) comparison with the standard 1.77.1 code I expect (which I never got around to doing) but in theory 'we' do have the (old) code...

[Cholmondely]

As controversial as this may be...is it maybe time for Oolite 2 (ie a new engine)? One that does allow for all of these things, taking into consideration the leap in technology in the decades since this engine for this game was first coded.

It's not controversial. But it would seem highly unlikely. We don't have the developers. There is a_c, pretty much all alone in the Admiral's bridge. He has one or two members of flag rank, but all the old chaps have retired, or been devoured by the Witchspace Lobster. It would be utterly unfair to lump a project of this size onto our currently depleted Admiralty.

And as for us AppleMac players, we're stuffed!

[Wildeblood]

How much work would it really be to expand the 8 galaxies? Is it easily do-able - or would it constitute a major vandalisation of everything, breaking OXPs right, left and centre, and causing all sorts of unforeseen upsets? ...blah, blah, blah... If we could (i) expand the potential number of systems, (ii) not use them all (so the numbers are not a predictable immersion-breaking 512 for every single galaxy)...

This is important. Having exactly 256 visible on each chart is lame. We have the technology now - hide some. Starting a game with 0-56 hidden on each chart will improve the game.

Here, try this: https://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Lost_In_Space

With this OXP there is no more 8 charts, then loop back to the start, nonsense. There is just more, different, charts forever.

Add it in, go to F4, click on "Randomize Chart" as many times as it takes for you to get bored.

Say "thank you" or my transvestite, neo-nazi, hillbilly acquaintance, Jody Vance, will track you down.

Still too soon?

[Cholmondely]

Here, try this: https://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Lost_In_Space

With this OXP there is no more 8 charts, then loop back to the start, nonsense. There is just more, different, charts forever.

Add it in, go to F4, click on "Randomize Chart" as many times as it takes for you to get bored.

Still too soon?

Sounds fascinating. I'm looking forwards to giving it a whirl. Thank you!

The whole idea of hidden systems is not to have more of the same, but to have different, unique ones - Thargoid home worlds, or Raxxla, or whatever. Might there be any chance of making sure that some of the hidden planet IDs remain constant so that they can be Thargoidificated or Raxxalised or whatever?

[Cholmondely]

a new engine

So what is the significance of your new icon:

Pleb's new 2025 avatar

Pleb 2025.png (13.81 KiB) Viewed 1290 times

? Is it safe for children?

[Pleb]

Lego!

[Wildeblood]

Add it in, go to F4, click on "Randomize Chart" as many times as it takes for you to get bored.

I just uploaded version 0.4; it now randomizes economy, government and technology level of all visible systems, as well as randomly concealing up to half the systems on the chart.

Once I've decided what to do about the system names, I'll call this version 1.0, "finished".

Also, I'm wondering what to do about making the galactic drive available to the player, so they don't get trapped?

[Pleb]

Also, I'm wondering what to do about making the galactic drive available to the player, so they don't get trapped?

Did there not used to be something you could put in planetinfo.plist that determined the behaviour of the gal drive? So that it couldn't access islands/trapped systems, or it could, or it went to set coordinates when you jumped?

EDIT: Actually, its in the global-settings.plist file: https://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Global-settings.plist

But...I realise now what you meant! You could make it so that you're able to get one from somewhere all of the time, but for a hefty price?

[Wildeblood]

But...I realise now what you meant! You could make it so that you're able to get one from somewhere all of the time, but for a hefty price?

Yes, with up to half the systems concealed, some of the charts are very disjointed. Sooner or later, the player would be caught out-of-reach of a galdrive-selling system. So, the options I could see were auto-awarding the galdrive to the player ship (working or damaged, immediately or after several jumps), or fiddling the tech level of the system they arrive in so it's always high enough to buy a galdrive.

Version 0.5 includes a planet name generator of sorts (no more catalogue numbers), but it needs improving. The galdrive now floats to the top of the unresolved questions list.

[Pleb]

Version 0.5 includes a planet name generator of sorts (no more catalogue numbers), but it needs improving.

Can't be any worse than mine!