Opinions on making a C&C:Tiberian Dawn mod for RA2

mourgent · 06-19-2005, 09:48 PM

Hi guys,

I was wanting your opinions of how large a project I may be getting myself into and if it is worth it or not. I have tried and tried to play the original command & conquer on windows XP, not just single player but LAN play. After many many nights of searching, I finally found the solution to play C&C over the internet, 1 v 1 and all was well. Until I got to thinking about how fun LAN games where with 4 people in the original.

I got to thinking about making a "port" if you will, of Tiberian Dawn (The first!), into the RA2 engine. Removing all units that werent in the original and adding any units that may have been in the original, that are not in RA2.

I thought Tiberian Sun might be a good engine for this, but then I got to thinking about how tiberian sun sometimes has problems on Windows XP (it did for me anyway), and often requires tweaking.

My goal is a C&C Multiplayer port (then followed by a single player conversion if there seems to be any interest in this project), that will run on a good percentage of computer systems and not require excellent video cards. This ruled out Generals as the engine to use.

RA2 seems to be the best engine to suit the needs, while taking some art from Tiberian Sun to give the units a more modern appearence. Everything from Unit speed, to damage, etc would be identical. It would BE the original game with the ability to play on a LAN with up to 4 players, and a new look.

I realize this will take alot of time and effort to produce, and I have been looking into mods alot, although I have never done one myself. Once I find something I am really intersted in doing, I can motivate myself to tweak things until I get it right.

My real question is, does this sound like an interesting Idea, or just a waste of time? And quite complicated I assume? Honest opinions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

drewrock11 · 06-20-2005, 02:19 AM

It depends on your abilities to mod. It would only be a waste of time if you won't be happy for yourself after you've done it.

DCoder · 06-20-2005, 04:28 AM

There already is a mod that brings TD to TS.
http://www.ppmsite.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=116

TS is a more suitable engine for this imo. Ra2/yr needs some elaborate magic to get the tiberium damage/visceroids working, airstrips don't work properly in either engine, silo logic odesn't work in ra2/yr, and most of the small cool features like bikes crushable from the side but not from the front are impossible in both TS and ra2/yr.

drewrock11 · 06-20-2005, 11:06 PM

@mourgent
You already got train and tunnel logic working in TS. Ice cracking weight is another. Chopper reloading in Airfield works. Firestorm generator looks cool, and you won't have to tweak much of the AI with TS. But RA2 will always be the cleaner interface and for a new mod, i'll go for RA2 if I can't mod newer engines like BFME or GENZH.

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Whiteboy · 06-21-2005, 10:28 AM

I wouldn't make such a mod at all. If you wanted to relive the glory days of TD, there is nothing better than to actually play TD. The TS AND RA2/YR engines are just completely wrong... the RA1 engine is much better at capturing the original game's look and feel (which is what it's all about for me). Plus, as DCoder pointed out - someone is already working on such a mod. Making another one would be a waste of time.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "I can't play C&C TD on WinXP!". WRONG!!! You CAN! I know because I have. Problem is, I'm not sure if LAN works or not. Anyway, it involved installing a partch that can be found at www.planetcnc.com. SOmewhere on that site you will find an article about getting C&C TD to work on Windows XP. It's in teh articles section or something... memory is a bit fuzzy... but believe me, I got it to run, so you should be able to too. Though I cannot remember if I got the sound/music to work... it's worth a try. Good luck

DCoder · 06-21-2005, 11:15 AM

Heh, he managed to get sp/internet to work, but he wants LAN. Exactly what that patch cannot provide.

(Oh, the irony. I just misread Whitey's post and he corrected me, and now he misread a post and I'm correcting him.)

mourgent · 06-22-2005, 03:42 AM

Tiberian Sun might work for the purpose. You can use a program to create virtual COM ports to play and still do NULL modem 1 vs 1. The problem with that is that its limited to 1 vs 1. The ultimate goal of the mod would be to allow 2 vs 2 or even more play.

Whiteboy · 06-22-2005, 08:15 AM

Ironic indeed DCoder :lol:

Well let me bring something "new" to the table.

[quote="Whiteboy"]I'm not sure if LAN works or not[quote]

I was not saying for definate that LAN doesn't work for the patch... in fact come to think of it now, I think there was a way to play LAN... can't remember what planetcnc said about it... I would look but I'll leave that to people who don't need to sleep...