New efforts!

[Aggelakis]

That still doesn't answer my question, at all.

HOW are they going to do that? You can't just copy/paste things. It doesn't work like that.

CoT sends them all the necessary files. They go in and edit what needs editing. It really does work like that, actually. (NOTE: It is NOT as easy as the previous sentences make it seem. LOL)

[Bitters]

The assets are part of the IP, they're buying the IP. APR licenses the IP from the new company and can do anything with any of it (within reason, obvs).

The MECHANICS are what NCsoft'll be licensing to the new company. APR won't be using the mechanics. APR will be licensing CoT's mechanics and altering it to better fit CoH.

* subject to change before release. :p

This is exactly how I interpret it as well. But that still doesnt answer my question about the legality of directly taking the assets out of the old coh game code. I guess I'll just let it go and allow the higher powers that be sort it out.
Thanks to all for your efforts, it's much appreciated!

[Aggelakis]

This is exactly how I interpret it as well. But that still doesnt answer my question about the legality of directly taking the assets out of the old coh game code. I guess I'll just let it go and allow the higher powers that be sort it out.
Thanks to all for your efforts, it's much appreciated!

The old assets are incompatible, so they're not going to be in APR. The old assets will be recreated (sometimes by ripping pieces out of the old stuff and reassembling with liberal UE4 glue, sometimes recreated entirely from scratch). And there is no legality issues since the IP is being purchased, which includes the look of the game (and its assets) in addition to the stories, characters, world, etc.

[Remaugen]

That still doesn't answer my question, at all.

HOW are they going to do that? You can't just copy/paste things. It doesn't work like that.

I think some of it could actually be "cut and paste" though it probably still has to be done by hand, unless someone can craft a recompiling tool. I think some (maybe many or all) of the maps, mats and meshes can reasonably be ripped and recycled as IP without stealing anything from the original game engine. Only recently I have began to learn (trying to teach myself) 3D graphics using DAZ 3D Studio Pro 4.6 and Poser 10. By no means does this make me an expert in anyway, but I think it might give me a glimmer at what's involved. Certainly a lot more work than I am up to. I wouldn't even know how to rip a pigg apart! Still though, knowing that it can be done gives me hope!


We're almost there!   ;D

[rebel 1812]

do we have an estimated start date yet?  It would be something to hope for and set expectations.

[HEATSTROKE]

do we have an estimated start date yet?  It would be something to hope for and set expectations.

We dont even have the game yet..

[JanessaVR]

do we have an estimated start date yet?  It would be something to hope for and set expectations.

If we're very lucky, we'll hear some new news on how the negotiations are going by Christmas.

Keep your fingers crossed for just that much.

[Zombie Hustler]

Well, Leia is definitely Force-sensitive.

I'm fair certain she wasn't at the time the original movie was made. #RETCON

[Blackshear]

I will update it later this evening if you like.

Please and thank you, although I get the impression there might not be all that much to tell at the moment.

[Eoraptor]

The old assets are incompatible, so they're not going to be in APR. The old assets will be recreated (sometimes by ripping pieces out of the old stuff and reassembling with liberal UE4 glue, sometimes recreated entirely from scratch). And there is no legality issues since the IP is being purchased, which includes the look of the game (and its assets) in addition to the stories, characters, world, etc.

Well, it's unlikely they would want to copy the old assets framework, it would still be rediculously low-polygon count by the standards of the new engine... and for another thing, while i'm not familiar with the EXACT nature of the assets on any of the maps or the character homunculus, it's possible that the way they are propegated might be dependant on the client or server, which would still make the actual meshes property of NCsoft. (not sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion)

but that's why god and codewalker gave us ICON, so that people can tool around the game and look at it from every possible angle for reference (and fun) so they can definitely build very nice looking but not direct copies of anything they like at higher resolutions.

[Cailyn Alaynn]

One thing i'm skeptical about regarding APR, how the flying hell are you going to port CoH to a whole new engine?

You can't just copy game assets.  It'd honestly be easier to just rebuild the game from scratch and even then, How is the team going to REVERSE ENGINEER an ENTIRE ENGINE?

Skill, dedication, and a lot of knowledge and experience is how.
A certain level of crazy helps too.

I'm not much sure what there is to be skeptical about in terms of it being do-able. You guys have seen the screenshots.
BAM. CoH assets in Unreal Engine 4.

[Cailyn Alaynn]

Not a bad idea, best if it was locked so that only the "Officials" could make posts to prevent the rest of us from drowning out the message. . . :-[
We're almost there!   ;D

I wonder if SMF has a way to lock a thread so only certain, non-Mod/admin have the ability to post in it...

[Cailyn Alaynn]

I must admit to some confusion now.

Is the plan to lease the IP from NcSoft rather than purchase it? If that's the case, then I can see why Heroes and Villains and Valiance Online would chose to eschew any formal link to COX. The chance for the rug being pulled out from under your feet is a risk I wouldn't want to take.

No. The deal on the table is to Purchase the I.P. in it's entirety, and lease the engine.

[Cailyn Alaynn]

My question is, since NCSOFT would still own the game code is it legal to rip assets from it even if you lease the IP? As in APR.

The engine is the code itself, what the engine displays is I.P.

Example.
Epic Games owns Unreal Engine 4, they license the Engine to W.B.
W.B. owns Batman, and all the assets that are seen on screen in Batman: Arkham Asylum.

[Power Gamer]

The old assets are incompatible, so they're not going to be in APR. The old assets will be recreated (sometimes by ripping pieces out of the old stuff and reassembling with liberal UE4 glue, sometimes recreated entirely from scratch). And there is no legality issues since the IP is being purchased, which includes the look of the game (and its assets) in addition to the stories, characters, world, etc.

So time consuming because you must handle individual assets, recreating some, but you get to maintain the look and feel without starting from scratch?

[Cailyn Alaynn]

CoT sends them all the necessary files. They go in and edit what needs editing. It really does work like that, actually. (NOTE: It is NOT as easy as the previous sentences make it seem. LOL)

I love it when smart people show up and answer questions for me. It's especially nice after spending 3 days moving. (I feel like I just went four rounds Vs. Tyrant with nothing but brawl!)

The old assets are incompatible, so they're not going to be in APR. The old assets will be recreated (sometimes by ripping pieces out of the old stuff and reassembling with liberal UE4 glue, sometimes recreated entirely from scratch). And there is no legality issues since the IP is being purchased, which includes the look of the game (and its assets) in addition to the stories, characters, world, etc.

*LIBERAL* glue, duct tape, chicken wire, solder, and hopes and dreams.

[Cailyn Alaynn]

do we have an estimated start date yet?  It would be something to hope for and set expectations.

for Revival...I gave an estimate of Fall 2015.

NOTE: This number is totally pulled out of nothing. Don't take it as gospel, but it's the best anyone's getting for now.

[MM3squints]

Tried registering for the website for the APR, but I haven't gotten a confirmation yet :x

[Cailyn Alaynn]

Tried registering for the website for the APR, but I haven't gotten a confirmation yet :x

I gave our web admin a head's up.

[FloatingFatMan]

That still doesn't answer my question, at all.

HOW are they going to do that? You can't just copy/paste things. It doesn't work like that.

They don't need a precise copy. They just need the story lines, the maps, the music, and the combat mechanics (which are well documented).  IG never said it would be an identical copy, just that it would be as close as possible.  There's no need to copy NPC pathing for civs, that can just be redone with UE4 scripting, same for a lot of other stuff.  Even the maps, though she's ripping original geometry from the original game, are then being rebuilt as they need extensive repairs after ripping.