Petro Fans have quick fire question round!

[Guest DarthMaulUK]

The fans over at the Unofficial Petroglyph Fan Forums (PFF) have had 5 questions answered by Delphi.

 

Some interesting stuff

 

1. We remember hearing a interview from E3 about recording video from ingame. Exactly how will this work ? Will we be able to record freely or will it just be normally recorded and the user able to freeroam around it? Is this some sort of a fan movie tool?

 

Petroglyph – We were referring to our in-game “REPLAY” system. Basically, it works similar to other games where game-play is captured and saved into a replay file. While the player is watching a replay, they can scroll the camera around to view events as they happen.

 

2.We've been told that the game will be very moddable and use data driven XML files. Can you give an example of an entry in these files(such as the X-Wing)? Also how many files would we need to edit to put in a new unit?

 

Petroglyph - Regarding mods, we can’t really release any info until after the game ships – including releasing of tools. LucasArts will need to make the determination of what they want to release in terms of info and tools – but we’re hoping that we can give as much as we can. When the game first comes out, it will not be instantly modable from purchasing it – but we will be able to eventually provide tools and information with coordination from LucasArts. The demo will not be in any kind of modable state either.

 

With that said, here is an example of some unit data found in our XML system:

 

<Tactical_Build_Cost_Multiplayer>500</Tactical_Build_Cost_Multiplayer>

<Tactical_Build_Time_Seconds>10</Tactical_Build_Time_Seconds>

 

 

3. Aside from having the tools to battle the enemy (moving your fleets around, building them, invading the planets, things like that), is there anything else that we've not seen yet? Something not as overt and aggressive like diplomacy, special ops, assassinations, etc?

 

Petroglyph – There are still a few items we don’t want to talk about in great detail just yet. I can say players will have access to units such as bounty hunters (not Boba Fett) who can track down and deal with heroes in their own unique way. Of course there are only a few planets that offer up these types of units. Protect them well.

 

4.Will the Stormtroopers sliding down from the AT-AT cost anything or are they free? Or is there a limit of how many Stormtroopers you can create from the AT-AT ? Also will Star Destroyers produce Tie Fighters during battles ?

 

Petroglyph - It is a special ability specific to the ATAT. There is a recharge timer in place so that players cannot spam the battlefield with troopers.

 

Petroglyph - Yes, Star Destroyers will Tie Fighters and Tie Bombers during tactical space combat.

 

5. Is there any information you can give as to how base building and expansion going to be handled both on the planet and for space stations?

 

Petroglyph - Base building in the single-player campaign and Galactic Conquest mode is done at the galactic level. When a planet has been captured, players will gain access to structures and factories. Keep in mind every planet is unique and only offers a specific amount of slots to build on (8 max).

 

Now, when this captured planet is selected, icons will appear in the players command bar. These icons can be clicked to start the build process. To switch between space and ground production, there is an easy to use tab system. The build system will feel very familiar to almost all types of RTS gamers.

 

As for base expansion, it is up to the player to acquire the planets they need to fuel their weapons of war.

 

6. How do bacta tanks work? Will you be able to place your troops in there during a battle or before/after a battle? Also how long and how much health will it give the units/vehicles/ships ? How do you repair with bacta vehicles or even space ships ?

 

Petroglyph – Bacta Tanks are built during ground tactical combat on specialized build pads located in the players base and keys areas of the map. After a Bacta Tanks has been constructed, it will heal all infantry units within its radius overtime. To repair damaged vehicles there is a repair facility that can be constructed from these pads. Similar to a Bacta Tank, it will repair damaged vehicles within its radius. Now, if a Rebel player has R2D2 on the battlefield, they can always use him to fix vehicles if no repair facilities are in the area.

 

DMUK

[Athanasios]

1. Handy tool for walk-throughs and show-offs.

 

2. Nice. Looks like html editting. Also, Mechcommander could be "tuned up" a bit by editting its XML files......well, this was not official

 

3. So, some diplomacy features there, and more hiding behind the scenes. Looking forward...

 

4. No spam. Tie building only during combat. Better than infinite numbers mentioned in the interviews.

 

5. Well, i have some objection here. First; we know that a planet is consisted of several maps, so, is the 8-buildings-per-(whole) planet enough? Secondly; will we be able to view the construction of the buildings (whether ground or space) like in all RTS? Or we'll just receive a "building ready" after a while by that obnoxious trooper? Same applies to production of units; we can produce them while on galactic map, but, within a ground battle, i urgently need some units so, will i be able to produce them "on the fly" and see them coming out of the barracks/factories?

 

6. I always new R2D2 can do something more than surving drinks

[lukeiamyourdad]

Excellent info!

 

I like how they made bacta tanks. I would hate to have to select every unit and have them slowly get into the tanks.

[shadowsfm]

there is no sevrel maps of each planet. in scrimage. a random map will be chosen of a planet

[Darth_Extas]

Great Info. As well It will be interesting that they would show us some source-code for the game as well.

[darthfergie]

The construction pad sounds similar to something C&C included in Tiberian Sun (or was it the X-pac) anyways you would build a pad and the pad would then be selected and you could convert it to whatever type of turret system you needed.

 

Now that I think about it though, it sounds VERY similar to the Pads that showed up in the LOTR game where you can select a building to go there...although it seems rather more limited because you'll likely have to make a construction pad on the galactic level and there won't be the option of making more unit training centers as was the purpose of the LOTR pads. In fact in the LOTR game the pads could be used to produce healing fountains of statues that gave nearbye units a boost.

[Jamps]

We've been getting a lot of info lately. Now I can't wait for it!

[Athanasios]

there is no sevrel maps of each planet. in scrimage. a random map will be chosen of a planet

 

I think it's confirmed that a planet is consisted of several maps.....maybe i missed something here....

[popcorn2008]

No, it's one land map and one space map per planet. No more no less.