Hi Tom.
that is a good oint regarding sound modding. The editers I've been thinking
of as examples have either been freeware, as in rocks n diamonds or t2002,
or when a commercial company have come with an editer, the editer is limited
in scope as you describe. For example the kingsoft amigar game emerald mine
(one of the games rocks n diamonds is based upon), came with a very
comprehensive editer which let players create all their own emerald mine
puzzle style levels. They could not create new gameplay, but they could
redraw all game graphics, add new sfx etc, however since kingsoft never
released any more similar emerald mine games, they were in no danger of
losing business.
so, as you said the fairest alternative seems to be a level editer patterned
after the dynaman grid creator, ie, an editer that let people move in game
objects around, put them in different places to create new levels etc, but
not actually create new objects or mod the sounds and music to alter the
game.
If however a game has enough objects to play with though, this would be more
than enough to give ample replay, indeed the only reason I suspect the
dynaman grid editer never got more use was simply that the game didn't
really have enough objects to create different levels. If however we were
thinking of a game like shades of doom or even montizumans revenge, which
features keys and doors, several different traps and enemies as well! as
basic layout on the maps then there would be more than enough leeway for
people to make different levels for the game and still give the developer
room to develope more games or a sequal along similar lines, but with a
different setting, monsters, traps etc.
for example, lets suppose that you created the monti editer. The game had
rolling sculls,snakes and spiders as enemies. Poeple could be free with such
an editer to redesign levels (and with the different door types of monti
some interesting designs could! be created), and surprise the player with
more enemy placement, however you as the developer could be free to develope
a sequal containing bouncing skulls, enemies with projectiles etc, and of
course all the people who enjoyed monti would still! be in a position to buy
the game since they'd want to see the new objects in action.
Beware the Grue!
Dark.
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