Original Starsiege: Tribes is coming back

Gryphon · Post by **Gryphon** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:12 am

GarageGames acquired the IP for the Tribes universe late last year. They have the source code for Tribes and they will be releasing it through http://www.instantaction.com

http://blog.instantaction.com/2009/03/t ... ction.html

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 3:59 am

Mmmm.... Yummyness... Raindance anyone?

Starmage21 · Post by **Starmage21** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 10:11 am

Only if we play Insomniax! Mod. Base was kinda poopy for me after getting used to Insomniax!

XMEN Ashaman DTM · Post by **XMEN Ashaman DTM** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:43 pm

I'd like some Snowblind and Scarabrae, please.

I wonder if GG will put something out about updating graphics? DOX did a good job importing all those nice textures, lighting and opengl sweetgoodness.

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 9:02 pm

Oooh! Oooh! Oooh! From the link (no to the graphics and mod, but there's hope...):

* GarageGames purchased the ownership of the Tribes IP (all Tribes games) from Activision/Vivendi late last year.
* We do have the source code to the game, and the build has been updated with bug fixes
* The build will be distributed through the website, but still playable as a standalone game.
* The game will use the existing Master Server system that the original game used. We will provide a new master server address with the release.
* The game is not compatible with version 1.11 but you should be able to play the same demos as recorded on previous versions
* Mods and configs used in 1.11 will not be directly compatible, without at least minor changes, as the base game scripts have been cleaned up considerably by Andrew
* The game does NOT have updated graphics, this was a PR misunderstanding. The game does support modern file formats (PNG textures, Zip files)

Personally I'm really excited about them having the IP to all the Tribes games. This T1 release is just a teaser. They have the ability to redo/enhance T2. And, perhaps, fix up T3. But... what if there's a T4 around the corner?!?!? I'd sure polish up the ol' armor and 'fuzor for that from the original guys!!

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:31 am

T4... That could be worth recharging the old E-Pack for some sniping fun.

However, What about Starsiege 2? I loved the original, or an update to the graphics / etc to that? GG's purchase of that IP lends itself to a lot of different uses... (And a loyal following, even 10+ years after T1 was released..)

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:33 am

I read the stuff carefully with that in mind, and didn't see anything about the Starsiege IP - only the Tribes IP. Probably means the SS IP isn't included or they'd have listed it, but I could be wrong.

Starmage21 · Post by **Starmage21** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:44 am

that means Insomniax! wont work! ><

That was a good mod. There was no great amount of changes. Just a slugthrower sniper rifle and a badass anti-air turret.

XMEN Ashaman DTM · Post by **XMEN Ashaman DTM** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:38 pm

Wouldn't you know... celebrating my anniversary, and I'm checking up on Tribes. :lol

Anyways, I know GG will release it with a few bug fixes, but they have all the means necessary to either update the graphics engine, build a new one from scratch (but they have torque graphics and shader engine), or they could build an entirely new Tribes game.

BTW, I'm pretty sure, since Dynamix purposefully linked the SS and Tribes universes, that owning the IP to Tribes means that they have a stake in SS. Even though the SS and Tribes universes are very different.

XMEN Iceman · Post by **XMEN Iceman** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:21 pm

They should just take the original game, dress up the graphics...and rerelease it. I would buy it in a heartbeat.

I really don't want to play it in a browser window when I have a big monitor. I want to see it in its' full glory.

But this is very good news indeed!!!

Spinning Hat · Post by **Spinning Hat** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:11 am

From the first couple lines, It says the entire Starsiege IP. That, in my mind would include Starsiege, since while they may be different games, they are linked in their story. (Remember, Tribes is after SS, and the armor and weapons are derivatives of leftover parts from the original mechs.)

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:25 am

We have obtained the IP for the entire Starsiege Universe including Tribes 1

You're right. Mea culpa. Guess I was in too much of a hurry the first time.

Ah, well, happy to be wrong here. Would be really nice to have a new SS game!

Gryphon · Post by **Gryphon** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:17 pm

Tribes FAQ and More

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:21 pm

Thanks, Gryph!

Q: What changes have been made to the original game that would make me want to play this new one over the copy I already have?
A:

* Base scripts have been completely re-organized to be easier to understand with an extended set of common server admin functions built in
* Base client configuration will be competition ready and configurable in the GUI, without need for custom scripting
* Many bugs and security holes have been patched in the engine
* Game runs excellently on Windows Vista
* SIMD framework added (MMX/SSE/etc..)
* Extended scripting language additions and functions that offer extended scripting functionality for modders, without sacrificing backwards compatibility
* Ski Script built in to base client so there's no more need for crushing your space bar
* and of course the Terrain bug on Stonehenge has been fixed.
* Zip files replace proprietary (.vol)Volume files for data storage
* PNG files replace proprietary (.pbmp)palettized bitmap files for True color texture support

And Starmage...

Q: I heard from [here/there/somewhere], speculation that mods would not be supported, is this true?
A: From the beginning of this project a goal has been to make sure that mods are not sacrificed. Mods may need to adjust a few things here and there to work with the new base game scripts with the new version, but should work with relatively small amounts of fixing up.

Starmage21 · Post by **Starmage21** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 7:52 pm

XMEN Gambit wrote:Thanks, Gryph!

Q: What changes have been made to the original game that would make me want to play this new one over the copy I already have?
A:

* Base scripts have been completely re-organized to be easier to understand with an extended set of common server admin functions built in
* Base client configuration will be competition ready and configurable in the GUI, without need for custom scripting
* Many bugs and security holes have been patched in the engine
* Game runs excellently on Windows Vista
* SIMD framework added (MMX/SSE/etc..)
* Extended scripting language additions and functions that offer extended scripting functionality for modders, without sacrificing backwards compatibility
* Ski Script built in to base client so there's no more need for crushing your space bar
* and of course the Terrain bug on Stonehenge has been fixed.
* Zip files replace proprietary (.vol)Volume files for data storage
* PNG files replace proprietary (.pbmp)palettized bitmap files for True color texture support
And Starmage...
Q: I heard from [here/there/somewhere], speculation that mods would not be supported, is this true?
A: From the beginning of this project a goal has been to make sure that mods are not sacrificed. Mods may need to adjust a few things here and there to work with the new base game scripts with the new version, but should work with relatively small amounts of fixing up.

Yeah but the Insomniax! guys may not have the mod code anymore. They were on to WoW the last time I downloaded the mod, and that was years ago.

**EDIT**
WOOOOOT!
http://files.filefront.com/Insomniaxnet ... einfo.html