News on unit editor! (by kieran on twc)

for those who didn't read that:

kieran said on TWC: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=329463

"Just wanted to address some of the points in the thread title, there will be a unit editor, it will be released shortly after Napoleon.

The unit editor currently allows users to customise from a large number of pre-sets. This means selecting from a set of model 'parts' then customising accesories, colouring and the like. We're still finalising all the functionality for release, but thats the basic gist.

The unit editor is intended for single player use at the moment, although we'd obviously like you to be able to share your units with one another, so we will try for that (Hence the post Napoleon delay), but thats aspirational. The current focus is for single player only."

Can't wait to make a "Inglourious Basterds" elite regiment.

When he says "for single player use", I still wonder if it means that the created units will be playable in single player campaigns (obviously not in MP ones).

Still good that it will be released.

This required a new thread nonetheless? It is on the TWC already. I doubt the post is going to disappear like the gameplay video!

Hmmmm As Excited about this that i am, I'm wondering is this editor for people with experince with Mods? Or can anyone pick it up and use it?

Also on this subject, this is from Dionysus the Mighty, who went to the San Francisco event for yuku forums:

There will be a unit editor for Napoleon that will let you create units with unique appearances, stats and names. CA expects to release this about a couple of weeks after the game itself is released.

I wanna see a screen of the uniform editor in action!

Not sure I would call Kieran's statement "news!" As you know, CA promised a multiplayer campaign feature for Empire "soon" after release last year, but it took them nine months to release a beta. Also CA said that mod tools would be provided for Empire up to release and even in the weeks following and that never happened:

Hi guys,

We can confirm that Empire: Total War's release date has been moved to March 2009. Here is the full reason and we wanted our official forums to be the first to know!

"The extra development time will allow us to finalise and polish Empire, making it the most accomplished and epic of the Total War series." said Kieran Brigden, Studio Communications Manager at The Creative Assembly. "There is a great deal of anticipation around Empire Total War and we want to ensure that it is the benchmark for strategy games upon its release."

Significantly the additional time will also allow us to implement the underlying technology for a much desired feature (thanks to your feedback!); a multiplayer campaign mode. An opportunity to participate in the 1 versus 1 multiplayer campaign mode beta will be made available to all Empire Total War buyers post release.

Many thanks,

Mark O'Connell
(aka SenseiTW)

www.incgamers.com/Videos/468/IncGamers-Empire-Total-War-Video-Interview 03/05/2009
James Russell: multiplayer beta released "reasonably soon" @11:15

Modding:
- Modding: "we want to give the modders a push in the back by releasing some tools we also work with, with these tools you can as a designer make adjustments without having to harass the programmers, this make these tools ideal for modders. We're not certain yet whether will release these tools with the game itself or put them online after the release of the game."

http://shoguntotalwar.yuku.com/topic...Total-War.html


"rsslcs asks: Will the game feature a map editor, like the editor that could be unlocked in Rome Total War?
Kieran Brigden: This one links in with the earlier questions on modding tools - we will offer tools in the future " You should read the whole Q&A dated 3.03.2009, he promises mod tools "soon" at least twice in the session, and multiplayer
Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/empire-total-war-live-interview-live-q-and-a

"One more thing to keep in mind is that we’ve not yet finished testing the mod support fully - that’s part of what’s happening here before the mod dev package gets released.
--Source: 3/19/2009 Total War Blog

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"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

There is no doubt that ETW went off the rails so every announcement about future plans for ETW went out the window. NTW is about getting back on track and getting paid as well.

The unit editor will most likely allow you to move body parts between different units, colour them, change the stats and export your new unit into a nice separate .pack.

To do a really good work I suspect you will still need to get at the .dds files directly using a program like Adobe. You should then be able to add this modified .dds file to the Unit Editors pre-sets and work from there if you want. You could also upload and allow other people to use it in the unit editor.

It should make life easier unless CA have blocked direct access to the .dds files, I cannot imagine they would do this.

Is it an actual unit editor - i.e. you can change stats, weapon types, mount types, etc - or is it just a program that allows you paint a dude's tunic a different colour?

Originally Posted by OTZ

Is it an actual unit editor - i.e. you can change stats, weapon types, mount types, etc - or is it just a program that allows you paint a dude's tunic a different colour?

you can only chenge uniform colours and detail of specific units

Originally Posted by panzerschreck

... there will be a unit editor, it will be released shortly after Napoleon. "

Shortly as the mod tools, bug fixes and multiplayer campaign for Empire?