 |
Banshee is the mod leader of PPM's Final Dawn Modifications for TS
Dancam: According to your web site, Project Perfect Mod (PPM) is
dedicated to working on the Command & Conquer game, Tiberian Sun.
Obviously this game is thought of as being outdated and with newer games,
such as Red Alert 2, or Generals why do you continue to work on it?
Banshee: When
we started working on it, TS was the latest Westwood game. Even when RA2
was released, we thought about migrating it to RA2, but the idea was rejected.
The story of the mod really fits the TS world and TS give us most of the
environment and features we need for this mod.
Dancam: When did you start work on the mod?
Banshee: Although
it was founded on October 2000, the real work started 2 months later...
after some brainstorming... there were too many people, many different
ideas and until we reach an 'agreement', we spent some time.
Dancam: What would you say your favourite aspect of the mod is?
Banshee: There
are many positive aspects, but the mod still focus more the game play
and also many innovations, but it will features new many units with new
graphics, new terrains, coding innovations (the so much awaited MCV solution
for 3rd side and many others), numerous new maps, and we will work on
new campaigns as well, based in a quite interesting storyline that, although
it won't be an exact continuation of the game, it will be based on C&C
universe with many elements that were featured when C&C storylines
were good (like TD, RA1 and TS). We also plan to add entirely new music
and we will try to put new movies, but really dont expect this in the
first version, because I still need to understand how this vqa works and
it's a hard job...
Dancam: You’re also taking the time to implement something
that you call ‘Aircraft War’ by significantly increasing the
number of aircraft in the game. Could you just explain how you believe
this will affect the game play of your mod?
Banshee: In
nowadays war, aircraft is used to clear the terrain for infantry. PPM:FD
will feature a similar system. You gonna have spy planes to uncover the
terrain and also to confuse the enemy defences. A good usage of spy planes
can cause a GDI base to self-destruct (although it depends on enemy incompetence
as well). Then, you have the fighters, some sides might be stronger against
vehicles while others are better at infantry. The fighters have can carry
a good amount of ammo and usually are do more accurate shot than the bombers,
that are really strong against buildings, but they are slow and fragile.
Bombers can also be good if used against mass of units. The sides will
also have transporters and some of them will have aircrafts that release
emp, which will be deadly ,for the Cyborg side. Of course, each side will
have its unique characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Although
the aircraft wars will get more complex in PPM:FD, I personally dont think
they won't be the most important units in a battle. Final Dawn still focus
infantry as the best way to get an army.
Dancam: You’ve also added in a spy plane element, but significantly
different from what many CNC gamers will be used to. Could you explain
firstly why you decided to do this, and secondly what these changes are?
Banshee: Spy
planes are very fast units with a long sight. A common user might see
them as only a way to uncover the terrain quite fast, but a advantage
user might make a good usage of its ability to attract enemy missiles
to an specific point, which may cause destruction of key buildings or
they can open a space for the bombers. Each side will have a different
spy plane, some with explosive or kamikaze characteristics or characteristics
that improve its spying ability. PPM:FD will also feature defences against
these units... usually, infantry will be the best option, as it's cheap
and fast to build and some of them might feature fast weapons.
Dancam: In a previous interview you stated that you were having
some problems getting a graphics guy for the mod, how goes the hunt?
Banshee: The
hunt is being quite hard. We received some support, but there is an excessive
amount of graphics to be done and we have done several research’s
to make the job easier. We had to adapt ourselves to 3D programs which
wasn’t an easy task and took us a lot of time. But 3D programs doesn’t
solve all our problems and recently I started working with a joint project
with Stucuk known as BS SHP Builder, in order to make the rest of the
graphics easier to do and the conversion from 3D programs easier as well.
Working on SHP files requires an excess of work that really dis-motivate
most of modders. BS SHP Builder is certainly a tool that will reduce most
of this boring work and open doors for new things. There is still too
much bureaucracy on the production of 3D files that I hope that they won't
be a problem in the future.
Dancam: What’s the plan for any testing surrounding the game?
Banshee: Testing
will happen as soon as we have most of things done, or at least when we
reach our objectives on the development of the Foundation Of TDL campaign.
Dancam: Anything else you would like to mention about Final Dawn
that I’ve missed?
Banshee: The
Foundation Of TDL campaign, that we started to work recently will cover
the hole of the storyline that is in the site. It will be an introduction
campaign featuring 7 maps, however with a nice storyline behind this.
It will be mainly a war between GDI and the forgotten group that will
originate the Tiberian Defence League, but Nod will have its participation
behind the scenes. GDI is the supreme faction in a decadent world that,
after translating the tacitus and developing a cure against Tiberian infection,
decided to provide a service for the world population. The treatment is
risky and expensive and the demand is enormous. So, providing a treatment
like this for free would take all GDI's resources and could even damage
GDI's reputation due to the high percentage of deaths that it can cause,
so they decided to 'let' third party do the job (charging a fee for each
operation to cover the resources spent on its research). A certain corrupted
and important member of GDI saw that as a great business and managed to
'grab it', and it really became a big business and a complete disrespect
for those who needed it to survive (over 90% of world's population). The
Tiberian Defence League will fight to gain this tiberium business and
changes the way it works, however, they will use all dirty methods possible...
and Nod? Hmm.... surprise :P, it will be the surprise, but dont expect
neutrality from them ;), although they still have a cease-fire treaty
with GDI and will keep it. I know we still have no contents about it in
the site, but we plan to add it as soon as we progress on some remaining
points...
*Weekly Exclusive*
This is a picture of a civilian subterranean dwelling which will feature
in ‘Final Dawn’.
|
 |
