Plug-In Design:How do I make a universe?

Ingredients:

- a good understanding of the operation of EV's resources.
- replacements for every resource ID in EV

Uses:

Because Escape Velocity allows designers of Plug-ins to replace practically any resource in the program, it is feasible to replace the current set with one of your own. Creating a whole new universe with new systems, governments, planets, ships, weapons, missions, and people is no small task, but very possible. It should be approached in a meticulous and organized manner.

One resource that hasn't been mentioned yet is the nëbu resource. The resource doesn't do very much, but can make the game (or at least the map) more interesting. It places a PICT on the map. It is a good idea to include three different sizes since EV will use the appropriate size for the zoom state of the map. You can add up to 4 nëbu resources to the game.

Construction:

Did you really think there would be instructions on building a universe?

A program called EV-Edit enables you to put place-holders automatically on all the current resources — in layman's terms anihilating the current universe so that you can easily replace it.

A tool called EVO Developer's Map, by Pontus Ilbring, is a very useful tool for constructing the worlds of a universe as you go along.

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M A R T I N • T U R N E R

EV-Edit is good. It's pretty buggy, though. Res-Edit is harder to learn, but, in the end, better.

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A scholar's ink lasts much longer than a martyr's blood. - Irish proverb.

(This message has been edited by skyblade (edited 12-09-2000).)