I was asked the other day what it really is that I (we) are doing, and then I realised that being in the middle of everything what seams relatively clear to me (and the core cadre hanging in the IRC channel every day) must be somewhat confusing to everyone else. So let me just tell you what projects are being worked on at the moment.

First, there is the ongoing effort to mod the existing Dark Omen game by editing existing maps, adding new multiplayer maps and new units. We can now edit any existing map in various ways (adding, editing and removing map objects, items, effects etc), but we still can’t create new maps. We are also still not able to convert existing single player maps to fully functioning multi-players maps. Olly, Ghabry and Bem are the main characters driving these efforts, though several more people are also in on it.

The there is the pure programming undertakings. You’ve probably heard the name “WARTBED” here and there, so let me tell you in no uncertain terms what WARTBED is The name is an abbreviation for “War And Regimental Tactical Battle Engine Deluxe”, and as may be surmised from it, it is a game engine. More specifically, it is an engine for tactically oriented regimentally based RTT games. Is it is more of an engine and a framework than a game in itself WARTBED by itself can’t be played. However, what it exiting about the WARTBED core is that it is intended to be used to traslate and implement other games, and all these games will be able to share their data. I wil return to this presently, below.

The next name you’ve heard flinged around is “Bright Portents”. This is the code name for a second project, namely remaking Dark Omen using the WARTBED framework. The Bright Portent project is separate and independent from WARTBED in though Bright Portents require WARTBED. WARTBED itself knows nothing about Bright Portents or any other application implemented on it. All actual games are plug-ins or add-ons (use whatever term you’re comfortable with). So Bright Portents is an implementation of Dark Omen on the platform being created, and will require an existing installation of Dark Omen on your system. No trademarks or intellectual property will be violated in any way.

Other games being planned for re-implementation on the WARTBED platform are Shadow of the Horned Rat, Myth (1 & 2) and an overlooked old sci-fi RTT called Startship Troopers: Terran Ascendancy. These projects will be known as Shade of the Rodents, Saga and Earth Rising (or something).

The next cool thing about the WARTBED framework is that any games implemented on it will principally work together in the sence that units and maps from different installed projects will be usable from inside other projects. Thus, when done, you will be able to battle Myth’s cocktail-flinging dwarves with your Dark Grail knights on a ST:TA Bug hiveworld. Now, if this doesn’t get your juices flowing I don’t know what will.

If you want to be part of this, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us!

Yours,

Mikademus