My main reason for using c++ is because I am not familiar with C#.

My main reason for using c++ is because I am not familiar with C#. My next reason for using C++ is that it will be easier to port to different OSes.

I hope to first get this game working on linux then on windows (Just for a good change :))

I hope to first get this game working on linux then on windows (Just for a good change :))

Yep, it would have to be sector based to keep compatability. However if I do finish it, there would be nothing stopping me from adding bsp support (assuming I learn exactally how that is implemented. I haven't done mapping for anything except jedi knight)

I only had one issue with the Sith 2 beta I received. With maps that had a lot of visible adjoins it ran slower than the original. Maybe it was my computer hardware but I'm not sure.

I'm not sure if you really understand what you'd be getting yourself into.

How would you go by even contacting them? Who would these days even know of the Sith engine in the PR department?

Not every company is like id software. At best we can do is maybe contact Sige, but it seems Sige has abandoned us.

I don't think anyone's ever said "No," though. At the same time, if I recall, no one even HAS the source code.

Actually, I'm fairly confident that they not only have the source code, but all the original material and editing software used. And all the media, and marketing materials, etc. If nothing else, they'd keep it to help enforce their copyrights.

If he had had access to the JK source code, I am fairly sure he would have given it to me.

Couldn't he have been fired/prosecuted for something like that though?

That's probably why he put the emoticon at the end of his post.

So here is what Ill propose, I don't know if there where any designs done for Sith 2, but for probably the first month (April) I will work solely on getting a working design. The design will involve CRC cards that I will make available to anyone that would like to help.

After the design is done, I will make all aspects of it public and look for input as well as design flaws ect. This will probably go though the second month (May). Then, the coding begins. Ill start at the bottom of the tree and work my way up. Anyone that is willing to donate code would be appreciated, but I will demand a high standard be followed to the Tee.

So, what do you all think, Am I living a pipe dream?

OK, here's what my discussion with the various companies involved with this came down to:

WizKids - All for it, but cannot give legal permission for anything having to do with BattleTech in computer/console format.

FASA Studios - Again, cannot give permission themselves to any group to use BattleTech concepts in any online game.

Microsoft - Here was the fun one. Took a number of phone calls and departments, but finally ended up talking to several people in development, legal, publishing and production. Microsoft currently owns all rights to BattleTech in digital format (it is more specific than that, but that is the short version).

At this time, Microsoft will not stop the production of a digital project that uses BattleTech as its basis. The primary requirement for this to continue would of course be that the project be not-for-profit. As soon as profit is involved, Microsoft gets rather antsy about it, and is likely to come down like a ton of bricks, as they truthfully should.

Here's the kicker though. The above is their CURRENT policy, and is subject to change. In the past they have only really come down on those that have been developing projects involving profit that used Microsoft owned concepts, while leaving other projects alone. Several examples were given of each type. But that policy is subject to change. This means that down the road, Microsoft could decide to protect their rights to the BattleTech intellectual property more closely, and shutdown any ongoing project involving that material.

I also discussed with them the subject of the MW4 source code. They readdress this matter internally about every 3 months. The CURRENT policy is that they do not want to release the source code due to the size of the remaining community, and the damage it could do. Microsoft does not have a policy of releasing source code to individuals or limited groups. The only way they would do so would be in entering a very restrictive NDA contract with said individual or groups, with legal penalties if said contract were breached (source code became public for example). Thus if NBT or MekTek were to be granted the source code, it would basically be under constant threat of legal action if somebody were able to leak or hack into the resources available. If money were being made on it, great, but to sign up for that danger while making zippo in income is hardly a promising situation.

The only way Microsoft would release the source code (under current policy as of last week) would be to the public at large. The problem with that of course if the hacks and cheats that would run rampant. So Microsoft has to find the magic community level where the community is small enough that releasing the source code doesn't do that much damage, but still large enough that there are people left to make use of it. For our purposes, I do not forsee that being in the near future, or at least not soon enough to make a difference to our current community.

lol, waterfall.