Alpha Centauri 2

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri & Alien Crossfire => Modding => Bug/Patch Discussion => Topic started by: ete on December 08, 2014, 03:17:34 AM

Title: Open source SMAC/X clone project name
Post by: ete on December 08, 2014, 03:17:34 AM

Need this so I can start setting up the repository and organization.
Ideas:

Alpha Centauri Redux
SMACX Open
Open SMACX
Open Alpha Centauri
Alpha Centauri Open

Note that org and repository names only accept alphanumerical characters and dashes, so the ones with slashes have been modified slightly.

Rejected:
Alpha Centauri 2.0 and variants - Painting a target on our backs if a remake ever actually happens.
Alpha Centauri 1.5 - Yitzi's reserved it for his upcoming modpack

I'm leaning towards Alpha Centauri Redux, but would like a few second opinions before going with that.

Title: Re: Open source SMAC/X clone project name
Post by: Buster's Uncle on December 08, 2014, 03:29:06 AM

I suggested OpenSMACX because it's simple, short, and resonates with many successful open-source game projects of the past.


-Do we know yet that that's actually going to happen with the coders talking shop, or is it still in the kicking-around stage?

Title: Re: Open source SMAC/X clone project name
Post by: scient on December 08, 2014, 03:34:29 AM

"Alpha Centauri Redux", "SMACX Redux" or "OpenSMACX" sound good to me.

As for actually going to happen, I was planning on doing this myself. I didn't know about PlotinusRedux work on the engine. So I think us combining our efforts would be a good starting point. Regardless of us both working together, this will take some time before there is a first alpha that someone could compile. However, I think any work to get this project some recognition would be good. Perhaps interest other people if they see some of work has already been done.

I've got about 70% of the analysis stage done on the binary. As in, I can jump to any random code location and see what is going on fairly clearly. Once that is complete, then it is really just a matter of converting the code logic into source and going from there.

Title: Re: Open source SMAC/X clone project name
Post by: Buster's Uncle on December 08, 2014, 03:39:33 AM

Okay, good - about once a year, someone turns up intending to do an open source project or fan remake or something of the sort, and it always attracts a lot of interest, so we know there's a strong demand. ;b;

Title: Re: Open source SMAC/X clone project name
Post by: PlotinusRedux on December 08, 2014, 03:56:21 AM

"Redux" is always good....

Title: Re: Open source SMAC/X clone project name
Post by: ete on December 08, 2014, 04:14:36 AM

Looks like OpenSMAX and Alpha Centauri Redux are the leaders. My pros&cons

OpenSMACX

Pros:
Full name is shorter
Has open in the name, conveys what the project's about clearly
Straightforward name

Cons:
Almost a name conflict with https://github.com/dominx/opensmac
Does not abbreviate as well (OSMACX? sounds like an apple computer thing, almost says OSX MAC. maybe OAC?)


Alpha Centauri Redux

Pros:
Abbreviates nicely to ACR
Keeps the same naming pattern of previous expansions
Has half of PlotinusRedux's name in it

Cons:
Full name is longer
Redux is slightly less straightforward/obvious than open

I'd be happy with either, not sure which I'd prefer any more.

Title: Re: Open source SMAC/X clone project name
Post by: Yitzi on December 08, 2014, 02:06:25 PM

terranx source recovery project.  That's essentially what it is, and makes it more clear that this is not a replacement for SMAC/X but rather a technical job in order to help with future modding.

Title: Re: Open source SMAC/X clone project name
Post by: ete on December 08, 2014, 04:50:05 PM

Ah, but it's a lot less snappy! And OpenSMACX does indicate fairly clearly what's going on, the source code is being made open. It's an established naming convention for similar projects.

Title: Re: Open source SMAC/X clone project name
Post by: scient on December 08, 2014, 05:44:49 PM

Well, to me it is initially a replacement for the original SMAC/X exe. The idea is that instead of having a patch you could compile a brand new exe with all bug fixes applied.

Only afterward do we get to the good stuff of expanding upon the existing feature set.

Title: Re: Open source SMAC/X clone project name
Post by: ete on December 08, 2014, 06:01:08 PM

Okay, let's go with OpenSMACX for the decompilation project, and keep AC Redux as an option for the version 2.0 which will hopefully happen after.