Getting desperate for new Abe levels!!

[Jango]

I really want new Abe levels, or something to make them with, as I have planned them out and I am hungry for new levels. I even made levels out of JENGA bricks and imagined that Abe and sligs were there but it isn't the same as playing them through on the game.

Is there any place where I can download new Abe's Oddysee/Exoddus levels? I know there is no level builder as I have asked before.

Thank you for reading and I hope some people agree with my views.

PS: Don't say I am sad and need to get a life! I am just a big Abe fan!

[Jordan]

There are no new Abe's Oddysee/Exoddus levels. A lot of people want them, but they just don't exist I'm afraid. Unless OWI do happen (on a very rare occasion) to release a level builder or decide to make more themselves, we will just have to make do with the ones we already have. Sorry, hope that answered your question. By the way... if you have any more, ask them in the Questions & Answers thread.

[Jango]

Thank you very much for your reply.

Just one more thing, what is Paul working on at the moment? I have seen his thread 'lvl.files' or something and don't know what it is.

[MeechMunchie]

It's a project which is basically trying to reverse engineer the game, work out what makes it tick and fiddle around with it.

[Jango]

Sorry to keep asking, but what will he achieve by doing this? Does this mean that a level editor/maker will be possible?

[Grieva]

I think a level editor is one of the end goals, but it's not going to happen overnight

If you're looking for some new stuff to do in AO/AE you should check out crashpunk's Custom Oddworld Achievements thread, some pretty fun things to try in there

[Taco]

New level packs would be cool but that's just not possible right now. However, you could try to play through all the secret areas in AO/AE if you've missed any. I think Sinjin's guides describe how to get to all of them.

[MeechMunchie]

If we're ever going to get new levels, I think someone will have to recreate AO/AE in Flash or their own engine. A.L.I.V.E. just isn't flexible enough.

[Namida]

Hm. Are there sprite rips available? You know, that might really help with an editable remake...

[MeechMunchie]

Ask Carnix. He knows a lot about that sort of thing.

[Jango]

What are 'sprite rips'? I can't understand or use anything on the '.lvl files' thread as I don't know what they are on about most of the time.

I think a level editor is one of the end goals, but it's not going to happen overnight

I know that it is hard to answer but vaguely how many weeks/months/years/decades do you think it will be until/if a level editor is made? I don't expect an answer tbh, I am just wondering.

[MeechMunchie]

We don't know. Just assume never. That way, if fifty years from now one turns up, it'll be a nice surprise.

[Jango]

Ok, that is a good way to look at it.

Even when I am 65 I guess a level editor would still be a nice suprise. Although such an old game would probably not work on the systems that will be around by then.

1,024 Terabytes of RAM?
2 Petahertz processor?
100 Petabytes hard disk?

We are already starting to move into Terabytes...

[Namida]

Unless there's an entirely new construction, don't be too keen on the faster processors for a while... on the other hand, larger (and faster) RAM and hard drives are realistic.



Sprite rips are basically rips of the sprites in the game (ie: the objects that move around, such as Abe, sligs, levers, etc - but not backgrounds). By extracting them from the game, either by "cutting" around them in screenshots, or actually getting into the game's files and extracting them, they can be isolated and therefore plugged into a new game engine.

[STM]

perhaps it's possible to make a scene editor, I could throw one together, no promises, like adding backgrounds, characters and objects and platforms. Would you be interested Jango, no promises.

[Paul]

I did rip most of the AO sprites. Reversing the format so we/I could get those sprites was a big step since a new engine needs to use these resources.. we still need to understand how levels are put together in regards with back ground images / sprites / collision detection / sounds / scripting and so on.

If I knew the answers to all those questions it would just be a case of writing a tool to convert all the resources to something more flexible along with a new engine to use them.

[looney-bin]

The problem (as stated above) is that the engine used for the games was just designed to make them work. There was not really any consideration of mods, and as such, it'd take years, if not decades, for fans to desifer the code so we could add new content. The closest we've managed after so many years is changing the background art and switch the sounds, and even then those are restricted. There is a possibilty that OWI still has the tools to modify the games, afterall you don't just throw that stuff out, but Lorne wants to put all hands on deck into his movie and networking projects. Sad state of affairs really.

[Paul]

I don't think its ever been known for them to give internal tools or game source out.. or any company actually? Someone correct me if I am wrong

[Jango]

perhaps it's possible to make a scene editor, I could throw one together, no promises, like adding backgrounds, characters and objects and platforms. Would you be interested Jango, no promises.

Yes, I would be interested, I would like to just make some more RuptureFarms levels as they are the best.

[STM]

all right i'll do it something simple though give me 2 weeks max because sometimes im lazy

[Jango]

all right i'll do it something simple though give me 2 weeks max because sometimes im lazy

Thank you very much, I will look forward to it alot!

I still would very much like the editor, but what exactly would it do?