AC chat update

I am waiting for a "chat", JimTOG. ASAP.

Alex Bark.

I would go for rescheduling. I always like to have AC at our chats. Plus, I would like to ask him some questions in person. But thats just me. Later.

Ok. Here's my question: Since you have the rights to Tex Murphy, then I presume that it is up to you to approve or deny permission to do fan-fiction or fan-games.

In particular, we have recently considered writing a TM fan-fic story with the intention of developing it into an interactive fiction text adventure game. What are the odds that we would have permission to do this and how involved would you expect to be? By involved, I mean things like making sure we don't defame the series or create something so bad that it will be an embarrassment. Also making sure that it is consistent with official Tex history. Basically, are we likely to get sued?

Opps. I forgot to add that our game would be a free download, not for sale.

Well, rescheduling is fine with me as long as it's not the last weekend of July or August. And I have a couple of questions ready.

-Is Chris Jones employment- and contract-wise still with Microsoft, with you on your new endeavour or what?

-I've seen a picture from Pandora Directive which looks like it's from the alien autopsy tape, except that it is in color. Also the alien's groin area appears to be censored by pixelation. This picture can be seen at least on the back of the European Pandora Directive box. What is the story behind this picture?

either way - reschedule or pre-answered questions- i'd be happy.
speaking of questions here are mine....
If developing a game with few resources i.e. time/money/people would you prefer to build upon existing technology - e.g. 3d graphics/physics engines - and save time or build everything from the ground up for complete control?

and another question....

Have you guys checked out any open source packages for rendering or sound etc and if so do you think any of them are good enough to produce a commercial quality game?

and my final 2cents is not a question but a statement....
.....Thankyou for Tex:D

My questions hopefully don't fall into the "don't ask" category, but here they are:

Mr. Conners,
These are questions pertaining to the world in which Tex Murphy lives, and in some cases, how it got to where it is in 2043. It is possible that some of these questions, due to their specificity, don't even have answers, but please, answer what you can.
As a note, I have asterics marking some of my question-related thoughts. I'm hoping you can shed some light on those questions especially, as I am very curious what the definitive answers might me.
Thank you!
Hammerhead


DIS THIS:
The following are questions that could provide some material for producing fan-fiction based when Tex was working for the Colonel at Dobbs Investigative Services (DIS):

1. Was DIS larger than just the Colonel's personal office space?

2. Were there any other employees at DIS aside from Tex & Xavier, & if so, could you describe them to us?

3. Are there any cases for CAPRICORN or other government agency that Tex may have unknowingly worked on during his brief time at DIS, & if so, could you tell us about them?

4. Where did Tex live while he was working for the Colonel at DIS? Was there living space at DIS?

5. 3-part question:
What can you tell us about Xavier Jones?
What's his background, aside from also having worked for the Colonel?
Did he ever leave DIS for other things, & if so, what?*

* Seems like there was a post on our previous message board that said he bought the DIS building & turned it into a club of sorts (nightclub?), which, if so, means DIS was more than just the Colonel's personal office, & that he had numerous employees, not just Tex & Xavier.


THE NEED FOR SPEEDERS:
Questions about, well, speeders.

1. Overseeing Speeder design changes x4
In UAKM & PD, Tex had an aerodynamic looking speeder, but in the past & present stories of Overseer, he (and Dalton I believe his name was) had a, shall we say, blocky looking speeder. In a world that tends to get sleeker & more aerodynamic, what is the story behind this change in the speeder's appearance?
Is the blockier look an older car than Tex's grey speeder, or did speeder manufacturers go back to the "Flying VW Beetle" speeder look out of nostalgia?
Also, if Tex's grey speeder was a newer design than his "Flying Beetle", why did he trade for an older car?
And, is it possible that, since Dalton's car looks so much like Tex's, that Tex AND Chelsee both overlooked a simple possibility: that Dalton was offering Tex & Chelsee a lift in Tex's own stolen speeder?

2. When did the first speeder fly off the assembly line, and who built it (Lotus?)?*

* If Blade Runner has greatly influenced the Tex Murphy world, it had to be before November 2019 because civilians & police had them in the movie, but that would depend on how great the influence was.

3. How speeders fly - in 4 parts
What are the physics behind the speeder?
What enables it to hover (I'm thinking anti-gravity plating, as Tex's speeder in UAKM & PD shows no means for jet exhaust, like a harrier would do)?
Also, what powers the speeder? Hydrogen-cel, solar panels, water, fuel rods, battery-power, some other power source?
Is it possible that speeder technology was derived from study of the Roswell debris, as a means of explaining its design and ability to fly, as well as its power source?*

* A documentary I saw on TV once suggested that UFO's were powered & flown by electro-magnetism, which, if such UFO technology were incorporated into a speeder, it could have the ability to hover/fly, but not have the need to refuel as it gets its energy from the Earth's magnetic fields. Since the Milky Way Galaxy is awash with electro-magnetism, it also would allow speeders that are properly equipped to exit & re-enter Earth's atmosphere for short journeys. Since Tex visited an interstellar bar with his speeder in the UAKM game, this could be a standard feature (if a down-on-his-luck PI can own it, anyone could). It also means that the color of the speeder is actually a heat shield, the darker the better (Tex's was grey in UAKM & PD, but was black in Overseer, so he's more prepared for an interstellar jaunt in his new car, except for its having been stolen).

Thank you for your time, Mr. Conners.
Sincerely,
Hammerhead

Good questions, people. Keep them coming!

Jim the old guy wrote: All I can say right now is that we have access to the Tex Murphy rights
and complete emotional support - but no financial support. After I
finish working on my current project (which will go until October), CJ
and I will make some decisions about a new game, whether or not to do
one, if it should be a smaller, less expensive online title, or if we
should try for something bigger

Hmm...I just had a thought from that. Reading the...fourth paragraph that talks about the rights to Tex as well as the deadline for the current project, it tells me that no plans have been brought in motion for a new Tex game, not even in concept form.

Hammerhead wrote:Is the blockier look an older car than Tex's grey speeder, or did speeder manufacturers go back to the "Flying VW Beetle" speeder look out of nostalgia?
Also, if Tex's grey speeder was a newer design than his "Flying Beetle", why did he trade for an older car?

I remember Aaron saying on the old 'Ask Aaron' boards that the speeder Tex had in Overseer was the same one, just heavily upgraded with the reward he god from his previous case. Doesn't seem all that likely to me since a)I can't imagine modifying a vehicle to alter it's looks that much and b)Where did he get so much money at the end of Pandora Directive?

Vracar wrote:

Reading the...fourth paragraph that talks about the rights to Tex as well as the deadline for the current project, it tells me that no plans have been brought in motion for a new Tex game, not even in concept form.!

There's an old saying (modified slightly by TOG): "the spirit is willing but the pocketbook is weak."

They have always wanted to do more Tex, but some things may just be impractical for the time being. One thing's for sure: We must keep the faith! "Always in motion, the future is. Difficult to see." Yoda is right!

- Under a killing moon is now considered as an abandonware by many people. What is thinking aaron of this? And what will aaron do of UAKM, PD and overseer??

Hey JimTOG..... Happy 102nd!






....post!

I wanted to be here to celebrate your 100th, but you are powering away too fast. I know my fingers are crossed you will be able to match your centenary post count in years on this earth.

-Cub. =o)

Just one question

In your personal view at the moment and the possibilities and if there was financial support to make another TEX game, what would be implemented in the tex game like game-play, storyline etc, would it be like PD or Overseer. Which techniques would be used for the game.