(11-26-2011, 04:48 PM)Cortez666 Wrote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R14iqJnUtl0&feature=related

this shows better how an updated quake can look like with the DP engine.

yes, it is possible, BUT it would especially require additional coders.

(03-31-2010, 12:05 PM)Sepelio Wrote: OK I completed a little something for this in a few hours I had today. Its largely history but I do have the rest of what happens planned out. Was sort of approaching the word limit even though its a draft. I tried to include potential for some of the factions etc. that have been included in the artstyle thread.

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With the creation of the first synthetic lifeforms and integrated cybernetic systems in 2200 all manufacturing and production was taken over by machines. This left mankind free to concentrate on new branches of research. Life extension, suspended animation and interstellar travel became common as mankind spread its wings to colonise the solar system and beyond.

All was not well however. In some colonies people began to sympathise with the synthetics who were working for them effectively as slaves. They began to crack the safety protocols that had been built in to guarantee subservience. This did not always end well. Some synthetics remained loyal, content with freedom and grateful to those who liberated them.

Other colonies were not so lucky. Liberated synthetics quickly turned violent slaughtering every living thing within several colonies. One by one these colonies dropped off communications and the systems they were in quickly named as dead zones to be avoided.

On Earth things went into turmoil as people demanded rights for synthetics or their complete annihilation. Earth's government soon realised that while the manufacturing capabilities of synthetics were required for humanity to function. They had to find some way to control them but still give the illusion of free will. A decision was made to covertly embed just one safety protocol into all of Earth's synthetics: that they would not harm any human directly unless in self defence.

After this was complete, each and every synthetic on Earth was given “free will” and allowed to continue existing. Many opted for career changes.

The synthetic problems mostly over, mankind proceeded with their exploration of the galaxy. This was given a huge boost in 2220 with the creation of the first faster than light drive which was co-developed by a number synthetics. There was now significantly less need for use of suspended animation.

In one particular system in 2250 a strange orbiting object was discovered by the exploratory ship named “The Delver”. It matched no known configuration and did not contain any metal. After collection and closer examination the conclusion was reached that it was some sort of probe. Its shell was composed of an almost sealed and extremely hard, black carbon nanotube structure with other areas that appeared to some sort of sensory organ or apparatus. It was also noted to be secreting various chemicals onto its surface including a cocktail of endorphins. Some time later another was found at a different planet in the system. And another. Something else was exploring this same system.

Weeks after a sensory anomaly was detected at the edge of the system, consistent roughly with a ship dropping out of FTL speeds. With no other human ships in the area the Delver's crew were on alert. A stream of incomprehensible signals were detected coming from the same direction. A day later and it appeared.

A large ship made of the same material as the probes approached the Delver, stopping within 500 kilometres. It began sending a series of what seemed to be communication signals, identical to those detected previously. Unable to decipher them initially the Delver's crew transmitted back a simple series of numbers. Over a period of days the two ships communicated until a rudimentary mathematical language was worked out. Apparently they had wondered why their probes had stopped transmitting. This was humanity's first encounter with the <unnamed>.


Over a period of years the two races came together to share technology and exploration. Despite the differences in culture a friendship had bloomed when at first everything had seemed so alien.

Always however there was animosity between <unnamed> and the many synthetics on Earth.

The first problems occurred in 2300. It had been found that <unnamed>s living on Earth gained a significantly longer lifespan than their fellows back home. This triggered a huge migration. The first population to be moved to make space for the new residents were the synthetics. Many protested but the decision was made and millions of synthetics were uprooted.

This led to the massacre of May, 2301. Synthetics rioting over their eviction came into direct conflict with the <unnamed> population living on Earth. Their covert programming was useless here. These were aliens, not humans. The kite string popped and a slaughter ensued. <unnamed> security personnel were not used to dealing with synthetics, their technology being largely unsuitable for it. Hundreds were killed before the EMP weapons were successfully deployed to disable the rioters.

In the aftermath millions of disillusioned synthetics upped and left, many heading to the dead zones to find true freedom. <unnamed>-human relations were on thin ice. Being the only two known biological races in the universe, it had long since been decided conflict would never be an option.

Instead a new era of exploration would unfold. An advanced exploration ship would be built and crewed by both races, with the combined technology of both. Using a specially designed launching station and drive it would be thrown at tremendous speed through the dead zones to explore the space beyond.

In 2350 the ship was launched successfully. Crewed by the best in the known universe its course held firm, passing through the dead zones safely.

After several years of exploration and star charting the ship came across an anomaly. There was a solar system with no apparent star. Several desolate planets seemed to be orbiting nothing but it was not a black hole or anything else known.

Upon further investigation, it was found they were orbiting a super massive structure, certainly the size of a star. Its surface was an almost perfect black body, masking it from the majority of detection methods. What had they found and... was it meant to be found?

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A black body is something that absorbs all radiation, just so you know. The end point is where our singleplayer would begin and our characters introduced etc.

[spoiler below]
My rough idea is that this thing is basically a pandoras box. Its actually sealing a rip in space that was created in the middle of a star during an war between two uber powerful races, one in a different dimension. Those who have made it are long gone however. All races are now exploring it to see what it does.