Custom Space Program - Possible Challenge

[saabstory88]

Hello All,

This idea has been mulling around in my head, being that for my job, I do a bit of modeling, animation, and programming (I work in entertainment video and lighting design, the same sort of things the squad guys started doing). This would be a challenge sort of the inverse of seeing how far you can push the stock parts. The idea would be to run a space program, and land on as many planets as possible only using parts that are bespoke for the program, much in the way that a lot of real space technology was developed, by the program itself.

I'm actually not sure of anyone has done this yet, I haven't seen anything on youtube or google showing something like this. Imagine a space program where all of the parts were actually created custom for the specific game. I'm sure there is some overlap between talented modders, and talented youtube creators which could really make for an interesting video series.

The natural progression of this could be a collaborative effort, where the one who runs the program could get a group of various modders, acting as "Aerospace Companies", and could submit specifications for various engines, tanks, and payloads, and have a government style procurement process to select the parts that go on the missions. They could even release the parts at the end of the series as it's own Mod Pack, which of course would be well tested, and documented via the Youtube series.

Who knows, this could lead to the development of some really interesting custom solutions and parts that otherwise wouldn't come about just be people working independently on their own endeavors. I am definitely going to try this at least personally, but I certainly do not have the time to create a youtube series (not for lack of technical knowhow), but I would love to see what people could do with this idea.

EDIT: Just to be clear. The idea is creating a space program that uses no stock parts, and no existing mod parts. The only parts that would be used would be created completely from scratch for the "Custom Space Program".

Cheers

EDIT: I will be posting my personal progress with this here: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/83818-Custom-Space-Program-Small-Steps

Edited June 22, 2014 by saabstory88
Clarification, Link

[Javster]

That would be a huge, awesome project.

[Thomas988]

That

Is

Brilliant

[HafCoJoe]

I am unable to model (blender or image creation I've been unable to even try), though config files are another story. The first time I landed on the mun I edited all the engines to have .001 fuel and all the tanks to have like 100x more fuel xD. I know this isn't at all what you mean (you literally mean design your own stock alike - uncheaty parts and use them to complete the tech tree). I would love to see a series of this.

[saabstory88]

As I stated earlier, due to my work schedule, I will certainly not be the one making these YouTube videos. I will try to publish some pictures as I enjoy my own personal journey with this idea, but I think that having this idea be the model for a community project would be ideal. That being said, it would be fantastic for people reading this who are friendly with both video and mod content creators, to let them know about it, and see if anyone is actually interested in the concept. I can't wait to see what this creative and talented community could do with such a series.

In reference to the idea of tech tree integration, a traditional model may actually not be necessary. I have only begun to dig into the specification of the game engine and programming specifications (I have some experience with file structure due to fixing game glitches, and appreciate greatly those who have guided me in the past). I would imagine that the game would be run in sandbox for such an endeavor, without the stock parts even loaded. Whether this can be done is the only thing I am unclear on, and will defer to those with more experience as to its implementation. I feel it is irrelevant to have the traditional progression for the two following reasons:

1. There are no existing parts. They must all be created for a purpose, and the next level of technology will emerge for missions of increasing difficulty. The person who is creating the series, and is requesting the part design parameters will have the want for a series which will keep the viewer engaged through ever more daring missions. A mission straight to the surface of Laythe would only be one piece of content, and not something that will drive their subscriber base. Of course there will be a certain amount of good judgement needed on the part of the space program director.

2. Mod creators strive to make balanced parts already. It is in their best interest to have and interesting and useful mod pack at the end of the series. Having a good directive to create a part to complete specific tasks will ensure that their parts have real, in game applications, and proven testing. Also, creating parts with differing performance parameters from the competing modders could provide differing unique, and creative solutions to problems. It would be and an interesting roleplay adder for the group of companies to "not be able to" create, say, and engine which has outlandish specifications from the program director.

If it is desirable for a "Science" system to be implemented, perhaps part parameters could be set to provide science based on successful engine stand test firings, and short flights of the actual components. This could create a more realistic way to proceed to the next tech level, especially if the part output rate of the modders exceeds that of the producer of the videos. As we know from real life, these sort of things actually advance spacecraft design, as opposed to returning experiments from distant worlds. If a funding system is desired for the video series, then that could be a useful purpose for traditional experiments, where a robotic discovery spurs the funding for a manned mission. This could of course be accomplished by roleplay alone, without a necessary programatic game requirement, however I'm sure there are those who would love to play around with a system like that.

Those are some of my idea's for now, and I would love to hear the opinions of some content/mod creators on the matter, even just to inform my own trials with this process.

Edited June 20, 2014 by saabstory88
Grammar, spelling

[PlonioFludrasco]

Awesome!! +rep, even I'm not a modder and I won't take part

[Norpo]

This seems like a great idea: especially for making new parts for the public, what better way is there to make balanced, usable parts with a goal than to make them designed for that goal specifically?

Also, you mentioned "interesting custom solutions", I wonder if it would be possible to add other mods such as TAC life support, but not add the actual parts from it, also maybe mods that add new goals (KSP interstellar, for example)

[saabstory88]

Under my current understanding of the game engine, which is no where complete (have to wait to tonight to really start digging in), but resources, the necessity for their consumption/mitigation can be implemented independently of individual parts. This would only make sense being that there are no mandatory parts that must be included in a spacecraft for these effects to occur, in respect to mods like TAC-LS and DREC.

I would love to see these effects to be implemented as some sort of modular global framework, which is decided upon at the beginning of the video series, and distributed to all of the participating mod creators, and which is not modified per save file/video series. Depending on the licenses of the particular mods in question, source code could be reused to create a custom master framework which includes these algorithms and properties. Again, discretion is needed. But of course, unless you are trying to implement something like Ferram (which you should just install as is anyway), none of the resource depletion in these aforementioned mods, should be that hard to add. I'm not yet familiar with how to game engine handles it, but linear change in a resource over time should be a cake-walk. Having a standard framework build for the series will be essential anyway, as naming conventions, and features of parts should be comparable.

[dryer_lint]

This seems like a really cool idea. I'd love to see it!

[saabstory88]

I have mastered fuel tanks, and am working on engines and aerodynamics. Blender is a little bit of a pain versus what I am used to, since I usually work in Vectorworks, which is for precision actions, and I am very good at (I should hope so, it's my job). I may just find a way to export the physical models from there, and U/V map in blender. Anyway, the point is, a day and a bit in, I am nearly ready to launch a custom built sounding rocket. I will add a forum post to the appropriate forum when I really get going, possibly later tonight. As to that, with something like this that will progress, is it more appropriate to post in Mission Reports, or Spacecraft exchange? Especially since half of the challenge is building the models. I still hope some community members can really take off with the "Full Version" of this.

Thanks