kkang2828 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 09, 2019 12:11 am
I noticed the wiki today as well. But it isn't linked on the website menu for some reason.
While it is better then nothing, it isn't exactly what I was asking for. What I meant was a detailed tutorial on how to use these mods plus a database of all the mods/missions currently available(along with their descriptions), not how create them.
But since the wiki is still under construction, we'll have to see how it grows.
kkang2828 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:31 am
Also, there isn't any explanation about all the other mods that are out there and their relation to XWAUP.
It might just be me, but I really don't like it when things are disorganized. It confuses outsiders and newcomers and really decreases that thing's usability.
Maybe after the project is over(hopefully in the next few years), the XWAU team(which I guess includes most of the currently active X-Wing series modders) can get to work organizing everything related to the X-Wing series games and transform this site into the center of the X-Wing series game community.
Other than your post count being 4 and register date being 05JAN19, I'm going to assume that you're new here and go easy on the sarcasm since DS has already covered that. (Thanks!) But I will warn you I'm going to be a tad short, but I hope not to come across as condescending. The fact your new to this strikes me as something of an oddity, and I'm tentatively curious as to the details of you even finding our page.
1. Install instructions for the mod(s) are included in every single installer file.
1a. Descriptions could probably be better regarding each downloadable file since there isn't a description besides the file name outside of the Hook files.
That said, it's pretty obvious what each installer does just by looking at the name and thumbnail, especially if you read the FAQ and know what this project is about to begin with.
2. The wiki perhaps may have more details later regarding community, non XWAU assets.
2a. But throwing you a bone I'll list the currently relevant sites. MTD Industries, Vince's X-Wing HQ, Darksaber's X-Wing Station, and my page linked through my signature. Not to say there aren't other mod pages, but I can't definitively say which ones are still functional without looking. (Do that yourself)
If you click the links page notice there are four links to XWAU members pages (mine hasn't been added to the list yet), and following that are the community links, of which some of those are dead ends in some cases what with being defunct given the age of the game.
3. Read the FAQ
4. I'll agree and disagree on the whole XWAU not being noob friendly. Firstly you're wrong. Everything XWAU ranging from the ship model installs to the new hooks is literally a handful of clicks from being installed for you due to the nature of the installers and
the extensive readme files DS has worked up over the years that preface every single install.
Secondly you're right. Updating your hooks unless you read the documentation, is not intuitive.
It is not uncommon for "us experienced" users (relatively speaking) to ask for tons of clarification in the "how" the new hooks work so new things can be made and old things can be updated to take advantage of them. So if you feel confused with the editing portion, you're in good company. Just for point of reference the hooks are relatively new say in the last two years, only in recent months have we even really gotten a foothold on implementing the new features, even "us modders" are learning as we go along. (And DS, DTM, and GT have been doing this a long time).
4.a Hooks have no relevance to the end user provided they are kept up to date, which can be done either installing the latest installer or more reliably using the auto-downloaded in the hooks thread and copied into the XWA folder.
4.b Note: JM's expansion guide had a lot of useful "how to" information regarding most aspects of XWA ranging from installing mods, new missions, ect. to creating mods yourself. I believe his site may be down now.
Simply put as the end user, you have it easy. Download, read the instructions, press install. Even installing ships manually isn't really that hard once you familiarize yourself with the process. Almost all the mods available online come with a readme that tells you exactly how to install the relevant files if there is not an .exe or .xmod installer provided. Some of the most ancient do not, but those are rare to find these days.
It's pretty obvious you've not looked around much yet. Please take some time and familiarize yourself with things if you plan on sticking around. And continue to ask questions, but take it on yourself to do some reading through the forums.
5. Furthermore since you clearly do not have historical context I'll try and summarize a few things since nobody else has bothered to do so, and hopefully it helps you grasp where we're at regarding our rather isolated small community at this late stage "of the game".
Something you need to remember, or perhaps realize since I've no idea how old you are or what your point of reference may be, but XWA is 20 years old this year. Official mod support is and always has been non-existent, many of the old content creators have moved on to other things. Drakken, Flavid, Atx, Abolisher, ect. et-al. and their websites are entirely defunct. Gone. Don't exist. Along with a majority of their opts that haven't been haphazardly backed up by those of us that are veritable digital pack rats and have yet to be re-hosted due to whatever reason.
I want to make this painfully clear, there are exactly five people working on the XWAU semi-actively, our coder Jeremya being the most active. Average opt releases to the project are 1-2 per year at this point due to many outside factors. Other opt releases not counting my own, simply down to the nature of their origins, average perhaps 3-5 per year. So you are correct in your presumption that we are the most currently active.
Now, this is even before my time (or I was not involved) but I would say the only other "central" hub was SWcrusade.net, maybe TheForce.net back in the day, unless I am mis-remembering and any of our more venerable members feel free to correct me on this. I vaguely recall LA's rather toxic forums too.This forum is
the central hub. Period. It's not up for debate, all things related to X-Wing Alliance that "we" are aware of existing goes through our forums. We do not have social media pages, and our ModdB I believe is curated by GT, if that even still exists. This isn't collective ego talking either, it's merely presenting the facts.
6. We still have quite a ways to go on the project, and unless more models relevant to the project get pumped out more than 1-2 a year, then there's probably another 10 years left before the project is complete.
7. Any ships that were not included in the base game are not affiliated with the XWAUP in any official capacity. It's stated in some fashion in the FAQ. Use what you like.
8. Trevor already told you that all the "latest" patches are included in the XWAUP patch. Individual installers are released between craft pack updates and will be annotated as being released after X date so you know what to install in addition to the main pack on the news page, and on the thread for the latest updated file(s) linked there.
9. Goodnight! And if you have any other comments or questions, post away.
Edit: Also, your suggestions have being noted and are not being disregarded, there are some areas of documentation that could do with an update, and I would expect it to be done so via the wiki in due course.
Muhahahahaha