FOnline: 2238 Announcement, Jumping into the 3d era
A long time has passed since we released our last developer video and really, it was about time this changed. The new developers video features a topic that we have been working on for some months and we are proud to finally have it in a shape to present it to the public: 3D models.
We decided to move the FOnline engine from a pure 2d to a 2.5d engine, due to the fact that sprite editing is a long and tiresome job. With every change on the player characters, it is nesaccary to edit more than 10.000 single images, even if it's something simple like a different hair color or a new armor type. The use of 3D models helps us in developing more and diversified content in a shorter timer span and still keep the look and feel of the original games.
After the release of the first 3d model converter for the Van Buren models (Van Buren - the code name of the cancled Fallout 3 by Interplay, for the ones who don't know it), we thought it was a great idea to reuse the material we could get out of the tech demo that has been released in 2007. Even if not complete, the build featured character models with already more than 90 animations and a lot customisations for body type or hair and beard styles.
In the third developers video, Anton "Cvet" Tsvetinskiy, FOnline main programmer, is talking about the details of how the new 3d critters are working and will work in the future of FOnline: 2238. Check it out:
or [url=http://www.moddb.com/games/fonline-2238/videos/fonline-2238-developers-video-22]ModDB
The first update-wave will introduce 3d models for the animal creatures, such as models for the rats, ants, venus mantrap, thorn slinger, desert stalker or the lovely rad toads. Also a big content update is going to hit the server, which includes new game features and quests for both, PvP and PvE-friends.
In combination with this, the server has to undergo a full wipe. This will happen in approx one or two weeks at most, when the update will be available on the public server.
-Lexx
Source: http://www.nma-fallout.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=54023
What you guys think? I think it's impressive, especially because it was made by fans. o.o
Looking forward to play this thing.

No comments? :o[

Well aren't we hasty :P While FOnline: 2238 looks interesting and is a great achievement, for me it offers very little as I'm only interested in singleplayer games. Still. wish you good luck with the development.

Have played it a while yesterday, but it has some serious disadvantages for new users:
- although it's more realistic, traveling over the world map is way too slow
- hard to level up as you start without anything. So hard to defend yourself as well
- high level players shooting level 1 players, butchering entire towns, etc.
I'm hoping for some changes in city design.
Too much of the original cities is included.
On the pro side, it's nice to talk to other players.
It definitely has potential, but some things have to be worked out better, like balance.