While trying to compile a list of all mods, I stumbled across a mention of a long forgotten mod. I was looking through the links on the "Freedom Portal's" Biggest Freedom Force Links, Ever! (http://www.geocities.com/freedomportal/links.html) page where I found a listing for "AnachroForce" as the home of the Anacronox Mod at http://www.fxforce.com/ZETOR/anox/ (http://www.fxforce.com/ZETOR/anox/) ...
But this link is broken. It must be really old because I've never found a mention of it anywhere else.
Since it used to be hosted on MikeB7's FXForce website (http://www.fxforce.com/), I asked him about it. He said he didn't think it was ever finished. He told me "Real life came first and Zetor hasn't been around for a looong time as far as I know." Unfortunately, he didn't have a copy.
If someone still remembers the Anacronox Mod and has a copy, please share it. If nothing else it can be uploaded to Rapidshare or FilePlanet so others can download it too. Even if it was never completed, I find it sad to see mods and other Freedom Force stuff disappear forever.
Umm, you do realize, that he probably meant that it was never released?
I know of a good 2 dozen mods that looked good that were never released, including a few that I've beta tested.
Well, that's just it. I don't think MikeB7 knows either. We don't know whether or not it was ever released, so I'm just posting this request on the off chance that it was and someone still has a copy.
Using one of my favorite web tools, I found the old web page........
this is what the page had
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Introduction
"Um, yeah, see, we're heroes too...yeah, trying to save the universe!"
-- Sylvester "Sly" Boots in one of his more desperate moments
Hey there and welcome to this sorry excuse for a website! But what is it about?
I'll cut to the chase. This is a mod for Freedom Force, based on the excellent PC RPG Anachronox.
...
What, that isn't enough info for ya? *sigh* Alright, 'ere we go...
Anachronox is a 'console-style' [meaning that the emphasis is on the story instead of combat or exploration] RPG for the PC, developed by ION Storm released in 2001 by Eidos. So why don't you know about it then? Due to unfortunate circumstances [also known as the 'Daikatana Booboo'] ION Storm couldn't afford any kind of marketing for the game at all [no advertising at all either, unless you count interviews 2-4 years before the game's completion as advertising]. The company closing down almost immediately after it was published doesn't help either. But wait, you don't want to hear all this wailing about how corporate decisions tend to f3ck us gamers... thought so. :P
So, about the mod itself. I plan to focus on the superhero aspect of Anachronox [see the FAQ and the Story section for more info] and expand on it to create an original story. The mod's focus will be on a fun and balanced tactical challenge and trying to do the story of Anachronox justice using the Freedom Force engine. Like many of the excellent mods already out there, I'll release the mod in 'episodes' consisting of 3-4 missions apiece. In the end, the mod will have a staggering 30 or so missions, essentially playing like a 2nd Freedom Force game, though much less professional of course. ;) [If you have your doubts about this project's scope, check the FAQ]
Well, with the somber part out of the way, feel free to look around and ... stuff. Yeah.
Progress report
neon green = done
normal green = under development
dark green = not there yet
dark red = minor obstacle
bright red = major obstacle
Last update: 2003 Mar 15.
Site
v0.16 - The first three missions are done and I'm sharing them on the hub as well as my FTP[you might want to enable passive mode to connect to the FTP]. However, expect development to slow down considerably over the next weeks -- I finally got myself a job [yay?] and AFAIK nobody's interested in the mod anyway (nobody contacted me about beta testing it, heck, nobody downloaded it). Understandable, given that most of FF's fans prefer comic-based mods, but it doesn't help in motivating me. Sorry. I'll get it done eventually, but don't expect anything in the near future.
Resources
Got skins/meshes for: Sly, El Puno, Stiletto, Fatima, Force-O, Susan, Hush-Hush, Multidude, Metallion Man, Headwork, Fabuloid, Tommy The Gun, Nutella, Evil Eye, Ricochet, Impera, Therion, Miranda Pain, Il Pistolero, Prof Malice, Mystery Hero #1, Mystery Villain #1, Mystery Villain #2, Rictus [!], all minions
Not dealt with yet: a few late-game heroes/villains; after the first 2-3 episodes are released, perhaps...
Lacking skins for: [not urgent / critical] Galactigoat [big_demon, male_basic_horns?], El Pinto [male_dwarf], an alternative skin for Gigatoon [mr_mechanical, the mirroring is painful though]
Lacking meshes&skins for: [not urgent / critical] Krapto [dog], Creepfood, Devil Slugs, Chatagra, Bad People, Krapto-Bots. Got them as Anox .md2 files, though.
FX status: The first few missions seem OK. [EZFX 1.2 + 2.0 plus a few custom sounds] Don't know about the rest, yet.
Characters / Powers
All heroes are 99% complete.[usability of 'clone other' still pending]
Will develop villains as I get to them, though I have a good draft for their personalities etc. already.
Story / World
The main story arc is pretty much ready.
I'll develop the subplots as the mod progresses. [already have a lot of ideas for 'em]
Mission Design
First 12 [3*2*2: 3 converging introductory arcs, 2 missions apiece, 2 sublevels per mission] completed on paper.
Have rough ideas for about 10 more. Will design the rest after the first 12 are done & tested. The keywords in my design are diversity and consistency -- so far pretty much every level has its own unique 'feel', but every small detail should fit into the grand picture. Of course I don't know how my ideas work until I've actually tried to script 'em... time will tell. ;)
Mission Layout
Of the 12, the first 9 use layouts from FF levels. The last 3 will need some extra work / rethinking [arena, jail, farm]. Same with some other level layouts I've been thinking about.. perhaps a generous mesher will make a few of those after I've released the first few episodes. Update: Aphex is working on some terrains and has already produced a flat map that answers most of my problems.Eeeeeeexcellent.
Mission Scripting
The first 3 missions are pretty much done, waiting on tester input / working on the fourth one, then it's just testing & polishing until the first episode is released.
Other
Magic Vaporware 8-ball says: "blarg."