Topic: The game just got worse

[DarkDragon]

So, in my quest to make the game better I started working on the Asymmetry mod for version 1.3. Was I surprised (or not), when it didn't work. Basically changing the symmetry variables of the files no longer works, it makes the body of the creature disappear. Now why would Maxis change this? It wasn't causing any problems and it made the game better so my question is: WHY?

[Blulightning]

Why?
Probably to make more cash off another too-soon expansion pack that allows asymmetry.

You can't just let people go around doing something for free, if you can make money off of it.
Right, Maxis?

[smjjames]

It's entirely possible that they didn't do it on purpose. Both of you (Bluelightning and DarkDragon) know programming, right? Then I'm sure you realize that sometimes a new bit of code will affect an old bit of code or disable something that you didn't realize changed, like assymmetry.

I don't know much about coding, but that just makes sense to me.

Given how complex the coding must be for Spore, it's possible.

If it IS intentional however, they'd better have a valid reason for it.

[Null]

Is this isolated to a few people? I have not heard anything on this before and 1.3 has been out for awhile. Surly we would have heard a bunch of people screaming by now if so?

[RmB303]

You can't just let people go around doing something for free, if you can make money off of it.
Right, EA ?

Fixed that for you ;-)

[Plank of Wood]

You can't just let people go around doing something for free, if you can make money off of it.
Right, The Reccession ?

Fixed that for you ;-)

Bloody hell, you're all getting it wrong!

[Beatnuki]

You can't just let people go around doing something for free, if you can make money off of it.
Right, The Reccession ?

Fixed that for you ;-)

Bloody hell, you're all getting it wrong!

Hehe, I love how The Recession is to blame for everything nowadays. It probably IS The Recession though. It murdered Woolworths! 

Either way though, asymmetry has always made for interesting critters. I hope you clever modding types can find a way around it, or decode any new code they may have put in in order to find a new method for producing asymmetry.

[mrmango786]

Agreed, it's EA and not Maxis if it is on purpose.

[Skyward]

*reads thread title*

"IMPOSSIBLE!"

Reads actual thread*

"I stand corrected..."

[Null]

If this turns out to be a widespread thing (I cannot check to see if it works or not myself right now) it may be related to the fact that using the asymmetry mod allows you to share things past the complexity limit. That would be the only reason I can think of why they would remove it. Because I know they have featured creatures using the asymmetry mod before so that would suggest they do not have a problem with asymmetry itself.

[Darth Grievi]

I don't think this is universal.

I have patched to v1.3, and I am still able to use an asymetry mod with some success. I don't have C&C yet, though, which might be why.

[DarkDragon]

I don't think this is universal.

I have patched to v1.3, and I am still able to use an asymetry mod with some success. I don't have C&C yet, though, which might be why.

You're using the one for the old version, the files of the new version (1.3) have new settings (probably because of the new limbs and stuff) and as soon as I change the "true" to "false" on the asymmetry parameter it no longer shows the creature body in-game.

[Parkaboy]

Sell it as "Invisible Body Mod" then!

[MisterBibs]

This is why, in any game, you don't base things off an exploit or unintended effect.

[void]

DarkDragon, I looked into this to make sure you aren't hitting a bug in SporeMaster 2, and It Works For Me.  Unpacking the 11/10/2008 Spore_Game.package, searching for "symmetry", modifying editor_setup~/creatureeditorsetup.prop.xml to <bool name="editorUseSymmetry">false</bool> and packing yields an apparently functional creature asymmetry mod, and nothing disappears.  Nor do I see any change in this file between the august and november game packages.  Is it possible something else in your mod (or some other mod you have installed) is the problem?  Can you post a package exhibiting the problem somewhere? (I suggest the Mod Discussion forum at sporemods.org, which allows attachments)