The Story So Far...

[ouch]

As someone that has poked and prodded Hardwar's engine to no end. And someone that has toyed around with several graphics engines I can honestly say that Hardwar's engine would need such a massive rewrite to bring it up to modern standards that it would be better to start from scratch with a new engine. For example, the game engine can't handle displaying many more polys than it does currently. The FPS just tanks even on modern hardware.

So if it was up to me here is what I would do:

1.) Release the source for Hardwar as Open Source on github or sourceforge. That way improvements and fixes could be made by the community.

2.) Make a new game based on the Hardwar Legacy design documents using another engine from scratch. If you don't have many people or a budget to work with I would say make it in unity. If you have a budget and a small team, then make it in the latest Unreal engine. Those two engines seem to give the best results with the fewest man hours out of all the engines out there currently.

But still, good job on tracking everything down. Where did you find Ian Martin anyway? He just vanished so suddenly. I figured he would be probably found stranded on an island with his volley ball wife Wilson. lol

Also, made this thread a sticky as I'm sure everyone here would like to know what is going on.

[Deleted]

Thanks ouch I wish I had made more of an effort years ago. Certainly lucked out with my timing as far as things falling into place though!

As for Ian Martin, he requested that I don't divulge any details so I'm not at liberty to say. But he told me that I could let everyone know that I had made contact and that he would be raiding his loft

I imagine he will post here when/if he finds something.

Obviously Ciaran and both Ians still have jobs/livelihoods so I wouldn't expect anything quick!

That's me also managing my own expectations there as it can be easy to sit staring at an inbox when you finally feel things are going somewhere!

[Pilot]

Interesting, I do agree that the original code is a bit to dated to improve graphically after all it was designed to use around 24bit graphics. . . I still kinda remember those, though 8-bit and even 256 I remember better than 24-bit.

Engine wise, for quality the Unreal Engine would be a great choice. I would've said cryengine, but their ToS is really restrictive. As for Unity I can't think of any good game on it, other than Kerbals.

[Denacity]

Unity does offer the best multi-platform engine, even if it doesn't offer the best fidelity.

I would love a full blown game I can also login to from my phone and manage like hangers and Thugs and whatnot. I wouldn't want to fly on it, but it would be a nice to have the option.

I would just order my Thug to fly me around.

[Deleted]

Ian M just sent me a 2k screenshot. Apparently he's trying to figure out why it won't view in 4k.



In other news I was speaking with an ex Gremlin QA chap who used to have a complete full copy of the design document for Hardwar: Legacy. He thinks it is lost but says it might be worth searching his old drives at some point.

[Denacity]

That's pretty cool.

I wonder if he would be willing to post here if he is actually working on stuff?

[Deleted]

I wish someone would post tbh. Anyone. At least then it's not just my word!

[shagnasty]

THIS IS BLOODY OUTSTANDING!!

Life in the old dog yet

[techno]

Nice screenshot.The last thing Ian said before leaving was that he was building a new moth called the ghost with it's own unique weapon.

[Deleted]

Well he seems to have gone dark on me for now. Not sure if he's just busy or really not a fan of any limelight. Hope he's alright either way and that he resurfaces with some good news.

Still no word from Ian Stewart either.

On a side note, I'm brushing up on my C++ and graphics programming.

1) It's something I want to get back into.

2) I might be able to help with some work if anything does actually get off the ground.

Hope you're all well and have a good weekend

[fireburst]

Been lurking for a day or two, as I came across my old copy of Harwar and decided to register.
Had to reinstall it to remind myself of how good this game is.

All I can say: Excellent work Lee!
Hope that Hardwar will at some point live on, be it on a modern engine.

[Lee]

Thanks fireburst, means a lot

Ignore the deleted account ^

Had several unauthorised gmail etc logins linked to an old email account that this account was also registered to. I use an encrypted one these days, but still locked everything down just in case and set up another account with my encrypted address.

[techno]

Always nice to find someone with the same enthusiasm as myself for the game.Been playing hWar since it was first released in 97.

[techno]

In fact it goes back further.I first found out about the game when it was in early development in 1994,meaning I've been following it for over twenty two years!

[Lee]

98 release wasn't it, Techno? Either way it's a bloody long time and we're all becoming old gits.

I found out about the game as I used to get a publication called PC Review (future publishing, same company that does PCGamer). There was a lovely review and a demo disc with the alpha crater demo on.

That was the most replayed 15 minute demo ever.

I told Ian M it's crazy to think that I can sit in the living room playing a 20 y/o game in full HD on a 60 inch screen when the first time I played it was on a 14 inch monitor at 800x600.