Tanneur99
Official Reviewer |
Posted on 09/06/04 @ 12:00 AM
The Modification Pack Script replaces five huts with different ‘movie screens’ including text and pictures. 'New style MPS' has a hybrid character, it is Mod Pack, but by its use for scenario design, it is also a utility.
USEFULNESS/NOVELTY: New style MPS is quite useful for scenario design, to use screens to connect parts of a story, it could also replace a cut-scene. Unlike AVI files, which you can only use at the start or the end of a scenario, you can implement these screens anywhere during game play. My only reservation is that scenario designers are not into Mod Pack scripting. To be useful without restriction, it needs a designer to do a special script for his scenario. I hope that a Mod Pack scripter uses this for a scenario. Nevertheless, the utility shows the intended purpose and works well. Undoubted novelty factor, 'New style MPS' is unique, the first of its kind and very creative. 4.75
QUALITY/INSTRUCTIONS: The quality is perfect, apart from the spelling on screen it is professional work. While the file might be self-explanatory for a scripter, I wish for some instructions for the designer, which are insufficient, a blank introduction screen, the read me informs to play the 800x600 resolution and the author’s description reads that the MPS is of no ordinary style. In short, a downloader should know how to use this for his design and here the submission fails. Positive was that the file includes a .CPX to demonstrate the use, which rewards extra while a .SCX would have been better. 4.25
OVERALL: 4.5, Usefulness 4.5, Novelty 5, Quality 5, Instructions 3.5
SUGGESTIONS: Explain in your description what your utility does and what its use for scenario design is. An introduction screen of how to do the effects is mandatory. Correct your spelling, first screen ‘finally’ for ‘finannly’, second screen ‘soldiers in’ for ‘soldiersin’.
OBSERVATIONS: The zip includes a MPS script, a read me, and a .CPX file. You need Utility ID 5538 MPS Lite 2.0, by JC Alsup, aka j_c_a to install the Mod Pack, and then click the .AKX to start the game. To view the triggers, you need ID 5613 Age of Empires & Age of Kings Campaign Manager by Lloyd Kinsella to extract the scenario from the campaign file.
IN CLOSING: I recommend to download 'New style MPS' to witness a new style of Mod Packs for scenario design. [Edited on 07/26/08 @ 09:56 AM]
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