Will we be able to test small changes to files without having to restart the game?

[flarn2006]

One of the most annoying things (in my opinion) when modding a game is having to quit the game, restart it, wait for it to load, and (if necessary) get back to the right spot, just to see what exactly the changes I made did. With the new tools, will there be a way to edit things and have the game automatically apply the changes without having to reload? (Perhaps once the console is enabled?)

 

[[GoSP] Jon]

Highly unlikely. That's not really how this engine works.
Now if you're experience with CheatEngine or Tsearch, you could make changes to values during the runtime that way, but it's inherently hard to debug as you're shooting blind as to which variable is the right one.

 

[[V] Knobby]

One of the most annoying things (in my opinion) when modding a game is having to quit the game, restart it, wait for it to load, and (if necessary) get back to the right spot, just to see what exactly the changes I made did. With the new tools, will there be a way to edit things and have the game automatically apply the changes without having to reload? (Perhaps once the console is enabled?)

We obviously have this issue during development as well. Our solution for SR3 was mostly to make the boot/load process as quick as possible, add console commands to reload certain asset types and to support live update from our editor to the development kits for the more time consuming processes. You get the first one for free and might get the benefit of the second, but that will be all.

 

[flarn2006]

Why not the third?

 

[[V] Knobby]

Why not the third?

I wouldn't count on any devkit related features. Not to say any given feature will not come, but I surely wouldn't expect it.

 

[flarn2006]

What exactly does the devkit involve that would make it hard to release? Just wondering.

 

[[V] Knobby]

What exactly does the devkit involve that would make it hard to release? Just wondering.

Well, the devkits use special development communication modes that are not available on a release kit and also use the extra memory available for these features. I'm unsure if we even supported live update on the PC.

 

[Jadephyre]

In two decades of playing games on PCs, I have never seen any moddable game to support something like this, but do correct me if I missed one.

 

[flarn2006]

Well, the devkits use special development communication modes that are not available on a release kit and also use the extra memory available for these features. I'm unsure if we even supported live update on the PC.

Oh okay, I thought you were referring to the PC version.

 

[Arglaar]

In two decades of playing games on PCs, I have never seen any moddable game to support something like this, but do correct me if I missed one.

Some games allow you to make changes while it's still at the main menu; The changes are loaded dynamically when you load into the game.