This FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) list
contains information about Cybercraft ForceBuilder, the Jedi Knight level
editor that is under development by Mattias Welander, Cybercraft.
This is version 1.1 of the ForceBuilder
FAQ. It was released 1997-11-20, International Standard ISO 8601 date format.
Contents
I. Information abut the FAQ
I. Information about the FAQ
1997-11-20
The latest version of the Official ForceBuilder FAQ is available at http://www-und.ida.liu.se/~matwe042/fbfaq.html
There are a number of ways to contact me. The easiest is probably email. My email address is matwe042@student.liu.se. You can also use ICQ. My UIN is 2586964.
I'm quite often visiting #jediknight on EFNet IRC, where I'm using the nickname Welander.
If you want, you can always phone me. I speak English and Swedish. If you live in Sweden, this is not a problem, but if you live on the other side of the earth, please make a quick time zone calculation before calling! The phone number is +46-13-133270. Inside Sweden, it is 013-133270.
Of course you can always visit me as well, at least if you're living in Linköping, but try to phone first. I might not be at home, and anyway, you'll need to get the code to the door.
While every effort has been taken to insure the accuracy of the information contained in this FAQ list compilation, the author assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
This FAQ is Copyright 1997 by Mattias Welander. This work may be reproduced, in whole or in part, using any medium, including, but not limited to, electronic transmission, CD-ROM, or published in print, under the condition that this copyright notice remains intact.
II. Information about ForceBuilder
ForceBuilder is a Jedi Knight level editor. With this program, you'll be able to create new levels for LucasArt's Jedi Knight.
It is not a 3DO editor, nor is it a MAT editor.
The first preview version is available on the ForceBuilder homepage.
A second preview version will be out within a few weeks.
A beta will probably be out within some months.
I don't know when (or even if) there will be a full version of the program.
Yes, ForceBuilder will import and export Windows BMP files. It will also import Dark Forces BM files.
No, I can't do that. You'll have to check the ForceBuilder homepage
I'm sorry, but I'd prefer to continue to have the ForceBuilder homepage where it is today. I have physical access to the files on my web account there, and that is something I like.
No, you'll have to download preview versions of ForceBuilder from the ForceBuilder homepage.
I'm writing ForceBuilder in ObjectPascal, using Borland Delphi 2.0.
ForceBuilder will neither support Glide nor OpenGL.
ForceBuilder will support software rendering using Direct3D, as well as hardware rendering on 3DFX Voodoo Rush based 3D cards. Most other 3D cards will probably work as well, but the use of such cards with ForceBuilder and hardware acceleration is not supported.
ForceBuilder will not use 3DFX Voodoo Graphics based 3D add-on cards.
Yes.
Believe me or not, but this is the second most common question about ForceBuilder I'm getting...
That's a question that only the users of ForceBuilder can answer. Of course, I'm not writing the program to be hard to use!
From the ForceBuilder point of view, this will be possible. However, Jedi Knight itself doesn't really support computer controlled enemies in multiplayer mode. If used clever, this feature might work, but mostly, it will not.
Download the preview version and try it.
III. Problems with ForceBuilder
Actually, I don't care. It's a preview version! I've never told you it would work on your computer. Try later preview versions, or wait for the beta versions.
The preview version is just a dump of the ForceBuilder project from my hard drive. It works on my computer, and in this stage of the development, that is the only thing I care about.
Well, now, that's serious. Please give me a detailed description of the problem, if it's repeatable and if so, what you're doing to create the error. Also, tell me your system specifications. I'll do my best to correct the problem.
This is probably caused by the DirectX part of the application. You're most likely using non-certified DirectX drivers, or using it with hardware acceleration enabled on a 3D card that's not supported. Only 3DFX Voodoo Rush based 3D cards are supported. Try disabling hardware acceleration.
Most likely this is because you're running ForceBuilder on a 3D card that's not supported. Only 3DFX Voodoo Rush based 3D cards are supported. Try disabling hardware acceleration.
If you have the first CD of Jedi Knight in any of your CD-ROM drives, ForceBuilder should find it. However, there ForceBuilder might not detect all international versions of Jedi Knight.
The CD detection method of ForceBuilder has been tested on the American and the European English versions of Jedi Knight. If you have another Jedi Knight version, and ForceBuilder can't find your CD-ROM, please send me a DIR /S of the root directory of your first Jedi Knight CD-ROM, and a description of your Jedi Knight version, and I'll try to add support for it in future versions of ForceBuilder.
Did you really think that would work?
That's probably because English isn't my native language. Please, just ask and I'll try to explain whatever it is I've messed up.