Latest Update: [2015-12-25] - v1.0.1b
This is an updated and revamped version of the X-Tended Galactic News System plugin for TC and AP. GNS - LU Edition has been updated specifically to provide Litcube's Universe with a central news service.
From the original XT GNS Guide:
This plugin is meant to be used by modders, but anyone can install it right away and experience the random static news articles available in the universe. GNS will be a prerequisite plugin for other LU plugins, such as the Anarkis Pirate Guild, to publish newsworthy events. This will add color and life to the universe by allowing you to hear about interesting, actual in-game events happening as a result of these plugins, and one day, you might even read about your own deeds and growing fame in the universe.Welcome to the GNS. As many people in X3: Terran Conflict missed the old BBS-System from X3:Reunion, we have developed a new system, which allows news to be available to the player in a similar fashion as X3:Reunion.
As mentioned, the GNS does come with a set of static news articles that it will randomly display when you open your local News Console. These are primarily to add a small bit of color and fill in the gaps when there isn't much dynamic news to report, but be aware that these articles were imported by the XTC team from X3: Reunion. Thus, in this initial version, there is a chance some news items may pop up that are a bit anachronistic for LU (sound a bit odd because they discuss things that are a bit different in the LU universe). My primary focus is on creating dynamic content that can be published to the News Service, but if I have time, I will see about reviewing the static news channel for any possible updates or improvements that it might need. Anyone is VERY welcome to taking a look at the t-file 9500-L044.xml and providing me with an updated news list (including additional or different tags). Contact me on the Egosoft forums, if you have suggestions or updates to send me.
Changes from XT GNS plugin:
The primary change in this updated plugin is the original News Console has been significantly rewritten in order to use LU's Dynamic Menus framework. This not only improves the responsiveness of the News Console so there is no flicker, but dynamic articles automatically appear and disappear as they are added to the news service or when they expire. I also have some additional, rough ideas for extending the new dynamic News Console to provide other centralized information services, such as an improved comm system and bulletin board for the Anarkis Guilds (to be announced in the future.)
I have also written and provided a tutorial/example plugin, GNS - Dynamic News Generator, which can optionally be installed. This plugin generates dummy dynamic news, so you can observe the different ways dynamic news articles can show up in the universe. This plugin is also documented in the script comments, to show modders how they can add GNS services to their own plugins. In particular, take a look at al.GNS.DNGenerator.Tick for creating a new article and submitting it to GNS.
Other changes to this plugin involved removing legacy code for the XTC mod, and various tweaks for LU.
Download:
Zip Archive (Mediafire):
Full Documentation Guide for Players and Modders (also included with the main plugin package):
Installation:
Excluding the PDF which is not needed, copy the addon\ folder in the archive into your X3 root directory. The GNS plugin is automatically available in your game once it is installed. The optional testing plugin is provided in a second folder in the archive, named "ForModders/GNS-DynamicNewsGenerator". Only copy its files if you wish to use the plugin.
* Note that not all articles will be published for your current sector or region. If you move around the galaxy, you may see news articles that were not visible in other locations.
To install the news generator plugin, copy its addon\ folder to your X3 root directory, and in the game, enable the plugin in the Gameplay-> Artificial Life Settings menu. To uninstall the plugin, first disable it in the AL menu. When the plugin displays the message box stating it has been disabled, save your game and quit. Then remove the plugin files from the addon\ folder.
Start a new game or load a saved game:
To open a newspaper you will need to define a hot-key in the interface section of LU’s control setup options menu. After this has been done, you will just need to press that key for a newspaper to open. The system will open a newspaper that will be based on the owner of the sector you are in (if a newspaper is available). The selection of static articles will be random within the available pool of articles that are available to that race.
The usage of the plugin should be self-explaining: click on an article to view it. There is also an option to save articles to a personal clipboard for later reading.
How to Use in Your Own Plugin:
Don't bundle this plugin into your own. Instead, list this package as a prerequisite. All bugfixes and feature improvements for this system in LU need to be coordinated through this package. The Dynamic News features, particularly the "API" for adding news to the system, can be considered stable and should not change much in the future.
Read the supplied PDF guide and play with the News Generator. Adding dynamic news to GNS is very simple. It should take very little effort to see how you can publish your plugin's events.
Finally, please feel free to forward feature requests and ideas for improvements to me. Hopefully, as we get more community plugins using GNS, new ideas about how to leverage this system will spring forward.
Compatibility and Index of Plugins Using GNS (including upcoming projects):
GNS-LU should be compatible with all mods and plugins for LU.
(in development) EMS - LU Emergent Mission System
Existing EMS missions are beginning to be revamped. One goal is to integrate GNS support into the missions, and leverage the News Console for richer mission interaction.
(future) Anarkis Pirate Guild
Guild comms and missions will be integrated with EMS and GNS to add more Pirate-y life to the universe.
Credits:
Credit for the code on which the Galactic News Service - LU Edition is based, goes to the X-Tended Team who developed and released the original GNS plugin (available here). Many thanks to everyone on that team for their amazing work, and for enenra granting me permission to release this updated package.
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