FMod - What's Next?

With Abiathar v1.4 out, adding the ability to generate patch files, I'm not really sure what direction to take the program next. Other than bug fixes (which haven't come in yet), there doesn't immediately seem to be anything more to do with it. I could polish the interface, snazz up the documentation, remove the version number, and seal it forever as simply "Abiathar", but I don't want to kill its development. I learned a lot about programming (especially the world of graphics and rendering) creating it, and I think it's friendly enough to build around.

So, what's next? I don't really know. I've been fantasizing about cooperative editing, Google Drive style, and v1.4 added infrastructure that could be used to make that a real thing (I couldn't help it). The Keen community is small enough that such a feature probably wouldn't get too much use, and it probably a waste of my time. People would be amazed, and it might get used once or twice after the release, but the *.aslev (single level file) system is fine for putting together group projects.

Then there's expansion to other similar games. Bio Menace is one that still has a little bit of interest, but its file format is difficult to get back onto disk correctly. I can load the TED5 not-so-temporary file, stripping out the parts that don't matter for level editing, but saving it and putting all that junk back in the right place would be difficult. I could go all-out and make it compatible with everything TED5 can do, but that would require so much reworking of a lot of the concepts. Abiathar would lose its power as an adapted-to-Keen superpowered, focused program.

Finally, there's expansion to Vorticon levels. This might be the craziest idea. It wouldn't be hard to get a Vorticons editor going, but merging it with Abiathar and its attachment to the Galaxy way would be very difficult. Then again, it would go a long way towards satisfying my vision of one program for all Keen modding ever.

In short? We shall see. Expect me when you see me.