PSO Enriched Solo Play
A potential new project, depending on how complex is turns out to be. I intend to write a dummy server, probably in Java, that will mimic Online play in PSO and allow a more enriched solo play experience.
Ideas
- Route messages between PC to PSO - eg. MSN
- Custom NPCs and maybe automated bots
- Smarter monsters (Dependant on how much control server has over monsters)
- Post stuff to Facebook, eg. level ups, boss defeats, rare drops
- Back up/restore character to/from PC
- Cross-platform play between GC & DC in Episode I - if I can
either get a BB adaptor for DCfigure out how to connect the modem to my laptop. - Enabling Seasonal/Special Themes
- Access to the Photon Drop Exchange
- Real Challenge Mode rewards - ie: named weapons
Obvious Shit is Obvious
- Custom quests/items
- Cheating - though I want to avoid it, rare items aren't exactly ever going to be legitimately obtainable ever again.
Stumbling Blocks
Limited experience with Java, limited experience writing servers (basically I followed a tutorial writing an echo server once). Also, have no idea if this will wreck my GC or GC memory card. It did wreck my PSO files but that may be due to PSO having issues with 3rd party cards, so I've ordered an extra official Memory Card 59 just in case.
Existing documentation also does not cover every aspect of communication between the client and server.
Additionally, KHBBS just came out and FFXIV is just around the corner, ready to distract me further.
To Do List
DNS Server Redirect- Done
Game accepts dummy DNS response and connects to another dummy server on port 9201 (EU v1.1). Game will happily sit in blank pre-lobby screen and will show lobby messages sent from dummy server.
- Login Server
- Ship Select
- Block/Lobby Select
- Group Select/Create Game
- Hunters' Guild/Shops
- Monsters/NPCs
- Bots?
- Everything Else™