I didn't mean randomizing all the star system data (i.e. the starmap, how many/what kind of planets each star has).  I was envisioning the map itself staying the same, but where things are ON the map being more randomized.

As for what Krulle said about the unknown star, yes, that's what I meant for all of the parameters I listed.  Arilou space could be anywhere on the map, but wherever it is, the UNKNOWN star needs to be in or near it.  Utwig space could be anywhere on the map, but wherever it is, the Bomb needs to be in it, etc.

How hard would all that be to program?

And yes, I did imagine that the dialogue tied to specific locations would be far harder (or at least more tedious) to change.  Like I said, I know nothing about programming, but I would imagine you would have to define the location of each race and object as a variable, then scour the dialogue for each and every reference to a specific geographic location and replace it with a string designed to point to the correct variable.  So, for example, instead of Tanaka telling you about observing a strange Mycon ceremony on Beta Brahe I, the code would say "a strange Mycon ceremony on %STRING1" or something like that, where %STRING1 is designed to point to where is assigned to the Mycon Sun Device in this iteration of the game.  I don't know how hard that would be... but it would certainly be tedious.

Again, is this even in the realm of possibility?  It seems like a couple of people could maybe do this over a summer or something...?  Am I crazy?

First post here.

So I was thinking... I know NOTHING about programming... but how hard would it be to take the source code and tweak it so that the starting locations of the various and items were somewhat randomized (or even pseudo-randomized) instead of fixed assets?  Think about how replay value and extra interest it would add for experienced players!  There would need to be a few parameters specified for story/logic reasons.  That I can think of off the top of my head (SPOILERS):

- Ur-Quan and Kohr-Ah space must heavily overlap
- other spheres of influence should not overlap
- Sun Device must be in Mycon space
- all Shattered Worlds must be in or near Mycon space
- Utwig Bomb must be in Utwig space (since they describe themselves as the "Stewards of the Bomb")
- Aqua Helix must be in Thraddash space (since a lot of dialogue refers to it being the cornerstone of their culture)
- Sa-Matra must be in Ur-Quan/Kohr-Ah space
- UNKNOWN star (natural Quasi-Space portal) must be in or near Arilou space
- Supox space should be near Utwig space
- Zoq-Fot-Pik space should be in or near Ur-Quan/Kohr-Ah space
- starting location (Sol) must not be within anyone else’s space (game would be near impossible if you started in the center of Ilwrath or Ur-Quan space)
- Rainbow Worlds should form a rough arrow (but orientation and obliquity are randomizable)

But within those parameters, there are countless possibilities for randomization, and thus for interesting new exploration.  Imagine having to search for the Sun Device, or for the Sa-Matra, or for the Utwig, all over again... and again... and again!

My point is that this doesn't SEEM like it should be that hard from a programming perspective... but maybe I'm wrong.  Can any programmers tell me if this is even within the realm of possibility?