I think there's some confusion between
blocks and
objects.
Objects is what was announced to be coming in ManiaPlanet 2.0. How they differ from blocks? I don't know all the ways they differ. One way in which they differ is that blocks generally have clips (those things on the end of the block telling what other type of block it can connect to).
It was
this post on the ManiaPlanet Blog that triggered the sudden halt in activity around mpbc.
Here's a quote from that blog entry (bold mine):
"Hylis" says:
Now, with Titles, it will be possible for players to add visual, static and collidable objects in the maps.
[...]
For people familiar with the interface, it will be accessible through a new icon between blocks and macroblocks at the bottom of the map editor interface.
Objects will be available through custom Titles. So we probably won't see them in the main title of Storm or Canyon. This is good, because as Hylis so aptly said:
"Hylis" says:
...about modifying the maps itself, we have been careful to keep the consistency of the experience for people who decided to play the game.
So why didn't Objects come sooner? Hylis answers in a forum post:
"Hylis" says:
It is true that we had planned a block importer, but for later
We needed to have Maniaplanet 2.0 to start more interesting data import.
This is because ManiaPlanet 2.0 is establishing the basis for having custom titles and all the possibilities that they bring. The blog entry goes into more depth about those possibilities. It's worth reading again.
SiH asked the following:
"SiH" says:
I came to think, if the object importer only import objects, wouldn't it be useful to have this block-importer as well since it can work with clips?
And Hylis replied:
"Hylis" says:
making blocks is different and would be a later topic if we do it.
So there it is. We
know Objects are coming in MP2.0. Blocks are a topic for later on.
Depending on what we're able to do with Objects, perhaps it won't even be important to have custom blocks later. Many of us use tm2unlimiter to build anyway and often ignore the clips on the blocks, using them more as guides than as rules. So we pretty much treat blocks as objects already, as I understand it.
What everyone really awaits is the Object Importer to see just how powerful it will be and what we'll be able to do with it.
What does this mean for further mpbc development? arc_ answers himself:
"arc_" says:
Not much point in continuing mpbc development then I suppose. The current release already has all the basics covered so people can use it to prepare blocks for MP2.0.
I've already had a look at an early version of ManiaPlanet 2.0 as it is seen in the ShootMania Alpha. You can also see a peek at it in
this video by mania-creative.
I'm of the opinion that the concepts behind MP2.0 hold immense possibilities for creativity for both mappers and those who script the rules for these modes.
Some have said ManiaPlanet lacks the diversity of United. Physics-wise that won't really be cured until more environments are released (such as Valley). However, the ability to have multiple custom game modes in itself will very quickly add more diversity than we have ever seen in United from a gamemode perspective, and we'll finally get to play Platform maps online in the mode in which they were intended! Add to that the option to import objects and the game will really start to feel much different than it does now.
Certainly a lot of goodies in store for those who stick around to see it!