Unleashing the Wholesome Chaos: Thomas the Tank Engine Invades Starfield
Hey there, fellow gamers! Have you ever come across something so hilariously bizarre in a video game that you couldn’t help but laugh? Well, modder Kevin Brock, also known as Trainwiz, has certainly tapped into that laughter-inducing magic with his latest creation. I had the pleasure of chatting with Trainwiz about his infamous Thomas the Tank Engine mod and how it’s taken the gaming community by storm.
The Face of Pure Meme Gold
Trainwiz explains to me why Thomas the Tank Engine has become such a beloved running gag within modding communities. “Look at his face,” he says. “How could you not laugh at that? There’s no soul behind those eyes, not a smidgen of regret for the blood he’s spilled. Frankly, if he were animated in any way, it’d take away the hilarity of the joke.”
And boy, did Trainwiz take that joke to a whole new level. In his latest mod for Starfield, he replaced every single ship model in the Settled Systems with Sir Topham Hat’s iconic train. It’s a sight to behold, let me tell you!
The Journey of Creation
Creating this mod wasn’t an easy task, though. Trainwiz recalls, “I started it on Tuesday night and it took about four hours to make. I had to remake Thomas’ original model as one single object, which meant turning his entire texture library into one atlas. Since modders currently lack the tools to create new materials for models, I had to mess around with overwriting materials and textures in Starfield itself. It was a trial-and-error process, but in the end, Thomas engulfed the starships like a champ!”
Despite potential trouble from the licensed entity behind Thomas the Tank Engine, Trainwiz proudly shares that nothing has surfaced yet. He even cheekily adds, “All they’ve done is make me double down out of spite. Spite is a potent creative fuel, I’ve found. I don’t learn lessons when it’s a giant soulless corporation saying I should be learning them.”
A Veteran in the Modding World
Trainwiz is no stranger to the world of modding. He’s been at it since 2006, starting with Morrowind and then making mods for Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Fallout New Vegas. Along the way, he’s swapped dragons for trains, given the Sole Survivor some killer locomotive power armor, and even restored a Dwarven railroad in Blackreach. Talk about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible!
The Challenges of Modding Starfield
Modding Starfield, however, presents its own unique set of challenges. Trainwiz reveals, “We have no real editing tools outside of model modification, and even then, that requires a lot of workarounds. Back when I started modding Skyrim, we had established tools and tutorials. But here, it’s the frontier. The model format is completely different, which means a big adjustment for modders like me.”
Despite the challenges, Trainwiz remains optimistic. He mentions how the modding community has evolved since his early days in Oblivion, with Skyrim bringing in a wave of new modders and advancements. Now, it’s more about ease of use and accessibility when it comes to creating mods.
From Modding to Game Development
Trainwiz is currently working on his own indie game called Underspace, an open-world arcade dogfighter inspired by classic space games. He credits his background in modding for the existence of this game, explaining how he leveraged his fanbase to promote and develop Underspace. His experience with Bethesda RPGs also played a significant role in shaping the game’s systems.
And here’s a fun fact: Trainwiz has even done professional work for Bethesda, contributing to Skyrim’s Anniversary Edition. The money he earned from that helped fund Underspace initially. Talk about turning a passion into a career!
The Future of Modding and Starfield
As we wrap up our conversation, Trainwiz leaves us with an exciting thought. “Just like you can never predict the horrors hinted at by Thomas the Tank Engine’s amusing visage, you can never truly tell what the future holds. But one thing’s for sure: Starfield will continue to be a playground for fascinating mods.”
So, fellow gamers, keep your eyes peeled for more mind-blowing mods like Trainwiz’s Thomas the Tank Engine takeover. And don’t forget to embrace the creativity and laughter that comes with it. Until next time, keep gaming and keep laughing!